News Arena Network

Deepan

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted above-normal rainfall for July, raising concerns about potential floods in the western Himalayan states and central river basins.
&nbsp;
Conversely, northeast India may experience below-normal rainfall this month, mitigating flood risks in the region.
&nbsp;
Speaking at a virtual press conference, IMD Director Mrutyunjay Mohapatra stated that the anticipated rainfall for July is likely to exceed 106 per cent of the long-period average (LPA) of 28.04 cm across the country.
&nbsp;
"We anticipate normal to above-normal rainfall over most parts of India, except for northeastern regions and certain areas of northwest, east, and southeast peninsular India," Mohapatra noted.
&nbsp;
He pointed out the heightened likelihood of heavy rainfall in specific areas, particularly highlighting Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, and the foothills of the western Himalayas.
&nbsp;
These regions are susceptible to severe weather events such as cloudbursts, landslides, and flooding due to their topography and the origin of numerous rivers.
&nbsp;
"In central India, including the Godavari and Mahanadi river basins, we also expect above-normal rainfall, which increases the potential for flooding," Mohapatra added.
&nbsp;
The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), based in Nepal, has reiterated concerns over the monsoon season in the Hindukush Himalayan region, affecting countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, and Pakistan.
&nbsp;
"Despite below-average rainfall last year, catastrophic floods devastated many mountainous areas of the Hindukush Himalaya," remarked Mandira Shrestha, programme coordinator for climate services at ICIMOD.
&nbsp;
She expressed apprehension over this year's monsoon outlook amidst a warming trend that accelerates snowmelt, glacier retreat, and destabilizes mountain slopes.
&nbsp;
"This forecast serves as a crucial alert for international donors, multilateral agencies, and disaster management officials. Early warning systems must urgently be reinforced in this densely populated region facing escalating risks," Shrestha stressed. 
In July 2023, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand witnessed devastating floods, followed by flooding in the Teesta river in the eastern Himalayas during October. 
Mohapatra also highlighted the below-normal rainfall recorded in June this year, which saw an 11 percent deficit, the highest in five years. Data from IMD indicates a historical trend where below-normal June rainfall often precedes normal to above-normal July rainfall. 
"June's subdued rainfall was attributed to a delayed onset of monsoon over northern and eastern India, exacerbated by unfavorable weather systems," Mohapatra explained. The absence of typical weather phenomena like the Madden-Julian Oscillation and active western disturbances further prolonged dry spells and heatwaves in northwest and central India. 
The IMD's climate analysis revealed that maximum temperatures in July are likely to remain normal to below normal across most of northwest India and peninsular India, except for the west coast. Conversely, central, east, and northeast India, along with the west coast, may experience above-normal maximum temperatures. 
Regarding minimum temperatures, Mohapatra indicated they are expected to be above normal in many parts of India, excluding certain areas of northwest and central India, as well as pockets of southeastern peninsular India. The IMD anticipates cloudy conditions to contribute to higher minimum temperatures during the monsoon season. 
Northwest India recorded its warmest June since 1901, with a mean temperature of 31.73 degrees Celsius, surpassing the long-term average. Maximum temperatures averaged 38.02 degrees Celsius, nearly 2 degrees Celsius above normal, while minimum temperatures settled at 25.44 degrees Celsius, 1.35 degrees Celsius above normal.

New Delhi

IMD rings flood alert for western Himalayas, central India

Amarpreet Kaur

Politics is the art of the possible. Shiromani Akali Dal and the Congress have always been fierce rivals. They continue till today.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
There is a long history behind this rivalry, although long ago, in the immediate aftermath of the independence of the country, there was an alliance between the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Veteran Akali leader and five-time Punjab Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal was elected to the assembly for the first time on Congress symbol.
&nbsp;
It was during the Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi&rsquo;s speech on the motion of thanks to the President's address in the Lok Sabha on Monday that he spoke about farmers&rsquo; issues and accused the government of India of describing the farmers as terrorists.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Harsimrat Kaur Badal, the lone Akali member of the Akali Dal seconded Rahul&rsquo;s allegations that the farmers&rsquo; were being described as "terrorists", to which Rahul remarked to BJP, saying, "even your ally agrees with that&rdquo;.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Later, Harsimrat said that she agreed with Rahul Gandhi on the farmers&rsquo; issues, saying, the protesting farmers, particularly those from Punjab, were described as &ldquo;terrorists&rdquo; and &ldquo;Khalistanis&rdquo;.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
At the same time, she made it categorically clear that the Shiromani Akali Dal can never agree with the Congress on anything. &nbsp;
&nbsp;
Harsimrat may have reiterated her party&rsquo;s permanent opposition to the Congress, but still, nothing can be ruled out in politics. So much has changed both in the Congress as well as the Akali Dal over the years.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Right now, it is obviously, impossible to even imagine that the Akali Dal and the Congress can ever be together. But, yes, on certain issues they can be, like their opposition to the Bharatiya Janata Party.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Despite being allies, the Akalis, Harsimrat in particular, have been very bitter critics of the BJP. She has been blaming the BJP for the rebellion that is being faced by the party right now. &nbsp;
&nbsp;
There might come situations like today, when it will be difficult for the Akali Dal not to side with the Congress. The Akali Dal right now sits in the opposition. &nbsp;
At the same time, the party is not part of the Indian National &nbsp;Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA). It obviously cannot be, since two main parties, the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party are part of the INDIA bloc and both are strongly opposed to the Akalis and vice versa in Punjab.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Like on the issue of farmers, the party may end up siding with the INDIA bloc. The bloc has demanded a legal guarantee for the MSP on crops. In case, the bloc brings in a bill in the parliament on the issue, the Akali candidate will have no option but to support it and side with the bloc.
&nbsp;
That would be the farthest the Akalis can go along with the Congress or the AAP or the INDIA bloc at this stage. &nbsp;
&nbsp;
Given the opposition being faced by the BJP in rural areas and the acceptability of the Congress, a possible understanding/agreement between the Congress and the Akalis may not be unimaginable, although it sounds highly improbable right now.

Chandigarh

SAD's Harsimrat sides with Rahul on farmers’ issue

Neha Singh

&ldquo;It was god&rsquo;s plan,&rdquo; Suryakumar Yadav said on Monday as he reminisced his incredible match-defining catch in the T20 World Cup final against South Africa, which is being lauded across the board as the perfect execution of athleticism, balance and game awareness.
&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 a brief telephonic conversation with PTI, the Mumbaikar was modest about his role in India's title triumph. Rohit Sharma&rsquo;s men defeated a dangerous South Africa by seven runs in the summit clash in Bridgetown, Barbados on Saturday.
<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;I am just grateful to be in that moment to do something special for the country... god&rsquo;s plan it was,&rdquo; Suryakumar said when asked about the catch that has become a standout moment from 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;">Needing 16 runs from the final over, South Africa had the big-hitting David Miller on strike.
<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 hit a wide full toss from Hardik Pandya but Suryakumar steadied himself on the ropes, caught the ball, released it just as he went over the boundary ropes and then came back in to complete an astonishing catch.
<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;">For many old-time fans, it brought back memories of the brilliant catch that Kapil Dev took in the 1983 World Cup final against the mighty West Indies. Kapil had run sideways from mid-on to grab a top edge from the great Viv Richards off Madan Lal&rsquo;s bowling in a fine display of sound judgement.
<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;">On Saturday, the 33-year-old Suryakumar ensured that his name too will be remembered fondly every time an Indian fan recollects the see-saw finale in Bridgetown.
<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;">Before that, the equation was 30 runs from as many balls but South Africa bungled in a typical fashion with Hardik Pandya triggering the collapse, dismissing a well-set Heinrich Klaasen for 52.
<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 Proteas went on to lose four wickets for 17 runs to be restricted to 169/8 in pursuit of 177.
<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;">Suryakumar&rsquo;s decision-making and awareness was also applauded by India&rsquo;s fielding coach T Dilip.
<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;When the moment comes, it&rsquo;s his decision and awareness of rope, that&rsquo;s very important, and knowing with confidence that he can throw and come back, it&rsquo;s a decision-making at that time, and he got on to that,&rdquo; Dilip had 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 fielded like a pack of wolves, as Rahul bhai and Rohit keep saying.... Everybody knew their roles but together we hunted every opportunity which came our way leaving no stone unturned,&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;">The title conquest ended an 11-year wait for an ICC title for India.
<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 side is currently stranded in Bridgetown due to a category 4 hurricane that has pounded the island leading to a complete shutdown of air services. 
&nbsp;

Surya exudes modesty over his winning catch in T20 WC final

Australia has significantly increased the cost of student visas for international students from USD 710 to USD 1,600, a move that will heavily impact the large number of Indian students aspiring to study in the country.
&nbsp;
This change, effective from July 1, has sparked outrage among student representatives, who warn that the steep price hike will deter prospective students and drive them to competing destinations.
&nbsp;
ABC News reported on Monday that student visa fees have more than doubled, marking a significant financial strain for many international students.
&nbsp;
The Australian federal government has justified the fee increase, stating that the additional revenue will support various educational initiatives.
&nbsp;
These include reductions in graduate debt, financial aid for apprentices, and the continued implementation of the country's migration strategy.
&nbsp;
Minister for Education Jason Clare pointed out the importance of maintaining the integrity and quality of Australia's international education sector.
&nbsp;
"International education is an incredibly important national asset, and we need to ensure its integrity and quality," Clare stated.
&nbsp;
According to the Indian High Commission in Canberra, as of August 2023, there are approximately 1,20,277 Indian students enrolled in Australian institutions, making them the second-largest group of international students in the country.
&nbsp;
Yeganeh Soltanpour, the national president of the Council of International Students Australia, criticized the decision, highlighting the additional burden the fee increase places on students.
&nbsp;
She maintained that the combination of high visa fees and substantial deposit requirements is particularly disheartening for many students, causing them to consider other countries for their education.
&nbsp;
"The possibility of spending all that money only to face rejection is quite disheartening for many students. It has caused many in the student community to explore other options and competitive countries," Soltanpour said.
&nbsp;
Phil Honeywood, CEO of the International Education Association of Australia, echoed these concerns, describing the announcement as the "last straw" for an already struggling international education sector.
&nbsp;
He warned that the increase could lead to a significant decline in Australia's USD 48 billion-a-year education industry and harm relationships with Indo-Pacific nations that rely on Australian education for their young people.
&nbsp;
"We are really in danger of losing a USD 48 billion-a-year industry," Honeywood cautioned, adding that this change could push prospective students towards the United Kingdom, which currently charges USD 900 for student visas.
<div class="mt-1 flex gap-3 empty:hidden juice:-ml-3">
<div class="items-center justify-start rounded-xl p-1 flex">
<div class="flex items-center">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>

Melbourne

Australia doubles international student visa fees

Ansh Mavani

The first FIR under India's new criminal code, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, was officially registered at 12:10 am in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, for a motorcycle theft. This clarifies earlier reports that incorrectly claimed the first case was against a street vendor in Delhi. Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed the confusion, asserting that the initial case indeed involved a stolen motorcycle worth ₹1.80 lakh.
&nbsp;
In Delhi, however, the first application of the new law did occur shortly thereafter. A street vendor was charged for obstructing a road near the railway station.
&nbsp;
This case was registered under Section 285 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which penalises any act causing danger, obstruction, or injury to any person in a public way.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The street vendor, identified as Pankaj Kumar from Patna, Bihar, had set up a makeshift stall selling water bottles and gutkha. Despite repeated requests from police to move his stall, he did not comply, leading to the filing of the FIR.
&nbsp;
The new criminal codes&mdash;Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam&mdash;came into force today, replacing the colonial-era Indian Penal Code, Indian Evidence Act, and the Code of Criminal Procedure. These changes aim to modernise India's criminal justice system, ensuring speedy justice and addressing contemporary types of crime.
&nbsp;
Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasised that the overhaul of these laws was necessary to bring them in line with Indian ethos and the spirit of the Constitution.
&nbsp;
The new codes prioritise crimes against women and children and are designed to expedite legal proceedings. Judgments are now mandated within 45 days of trial completion, and charges must be framed within 60 days of the first hearing.
&nbsp;
The implementation of these new laws has not been without controversy. Opposition parties, including the Congress, have criticised the government for what they perceive as a hasty rollout.
&nbsp;
They argue that sufficient discussion and debate were not conducted before the enactment of these significant legal changes. However, Shah has countered these claims, stating that no other law in India's history has been discussed in such detail in Parliament.
&nbsp;
The legal community and the public will be closely watching how these new laws are applied and whether they achieve the intended goals of delivering swift and fair justice.
&nbsp;
The early cases, such as the motorcycle theft in Gwalior and the street vendor's obstruction in Delhi, will serve as initial tests for the effectiveness and practicality of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and its accompanying codes.

