Karnataka: Barack Obama, wife Michelle Obama likely to visit Mandya district soon; Here's why
Mandya, Karnataka is gearing up for a momentous event in November as former U.S. President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama are set to visit the region to inaugurate a spiritual center. This center has been constructed by the family of U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, who has served under both Obama and the current President, Joe Biden.
The spiritual center, will be a global symbol, as it aims to connect with people from all corners of the world. The project, situated on a sprawling 12-acre expanse, carries a price tag of Rs 70 crore. The SCOPE Foundation is providing the funding for this innovative endeavor.
One of the center's striking features is an impressive 11-foot tall statue of Mother Earth, sculpted from a single piece of rock. The statue will be adorned with blue granite and whitestone, symbolizing water and waves. Renowned sculptor Arun Yogiraj, known for crafting a statue of Subash Chandra Bose, has been chosen by Hallegere Lakshmi Narashima Murthy, Dr. Murthy's father, to bring this vision to life.
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In addition to the Mother Earth statue, the spiritual center will house 64 statues of philosophers spanning from Socrates to Swami Vivekananda. This integration of diverse philosophical voices underlines the center's commitment to fostering spiritual and intellectual growth.
The upcoming Yoga and Meditation Sathwik Centre, an integral part of the spiritual complex, is set to be established on eight acres of land. The foundation is planning to invite the revered Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, to lay the foundation stone for this center.
As part of the project's global outreach, a walkathon promoting the concept of the "Mother of Earth" will be launched in Washington DC on September 10. Jill Biden, the U.S. First Lady, and Vice-President Kamala Harris will inaugurate this event. Similar walkathons are scheduled to take place in various cities abroad.
Hallegere Lakshmi Narashima Murthy shared insights into the project's financing, revealing, "Our family has funded several charity activities. Since the whole project needs around Rs 100 crore, we may approach some donors."
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Gold smuggling racket busted at Bengaluru airport, 5 arrested
Bengaluru (PTI): The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has busted a major international gold smuggling syndicate operating through Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru following a coordinated operation, according to an official statement.
Five people have been arrested so far in connection with the case and efforts are underway to identify the key masterminds and dismantle the entire network, officials said.
Acting on specific intelligence inputs, officers of the DRI’s Bengaluru Zonal Unit mounted surveillance at Terminal 2 of the airport, leading to the interception of a network involving foreign nationals and local facilitators.
The operation, conducted over April 6 and 7, culminated in the seizure of 3.356 kg of high-purity gold worth about Rs 5 crore in paste form.
“The officers of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Bengaluru Zonal Unit, have successfully busted a major international gold smuggling syndicate operating through Kempegowda International Airport (KIAL), Bengaluru,” the agency said in a press release.
Officials said the contraband was ingeniously concealed in paste form inside capsule-shaped packets, highlighting the sophisticated methods adopted by the syndicate.
Investigations revealed that carriers arriving from abroad deliberately chose Bengaluru as a transit point, exploiting longer layovers to facilitate covert transfers within the airport premises.
“The gold was concealed on the body and transferred using a pre-arranged passcode system inside sensitive areas such as washrooms and smoking zones, thereby bypassing Customs scrutiny,” the statement said.
The use of coded exchanges within restricted zones enabled the syndicate to evade routine checks, it said, adding that the probe also uncovered insider involvement within the airport ecosystem.
“The syndicate had further infiltrated the airport ecosystem, with the involvement of an insider who misused authorised access to restricted zones to receive and smuggle out the contraband,” the DRI said.
The operation also revealed the use of encrypted communication platforms featuring coded messages and disappearing chats.
Authorities said preliminary investigations indicate the involvement of a wider international network.
“Preliminary investigation indicates that the network is part of a larger cross-border smuggling syndicate involving foreign operatives, suspected to be Bangladeshi nationals, working in tandem with domestic handlers and facilitators,” the DRI said.
Officials said the case reflects the increasing sophistication of smuggling operations and reiterated that the agency remains committed to curbing such organised economic offences.
