Search News

Biz community set to host global tycoons at APEC summit in S. Korea

© Provided by The Rahnuma Daily

Biz community set to host global tycoons at APEC summit in S. Korea

Seoul, Sep 21 (IANS) The government and the South Korean business community are making a final push to invite global tycoons to business events to be held on the sidelines of the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, industry sources here said on Sunday.

Co-hosted by the industry ministry and the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), the APEC CEO Summit will be held from October 28 to 31 in Gyeongju, about 275 kilometers southeast of Seoul, bringing together 1,700 participants from APEC member economies and global companies, reports Yonhap news agency.

Market watchers are paying close attention to the possible attendance of Jensen Huang, chief executive officer of global chip giant Nvidia Corp., after sources said he reacted positively to an invitation delivered by SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, who also heads the KCCI.

Another industry source said Huang is expected to hold a special session on Oct. 31 when a separate event on the artificial intelligence industry will be held.

If Huang visits South Korea next month, he could also meet APEC member leaders and possibly visit the production lines of South Korean tech giants Samsung Electronics Co. and SK hynix Inc.

Nvidia, a leading player in the AI chip industry, has been emerging as a key partner for major countries and businesses amid the AI boom.

Other business leaders who may visit South Korea for the APEC-related events include OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, whose company operates one of the world’s most popular generative AI models, ChatGPT, and launched its Seoul office this month.

OpenAI Korea is the firm’s 12th office worldwide and its third in Asia.

South Korea is also making efforts to host Chinese business leaders, including Alibaba CEO Eddie Wu, as Beijing is set to host the APEC meeting next year, according to the report.

share it

The Rahnuma-E-Deccan Daily

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Latest Post

Govt reviews watershed projects in Pune, urges upkeep of water structures New Delhi, Oct 31 (IANS) Department of Land Resources (DoLR) Secretary Dilip Kumar reviewed watershed development works under the Watershed Development Component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana 2.0 (WDC-PMKSY 2.0) in villages of Maharashtra’s Pune district, an official statement said on Saturday. Kumar urged villagers to take collective responsibility for regular maintenance and repair of the water harvesting structures created under Watershed Development Scheme, to keep these assets functional for the next 20 years. He also called for sustained efforts to transform villages under the Khed Project into water-secure and self-reliant communities, on the lines of Hiware Bazar. The review was done in Varude, Gulani and Wafgaon villages of Pune district, on October 30, 2026. Villagers said that watershed development works across 11 villages under the Khed Project had improved groundwater levels, enabling farmers to cultivate two to three crops annually thereby increasing agricultural income and rural livelihoods. Despite the drought-like conditions this year, water stored in farm ponds and improved water levels in wells associated with cement nala bunds and CCT structures have helped irrigate standing crops, according to villagers. The key objectives of watershed development under the scheme include soil and water conservation measures, enhancing agricultural productivity, and promoting sustainable rural development. “Water is the foundation of our future. Every drop of rain must be conserved to make villages water-secure and self-reliant,” Kumar told villagers. The government official visited watershed structures developed using the ridge-to-valley approach, including Continuous Contour Trenches (CCT), earthen nala bunds, cement nala bunds, Kolhapuri-type weirs and ponds for water storage. He reviewed the effectiveness of these structures in reducing rainwater runoff, enhancing groundwater recharge and improving water availability for agriculture, changes in groundwater levels and benefits received by beneficiaries. The government also reviewed farm ponds, horticulture plantations and agricultural equipment provided to beneficiaries under the scheme, along with benefits extended to women’s self-help groups.