HM Amit Shah clarifies first case under new laws in Gwalior

Expelled Bharatiya Janata Party leader KS Eshwarappa on Monday said he has been invited by the saffron party to rejoin it.
&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, however, said he is not in a hurry to join the party and would discuss it before taking a call.
<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;A few BJP leaders approached me, asking to rejoin the party. I haven't decided yet. I am not in a hurry,&rdquo; Eshwarappa told the media.
<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;">Eshwarappa had rebelled against the party and contested the Lok Sabha election ignoring the party high command&rsquo;s direction. He was defeated by former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa&rsquo;s elder son BY Raghavendra.
<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 expelled leader, who held several key positions including the Deputy Chief Minister, Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council and the BJP state president, was upset when the party denied his son KE Kantesh a ticket in the recent Lok Sabha election to contest from Haveri Lok Sabha seat.
<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 opened a front against former Chief Minister and BJP stalwart BS Yediyurappa and his two sons Raghavendra and BJP state president BY Vijayendra accusing them of making BJP a &lsquo;dynastic party&rsquo; in Karnataka. 
&nbsp;

Bengaluru

Eshwarappa asked to rejoin BJP again by party leaders

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the 111th episode of &lsquo;Mann Ki Baat&rsquo; on Sunday, June 30, praised the &ldquo;flavour and significance&rdquo; of Araku coffee from Andhra Pradesh. He recalled sharing a moment over coffee with the state chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu during his visit to Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;There are numerous products from India that enjoy high demand globally, and it fills us with pride to see our local products achieving international recognition. One such product is Araku coffee, renowned for its rich flavour and aroma, cultivated extensively in the Alluri Sita Ram Raju district of Andhra Pradesh. Approximately 1.5 lakh tribal families are involved in its cultivation&hellip;,&rdquo; PM Modi said.
&nbsp;
A political slugfest seems to have begun between the Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress over Prime Minister Narendra Modi Araku coffee comment.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took a potshot at PM Modi for &ldquo;exaggerating&rdquo; facts.
&nbsp;
Taking to X, the Congress leader said that the Prime Minister gave the impression that he had invented the Araku coffee brand.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;It was the Naandi Foundation that was responsible for the initiative of coffee cultivation by tribal communities in the lovely Araku Valley of Andhra Pradesh with assistance from the state and the central government. As Minister of State of Commerce, I had been privileged to launch the brand in Araku Valley on December 21, 2007. I had been back there five years later as Union Minister of Rural Development.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
GI tag for Araku coffee
&nbsp;
Araku coffee received its Geographical Indication (GI)&nbsp; in 2019. A GI tag signifies products originating from a specific geographical area, known for possessing unique qualities or reputation due to their origin.
&nbsp;
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal also shared the Prime Minister&rsquo;s mention about Araku coffee on his X (formerly Twitter) account. &ldquo;Truly matchless! Andhra Pradesh&rsquo;s GI-tagged Araku coffee is empowering tribals and strengthening brand India globally,&rdquo; Goyal wrote.
&nbsp;
Araku Valley Arabica coffee is sourced from the hilly terrains of Visakhapatnam district in Andhra Pradesh, and the Odisha region is grown at elevations of 900-1100 metres above sea level.
&nbsp;
The coffee production by tribal communities follows an organic approach, emphasising practices such as the use of organic manures, green manuring, and organic pest management.
&nbsp;
Other types of Indian coffee with GI tags
&nbsp;
Coorg Arabica coffee is cultivated exclusively in the Kodagu district of Karnataka.
&nbsp;
Wayanaad Robusta coffee is grown specifically in the Wayanad district in the eastern&nbsp;part of Kerala.
&nbsp;
Chikmagalur Arabica coffee is produced in the Chikmagalur district, located in the Malnad region of Karnataka on the Deccan plateau.
&nbsp;
Bababudangiris Arabica coffee is grown in the birthplace of coffee in India, situated in the central part of Chikmagalur district. It is meticulously hand-picked and processed using natural fermentation, resulting in a full-bodied cup with acidity, mild flavour, and a prominent aroma with hints of chocolate.
Monsooned Malabar Robusta coffee, a distinctive specialty coffee from India, received GI certification earlier.
&nbsp;
Monsooned Malabar Robusta coffee, a distinctive specialty coffee from India, received GI certification earlier.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Amaravati

Political slugfest surrounding Araku coffee

On Monday, Pakistan handed over to India a list of defence personnel who went missing during the wars of 1965 and 1971, in addition to exchanging lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen in each other's custody. This exchange took place through diplomatic channels in both New Delhi and Islamabad.
&nbsp;
Pakistan's Foreign Office announced that a list containing 38 missing Pakistani defence personnel, who are believed to be in Indian custody since the 1965 and 1971 wars, was provided to India.
&nbsp;
This exchange of information is part of a regular practice stipulated by the bilateral Agreement on Consular Access of 2008, which mandates such exchanges every year on January 1 and July 1.
&nbsp;
In the exchange, Pakistan provided a list of 254 individuals, either Indian or believed-to-be-Indian civilian prisoners and fishermen, currently held in Pakistani jails. Similarly, India handed over a list of 452 individuals, either Pakistani or believed-to-be-Pakistani civilian prisoners and fishermen, detained in Indian jails.
&nbsp;
The Foreign Office emphasised that the Pakistani government has called for the immediate release and repatriation of all Pakistani prisoners who have completed their sentences in India.
&nbsp;
Moreover, a request for special consular access to several believed-to-be-Pakistani prisoners, including those who are physically and mentally challenged, was made. Pakistan seeks expeditious confirmation of their national status to facilitate their return.
&nbsp;
Pakistan also urged India to ensure the safety, security, and well-being of all Pakistani or believed-to-be-Pakistani prisoners awaiting their release and repatriation.
&nbsp;
The Pakistani government has been actively working on this issue, resulting in the repatriation of 62 Pakistani prisoners in 2023 and four more in the current year.
&nbsp;
The exchange of these lists and the discussions surrounding the missing defense personnel highlight the ongoing humanitarian concerns between the two countries.
&nbsp;
It underscores the need for continued diplomatic efforts to resolve issues related to prisoners and missing persons, ensuring that those who have completed their sentences are returned to their homeland and that the well-being of detainees is maintained while they await their return.

India and Pakistan swap prisoner and soldier lists

Ayesha Banerjee

An attack by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging its leaders are not Hindus as they engage in "violence and hate" drew massive protests from the treasury benches, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi accusing the Congress leader of calling the entire Hindu community violent.
 Gandhi responded, however, by saying he was speaking about the BJP and neither the ruling party nor the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) nor Modi represents the entire Hindu society.
&nbsp;
Besides Modi, who intervened twice, at least five cabinet ministers also interjected during Gandhi's speech that lasted for about an hour and 40 minutes, with Home Minister Amit Shah demanding his apology for painting the Hindu community as violent.
&nbsp;
"It is not just one religion that talks about courage. In fact, all our religions talk about courage," Gandhi said in his debut speech as the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha that was watched by his mother Sonia Gandhi and sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra from the visitors' gallery.
&nbsp;
Gandhi quoted Prophet Mohammad to highlight that the Quran also talks about fearlessness and said when our hands are raised for "dua," the "abhay mudra" can also be observed in a way.
&nbsp;
Holding up pictures of Lord Shiva, Guru Nanak and Jesus Christ, he referred to Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Christianity, Buddhism and Jainism to underline the importance of fearlessness. He also cited the attributes of Lord Shiva and teachings of Guru Nanak, Jesus Christ, Buddha and Mahavir to state that all religions and great people of the country have said "daro mat, darao mat (do not be scared, do not scare others)".
&nbsp;
"Shivji says daro mat, darao mat, shows the abhay mudra (the right hand held upright with the palm facing outwards), talks about ahimsa, but those who call themselves Hindus indulge in hatred, violence and untruths round the clock," Gandhi said, pointing towards the BJP MPs.
&nbsp;
As the treasury-bench members stood up in protest, Gandhi slammed the BJP, saying, "Aap Hindu ho hi nahi (You are not Hindus). It is clearly written in Hinduism that one should stand with the truth and not back down from the truth or be scared of it," he said.
&nbsp;
Intervening during his speech, Modi said, "This issue is very serious. Calling the entire Hindu community violent is a serious issue."
&nbsp;
Gandhi said he is talking about the BJP and the ruling party is not the sole representative of Hinduism.
&nbsp;
Shah sought the Congress leader's apology to the House and the country for hurting the feelings of crores of people who take pride in identifying themselves as Hindus.
&nbsp;
He said the ruckus created by the opposition cannot drown the fact that the words -- "those who call themselves Hindus indulge in violence" -- were used in the House.
&nbsp;
Shah spoke of the Emergency and 1984 anti-Sikhs riots to hit back at Gandhi, saying he has no right to talk about non-violence when the Congress had spread "ideological terror" in the country.
&nbsp;
In a swipe at Gandhi for alleging that ministers do not greet him due to the fear of Modi, the prime minister said democracy and the Constitution have taught him to take the leader of opposition seriously.
&nbsp;
Gandhi accused the BJP of launching "systematic attacks" on the Constitution and the fundamental idea of India, noting that millions of people have resisted the ideas proposed by the ruling party.
&nbsp;
"I was attacked on the orders of Prime Minister Modi and the government. There were 20-plus cases (against me), a two-year jail sentence, (my) house was taken away, 55 hours of interrogation by the ED," he said.
&nbsp;
As Gandhi held up a picture of Lord Shiva, Speaker Om Birla reminded him that rules do not allow displaying placards in the House.
&nbsp;
The Congress leader also accused the BJP of threatening minorities and spreading hatred and violence against Muslims, Sikhs and Christians.
&nbsp;
He said minorities represent India in all spheres and bring pride to the nation. "They stand like a rock with the country and are patriots, but you (BJP) attack them," he said.
&nbsp;
Referring to the Agnipath scheme for short-term military recruitment, Gandhi said the government regards the Agniveers as "use-and-throw labourers" and does not even give them the status of a "shaheed" (martyr).
&nbsp;
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh intervened to rebut Gandhi's charge and said an Agniveer who lays down his life in the line of duty gets a compensation of Rs 1 crore.
&nbsp;
"This House is not for spreading lies. Rahul Gandhi should apologise to the House, to the country and to Agniveers," Shah said.
&nbsp;
Gandhi claimed that the armed forces know that Agnipath was Modi's brainchild, prompting Singh to accuse the leader of opposition of misleading the House.
&nbsp;
"If we come to power, we will scrap the Agnipath scheme as it is against jawans, the armed forces and deshbhakts (patriots)," Gandhi said.
&nbsp;
He also hit out at the Centre over the situation in Manipur, alleging that it has pushed the northeastern state into a civil war.
&nbsp;
The former Congress chief also slammed the government over farmers' issues, saying it did not want to give a legal guarantee on the minimum support price (MSP) for crops.
&nbsp;
Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan objected to Gandhi's remarks and accused him of "misleading" the House. Union ministers Kiren Rijiju and Bhupender Yadav also intervened at different points of Gandhi's speech.
&nbsp;
Later, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, along with Rijiju and BJP leader Sudhanshu Trivedi, held a press conference to rebut Gandhi's allegations.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Referring to a row involving medical entrance exam NEET, Gandhi said students do not believe in the exam because they feel that it is for the rich people and there is no place in it for meritorious students.
&nbsp;
Talking about his new role as the leader of opposition, Gandhi said his job is to represent all parties equally with love and affection.
&nbsp;
"So when Hemant Soren or (Arvind) Kejriwal goes to jail, I should be concerned. When you unleash enforcement agencies on them, we should defend them. When you are a constitutional person, your personal aspirations should take a back seat," he said.
&nbsp;
In his concluding remarks, Gandhi asked the ruling party not to spread fear or hatred in the minds of people.
&nbsp;
"Do not think of the opposition as your enemies. We are ready to discuss any issue that you bring before us. I congratulate you for winning 240 seats," he said.

