Kerala woman killed in Palestinian rocket strike in Israel
Idukki, May 11: A Keralite woman working in Israel was killed allegedly in a Palestinian rocket strike on Tuesday, her family members said here.
They said the rocket fell on the residence of 31-year old Soumya in the city of Ashkelon while she was talking to her husband Santhosh, who is in Kerala, over video call in the evening.
"My brother heard a huge sound during the video call.
Suddenly the phone got disconnected. Then we immediately contacted fellow Malayalees working there. Thus we came to know about the incident," Santhosh's brother Saji told PTI.
Soumya, hailing from Keerithodu in Idukki district, had been working as a housemaid in Israel for the last seven years, her relatives said.
There is no official confirmation about the incident so far.
Newly-elected MLA and Nationalist Congress Kerala leader Mani C Kappan condemned the incident.
In a Facebook post, Kappan, who is representing Pala seat in the Kerala Assembly, said thousands of Keralites working in Israel were living in fear.
He also sought intervention of the Central and state governments in the issue.
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Defence budget may get Rs 50,000-crore boost amid Operation Sindoor: Report
New Delhi: The Indian government is reportedly considering a significant boost to its defence budget, with a proposed additional allocation of Rs 50,000 crore for the purchase of weapons, ammunition, and technology following the recent Operation Sindoor.
This move, according to a report by India Today, may be approved during the Winter session of Parliament through a supplementary budget.
The extra funds would be directed towards addressing the armed forces' requirements, essential procurements, and enhancing research and development capabilities.
The Union Budget allocated a record Rs 6.81 lakh crore to the defence sector this year, marking a 9.53 percent increase from the previous year. Over the past decade, the NDA government has nearly tripled the defence budget. In 2014-15, the budget stood at Rs 2.29 lakh crore, while this year's allocation now accounts for 13.45 percent of the total national budget.