October 31, 2026

Couple, 5-month-old son killed as pickup truck hits motorcycle in MP’s Shajapur Shajapur (Madhya Pradesh), Oct 31 (IANS) Three members of a family, including a five-month-old child, were killed when a speeding pickup truck collided with their motorcycle in Madhya Pradesh’s Shajapur district, police said on Saturday. The deceased have been identified as Ajit Panwar, his wife Pooja Panwar and their five-month-old son Shivanshu. They were residents of Indra Colony in Ashta town of neighbouring Sehore district. The accident occurred in the Salaslai police station area when the family was travelling from Bolai village towards Ayyapur for temple darshan. According to preliminary investigation, a stray dog suddenly came in front of their motorcycle. Ajit, who was riding the two-wheeler, tried to avoid hitting the animal but lost control of the motorcycle, which swerved into the path of a pickup truck approaching from the opposite direction. The pickup truck hit the motorcycle with considerable force, leaving all three family members critically injured. The motorcycle was badly damaged in the collision. The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared all three dead. The family had left home on Saturday to visit a temple and offer prayers to mark the completion of five months of their son Shivanshu. However, they met with the fatal accident before reaching their destination. “The family was going for temple darshan with their child when a stray dog suddenly came in front of their motorcycle. The rider tried to save the animal but lost control and collided with a pickup coming from the opposite direction,” a police official said. The pickup driver fled the scene after the accident. Police seized both vehicles and registered a case against the unidentified driver for rash and negligent driving. “Efforts are underway to trace the absconding driver with the help of CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination, and further investigation is underway,” the official added.

October 31, 2026

Karnataka using KMF price hikes to cover financial mismanagement, alleges Pralhad Joshi New Delhi, Oct 31 (IANS) Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi on Saturday criticised the Congress government in Karnataka over the hike in Nandini curd prices, alleging that the state was using the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) as a tool to offset the financial strain caused by what he termed fiscal mismanagement. In a statement, Joshi said the Congress government has created a new record in price hikes by imposing unprecedented increases on essential commodities, thereby putting an additional burden on ordinary people. He alleged that the government led by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar was using KMF to cover up its financial mismanagement and depleted state coffers by resorting to excessive price hikes. According to Joshi, the price of 500 ml Nandini curd has been increased from Rs 28 to Rs 34, a hike of Rs 6 or 21.43 per cent. Similarly, the price of one litre of curd has been raised from Rs 54 to Rs 68, an increase of Rs 14 or 25.93 per cent. “While giving curd to the people, the Congress government is enjoying the butter,” he remarked, accusing the government of exploiting consumers. Pointing out that the government increased the price of milk by Rs 8 per litre just a day earlier, Joshi said the latest increase in curd prices, ranging from 21 to 26 per cent, would severely affect poor and middle-class families. He further alleged that the Congress government, which had made development a distant dream in Karnataka, was now collecting money from the poorest sections of society through repeated price increases in KMF products. The Union Minister said the successive hikes reflected the government’s anti-people policies and its failure to manage the state’s finances effectively. The Karnataka government has announced an Rs 8 per litre hike in the price of Nandini milk, which takes effect on November 1, 2026. The government states that out of the Rs 8 increase, Rs 7 goes directly to dairy farmers and Rs 1 goes to the milk cooperatives (KMF) for operational expenses. –IANS mka/skp

October 31, 2026

Tamil Nadu raises DA from 60 pc to 63 pc, effective July 1 Chennai, Oct 31 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has ordered a three-percentage-point increase in dearness allowance for government employees and teachers, with pensioners and family pensioners also benefiting from the revision announced ahead of Deepavali. The increase, which raises the allowance from 60 per cent to 63 per cent, will take retrospective effect from July 1, 2026. Approximately 16 lakh employees, teachers, pensioners and family pensioners will benefit, according to a notification issued by the state government. The measure will impose an additional annual expenditure of Rs 1,858 crore on the state exchequer. The government said it would allocate the additional funds required to implement the revision as part of its commitment to the welfare of serving and retired personnel. The decision follows the Union government’s increase in dearness allowance for central government employees from 60 per cent to 63 per cent, effective July 1. Tamil Nadu has adopted the same revised rate and commencement date for its employees and teachers. In its notification, the government highlighted the contribution of government officials and teachers to the formulation and implementation of welfare schemes. It said their work played an important role in ensuring that programmes designed for public welfare were implemented effectively. The administration was introducing and carrying out various initiatives for the benefit of the people, the notification said. Government employees and teachers were key participants in this process, contributing both to the planning of programmes and their delivery. Recognising these responsibilities and giving priority to employee welfare, the Chief Minister considered the revision following the Centre’s announcement and ordered the corresponding increase for the state workforce, the government said. The notification also emphasised the inclusion of pensioners and family pensioners among the beneficiaries. The financial commitment, it said, reflected the government’s concern for all four groups covered by the announcement. With Deepavali approaching, the government said the increase would help beneficiaries celebrate the festival with greater happiness. The announcement places the welfare of employees, teachers and pension-dependent households at the centre of the festive-season measure. Although the revised allowance takes effect retrospectively from July, the notification provided in the announcement does not specify when arrears will be paid. It confirms the effective date, the revised rate, the estimated number of beneficiaries and the recurring annual expenditure the state will bear under the decision. –IANS aal/uk