Post

Ruckus in Parliament after Rahul’s anti-BJP remarks

China has deployed its second aircraft carrier, 'Shandong,' to patrol waters off the Philippine coast as Manila intensifies its efforts to assert claims over a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, opposing Beijing's counterclaims.
&nbsp;
The Shandong, with a displacement of about 70,000 tonnes, was observed patrolling the waters as a deterrent against "continuous Philippine provocations" on Chinese islands and reefs, according to a report by the state-run Global Times on Monday.
&nbsp;
The deployment of Shandong comes amid heightened maritime territorial conflicts between China and the Philippines.
&nbsp;
Experts quoted by Chinese media suggest that the aircraft carrier is on a scheduled exercise that might also prepare it for potential long-distance voyages into the West Pacific.
&nbsp;
In response to rising tensions, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) has also deployed major surface combat ships, including large and medium destroyers, as well as main amphibious landing ships in the South China Sea.
&nbsp;
Ni Lexiong, a defence professor at Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, told the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post that Shandong's presence aims to act as a deterrent to both Manila and Washington, highlighting "China's determination to protect territorial sea sovereignty" amid tensions over the Second Thomas Shoal.
&nbsp;
Chester Cabalza, president and founder of International Development and Security Cooperation, a Manila-based think-tank, described the carrier's patrol as "performative politics" by Beijing, warning that frequent such patrols might indicate a significant security threat.
&nbsp;
He added, "Once we see massive military force, that means Beijing is preparing for a war."
&nbsp;
Amid these tensions, a Chinese Coast Guard ship rescued two Philippine fishermen after their vessel suffered damage from an explosion near Huangyan Dao, also known as Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea.
&nbsp;
The Philippine side expressed gratitude for the humanitarian rescue conducted by the China Coast Guard, according to Global Times.
&nbsp;
The confrontation between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea has escalated to violence, with naval ships from both nations colliding last month.
&nbsp;
This marked the first such incident since Beijing issued new regulations to act against foreign vessels and detain foreigners suspected of violating its territorial waters.
&nbsp;
A few weeks ago, a collision occurred between a Philippine naval ship and a Chinese vessel near the Second Thomas Shoal, a region claimed by Manila.
&nbsp;
The incident further strained the already tense relations between the two countries, which have experienced numerous face-offs in recent months.
&nbsp;
The South China Sea is a heavily disputed region, with China claiming most of it, while the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, and Taiwan also assert claims.
&nbsp;
The Philippines, backed by the United States, is vigorously asserting its claims based on a 2016 ruling by a tribunal under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which endorsed Manila's rights.
&nbsp;
China, which boycotted the tribunal proceedings, has rejected the ruling and continues to assert its claims fiercely. Last month, China enacted a new law empowering its coast guard to seize foreign ships illegally entering its territorial waters and detain foreign crews for up to 60 days.
&nbsp;
The law also authorises the coast guard to use force if necessary.
&nbsp;
In a show of support for Manila, the United States has deployed mid-range Typhon missile systems in the Philippines. Additionally, the Philippines has imported BrahMos missiles from India to bolster its defence capabilities.
&nbsp;
China currently operates two aircraft carriers: Liaoning, a refitted Soviet-era ship, and Shandong, an indigenously built carrier commissioned in 2019. China's third aircraft carrier, Fujian, which has a displacement of 80,000 tonnes, is currently undergoing trials.
&nbsp;
The Fujian is the first fully domestically developed and constructed aircraft carrier, equipped with an electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS) similar to that of the American USS Gerald R. Ford.
&nbsp;
Unlike China's other two carriers, which have ski-jump take-off ramps, the Fujian features a flat-top flight deck. China uses its indigenously built J-15 aircraft for its carriers.

Manila

China’s Shandong carrier on Philippine coast raises eyebrows

July 1 has been observed as National Doctor&rsquo;s Day since 1991. However, the day&rsquo;s relevance is slightly more pertinent this time than the previous years.
 At the very onset of the day, the National Testing Agency (NTA) declared the result of the retest for the medical entrance exam NEET-UG 2024.
 The revised list was announced on Monday after a retest was conducted for candidates who were earlier awarded grace marks to compensate for loss of time as the exam on May 5 started late at six centres.
 NTA appears to be very tactical with the dates.
&nbsp;
It was June 4, when it first declared the results of the NEET-UG 2024&mdash; a day when the outcome of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections was declared. And the retest&rsquo;s results coincide with the National Doctor&rsquo;s Day.
&nbsp;
Is, the day &mdash; National Doctor&rsquo;s Day &mdash; selected for declaring the re-test results of the NEET examination a move to give justice to the students, amid allegations of irregularities?
 Alas, the events that followed regarding the irregularities in the NEET examination still continue to rock the nation. &nbsp; July 1&mdash; History and its Significance
 National Doctors Day is celebrated on July 1st (since 1991) in India to honour the birth and death anniversary of the renowned physician Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy.
 He was the former Chief Minister of West Bengal, who is remembered for his contributions to the medical field and his commitment to the welfare of the people.
 The theme chosen for National Doctor&rsquo;s Day in 2024 is &ldquo;Healing Hands, Caring Hearts.&rdquo;
 As far as the significance of the day is concerned, National Doctor's Day acknowledges the critical role doctors play in society. From providing routine medical care to responding to emergencies, doctors are the backbone of the healthcare system.&nbsp;
 The day is also considered an opportunity for the public to express gratitude to the medical community. This day encourages society to appreciate and support the medical profession and to advocate for better working conditions and resources for healthcare workers.
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi, too, extended his greetings on the occasion taking to platform X.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;Greetings on Doctors Day. This is a day to honour the incredible dedication and compassion of our healthcare heroes. They can navigate the most challenging complexities with remarkable skill. Our Government is fully committed to improving the health infrastructure in India and ensuring doctors get the widespread respect they deserve,&rdquo; PM Modi wrote.
 On the other hand, a day, which should be reserved for expressing gratitude to the entire medical fraternity, also saw discussion in the Parliament over the controversy surrounding the NEET exam.
 The tensions between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Congress-led INDIA bloc persisted on Monday in the Lok Sabha, with the INDIA walking out over its demand for a discussion on the ongoing NEET row.
 The Opposition, led by the Congress, pressed for a dedicated one-day debate on the issue of the NEET paper leak in the Lower House of Parliament. Conversely, the government aimed to continue the Motion of Thanks on the President&rsquo;s address to the Parliament.
 The Opposition demands a solution into the NEET issue, as LoP Rahul Gandhi stressed, &ldquo;We need to send a strong message from Parliament to the students that we prioritise the NEET issue&rdquo;.
 The PM, too, took to X to address how the healthcare heroes of the country have to navigate through &ldquo;challenging complexities&rdquo; to serve the nation.
 The manner in which students who work hard to succeed in the examination, which will enable them to live their dreams of becoming a doctor, have been failed with the reported irregularities is worrying. And they should be served justice.
 Mere addressing the issue and turning it into a political debate will not serve the problem.
 Although the Central Bureau of Investigation is conducting an investigation, punishment for those found guilty should act as a testament that will help avoid any such controversy around India&rsquo;s top-notch medical examination in future.

Tactical move to declare NEET retest result on Doctor's Day

In a recent crackdown, the Government Railway Police (GRP) in Agartala detained 39 Bangladeshi nationals and five Indian touts over the past month.
&nbsp;
The latest development saw 11 individuals, including children, apprehended on Monday at Agartala Railway Station.
&nbsp;
Tapas Das, Officer-in-Charge of Agartala GRP, disclosed that acting on a tip-off late Sunday night, they apprehended 11 suspects who confessed to entering India from Bangladesh without valid documents.
&nbsp;
They were arrested under the Indian Passport Act after initial interrogation.
&nbsp;
Among the detainees, six are women and five are minors, underscoring concerns over illegal immigration from Bangladesh into India.
&nbsp;
Over the past four days alone, 24 Bangladeshi nationals have been arrested at Agartala Railway Station.
&nbsp;
This follows an earlier incident on Saturday when 11 individuals were intercepted while attempting to board trains destined for Chennai, Delhi, Karnataka, Odisha, and Kolkata.
&nbsp;
The arrested individuals, aged between 19 and 36 years, include Md Sujan Rana, Azizul Shaik, Md Limon, Nargis Akhtar, Yousuf Ali, Sahidul Islam, Nipa Mandal, Akhe Begam, Omi Akhtar, Sajib Ali, and Asma Biswas.
&nbsp;
In a separate incident on Friday, two Bangladeshi women were apprehended at Agartala Railway Station for illegally entering Tripura with intentions to travel to Karnataka for employment.

Agartala

Agartala GRP nab 22 illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in 3 days

India, except for some parts of the northeastern region, may experience above-normal rainfall in July as predicted by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday.&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Addressing a virtual press conference, IMD chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said July rainfall averaged over the country as a whole is most likely to be above normal - more than 106% of the long-period average of 28.04 cm.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
"Normal to above-normal rainfall is most likely over most parts of the country except many parts of northeast India and some parts of northwest, east, and southeast peninsular India," he said.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The Met office said maximum temperatures are likely to be normal to below normal over many parts of northwest India and south peninsular India, except the west coast.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
"Above-normal maximum temperatures are likely over many parts of central India, east and northeast India, and along the west coast," it said.
&nbsp;
The minimum temperatures are most likely to be above normal over many parts of the country except some parts of northwest and the adjoining areas of central India, and some pockets of southeastern peninsular India, he said.
&nbsp;
We are expecting good monsoon rains in July. Cloudy conditions generally result in higher minimum temperatures, Mohapatra said.
&nbsp;
Northwest India recorded its warmest June last month since 1901, with a mean temperature of 31.73 degrees Celsius, the IMD said on Monday.
&nbsp;
The monthly average maximum temperature in the region settled at 38.02 degrees Celsius, 1.96 degrees Celsius above normal. The average minimum temperature stood at 25.44 degrees Celsius, 1.35 degrees Celsius above normal, according to IMD data.
&nbsp;
Northwest India recorded a mean temperature of 31.73 degrees Celsius in June, 1.65 degrees Celsius above normal and the highest since 1901, the IMD chief said.

IMD predicts above-normal July rainfall for India

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma disclosed on Monday, July 1 that the flood situation in Assam has deteriorated overnight.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The Brahmaputra River is currently flowing above the danger mark at Neamatighat and Tezpur, with several other rivers also breaching danger levels in various areas.
&nbsp;
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a heavy rainfall alert for districts including Nalbari, Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao, and Tinsukia, predicting a critical situation in the next 3-4 days.
&nbsp;
The ongoing floods have affected 14 districts, 41 revenue circles, and 698 villages, impacting approximately 2.74 lakh people.
&nbsp;
The NHPC (National Hydroelectric Power Corporation) released 409 cubic metres of excess water, leading to the displacement of 21,000 people in North Lakhimpur. 
Prime Minister Narendra Modi contacted Chief Minister Sarma to discuss the escalating flood situation in Assam.
&nbsp;
The conversation focused on the state's second wave of floods this year, primarily triggered by heavy rainfall in Arunachal Pradesh and upper Assam.
&nbsp;
During the conversation, Sarma briefed the Prime Minister on the current flood conditions and outlined the relief measures initiated by the state government.
&nbsp;
The floods have disrupted normal life across numerous districts, posing significant challenges for residents and authorities alike.
&nbsp;
"I informed him about Assam experiencing a second wave of floods this year due to heavy rains in Arunachal Pradesh and parts of upper Assam. I also apprised him of the relief measures taken by the state government," Sarma tweeted.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah called me and assured of all help to deal with the situation,&rdquo; Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
&nbsp;
The NDRF and Army will be on standby to deal with any emergency, he said.
 
"All Ministers, MLAs and officials have been asked to closely monitor the situation,&rdquo; he added.
 Altogether 2,70,628 people in 14 districts, including Brahmaputra and Barak valleys, are reeling under the deluge, officials said.

Guwahati

Assam floods worsen, Brahmaputra above danger level

Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla on Sunday stated that there are no differences between the state government and Raj Bhawan amid the controversy over the appointment of Palampur Agriculture University's vice chancellor.&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Governor Shukla's remarks followed a meeting with Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday, during which the Chief Minister clarified that the file regarding the appointment of the agriculture university's VC is with the government and attributed the issue to a "communication gap."&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Talking to reporters in Solan, Governor Shukla said that a minister had made a statement due to some misunderstanding which has been clarified by Chief Minister Sukhu.
&nbsp;
On June 27, Shukla took exception to the reported remarks by state Agriculture Minister Chander Kumar blaming the Raj Bhavan for the delay in the appointment of vice chancellor for the agriculture university in Palampur.
&nbsp;
Kumar had reportedly said that the file regarding the appointment of VC of Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya at Palampur was pending in Raj Bhavan.
&nbsp;
On Sunday, the governor said the file has actually reached the government around three months ago and at present it is with the law department.
The chief minister himself has said this, Shukla said.
&nbsp;
Asked about preparedness for the monsoon, the governor said that he held talks with CM Sukhu recently and the government was directed to take adequate measures so that any disaster, like last year's, does not take place.
&nbsp;
"I feel that the CM is working in this regard. I hope that this time preparations will be better," he added.

Shimla

No rift between state govt, Raj Bhawan: Himachal Guv

Medha Patkar, a renowned social activist, has been sentenced to five months of simple imprisonment by a Delhi court in a defamation case that has been ongoing for 24 years.
&nbsp;
The case was brought against her by VK Saxena, who is currently serving as the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. In addition to the jail term, the court ordered Patkar to pay Rs 10 lakh in damages to Saxena.
&nbsp;
The legal conflict between Patkar and Saxena began in 2000, when she filed a suit against him for publishing advertisements that targeted her and the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA), a movement she has been associated with for decades.
&nbsp;
Saxena responded by filing two cases against Patkar, accusing her of making derogatory remarks about him on a television channel and issuing a defamatory statement.
&nbsp;
In May of this year, Patkar was convicted by the court of Metropolitan Magistrate Raghav Sharma. The court found that her statements against Saxena were not only defamatory but also intended to incite negative perceptions about him. The conviction marked a significant development in a protracted legal battle that had spanned nearly a quarter of a century.
&nbsp;
During the sentencing on Monday, the court took into account Patkar's age and health, opting for a term of simple imprisonment rather than rigorous imprisonment. At 69 years old, Patkar's health was a significant consideration in the court's decision.
&nbsp;
Despite the conviction and sentencing, Patkar has moved a bail plea before the court, which has resulted in the suspension of her jail term for 30 days pending the outcome of the bail plea.
&nbsp;
Patkar's legal troubles stem from her long-standing activism and the contentious nature of her work with the Narmada Bachao Andolan. The NBA has been a focal point of her efforts to address the displacement of people due to large dam projects on the Narmada River. Her activism has often placed her at odds with various authorities and stakeholders, leading to numerous legal and political challenges over the years.
&nbsp;
The defamation case highlights the ongoing tensions between activists and authorities in India. It also underscores the risks faced by individuals who challenge powerful interests in their pursuit of social justice.
&nbsp;
Patkar's conviction and sentencing are likely to have significant implications for her future activism and may influence the broader landscape of activism in India.
&nbsp;
As Patkar awaits the hearing of her bail plea, her supporters and critics alike are watching closely. The outcome of her bail plea will determine whether she will have to serve the five-month jail term or if she will be granted temporary relief.
&nbsp;
In the meantime, the case continues to be a poignant reminder of the complexities and challenges faced by those who dedicate their lives to social activism.

