News Arena Network

Neha Singh

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee would hold a meeting at the state secretariat on Thursday in connection with the ongoing eviction drive of hawkers and clearing of &ldquo;encroached&rdquo; footpaths at various places, an official said.
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Senior bureaucrats and police officers have been asked to be present at the meeting, he said.
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&ldquo;Mayors of all corporations and chairmen of municipalities have also been directed to be present through video-conference,&rdquo; he told the media.
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Police had on Tuesday started the eviction drive after Banerjee expressed strong displeasure over the &ldquo;encroachment&rdquo; of footpaths in Kolkata and its neighbouring Salt Lake area.
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Hawkers, who had set up stalls to sell food items, garments and various products across the city and Salt Lake, were told to remove their structures, a police officer said.
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&ldquo;Government property and land are being encroached, and this is being allowed for money,&rdquo; the chief minister had recently said.
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Kolkata

Mamata to convene meeting for evicting encroachers

The wife of Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, who has been arrested in a murder case, on Wednesday urged his fans to stay calm and focus on doing good deeds.
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<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">Vijayalakshmi shared a fan art on her Instagram account along with a message in which she called her husband&rsquo;s fans &ldquo;celebrities&rdquo; and said that the actor was &ldquo;touched&rdquo; by the support he was getting.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&ldquo;Call for all our celebrities. You all know how much Darshan loves you. It is sad that we are in this situation today and that we have to stay at a distance from him. I have spoken to him in detail about the situation outside and it has touched his heart,&rdquo; Vijayalakshmi said.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">Darshan has urged all his celebrities to stay calm and focus on doing good deeds. He is sure that he will be a part of your prayers, she said.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&ldquo;We have immense faith in the judicial system of our nation and am sure there will be brighter days ahead. I firmly believe that those attempting to harm Darshan through words/action during his absence will be taken care of by Mother Chamundeshwari,&rdquo; she said.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">Vijayalakshmi urged the actor's fans to keep supporting him in these hard times, saying, &ldquo;Your being calm will be our biggest strength. This too shall pass. Truth will Triumph.&rdquo; A total of 17 people, including Darshan and his friend Pavithra Gowda, are accused in the alleged killing of Renukaswamy.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">According to police sources, 33-year-old Renukaswamy, a fan of the actor, had sent obscene messages to Gowda, which enraged Darshan, allegedly leading to his murder. His body was found near a stormwater drain next to an apartment in Sumanahalli here on June 9.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">Darshan and the other accused are currently in judicial custody. 
&nbsp;

Bengaluru

Kannada actor's wife urges his fans to stay calm

Deepan

In an unexpected yet significant moment, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi exchanged a rare handshake in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. The cordial gesture occurred just before they escorted Om Birla to the Speaker&rsquo;s Chair following his election as the Speaker of the Lower House. 
The event unfolded as pro-tem Speaker B Mahtab announced Birla's unanimous selection. PM Modi then approached the front benches to congratulate the newly elected Speaker, where he was soon joined by Gandhi. 
In a notable moment, Gandhi extended his hand to Modi, who reciprocated with a smile. The two leaders then accompanied Birla to the Speaker's chair, marking a moment of unity in the often contentious Parliament. 
This isn't the first time Gandhi has reached out to Modi. In 2018, Gandhi famously hugged Modi during a Parliament session, a gesture that quickly went viral, capturing headlines and television screens across the nation. Modi, initially surprised, responded with a pat on Gandhi&rsquo;s back.

New Delhi

Modi, Rahul in rare display of unity in Lok Sabha

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today took into custody Ehsan Ul Haq, the principal of Oasis School and NTA's city coordinator for Hazaribag, after a prolonged investigation and interrogation lasting about seven hours in connection with the NEET paper leak case.
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The CBI team is questioning the principal in detail about the case at the time of filing this report.
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According to sources, after a lengthy interrogation of Oasis School Principal Ehsan Ul Haq, the CBI team took him with them.
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The interrogation lasted for about seven hours at the school.
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Throughout the day, the CBI team interrogated school officials and SBI branch officials.
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At around 5:17 pm, the team left the school with the principal and kept him in a guest house.
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The CBI team questioned four invigilators present at the centre on the day of the examination at Oasis School, two observers from NTA, two deputy superintendents, and the principal of the school.
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Additionally, the interrogation was conducted at the branch office of the State Bank of India. Employees of the Blue Dart office were also questioned until 1:00 am last night, and today, significant information was obtained from them.&nbsp;
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According to the received information, the CBI has also seized many electronic devices during the investigation.
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Earlier on June 22, a five-member investigation team from Bihar had questioned authorities at Oasis School.
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Notably, four centres were set up in Hazaribag for the NEET exam, one of which had a boy who topped the exam.
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The investigation team's visit to Hazaribagh's Oasis School was prompted by the discovery that the serial number of a burnt question paper booklet matched one from Oasis School.
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However, the school's principal had denied any irregularities on the part of the school.
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The principal asserted that all the rules were followed, and the question paper had not leaked from the school.
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He mentioned that the envelope of the question paper, which was alleged to have been leaked, had been tampered with very carefully.

Ranchi

CBI nabs Jharkhand principal in NEET leak case

Ansh Mavani

Sam Pitroda has been re-appointed as the chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress, according to an announcement by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) on Wednesday.
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The Congress President reinstated Pitroda to his former position with immediate effect, following his resignation earlier in May this year amidst controversies surrounding his remarks about the appearance of Indians. At the time, the Congress party distanced itself from Pitroda's statements.
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Congress General Secretary for Communications, Jairam Ramesh, shared the news of Pitroda's decision to step down through a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. "Sam Pitroda has decided to step down as Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress of his own accord. The Congress President has accepted his decision," Ramesh stated.
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The controversy began when Pitroda, in an interview with 'The Statesman,' commented on the diversity of appearances among Indians. He remarked, "We have survived 75 years in a very happy environment where people could live together, leaving aside a few fights here and there.&nbsp;We could hold a country together as diverse as India, where people in the East look like Chinese, people in the West look like Arabs, people in the North look like whites, and maybe people in the South look like Africans."
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Pitroda emphasised India's respect for different languages, religions, foods, and customs, which vary from region to region. "That's the India that I believe in, where everybody has a place and everybody compromises a little bit," he added.
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Pitroda's remarks sparked an uproar during the Lok Sabha elections, with the ruling BJP sharply criticising the Congress party. Jairam Ramesh described Pitroda's analogies as "most unfortunate and unacceptable," clarifying that the Indian National Congress completely dissociated itself from these remarks.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi also condemned Pitroda's statements, asserting that the people of India would not tolerate insults based on skin color. During a rally in Warangal, PM Modi demanded an explanation from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, saying, "'Shehzade aapko jawaab dena padega'. My country will not tolerate the disrespect of my countrymen based on their skin colour and Modi will never tolerate this."
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PM Modi further criticised the Congress party's stance towards President Droupadi Murmu, suggesting that the party's opposition to her was influenced by Pitroda, whom he referred to as a "philosophical guide" for Rahul Gandhi.
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Modi remarked, "I was thinking a lot about President Droupadi Murmu, who has a very good reputation and is the daughter of an Adivasi family, then why is Congress trying so hard to defeat her but today I got to know the reason. I got to know that there is an uncle in America who is the philosophical guide of &lsquo;Shehzada&rsquo; and just like the third umpire in cricket this &lsquo;Shehzada&rsquo; takes advice from the third umpire."
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This is not the first time Pitroda has courted controversy with his remarks. He previously advocated for an inheritance tax-like law in India, emphasising the need for policies aimed at wealth redistribution.
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"In America, there is an inheritance tax. If one has 100 million USD worth of wealth and, when he dies, can only transfer probably 45 per cent to his children, 55 per cent is grabbed by the government. That&rsquo;s an interesting law. It says you, in your generation, made wealth and you are leaving now; you must leave your wealth for the public&ndash;not all of it, but half of it, which to me sounds fair," Pitroda stated.
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PM Modi criticised these remarks, accusing the Congress of not wanting Indians to pass on their property to their children.
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With his reappointment, Pitroda returns to a key role within the Indian Overseas Congress, a position from which he had previously stepped down amidst significant controversy.

Sam Pitroda back as chairman of Overseas Congress

Vats Ambardar

The hill state of Himachal Pradesh is slipping into a debt trap with its total loans exceeding Rs 85000 crore and the state requiring borrowing more loans to repay the previous ones. The Himachal government is hence looking up to the 16th Finance Commission to bail out the debt-ridden state with liberal financial assistance, keeping in view the difficult situation.
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The presentation by the Himachal Pradesh government before the 16th Finance Commission, which is on a visit to the state, projects Himachal Pradesh in a bad to worse financial state in the coming years with meting out salaries of government employees a big challenge.
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Although the number of government employees has been on a downward trend over the last many years, the estimated expenditure on the salaries of the government employees ( 2.42 lakh) in the current financial year is Rs 14,687 crore.
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The ratio of government employee-population ratio in Himachal Pradesh is very high, as most people look to government employment as a secure occupation, with the hill state not offering much in terms of opportunities in the private sector. Sixty per cent of the total expenditure on salaries of government employees in HP is incurred in education and health departments.
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The 16th Finance Commission&rsquo;s award period of five years beginning April 1, 2026, will see the expenditure on salaries of government employees go up to Rs 1.20 lakh crore.
&nbsp;
While urging the Finance Commission to be liberal in grants to Himachal Pradesh given such a grim financial state, the government has pointed out that there has been a 59% increase in the expenditure on salaries of the government employees from 2017-18 to 2024-25 owing to revised pay scales, DA, annual increments and regularisation of contractual employees.&nbsp;
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All this is even though the government has not paid off allowances to the employees and only the functional posts are being filled in the government sector.
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&ldquo;We have put everything straight before the Finance Commission. The state is reeling under debt and we have to take more debt to pay the previous loans. The previous BJP government is fully responsible for this financial crisis as it took huge loans in the five-year tenure,&rdquo; said Chief Minister, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.
He said the Revenue Deficit Grant to Himachal Pradesh has reduced substantially to Rs 3000 crore this year. It was Rs 10,000 crore during the BJP regime. &ldquo;This needs to be increased to help the state meet its expenditure.
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The criteria for hill states should be changed when it comes to the disbursement of 41% taxes among the states. The mountain state of Himachal cannot be compared with the plain states, as the cost of construction is very high in the hills,&rdquo; he said.
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Sukhu said the government had moved to mobilise resources by imposing cess on water, but the same was struck down by the Court.&nbsp;
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&ldquo;We have 68% forest land in HP, which serves as lungs for North India. We can&rsquo;t cut the forests also for income and have instead banned felling of trees in HP,&rdquo; he said.
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The Chief Minister said the state government had restored the Old Pension Scheme for the employees, which was not a populist measure. &ldquo;It was done keeping in view the life expectancy and the social security.&nbsp;
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The state must get back its contribution of Rs 9000 crore in the New Pension Scheme from the Centre,&rdquo; he said.
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Sukhu also talked about huge losses in last year&rsquo;s natural calamity in Himachal Pradesh and said the state did not get relief from the Centre.
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Shimla

Is Himachal slipping into a debt trap?

Amarpreet Kaur

Haryana Police reported that a woman suffered partial vision loss after an unidentified man on a motorcycle allegedly splashed a chemical on her while she was returning home with her family at night. The incident occurred on June 22, and the victim experienced blurred vision afterward.
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Authorities have initiated a case against the perpetrator and are actively pursuing leads to apprehend him.&nbsp;
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When her vision showed no improvement in two-three days, the woman along with her husband reached the Ambala city police station on Wednesday and lodged a complaint against the unknown accused, they said.
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Meanwhile, the victim, a resident of Ambala City, consulted a private doctor who advised surgery, they added.
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Describing the incident in the police complaint, the victim said she was returning home from Gurudwara Manji Sahib with her husband and children at around 11 pm on June 22 on a motorcycle.
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A man coming from the opposite side on a motorcycle threw some chemical at her, which fell on her eyes, the complainant said, adding that the accused fled after the incident.
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The family could not spot the vehicle plate number as it was dark, the police said.&nbsp;The victim said she lost her partial vision as the chemical entered her eyes, they added.
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The Ambala City police have registered a case against the unknown person under Section 326A (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by use of acid) of the Indian Penal Code and launched a probe.&nbsp;

Ambala

Ambala woman partially blind in chemical attack

Paraguay has officially become the 100th member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), marking a significant milestone in global solar energy cooperation. The country's Ambassador to India, Fleming Raul Duarte, handed over the Instrument of Ratification during a meeting with Abhishek Singh, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of External Affairs, in New Delhi.
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The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is a collaborative initiative aimed at promoting solar energy deployment worldwide. Launched jointly by India and France during COP21 in Paris, ISA focuses on enhancing energy access, ensuring energy security, and fostering the transition to clean energy technologies. It aligns with the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement by facilitating large-scale adoption of solar power.
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Established in 2015 during the 21st Conference of Parties (COP21) to the UNFCCC, ISA operates as a member-driven platform. Currently, 119 countries have signed the ISA Framework Agreement, with 100 countries, including Paraguay, having ratified it to become full-fledged members.
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Paraguay's accession underscores its commitment to sustainable energy practices and global climate action. With Spain recently joining as the 99th member in May, ISA continues to expand its membership base, further amplifying its impact on advancing solar energy solutions globally.
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The addition of Paraguay to ISA not only strengthens the alliance's international presence but also enhances collaborative efforts towards achieving a sustainable and low-carbon future.
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As countries unite under ISA's umbrella, the alliance remains pivotal in driving global efforts towards a cleaner and more resilient energy landscape.
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This development highlights Paraguay's proactive stance in leveraging solar energy for economic growth and environmental sustainability, aligning with global efforts to combat climate change and promote renewable energy solutions on a larger scale.

Paraguay: 100th member of Int’l Solar Alliance

Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday, distributed plot allotment certificates to beneficiaries under the state housing scheme, citing that BJP's commitment is to simplify the lives of poor people and empower them.&nbsp;
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In alignment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision to provide housing for every impoverished individual, the Haryana government had launched the Mukhyamantri Shehri Awas Yojana to fulfill the housing aspirations of poor families in the state, Saini said during an event in Rohtak.
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Under the state scheme, 15,250 beneficiaries were given land plot allotment certificates on Wednesday, according to an official statement.
 At the event held at Maharshi Dayanand University in Rohtak, the chief minister handed out plot allotment letters to the beneficiaries on the spot, the release said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
मैंने अधिकारियों को स्पष्ट रूप से कहा है कि अपनी कार्य प्रणाली में सुधार करें नहीं तो हम सुधार कर देंगे।अगर गरीबों को चक्कर काटने पड़े तो अधिकारी के भी उतने ही चक्कर कटवा दूंगा। रोहतक की भूमि से कहना चाहता हूं कि तीसरी बार हरियाणा में बड़े मैंडेट के साथ भाजपा की सरकार आ रही है । <a href="https://t.co/0W5mkeqZdY">pic.twitter.com/0W5mkeqZdY</a>
&mdash; Nayab Saini (@NayabSainiBJP) <a href="https://twitter.com/NayabSainiBJP/status/1805942209683886169?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Similar programmes to distribute allotment letters were also held simultaneously at four other places --Yamunanagar, Palwal, Sirsa, and Mahendragarh, it added.
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Addressing the gathering in Rohtak, Saini said the BJP government's goal is to simplify the lives of the poor and empower them.
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He pointed out that the previous Congress government promised 100 square yard plots to the poor but neither gave them plots, nor any papers, forcing such people to later keep running from pillar to post.
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But the BJP government understood their plight and decided to provide them with plots, the chief minister said.
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He said a programme was recently organised during which beneficiaries were given possession certificates for 100 square yards plots.
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On this occasion, Subhash Sudha, Minister of State for Urban Local Bodies, congratulated the beneficiaries receiving plot allotment letters under the housing scheme.
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Sudha said families with an annual income below Rs 1.80 lakh applied under this scheme, and today the chief minister provided benefits to such eligible beneficiaries.
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Saini said the state government had also recently distributed cards to families having an income of less than Rs 1 lakh annually under the Haryana Antyodaya Parivar Parivahan Yojana.
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There are about 23 lakh such families with around 84 lakh members who are benefiting from 1,000 kilometres of free bus travel in state transport within a year under this scheme, he said.

Chandigarh

Haryana CM distributes housing plot certificates

In a recent incident, the Karnataka health department banned the usage of artificial colours in chicken kebabs, fish and vegetarian food items across the state, after unsafe levels of artificial colours, namely sunset yellow and carmoisine, were found in some kebab samples.
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Food adulteration has become a normal practice, so much so that it feels completely unsafe to eat packaged and outside food. If you can relate to this statement, this piece of information is for you.&nbsp;
 According to the health department, 39 kebab samples were collected from various parts of the state and after the test of these samples, it was found that seven kebab samples had sunset yellow and one contained both sunset yellow and carmoisine.
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In reaction to the report, the department issued an order on June 21 stating, &ldquo;Such additives, as per the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products, Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, pose serious health risks to consumers.&rdquo;
 As per the law, the violation of the rules can lead to imprisonment ranging from a minimum of seven years up to a life term and a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh.
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What is Carmoisine?
 Carmoisine, also known as Azorubine or Food Red 3, is a synthetic azo dye used as a food coloring agent to impart a red or maroon color to various food products. It is commonly found in candies, beverages, jams, jellies, processed foods, and cosmetics.
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Carmoisine is assigned the E number E122 and is approved for use in the European Union but is subject to regulation and restrictions in other regions. However, excess consumption of this artificial colour is associated with major health issues. Scroll down to read about its side effects.
 Hives, itching, swelling are the common allergic reactions and individuals with a history of allergies or asthma may be more susceptible to allergic reactions triggered by carmoisine.
 As per studies, carmoisine and other artificial food dyes are also linked to hyperactivity and behavioral issues in children, particularly those with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
 Excessive consumption of the dye is may lead to gastrointestinal discomfort such as bloating, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea after consuming carmoisine-containing products.
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Carmoisine may trigger immune responses, causing chronic inflammation or other immune-related issues in sensitive individuals.
 Carmoisine can cause contact dermatitis or other skin reactions in some individuals, which may occur even when the dye is ingested rather than applied topically.
 In March, the state government had banned the use of artificial colours in edible items such as Gobi Manchurian and cotton candy. The ban was imposed after carcinogenic chemicals were found in artificial colours used in food items.
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K'taka bans food colouring in some food items

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has sparked sharp reactions, with his wife, Sunita Kejriwal, equating the events to a "dictatorship" reminiscent of the Emergency era.
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Kejriwal was taken into custody from a courtroom following a decision by the Delhi Court's Vacation Judge, who permitted the CBI to interrogate him and formalise his arrest in connection with the Excise policy case.
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Sunita Kejriwal voiced her dismay on social media, alleging a concerted effort by authorities to keep her husband detained despite him securing bail earlier on June 20, which was subsequently stayed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). She criticised the sequence of events, labelling them as an abuse of power akin to the Emergency period in Indian history.
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Meanwhile, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leaders marked the 50th anniversary of the Emergency with protests at the Parliament premises. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla condemned the Emergency, describing it as a dark chapter in India's history. The lower house observed a sombre moment of silence to honour those who lost their lives during that tumultuous period.
&nbsp;
Birla underscored the significance of upholding democratic values and defending the Constitution, emphasising that the imposition of Emergency in 1975 had stifled democracy and curtailed freedom of expression. He praised the resilience of individuals who resisted the Emergency, safeguarding India's democratic fabric envisioned by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar.
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The developments surrounding Kejriwal's arrest have reignited debates about the balance between executive authority and judicial independence in India. Critics argue that the swift actions against Kejriwal raise concerns about due process and fair trial rights, echoing sentiments expressed during the Emergency era.
&nbsp;
The legal proceedings continue to unfold, with Kejriwal's legal team preparing to challenge the High Court's stay on his bail and contest the grounds of his arrest. The case has drawn significant public attention, reflecting broader concerns about political freedoms and the rule of law in contemporary India.
&nbsp;
As the situation evolves, stakeholders across the political spectrum are closely monitoring the implications of Kejriwal's arrest on governance and democratic principles.
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The coming days are likely to witness further legal manoeuvres and public discourse on the fundamental rights of individuals and the responsibilities of state authorities.