October 31, 2026

Manipur govt agrees to pay ex-gratia to kin of 32 Kuki-Zo civilians killed in violence: Key Kuki body Imphal, Oct 31 (IANS) The Manipur government has agreed to provide ex-gratia compensation to the next of kin of 32 Kuki-Zo civilians killed in violence attributed to the NSCN-IM and ZUF-K, the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC), the apex body of the Kuki-Zo tribal community in the state, said on Saturday. A senior KZC leader said that an ex gratia amount of Rs 10 lakh is expected to be provided to each of the bereaved families. According to a KZC statement, a meeting between the council’s leaders and government representatives was held at the District Magistrate’s office in Churachandpur on Friday to discuss the concerns and demands raised by the council. “During the meeting, KZC presented its concerns regarding the prevailing situation and the grievances of the Kuki-Zo people. Following extensive deliberations, the government agreed to provide ex-gratia compensation to the next of kin of 32 Kuki-Zo civilians who lost their lives in violence attributed to NSCN-IM and ZUF-K,” the statement said. The council said the decision reflects the need to honour the memory of the deceased and extend support to their bereaved families. The government also agreed to take responsibility for transporting the bodies of all the deceased to their respective villages for the final rites, the KZC said. According to the council, eight bodies of Kuki-Zo victims are currently lying in the morgue of Churachandpur District Hospital for a prolonged period, while some others have already been buried due to unavoidable circumstances. Both arrangements — payment of compensation and transportation of the bodies — are expected to be completed within seven days, the statement said. The KZC also raised several other pressing issues and demands concerning the security, welfare and political aspirations of the Kuki-Zo people. The government has taken these matters under consideration and assured the council that they would be reviewed and responded to in due course, the statement said. While describing the commitments on ex-gratia compensation and transportation of the deceased as steps towards addressing the immediate concerns of the bereaved families, the KZC emphasised that the broader grievances and legitimate political aspirations of the Kuki-Zo people require concrete and time-bound action. The council said it would continue to pursue these matters with the government until meaningful outcomes are achieved. Meanwhile, Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen on Saturday urged the authorities concerned to make every possible effort to trace and rescue two Kuki youths who went missing from Kangpokpi district on the evening of October 28. In a statement, Kipgen condemned the alleged abduction of the two youths from the vicinity of Taphou Kuki village on Wednesday evening. The two men, identified as Tinginlun Chongloi, 21, and Paoginlal Hangshing, 20, were allegedly abducted by unidentified miscreants, she said. “It is deeply distressing that young lives are being put at risk in this manner. I urge the authorities concerned to make every possible effort to trace their whereabouts and secure their safe and unconditional release at the earliest. Those responsible must be identified and brought to justice,” she said. Meanwhile, a 48-hour shutdown called by the Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) in Kangpokpi district in protest against the reported abduction of the two youths affected vehicular movement along the Imphal-Dimapur National Highway (NH-2). The shutdown began at 5 p.m. on Thursday. Shops, markets and other business establishments also remained closed during the protest. COTU alleged that the two Kuki youths had been abducted by “Naga militants”. –IANS sc/vd