Medha Patkar jailed for 5 months in defamation case

With worsening flood condition in Assam, rising water levels have impacted more than 43 per cent of the 233 forest camps at Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, an official report said on Monday.
&nbsp;
As a significant portion of wildlife habitat is now submerged, scores of animals have started crossing the National Highway 715 in search of higher ground towards the southern direction in East Karbi Anglong district.
&nbsp;
However, no death of animals has been reported as of now due to floods or accidents while crossing the highway.
&nbsp;
Floodwaters have submerged a total of 101 forest camps, of which six have been vacated, across Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, according to a flood report.
&nbsp;
It said 35 camps in Agoratoli range, 21 in Kaziranga, 10 in Bagori, five in Burhapahar range and nine in Bokakhat are submerged.
&nbsp;
Besides, 21 forest camps in Biswanath Wildlife Division of the national park have been inundated, the report added.
&nbsp;
"Kaziranga National Park is well-prepared for the upcoming flood season with comprehensive measures in place to ensure the safety of wildlife, staff and visitors. Continuous monitoring and timely interventions will be prioritised to mitigate the impact of flooding," the report said.
&nbsp;
It said that herds of elephants have begun moving towards East Karbi Anglong through Hati Dandi corridor and animal sensors are in place to detect the movement.
&nbsp;
"Joint patrolling by commando action groups and forest teams is being conducted regularly. Additional staff from neighbouring divisions have been deployed to intensify patrolling. Joint patrolling in the fringe areas of the park is being carried out by Forest and Police Departments," the report said.
&nbsp;
The Kaziranga National Park (KNP) authority has set up a dedicated floodwater gauge station with support from the Central Water Commission, while rescue teams and veterinary care units are on standby for immediate deployment.
&nbsp;
"Boats, boatlines, barricades, raincoats, rescue materials and medicines have been procured and are already deployed. Country boats, speedboats and mechanised boats have been strategically deployed in key areas for swift response," the bulletin said.
&nbsp;
Meanwhile, the Golaghat district administration on Sunday evening issued prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC to safeguard the animals crossing the NH-715, which passes through KNP.
&nbsp;
Stating that the highway attracts huge traffic, Golaghat District Magistrate Vivek Shyam Pangyok said, "Plying of vehicles during active flood attracts unwarranted risk and a cause for imminent threat to wild animals."
&nbsp;
He said the animals use the corridors to temporarily migrate to the natural highland (hillocks) for shelter falling under Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council.
&nbsp;
Accordingly, a set of orders have been issued for traffic management along NH-715 passing through the KNP with effect from Monday.
&nbsp;
It said no commercial vehicle shall be allowed to move through Kaziranga National Park and only private ones will move at the regulated speed during the daytime.
&nbsp;
"Only local private vehicles will be allowed to cross KNP during night hours," it added.
&nbsp;
The order further mentioned various traffic diversion points for both commercial and private vehicles.
&nbsp;
The flood situation across the state continued to deteriorate with incessant rains inundating many districts, affecting lakhs of people.
&nbsp;
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday enquired about the prevailing flood situation in Assam and assured of all support to handle the crisis, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.&nbsp;

Kaziranga National Park hit by Assam floods, 43% submerged

Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Monday that the newly implemented criminal laws in India mark the end of British-era legislation, transforming the criminal justice system into a completely 'Swadeshi' framework.
&nbsp;
He emphasised that these laws align with the spirit of the Indian Constitution and, upon full implementation, will be among the most modern legal systems globally.
&nbsp;
In his statement, Shah expressed pride in the transition to 'Swadeshi' laws, highlighting that it has taken 77 years since independence to achieve this milestone.
&nbsp;
He noted that the new laws, developed in the Indian Parliament, replace the colonial laws that had governed the country for decades. Shah remarked that the essence of these changes lies in their foundation on Indian values and ethos.
&nbsp;
The new criminal laws prioritise the rights and protections of various groups, particularly women and children. Shah explained that the focus has shifted from punishment ('Dand') to justice ('Nyay').
&nbsp;
The reformed laws aim to ensure speedy trials and timely justice, addressing the long-standing issue of delays in the judicial process. Unlike the old system that primarily protected the rights of the police, the new laws are designed to safeguard the rights of victims and complainants as well.
&nbsp;
The reformed legal framework includes significant changes: the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been replaced by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) by the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and the Indian Evidence Act by the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA).
&nbsp;
Shah underscored that the restructuring of these laws prioritises sections and chapters that protect women and children, reflecting the urgent need for such reforms.
&nbsp;
Addressing concerns about the legislative process, Shah dismissed accusations that the laws were passed without sufficient parliamentary debate. He asserted that these laws have undergone extensive discussion, more so than any other law in India's history.
&nbsp;
Shah also mentioned the first case registered under the new laws, which occurred in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. The case involved a motorcycle theft and was registered at 12:10 am, symbolising the immediate application and enforcement of the new legal framework.
&nbsp;
Amit Shah's announcement marks a significant shift in India's criminal justice system, emphasising justice, speed, and the protection of victims' rights. The transition to 'Swadeshi' laws represents a monumental step towards aligning India's legal system with its constitutional values and societal needs.

Amit Shah hails new era of Swadeshi criminal laws

'Orange alert' has been issued in Punjab, and Haryana amid heavy rainfall prediction by the India Meteorological Department from June 30 to July 2. An alert has also been issued for thunderstorms, lightning, moderate rain, and wind speeds of 30 to 40 kmph across multiple areas.
&nbsp;
Eleven districts in Punjab and Chandigarh are expected to experience rain and strong winds - Mansa, Sangrur, Barnala, Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib, S A S Nagar, Bathinda, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Faridkot, Ludhiana. 
&nbsp;
Light thunderstorms with wind speeds of 30-40 kmph, accompanied by lightning, are expected in various areas including - Nuh, Palwal, Taoru, Ballabgarh, Sohna, Gurugram, Charkhi Dadri, Bhiwani, Rewari, Pataudi, Kosli, Matanhale, Jhajjar, Bahadurgarh, Berikhas, Rohtak, Bawani Khera, Hansi, Narnaund, Nathusari Chopta, Ellenabad, Fatehabad, Rania, Faridabad, Bapouli, Gharaunda, Karnal, Meham, Gohana, Julana, Israna, Safidon, Jind, Panipat, Asandh, Kaithal, Narwana, Sirsa, Tohana, Kalayat, Ratia, Dabwali, Thanesar, Guhla, Pehowa, Shahabad, Ambala, Kalka, Narayangarh, and Panchkula.
&nbsp;
Though, pre-monsoon rains and strong winds in North India have brought relief from the heat.&nbsp;

Orange alert for Punjab, Haryana; thunderstorms predicted

In a pointed critique, BJP lawmaker Anurag Thakur aimed at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's transition into the role of Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, suggesting Gandhi had previously enjoyed "power without responsibility."
&nbsp;
Thakur, initiating discussions on the motion of thanks on the President's address to Parliament, highlighted Gandhi's new position and its accompanying responsibilities.
&nbsp;
"For many years, Gandhi was enjoying power without responsibility... now he has power with responsibility," Thakur remarked.
&nbsp;
Addressing the challenges ahead for Gandhi, Thakur questioned his commitment to parliamentary duties, quipping, "Will he sit in Lok Sabha all day? He is not here now."
&nbsp;
Thakur proceeded to enumerate the achievements of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government over the past decade, highlighting India's economic growth and the absence of corruption charges against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration.
&nbsp;
He also criticised the opposition's response during recent parliamentary sessions, including the walkout following disagreements over discussing the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) paper leak.
&nbsp;
"India, once a fragile economy, has become the world's fifth-largest and fastest-growing economy," Thakur asserted, contrasting this with alleged economic failures and corruption scandals during Congress rule.
&nbsp;
Turning to internal Congress matters, Thakur scrutinised the party's decisions and personnel, including comments on Rahul Gandhi's leadership claims and the role of individuals like Sam Pitroda within the party.
&nbsp;
Anurag Thakur mocked the Congress for its 99 seats in the Lok Sabha, contrasting them unfavourably with BJP's 240.
&nbsp;
"They're feeling the pain. After three tries, they couldn't even hit 100," he remarked.
&nbsp;
Thakur also criticised Congress over alleged remarks by Sam Pitroda, describing him as "someone's uncle, friend, philosopher, and guide."
&nbsp;
He questioned Rahul Gandhi's decision to reintegrate Pitroda into the party, citing alignment between Pitroda's statements and Congress' ideology.
&nbsp;
Further, Thakur took aim at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's situation, quipping, "I've heard of work from home, but never of work from jail."

'Enjoying power without responsibility,' Thakur slams RaGa

Shweta Sengar

Director Nag Ashwin's 3D science fiction extravaganza "Kalki 2898 AD" raked in a whopping Rs 555 crore globally during its debut weekend, the production team revealed on Monday.
&nbsp;
Made with an estimated budget of Rs 600 crore, this multilingual film boasts a stellar ensemble cast that includes Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan, and Kamal Haasan.
&nbsp;
Initially named "Project K", "Kalki 2898 AD" is described as an amalgamation of the Hindu epic Mahabharata and futuristic elements and is produced by Vyjayanthi Movies.
&nbsp;
Vyjayanthi Movies shared the latest box office figures on its official X page, with the caption: "555 CRORES &amp; counting&hellip; "The BIGGEST FORCES are dominating the GLOBAL BOX OFFICE, show no signs of slowing down #Kalki2898AD #EpicBlockbusterKalki @SrBachchan @ikamalhaasan #Prabhas @deepikapadukone @nagashwin7 @DishPatani @Music_Santhosh @VyjayanthiFilms @Kalki2898AD @saregamaglobal @saregamasouth." The film had a global release on Thursday in six languages: Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi and English.
&nbsp;
Please remember the following information: During its opening weekend in India, the Hindi version of "Kalki 2898 AD" achieved a net box office collection of over Rs 115 crore, as stated in a separate announcement.
&nbsp;
As per Prathyangira Cinemas, the distributor of the movie in the US, "Kalki 2898 AD" set a new record for the highest first weekend earnings for any Indian film in North America, with a total of USD 10.5 million.
&nbsp;
The film features Disha Patani, Saswata Chatterjee, and Shobhana, and it is said to be the most expensive movie ever made in Indian cinema history.

Mumbai

'Kalki 2898 AD crosses Rs 500 crore-mark at globally

Bharatiya Janata Party women MLAs in West Bengal on Monday staged a protest on the Assembly premises over the assault on a couple in North Dinajpur and the alleged stripping and torture of a woman in Cooch Behar, party&rsquo;s chief whip Sankar Ghosh said.
&nbsp;
The BJP has called for West Bengal &nbsp;Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's resignation on July 1 over a &ldquo;severe deterioration&rdquo; in the State&rsquo;s law and order after a video of a man flogging a couple in public in the State surfaced on social media.
&nbsp;
In the North Dinajpur incident, Tajimul Islam, better known as &lsquo;JCB&rsquo; among the locals, was arrested on Sunday for publicly whipping a man and a woman after a video of the incident surfaced on social media.
&nbsp;
According to residents, he is a local TMC leader and he himself claims to be a powerful person. However, TMC leaders claimed that Tajimul holds no position in the party.
&nbsp;
Police have registered a case based on the video of the incident happened on June 28 and managed to arrest Tajimul of Dighalgaon village in Lakhipur gram panchayat under the Uttar Dinajur district five days after the incident took place
&nbsp;
According to the local political leaders of opposition parties, the accused is a Trinamool Congress (TMC) supporter and allegedly organises kangaroo courts in disputes of all kinds, ranging from property to extramarital affairs. Besides the physical assaults, he also imposes fines, they say.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;He is a TMC worker and close to the local MLA. He is called JCB because he demolished his opposition. Such is his terror among the common people his way of justice came to the light this time because of the video. Other such courts he had held went unreported,&rdquo; said Surajit Das .The victim man and woman and their families (in the present incident) are too scared to lodge a police complaint,&rdquo; said Sen.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;The entire Lakkhipur panchayat area is under his and his team&rsquo;s control. He continues to rule the area through his political backing,&rdquo; said Anarul Haq, CPM&rsquo;s district president.
&nbsp;
Trinamool MLA of Chopra Hamidul Islam said: &ldquo;Police have taken action and we have condemned the incident.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
&ldquo;Police promptly identified and arrested one person who had publicly assaulted a lady,&rdquo; read a post from West Bengal Police on X. Islampur SP Joby Thomas K said, &ldquo;The accused has been booked under relevant sections (of assault) and will be produced in a court tomorrow.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
Woman assaulted in Cooch Behar
&nbsp;
The police on Sunday recorded the statement of a woman BJP worker, five days after she was assaulted allegedly by Trinamool Congress women activists. BJP&rsquo;s Cooch Behar District Vice President Deepa Chakraborty and District General Secretary Biraj Bose accompanied the party worker to a women police station where her statement was recorded.
&nbsp;
The development comes a day after BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul met the injured party worker and demanded a CBI probe into the matter. Paul also accused the police of delaying the process of recording the victim&rsquo;s statement.
&nbsp;
Meanwhile, member of National Commission for Women (NCW) Delina Khondup also met the victim on Sunday. She also met district police officers to learn the details of the investigation.
&nbsp;
The NCW has already directed the state police to invoke relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code in the FIR filed in the case.
&nbsp;
According to the complaint filed by the woman at the Ghoksadanga police station in Cooch Behar district&rsquo;s Mathabhanga, she was surrounded by some women activists of the ruling Trinamool Congress on June 25. She alleged that she was stripped, beaten up and dragged for nearly a kilometre.
&nbsp;
The police have arrested seven people in connection with the incident. &ldquo;Out of the 10 accused, seven have been arrested. Search is on to arrest the three others. Today, the victim recorded her statement. Investigation is on,&rdquo; said a senior police officer of Cooch Behar district.
&nbsp;
However, earlier, Cooch Behar district police said in a press release that the incident happened because of a grudge within the woman&rsquo;s family. &ldquo;It has come to our attention that false rumours are being spread regarding an incident involving a Muslim woman in Cooch Behar, West Bengal. It is being falsely reported that the woman was stripped and beaten for supporting a political party. This misinformation is being used to give communal and political colours to a family dispute for vested interests,&rdquo; it said.
Police even claimed that the victim&rsquo;s mother and son had provided video statements saying the incident was &ldquo;purely over a family fight among women over grass cutting,&rdquo; and that no men were involved.
&nbsp;