Sunita equates Kejriwal’s CBI arrest to emergency

President Droupadi Murmu will address the joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, where she is expected to unveil the priorities of the newly-elected government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
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Murmu&rsquo;s address to the joint sitting of Parliament will also be the first after the constitution of the 18th Lok Sabha. The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha began on Monday and the 264th session of the Rajya Sabha will begin on June 27.
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The President will reach the Parliament in a procession from the Rashtrapati Bhawan, escorted by the horse-mounted presidential bodyguards.
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She will be received by Prime Minister Modi and the presiding officers of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha at the Gaja Dwar of the Parliament building from where she will be escorted to the Lower House chamber with the traditional sceptre &lsquo;Sengol&rsquo; in the lead.
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According to Article 87 of the Constitution, the President is required to address a joint session of Parliament at the beginning of the session after each Lok Sabha election. The President also addresses a joint sitting of both Houses in the first session of the Parliament every year.
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The government outlines its programmes and policies through the President&rsquo;s address. It also highlights the steps taken by the government the previous year and spells out priorities for the upcoming year.
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Following the President&rsquo;s address, the ruling party will move a motion of thanks in both Houses of the Parliament which will be debated by members.
Prime Minister Modi is likely to reply to the debate on the motion of thanks on July 2-3.
&nbsp;
Murmu is expected to provide an overview of the Modi government&rsquo;s policies over the past 10 years, covering achievements in various sectors such as economy, defense, healthcare, education, and social welfare, among others.
&nbsp;
A resurgent Opposition is expected to corner the government on a range of issues such as NEET-UG irregularities, cancellation of UGC-NET, terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, train accidents in the country, and rising prices of essential commodities.
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In the recently held general elections, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA retained power for a third consecutive term by winning 293 seats, much below expectations of the BJP which was hoping for over 400 seats for the ruling alliance.
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The Opposition emerged stronger in the elections with the INDIA bloc winning 233 seats, which include 98 of the Congress, almost double of the 52 seats it had won in 2019.&nbsp;
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Prez Murmu to address joint sitting of Parliament

Shiromani Akali Dal is the second oldest political party in the country after the Congress. It was founded on December 14, 1920. It has been a party of patriots and nationalists.&nbsp;
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In 1947, the Shiromani Akali Dal firmly stood against the partition of the country. When partition became inevitable, the party stood by India. SAD throughout history
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During the dark era of terrorism, the Shiromani Akali Dal suffered as much as any other political party, with its leaders falling prey to the militants&rsquo; bullets, including the sitting president Sant Harchand Singh Longowal, who was shot dead by militants following the Rajeev-Longowal Accord.
&nbsp;
In the post-independent era, particularly since the 1970s, there were attempts to weaken the Shiromani Akali Dal. It led to the formation of some splinter groups. There still are many. However, it is the Shiromani Akali Dal-Badal, headed by Sukhbir Singh Badal, which inherits the real Akali legacy. Shiromani Akali Dal and Shiromani Akali Dal-Badal are the same thing.
 It is a sad fact of history that the Shiromani Akali Dal became the victim of petty politics. It was sabotaged from within the community with the support of outsiders. Zail Singh, Indira and the Akalis Former President of India, Giani Zail Singh, who was earlier the Chief Minister of Punjab and also the Union Home Minister before becoming the President of India, was a bitter critic and opponent of the Shiromani Akali Dal.
&nbsp;
Given the emotive and aggressive nature of Punjabis, political rivalries here are always fierce. Everything is fair in this game in the proverbial way.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Zail Singh used his proximity with his leader and the then Prime Minister Ms Indira Gandhi to settle political scores with the Akalis. Ms Gandhi did not have any love lost for the Akalis, particularly after their aggressive opposition to the &lsquo;Emergency&rsquo; imposed by her. The former Prime Minister had some natural and innate aversion for the regional parties, whether the Shiromani Akali Dal in Punjab or the National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir and even a new party Telugu Desam Party of Andhra Pradesh. 
Zail Singh exploited Ms Gandhi&rsquo;s aversion to the regional parties to weaken the Shiromani Akali Dal in Punjab. It is a well-known fact that Giani Zail Singh promoted and patronised radical and extremist elements among the Sikhs to weaken the Akali Dal, which eventually ended in a devastating era that left tens of thousands of Punjabis dead.
&nbsp;
Recent experience suggests that wherever the moderates have been weakened, whether in Jammu and Kashmir or Punjab, the extremists have emerged stronger. They end up so strong that it takes ages to tame and curb them. Both J&amp;K and Punjab are two examples. Punjab&rsquo;s redemption
&nbsp;
Thankfully, Punjab was redeemed from the dark era, but not without the heavy price it paid in terms of the loss of human lives, not just within Punjab but outside also like in the aftermath of Ms Indira Gandhi&rsquo;s assassination at the hands of her own Sikh bodyguards. Thousands of innocent Sikhs were butchered to death in the anti-Sikh riots in different parts of the country, including Delhi, which saw a virtual anti-Sikh pogrom.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The Shiromani Akali Dal under the leadership of Parkash Singh Badal had a great role in helping to redeem Punjab and put it back on the path of healing when he took over as the Chief Minister of Punjab in 1997, in the first &ldquo;credible&rdquo; elections since 1980. Although in between there were two state elections in 1984 and 1992, these lacked credibility, while the latter was the least representative.&nbsp;
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Not a family run party Unlike other regional political parties, the Shiromani Akali Dal was never a family-run political party. Its leadership was never bequeathed to the successor on the basis of family connection. Other regional parties like the National Conference in J&amp;K, Indian National Lok Dal in Haryana, Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, Rashtriya Janata Dal in Bihar etc are family-run political parties having been founded by popular leaders who bequeathed it further to their successors within the family.
&nbsp;
The Shiromani Akali Dal was born out of a mass movement of Sikhs, primarily for liberating the Gurdwaras from the control of Mahants. It was provided full support and strength by the entire community. It was for the first time in 88 years of its history when in 2008, Parkash Singh Badal passed the baton of the party to his son Sukhbir Singh Badal. Sukhbir Badal continues to be the president of the Akali Dal since then. He may probably be the longest-serving president of the second-oldest political party in the country. Resentment against Sukhbir&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Sukhbir&rsquo;s elevation was initially resisted by Gurcharan Singh Tohra, the then SGPC president in 1999. However, at that time Badal averted a full-fledged rebellion and split, primarily because he was in power and partly because there was a friendly BJP-led NDA government at the centre. Once Tohra realised that he couldn&rsquo;t fight Badal, he reconciled with him and eventually, they came together.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The ultimate resentment against the Badal family started from the day Sukhbir was formally appointed Shiromani Akali Dal president. It remained subdued for a long time as the party was in power.&nbsp;
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The grip was further strengthened when the Shiromani Akali Dal returned to power in 2012, breaking a long tradition, by getting reelected. Sukhbir, who had taken control of the party in 2008 was credited with the success and was described as the &ldquo;master strategist&rdquo; who knew how to win the elections.
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But winning elections alone does not make one a great leader. The downfall of the Shiromani Akali Dal and that of the Badals started in that term itself owing to some decisions, that were not liked by the Sikh population, the core support base of the party.&nbsp;
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The appointment of Sumedh Singh Saini as the Director General of the Punjab Police and the pardon granted through the Akal Takhat to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh led to widespread resentment. And as if that was not enough, the sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib in Bargadi in Faridkot district and the subsequent incidents, all went against the Akalis in general and the Badals in particular. SAD&rsquo;s decline in Punjab
&nbsp;
The decline since then has been progressive and continuous. In the 2017 assembly elections, the Akalis were reduced to 18 seats from 68 in 2012. The decline continued in 2022 also when the Shiromani Akali Dal was reduced to just three seats in the Punjab assembly, with five-time Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal losing for the first time from his family bastion of Lambi. Sukhbir Badal also lost from Jalalabad.&nbsp;
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2024 General Elections were the worst for the party. Although it won the Bathinda parliamentary constituency, it could get just 13 per cent of vote share, coming fourth behind the Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party and the BJP in terms of the vote share.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
While the rumblings against Sukhbir Badal had started long before, even while the senior Badal was alive, these have now become more pronounced and aggressive. With the senior Badal no more in the scene and the devastating drubbing of the 2024 General Elections, there has been an open revolt against Sukhbir Badal&rsquo;s leadership. Senior leaders have been demanding that he step aside in the interest of the party.&nbsp; Senior ranks rebel
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These leaders, who included some close confidantes of Sukhbir like Prem Singh Chandumajra, Sikander Singh Maluka, Surjeet Singh Rakhra and others held a meeting in Jalandhar on Tuesday.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The meeting, in clear defiance of Sukhbir, coincided with another meeting of the assembly constituency &lsquo;in-charges&rsquo; convened by Sukhbir Badal at the party headquarters in Chandigarh. 112 constituency in-charges attended the meeting and reposed their faith in Sukhbir&rsquo;s leadership.
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Sukhbir&rsquo;s wife and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal and another Sukhbir loyalist and prominent Akali leader from Delhi Paramjit Singh Sarna, both have accused their former ally, the Bharatiya Janata Party of trying to &ldquo;engineer&rdquo; the division under &ldquo;Operation Lotus&rdquo;.
&nbsp;
Their claims notwithstanding, there is a widespread sentiment against the Badals controlling the Shiromani Akali Dal. The leaders who have rebelled against Sukhbir have genuine concerns.
&nbsp;
The radicals are occupying the space of the moderate Akalis. There is a feeling that if Sukhbir is replaced, the Shiormani Akali Dal will be able to retrieve the space it has conceded to the radicals like Amritpal Singh, who got elected as an independent candidate from the Khadoor Sahib parliamentary constituency.&nbsp;
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There is a genuine widespread concern that the moderate Akali space must not be allowed to remain vacant for a long time as the radicals and extremists will grab it. Khadoor Sahib and Faridkot, from where the son of Ms Indira Gandhi&rsquo;s assassin Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa got elected, results have raised concern.
&nbsp;
These two results are not representative of Punjab. But these are indicative of a trend that the moderates are losing ground to the extremists. In the rest of the 10 parliamentary segments also, the moderate Akalis did not fare any better. But it was either the Congress or the AAP which won from there.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The onus is on the Akali leadership, Sukhbir Singh Badal in particular, to preserve and strengthen the hundred-year-old legacy of the Shiromani Akali Dal, which is genuinely considered as the representative party of the Sikhs. Recent trends have suggested that the party is fast losing that claim of being the representative of the &lsquo;panth&rsquo;. Alternatives have started coming up and those alternatives may not be in the &lsquo;panthic&rsquo; interests.&nbsp;

Akali Dal at crossroads of history

Devotees will not be able to get a glimpse of the Nabajouban Besha of the holy Trinity this year.
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Typically, the deities appear in new youthful attire after spending a fortnight in the &lsquo;anasar&rsquo; (sick room) a day before the Rath Yatra, witnessed by lakhs of devotees. However, with the &lsquo;anasar&rsquo; period reduced to 13 days as per the temple almanac, the Nabajouban Darshan for the public has been dispensed with. The Nabajouban Besha rituals, though, will be conducted as usual.
&nbsp;
This was officially confirmed as the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee met on Tuesday and approved the Rath Yatra schedule up to the end of the festival, that is Niladri Bije. The schedule was prepared and proposed by the Chhatisha Nijog and the sub-committee for temple rituals.
&nbsp;
This year&rsquo;s proceedings will follow the precedent set during the 1971 Rath Yatra, when a similar situation occurred. Many rituals will be advanced and observed simultaneously on the day of the Rath Yatra, which begins on July 7.
&nbsp;
The three chariots will move from the construction yard to the Simhadwar on the previous night. The consecration of the three chariots will be completed by 11 am, while the ceremonial Pahandi of the deities will begin at 1.10 pm, and be completed by 2.30 pm. Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb will perform the Chherapahanra ceremony around 4 pm.
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The pulling of the three chariots will commence at 5 pm, starting with the Taladhwaja of Lord Balabhadra, followed by the Darpadalan of Devi Subhadra, and the Nandighosha of Lord Jagannath.
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In 1971, only the Taladhwaja of Lord Balabhadra was pulled a short distance to honour tradition, with all chariots being pulled to their destinations the next day. This may be repeated this year.
&nbsp;
Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb presided over the meeting, while chief administrator Vir Vikram Yadav presented the Chhatisha Nijog proposals. Members of the managing committee approved the festival schedule.
&nbsp;
In another development, the Puri district administration has taken steps to ensure that the approximately 60-km National Highway between Puri and Bhubaneswar is hassle-free and safe for commuters, especially considering the large number of visitors travelling daily to witness the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath and Sunabesha.
&nbsp;
According to an official press release, all intersections and bazaar areas along the highway will be illuminated with high-mast lights, and electric supply poles will be relocated at least 10 feet away from the road.
&nbsp;

Bhubaneswar

Puri Rath Yatra: No Nabajouban darshan this year

Ayesha Banerjee

A 60-year-old man from Kerala was injured and died later in hospital after the upper berth in a train coach fell on him as it was not chained securely by another passenger, Government Railway Police (GRP) said on Wednesday.
 Ali Khan CK from Kerala was travelling to Agra with a friend on June 16 and had been allocated the lower berth of the sleeper coach of the train number 12645 Ernakulam-Hazrat Nizamuddin Millennium Superfast Express, GRP officials said.
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The train was passing through Warangal district of Telangana when the mishap occurred and the man sustained neck injuries when the upper berth fell on him.
&nbsp;
He was taken to a hospital in Ramagundam and moved later to a hospital in Hyderabad where he died while undergoing treatment on June 24. A case has been registered.
&nbsp;
The official spokesperson of the Ministry of Railways (@Spokesperson Railways) in a post on social media platform X said the passenger concerned was travelling on seat number 57 (lower berth) of S6 coach.
&nbsp;
"The upper berth seat fell down due to improper placement of the chain of the upper berth. Due to improper chaining of seat of upper berth by a passenger, the seat fell down," the post read.
&nbsp;
"It is clarified that the seat was not in damaged condition, neither it fell down nor crashed. The seat was checked at Nizamuddin station and found ok," the post said.

Hyderabad

Post

Kerala man dies after berth in train falls on him

Jaipur Military Station got its first plastic road, which was inaugurated by Maj Gen R S Godara, General Officer Commanding of 61 Sub Area, on Wednesday.
 The Jaipur Military Station is the second such station to construct the plastic waste road and first to make it part of its maintenance programme.
&nbsp;
The other road was earlier built in Narangi Military Station in Northeast in 2019, defence spokesperson Lt Col Amitabh Sharma said, according to PTI.
&nbsp;
The 100-metre stretch from Sagat Singh Road under bridge to Cubs Corner complex in the Rajasthan capital was constructed using plastic waste.
&nbsp;
Maj Gen Godara also planted a tree at the site during the inauguration, symbolising growth and development.
&nbsp;
Advantages of a plastic waste project like this include increased durability, less wear and tear, reduced water induction and increased sustainability as compared to the conventional roads, Jaipur Military Station's Project Officer Maj Tushar Nambiar said.

Jaipur

Jaipur military station gets plastic waste road

A total of six Assam police personnel have been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Tinsukia District and Sessions Court on Wednesday. The court, presided by Judge Dipankar Bora, convicted the policemen under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code for the murder of Ajit Sonowal. 
The incident occurred on October 7, 2013, when Sonowal was brutally beaten by the policemen at Ambikapur market.
&nbsp;
Despite being transferred to Assam Medical College and Hospital in Dibrugarh, Sonowal succumbed to his injuries. 
An FIR was lodged by Sonowal's father at Sadiya Police Station on October 9, 2013.
&nbsp;
Following a thorough investigation, a chargesheet was filed, and the trial commenced. 
Government advocate Ashok Chaudhary presented the case, with the court evaluating substantial evidence and witness testimonies.

Guwahati

Life term for six policemen in Assam murder case

Punjab is aiming to bring down stubble burning cases to null for which the state's Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department announced an action plan worth ₹500 crores. The money will be utilised to provide machinery and other measures during the paddy harvest season in 2024.
&nbsp;
Gurmeet Singh Khudian, Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister stated that the department received at least 21,511 applications from farmers&nbsp;cooperatives, FPOs, and panchayats seeking subsidies for 63,697 crop residue management (CRM) machines during the upcoming paddy harvest season in 2024.
&nbsp;
The initiative encompasses a range of subsidised machinery including super SMS, super seeder, surface seeder, smart seeder, happy seeder, paddy straw chopper, shredder, mulcher, hydraulic reversible mould board plough, zero till drill for in-situ management, and baler and rake for ex-situ solutions.
&nbsp;
In between the time frame of 2018-19, the state has allocated 1,30,000 CRM machines to farmers.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Minister Khudian emphasised that the Agriculture department will conduct an extensive information, education, and communication campaign to train farmers in utilizing these technologies effectively. The state government is committed to addressing stubble burning through proactive measures and farmer empowerment.
&nbsp;
He further also ensured transparency in the whole process.&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Punjab's ₹500cr action plan for stubble burning

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, on Wednesday, expressed India's grave concern over the impact of violence and instability in Myanmar on the Indian border during a meeting with his Myanmarese counterpart, U Than Shwe.
&nbsp;
The meeting took place as Shwe, who also serves as Myanmar's deputy prime minister, transited through New Delhi during his visit.
&nbsp;
In a statement on 'X' following their discussion, Jaishankar spotlighted the urgent need for "credible security" for India's ongoing projects in Myanmar and urged a swift return to democratic transition in the troubled nation.
&nbsp;
He highlighted the detrimental effects of the ongoing violence on the Indo-Myanmar border, stressing the significance of maintaining stability in the region.
&nbsp;
The conversation between the two officials comes amidst escalating conflict in various parts of Myanmar, where fierce battles have erupted between the military junta and resistance forces.
&nbsp;
Notably, resistance forces have captured several towns and key military bases, including a command center at Myawaddy in April.
&nbsp;
Jaishankar's primary concern was the safety and well-being of Indian nationals trapped in Myawaddy. He requested Shwe's cooperation to facilitate their early return.
&nbsp;
"Met with Deputy PM and FM of Myanmar U Than Shwe as he transited New Delhi today. Discussed our deep concern at the impact of continuing violence and instability in Myanmar on our border. India is open to engaging all stakeholders in addressing this situation," Jaishankar posted on 'X'.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Met with Deputy PM and FM of Myanmar U Than Shwe as he transited New Delhi today. Discussed our deep concern at the impact of continuing violence and instability in Myanmar on our border. India is open to engaging all stakeholders in addressing this situation. Particularly&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/7ewHKxc6ZL">pic.twitter.com/7ewHKxc6ZL</a>
&mdash; Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1805918808319963372?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
He further highlighted the pressing issues of illegal narcotics, arms smuggling, and human trafficking as priority challenges that need immediate attention.
&nbsp;
Jaishankar also advocated for credible security measures to protect India's ongoing projects in Myanmar.
&nbsp;
"Pressed for credible security protection for our ongoing projects in the country. Urged early return to the path of democratic transition in Myanmar. India stands ready to help in any manner," Jaishankar added.
&nbsp;
The prolonged instability in Myanmar has serious implications for India, particularly in the northeastern states of Manipur and Mizoram.
&nbsp;
The resistance forces have already seized numerous strategic trading points along the borders with India, China, and Bangladesh, exacerbating security concerns in the region.
&nbsp;
Since the military coup on February 1, 2021, Myanmar has been engulfed in widespread violent protests demanding the restoration of democracy.
&nbsp;
The situation has further deteriorated in recent months, with intense fighting reported between armed ethnic groups and the Myanmarese military, especially in Rakhine state and other regions since October last year.