October 31, 2026

Rs 500 crore crypto fraud: ED conducts raids in Chandigarh, Mohali, Zirakpur, seizes Rs 72 lakh Shimla, Oct 31 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted search operations at various locations across Chandigarh, Mohali and Zirakpur in connection with a Rs 500 crore cryptocurrency fraud involving Korvio Coin (KRO) and seized property documents and Rs 72 lakh in cash, an official said on Saturday. The searches were conducted by ED’s Shimla Sub-Zonal Office on October 28 under Section 17(1) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, the official said in a statement. During the search operation, various incriminating documents, including property-related documents, multiple digital devices and records pertaining to bank accounts, along with cash amounting to Rs 72 lakh, were seized. The investigation revealed that Atul Sood, a close aide of Subhash Sharma, the alleged mastermind behind the fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme that caused losses amounting to crores of rupees to investors, had travelled to Dubai to meet Subhash Sharma and was involved in arranging conferences and other events for him. These activities were carried out even after the registration of FIRs in connection with the fraudulent scheme, the ED said. During the ED’s search operation, Atul Sood was arrested and produced before the Special PMLA Court in Shimla on October 29, which granted his custody till November 5. Earlier, the ED had conducted search operations on December 13, 2025, and June 15, 2026, at the premises of various individuals associated with the fictitious cryptocurrency scheme, resulting in the seizure of incriminating documents and digital devices along with movable assets valued at Rs 1.5 crore. In connection with the case, various associates of Subash Sharma namely Hem Raj, Sukhdev Thakur, Abhishek Sharma, Milan Garg and Masoom Juneja were arrested. The charge sheet, along with the supplementary charge sheet, against them has been filed before the Special Court in Shimla, the ED added. The ED investigation was initiated on the basis of FIRs registered by the Himachal Pradesh and Punjab Police against Subhash Sharma and others. “The investigation revealed that Subhash Sharma, in connivance with his associates, including Hem Raj, Sukhdev Thakur, Abhishek Sharma and others, operated a cryptocurrency-based multi-level marketing (MLM) scheme through an online platform, inducing investors to invest in Korvio Coin (KRO) by promising assured high returns,” the ED said. The scheme functioned on a Ponzi model, wherein funds received from new investors were used to pay earlier investors. Recovered digital data indicated that more than 2.48 lakh users were affected by the fraud, involving transactions exceeding $219 million and estimated investor losses of around Rs 500 crore. “Investigation has revealed that the funds collected from new investors were predominantly received in cash and delivered to the leaders of the respective teams, from where they were ultimately routed to Subhash Sharma and his aides, including Vijay Kumar Juneja and Masoom Juneja,” the ED said. “It was also revealed that a portion of the funds collected from investors was allegedly utilised for acquiring immovable properties, with substantial consideration being paid in cash and registered values being significantly lower than the actual consideration,” the ED added. A smaller portion of the funds received from new investors was routed through multiple bank accounts, fictitious firms and intermediaries and were partly converted into cryptocurrency to conceal their origin and movement, the statement said. Subhash Sharma, the mastermind behind the fictitious cryptocurrency scam, fled to Dubai after duping thousands of investors, leaving them to suffer substantial financial losses. The ED has already initiated legal proceedings against him before the competent authorities in connection with the said case. –IANS rch/khz

October 31, 2026

Popular Categories

Get free tips and resources right in your inbox, along with 10,000+ others

Related Article

Business, India

Govt reviews watershed projects in Pune, urges upkeep of water structures New Delhi, Oct 31 (IANS) Department of Land Resources (DoLR) Secretary Dilip Kumar reviewed watershed development works under the Watershed Development Component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana 2.0 (WDC-PMKSY 2.0) in villages of Maharashtra’s Pune district, an official statement said on Saturday. Kumar urged villagers to take collective responsibility for regular maintenance and repair of the water harvesting structures created under Watershed Development Scheme, to keep these assets functional for the next 20 years. He also called for sustained efforts to transform villages under the Khed Project into water-secure and self-reliant communities, on the lines of Hiware Bazar. The review was done in Varude, Gulani and Wafgaon villages of Pune district, on October 30, 2026. Villagers said that watershed development works across 11 villages under the Khed Project had improved groundwater levels, enabling farmers to cultivate two to three crops annually thereby increasing agricultural income and rural livelihoods. Despite the drought-like conditions this year, water stored in farm ponds and improved water levels in wells associated with cement nala bunds and CCT structures have helped irrigate standing crops, according to villagers. The key objectives of watershed development under the scheme include soil and water conservation measures, enhancing agricultural productivity, and promoting sustainable rural development. “Water is the foundation of our future. Every drop of rain must be conserved to make villages water-secure and self-reliant,” Kumar told villagers. The government official visited watershed structures developed using the ridge-to-valley approach, including Continuous Contour Trenches (CCT), earthen nala bunds, cement nala bunds, Kolhapuri-type weirs and ponds for water storage. He reviewed the effectiveness of these structures in reducing rainwater runoff, enhancing groundwater recharge and improving water availability for agriculture, changes in groundwater levels and benefits received by beneficiaries. The government also reviewed farm ponds, horticulture plantations and agricultural equipment provided to beneficiaries under the scheme, along with benefits extended to women’s self-help groups.