West Bengal

Political turmoil over women's safety derails Bengal again

parvesh_kapoor

Ace Indian cueist Pankaj Advani will aim for a hat-trick of titles in the Asian Billiards Championships beginning here on Tuesday.
&nbsp;
The four-day tournament is set to showcase top-tier talent from across Asia, including the Indian trio of Advani, Sourav Kothari, and Dhruv Sitwala.
&nbsp;
Advani boasts of nine Asian billiards title victories since 2005 and has won the event in the last two editions.
&nbsp;
He has also ruled the table in snooker, winning the Asian titles in 2016, 2019 and 2021, along with a team title in 2017.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;While I&rsquo;ve enjoyed success over the years, I try to remain grounded and focused as I understand the unpredictable nature of sport," stated Advani in a release.
&nbsp;
"The field is packed with formidable competitors from India, Thailand, Myanmar and Singapore, making it a fiercely contested championship,&rdquo; added Advani, who is competing in Saudi Arabia for the first time.
&nbsp;
The Asian Billiards Championship, an annual event, features the 100-points format.
&nbsp;
Terming it "tricky and exhilarating", Advani said, "Unlike traditional billiards formats, this one leaves no room for complacency. It&rsquo;s a high-stakes game from the get-go and you can never predict the winner until the very end."
&nbsp;
This year has been especially significant for Advani, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame at the World Billiards Museum in Shangrao City, China.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;Being inducted into the Hall of Fame is a profound honour. Representing India on the global stage is an immense pride for me as an individual and I am committed to working hard to bring more accolades to our country,&rdquo; he added.

Riyadh

Pankaj Advani eyes hat-trick glory at Asian Billiards C'ship

Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (BITS Pilani) has announced a five-year Master Research Agreement (MRA) with Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India (MBRDI) to advance technology research.
&nbsp;
According to a statement issued by the institute, the collaboration aims to establish a robust framework for joint research, fostering the creation of intellectual property in cutting-edge technology solutions and promoting academic collaboration.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
"The research will focus on areas including software development with an emphasis on data and AI, electric mobility, and transformative technologies such as generative AI," the institute maintained.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;We are committed to promoting innovation and excellence in research and education. This MRA with Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India is a major step in that direction,&rdquo; said BITS Pilani Vice Chancellor Prof Ramgopal Rao.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;With MBRDI's corporate experience and our academic competence, we aim to make discoveries that benefit society. We also look forward to our long-term relationship for talent placement and development for interns and graduates at MBRDI.&rdquo; VC Rao added.
&nbsp;
Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India Managing Director and CEO Manu Saale echoed similar sentiments.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&ldquo;The synergy between our industry expertise and BITS Pilani's academic prowess will propel our journey towards sustainable innovation. At MBRDI, we are committed to creating a culture of continuous learning and development for our talent, and this collaboration will enable significant opportunities for scaling from idea to innovation,&rdquo; CEO Saale stated.

BITS Pilani, Mercedes-Benz ink 5-year research deal

With an apology letter, the rebel leaders of the Shiromani Akali Dal leaders, on Monday, appeared before the jathedar of the Akal Takht. The leaders seek an apology for their 'mistakes' when SAD was in power in Punjab.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The Akal Takht is the supreme temporal seat of the Sikhs. The letter was handed over to the Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh at the Akal Takht Secretariat at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. 
&nbsp;
SAD rebels asked for forgiveness for the "four mistakes" during the former party regime between 2007 and 2017, which included failure to punish those responsible for the 2015 sacrilege incidents, and pardoning Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in the 2007 blasphemy case. 
&nbsp;
The case was registered against the Dera Sacha Sauda chief for allegedly imitating the 10th Sikh master, Guru Gobind Singh at Salabatpura. 
&nbsp;
The rebel leaders pointed out that the 'Sikh Panth' and the people of Punjab drifted away from the Akali Dal over these "mistakes" while asserting that they were ready to face any punishment by the Sikh tenets. 
&nbsp;
Because of this, the SAD faced "failures" not only on the religious front but also suffered people's apathy in the political field, the leaders said. 
&nbsp;
Referring to the sacrilege incidents, the leaders said the then Akali government could not ensure punishment to the guilty while underlining that the Sikh panth was outraged by the 2015 incidents. 
&nbsp;
The Shiromani Akali Dal government, the then Home Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, and the president of the SAD neither got this matter probed on time nor succeeded in getting the culprits punished, the letter said.
&nbsp;
It led to the situation in Punjab getting worse and tragic incidents taking place at Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan, it said. 
&nbsp;
"The Shiromani Akali Dal government could not hold any officials accountable for these incidents," it said. 
&nbsp;
The incidents related to the theft of a copy of the Guru Granth Sahib, putting handwritten sacrilegious posters, and torn pages of the holy book being found scattered at Bargari, took place in Faridkot in 2015. 
&nbsp;
These incidents had led to protests in Faridkot. In the police firing, two people were killed in Behbal Kalan while some were injured at Kotkapura in Faridkot in October 2015. 
&nbsp;
Mentioning the 2007 blasphemy case, the letter states, "Instead of taking further action to punish the person, the Shiromani Akali Dal government withdrew this case." 
&nbsp;
In 2021, Badal claimed that the SAD government had never withdrawn the blasphemy case against the Dera chief, who is at present lodged in a jail in Haryana. Ram Rahim, in 2017, was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for raping two disciples. 
&nbsp;
The letter also claimed that Sukhbir Badal allegedly used his influence to pardon the Dera Sacha Sauda chief in the blasphemy case. 
&nbsp;
"Sukhbir Singh Badal, the president of Shiromani Akali Dal, used his influence to pardon the 'deredar' (Dera chief). You can call the then Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht and seek his clarification," the leaders said in the letter. 
&nbsp;
"But the leadership of Shiromani Akali Dal and Shiromani Committee had to withdraw this decision keeping in mind the anger and resentment of the Sikh Panth," it said. 
&nbsp;
In 2015, the Akal Takht pardoned the Dera Sacha Sauda chief in the blasphemy case based on a written apology. However, bowing to the pressure from the Sikh community and hardliners, it annulled its decision.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
SAD crisis: 
&nbsp;
A section of senior party leaders have revolted against SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, demanding that he step down as the party chief following its debacle in the recently held Lok Sabha elections. 
&nbsp;
Among the prominent rebel leaders are former MP Prem Singh Chandumajra, former SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur, ex-MLA Gurpartap Singh Wadala, former Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa, and party leader Sucha Singh Chhotepur, all of whom presented themselves before the Akal Takht Jathedar.

SAD rebels seek apology from Akal Takht for party's mistakes

India secured a resounding 10-wicket victory over South Africa in the one-off Women's Test on Monday, with opener Shafali Verma smashing the fastest-ever double-century and off-spinner Sneh Rana delivering remarkable first-innings figures of 8/77.
&nbsp;
South Africa, chasing a daunting Indian first-innings total of 603/6 declared, capitulated for 266, largely due to Rana's career-best performance.
&nbsp;
Shafali Verma's explosive 197-ball 205 and Smriti Mandhana's composed 149 were instrumental in setting the formidable target.
&nbsp;
Enforcing the follow-on, India saw a spirited fightback from South Africa's captain Laura Wolvaardt, who scored 122, and former skipper Sune Luus, who added 109.
&nbsp;
Middle-order batter Nadine de Klerk's 61 further extended the innings, taking the visitors to 373 and setting India a modest 37-run target.
&nbsp;
Shubha Satheesh (13 not out) and Shafali (24 not out) quickly chased down the target in just 9.2 overs, sealing the comprehensive victory.
&nbsp;
India and South Africa will now face off in a three-match T20I series scheduled in Chennai from July 5-9.
&nbsp;
Brief Scores: India: 603/6 decl. and 37/0 in 9.2 overs.
&nbsp;
South Africa: 266 and 373 in 154.4 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 122, Sune Luus 109, Nadine de Klerk 61; Sneh Rana 2/111, Deepti Sharma 2/95, Rajeshwari Gayakwad 2/55).

Chennai

India's Shafali, Rana star in Test win over South Africa

The NEET 2024 re-exam results, released by the National Testing Agency (NTA), have shown a notable reduction in the number of toppers from 67 to 61. This follows the re-examination conducted on June 23, where none of the students managed to secure a perfect score.
&nbsp;
The NTA had organised this re-exam for 1,563 students who had previously received grace marks due to lost examination time during the main exam held on May 5. Out of these, 813 students appeared for the re-exam, conducted at seven centres across Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, and Meghalaya. The students who opted not to retake the exam will retain their original scores without the grace marks.
&nbsp;
Previously, six students from a centre in Haryana had scored a perfect 720 out of 720. However, in the re-exam, none of the students achieved full marks, resulting in the reduction of the number of top scorers to 61. The revised scorecards for all candidates, including those who took the re-exam, are now available on the NTA's website.
&nbsp;
The NEET UG 2024 results for the 813 candidates who retook the exam have been published, and a revised merit list will be made available soon. Candidates can log in to the NTA website to view, download, and print their revised scorecards.
&nbsp;
This re-examination and the subsequent results have garnered attention due to the significant impact on the number of top scorers, highlighting the importance of fair and accurate testing procedures.
&nbsp;
The NTA&rsquo;s decision to conduct a re-exam and the resulting changes in the topper count underscore the complexities and challenges in maintaining the integrity and reliability of such a large-scale national examination.
&nbsp;
The NTA's efforts to ensure fairness and accuracy in the examination process reflect its commitment to upholding the standards of one of India&rsquo;s most significant and competitive entrance tests.
&nbsp;
As the revised merit list is awaited, students and stakeholders continue to monitor the developments closely, emphasising the crucial role of transparent and equitable examination practices in the academic and professional futures of aspiring medical students.