Jaishankar raises concerns over Myanmar violence

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has informed the Supreme Court that the trial court judge showed haste and did not give sufficient opportunity to the prosecutor to oppose Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's bail plea in a money laundering case linked to the alleged excise scam.
&nbsp;
On Wednesday, the ED submitted its response affidavit to the Supreme Court, challenging the interim stay on Kejriwal's bail imposed by the Delhi High Court on June 21. The agency termed the trial court's June 20 bail order as "perverse" due to its failure to adhere to mandatory conditions under Section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
&nbsp;
The vacation bench comprising Justice Manoj Misra and Justice SVN Bhatti accepted the ED's affidavit and granted Kejriwal the liberty to withdraw his current plea. Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, indicated that a more substantial appeal against the High Court's final order on June 25, which stayed the bail, would be filed.
&nbsp;
According to the ED, Section 45 of the PMLA mandates that the public prosecutor must be given an opportunity to oppose bail. Moreover, if opposed, the court must satisfy itself that there are reasonable grounds to believe the accused is not guilty and will not commit further offences while on bail.
&nbsp;
The agency argued that the trial judge did not afford the Additional Solicitor General adequate time to present their case, and&nbsp;crucial records were not examined.
&nbsp;
Highlighting the seriousness of money laundering offences, the ED emphasised that the requirements under the PMLA override those of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) in bail matters. It stressed that a bail decision should only be made after a thorough review of case records, investigation papers, and related complaints.
&nbsp;
The ED's affidavit further criticised the trial court for passing the bail order hastily, as evidenced by the judge's reluctance to review case records despite requests from the prosecuting agency. The agency underscored that the procedural lapses in the bail order render it non-compliant with Section 45 of the PMLA and thereby "perverse" in nature.
&nbsp;
Earlier on Wednesday, a Delhi court allowed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to formally arrest Kejriwal in connection with the alleged excise scam. This followed the Delhi High Court's decision on Tuesday to stay the trial court's bail order, citing inadequate consideration of evidence by the lower court.
&nbsp;
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader was initially arrested by the ED on March 21 and granted bail by the trial court on June 20. The trial court had then pointed out the lack of direct evidence linking Kejriwal to the alleged proceeds of crime in the money laundering case.
&nbsp;
The excise policy under scrutiny was annulled in 2022 after the Delhi lieutenant governor ordered a CBI investigation into suspected irregularities and corruption in its formulation and implementation.
&nbsp;
Both the ED and the CBI allege that modifications to the policy favoured licence holders unfairly, leading to financial misconduct.

SC to hear ED on Kejriwal’s 'Rushed' bail order

Shyna Gupta

The Tripura government is set to establish an integrated aqua park in the Unakoti district to enhance tourism and the fisheries sector, according to an official statement on Wednesday.
&nbsp;
The Central government has already approved Rs 42 crore out of the total Rs 99.99 crore for the project under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) for the fiscal year 2023-24.
&nbsp;
On Sunday, Social Welfare Minister Tinku Roy and SC Welfare Minister Sudhangshu Das met with officials at Chandipur, the location designated for the park's development.
&nbsp;
The project will span 96.76 acres in the Satero Miyan Haur area of the Kailashahar Sub-Division. Initially, the park will cover around 50 acres, leased from approximately 100 villagers. Each villager will receive an annual lease payment of Rs 3,000 per kani of land, stated Unakoti District Magistrate Dilip Kumar Chakma.
&nbsp;
The fisheries department plans to undertake pisciculture and establish a tourist spot, boating facility, restaurant, and fish feeding factory. Additionally, a carp hatchery will be created for breeding and producing quality fingerlings of carps such as catla, rohu, mrigal, silver carp, and grass carp.
The integrated aqua park will also feature a recirculatory aquaculture system (RAS), a fish processing unit, an ornamental fish breeding center, a public aquarium, and a restaurant.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;These components aim to promote and develop the fisheries sector while attracting tourists, providing a significant boost to both sectors," the official explained.
&nbsp;
A seven-member committee has been formed to address land mutation issues affecting several villagers, ensuring these problems are resolved promptly.
&nbsp;
The project is expected to significantly improve the socio-economic conditions of the people in Chandipur and the surrounding areas, the official added.

Agartala

Tripura plan ₹100 cr aqua park to boost fisheries

Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political), today, announced to stage a national-level farmers rally in September, in Haryana. The rally is expected to witness the participation of over 1 lakh farmers from more than 20 states to exert pressure on the NDA government to enact an MSP (Minimum Support Price) guarantee law for farmers. 
&nbsp;
The announcement&nbsp;was made via press conference. 
&nbsp;
SKM further claimed that the BJP will face the anger of farmers in the coming Assembly elections in states like Haryana and Maharashtra if the party-led NDA government does not change its "anti-farmer policies." 
&nbsp;
Leaders of the organisation said in the four rounds of negotiations with the central government in February, they strongly raised the issues concerned with South Indian farmers like creating a "robust structure" for the Spices Board, and fair prices for coconut and sugarcane farmers according to "C2+50%" formula of the Swaminathan Commission Report.
&nbsp;
MSP demand: 
&nbsp;
Farmer leader Jagjeet Singh Dallewal said that the outfit's protest demanding an MSP guarantee law has been going on since February 13 at four places and thousands of farmers have been camping on roads since then. 
&nbsp;
"This protest will go on till the central government fulfills our demands," he said. 
&nbsp;
He claimed that the BJP lost 71 Lok Sabha seats, which it had held, in the recently held polls in rural areas due to anger in the farming community. If the BJP-led NDA government does not change its "anti-farmer policies", the party will face the anger of farmers in all upcoming Assembly elections including in Haryana and Maharashtra.
&nbsp;
Kurburu Shantakumar from Karnataka, a leader of the farmer body, said that on July 8, SKM (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha will give a memorandum regarding their 12 demands to all Members of Parliament, except 240 MPs of BJP. 
&nbsp;
He said that in July, the two organisations will also organise a big farmers' convention in Delhi.

Farmers to hold national-level rally over MSP

A large number of women, led by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) Women&rsquo;s Wing staged protests today in Imphal, demanding the resignation of Manipur Speaker Th Satyabrata and Forest Minister Th Biswajit, citing their perceived inability to effectively govern the state. The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) is a joint body of Meitei civil society organisations in Manipur.&nbsp; 
The demonstrations commenced at Palace Compound, where a sizable gathering of COCOMI activists proceeded to Minister Biswajit's official residence. Upon finding him absent, they engaged him over the phone, where he assured them of aligning with public aspirations.
&nbsp;
Subsequently, the protesters moved to Brahmapur Bheigyabati Leikai to confront Speaker Th Satyabrata. During their meeting, COCOMI's women's wing convenor, Y Leirik Leima, asserted that legislators failing to safeguard Manipur's interests should resign without delay.
&nbsp;
Expressing disappointment over perceived inaction amidst escalating tensions, Leima criticized the lack of proactive measures from elected representatives.
&nbsp;
In response, Speaker Satyabrata acknowledged the widespread impact of violence in Manipur, expressing empathy for the affected populace. He emphasised the government's ongoing efforts to restore normalcy and condemned divisive rhetoric aimed at destabilising the state.
&nbsp;
Satyabrata underscored the importance of governance grounded in responsibility and integrity, reiterating his commitment to addressing the crisis under the Chief Minister's leadership. 
Asserting their role in advising the government on resolving the ongoing challenges, Satyabrata reaffirmed his dedication to protecting the people of Manipur, emphasising that leadership should reflect the trust and support of the populace.

Imphal

Imphal protests call for political accountability

The Bombay High Court has dismissed a plea filed by women students challenging the ban on wearing hijab, niqab, burkha, stole, cap, etc., on the campus of a Mumbai college. The court's decision upheld the college's directive, which the students had contested, claiming it infringed upon their fundamental rights.
&nbsp;
A division bench of Justices A S Chandurkar and Rajesh Patil ruled against interfering in the decision made by the Chembur Trombay Education Society&rsquo;s NG Acharya and DK Marathe College.
&nbsp;
The petition, filed by nine female students in the second and third year of their science degree course, argued that the college's directive violated their rights to practise religion, privacy, and personal choice. They described the college&rsquo;s action as arbitrary, unreasonable, and perverse.
&nbsp;
The controversy began in July when the college imposed a dress code barring students from wearing religious head coverings and other items inside the premises.
&nbsp;
The students challenged this directive, arguing it was issued without any legal authority, distinguishing their case from the Karnataka High Court judgement on the hijab ban in junior colleges.
&nbsp;
Advocate Altaf Khan, representing the petitioners, noted that the Karnataka case involved a pre-existing uniform policy, whereas the Mumbai college implemented the dress code via WhatsApp without formal legal backing.
&nbsp;
The college authorities defended their decision, stating it was a disciplinary measure and not aimed at any specific community. Senior counsel Anil Anturkar, representing the college, argued that the dress code applied to all students, regardless of religion or caste. Despite this, the petitioners maintained that the directive was a misuse of power.
&nbsp;
The college's decision to enforce a dress code has sparked debate about the balance between institutional regulations and individual rights. The students' plea highlighted the tension between maintaining discipline and respecting personal freedoms. The college's stance reflects a broader trend of educational institutions grappling with dress codes and their implications for religious expression.
&nbsp;
In their plea, the students argued that the dress code not only restricted their religious practices but also impinged on their right to personal autonomy and bodily integrity. The college&rsquo;s justification that the dress code was a general policy for all students did little to assuage their concerns.
&nbsp;
The Bombay High Court&rsquo;s dismissal of the plea signifies judicial support for institutional policies aimed at maintaining discipline, even when such policies intersect with individual rights. The decision underscores the complexity of balancing institutional authority with personal freedoms in educational settings.
&nbsp;
As the debate over dress codes in educational institutions continues, this case highlights the need for clear policies that respect individual rights while maintaining institutional order.
&nbsp;
The court's ruling serves as a reminder of the challenges in navigating the intersection of personal freedoms and institutional regulations.

Mumbai

Bombay HC upholds hijab ban at Mumbai college

In a sharp reaction to the former BJP Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition, Jai Ram Thakur&rsquo;s aspersion that &ldquo; HP Assembly Speaker is acting like a 'puppet' of Chief Minister", Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker, Kuldeep Singh Pathania today said he did not need a certificate from Jai Ram regarding his conduct.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;&ldquo;Jai Ram Thakur should exercise restraint on the language he is speaking.&nbsp; He should follow the decorum attached to the Institution and should also understand what people are trying to convey on his decision of disqualification of six MLAs through a democratic manner,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&ldquo;People of Himachal Pradesh know very well who is who,&rdquo; said Pathania while talking to the media.
&nbsp;
Asked that a day before, Jai Ram Thakur had said that the Speaker had no right to disqualify the nine MLAs, Pathania said, &ldquo;I am not concerned about what the Leader of Opposition is saying about me. The concern is that he has no faith in the system. The decisions that I took as a Speaker on the disqualification of six MLAs have been upheld by the people of Himachal in a way, as they defeated four of them. In case of Independent MLAs resigning from the Assembly, even the High Court observed that it was the Speaker's jurisdiction to decide on the resignation of MLAs.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The Speaker said he had been making decisions within the purview of law, being the chair of the state Assembly. &ldquo;The issues about the Assembly should be discussed in the House and they should not be taken out in public domain,&rdquo; he said.
&nbsp;
It is pertinent to mention that while the opposition BJP had strategically planned a &lsquo;Lotus Operation&rsquo; to topple the government during a rebellion by six BJP MLAs and the support of three Independent MLAs in the Rajya Sabha election in Himachal (the BJP won despite being in opposition), the disqualification of six rebel Congress MLAs within just one day after that for defying party whip in House when budget was to passed had put the brakes on all such motives.
&nbsp;
The Speaker had also suspended 15 BJP MLAs for creating a ruckus in the Vidhan Sabha premises on that day.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The BJP was also perturbed over the delay in acceptance of resignations of three Independent MLAs who had joined BJP in March, as its bid to get the nine by-polls together on June 1 got foiled with this.

Don’t need Jai Ram’s certificate: HP Speaker

parvesh_kapoor

With a refreshingly aggressive batting approach, India would look to avoid the knockout stage jitters plaguing them for over a decade when they take on defending champions England in the semifinals of the T20 World Cup at Georgetown (Guyana), on Thursday.
&nbsp;
The last time these two teams met at this stage, it turned out to be a no contest as England outplayed India in the 2022 edition's semifinal.
&nbsp;
However, India have finally been able to shed their conservative approach at the top of the order since that 10-wicket hammering in Adelaide and have become the team to beat in this competition.
&nbsp;
On paper, Rohit Sharma and his men look the stronger bunch for the conditions expected at the Providence Stadium and look primed for revenge.
&nbsp;
The spinners have enjoyed bowling here since the opening game and the likes of India's Kuldeep Yadav and England's Adil Rashid would be itching to flaunt their skills in the knock-out fixture.
&nbsp;
Spinners are not the only ones who will come into play, the pacers too have got success at the venue with Afghanistan speedster Fazalhaq Farooqi producing a match-winning spell against New Zealand at the start of the competition.
&nbsp;
Interestingly, no match has been staged here since June 8 when the West Indies breezed past Uganda in a day game, giving the curators extra time to prepare a suitable pitch for the high-profile game.
&nbsp;
India were clinical in the Super 8 stage but the extreme pressure of a semi-final tends to produce unforced errors.
&nbsp;
At the top of the order, India will be hoping for runs from the bat of Virat Kohli, who has had an underwhelming tournament by his high standards.
&nbsp;
On the contrary, his opening partner and skipper Rohit has set the benchmark for other batters when it comes to fearless cricket.
&nbsp;
His blazing 41-ball 92 against Australia is the sort of knock that won't be easily forgotten for some time to come.
&nbsp;
For both Rohit and Kohli, it is probably their last shot at winning the T20 world title in India colours and the two would be desperate to leave a mark.
&nbsp;
Rohit has already made it clear that he intends to go ballistic in the powerplays without a care for personal milestones, which was evident in the game against Australia.
&nbsp;
Shivam Dube has not batted as per expectations in the middle-order and it will be interesting to see how he fares against wily leg-spinner Rashid.
&nbsp;
India are likely to go unchanged into the game even though they have Yuzvendra Chahal in the squad who can come in handy against England's right-handers including Phil Salt, Jos Buttler, Harry Brook and Jonny Bairstow.
&nbsp;
Chahal is yet to get a game in this competition and it is set to remain that way with India expected to continue the trio of Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Kuldeep, who was the team's trump card in Super 8s.
&nbsp;
Jasprit Bumrah is in a league of his own and England will need to do something special to score off him.
&nbsp;
Hardik Pandya's all-round show has helped India immensely thus far and the management will be hoping it stays that way.
&nbsp;
England, on the other hand, have not had the smoothest of campaigns. They stuttered into Super 8s where they lost to South Africa before turning things around.
&nbsp;
Skipper Buttler was back among the runs against USA in England's final Super 8 game and considering the familiarity with the Indian attack, he is well-placed to come up with a game-changing knock.
&nbsp;
His opening partner Phil Salt can take the game away from opposition very quickly and India will need to dismiss him in the powerplay.
&nbsp;
More runs are expected from Bairstow and Moeen Ali, whose off-spin could be useful against India's left-handers.
&nbsp;
Liam Livingstone, who bowls both leg and off spin, too can bowl his full quota of overs like he did against USA the other night.
&nbsp;
Rashid's four overs can also prove decisive in the all-important fixture.
&nbsp;
In his first high-profile event since returning from injury, pacer Jofra Archer has done well in the seven games so far and would be backing himself to trouble Rohit and Kohli with the new ball.
&nbsp;
Having taken a hat-trick in the last game, the confidence of Chris Jordan too will be sky high.
&nbsp;
"Obviously, when we left England a few weeks ago, we left to come and obviously try and defend the title. There's been a few bumps in the road along the way, but I think you kind of described them as good bumps because they've really narrowed down our focus and really made our direction really clear," said Jordan after the win over USA.
&nbsp;
There is also a likelihood of rain impacting the game with chances of showers in the lead up to the semi-final and also on match day.
&nbsp;
Squads:&nbsp;
&nbsp;
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.
&nbsp;
England: Jos Buttler (c), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonathan Bairstow, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Tom Hartley, Will Jacks, Chris Jordan, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Reece Topley, Mark Wood.
&nbsp;
Match starts 8pm IST.

Georgetown

India eye revenge against England in T20WC semis

Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convener Arvind Kejriwal, who was taken to Delhi&rsquo;s Rouse Avenue Court by the CBI on Wednesday, experienced a drop in his sugar levels.
&nbsp;
This led to him being brought out of the courtroom for tea and biscuits. His wife, Sunita Kejriwal, accompanied him to the Ahlmad room, following court permission. This event occurred shortly after the CBI had formally arrested him in connection with the Excise Policy case.
&nbsp;
Kejriwal was taken into custody by the CBI after the Vacation Judge of Delhi Court allowed the agency to examine him in the courtroom, enabling his formal arrest. The court also instructed the CBI to place on record the material justifying his arrest.
&nbsp;
Kejriwal was produced before the court of vacation judge Amitabh Rawat in compliance with the production warrant issued by the court the previous day.
&nbsp;
During the hearing, Kejriwal&rsquo;s wife Sunita Kejriwal, AAP&rsquo;s Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, and AAP leader Dilip Pandey were present in the courtroom. CBI&rsquo;s Special Public Prosecutor DP Singh extensively argued and opposed submissions made by Kejriwal&rsquo;s lawyer. The advocate also moved an application seeking a supply of interrogation applications by the CBI and the related court orders.
&nbsp;
On Tuesday, Kejriwal was in Tihar Jail, where he recorded his statement related to the Excise Policy case. He was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the Excise Policy money laundering case on March 21 this year and is currently in judicial custody.
&nbsp;
AAP MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj claimed that the arrest of the Delhi CM by the CBI was a conspiracy by the central government. &ldquo;The conspiracy of the Centre is so clearly visible. The entire case of the Central Government is false. Now that the secrets are being revealed, the CBI will arrest them even before they get bail. And BJP talks about the emergency imposed by Congress 50 years ago,&rdquo; he posted on X (formerly Twitter).
&nbsp;
The AAP&rsquo;s official handle also posted that Arvind Kejriwal would not bow down regardless of the pressure put on him. &ldquo;Today when there was every possibility of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal getting bail, the BJP in panic got Kejriwal arrested by CBI through a fake case. CBI took Kejriwal ji to Rouse Avenue Court, where his blood sugar level dropped very low. Dictator, no matter how much oppression you inflict, Kejriwal will neither bow down nor break,&rdquo; the AAP posted on X.
&nbsp;
On Tuesday, the Delhi High Court stayed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal&rsquo;s bail order passed by the trial court. The court stated that the trial court should have recorded its satisfaction with the fulfilment of the twin conditions of section 45 of the Prevention of the Money Laundering Act (PMLA) before passing the impugned order.
&nbsp;
The vacation bench of Justice Sudhir Kumar Jain, while passing the order, noted that the documents and arguments were not properly appreciated by the trial court.
&nbsp;
On June 20, the trial judge granted bail to Kejriwal in the money laundering case. The next day, the ED moved an urgent petition before the High Court challenging the bail order. The High Court heard both sides extensively, reserved orders on the ED&rsquo;s application to stay the bail order, and halted the release of Kejriwal until the pronouncement of its order.