October 31, 2026

Couple, 5-month-old son killed as pickup truck hits motorcycle in MP’s Shajapur Shajapur (Madhya Pradesh), Oct 31 (IANS) Three members of a family, including a five-month-old child, were killed when a speeding pickup truck collided with their motorcycle in Madhya Pradesh’s Shajapur district, police said on Saturday. The deceased have been identified as Ajit Panwar, his wife Pooja Panwar and their five-month-old son Shivanshu. They were residents of Indra Colony in Ashta town of neighbouring Sehore district. The accident occurred in the Salaslai police station area when the family was travelling from Bolai village towards Ayyapur for temple darshan. According to preliminary investigation, a stray dog suddenly came in front of their motorcycle. Ajit, who was riding the two-wheeler, tried to avoid hitting the animal but lost control of the motorcycle, which swerved into the path of a pickup truck approaching from the opposite direction. The pickup truck hit the motorcycle with considerable force, leaving all three family members critically injured. The motorcycle was badly damaged in the collision. The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared all three dead. The family had left home on Saturday to visit a temple and offer prayers to mark the completion of five months of their son Shivanshu. However, they met with the fatal accident before reaching their destination. “The family was going for temple darshan with their child when a stray dog suddenly came in front of their motorcycle. The rider tried to save the animal but lost control and collided with a pickup coming from the opposite direction,” a police official said. The pickup driver fled the scene after the accident. Police seized both vehicles and registered a case against the unidentified driver for rash and negligent driving. “Efforts are underway to trace the absconding driver with the help of CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination, and further investigation is underway,” the official added.

October 31, 2026

India, politics

Karnataka using KMF price hikes to cover financial mismanagement, alleges Pralhad Joshi New Delhi, Oct 31 (IANS) Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi on Saturday criticised the Congress government in Karnataka over the hike in Nandini curd prices, alleging that the state was using the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) as a tool to offset the financial strain caused by what he termed fiscal mismanagement. In a statement, Joshi said the Congress government has created a new record in price hikes by imposing unprecedented increases on essential commodities, thereby putting an additional burden on ordinary people. He alleged that the government led by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar was using KMF to cover up its financial mismanagement and depleted state coffers by resorting to excessive price hikes. According to Joshi, the price of 500 ml Nandini curd has been increased from Rs 28 to Rs 34, a hike of Rs 6 or 21.43 per cent. Similarly, the price of one litre of curd has been raised from Rs 54 to Rs 68, an increase of Rs 14 or 25.93 per cent. “While giving curd to the people, the Congress government is enjoying the butter,” he remarked, accusing the government of exploiting consumers. Pointing out that the government increased the price of milk by Rs 8 per litre just a day earlier, Joshi said the latest increase in curd prices, ranging from 21 to 26 per cent, would severely affect poor and middle-class families. He further alleged that the Congress government, which had made development a distant dream in Karnataka, was now collecting money from the poorest sections of society through repeated price increases in KMF products. The Union Minister said the successive hikes reflected the government’s anti-people policies and its failure to manage the state’s finances effectively. The Karnataka government has announced an Rs 8 per litre hike in the price of Nandini milk, which takes effect on November 1, 2026. The government states that out of the Rs 8 increase, Rs 7 goes directly to dairy farmers and Rs 1 goes to the milk cooperatives (KMF) for operational expenses. –IANS mka/skp