NEET 2024 toppers drop to 61 post reexam results

Grandmaster R Praggnandhaa yet again squandered promising position to settle for a draw against American Wesley in the fifth round of Superbet Classic tournament as none of the five boards produced any decisive result, at Bucharest, Romania.
&nbsp;
The lead positions remained unchanged with Fabiano Caruana of United States still ahead on 3.5 points, enjoying a half point lead over world championship challenger D Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa.
&nbsp;
French duo of Alireza Firouzja and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia and Wesley share the third spot on 2.5 points each, a half point ahead of Anish Giri of Holland and Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan.
&nbsp;
Local hopeful Deac Bogdan-Daniel is still at the bottom with 1.5 points.
&nbsp;
Gukesh also enjoyed some advantage that slipped away against Abdusattorov while Vachier-Lagrave played solidly to hold Caruana.
&nbsp;
Bogdan-Daniel drew with Ian Nepomniachtchi in the 10-player double round-robin event, offering USD 350000 as prize money.
&nbsp;
Praggnanandhaa is usually spot-on when it comes to accurate calculation or tactics but somehow here he has been missing on advantageous positions and also some winning moves.
&nbsp;
Having missed out on a technically winning endgame against Gukesh, Wesley So found himself lucky as the Indian missed a not-so-difficult manoeuvre that he would find in seconds on another day.
&nbsp;
Inspired by the presence of Garry Kasparov in the playing hall, Praggnanandhaa chose the King's Indian defense as black, faced the Fianchetto variation and did not have many troubles in maintaining the balance.
&nbsp;
Wesley became a little ambitious towards the final stages of the middle game and this is where Praggnanandhaa could have penetrated his king side decisively. Wesley survived with the skin of his teeth.
&nbsp;
Gukesh also had a chance against Nodirbek through a tactical stroke that would have ensured consistent pressure and a long-term advantage. The game was drawn without much ado once Gukesh missed out on the opportunity.
&nbsp;
Caruana showed his opening expertise to hold Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in a Ruy Lopez open. The American went for a little known variation as black and it was clear that his home-work ran deep. Vachier-Lagrave decided not to take his chances for too long and drew vide repetition in just 28 moves.
&nbsp;
Monday is the only rest day in the tournament and the sixth round will be played on Tuesday.
&nbsp;
Results round 3: D Gukesh (Ind, 3) drew with Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzb, 2.5); Wesley So (Usa, 2.5) drew with R Praggnanandhaa (Ind, 3); Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (Fra, 2.5) drew with Fabiano Caruana (Usa, 3.5); Anish Giri (Ned, 2) drew with Firouza Alireza (Fra, 2.5); Deac Bogdan-Daniel (Rou, 1.5) drew with Ian Nepomniachtchi (FID, 2.5).&nbsp;

Bucharest

Praggnanandhaa misses against Wesley So on another day of draws

Director Hansal Mehta's highly anticipated film "The Buckingham Murders," starring Kareena Kapoor Khan, is set to release on September 13, the makers announced on Monday.
&nbsp;
Kareena, who was recently seen in "Crew" alongside Tabu and Kriti Sanon, makes her production debut with this murder mystery, co-produced with Ektaa Kapoor and Shobha Kapoor under Balaji Telefilms and TBM Films.
&nbsp;
The film's poster and release date were shared on Instagram.
&nbsp;
"We're thrilled to announce that #TheBuckinghamMurders is coming to theatres on 13th September 2024. Directed by @hansalmehta and starring @kareenakapoorkhan," the post read.
&nbsp;
The cast includes Ash Tandon, Ranveer Brar, and Keith Allen. The screenplay is by Aseem Arrora, Kashyap Kapoor, and Raghav Raj Kakker.
&nbsp;
"The Buckingham Murders" premiered at the 67th BFI London Film Festival in October 2023.
&nbsp;
Kareena Kapoor Khan will also feature in Rohit Shetty's upcoming film "Singham Again," part of his cop universe, slated for a November 1 release.

Kareena's 'Buckingham Murders' set for Sept 13 release

Shyna Gupta

The government is set to develop a national indicator to measure &ldquo;extreme poverty,&rdquo; aiming to eradicate it across the entire population by 2030, according to the statistics ministry.
&nbsp;
The government defines extreme poverty as an income below $1.25 per day.
&nbsp;
These comments were made in a recent report titled "National Indicator Framework 2024," which assessed India's progress in achieving its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
&nbsp;
The goal is significant as India has been without an official poverty line for a while, shifting from income-based poverty estimates to one based on multi-dimensional deprivations.
&nbsp;
Two working papers from the World Bank and the IMF previously presented divergent estimates of extreme poverty in India, based on the shared definition of people living on $1.90 or less in purchasing power parity terms. The World Bank's definition of extreme poverty roughly corresponds to the poverty line calculated by the Tendulkar committee for 2004-05 (Rs 33 per day), adjusted for inflation. A credible poverty gauge is crucial now, given the pandemic's "unprecedented reversals in poverty reduction."
&nbsp;
The report quotes NITI Aayog, stating that in the past decade, India has seen a significant reduction in poverty. The proportion of people living in poverty in "all its dimensions" decreased to 14.96% in 2019-21 from 24.85% in 2015-16.
&nbsp;
This reduction is attributed to sustained economic growth during the period (6.7% average growth between FY16-FY20) and the implementation of various welfare schemes focused on nutrition, health, education, housing, drinking water, sanitation, skill development, and social protection.
&nbsp;
A discussion paper by NITI Aayog in January estimated that 248.2 million people moved out of multidimensional poverty between 2013-14 and 2022-23, aligning with a key SDG goal. The SDGs adopted by the United Nations in 2015 explicitly target halving multidimensional poverty by 2030.
&nbsp;
Based on the interpolation of the multidimensional poverty index (MPI) estimates between 2005-06 and 2015-16, the headcount ratio for 2013-14 was 29.17%.
&nbsp;
Similarly, the proportion of multidimensional poverty for 2022-23 is projected to be 11.28%, based on the trend rate of 10.66% decline per year between 2015-16 and 2019-21, noted the think tank.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;With this, India is much ahead of the target of reducing poverty in all its dimensions by half by 2030,&rdquo; the paper stated.

Govt plans national measure for extreme poverty

In a bid to boost education accessibility, Assam Education Minister Ranoj Pegu announced on Monday that over 71% of the 1.66 lakh students enrolling in colleges across the state have taken advantage of the fee waiver scheme for economically disadvantaged families.
&nbsp;
This translates to nearly 1.2 lakh students benefiting from the scheme.
&nbsp;
Previously, the scheme was available to students whose parental annual income did not exceed Rs 2 lakh. However, this year, the eligibility threshold has been increased to Rs 4 lakh, Pegu stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The state government does not charge any fee from college students; instead, it offers a Fee Waiver scheme for BPL students. Previously, students with a parental annual income of up to ₹2 lakh were eligible for free admission, but this year the limit has been raised to ₹4 lakh,&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/gUEaVTFjx9">pic.twitter.com/gUEaVTFjx9</a>
&mdash; Ranoj Pegu (@ranojpeguassam) <a href="https://twitter.com/ranojpeguassam/status/1807654479606464798?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2024</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
In addition to raising the income limit, the state has made the process more accessible by allowing ration cards to serve as proof of family earnings, replacing the previously required income certificates.
&nbsp;
"This year, 1,18,199 (71 per cent) students out of 1,66,123 students have availed free admission till yesterday evening," Pegu noted.
&nbsp;
While colleges and universities set their own admission fees, the State Fee Regulation Committee determines the upper limit.
&nbsp;
Addressing concerns about rising admission fees, Minister Pegu clarified that the state government does not charge any fees to college students.
&nbsp;
Instead, it supports students from Below Poverty Line (BPL) families through the fee waiver scheme.
&nbsp;
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, sharing Pegu's post, highlighted that the state government disbursed ₹103 crore to various colleges last year to cover student enrollment costs under this initiative.

Over 1.2 lakh Assam students get free college admission

Amid swirling rumours of his resignation, Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh has categorically denied the claims, calling for responsible journalism.
&nbsp;
Addressing the concerns, Singh pointed out the necessity of strong leadership during Manipur&rsquo;s current challenges.
&nbsp;
"In such a crucial time when Manipur is passing through a troubled time, we as leaders should not... We have full confidence and we have to guide the people on the right path. If we deviate from the path, who will lead them? Manipur will be in more chaos," Singh stated, appealing to the media to refrain from publishing unconfirmed reports.
&nbsp;
Singh warned that rumours of his resignation could incite unnecessary public panic.
&nbsp;
"When someone says that the CM is going to step down, people start panicking... So, I think we should not spread such misinformation," he added, urging media outlets to verify information before dissemination.
&nbsp;
On a different note, Singh praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent reforms to India's criminal laws, marking the first major overhaul in 164 years.
&nbsp;
He highlighted the new provisions aimed at curbing mob lynching, a significant issue in Manipur and other regions.
&nbsp;
"There are some good points against mob lynching, which is very important. It is widely applicable in Manipur because such incidents are taking place in many parts of the country, including our own state," Singh remarked.

Imphal

Manipur CM Singh refutes resignation talk, urges calm

In a significant development, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has given its consent to jailed MP-elect from north Kashmir's Baramulla Lok Sabha seat, Engineer Rashid, taking oath as member of Parliament on July 5.
&nbsp;
According to news sources, the NIA has given its consent to independent MP Rashid taking oath on July 5 in Parliament on the condition that he will not interact with the media. The Patiala House Court will pass an order in this regard on July 2.
&nbsp;
Rashid, who defeated his nearest rival and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and NC Vice President Omar Abdullah in the Baramulla Lok Sabha seat, has sought interim bail or custody parole to take oath as MP.
&nbsp;
An independent politician from Jammu and Kashmir Rashid is in jail on charges related to terror funding. He was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in August 2019.
&nbsp;
Rashid, who is also known as Sheikh Abdul Rashid, was accused of being involved in a terror funding case, which is linked to a larger crackdown on alleged terror financing in the region.
&nbsp;
The charges against him include conspiracy, funding terrorist activities, and aiding and abetting terrorism.
&nbsp;
His arrest was part of a broader investigation into terror funding involving various individuals and organisations in Jammu and Kashmir.
While in jail, Engineer Rashid decided to contest the Lok Sabha polls from the Baramulla constituency, competing against NC Vice President Omar Abdullah and JK People's Conference chief Sajad Gani Lone.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;He announced his candidacy and filed his nomination papers in April 2024. Initially hesitant, Rashid was persuaded by his son Abrar Rashid, who spearheaded the campaign.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;Abrar explained that his father sought election as a means to expedite his release from jail.
&nbsp;
Rashid's campaign gained momentum, with strong voter support leading to a significant victory over both Abdullah and Lone.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Srinagar

NIA consents to Engineer Rashid taking oath as MP

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed his concern over the worsening flood situation in Assam, assuring Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of comprehensive support from the central government to tackle the crisis.
&nbsp;
In a telephone conversation on Monday, PM Modi enquired about the extent of the flooding and the measures being taken to mitigate the disaster.
&nbsp;
The state of Assam has been grappling with severe flooding due to relentless rainfall, which has submerged numerous districts and affected hundreds of thousands of residents. "Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji called me a short while ago to enquire about the flood situation in Assam," Sarma wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
&nbsp;
"I explained to him that Assam is experiencing a second wave of floods this year due to heavy rains in Arunachal Pradesh and part of our upper Assam districts," he added.
&nbsp;
Chief Minister Sarma detailed the ongoing relief efforts and highlighted the challenges posed by the heavy rains. PM Modi, in response, promised full cooperation from the central government.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
"He assured me of full cooperation from the Government of India in this hour of crisis," Sarma confirmed.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Hon&rsquo;ble Prime Minister Shri <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> Ji called me a short while ago to enquire about the flood situation in Assam. I explained him that Assam is experiencing a second wave of floods this year due to heavy rains in Arunachal Pradesh and part of our upper Assam districts. I&hellip;
&mdash; Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) <a href="https://twitter.com/himantabiswa/status/1807678212178067863?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2024</a></blockquote>
The flood situation deteriorated significantly on Sunday, with two more fatalities reported and over 2.62 lakh people affected across eight districts. The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping &amp; Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, also reached out to Sarma to discuss the flood conditions, particularly in the districts of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia.
&nbsp;
"Spoke to Hon'ble Assam CM Shri @himantabiswa over phone regarding the flood situation in Dibrugarh, Tinsukia and other parts of the state. Requested him to provide all necessary assistance to the flood victims," Sonowal posted on X.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Spoke to Hon'ble Assam CM Shri <a href="https://twitter.com/himantabiswa?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@himantabiswa</a> over phone regarding the flood situation in Dibrugarh, Tinsukia and other parts of the state. Requested him to provide all necessary assistance to the flood victims. The Hon'ble CM assured immediate relief to the affected people.
&mdash; Sarbananda Sonowal (@sarbanandsonwal) <a href="https://twitter.com/sarbanandsonwal/status/1807639016533291429?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2024</a></blockquote>
In response, Sarma assured Sonowal that the state administration was actively monitoring the situation and providing immediate relief to those affected.
&nbsp;
"Our administration is taking all necessary measures and stands firmly with the people of Dibrugarh and other affected areas in this hour of crisis," Sarma stated.
&nbsp;
According to a special bulletin issued by the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Guwahati, a cyclonic circulation over Assam and its surrounding areas is contributing to the severe weather.
&nbsp;
"Widespread rainfall accompanied with heavy to very heavy rainfall is very likely over Assam," the bulletin warned, adding that these conditions are expected to persist until July 4, with isolated instances of extremely heavy rainfall.

PM Modi calls Assam CM, assures flood relief aid

Palak Chouhan

Oil marketing companies have announced a reduction in prices for commercial LPG gas cylinders, aiming to ease financial burdens on businesses and commercial enterprises. Effective from Monday, the price of a 19 kg commercial LPG cylinder has been cut by Rs 30. Consequently, the new retail price in Delhi stands at Rs 1646.
&nbsp;
This latest reduction follows a series of price cuts in recent months. On June 1st, the price of the 19 kg commercial LPG cylinder was decreased by Rs 69.50 in Delhi, lowering the retail price to Rs 1676. Earlier, on May 1, 2024, there was a Rs 19 reduction per cylinder. These consecutive decreases indicate a positive trend for businesses grappling with operational costs amidst economic challenges.
&nbsp;
The frequent adjustments in LPG cylinder prices at the beginning of each month highlight the dynamic nature of the market. Factors such as international oil prices, taxation policies, and supply-demand dynamics influence these pricing decisions significantly.
&nbsp;
Although specific reasons for the recent price cut have not been disclosed, oil marketing companies appear responsive to broader economic conditions and market trends.
&nbsp;
The reduction in LPG prices holds particular significance amid the current economic climate. Businesses, especially in the food and hospitality sectors, heavily depend on commercial LPG cylinders for their operations.
&nbsp;
These price cuts offer much-needed financial relief, enabling businesses to better manage operational costs and potentially pass on savings to consumers.
&nbsp;
Moreover, the government has actively promoted the use of LPG cylinders for household cooking through schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, offering subsidies to eligible families. This initiative aims to encourage cleaner cooking fuels and enhance living standards.
&nbsp;
As market dynamics evolve, stakeholders will closely monitor factors influencing price adjustments, including international oil market trends and domestic economic policies.
&nbsp;
For now, the reduction in commercial LPG cylinder prices represents a significant step forward, providing relief amidst economic challenges.