Kejriwal’s sugar drops in court; fed tea, cookies

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<div class="markdown prose w-full break-words dark:prose-invert light">In a significant move aimed at restoring fairness in sports, Andhra Pradesh's Minister for Human Resources Development, IT, and Electronics, Nara Lokesh, extended a heartfelt invitation to cricketer Hanuma Vihari on Tuesday, urging him to resume his career for the state.</div>
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<div class="markdown prose w-full break-words dark:prose-invert light">The gesture comes months after Vihari, disillusioned by past mistreatment, publicly vowed to sever ties with Andhra Pradesh cricket.</div>
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During their meeting, Lokesh assured Vihari of the state government's commitment to rectify past injustices and support his journey to once again bring pride to Telugu cricket.
&nbsp;
"I have invited him back to Andhra Pradesh and asked him to strive to make Telugus proud once again. He will have our full support," Lokesh expressed in a statement.
&nbsp;
The minister highlighted the unfortunate political interference and bullying that Vihari endured under the previous administration, which led to his departure from Andhra Cricket.
&nbsp;
Lokesh criticised the former regime for appointing controversial figures to cricket administration roles, compromising the integrity of the sport.
&nbsp;
"Hanuma Vihari, an outstanding cricketer, faced undue harassment and humiliation at the hands of the Andhra Cricket Association, all to promote political interests," Lokesh condemned.
&nbsp;
Acknowledging Lokesh's outreach, Vihari thanked the minister and pledged his dedication to uplifting Andhra cricket.
&nbsp;
"I am sure the future of Andhra cricket is in safe hands," Vihari affirmed, expressing optimism for the sport's resurgence under the new administration.
&nbsp;
Lokesh reaffirmed the government's stance against political meddling in sports, emphasizing the need for a fair and transparent environment.
&nbsp;
"We will take all necessary measures to foster sportsmanship in every game," Lokesh assured, underscoring the government's commitment to uphold justice for Vihari as promised.
&nbsp;
As the state looks forward to a rejuvenated era in cricket, Lokesh's proactive steps have resonated positively, signaling a promising chapter for Hanuma Vihari and Andhra Pradesh cricket.
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Amaravati

Andhra govt vows justice for cricketer Vihari

One individual has been killed while two were injured after their vehicle fell into a drain near Ganvi in the Rampur subdivision of Shimla district on Wednesday, the police said.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Three people were travelling in a Bolero Camper loaded with sand. The ill-fated vehicle was on its way to the village of Molagi from Katolu Jeori.
&nbsp;
When the vehicle reached near Ganvi, it was unable to move forward on the steep road due to the load of sand. The driver, Arjun Tolta, got out of the vehicle to place a stone behind the wheels but the vehicle started moving backwards.
&nbsp;
The vehicle fell into Ganvi Khadd (drain), about 70 metres below the road.
&nbsp;
Ram Lal (48) died on the spot while his wife Radha Devi and the driver sustained injuries.
&nbsp;
A case of rash and negligent driving under sections 297, 337, and 304 A of IPC has been registered against the driver. Further investigations are underway, the police added.

Road accident in Shimla kills 1, 2 hurt

Former Indian football team captain and Sikkim's celebrated sports icon Bhaichung Bhutia, declared his departure from political endeavors on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, following his electoral setback in the recent state assembly polls.
&nbsp;
In 2018, Bhutia ventured into state politics by founding the Hamro Sikkim Party, which later amalgamated with the Pawan Chamling-led Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF).
&nbsp;
In a statement, Bhutia extended his congratulations to Sikkim Chief Minister P S Tamang and the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) for their resounding victory in the assembly elections.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Expressing his realisation post the 2024 poll results, he affirmed that electoral politics was not his calling, leading to his immediate withdrawal from all electoral activities.
&nbsp;
Having previously contested the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat in 2014 and subsequently the Siliguri constituency in the 2016 West Bengal assembly polls under the Trinamool Congress banner, Bhutia's electoral journey met with mixed results.
&nbsp;
Despite his efforts in the 2019 Sikkim assembly elections and subsequent by-elections, victory eluded him, culminating in his defeat in the 2024 assembly elections by a margin of 4,346 votes to the SKM.
&nbsp;
Reflecting on his vision for sports and tourism development in Sikkim, Bhutia expressed a sense of unfulfilled aspiration, stating, "Given the opportunity, I would have endeavored sincerely to implement developmental ideas for the state."
&nbsp;
However, he acknowledged the electorate's decision and expressed confidence in others with better strategies to lead the state forward.
&nbsp;
Throughout his political tenure, Bhutia remained steadfast in his commitment to serving the people of Sikkim and the nation, underscoring his noble intentions in the realm of public service.
&nbsp;

Gangtok

Bhaichung Bhutia bows out of political arena

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has withdrawn his plea from the Supreme Court, which challenged the interim stay on his regular bail granted by the Delhi High Court in the excise policy case. The case is being investigated by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED).
&nbsp;
Kejriwal's senior advocate, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, informed the court that they plan to file a fresh petition challenging the final order of the Delhi High Court dated June 25. This order had continued the stay on Kejriwal's regular bail. A vacation bench comprising Justices Manoj Misra and SVN Bhatti granted Kejriwal the liberty to withdraw his plea and file a new one.
&nbsp;
On June 21, the Delhi High Court had issued an interim stay on Kejriwal's bail, which was initially granted by a trial court. This decision followed a plea from the ED seeking a stay on Kejriwal's release. Subsequently, Kejriwal filed an appeal in the Supreme Court against the High Court's interim order.
&nbsp;
On June 24, the Supreme Court adjourned the matter for hearing on June 26, noting that the High Court's decision to stay the bail without a final order was "unusual." The following day, the Delhi High Court issued its final order, which upheld the stay on Kejriwal's release.
&nbsp;
The High Court criticised the trial court vacation judge's bail order, stating that it showed "perversity" as it was made without considering the ED's entire material.
&nbsp;
The High Court's final order also described the vacation judge's observations while granting bail to Kejriwal as "uncalled for, unwarranted, and out of context." Singhvi further informed the Supreme Court that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had also arrested Kejriwal in connection with the case.
&nbsp;
Kejriwal's legal team is preparing to file a new petition, aiming to challenge the High Court's final order and seek relief for the Chief Minister. The case has garnered significant attention due to its implications for Kejriwal's political career and the ongoing investigations into the Delhi excise policy.
&nbsp;
The legal proceedings are set to continue as Kejriwal's team navigates the complexities of the judicial system to address the charges and secure bail.

Kejriwal withdraws bail plea from Supreme Court

In a historic decision, the Punjab provincial government of Pakistan approved the Punjab Sikh Anand Karaj Marriage Registrar and Marriage Rules, 2024, on Tuesday, marking a significant milestone as Pakistan becomes the first nation to enact a dedicated law governing the legal framework for Sikh marriages, previously not covered under existing legislation.
&nbsp;
The decision was made during a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, marking what Punjab&rsquo;s first Sikh Minister for Minorities and Human Rights, Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, described as a historic day for Sikhs.
&nbsp;
"Today, Punjab has become the first province in the world to implement the Sikh Marriage Act,&rdquo; Arora told reporters.
&nbsp;
He said that Sikhs from other provinces and countries could now come to Punjab for marriage registrations. Arora also disclosed plans for submitting the Hindu Marriage Act for cabinet approval in the coming months.
&nbsp;
The act becomes important as Pakistan is home to a Sikh population of around 20,000 to 40,000.
&nbsp;
The majority of Pakistani Sikhs reside in the province of Punjab, particularly in cities like Lahore, Nankana Sahib, and Peshawar. They form an important religious minority in Pakistan, contributing culturally and economically to the nation.
&nbsp;
Meanwhile, Arora highlighted his efforts since 2017 to secure approval for the Sikh Marriage Act, noting the Punjab government&rsquo;s broader initiatives to promote interfaith harmony and update educational curricula to eliminate hate material.
&nbsp;
Under the provisions of the Sikh Marriage Act, both Sikh partners must be at least 18 years old.
&nbsp;
Disputes among couples will be mediated by a five-member Sangat, with the union council chairman selected from the bride's council.
&nbsp;
Procedures for divorce include notifying the chairman in writing, followed by a mandatory conciliation period.
&nbsp;
The Act aims to address legal complications arising from unregistered marriages, particularly those concerning inheritance rights.
&nbsp;

Islamabad

Sikh Marriage Act approved in Pak Punjab

Hockey India, today, announced a 16-member squad for next month's Paris Olympics. Harmanpreet Singh is captain of the Indian Hockey team, and Hardik Singh is his deputy.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
India, who won a bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympics 2020, is placed in Pool B alongside defending champions Belgium, Australia, Argentina, New Zealand, and Ireland. 
&nbsp;
Teams finishing in the top four in the pool's points table will advance to the quarter-finals.
&nbsp;
The Indian players are currently busy preparing for the Olympics in their national camp at the SAI Centre in Bengaluru.
&nbsp;
The venerable goalkeeper PR Sreejesh and midfielder Manpreet Singh are set for their fourth Olympic appearance while skipper Harmanpreet is bracing up for his third Games.
&nbsp;
The five players who will make their Olympics debut for India in Paris are Jarmanpreet Singh, Sanjay, Raj Kumar Pal, Abhishek and Sukhjeet Singh.
&nbsp;
Since their historic show in Tokyo, where the team won an Olympic medal after a gap of 41 years, Indian defenders Rupinderpal Singh and Birendra Lakra have retired whereas Surender Kumar has been out of favour.
&nbsp;
Nilkanta Sharma, who was part of the main squad in Tokyo has been kept among the alternative players but Dilpreet Singh missed out.
&nbsp;
Goalkeeper Krishan Pathak will continue to be an alternate player in second successive Olympics.
&nbsp;
The defence includes Harmanpreet Singh, Jarmanpreet, Amit Rohidas, Sumit and Sanjay, while the midfield will have Pal, Shamsher Singh, Manpreet Singh, Hardik Singh, and Vivek Sagar Prasad.
&nbsp;
Abhishek, Sukhjeet, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Mandeep Singh and Gurjant Singh will be among India's forwards.
&nbsp;
Defender Jugraj Singh is India's third alternative player apart from Pathak and Nilkanta.
&nbsp;
Head coach Craig Fulton was quoted as saying, "The selection process for the Paris Olympics' squad was incredibly competitive due to the depth of talent within our ranks, however, I am confident that every player chosen will bring their best to Paris." 
&nbsp;
"Each player selected has demonstrated exceptional skill, dedication, and resilience throughout our rigorous preparation phase." 
&nbsp;
Fulton continued, "Our focus has been on building a cohesive team that can adapt to different playing styles and situations, and I believe we have achieved that." 
&nbsp;
"As we head to Paris, our goal is clear &ndash; to play with heart, skill, and determination. We are prepared to face the world's best teams and strive for the highest podium. This squad is ready to seize the opportunity and bring glory to India," he added.
&nbsp;
India will begin their campaign against New Zealand on July 27 followed by a clash against Argentina on July 29. India will then take on Ireland on July 30, Belgium on August 1 and face Australia on August 2.
&nbsp;
India have a total of 12 Olympic medals, including eight gold, one silver and three bronze.
&nbsp;
Pool A comprises the Netherlands, Germany, Great Britain, Spain, South Africa, and host nation France.
&nbsp;
India's squad: 
&nbsp;
Goalkeeper: Sreejesh Parattu Raveendran, Krishan Bahadur Pathak&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Defenders: Jarmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Harmanpreet Singh, Sumit, Sanjay, Jugraj Singh&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Midfielders: Rajkumar Pal, Shamsher Singh, Manpreet Singh, Hardik Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Nilakanta Sharma
&nbsp;
Forwards: Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Mandeep Singh, Gurjant Singh&nbsp;

Hockey India announces Paris Olympics squad

Alok Hisarwala Gupta, founder of the Centre for Research on Animal Rights, has sounded the alarm in a letter to the Regional Deputy Director of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, calling for the cancellation of all applications for elephant transfers from the north east region of India to south Indian states, especially Kerala.
&nbsp;
In his correspondence, Gupta pointedly raised concerns about Omanakuttan Pillai, accusing him of a prolonged history of wildlife crimes and currently on the move across Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Tripura, allegedly procuring elephants for Kerala-based owners participating in the Pooram Festival circuit.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;Pillai, with a criminal record spanning two decades, is actively engaged in wildlife offenses, sourcing elephants from Northeastern states,&rdquo; the letter disclosed.
&nbsp;
Under Section 43 of the Wildlife Protection Act, strict prohibitions are in place against the commercial transfer of elephants. The Wildlife Amendment Act 2022 permits non-commercial transfers only under specific circumstances where the owner cannot maintain the elephant adequately, and the transfer ensures better care.
&nbsp;
Expressing apprehensions over the misuse of these limited exceptions, Gupta cautioned against wildlife criminals exploiting loopholes by camouflaging illegal transactions as benevolent &ldquo;gifts.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
&ldquo;Our concern is that traders like Omanakuttan Pillai are exploiting these loopholes, perpetuating the illicit elephant trade,&rdquo; Gupta maintained in the letter. 
He highlighted tactics employed by such traders, including stimulating demand for elephants, pressuring indigenous communities to capture wild elephants, and falsifying transactions as legal gifts to evade scrutiny.
&nbsp;
Gupta cited a significant report by Chaturbhuja Behera, a former Wildlife Crime Control Bureau member, detailing the unlawful sale and transfer of live elephants from Assam.
&nbsp;
Citing documented instances and media reports, Gupta underscored that since 2018, over 175 captive elephants have perished in Kerala, largely due to stress and maltreatment during the Pooram season. 
&ldquo;This alarming trend has exacerbated the demand for more elephants, with minimal improvement in their welfare,&rdquo; Gupta added. 
While the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau has not yet responded publicly to Gupta&rsquo;s allegations and proposals, the letter has sparked considerable concern among animal rights advocates and conservationists.

Elephant trafficking racket alerted in NE India

Australia opener Travis head on Wednesday toppled India's Suryakumar Yadav as the number one batter in the latest ICC T20 rankings.
&nbsp;
Suryakumar was holding the number one spot since December 2023 but Head's splendid run at the T20 World Cup catapulted him to the top even as his team has been knocked out.
&nbsp;
Head scored 255 runs with two half centuries, including a 76 against India in a Super Eight contest.
&nbsp;
The Australian is two points ahead of Suryakumar (842 points) who dropped a spot to second. However, he has a chance to reclaim the numero uno position as India's campaign at the T20 World Cup is still alive.
&nbsp;
England's Phil Salt and the Pakistan duo of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan round up the top 5 batters.
&nbsp;
West Indies' Johnson Charles is the only new arrival into the top 10, up by four spots, with Afghanistan star Rahmanullah Gurbaz a place lower after going up five spots.
&nbsp;
Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah jumped a whopping 44 places to zoom to 24th spot while spinner Kuldeep Yadav has also climbed 20 places to be just outside the top-10 at 11th.
&nbsp;
Spin all-rounder Axar Patel, who has moved up to eighth, remains the top-ranked Indian bowler.
&nbsp;
England's Adil Rashid remains on top of the bowling rankings, but Rashid Khan is up to second after his T20 World Cup heroics, with Josh Hazlewood moving up three places into fourth, behind Hasaranga.
&nbsp;
Marcus Stoinis has been knocked off the top spot in the all-rounders' rankings after his short stay as No. 1. He is Stoinis down to fourth, with India's Hardik Pandya up to third, Mohammad Nabi of Afghanistan in second, and Sri Lanka&rsquo;s Wanindu Hasaranga back to top spot.
&nbsp;
Roston Chase of West Indies is the big mover among all-rounders, up 17 places to 12th.

Dubai

Head replaces Suryakumar as top T20 batter, Bumrah moves to 24 in ICC rankings

Dr. Belenso Yimchunger, a 22-year-old innovator from Nagaland, has emerged as a pivotal figure in ISRO's ambitious Pushpak project, earning accolades from ISRO Chairman S Somanath for his significant contribution to the project.
&nbsp;
An alumnus of the National Institute of Technology in Nagaland and now a soil scientist at ISRO, Dr. Yimchunger and his team have successfully developed the Reusable Launch Vehicle &ndash; Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD), marking a milestone in ISRO's quest to create a fully reusable launch vehicle aimed at reducing space mission costs.
&nbsp;
The RLV-TD, designed akin to an aircraft, integrates the complexities of a launch vehicle with the maneuverability of an airplane. It serves as a test platform for advanced technologies including hypersonic flight, autonomous landing systems, and powered cruise flight, paving the way for India's first two-stage orbital launch vehicle.
&nbsp;
Chairman S Somanath acknowledged Dr. Yimchunger and his team's efforts in a commendatory letter, stating, "Your dedication and innovative ideas have significantly propelled the advancement of this critical technology."
&nbsp;
On June 23, 2024, Pushpak achieved a milestone by successfully completing its third and final Landing Experiment (LEX) test at the Aeronautical Test Range in Chitradurga, Karnataka.
&nbsp;
Dr. Yimchunger's journey into scientific excellence began in Pungro, Nagaland, where his passion for science blossomed despite initial challenges.
&nbsp;
He recounted his pursuit of education after Class 10, driven by his mother's health constraints, which kept him grounded in Pungro.
&nbsp;
Undeterred by the absence of a science stream in Kiphire, he donned various school uniforms to glean knowledge from different institutions, a daring feat that led to his expulsion but displayed his relentless pursuit of knowledge.
&nbsp;
Beyond his pioneering work at ISRO, Dr. Yimchunger captured attention in 2022 with homemade experiments shared on social media.
&nbsp;
His 'Tiger' voice-activated light control system, conceived while he was an Arts student, presaged the functionality of contemporary smart home technologies, showcasing his innovative spirit despite lacking formal training in programming or electronics.
&nbsp;
Further displaying his ingenuity, Dr. Yimchunger developed 'Lifi,' an audio transmission device employing solar panels and LED lights, illustrating his knack for leveraging simple materials for transformative innovation. Inspired by his cultural heritage, he named his creations after the Yimkhiung people, renowned as 'blood of tigers.'
&nbsp;
His early forays into technology included a robotic hand showcased at a district science exhibition in 2018, underscoring his aptitude and determination.
&nbsp;
After completing secondary education, Dr. Yimchunger honed practical skills as an assistant electrician at the Nagaland Tool Room and Training Centre in Dimapur before pursuing a diploma at the National Institute of Technology in Chumoukedima.
&nbsp;
His appointment as a soil scientist under India's Science, Technology, and Innovation framework in 2023 marked a significant milestone.
&nbsp;
During the same year, Dr. Yimchunger pioneered the 'Pungro Power Soil,' an innovative solution converting local soil into electricity. Motivated by a visit to a remote village where he witnessed energy shortages, he developed a device using basic materials and chemical treatments to enhance soil conductivity, providing essential power backup for up to 1.5 hours.
&nbsp;
Beyond energy solutions, Dr. Yimchunger's initiatives encompass a rainwater filtration system and an electronic water level indicator aimed at enhancing safety and resource efficiency in his community.
&nbsp;
Minister Jacob Zhimomi of Nagaland's Public Health Engineering Department lauded Dr. Yimchunger on social media, hailing him as an inspirational figure for young Nagas aspiring to contribute to India's technological prowess.

