Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday launched the ‘Mera Yuva Bharat’ — ‘MY Bharat’ — platform and said it will play a big role in nation-building in the 21st century.

At an event marking the culmination of the ‘Meri Maati Mera Desh’ campaign and the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav at the Kartavya Path New Delhi, the prime minister also laid an e-foundation stone of an Amrit Mahotsav Smarak and Amrit Vatika.

Before the launch, Prime Minister Modi offered soil into the Amrit Kalash and applied a ’tilak’ on his forehead with the ‘mitti’.

The Amrit Mahotsav Smarak and Amrit Vatika will come up near the India Gate.

In his address, PM Modi said the coming generations will be reminded of this historic occasion through the memorial and garden.

Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) is an autonomous body which will help set the focus of the government on youth-led development and make the youths “active drivers” of development, the Union culture ministry said earlier.

The prime minister said it will play a big role in nation-building in the 21st century.

Amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, the United States is sending additional troops to the US Central Command region, which covers the Middle East and parts of Africa, Pentagon press secretary Brigadier General Patrick Ryder said on Tuesday (local time).

Ryder said that these troops will provide capabilities, explosive ordnance disposal, communications and other support enablers for forces already in the region. He said that additional US troops are not going to Israel.

While addressing a press briefing on Tuesday (local time), he said, “I can announce the decision to deploy an additional 300 troops to the US Central Command region from home stations in the continental United States. These additional troops will provide capabilities, explosive ordnance disposal, communications and other support enablers for forces already in the region.”

The region monitored by the US Central Command encompasses 20 countries, including Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, the countries of the Arabian Peninsula and northern Red Sea, and the five republics of Central Asia.

“Please note that we will not discuss specific deployment locations for these forces, but I can confirm they are not going to Israel and that they are intended to support regional deterrence efforts and further bolster US force protection capabilities,” he added.

Brigadier General Patrick Ryder said that US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin, during his remarks at the Senate testimony, said the US will continue to provide critical security assistance to Israel.

He said that Austin said that the focus of the US is on providing air defence capabilities, precision-guided munitions and more interceptors for the Iron Dome system.

According to Ryder, Austin said that the US is coordinating closely with the Israelis to help secure the release of the hostages held by Hamas, including American citizens.

Ryder said that Austin highlighted that the US immediately provided military advisors to offer best practises for integrating hostage recovery into Israel’s operations.

Lloyd Austin said that the US has strengthened its force posture across the region to deter any state or nonstate actors from escalating this crisis beyond Gaza, according to Patrick Ryder.

While addressing the press briefing, Ryder said Austin continues to remain in close contact with his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant by phone and received updates regarding Israel’s operations in Gaza.
Ryder said, “The secretary commended the Israel Defense Forces’ commitment to hostage recovery” and re-emphasized the importance of conducting operations in accordance with the law of war. He also stressed the imperative to protect innocent civilians and allow unfettered humanitarian aid into Gaza.

 Hours after returning home from Italy, an NRI man allegedly killed his wife by repeatedly thrashing her head on the floor of their house in a village here, police said on Tuesday.

Kapurthala Senior Superintendent of Police Vatsala Gupta said the non-resident Indian identified as Sukhdev Singh returned to his house in Sandhu Chatha village from Italy on Monday.

On the same day, he had a heated argument with his wife Harpreet Kaur (45) over some issue, the SSP said.

Singh dragged Kaur to his room and allegedly thrashed her head repeatedly on the floor, killing her on the spot, he added.

The police said a case has been registered against the absconding accused and efforts are on to nab him.