LPG cylinder price cut by Rs 30, effective immediately

Simpl, a leading fintech startup, disclosed a notable increase in consumer spending on its platform during the recent T20 World Cup Final. Following India's thrilling victory over South Africa by 7 runs at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on Saturday, Simpl noted a significant 40 per cent surge in spending compared to last year's 50-over World Cup final.
&nbsp;
Nitya Sharma, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Simpl, highlighted the impact of the event on consumer behavior, stating, "Indians&rsquo; enthusiasm and celebration of the T20 World Cup 2024 victory were palpable in their online spending patterns. Quick commerce spends saw a remarkable rise, particularly during the match hours from 8 pm to 11 pm."
&nbsp;
The peak spending recorded on Simpl's platform reached Rs 16,410, with one consumer making as many as 59 transactions during the period.
&nbsp;
Additionally, there was a substantial increase in orders under Rs 100 via Simpl on platforms such as Zepto, Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart, and Porter, which surged by 35 per cent compared to last year's final in November.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;This is a testament to the growing trend of consumers increasingly seeking instant checkout and fastest delivery to meet their immediate needs,&rdquo; Nitya said.
&nbsp;
Founded in 2016, Simpl boasts a network of approximately 26,000 merchants, including prominent names like Zomato, MakeMyTrip, Big Basket, 1MG, and Crocs.
&nbsp;
Simpl's latest report reflects the evolving consumer behavior and increasing adoption of digital payment solutions in response to major sporting events.

Rapid commerce spending jumps 40% in T20 WC Final

<div class="flex flex-grow flex-col max-w-full">
<div class="min-h-[20px] text-message flex flex-col items-start whitespace-pre-wrap break-words [.text-message+&amp;]:mt-5 juice:w-full juice:items-end overflow-x-auto gap-2" dir="auto" data-message-author-role="assistant" data-message-id="b0407f96-96a1-4f5b-aaa5-634834878b80">
<div class="flex w-full flex-col gap-1 juice:empty:hidden juice:first:pt-[3px]">
<div class="markdown prose w-full break-words dark:prose-invert dark">
The Indian cricket team, fresh off their T20 World Cup victory, finds themselves stranded in Barbados due to Hurricane Beryl, a Category 4 storm.
&nbsp;
The hurricane was expected to brush past the island on Sunday night, with its centre passing approximately 80 miles off the south coast.
&nbsp;
The Indian contingent, which includes players, support staff, families, and officials, is currently lodged at the Hilton Hotel in Bridgetown.
&nbsp;
The team's initial plan was to take a charter flight directly back to India, but the airport closure on Sunday evening has thwarted these plans.
&nbsp;
The South African team, however, managed to leave earlier on Sunday before the airport shut down.
&nbsp;
According to Rev Sportz, the Indian players, including captain Rohit Sharma, were seen queuing at the airport, eating off paper plates as they awaited further instructions.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
BREAKING <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BCCI</a> will do all they can to help Indian team and media get out of Barbados once cyclone fury subsides. Airport shut. Indian team hotel operating with limited staff. Players had dinner in paper plates standing in a queue. LIVE at 9am with all updates on the ground&hellip;
&mdash; Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) <a href="https://twitter.com/BoriaMajumdar/status/1807599878861680923?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2024</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is actively exploring options to evacuate the team once the cyclone passes.
&nbsp;
A BCCI source revealed that the team was originally scheduled to fly from Bridgetown to New York and then travel to India via Dubai. Given the current circumstances, a direct charter flight from Bridgetown to Delhi is now being arranged.
&nbsp;
Discussions are also underway for a possible meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi upon their return.
&nbsp;
BCCI secretary Jay Shah, speaking from Barbados, mentioned that a grand felicitation ceremony is being planned for the team upon their arrival in India.
&nbsp;
"Like you, we are also stuck here. Once the travel plans are finalized, we will organise the felicitation," Shah told media persons.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
&nbsp;
The team's dramatic victory in the T20 World Cup final was marked by a stellar performance from Virat Kohli.
&nbsp;
Despite a disappointing run in the tournament leading up to the final, where he scored just 75 runs in seven innings, Kohli rose to the occasion with a crucial 76 off 59 balls, leading India to a total of 176 for seven.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
South Africa's Heinrich Klaasen threatened to snatch the win with a rapid 23-ball fifty, but India&rsquo;s bowlers held their nerve. Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah were instrumental in restricting South Africa to 169/8, sealing India's first T20 World Cup win since 2007.
&nbsp;
This victory also marks India's first world title since their 2011 ODI World Cup triumph at home and their first ICC trophy since winning the Champions Trophy in 2013.&nbsp;
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>

Barbados

Hurricane halts Indian cricket team's return plans

Over 5 million pilgrims from across the country have visited the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Cave Shrine, located in the Trikuta Hills of Katra town, Reasi district, Jammu and Kashmir.
&nbsp;
Sources said more than 5 million pilgrims visited the shrine from January to June,. 
&nbsp;
Currently, between 25,000 and 35,000 devotees are arriving daily at the base camp for the pilgrimage.
&nbsp;
"The number of pilgrims is expected to increase in the coming days with the ongoing 52-day Shri Amarnath Yatra as many pilgrims will visit Shri Mata Vaishno Devi after visiting the holy cave," sources added.
&nbsp;
So far this year, around 5,032,168 devotees have visited Vaishno Devi, compared to 4,999,946 during the same period last year.
&nbsp;
Additionally, the start of a direct helicopter service from Jammu to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi is expected to further boost the number of pilgrims in the future.
&nbsp;
The official website shows that 311,663 pilgrims have used helicopter services to travel to the shrine.
&nbsp;
The shrine board is working to improve infrastructure and other essential services to accommodate the increasing number of visitors.
&nbsp;
According to the shrine board, the number of pilgrims visiting this year is expected to break all previous records.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;In 2023, the shrine welcomed around 9.1 million pilgrims. This year, the number is expected to rise significantly due to better connectivity, and improved road and air travel infrastructure.
&nbsp;
Additionally, the trust has upgraded accommodation arrangements to make the yatra more comfortable and feasible for people of all ages.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Jammu

Record 5m pilgrims visit Vaishno Devi shrine in 6 months

In a significant step towards democratising space travel, the US-based Space Exploration and Research Agency (SERA) and Blue Origin announced on Monday that India will join their human spaceflight programme as a partner nation.
&nbsp;
SERA will offer Indian citizens a seat on Blue Origin&rsquo;s future mission using the reusable rocket, New Shepard. The 11-minute journey will take passengers past the Karman line, 100 km above Earth, the internationally recognised boundary of space.
&nbsp;
Indian citizens will be among the six seats that SERA and Blue Origin aim to provide to individuals from countries with limited or no spaceflight history.
&nbsp;
The astronauts will experience several minutes of weightlessness before making a controlled descent back to the landing pad.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;We&rsquo;re excited to have India as part of our human spaceflight programme,&rdquo; said Joshua Skurla, Co-Founder of SERA.
&nbsp;
Skurla praised India for becoming the first country to reach the Moon&rsquo;s South Pole and expressed the company&rsquo;s aim to make space accessible to everyone. &ldquo;We are happy to offer this unique opportunity to an Indian citizen who wants to experience the wonders of space travel,&rdquo; he said.
&nbsp;
Indian citizens can register for the programme by paying a fee of approximately $2.50, which will cover verification checks to ensure safe and fair voting.
&nbsp;
The final candidates will be chosen by public vote based on their stories, which they can promote via their mission profile pages, social media, and other resources.
&nbsp;
Potential astronauts will need to meet Blue Origin&rsquo;s physical requirements.
&nbsp;
The final crew of six will arrive three days before the flight for training at Blue Origin&rsquo;s launch site in West Texas.

India to send astronauts with SERA, Blue Origin

The tunnel at Pragati Maidan, which was shut due to water accumulation after heavy rainfall in Delhi last week, was reopened to the public on Monday, as per officials.
&nbsp;
Officials from the Public Works Department (PWD) confirmed that traffic movement in the tunnel recommenced on Monday after it underwent cleaning. The tunnel had been nonoperational since June 28.
&nbsp;
Based on data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the Safdarjung Observatory, the city's primary weather station, recorded 228.1 mm of rainfall. This was followed by 192.8 mm at Lodhi Road, 150.4 mm at Ridge, 106.6 mm at Palam, and 66.3 mm at Ayanagar on June 28.
&nbsp;
During the 24 hours ending at 8:30 am on June 28, the recorded rainfall of 228.1 mm was more than three times the June rainfall average of 74.1 mm and the highest for the month since 1936.
&nbsp;
The public works department reported receiving over 200 calls from waterlogged areas. After several hours, water was drained from the Minto Bridge underpass and various other parts of the city.

Flooded after rains, Delhi's Pragati Maidan tunnel reopens

Google announced it has taken a stake in Taiwan's New Green Power (NGP) and could purchase up to 300 megawatts of renewable energy from the BlackRock fund-owned firm.
&nbsp;
This move aims to reduce Google's carbon emissions and those of its suppliers.
&nbsp;
In response to investor pressure and ambitious targets, Big Tech companies, including Google, are committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions across their operations and value chains.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Taiwan, a significant hub for Google's cloud technology with a data center and company offices, relies heavily on fossil fuels for nearly 85% of its power, according to Amanda Peterson Corio, Google's Global Head of Data Center Energy. "The goal of this investment is really to support the build-out of a large-scale solar pipeline in Taiwan," Corio told Reuters.
&nbsp;
Decarbonizing regions such as Asia Pacific presents challenges due to less developed infrastructure and restrictions limiting corporate users' ability to buy green power.
&nbsp;
New Green Power, managed by BlackRock's Climate Infrastructure business, is one of Taiwan's leading solar developers and operators, said David Giordano, BlackRock's Global Head of Climate Infrastructure.
&nbsp;
Taiwan aims to reach 20 GW of solar capacity by 2025 and up to 80 GW by 2050, according to BlackRock.
&nbsp;

California

Google invests in NGP to cut carbon emissions

The Indian deaf cricket team defeated hosts England by six wickets in the seventh and final T20, securing a 5-2 series victory in Leicester.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Abhishek Singh was awarded the man-of-the-match in the final game, while Sai Akash bagged the player-of-the-series honour.&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Electing to bowl, India restricted England to 164 for 4 and then chased down the target with four balls to spare, riding on half-centuries by Abhishek (68) and Umar Ashraf (56).&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
India did not have the best of starts to their chase, losing the first three wickets for only 46 runs. But Abhishek and Ashraf shared a 95-run partnership to rebuild the innings and took the side over the line.&nbsp;

London

Indian deaf cricket team wins T20 series against England

Jammu and Kashmir's tourism department has invited the T20 World Cup-winning Indian cricket team to visit the Union Territory as part of victory celebrations.
&nbsp;
The team will be given a guard of honour and felicitated for their victory. If the team accepts the invitation, the visit is expected to generate a lot of buzz in the region. Kashmir has recently witnessed transformative positive changes.
&nbsp;
"Congratulations to Team India on winning the T20 World Cup 2024!! We welcome our champions to visit Jammu and Kashmir to continue the celebrations!
&nbsp;
"It would be an honour to host you in the crown of Incredible India," the department posted on its official X handle.
&nbsp;
India claimed the T20 World Cup title after a 17-year hiatus, defeating South Africa by seven runs in the final on June 29.
&nbsp;
India, batting first, posted a total of 176/7 in their allotted 20 overs, with Virat Kohli scoring a crucial 76 in the high-pressure game.
&nbsp;
South Africa, in their chase, fell short by seven runs. Kohli was named player of the match for his match-winning performance.
&nbsp;
The invitation from the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department received a positive response on social media.
&nbsp;
Senior officials, including Shah Faesal, IAS topper, and Deputy Commissioner of Srinagar, Dr. Bilal Mohi-Ud Din Bhat, expressed excitement about hosting Team India.
&nbsp;
India&rsquo;s victory in the T20 World Cup 2024 ended an 11-year trophy drought.
&nbsp;
Additionally, Captain Rohit Sharma and star batter Virat Kohli have announced their retirement from T20 cricket, signalling the end of an era in the shorter format of the game.
&nbsp;