Kohima

ISRO celebrates Naga scientist's Pushpak role

A terrorist has been killed in an encounter with the security forces in &nbsp;Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district on Wednesday, &nbsp;police officials have confirmed.
&nbsp;
The gunfight started at Bajaad village in the Gandoh area at around 9:50 am amidst heightened search and cordon operations involving the police, Army, and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
&nbsp;
The terrorists opened fire from their mud house hideout when police forces supported by security personnel initiated search operations in the Sinoo panchayat.
&nbsp;
The terrorist was killed after he emerged from hiding&nbsp;&nbsp;and fired upon the search teams.
&nbsp;
Latest updates say the encounter is continuing with an Army helicopter maintaining close surveillance of the area.
&nbsp;
Officials also reported the recovery of a Chinese hand grenade from Pind village in the Chingus area of Rajouri district by a security patrol late Tuesday evening.
&nbsp;
A search operation was launched by the security forces in the Reasi district in the meantime after suspicious movement was reported in a forested area close by.
&nbsp;
This operation follows twin terrorist attacks earlier in the month, including an assault on a joint check post at Chattergalla on June 11 that resulted in injuries to six security personnel.
&nbsp;
The next day, a policeman was wounded in a gunfight at Kota Top in the Gandoh area.
&nbsp;
Following these incidents, security forces escalated their anti-terror operations and announced a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh each for four Pakistani terrorists suspected to have infiltrated from the border with Pakistan.

Jammu

Terrorist killed in J&K's Doda encounter

The Haryana government increased the pension amount from 25,000 to 40,000 for the freedom fighters and their dependents. The decision will be in effect from July 1. &nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The announcement was made on Tuesday.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
In a social media post on X, state Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini stated, "The freedom fighters, who sacrificed their life for the country and suffered so much, the pension of freedom fighters and their dependents will be increased from Rs 25,000 to Rs 40,000 with effect from July 1."
&nbsp;
CM Saini also announced an increase in pensions for those during the emergency time.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
"The fighters during the emergency, who protected the Constitution, who went to jail to protect the democracy of this country, our government initiated a pension of Rs 10,000. And today, I announce that the pension has now been increased to Rs 20,000 with effect from July 1", the chief minister stated, adding, "The people who struggled to save the Hindi language (Hindi agitators), will also receive Rs 20,000 as pension from July 1."&nbsp;

Haryana increases pension for freedom fighters

The India Meteorological Department on Wednesday predicted heavy rains accompanied by lightning in parts of Andhra Pradesh for three days from June 26 to 28.
&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">Heavy downpour is likely in parts of North Coastal Andhra Pradesh (NCAP), Yanam and South Coastal Andhra Pradesh (SCAP).
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">The weather department also forecast thunderstorms over parts of NCAP, Yanam, SCAP and Rayalaseema for five days from June 26 to 30.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">Gusty winds reaching up to 50 km per hour (kmph) are likely in these places.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&ldquo;The cyclonic circulation over east-central Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood now lies over west-central adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal between 1.5 and 5.8 km above mean sea level, tilting southwestwards with height,&rdquo; said the Met Department in a press release.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">The northern limit of monsoon continues to pass through Mundra, Mehsana, Udaipur, Shivpuri, Lalitpur, Siddhi, Chaibasa, Haldia, Pakur, Sahibganj and Raxaul.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">The Met department further said that lower tropospheric south-westerly and westerly winds prevail over Andhra Pradesh and Yanam. 
&nbsp;

IMD predicts heavy rainfall in Andhra for 3 days

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated Om Birla on his re-election as Lok Sabha Speaker, expressing confidence that he will guide parliamentarians and play a big role in the House fulfilling people&rsquo;s expectations.
&nbsp;
The House elected Birla with a voice vote after opposition parties fielded Congress member K Suresh as its choice for the post.
&nbsp;
Modi and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju were joined by the Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in escorting Birla to the Speaker&rsquo;s chair.
&nbsp;
Congratulating him on his fresh term on behalf of the entire House, the prime minister lauded the third-term MP for his conduct as Speaker in the previous Lok Sabha and also as a parliamentarian.
&nbsp;
Modi said Birla presided over a golden era in Lok Sabha&rsquo;s history as a number of historic decisions were taken during its previous term.
&nbsp;
Noting that he is the first Speaker after Balram Jakhar, who was in the Chair between 1980 and 1989, to get another term after serving a full tenure, the prime minister expressed confidence that he will continue to create new benchmarks.
&nbsp;
Modi pointed out to a 20-year period when those elected speaker either did not contest elections or did not win an election after their appointment, and said it is Birla, who has scripted history by returning as Speaker after emerging victorious again.
&nbsp;
The prime minister noted the previous Lok Sabha notched up to 97 per cent productivity, highest in 25 years, and said Birla ensured the House functioning even during the Covid period and maintained its dignity and decorum, at times by taking difficult decision.
&nbsp;
He noted that the polite and humble personality of Birla and his winning smile help him in conducting the House. Modi also mentioned the personal touch and concern of the Speaker for the members during the pandemic.
&nbsp;
Modi mentioned several &ldquo;landmark&rdquo; legislations that were passed under the speakership of Birla, including &lsquo;Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam&rsquo;, Jammu Kashmir Reorganisation Bill and the three new criminal laws.
&nbsp;
The prime minister also lauded the paperless work flow and the systematic briefing process initiated by Birla to boost discussions in the House and praised him for a very successful P-20 conference of presiding officers of legislative bodies of G-20 nations which was attended by a record number of countries.
&nbsp;
On the other hand, celebrations erupted at Om Birla&rsquo;s hometown too.
&nbsp;
Slogans in support of PM Modi echoed at Rajasthan State party office as soon as Birla assumed the chair.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
कोटा-बूंदी से सांसद श्री ओम बिरला को 18वीं लोकसभा के अध्यक्ष पद पर निर्वाचित होने पर भाजपा प्रदेश कार्यालय में पार्टी पदाधिकारी एवं कार्यकर्ताओं ने खुशी मनायी। श्री ओम बिरला का लगातार दूसरी बार अध्यक्ष पद पर निर्वाचित होना, निश्चित रूप से राजस्थान के लिए गौरव का क्षण है। <a href="https://t.co/rAZUWEomOT">pic.twitter.com/rAZUWEomOT</a>
&mdash; BJP Rajasthan (@BJP4Rajasthan) <a href="https://twitter.com/BJP4Rajasthan/status/1805871934682329386?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&ldquo;I extend my heartfelt gratitude and thanks to PM Modi&hellip;. It is a moment of pride for the entire Hadouti region and Rajasthan. I wish the graceful dignity of the House (Lok Sabha) would never be lowered or disgraced,&rdquo; Birla&rsquo;s elder brother Hari Krishan Birla told the media.
&nbsp;
The BJP state unit kicked off the celebrations soon after Birla was nominated for the post on Tuesday.
&nbsp;
Party worker Sanjay Lathi said that grand celebrations will take place in Kota and Bundi in the evening.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

PM Modi exudes confidence on Speaker Om Birla

Pakistan&rsquo;s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar sent a &ldquo;positive message&rdquo; to India on Tuesday, saying his country does not believe in &ldquo;perpetual hostility&rdquo; and urged the new government in New Delhi to do a &ldquo;sober reflection&rdquo; on its future ties with Islamabad.
 Addressing a seminar at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), the 74-year-old Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader said Pakistan always sought &ldquo;good neighbourly relations.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
&ldquo;To our east, the relationship with India has historically remained troubled. Pakistan does not believe in perpetual hostility. We seek good neighbourly relations with India on the basis of mutual respect, sovereign equality, and a just and peaceful resolution of the long-standing Jammu and Kashmir dispute,&rdquo; Dar said, according to a PTI report.
&nbsp;
The foreign minister said while Pakistan had always been receptive to constructive engagement through dialogue that includes all outstanding issues, Pakistan would never agree to &ldquo;unilateral approaches or attempts to impose India&rsquo;s will or hegemony.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
Pakistan downgraded its ties with India after the Indian Parliament suspended Article 370 on August 5, 2019, a decision that Islamabad alleged &ldquo;undermined the environment for holding talks between the neighbours.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
India has been maintaining that it desires normal relations with Pakistan while insisting that the onus is on Islamabad to create an environment that is free of terror and hostility for such an engagement.
&nbsp;
Pakistan will also take every step needed to maintain strategic stability in South Asia and would respond effectively and decisively to any ill-considered military misadventure by India, Dar said.
&nbsp;
Dar also urged the BJP-led government to reflect on ties with Pakistan.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;In our view, as the BJP-led NDA government starts a new term, it is time for a sober reflection on the future of India-Pakistan relations and the cross-cutting issues affecting the entire region,&rdquo; Dar said.
&nbsp;
He said, &ldquo;India&rsquo;s illegal and unilateral actions of August 5, 2019, had adversely affected the environment of bilateral relations.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
&ldquo;The onus remains on India to take necessary steps to create an enabling environment for purposeful engagement and result-oriented dialogue on all issues,&rdquo; he stressed.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;South Asia is home to more than one-fifth of humanity. The region is beset by daunting challenges, including poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, disease, food insecurity, water scarcity, natural disasters, environmental degradation, and effects of climate change,&rdquo; Dar said.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;Rather than fight with each other, it would be prudent for the South Asian nations to combat these challenges. We are not only the least economically integrated region, but also one with the lowest rankings on almost all indices of human development,&rdquo; the minister said.
&nbsp;
He claimed that the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), the only viable platform for regional cooperation and tackling these myriad challenges, remains stymied due to &ldquo;obstinacy of one member state&rdquo;.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;The political leadership in South Asia owes it to its peoples and future generations to act with prudence and turn a new page in regional relations and mutual cooperation,&rdquo; he maintained.
&nbsp;
Dar said Pakistan&rsquo;s approach was conceptualised in the &ldquo;peaceful neighbourhood&rdquo; policy.
&nbsp;
Pakistan has consistently striven for peaceful, cooperative and good-neighbourly relations with all countries in our immediate and extended neighbourhoods, Dar claimed.
&nbsp;
Despite challenges and even setbacks in certain instances, Pakistan&rsquo;s approach remains steadfast, he said.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;A peaceful, stable, united, and prosperous Afghanistan is in Pakistan&rsquo;s vital interest. There are no other two countries in the world that share so much as Pakistan and Afghanistan do &ndash; from history and geography to faith and culture to language and literature to cuisine and music,&rdquo; according to Dar.
&nbsp;
He said since the Taliban takeover in August 2021, Pakistan has followed a pragmatic approach &ndash; focused on practical cooperation aimed at averting any humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and facilitating the wellbeing of the 40 million Afghan people.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;Pakistan has also prioritised regional cooperation to ensure that our actions remain in sync with the broader international community. Apart from emphasising inclusive governance and respect for the rights of all Afghans, Pakistan stresses the imperative need to ensure that Afghanistan&rsquo;s soil is not used for terrorism against any state,&rdquo; he said.
&nbsp;
He said Pakistan earnestly hoped the Afghan Interim authorities would see that it is in their own enlightened self-interest to heed this call and take the practical steps needed to address our serious concerns.

We seek good relations with India: Pak Deputy PM

The State Bank of India (SBI), the country&rsquo;s largest lender, announced on Wednesday that it has successfully raised ₹10,000 crore through its fifth infrastructure bond issuance, with a coupon rate of 7.36 per cent.
&nbsp;
"The issue attracted overwhelming response from investors with bids in excess of ₹19,884 crore and was oversubscribed by around four times against the base issue size of ₹5,000 crore," SBI revealed in a BSE filing. The total number of bids received was 143, indicating wider participation and a diverse array of investors.
&nbsp;
The investor base included provident funds, pension funds, insurance companies, mutual funds, and corporates. The proceeds from the bonds will be used to enhance long-term resources for funding infrastructure and affordable housing projects, the bank stated.
&nbsp;
"Based on the response, the bank has decided to accept ₹10,000 crore at a coupon rate of 7.36 per cent payable annually. This represents a spread of 21 basis points over the corresponding FBIL G-Sec par curve," SBI said. With this issuance, the total outstanding long-term bonds issued by the bank now stand at ₹49,718 crore.
&nbsp;
SBI Chairman Dinesh Khara highlighted the significance of this issuance, stating, "This will help in developing a long-term bond curve and encourage other banks to issue bonds of longer tenor." He noted the bank's continued success in raising long-duration bonds as a positive trend for the financial sector.

SBI raises ₹10,000 cr via infrastructure bonds

Sikkim&rsquo;s State Climate Change Cell has identified 19 potentially dangerous glacial lakes within the state&rsquo;s borders, stressing the urgent need for comprehensive monitoring and preventive measures. This revelation follows a scientific expedition by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of Sikkim, to the East Rathong Glacier in West Sikkim. 
The expedition, which commenced on June 22, 2024, is part of the National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE) and aims to provide critical insights into glacier dynamics and the risks of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs). The East Rathong Glacier, located in Gyalshing district within the Khangchendzonga National Park at an elevation of 4,600 to 6,700 meters, is a prime focus due to its significant GLOF potential. 
Led by a team of distinguished scientists and researchers from the DST, the expedition employs state-of-the-art technology to ensure precise and accurate data collection. This vital initiative underscores the core objective of the Sikkim State Climate Change Cell: minimizing the threat of GLOFs in the region. 
The East Rathong Glacier, a valley-type glacier with an average width of approximately 800 meters, lies in Gyalshing district and is one of the sources of the Rangit River. The glacier covers an area of 4.8 square kilometers and stretches 7 kilometers in length, with a total catchment area of 19.8 square kilometers up to the gauging site. The expedition to the glacier involves a three-day trek from Yuksom, the last motorable village in West Sikkim. 
Since 2012, the DST&rsquo;s Science and Technology Department has been conducting long-term monitoring of the East Rathong Glacier. Field research is conducted biannually, allowing scientists to gather extensive data on glacier dynamics and associated risks. 
This year&rsquo;s expedition includes a comprehensive scientific study of three potentially vulnerable glacial lakes: Rathong Lake, Bhaley Pokhari, and Tikip La Lake. Major objectives include conducting bathymetric surveys of these lakes, installing stakes to study glacier velocity, examining the vertical retreat of the East Rathong Glacier, analysing the glacio-hydrology of the meltwater stream, and maintaining and upgrading the automatic weather station installed at the glacier. 
The catastrophic flood on October 4, 2023, which caused significant damage to infrastructure and disrupted communities, highlighted the urgent need for such studies.&nbsp; 
&ldquo;The threats associated with climate change are evident, and more are likely to emerge in the future,&rdquo; said Dr. Sandeep Tambe, Secretary of the DST, Government of Sikkim. &ldquo;Such proactive scientific expeditions are essential to ensure the Government of Sikkim&rsquo;s vision of Sunaulo Sikkim, Samriddha Sikkim.&rdquo; Tambe added. 
The findings from this expedition are expected to enrich scientific knowledge and inform policies and strategies for climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction in Sikkim.&nbsp;

Sikkim's GLOF study identifies 19 dangerous lakes

Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President PT Usha is pitching to include yoga in the Asian Games.&nbsp;&nbsp;Usha on Wednesday, in a letter to Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) President Raja Randhir Singh, requested to include yoga in the Asian Games programme.
&nbsp;
"The world celebrated the 10th International Day of Yoga on June 21 and the response to its universal has been overwhelming. People across nations have embraced yoga and drawn benefits," Usha said in the letter.
&nbsp;
She said it was important for India to lead the efforts to have yoga included in the biggest celebrations of sport.
&nbsp;
"I am confident that as the spiritual home of yoga and as Vishwaguru, India can campaign for the inclusion of the sport in the Asian Games and eventually the Olympic Games as well," she said.
&nbsp;
She drew attention to the fact that the renowned Louvre Museum in Paris will offer visitors a chance to take part in yoga sessions with instructors ahead of the Olympics next month.
&nbsp;
The IOA president added that union sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya was very encouraging and appreciative of the idea of making a case for yoga in the Asian Games.
&nbsp;
"He told me that he sees the inclusion in the Asian Games would be the first step in taking the sport to the Olympics. We need our indigenous sport to be on such platforms," Usha said.

PT Usha seeks yoga's inclusion in Asian Games

Experts tasked with assessing the clauses of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) and addressing recent objections by Pakistan to hydroelectric project designs are scheduled to visit Doda district today, on June 26, officials have confirmed.
&nbsp;
On day two of their visit, the 40-member delegation of neutral experts inspected various units of the 850-megawatt Ratle hydroelectric power project. Their tour included downstream areas and tunnel sections where the powerhouse is being constructed.
&nbsp;
"Upon arrival at the Ratle project site, the delegation inspected the downstream area to assess the water flow from the tunnels.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;They then visited the power station tunnel and the TC area before heading to Drabshalla and finally back to Kishtwar," said a source.
&nbsp;
The delegation is scheduled to visit the Doda district today to examine the water flow in the Chenab River.
&nbsp;
So far, the delegation has avoided media interactions, and even workers at the Ratle power project have been restricted from speaking to them. They are accompanied by their photographers and videographers documenting details.
&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s being speculated that the photographs and video footage are likely to be used in the court of arbitration for the settlement of any issue arising in the future between the two nations.
&nbsp;
The delegation arrived in Jammu on June 23 and reached Kishtwar the following morning to inspect the Ratle power project site.
&nbsp;
They are on a four-day tour following India's call for a resolution of the issue by neutral experts under the Indus Water Treaty (IWT).
&nbsp;
Initially, Pakistan also sought resolution through neutral experts but later requested adjudication through a Court of Arbitration.
&nbsp;
Pakistan raised objections over the design features of both the Ratle and Kishenganga hydroelectric power projects.
&nbsp;
The Ratle project, a run-off-the-river initiative, began 11 years ago when then-Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh laid the foundation stone on June 25, 2013, at Chowgan ground in Kishtwar.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Indus Water Treaty: Experts to visit J&K’s Doda

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) formally arrested Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday in connection with an alleged excise scam and requested a five-day custody of the AAP leader.
&nbsp;
The arrest was made following approval from Special Judge Amitabh Rawat, who sanctioned the CBI&rsquo;s application.
&nbsp;
Kejriwal was brought before the city court from Tihar Central Jail, where he is currently held in a related money laundering case being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate.
&nbsp;
In its application, the CBI stated that Kejriwal&rsquo;s custody was necessary to uncover the larger conspiracy behind the alleged scam. The agency emphasized the need to confront him with evidence and other accused individuals.
&nbsp;
The CBI's counsel dismissed Kejriwal's allegations of malice as unfounded.
&nbsp;
"Unnecessary allegations of malice are being made. We could have conducted these proceedings before the elections. I am doing my job, satisfying every court," the CBI counsel asserted.
&nbsp;
Kejriwal&rsquo;s defence team opposed the CBI&rsquo;s plea, calling the remand application &ldquo;totally vague&rdquo; and requested the court to provide documents related to the CBI proceedings, including the court order concerning his interrogation in Tihar prison on Tuesday evening.
&nbsp;
The incident marks a significant development in the ongoing investigation into the excise scam, which has already seen several high-profile detentions and accusations.
&nbsp;
The arrest of Kejriwal, a prominent political figure, has generated substantial public and political interest.