October 31, 2026

India, politics

Tamil Nadu raises DA from 60 pc to 63 pc, effective July 1 Chennai, Oct 31 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has ordered a three-percentage-point increase in dearness allowance for government employees and teachers, with pensioners and family pensioners also benefiting from the revision announced ahead of Deepavali. The increase, which raises the allowance from 60 per cent to 63 per cent, will take retrospective effect from July 1, 2026. Approximately 16 lakh employees, teachers, pensioners and family pensioners will benefit, according to a notification issued by the state government. The measure will impose an additional annual expenditure of Rs 1,858 crore on the state exchequer. The government said it would allocate the additional funds required to implement the revision as part of its commitment to the welfare of serving and retired personnel. The decision follows the Union government’s increase in dearness allowance for central government employees from 60 per cent to 63 per cent, effective July 1. Tamil Nadu has adopted the same revised rate and commencement date for its employees and teachers. In its notification, the government highlighted the contribution of government officials and teachers to the formulation and implementation of welfare schemes. It said their work played an important role in ensuring that programmes designed for public welfare were implemented effectively. The administration was introducing and carrying out various initiatives for the benefit of the people, the notification said. Government employees and teachers were key participants in this process, contributing both to the planning of programmes and their delivery. Recognising these responsibilities and giving priority to employee welfare, the Chief Minister considered the revision following the Centre’s announcement and ordered the corresponding increase for the state workforce, the government said. The notification also emphasised the inclusion of pensioners and family pensioners among the beneficiaries. The financial commitment, it said, reflected the government’s concern for all four groups covered by the announcement. With Deepavali approaching, the government said the increase would help beneficiaries celebrate the festival with greater happiness. The announcement places the welfare of employees, teachers and pension-dependent households at the centre of the festive-season measure. Although the revised allowance takes effect retrospectively from July, the notification provided in the announcement does not specify when arrears will be paid. It confirms the effective date, the revised rate, the estimated number of beneficiaries and the recurring annual expenditure the state will bear under the decision. –IANS aal/uk

October 31, 2026

India, politics

Manipur govt agrees to pay ex-gratia to kin of 32 Kuki-Zo civilians killed in violence: Key Kuki body Imphal, Oct 31 (IANS) The Manipur government has agreed to provide ex-gratia compensation to the next of kin of 32 Kuki-Zo civilians killed in violence attributed to the NSCN-IM and ZUF-K, the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC), the apex body of the Kuki-Zo tribal community in the state, said on Saturday. A senior KZC leader said that an ex gratia amount of Rs 10 lakh is expected to be provided to each of the bereaved families. According to a KZC statement, a meeting between the council’s leaders and government representatives was held at the District Magistrate’s office in Churachandpur on Friday to discuss the concerns and demands raised by the council. “During the meeting, KZC presented its concerns regarding the prevailing situation and the grievances of the Kuki-Zo people. Following extensive deliberations, the government agreed to provide ex-gratia compensation to the next of kin of 32 Kuki-Zo civilians who lost their lives in violence attributed to NSCN-IM and ZUF-K,” the statement said. The council said the decision reflects the need to honour the memory of the deceased and extend support to their bereaved families. The government also agreed to take responsibility for transporting the bodies of all the deceased to their respective villages for the final rites, the KZC said. According to the council, eight bodies of Kuki-Zo victims are currently lying in the morgue of Churachandpur District Hospital for a prolonged period, while some others have already been buried due to unavoidable circumstances. Both arrangements — payment of compensation and transportation of the bodies — are expected to be completed within seven days, the statement said. The KZC also raised several other pressing issues and demands concerning the security, welfare and political aspirations of the Kuki-Zo people. The government has taken these matters under consideration and assured the council that they would be reviewed and responded to in due course, the statement said. While describing the commitments on ex-gratia compensation and transportation of the deceased as steps towards addressing the immediate concerns of the bereaved families, the KZC emphasised that the broader grievances and legitimate political aspirations of the Kuki-Zo people require concrete and time-bound action. The council said it would continue to pursue these matters with the government until meaningful outcomes are achieved. Meanwhile, Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen on Saturday urged the authorities concerned to make every possible effort to trace and rescue two Kuki youths who went missing from Kangpokpi district on the evening of October 28. In a statement, Kipgen condemned the alleged abduction of the two youths from the vicinity of Taphou Kuki village on Wednesday evening. The two men, identified as Tinginlun Chongloi, 21, and Paoginlal Hangshing, 20, were allegedly abducted by unidentified miscreants, she said. “It is deeply distressing that young lives are being put at risk in this manner. I urge the authorities concerned to make every possible effort to trace their whereabouts and secure their safe and unconditional release at the earliest. Those responsible must be identified and brought to justice,” she said. Meanwhile, a 48-hour shutdown called by the Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) in Kangpokpi district in protest against the reported abduction of the two youths affected vehicular movement along the Imphal-Dimapur National Highway (NH-2). The shutdown began at 5 p.m. on Thursday. Shops, markets and other business establishments also remained closed during the protest. COTU alleged that the two Kuki youths had been abducted by “Naga militants”. –IANS sc/vd