CBI arrests Kejriwal, seeks 5-day custody

Twenty-four students were reportedly severely beaten by their seniors, resulting in hospitalisation at the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Bordumsa Sub-Division of Arunachal Pradesh&rsquo;s Changlang district on Tuesday.
&nbsp;
The incident, reported on Tuesday afternoon, has caused widespread outrage across the state.
 According to initial reports, the 24 boarding students endured both physical and mental torture from a group of five 11th-standard students when they went for lunch around 2 pm after their classes.
 Rajiv Ranjan, the principal of the school, confirmed that the five accused students have been suspended following a decision by the disciplinary committee.
 &ldquo;They will be handed over to their parents today,&rdquo; Ranjan informed a news broadcasting channel.
 In response, the school&rsquo;s Parent Teacher Council (PTC) convened a meeting to discuss further actions against the perpetrators and the administration.
 The injured students have received preliminary treatment. However, the guardians of the victims have expressed their outrage, holding the school administration, especially Principal Rajiv Ranjan, accountable for the incident. They demand strict action not only against the guilty students but also against the school&rsquo;s administration.
 This incident is not an isolated case in Arunachal Pradesh. In 2018, three 6th-standard students at JNV Doimukh in Papum Pare district were ragged by nine 7th-standard students, leading to suspensions.
&nbsp;
More recently, in 2023, over 20 students fell victim to ragging by senior students at Sangay Lhaden Sports Academy in Chimpu, near Itanagar.

Itanagar

Two dozen hospitalised after ragging in Arunachal

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, on Wednesday, congratulated Om Birla for being elected speaker of the lower house, wishing that the 'opposition would be permitted to raise the voice of people in the House'.
&nbsp;
"I'd like to congratulate you on your successful election. I congratulate you on behalf of the entire INDIA alliance. This House represents the voice of the people of India, of course, the government has political power, but the opposition also represents the voice of India's people. The opposition would like to assist you in your work. I am confident you will allow us to speak in House," Rahul said. 
&nbsp;
Pointing out that this time the opposition represents significantly more voices of the Indian people than last time, Gandhi stressed that it was very important that the voice of the opposition is allowed to be represented in the House. 
&nbsp;
"I am confident that you will allow us to represent our voice, allow us to speak, to represent the voice of the people of India." 
&nbsp;
The question, he said, is not how efficiently the House is run, the question is how much of India's voice is allowed to be heard in the House. 
&nbsp;
"The idea that you can run the House efficiently by silencing the voice of opposition is non-democratic. This election has shown that the people of India expect the opposition to defend the Constitution of this country and we are confident that by allowing Opposition to speak, you will do your duty of defending the Constitution of India," the Congress leader said.&nbsp;

Hope oppn's voice will be allowed in LS: Rahul

The flood situation in Assam showed signs of improvement on Wednesday as the water levels of major rivers and their tributaries began to recede.
&nbsp;
Despite this relief, approximately 1.5 lakh people across seven districts continue to endure the deluge, according to a bulletin from the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA).
&nbsp;
The affected districts experienced light to moderate rainfall, contributing to the decline in water levels of all major rivers, which are now flowing below the danger mark, except for the Kushiyara river in Karimganj.
&nbsp;
Currently, 1.5 lakh people in Barpeta, Cachar, Darrang, Dhemaji, Goalpara, Kamrup, and Karimganj are impacted by the floods, a slight decrease from the 1.53 lakh affected on Tuesday.
&nbsp;
This year's flood-related incidents, including landslides and storms, have claimed 41 lives, with a recent drowning reported from Cachar district on Tuesday.
&nbsp;
Karimganj remains the hardest hit, with nearly 84,000 residents affected, followed by Cachar with 52,400 and Darrang with 6,500.
&nbsp;
In response, district administrations have established 149 relief camps and distribution centres, providing shelter to over 26,000 people.
&nbsp;
As of now, 556 villages are submerged, and 1,547.35 hectares of crop land have been damaged, per ASDMA's bulletin.
&nbsp;
Floodwaters have caused damage to embankments, roads, bridges, and other infrastructure in Chirang, Darrang, Goalpara, Golaghat, Kamrup, Kokrajhar, Nagaon, Nalbari, Tamulpur, Udalguri, Hojai, and Sonitpur districts.

Assam sees flood relief, yet 1.5 lakh affected

An encounter broke out early on Wednesday morning between terrorists and security forces in the forested region of Doda district, Jammu and Kashmir, police officials report.
&nbsp;
The gunfight began at around 9:50 am in Bajaad village in the Gandoh area, during an intensified search and cordon operation conducted by the police with Army and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel.
&nbsp;
A police spokesman posted on X: "Encounter started between security forces and terrorists in the Sinoo area of Gandoh Police Station."
&nbsp;
The police, supported by security forces, launched an operation in the Sinoo panchayat but encountered heavy fire from the hiding terrorists.
&nbsp;
Gunfire was still continuing according to latest reports.
&nbsp;
This encounter comes at a time when&nbsp;&nbsp;the J&amp;K administration is finalising preparations for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra.
&nbsp;
The first delegation of yatris&nbsp;&nbsp;will be flagged off from Jammu's Ram Mandir on June 28.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;Earlier this month, two encounters were reported on June 11 and 12 in Doda between security forces and terrorists.
&nbsp;
Subsequently, five Jawans and a sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) were injured when terrorists opened fire at a joint check post of police and Rashtriya Rifles at an army base in the Chattergala area on the Baderwah-Pathankot road in Doda.
&nbsp;
In response to these attacks, security forces intensified their anti-terrorist operations and announced a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh each for four Pakistani terrorists believed to be operating in the district.

Security forces engage terrorists in J&K encounter

Union Minister Jitendra Singh announced the installation of seven new nuclear reactors, which is expected to increase the country's nuclear power generation capacity by approximately 70% over the next five years.
&nbsp;
The announcement came during a meeting to review the Department of Atomic Energy's 100-day action plan.
&nbsp;
India, which currently operates 24 nuclear reactors, will see its nuclear power generation capacity rise to 13.08 GW with the addition of these new units.
&nbsp;
The meeting was attended by key figures, including Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, and Secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy, along with other senior officials.
&nbsp;
Singh emphasized the need for the Department of Atomic Energy to enhance integration and collaboration to fully harness its potential. This includes capacity building, knowledge sharing, and leveraging resources and expertise. He highlighted the importance of developing indigenous technology to ensure energy security.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;Indigenous technology development and promoting energy security should be our priority,&rdquo; Singh stated.
&nbsp;
He noted that the government has permitted joint ventures with public sector units and has increased the budget to support collaboration, the use of next-generation technologies, and enhanced cooperation.
&nbsp;
The minister discussed several ongoing and upcoming projects. The department is currently developing a 220 MW pressurized heavy water reactor (PHWR) using the Bharat Small Reactor (BSR) for captive nuclear power generation.
&nbsp;
Additionally, efforts are underway on the 220 MW Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR), which aims to replace the Calandria with a pressure vessel using light water-based reactors.
&nbsp;
Singh also highlighted the progress of BHAVINI, a public sector undertaking, which is nearing the completion of initial fuel loading for the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor.
&nbsp;
This reactor is expected to reach its first approach to criticality in the coming months and will be the first fast breeder reactor to produce more fuel than it consumes.

India to add 7 new nuclear reactors in 5 years

Google is set to announce Pixel 9, its latest flagship smartphone, at the "Made by Google" event on August 13. This launch comes ahead of the expected schedule, as the Pixel 9's predecessor, the Pixel 8, was introduced in October 2023.
&nbsp;
The tech giant has released a 15-second teaser titled "AI...meet IX" on its YouTube channel, hinting at the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) features in the new device. The teaser shows "Google Pixel IX" against a black backdrop, building anticipation for the upcoming event.
&nbsp;
In addition to the Pixel 9, Google is expected to introduce the Pixel Watch 3, showcasing the latest advancements in wearable technology. The event will also feature various AI announcements, reflecting the company's ongoing focus on AI innovations.
&nbsp;
According to a report from The Verge, Google will highlight new AI capabilities, updates to its Pixel devices, and enhancements to the Android platform during the event.
&nbsp;
This includes the introduction of new AI-driven functionalities designed to enhance user experience across Google's product ecosystem.
&nbsp;
The "Made by Google" event will take place at Google's headquarters in Mountain View, with the keynote starting at 10 am PT (5 pm GMT). Following the keynote, attendees will have the opportunity to engage in a "hands-on product experience."
&nbsp;
Google's emphasis on AI reflects the broader industry trend, fueled by the debut of ChatGPT in 2022. The company has been at the forefront of AI innovation, with its AI chatbot, Gemini, and a range of AI features integrated into its products.
&nbsp;
The event is also expected to include announcements about updates to the Android platform. These updates are likely to offer new security features, performance improvements, and innovative functionalities that leverage AI to provide a more refined user experience.

California

Google teases Pixel 9 and AI features in August

The Indian economy is set for a major structural shift, aiming for a sustained 8% growth rate, according to the RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das. However, he cautioned that any misstep in monetary policy could derail this growth trajectory.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Speaking at the Annual General Meeting of the Bombay Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, Das defended the monetary policy committee's (MPC) decision to maintain the 4% inflation target.
&nbsp;
He emphasized the importance of avoiding policy errors related to inflation control. Earlier this month, the MPC kept the policy interest rate unchanged at 6.5% for the eighth consecutive time, citing inflationary concerns.
&nbsp;
"We have to navigate the path of inflation with a clear and unambiguous focus and commitment to bring down inflation.
&nbsp;
There cannot be any distraction at this stage. Any distraction will impact growth. In the game of chess, if you make one wrong move, you can lose the game. In the battle against inflation, one single wrong move can just throw you off track, and coming back to track will be costly," Das said.
&nbsp;
Das assured that the Indian economy is not slowing down, highlighting evidence of increased private sector capital expenditure, particularly in sectors such as cement and steel. He stressed the need for multi-sectoral growth to drive the economy forward.
&nbsp;
Das also noted that a moderate level of current account deficit (CAD) is desirable for economic stability.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
India recorded a current account surplus of $5.7 billion, or 0.6% of GDP, in the March quarter, marking the first surplus in ten quarters. In contrast, the year-ago period saw a CAD of $1.3 billion, or 0.2% of GDP, and $8.7 billion, or 1% of GDP, in the three months ending December 2023.

India nears 8% growth, warns on policy errors: Das

Bharatiya Janata Party nominee Om Birla has been elected as the Lok Sabha Speaker once again. The NDA candidate was poised to retain the Speaker&rsquo;s post as the numbers were in favour of the ruling coalition.
&nbsp;
Following the win, Om Birla&nbsp; was congratulated by PM Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, both of whom escorted him to the Speaker&rsquo;s chair.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Prime Minister Modi today said that Birla&rsquo;s experience of being a Speaker in the last term would help him guide the country further.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
He was up against Congress candidate K Suresh, who filed his nomination after the ruling party and Opposition failed to reach a consensus last evening.
&nbsp;
On Monday night, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh&nbsp;engaged with Congress President and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, and other opposition leaders to seek consensus on Om Birla&rsquo;s nomination.
&nbsp;
According to Congress sources, Kharge raised the issue of the Deputy Speaker during their discussion and was informed it could be addressed on Tuesday morning. However, just before the noon deadline for Speaker nominations on Tuesday, the ruling party requested signatures on Birla&rsquo;s nomination papers without committing to the Deputy Speaker issue.
&nbsp;

BJP's Om Birla gets re-elected as the LS Speaker

Shweta Sengar

Ladakh's 'moonland,' a captivating destination with a unique topography reminiscent of the lunar surface, is drawing tourists from across the globe with its extraordinary resemblance to the lunarscape.
&nbsp;
Located in the scenic village of Lamayuru on the Srinagar-Leh highway, about 100 kilometres from Leh, this extraordinary landscape has become a must-visit spot for travellers.
&nbsp;
While Lamayuru has long been renowned for its ancient monasteries, it is now gaining fame for its surreal moonscape, which many believe closely resembles the moon's surface.
&nbsp;
The area has become particularly popular among travellers and content creators, who often visit at sunset to capture the enchanting play of light and shadow across its ridges.
&nbsp;
Local legends attribute these unusual geological formations to a large lake that dried up over time, leaving behind a landscape that resembles the lunar landscape.
&nbsp;
Dr. Binita Phartiyal, a geological scientist, described the landscape as strange, without vegetation, having very little air, and having low pressure that reflects exactly like the surface of the moon.
&nbsp;
One of the tourists from Delhi told reporters after visiting the place with his family that he was amazed at its scenic beauty and its resemblance to the moon's surface.
&nbsp;
Rajath, a habitual traveller, said he had travelled to several countries and had never experienced anything like this anywhere.
&nbsp;
"The scenes here are spectacular, giving the impression of actually being on the moon. I've travelled to several countries, but I have never seen anything like this. It's worth visiting, and I encourage everyone to see it at least once in their lifetime," he said.
&nbsp;
As Moonland's popularity continues to rise, there is a growing call for sustainable tourism practices to preserve its unique environment.
&nbsp;
Visitors emphasise the importance of cooperation between authorities and tourists to protect this geological wonder for future generations. "This place is a treasure, and we must do everything we can to protect it," another tourist added.
&nbsp;
A content creator from Jammu who likes to explore food, culture, and landscape expressed his awe for the landscape, saying, "We have our moonland in Ladakh, and you won't find any place like it on Earth."
&nbsp;
"I've been travelling through Ladakh for ten days and came back specifically to see this place again." Sharma also emphasised the need for preservation, urging authorities to protect the area from tourist damage.

Ladakh's lunar-like 'moonland' a tourist hit

World Cup-winning former Indian cricket team captain Kapil Dev has taken over as the new President of the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), an elevation that marks a fresh beginning for the iconic player who also excelled as an amateur golfer.
&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">The 65-year-old, who was already a member of the PGTI Board as its Vice President, was chosen unanimously and would be taking over from incumbent HR Srinivasan, whose tenure has come to an end.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">Kapil is known to be a keen golfer, whose handicap was almost down to scratch at one time.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&ldquo;It is an honour to become the President of PGTI, an organisation with which I have now been associated for quite a few years. It is a players body, and I am great friends with all of them and with whom I often play,&rdquo; Kapil said on his new position.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">Kapil, who once nurtured dreams of representing India at the Asian Games when it was still open only to amateurs, also said that golf has been his passion for more than three decades.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&ldquo;&hellip; and now it is the sport where I spend most of my time. I have been a vice-President and I am on the Board, so it&rsquo;s an honour to be chosen by the players to be the President. I promise to do my best as I always have.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&ldquo;What gives me even greater pleasure is that I will be able to spend more time with my golfing friends and play a little more,&rdquo; he added.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">Kapil has been at the forefront of trying to get new sponsors for PGTI and brought in one of the most lucrative events to the Tour, namely Kapil Dev Grant Thornton Invitational at the DLF Golf and Country Club, with a purse of Rs 2 crore (approx. USD 240,000).
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">Over the past few years, Kapil&rsquo;s celebrity status and his passion for golf has led to him being invited to major events like the Dunhill Links, where he played alongside other global celebrities.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&ldquo;Golf is a great sport. You can play it till any age and it is an amazingly relaxing sport. I am busy with cricket often, but it a golf course I go to for relaxation. I am fortunate to be able to serve golf and I want to take it to new levels,&rdquo; he added.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">India's top stars like Jeev Milkha Singh, Arjun Atwal, Jyoti Randhawa, Shiv Kapur and many others are his close golfing friends.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">Kapil played cricket for India from 1978 to 1994.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">One of the greatest all-rounders of all time, he played 131 Test matches and 225 one-dayers and led India to the 1983 World Cup win.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">His 175 not out in 1983 World Cup is considered one of the finest innings in the annals of the game.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">In Tests, He scored 5248 runs, including eight centuries, and took 434 wickets, which was then a world record.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">He also scored 3783 runs in ODIs and took 253 wickets in the format. 
&nbsp;

New innings for Kapil Dev as president of PGTI

Plastic has become an omnipresent material in our daily lives. It is commonly used to produce bowls, wraps, bottles, and bags that contain and store food and drinks. However, there is a growing concern about the potential health risks associated with exposure to plastic.
&nbsp;
Research has demonstrated that certain chemicals present in plastic can migrate from the material into the food and beverages it comes into contact with. Some of these chemicals have been associated with adverse health effects, including metabolic disorders such as obesity and reduced fertility.
&nbsp;
The process of chemical migration from plastic to food, called "leaching," is accelerated when the plastic is exposed to heat. Microwaving food in plastic containers can lead to a higher transfer of potentially harmful chemicals into the food, posing a greater risk to our health.
&nbsp;
Popular health expert Luke Coutinho recently expressed his concerns about Zomato and Swiggy's use of plastic containers for hot food. Coutinho emphasized the health hazards and urged the restaurants affiliated with the food delivery services to switch to biodegradable, non-plastic alternatives for the sake of &ldquo;better health and a better earth.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
The nutritionist shared a note on Instagram that read, &ldquo;Swiggy, Zomato, Restaurants&hellip;. Please work with your partners to ensure food deliveries happen in bio degradable non plastic containers&hellip;many restaurants do this already, please make it uniform&hellip;deliver food and health&hellip;hot food in plastic is making people sicker&hellip;you&rsquo;ll have the power to help make a change.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
Sharing the note, he wrote, &ldquo;people want their food on time &hellip;so restaurants will cook your order on high heat and flame , destroying most ingredients , using more refined oil as a medium for fast cooking &hellip;from pan / vessel straight into a plastic container which is immediately covered with the cover retaining immense heat and steam.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
&ldquo;This heat as we know starts to break down the plastic into dangerous bpa and other toxins that wreck havoc with the human body and hormones , fertility , estrogens etc ..we need to move to biodegradable non plastic asap for better health and a better earth &hellip;. @swiggyindia @zomato @fssai_safefood you&rsquo;ll have the power to make this change and be part of a healthier india respectfully request you&rsquo;ll @swiggyindia @zomato and @fssai_safefood @fssai_group_of_india to work this out,&rdquo; he added.
&nbsp;
Polyethylene terephthalate (PETE) is a commonly used type of plastic for making containers. It is generally deemed safe for single-use applications but should not be reused or exposed to high heat.
&nbsp;
Storing food in plastic containers is a widespread practice, but it can lead to the migration of chemicals from the plastic into the food. This is especially concerning when dealing with hot, oily, or acidic foods, as these can accelerate the leaching process.
&nbsp;
To avoid these potential risks, it's advisable to consider alternative food storage options such as glass, stainless steel, silicone, beeswax, or bamboo containers. These materials are non-toxic and safer for storing food.

Is plastic food packaging bad for your health?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will move the motion that Om Birla be chosen as the Speaker of Lok Sabha at 11 am when Parliament resumes today.
&nbsp;
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will second the motion as the post will see an election for the first time since 1976.
&nbsp;
Om Birla was fielded as the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance&rsquo;s (NDA) candidate for the Speaker for the second time, and will face the Opposition-led INDIA bloc&rsquo;s K Suresh.
&nbsp;
The INDIA bloc decided to field K Suresh, a Dalit Congress leader and an eight-time MP, after a consensus between them and the NDA collapsed.
&nbsp;
There was high drama on Tuesday after the Opposition initially agreed to support Om Birla and not field a candidate of its own, only to make a U-turn at the last minute. The move was a result of senior Bharatiya Janata Party leaders not agreeing to the Opposition&rsquo;s precondition that they be offered the Deputy Speaker&rsquo;s post.
&nbsp;
Union Minister Amit Shah, JP Nadda and Rajnath Singh and INDIA bloc's KC Venugopal from Congress and TR Baalu from DMK failed to solve the crisis after a brief interaction among them at Singh's office saw both the NDA and the Opposition sticking to their positions.
&nbsp;
Later, BJP&rsquo;s Piyush Goyal and Janata Dal(United)&rsquo;s Lalan Singh accused the Opposition of resorting to pressure politics.
&nbsp;

PM to move motion to elect Om Birla as LS Speaker

Half of the adult population in India fails to meet the World Health Organisation's (WHO) standards for adequate physical activity, as per recent findings published in the Lancet Global Health.
&nbsp;
A higher proportion of women (57 per cent) than men (42 per cent) are not physically active. What's especially concerning is the significant increase in the prevalence of insufficient physical activity among Indian adults, from 22.3 per cent in 2000 to 49.4 per cent in 2022.
&nbsp;
This upward trend suggests that by 2030 if left unaddressed, an estimated 60 per cent of our population will be at risk of being unfit and susceptible to health issues due to insufficient physical activity.
&nbsp;
The WHO recommends at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate aerobic activity per week (or an equivalent amount of vigorous activity) for all adults. Insufficient physical activity is described as failing to engage in 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity, 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity, or an equivalent combination per week.
&nbsp;
As reported by the WHO, lack of physical activity increases the likelihood of adults developing cardiovascular conditions like heart attacks and strokes, Type 2 diabetes, dementia, as well as breast and colon cancers.
&nbsp;
Statistics show that India ranks 12th in terms of the prevalence of insufficient physical activity out of 195 countries. Globally, nearly 1.8 billion individuals, which accounts for approximately 31 per cent of adults, did not adhere to the recommended levels of physical activity in 2022.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;The findings point to a worrying trend of physical inactivity among adults, which has increased by about five percentage points between 2010 and 2022,&rdquo; said Dr R&uuml;diger Krech, Director of Health Promotion at WHO.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The region with the highest rate of physical inactivity was the high-income Asia-Pacific area, standing at 48 per cent, followed by South Asia at 45 per cent. In other regions, levels of inactivity ranged from 28 per cent in high-income Western countries to 14 per cent in Oceania.
&nbsp;
The situation is particularly worrying in India, as individuals in this country are inherently more susceptible to developing non-communicable diseases such as heart disease and diabetes, often a decade earlier than people in other regions.

Half of India's adults are physically unfit

Stock market benchmark indices climbed in early trade on Wednesday, with the Sensex hitting its fresh all-time high level, but soon equities faced volatile trends and were trading flat amid the emergence of profit-taking.
&nbsp;
The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 134.64 points to hit a new all-time high of 78,188.16 in early trade. The Nifty went up by 28.2 points to 23,749.50.
&nbsp;
However, later both the benchmark indices encountered volatile trends and were trading between highs and lows.
&nbsp;
Among the 30 Sensex companies, UltraTech Cement, ICICI Bank, Larsen &amp; Toubro, Kotak Mahindra Bank, NTPC, Bajaj Finance and Tata Motors were the biggest gainers.
&nbsp;
Mahindra &amp; Mahindra, HDFC Bank, Tata Steel and JSW Steel were among the laggards.
&nbsp;
In Asian markets, Seoul and Tokyo quoted with gains while Shanghai and Hong Kong traded lower.
&nbsp;
US markets ended mostly higher on Tuesday.
&nbsp;
Global oil benchmark Brent crude climbed 0.41 per cent to USD 85.36 a barrel.
&nbsp;
Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) bought equities worth Rs 1,175.91 crore on Tuesday, according to exchange data.
&nbsp;
The BSE benchmark jumped 712.44 points or 0.92 per cent to settle at a new closing peak of 78,053.52 on Tuesday. The Nifty went up by 183.45 points or 0.78 per cent to settle at a record closing peak of 23,721.30.
&nbsp;

Sensex hits new all-time high in early trade

Polling was underway for elections to 25 civic bodies in Nagaland on Wednesday morning, amid tight security arrangements, an SEC official said.
&nbsp;
This was a historic election in the northeastern state as the polling to three municipalities and 22 town councils was being conducted after a gap of 20 years.
&nbsp;
The urban local body polls were being held for the first time with 33 per cent women reservation, said the official at the Nagaland State Election Commission.
&nbsp;
The government had announced elections to urban local bodies several times in the past but objections from tribal bodies and civil society organisations against reservation for women, and tax on land and properties had held back the polls.
&nbsp;
Voting began at 7.30 am and will continue till 4 pm.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;Polling has been peaceful so far. Security has been beefed up for the elections,&rdquo; the SEC officials said.
&nbsp;
Over 2.23 lakh voters, including 1,13,521 women, are eligible to exercise their franchise to decide the fate of 523 candidates from 11 political parties.
Instead of EVMs, voting was being conducted in 420 polling stations through ballot papers, he said.
&nbsp;
Meanwhile, the Eastern Nagaland Peoples&rsquo; Organisation (ENPO) has decided that the six districts in the region will not participate in the elections.
ENPO, the apex body of seven Naga tribes living in the six eastern districts, has been demanding a &lsquo;Frontier Nagaland Territory&rsquo;, claiming that the region has been neglected for years.
&nbsp;
There are 14 town councils in the ENPO area. As many as 59 nominations were accepted from the area but the tribal bodies compelled the candidates to withdraw their nominations.
&nbsp;
The ENPO also refrained from participating in the April 19 Lok Sabha polls for the lone seat in the state.
&nbsp;

Nagaland: Voting underway for civic body polls

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has recently issued invitations to 487 new members, including well-known Indian personalities like SS Rajamouli, Shabana Azmi, Rama Rajamouli, Ritesh Sidhwani, and others, to join the Class of 2024.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
This group of invitees comprises 71 individuals who have been nominated for an Oscar, with 19 of them being past winners. Apart from the aforementioned celebrities, the invitations have also been extended to cinematographer Ravi Varman, filmmaker Rima Das, and Naatu Naatu choreographer Prem Rakshith.
&nbsp;
If all those invited accept, the Academy's total membership will increase to 10,910, with over 9,000 members eligible to vote.
&nbsp;
As per the press release from The Academy, the Class of 2024 includes 44% female members, and 41% from ethnic/racial groups that are underrepresented, and represents 56 countries and territories outside of the United States.
&nbsp;
The Academy's CEO, Bill Kramer, and President Janet Yang expressed their enthusiasm, saying, "We are very excited to welcome the new members of the Academy this year. These incredibly talented artists and professionals from all over the world have had a significant impact on our film community."
&nbsp;
Those who are invited from various branches will be required to choose one specific branch upon accepting the membership.

Rajamouli, Shabana Azmi invited to The Academy

Shooting has started on the much-anticipated "Freaky Friday 2," as announced by Walt Disney Studios.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
A behind-the-scenes photo from the filming of the sequel to the 2003 movie, which featured Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis, was shared by the studio.
&nbsp;
Lohan and Curtis will reprise their roles as Anna and Tess Coleman, respectively, for "Freaky Friday 2," which will premiere next year.
&nbsp;
"The Colemans are back and coming to theatres in 2025! The sequel to Freaky Friday is now in production!" Walt Disney Studios said in an X post on Monday.
&nbsp;
Variety reports that Sophia Hammons and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan will join the film's cast, alongside returning original cast members Mark Harmon, Chad Michael Murray, Christina Vidal Mitchell, Haley Hudson, Lucille Soong, Stephen Tobolowsky, and Rosalind Chao. Ramakrishnan is known for her role in Netflix's "Never Have I Ever."
&nbsp;
The movie's cast will also include Julia Butters and Manny Jacinto, and Nisha Ganatra will direct the film.
&nbsp;
Mark Waters directed the original "Freaky Friday", a story about a mother-daughter duo played by Curtis and Lohan, whose souls swap after visiting a mysterious Chinese restaurant and wake up in each other's bodies the next morning.
&nbsp;
Andrew Gunn, the producer of the 2003 original, is returning to produce the sequel.
&nbsp;

Los Angeles

Maitreyi Ramakrishnan joins 'Freaky Friday 2' cast

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, 52, pled guilty on Wednesday to conspiring to access and disclose classified US military information, skipping a lengthy trial and incarceration and paving the way for his freedom.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;Guilty to the information,&rdquo; Assange joked with the judge during the hearing at a District Court in the US territory of Northern Mariana Islands, following his refusal to travel to the country&rsquo;s mainland.
&nbsp;
In a lighter vein, he told the judge that his satisfaction depended &ldquo;on the outcome of the hearing.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
With this, Assange skips lengthy trials and prison time for his sensational WikiLeaks disclosures in 2010 of alleged wrongdoings of the US government in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.
&nbsp;
Later, US diplomatic cables were released with security threat assessments and inputs on leaders of other nations, sometimes with embarrassing details.
&nbsp;
Assange left Belmarsh maximum security prison on June 24, after having spent 1901 days there. He was granted bail by the High Court in London and was released at Stansted airport during the afternoon, where he boarded a plane and departed the UK, read a WikiLeaks tweet.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
It has been reported that as part of the plea deal Assange is likely to be sentenced to 62 months in prison but will be credited for the five years already served in Britain.
&nbsp;
A controversial figure, hailed as a hero by advocates of free speech and a villain by those who believe he gave away state secrets, Assange wore a blue shirt and jeans as he boarded a flight at London's Stansted Airport on June 24.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The Australian government, Assange&rsquo;s home country, welcomed the resolution, stating his case had "dragged on for too long."
&nbsp;

Washington D.C.

Julian Assange pleads guilty, skips lengthy trial

In the past five years, a report released on Tuesday found that 80 per cent of small-scale farmers in India experienced crop losses due to extreme weather conditions.
&nbsp;
The survey, which was carried out by the Forum of Enterprises for Equitable Development (FEED) in partnership with the Development Intelligence Unit (DIU), involved 6,615 farmers from 21 different states.
&nbsp;
The results showed that the main reasons for crop damage were drought (41 per cent), irregular rainfall such as excessive or out-of-season rains (32 per cent), and the early or late arrival of the monsoon (24 per cent).
&nbsp;
The report stated that almost 43 per cent of the farmers surveyed lost at least half of their standing crops.
&nbsp;
The irregular rainfall significantly affected rice, vegetables, and pulses. In the northern regions, paddy fields often remained flooded for over a week, destroying newly planted seedlings.
&nbsp;
Conversely, insufficient rainfall delayed the planting of various crops, including rice, corn, cotton, soybeans, groundnuts, and pulses, in states like Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, and West Bengal.
&nbsp;
The report, however, failed to address the consequences of fluctuating temperatures.
&nbsp;
In 2022, early heat waves had a detrimental effect on India's wheat crop, resulting in a production decrease from 109.59 million tonnes in 2021 to 107.7 million tonnes. Consequently, the country, which is the world's second-largest wheat producer, imposed an export ban.
&nbsp;
Once again, the heat in 2023 impacted wheat output, causing the official production target to decrease by nearly 3 million tonnes. 
&nbsp;
According to the Climate Transparency Report of 2021, a temperature rise of 1 to 4 degrees Celsius could lead to a 10 to 30 per cent reduction in rice production and a 25 to 70 per cent decrease in maize production.
&nbsp;
In India's agricultural sector, small-scale farmers, who own less than one hectare of land, make up the largest proportion, accounting for 68.5 per cent of all farmers but only possessing approximately 24 per cent of the total crop area.
&nbsp;

80% of India's marginal farmers suffer crop losses

Television personality Prince Narula and his wife Yuvika Chaudhary have announced that they are expecting their first child together. Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, the duo shared a joint post. They penned a note along with a symbolic photo.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Prince Narula posted a picture featuring a red toy car placed next to his own car. The next picture featured him standing in front of his car. Narula captioned the post in Hindi, announcing, &ldquo;baby aane wala hai jald&rdquo; (baby is coming soon). He expressed gratitude to Yuvika for the &ldquo;best gift&rdquo; he could receive.
&nbsp;
In his emotional message, Prince wrote, &ldquo;Hi everyone, I don&rsquo;t know how to express my feelings right now because we are very happy and nervous at the same time thankful to God and super excited for being parents.&rdquo; He humorously added that Yuvika will now be his &ldquo;second baby&rdquo;, with the first spot reserved for their child.
&nbsp;
Reacting to the post, Yuvika Chaudhary posted red heart and folded hands emojis. Celebrities, including Gauahar Khan, Neha Dhupia, Anita Hassanandani, and Priyank Sharma, extended their best wishes to the couple, showering them with love and support.
&nbsp;
Speculation surrounding Yuvika&rsquo;s pregnancy had been circulating earlier this year after Prince Narula hinted at the possibility during a guest appearance on Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiyaa&rsquo;s podcast.
&nbsp;
Responding to playful banter about their future child, as per news agency ANI, Prince playfully responded, &ldquo;Very soon&rdquo;, sparking anticipation among their fans.
&nbsp;
Prince Narula is renowned for his appearances on popular reality shows such as Bigg Boss, Splitsvilla and Roadies. Yuvika gained fame for her roles in Bollywood, notably in the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Om Shanti Om. She also captured hearts during her participation and subsequent win on reality shows like Bigg Boss 9 and Nach Baliye 9 alongside her husband.
&nbsp;

Bigg Boss fame Prince & Yuvika to be parents soon

India has urged its citizens in Kenya to be extremely careful and limit unnecessary travel due to the ongoing violent demonstrations in the East African country opposing the government's plans to increase taxes.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
ADVISORY FOR INDIAN NATIONALS IN KENYA In view of the prevailing tense situation, all Indians in Kenya are advised to exercise utmost caution, restrict non-essential movement and avoid the areas affected by the protests and violence till the situation clears up.
&mdash; India in Kenya (@IndiainKenya) <a href="https://twitter.com/IndiainKenya/status/1805698054550331419?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 25, 2024</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;"In view of the prevailing tense situation, all Indians in Kenya are advised to exercise utmost caution, restrict non-essential movement and avoid the areas affected by the protests and violence till the situation clears up," the Indian consulate in Kenya said in an advisory posted on social media platform X.
&nbsp;
"Please follow local news and Mission's website and social media handles for updates," it added.
&nbsp;
At least five protestors were shot dead and more than 150 others injured in Nairobi as police used tear gas and live rounds after thousands stormed into Kenya's Parliament and set part of it on fire.

Advisory issued for Indians in Kenya amid unrest

Israel is planning to implement a strategy to replace Hamas authority in northern Gaza, as mentioned by Israeli National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi on Tuesday.
&nbsp;
During the Herzliya Conference at Reichman University, Hanegbi stated that weakening Hamas's governance would create opportunities for other nations that support an alternative leadership in Gaza, along with local leadership.
&nbsp;
He outlined that the new leadership in Gaza will involve Israel's Abraham Accords partners, the United States, the European Union, and the United Nations.
&nbsp;
Meanwhile, the Israeli military will be working to remove Hamas's presence from the area.
&nbsp;
"We've been talking about this notion of 'the day after' for many months, and the main thing that we've tried to emphasise throughout is that it's mainly the day after Hamas in the sense that we don't need to wait for it to disappear because that process could take a long time."
&nbsp;
"The idea is, and this is what the Americans agree on, including in the conversations this week and also in the conversation that the minister of defence [Yoav Gallant] is conducting right now [in Washington], is that there will be a so-called top-down leadership, and not only bottom-up," he continued.
&nbsp;
Hanegbi said, "You cannot completely get Hamas to disappear because it's an idea, a concept."
&nbsp;
The Biden administration has urged Israeli authorities to provide a clear plan for governing Gaza after the conflict. They are against Israel taking control of Gaza or letting the situation in the area become chaotic.
&nbsp;
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has emphasised that Israel's objectives in the conflict are to eliminate Hamas's military and governing capacities, secure the release of all hostages, and make sure that Gaza no longer presents a threat to Israel.

Tel Aviv

Israel plans to replace Hamas rule in Gaza

The ABVP has called for a bandh and hence all the schools in Hyderabad will remain shut.
&nbsp;
Schools across Hyderabad sent out holiday notices to parents via WhatsApp messages stating that Wednesday is a non-working day.
&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">The bandh has been called in protest against the government&rsquo;s failure to check the spike in fees by private schools, demanding providing basic facilities in government schools and also filling up the DEO and MEO posts.
<p style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">ABVP (Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad) Telangana state leader G Jeevan demanded that the government should take strict action against the management of corporate, private, and international schools for charging lakhs of rupees as fee from parents.
<p style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">The ABVP also demanded implementation of the Fee Regulation Act, strict action against managements of private schools selling books and uniforms in violation of the rules, and scrapping the registration of private schools failing to follow the rules.
<p style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">Speaking to reporters, he demanded that more than 24,000 teacher posts lying vacant in the state should be filled by conducting Mega DSC. Appointment of attenders and scavengers in schools has also been demanded.
<p style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">He demanded that the government should ensure that every school should allocate 25 per cent of seats to poor students, as per the Right to Education Act (RTE).
&nbsp;

Hyderabad: Schools to remain shut on ABVP bandh

An auction of Diana memorabilia, including a midnight blue tulle dress and a flamenco-style lace-up number that were sold months before her death, will take place in California this week.
&nbsp;
The auction will feature nearly fifty pieces, such as gowns, shoes, handbags, and hats, and will be held in Beverly Hills.
&nbsp;
"Princess Diana's Elegance &amp; A Royal Collection," brings together some of the style maven's favourite designers, including Victor Edelstein, Murray Arbeid and Catherine Walker.
&nbsp;
Arbeid's blue diamante ball gown, worn by the princess to the London premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom of the Opera" in 1986, and a magenta lace dress by Edelstein are among the highlights.
&nbsp;
Julien's Auctions, the auction house handling the sale, estimates that both pieces could sell for up to $400,000.
&nbsp;
"We are here celebrating Princess Diana's elegance," said Gabriela Schwartz, of the auction house.
&nbsp;
"We have some really standout pieces... that Diana wore with a lot of pride and (which are) really emblematic of her style."
&nbsp;
In 1981, Diana and Britain's future King Charles were wed in a lavish ceremony that was observed by millions worldwide.
&nbsp;
The romance turned sour in the subsequent years, and their tumultuous relationship provided material for newspapers and gossip magazines, fueling the rapid growth of celebrity culture in the 1990s.
&nbsp;
The couple, who had two sons - Princes William and Harry, ended their marriage amidst widespread media coverage and reports of infidelity.
&nbsp;
The year following their divorce, Diana lost her life in a car crash in Paris while attempting to evade the paparazzi with her lover.