October 31, 2026

Rs 500 crore crypto fraud: ED conducts raids in Chandigarh, Mohali, Zirakpur, seizes Rs 72 lakh Shimla, Oct 31 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted search operations at various locations across Chandigarh, Mohali and Zirakpur in connection with a Rs 500 crore cryptocurrency fraud involving Korvio Coin (KRO) and seized property documents and Rs 72 lakh in cash, an official said on Saturday. The searches were conducted by ED’s Shimla Sub-Zonal Office on October 28 under Section 17(1) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, the official said in a statement. During the search operation, various incriminating documents, including property-related documents, multiple digital devices and records pertaining to bank accounts, along with cash amounting to Rs 72 lakh, were seized. The investigation revealed that Atul Sood, a close aide of Subhash Sharma, the alleged mastermind behind the fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme that caused losses amounting to crores of rupees to investors, had travelled to Dubai to meet Subhash Sharma and was involved in arranging conferences and other events for him. These activities were carried out even after the registration of FIRs in connection with the fraudulent scheme, the ED said. During the ED’s search operation, Atul Sood was arrested and produced before the Special PMLA Court in Shimla on October 29, which granted his custody till November 5. Earlier, the ED had conducted search operations on December 13, 2025, and June 15, 2026, at the premises of various individuals associated with the fictitious cryptocurrency scheme, resulting in the seizure of incriminating documents and digital devices along with movable assets valued at Rs 1.5 crore. In connection with the case, various associates of Subash Sharma namely Hem Raj, Sukhdev Thakur, Abhishek Sharma, Milan Garg and Masoom Juneja were arrested. The charge sheet, along with the supplementary charge sheet, against them has been filed before the Special Court in Shimla, the ED added. The ED investigation was initiated on the basis of FIRs registered by the Himachal Pradesh and Punjab Police against Subhash Sharma and others. “The investigation revealed that Subhash Sharma, in connivance with his associates, including Hem Raj, Sukhdev Thakur, Abhishek Sharma and others, operated a cryptocurrency-based multi-level marketing (MLM) scheme through an online platform, inducing investors to invest in Korvio Coin (KRO) by promising assured high returns,” the ED said. The scheme functioned on a Ponzi model, wherein funds received from new investors were used to pay earlier investors. Recovered digital data indicated that more than 2.48 lakh users were affected by the fraud, involving transactions exceeding $219 million and estimated investor losses of around Rs 500 crore. “Investigation has revealed that the funds collected from new investors were predominantly received in cash and delivered to the leaders of the respective teams, from where they were ultimately routed to Subhash Sharma and his aides, including Vijay Kumar Juneja and Masoom Juneja,” the ED said. “It was also revealed that a portion of the funds collected from investors was allegedly utilised for acquiring immovable properties, with substantial consideration being paid in cash and registered values being significantly lower than the actual consideration,” the ED added. A smaller portion of the funds received from new investors was routed through multiple bank accounts, fictitious firms and intermediaries and were partly converted into cryptocurrency to conceal their origin and movement, the statement said. Subhash Sharma, the mastermind behind the fictitious cryptocurrency scam, fled to Dubai after duping thousands of investors, leaving them to suffer substantial financial losses. The ED has already initiated legal proceedings against him before the competent authorities in connection with the said case. –IANS rch/khz

October 31, 2026