Beverly Hills

Princess Diana's gown, handbag up for auction

All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi stirred controversy on Tuesday by concluding his oath-taking in the 18th Lok Sabha with the slogan &ldquo;Jai Palestine&rdquo;.
&nbsp;
Owaisi, who was re-elected as MP from Hyderabad parliamentary constituency, took the oath in Urdu and ended it with slogans &mdash; &lsquo;Jai Bheem, Jai Telangana, Jai Palestine&rsquo;.
&nbsp;
The unexpected inclusion of &ldquo;Jai Palestine&rdquo; immediately drew objections from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs, including Shobha Karandlaje. Radha Mohan Singh, who was presiding over the swearing-in ceremony, announced that the controversial slogan would be expunged from the official records.
Despite the assurances from Singh, the BJP MPs continued to protest for a brief period.
&nbsp;
Union Minister G Kishan Reddy later criticised Owaisi&rsquo;s slogan calling it &ldquo;absolutely wrong&rdquo;.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;This is against the rules of the House. He does not say &lsquo;Bharat Mata ki Jai&rsquo; while living in India&hellip;. People should understand that he does unconstitutional work while living in the country,&rdquo; Reddy told the media.
&nbsp;
In response to the uproar, Owaisi defended his choice of words, questioning the basis of the objections raised by BJP members.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;Other members are also saying different things... I said &lsquo;Jai Bheem, Jai Telangana, Jai Palestine&rsquo;. How is it wrong? Tell me the provision of the Constitution [that I violated]. You should also listen to what others said. I said what I had to. Read what Mahatma Gandhi had said about Palestine,&rdquo; Owaisi said.
&nbsp;
Owaisi, who has emerged as a powerful voice of Muslims in the country in recent years, defeated his BJP rival Madhavi Latha by a big margin of over 3.38 lakh votes in the Lok Sabha elections, in what is seen as a testament to the iron grip of the Owaisi family over the old city.
&nbsp;
Unfazed by criticism that he is &ldquo;B team of BJP&rdquo;, Owaisi has been making efforts to expand the party's footprint across the country albeit with limited success.
&nbsp;
A sworn critic of BJP and RSS, Owaisi has been vociferous in his opposition to the Citizenship Amendment Act, National Register for Citizens and National Population Register.
&nbsp;

Owaisi defends 'Jai Palestine' slogan

After a few years of rapidly increasing consumer prices, inflation has significantly slowed down in recent months, and the unemployment rate has remained below 4% for over two years.
&nbsp;
The Republican held a larger advantage - 44% to 31% - on immigration. Immigrants comprised 13.9% of the population in 2022, the highest percentage in more than a century. Trump targeted immigrants who were in the country unlawfully. Trump was preferred by 40% to 35% on matters of foreign conflicts and terrorism.
&nbsp;
However, Biden had the upper hand over Trump in addressing political extremism and threats to democracy, the second most important concern of respondents. Registered voters chose the Democrat over Trump by 39% to 33%.
&nbsp;
Trump, who was found guilty last month of manipulating business records, is awaiting three additional criminal trials, two of which are related to his attempts to reverse his 2020 election loss to Biden. Trump, who falsely alleges that his defeat in the 2020 election was due to fraud, included this claim in an impassioned speech shortly before hundreds of his supporters raided the US Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
&nbsp;
Biden also had a lead over Trump on healthcare policy, with 40% to 29%. Biden served as vice president in 2010 when then-President Barack Obama shepherded a groundbreaking health reform through Congress, significantly increasing access to health insurance.
&nbsp;
Previous Reuters/Ipsos surveys have indicated that Biden and Trump were tied in the presidential race, although several polls in battleground states have shown Trump ahead in recent months.
&nbsp;
The Reuters/Ipsos survey was conducted online and nationwide, gathering input from 1,019 American adults, of which 856 were registered voters. The survey had a margin of error of 3.2 percentage points for all participants and 3.5 percentage points for registered voters.

Voters trust Trump on economy, Biden on democracy

The third edition of the INDUS-X Investor Summit will be held in the Silicon Valley in September, the Pentagon has said.
&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">On June 21 last year, the US Department of Defense (DoD) and the Indian Ministry of Defence launched the India-US Defense Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official state visit to Washington DC. Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told a news conference on Tuesday,
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;
&ldquo;INDUS-X is one of the ways the DoD (Department of Defense) continues to help advance the initiative on critical and emerging technology between our two countries. Together with the Indian Ministry of Defense, we&rsquo;re facilitating dynamic partnerships among defense technology companies, investors, and researchers. We&rsquo;ve already convened two INDUS-X summits, one here in Washington and another in New Delhi,&rdquo; Ryder said.
&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">In its first year, the INDUS-X advanced both the countries&rsquo; commitment to build a defence innovation bridge under the initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET), the Pentagon said in a fact sheet.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">The INDUS-X has strengthened private sector cooperation between the US and India by facilitating partnerships among defence technology companies, investors, and researchers.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">The summit in September will focus on harnessing private capital for defence innovation. It will be co-hosted by the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) and the Stanford University. 
&nbsp;

Third INDUS-X Summit to take place in September

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday has initiated the process to arrest Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in the liquor policy case. The Aam Aadmi Party chief, who is already in Delhi's Tihar jail, was examined by the CBI on Tuesday. This comes a day before the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear Arvind Kejriwal&rsquo;s bail plea in the money laundering case.
 His statement related to the now-scrapped excise policy case was also recorded. The CBI will produce Kejriwal before the concerned trial court today.
 Alleging conspiracy by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Central government, AAP leader Sanjay Singh said: &ldquo;At a time when there is a cent per cent possibility that Arvind Kejriwal will get bail from the Supreme Court, sources have informed me that the Centre is conspiring to register a fake CBI case against the Delhi CM and get him arrested by the CBI. The entire nation can see this and is standing in solidarity with Arvind Kejriwal.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
Earlier in the day, the Delhi high court stayed the trial court order granting him bail in the money laundering case related to the alleged excise scam. Stating that the lower court did not &ldquo;appropriately appreciate&rdquo; the material placed before it by the Enforcement Directorate, the high court stayed Kejriwal&rsquo;s bail.
 A vacation bench of Justice Sudhir Kumar Jain said the ED&rsquo;s contentions assailing the bail order required serious consideration.
 Soon after the decision, the AAP had moved Supreme Court challenging the HC order. The matter is listed for hearing on Wednesday.

CBI questions Kejriwal in liquor policy case

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has instructed its Members of Parliament (MPs) to be present in the Parliament from 11am onwards tomorrow for the election of the Lok Sabha Speaker.
&nbsp;
Harish Balayogi, TDP's Whip, issued a three-line whip directing all party MPs to attend and vote for Shri Om Birla, the NDA candidate, during the upcoming Speaker elections on June 26, 2024. The MPs are required to assemble at Room Number 111-B in the Parliamentary office by 10:30 AM, according to the official release.
&nbsp;
TDP, an ally in the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), joins other parties in preparing for the crucial election. Earlier today, both the BJP and Congress also issued similar three-line whips to their MPs to ensure their presence in Parliament.
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The opposition INDIA bloc, having failed to reach consensus on BJP MP Om Birla's appointment, has nominated Congress MP K Suresh for the Speaker's post. Their demand for the Deputy Speaker's position remains unresolved, prompting the nomination of K Suresh for the top parliamentary role.
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Om Birla, BJP's Kota MP and the previous Speaker of the 17th Lok Sabha, has been nominated by the BJP for the Speaker's post. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi indicated their willingness to support NDA's candidate under the condition that the Deputy Speaker position is given to the opposition.
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Speaking to the media, Rahul Gandhi highlighted the opposition's stance conveyed to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, emphasising the need for cooperative engagement. He criticised the treatment of opposition leaders, citing instances of alleged disrespect despite Prime Minister Modi's call for constructive cooperation.
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Currently, BJP MP Bhartruhari Mahtab is serving as the pro-tem speaker until the election of the new Speaker on June 26. The NDA, with 293 MPs in the 543-member Lok Sabha, holds a significant majority, while the opposition INDIA bloc comprises 234 MPs.
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The elections for the Speaker's post are set to determine the leadership of the lower house of India's Parliament amidst significant political manoeuvring and strategic alliances.
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TDP whips MPs to back BJP’s OM Birla as LS Speaker

The final and possibly decisive revolt is shaping up against Sukhbir Badal within his party, the Shiromani Akali Dal, which he has been heading for over a decade now.&nbsp;
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On Tuesday, senior Akali leaders gathered in Jalandhar to chalk out the further course of action to redeem the party. The party leadership urged Sukhbir that he should accept the popular verdict, asking him indirectly to step aside.
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The leaders decided to launch the &ldquo;Save Akali Dal Movement&rdquo; also, suggesting the removal of Sukhbir as the party president and replacing him with some eminent leader who has a hold over mainstream and panthic politics. The meeting was attended by some of Sukhbir&rsquo;s loyalists also.&nbsp;
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These leaders appeared to have deliberately organised the meeting in Jalandhar today, while Sukhbir Badal had convened a meeting of the assembly constituency in charge in Chandigarh.&nbsp;
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Senior and prominent Akali leaders attended the meeting. They included Prem Singh Chandumajra, Surjeet Singh Rakhra, Sikander Singh Maluka, Bibi Jagir Kaur, Kiranjot Kaur (granddaughter of Master Tara Singh) Manjit Singh, Surinder Bhullewal, Gurpartap Wadala, Charanjit Brar, Harinder Pal Tohra, Gaganjit Barnala, Paramjit Landran, Parminder Dhindsa, Balbir Ghunas, Randhir Rakhra, Sucha Singh Chhotepur, Karnail Panjoli, Sarwan Singh Phillaur and others.&nbsp;
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Reacting to this meeting, Sukhbir described it as an attempt to weaken the path. However, his argument may not be taken seriously since there has been a persistent demand from the majority of Akali leaders and workers that there must be a change in the leadership.&nbsp;
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The last proverbial straw on Sukhbir&rsquo;s back was the poor performance of the party in the recently held General Elections, in which the party could win only the Bathinda seat and lost security deposit in ten other constituencies.&nbsp;
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The vote share of the party also dipped to just 13 per cent, while its erstwhile partner the BJP got 18.5 per cent, although it could not win any seat.&nbsp;
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While the opinion remains divided on whether any non-Badal may be able to lead the Akali Dal and keep the party together, there is a general perception that if Sukhbir Badal steps aside, the party may be able to revive and redeem itself.&nbsp;
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The public perception of the Badals is too strong and too deep.
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Some senior party leaders the News Arena India spoke to admitted that the writing was on the wall and that Sukhbir should step aside.&nbsp;
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They said, that while it is a fact that he has managed to keep the flock together despite consistent drubbings and against all odds since 2017, he should be magnanimous enough and hand over the reins to anyone the party wants, in the interest of the party.
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They said, given the deep and strong connection he has with the party&rsquo;s rank and file at the grassroots, it is difficult to imagine that Sukhbir&rsquo;s influence may in any way get reduced.&nbsp;
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They quoted the example of the Congress, where the Gandhis stepped aside by appointing Mallikarjun Kharge as the president.&nbsp;
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They said the Badals&rsquo; contribution to the Shiromani Akali Dal can not be ignored or overlooked. But at the same time, they added, the situation demands that he should step aside, right now while respecting public sentiment, and maybe he will soon return at the helm once things get streamlined.&nbsp;

Jalandhar

Final Revolt against Badal shapes up in Akali Dal

Chinese Ambassador Xu Feihong met with India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday evening to discuss the bilateral relationship between India and China. The meeting marks an important step in the diplomatic ties between the two countries.
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In a post on X, Jaishankar shared, "Received Ambassador of China Xu Feihong this evening. Discussed our bilateral relationship and our common interest in its stabilisation and progress." He also wished Xu a successful tenure.
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Xu Feihong, who arrived in New Delhi on May 10, has officially taken charge as the Chinese Ambassador to India. This makes him the 17th Chinese envoy to India and the first in over 18 months.
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The previous ambassador, Sun Weidong, left his post in October 2022 during a period when India and China were working to manage their strained relations following the Ladakh border standoff in 2020.
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Upon assuming his new role, Xu emphasised the longstanding historical and cultural ties between India and China. In an interview with China Global Television Network, he expressed his commitment to fostering deeper understanding and friendship between the two nations.
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Xu said, "I will do my best to deepen understanding and friendship between the two peoples, expand exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and improve and advance the bilateral relationship."
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He further highlighted the significant roles both countries play as the world's largest emerging markets and developing nations. "As President Xi Jinping said, if China and India speak with one voice, the whole world will listen; if the two countries join hands, the whole world will pay attention," Xu noted.
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This meeting comes at a crucial time as both India and China look to stabilise their relationship and seek progress in various areas of cooperation. The conversation between Xu and Jaishankar is a step towards addressing the complexities and potential of the bilateral ties between the two neighbours.
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Chinese envoy Feihong meets S Jaishankar in Delhi

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has been named the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. The decision was made during a meeting of floor leaders from Congress and its allies.
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Party general secretary KC Venugopal announced the appointment after the meeting, stating, "Wrote a letter to pro-tem Speaker Bhartruhari Mahtab, informing the decision of the appointment of Rahul Gandhi as the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha." Venugopal also mentioned that other office bearers would be decided later.
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Rahul Gandhi accepted the Congress Working Committee's decision to take on this significant role. This move comes just before the first major contest of the 18th Lok Sabha, where the opposition and the ruling coalition will face off in the election of the Speaker.
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The decision to appoint Rahul Gandhi as the Leader of the Opposition is seen as a strategic move by the Congress party. It aims to strengthen their position in the Lok Sabha and present a united front against the ruling coalition.
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As the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi will play a crucial role in voicing the concerns and viewpoints of the opposition, ensuring that the government is held accountable.
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Rahul Gandhi's new role is expected to bring a new dynamic to the political landscape. Known for his vocal stance on various issues, he is likely to use this platform to push for the opposition's agenda more vigorously.
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His leadership will be tested as he navigates the challenges of this position and works towards consolidating the opposition's efforts in the Lok Sabha.
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The Congress party's decision to elevate Rahul Gandhi to this role highlights their confidence in his leadership abilities. It also signals their commitment to providing a strong opposition to the ruling government. With the upcoming election of the Speaker, Rahul Gandhi's leadership will be crucial in strategizing and mobilising the opposition's efforts.
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The appointment of Rahul Gandhi as the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha marks a significant development in Indian politics. It sets the stage for a more robust opposition and a potentially more contentious political environment as the 18th Lok Sabha session progresses.

Rahul Gandhi named Leader of Opposition in LS

Recent claims of rainwater leaking from the roof of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple's sanctum sanctorum have stirred controversy. The temple's chief priest, Acharya Satyendra Das, alleged that rainwater had leaked from the roof directly above the spot where he sits in front of Ram Lalla's idol.
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This claim was made following heavy showers that occurred at midnight on Saturday. Das urged the temple authorities to take immediate corrective measures, emphasising that the rainwater leakage had disrupted the temple's sanctity.
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In response, the Ram Temple Construction Committee Chairman, Nripendra Mishra, refuted these allegations. Mishra explained that there was no water leakage in the traditional sense but rather rainwater had trickled down from pipes installed for electric wires.
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"I have personally inspected the temple building. The second floor is still under construction. Once the roof of the second floor is completed, the rainwater issue will be resolved," Mishra stated during a press conference.
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Mishra assured that temporary measures have been taken to protect devotees from rain and sunlight. These include temporary constructions on the roof to prevent any further inconvenience.
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He also addressed concerns raised by the chief priest regarding the lack of proper drainage systems, stating that steps are being taken to ensure proper water outflow from the temple premises.
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Despite the chief priest's concerns, Mishra expressed confidence in the ongoing construction work. He highlighted that engineers from across the country are involved in building the temple and are aware of the necessary measures to prevent such issues. "The temple was inaugurated on January 22, and while it is surprising to hear about the leakage, it is an issue that will be addressed promptly," Mishra said.
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The chief priest's allegations have sparked debates about the quality of construction and the oversight of such a significant project. Das questioned how a world-famous temple could experience such issues despite the involvement of top engineers. He emphasised the need for accountability and immediate rectification to maintain the temple's integrity and the devotees' trust.
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Mishra also provided an update on the progress of the temple's construction. He mentioned that work on the first floor is expected to be completed by July this year, with the entire construction projected to be finished by December. This timeline aims to ensure that the temple is fully operational and free from any structural issues by the end of the year.
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In conclusion, while the allegations of rainwater leakage at the Ram Janmabhoomi temple have raised concerns, the trust's chief has assured that appropriate measures are being taken to address and rectify the situation. The ongoing construction work aims to ensure that such issues do not recur, maintaining the sanctity and structural integrity of the temple.

Ayodhya

Ram Temple Trust dismisses leakage claims

Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced on Tuesday that her country will carefully assess proposals from both India and China for a significant project on the Teesta River, ultimately selecting the one most advantageous to Bangladesh.
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Hasina's remarks followed her recent visit to India, which she described as highly productive, highlighting its role in strengthening bilateral relations and exploring new avenues of cooperation.
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"We have received proposals from both China and India regarding the Teesta project. We will evaluate each proposal based on its benefits and alignment with our national interests," stated the 76-year-old leader during a media conference.
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When questioned about her preference between the Indian and Chinese proposals, Hasina emphasized Bangladesh's approach to international relationships based on developmental needs and mutual benefits.
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"We consider factors such as project suitability, our capacity to manage associated loans, expected returns on investment, and how the project will benefit our citizens," she explained.
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China has conducted a physical survey for the project, while India has expressed readiness to undertake further studies on its implementation.
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However, India has reservations about Chinese involvement near its strategic Siliguri Corridor, a concern acknowledged by Bangladesh's foreign ministry.
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In 2020, China proposed extensive dredging and infrastructure work on the Teesta River independently of Indian participation, prompting Bangladesh to temporarily suspend the billion-dollar project amid potential complications in India-Bangladesh relations.
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The Teesta water-sharing agreement has long been a contentious issue between Bangladesh and India, with ongoing discussions since the Awami League government's return to power in 2009.
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Hasina highlighted Bangladesh's interest in resolving the water-sharing issue through joint efforts with India.
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"India has agreed to collaborate with us on the Teesta project. A joint committee will oversee water sharing, river revitalisation, agricultural use, and navigation enhancement," she stated.
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The discussion on water management includes dredging, embankment construction, and conservation measures, with plans for a technical team collaboration after the 1996 Ganges water treaty expires in 2026.
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Attempts to finalise the Teesta Agreement during former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Bangladesh in 2011 were hindered by the opposition from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
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Despite obstacles, Bangladesh and India have agreed in principle to channel Teesta waters for irrigation in Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar districts, as reported by Indian media.
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Responding to queries about Banerjee's objections to water-sharing agreements, Hasina refrained from comment, citing the issue as India's internal matter. She pressed her positive relations with Indian political leaders, including Prime Minister Modi and Banerjee.
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Regarding Bangladesh's foreign policy towards India and China, Hasina reiterated her government's stance of maintaining friendly relations with all nations.
"Friendship to all, malice to none remains the cornerstone of our foreign policy," she affirmed. 
Reflecting on her recent visit to India and plans for an upcoming visit to China, Hasina highlighted the importance of balanced international relations for Bangladesh's development. 
"We recognise India's historical role in our independence struggle while acknowledging China's developmental successes," she remarked.
 Hasina dismissed concerns about rail connectivity with India, stressing its importance for regional trade and socio-economic development.
 "Bangladesh is an independent nation, liberated through our own efforts. Allegations about selling our sovereignty are baseless and unfounded," she asserted. 
The premier said Bangladesh is an independent country and &ldquo;we liberated the country through the Liberation War&rdquo;. 
She said everyone should keep in mind that India was the only force in the world which left a country after helping in its liberation and referred to the American troops of allied forces which were still staying in Japan and Russian troops in Germany. 
"Even then, some talk about the rail issue that Bangladesh will be sold to India. How do they say this? Those who talk like this are themselves sold to India," she said. 
They criticise India publicly and flatter secretly, she added. 
"Look at Europe where there are no borders. Is one country selling itself to another country there? &hellip;will we keep our doors shut in Bangladesh?" she added.&nbsp;

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