T20 World Cup champs invited to J&K

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday participated in the first welfare pensions disbursal programme of the new NDA government at Penumaka in Guntur district.
&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;">Renamed as &lsquo;NTR Bharosa Samajika Pensions&rsquo;, the National Democratic Alliance government comprising the Telugu Desam Party, Bharatiya Janata Party and Jana Sena hiked the state-wide welfare pensions scheme from Rs 3,000 per month provided during the previous YSRCP (Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party) government to Rs 4,000 per month.
<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;">As part of the programme, the chief minister visited a beneficiary&rsquo;s house and chatted with the family members for some time and then personally handed over the pension money to three beneficiaries.
<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;I am sanctioning a house for you. We will build a house for you,&rdquo; said Naidu to the beneficiary family, and directed district officials to team up with the Campus Region Development Authority (CRDA) officials to build houses for eligible persons in Penumaka area.
<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 state government started the procedure to disburse Rs 7,000 as pension to eligible beneficiaries, which includes the enhanced amount of Rs 1,000 each for April, May and June, along with the July's pension of Rs 4,000.
<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;">The Rs 1,000 hike in monthly pensions has raised the financial burden on the state government by Rs 819 crore while a similar amount for the preceding three months has put on an additional burden of Rs 1,650 crore.
<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 southern state will disburse Rs 4,408 crore on welfare pensions alone.
<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 65 lakh beneficiaries under 28 categories will benefit. The new government has also increased pensions to eligible specially-abled persons from Rs 3,000 per month to Rs 6,000 per month. 
&nbsp;

Andhra CM Naidu disburses welfare pensions to beneficiaries

Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal has challenged his arrest in Delhi High Court on Monday. CBI arrested Kejriwal in a corruption case related to the alleged excise policy scam.
&nbsp;
The AAP national convenor also challenged a trial court's June 26 order by which he was remanded to three-day custody of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).&nbsp;
&nbsp;
On June 29, he was sent to judicial custody till July 12 by the trial court.
&nbsp;
Kejriwal was arrested by the CBI on June 26 from Tihar jail, where he was in judicial custody in a related money-laundering case filed by the Enforcement Directorate.&nbsp;

Kejriwal challenges arrest in High Court

Animated children&rsquo;s films have long endeavoured to teach young viewers how to manage their emotions. Disney Pixar&rsquo;s Inside Out (2015) made this task of emotional regulation literal.
&nbsp;
Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust &ndash; the five basic emotions of protagonist Riley &ndash; became characters in her interior &ldquo;control room&rdquo;. Together, they guided her actions as she developed from a toddler to a pre-teen. Now, in the next instalment, Inside Out 2, Riley turns 13. This means the arrival of more &ldquo;sophisticated&rdquo; emotions &ndash; including Anxiety, Embarrassment, Envy and Ennui.
&nbsp;
I am a researcher who has studied how boredom shapes media content and use. So I was particularly intrigued by the character of Ennui (Ad&egrave;le Exarchopoulos), who embodies the mood of disengaged apathy more typically referred to as boredom.
&nbsp;
Early in the film, Anxiety (Maya Hawke) explains to the older emotions &ldquo;we all have a job to do&rdquo; &ndash; adding that hers is to &ldquo;plan for the future&rdquo;. So, what job does Ennui have in the film, and how does this map onto the role of boredom in our everyday lives?
&nbsp;
Since its inception during the early 19th century, the concept of &ldquo;boredom&rdquo; has been a topic of debate and disagreement. Philosophers and psychologists have observed that boredom can have both a positive and negative impact, suggesting that it plays a particularly important role in childhood and adolescent development.
&nbsp;
In his influential discussion of boredom, the psychoanalyst Adam Phillips describes ennui as:
&nbsp;
That state of suspended animation in which things are started and nothing begins, the mood of diffuse restlessness which contains that most absurd and paradoxical wish, the wish for a desire.
&nbsp;
Or, as psychologists James Danckert and John Eastwood put it in their recent study, boredom&rsquo;s state of inertia is above all &ldquo;a call to action, a signal to become more engaged&rdquo; &ndash; or to try something different.
&nbsp;
Although it is associated with disengagement and apathy and can be a sign that we need to switch gears, my research shows how boredom has been increasingly targeted by media corporations. They have worked hard to consolidate the link between feeling bored and picking up our digital devices. Our phones are often promoted as tools for combating boredom, whenever and wherever it sets in.
&nbsp;
Boredom, and the fear of it, motivates us to scroll mindlessly. But research has shown that the more we use smartphones to distract us from boredom, the more bored we risk becoming. This is a particular issue for teenagers. In recent decades, research has shown a correlation between increasing boredom and mental health difficulties.
&nbsp;
Inside Out 2 doesn&rsquo;t exactly deal with these potentially negative aspects of boredom. Instead, it doubles down on the positive developmental role that boredom plays in helping Riley to manage the intensity of teenage life. Throughout the film, the heavily French-accented Ennui lays draped across a sofa wearing a dark blue sweatsuit, staring dispassionately at her smartphone screen.
&nbsp;
While the early concept design sketches pictured Ennui in pinkish-red, the final version re-imagined her in shades of inky blue and deep purple. As the film&rsquo;s production designer explains: &ldquo;We ultimately went with this dark, de-saturated blue-grayish shade &ndash; if I had to give it a name, it&rsquo;d be &lsquo;blah&rsquo;.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
Ennui&rsquo;s appearance, movements and verbal tics all exude the mental weariness, physical torpor and lack of interest of feeling bored.
&nbsp;
Through most of the film, she takes second stage to Anxiety, the film&rsquo;s main antagonist. Where Anxiety burns up the screen with her frenetic nervous energy, Ennui is a lurker who exudes what the French call je m&rsquo;en foutisme &ndash; the distinctly teenage art of not giving a damn. Significantly, Ennui&rsquo;s smartphone doubles as a remote for the control console, allowing her to modulate Riley&rsquo;s emotions without ever getting up from the sofa.
&nbsp;
This effortlessness is a core aspect of Ennui&rsquo;s role in the film. She largely takes a back seat to the other emotions, responding only minimally to the drama with dramatic sighs, yawns, by rolling her eyes, or through sarcastic one-liners and put-downs. This sense of disinterested cool is how the film makes sense of boredom&rsquo;s role in Riley&rsquo;s emotional life, as she transitions from child to teenager.
&nbsp;
At key moments in the film, however, Ennui takes control of the console, influencing Riley&rsquo;s emotional experience by decreasing its intensity &ndash; for example, when Riley tries to impress the older friends she&rsquo;s made at summer camp. When they name the deeply uncool boy band she went to see last summer, causing Anxiety and Embarrassment to appear, Ennui gets up from her sofa and announces: &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been waiting for this moment.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
Ennui counterbalances Riley&rsquo;s fear of how others perceive her with a heavy dose of sarcasm, which acts as a protective shield. At other key junctures, Ennui&rsquo;s function is to keep the other emotions in check, helping to smooth out the emotional intensities of teenage life.
&nbsp;
The way this helps temper Riley&rsquo;s emotional experience speaks to sociologist Georg Simmel&rsquo;s notion of a &ldquo;blas&eacute; attitude&rdquo;. In his essay The Metropolis and Mental Life (1903), Simmel described the blas&eacute; attitude as a consequence of the &ldquo;rapidly shifting stimulations of the nerves which are thrown together in all their contrasts&rdquo; in the modern metropolis.
&nbsp;
Defined by a sense of apathetic indifference, Simmel argued that the blas&eacute; attitude provided a form of protection from the sensory intensity and nervous over-stimulation that grew out of city living.
&nbsp;
It is arguably this version of boredom that dominates in the character of Ennui. By smoothing out Riley&rsquo;s emotional highs and lows, Ennui offers her own inimitable form of protection from the overstimulation that comes with being a teenager.
&nbsp;
This article first appeared in The Conversation.

What Inside Out 2’s Ennui teaches us about boredom

Do you suffer from low back pain that recurs regularly? If you do, you&rsquo;re not alone. Roughly 70% of people who recover from an episode of low back pain will experience a new episode in the following year.
&nbsp;
The recurrent nature of low back pain is a major contributor to the enormous burden low back pain places on individuals and the health-care system.
&nbsp;
In our new study, published today in The Lancet, we found that a program combining walking and education can effectively reduce the recurrence of low back pain.
&nbsp;
The WalkBack trial
&nbsp;
We randomly assigned 701 adults who had recently recovered from an episode of low back pain to receive an individualised walking program and education (intervention), or to a no treatment group (control).
&nbsp;
Participants in the intervention group were guided by physiotherapists across six sessions, over a six-month period. In the first, third and fifth sessions, the physiotherapist helped each participant to develop a personalised and progressive walking program that was realistic and tailored to their specific needs and preferences.
&nbsp;
The remaining sessions were short check-ins (typically less than 15 minutes) to monitor progress and troubleshoot any potential barriers to engagement with the walking program. Due to the COVID pandemic, most participants received the entire intervention via telehealth, using video consultations and phone calls.
&nbsp;
The program was designed to be manageable, with a target of five walks per week of roughly 30 minutes daily by the end of the six-month program. Participants were also encouraged to continue walking independently after the program.
&nbsp;
Importantly, the walking program was combined with education provided by the physiotherapists during the six sessions. This education aimed to give people a better understanding of pain, reduce fear associated with exercise and movement, and give people the confidence to self-manage any minor recurrences if they occurred.
&nbsp;
People in the control group received no preventative treatment or education. This reflects what typically occurs after people recover from an episode of low back pain and are discharged from care.
&nbsp;
What the results showed
&nbsp;
We monitored the participants monthly from the time they were enrolled in the study, for up to three years, to collect information about any new recurrences of low back pain they may have experienced. We also asked participants to report on any costs related to their back pain, including time off work and the use of health-care services.
&nbsp;
The intervention reduced the risk of a recurrence of low back pain that limited daily activity by 28%, while the recurrence of low back pain leading participants to seek care from a health professional decreased by 43%.
&nbsp;
Participants who received the intervention had a longer average period before they had a recurrence, with a median of 208 days pain-free, compared to 112 days in the control group.
&nbsp;
Overall, we also found this intervention to be cost-effective. The biggest savings came from less work absenteeism and less health service use (such as physiotherapy and massage) among the intervention group.
&nbsp;
This trial, like all studies, had some limitations to consider. Although we tried to recruit a wide sample, we found that most participants were female, aged between 43 and 66, and were generally well educated. This may limit the extent to which we can generalise our findings.
&nbsp;
Also, in this trial, we used physiotherapists who were up-skilled in health coaching. So we don&rsquo;t know whether the intervention would achieve the same impact if it were to be delivered by other clinicians.
&nbsp;
Walking has multiple benefits
&nbsp;
We&rsquo;ve all heard the saying that &ldquo;prevention is better than a cure&rdquo; &ndash; and it&rsquo;s true. But this approach has been largely neglected when it comes to low back pain. Almost all previous studies have focused on treating episodes of pain, not preventing future back pain.
&nbsp;
A limited number of small studies have shown that exercise and education can help prevent low back pain. However, most of these studies focused on exercises that are not accessible to everyone due to factors such as high cost, complexity, and the need for supervision from health-care or fitness professionals.
&nbsp;
On the other hand, walking is a free, accessible way to exercise, including for people in rural and remote areas with limited access to health care.
&nbsp;
Walking also delivers many other health benefits, including better heart health, improved mood and sleep quality, and reduced risk of several chronic diseases.
&nbsp;
While walking is not everyone&rsquo;s favourite form of exercise, the intervention was well-received by most people in our study. Participants reported that the additional general health benefits contributed to their ongoing motivation to continue the walking program independently.
&nbsp;
Why is walking helpful for low back pain?
&nbsp;
We don&rsquo;t know exactly why walking is effective for preventing back pain, but possible reasons could include the combination of gentle movements, loading and strengthening of the spinal structures and muscles. It also could be related to relaxation and stress relief, and the release of &ldquo;feel-good&rdquo; endorphins, which block pain signals between your body and brain &ndash; essentially turning down the dial on pain.
&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s possible that other accessible and low-cost forms of exercise, such as swimming, may also be effective in preventing back pain, but surprisingly, no studies have investigated this.
&nbsp;
Preventing low back pain is not easy. But these findings give us hope that we are getting closer to a solution, one step at a time.
&nbsp;
This article first appeared in The Conversation.

Sydney

Walking can prevent recurring lower back pain

Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi reaffirmed Indian Army's preparedness to face all current and future security challenges that the country faces. A day after assuming charge of the 1.3 million-strong force, Gen Dwivedi said working towards ensuring synergy among the Army, Air Force, and Navy would be one of his priorities. 
&nbsp;
The statement of COAS comes on Monday, amid the lingering border row with China in eastern Ladakh. 
&nbsp;
In remarks to the media after inspecting a guard of honour at the South Block in Raisina hills, he said the Army is facing "unique operational challenges" and to remain prepared for such threats, it is crucial to continue equipping the soldiers with the latest weapons.
&nbsp;
"I am fully conscious of the responsibility assigned to me and I assure the country and fellow citizens that the Indian Army is fully capable and ready to face all current and future challenges," he said.
&nbsp;
The newly-appointed Army Chief also said that he would encourage the induction of indigenously-built military hardware into the force to boost self-reliance in defence.
&nbsp;
"The geo-political landscape is changing rapidly and technology is evolving at a very fast pace," he said.
&nbsp;
"The Indian Army faces unique operational challenges and to remain prepared for such threats and distinctive requirements, it is crucial that we continuously equip our soldiers with state-of-the-art weapons and technology and continue to evolve our war-fighting strategies," he added.
&nbsp;
Gen Dwivedi said the Indian Army is on the "path to transformation" and it aspires to be 'Atmanirbhar' (self-reliant) in defence.
&nbsp;
"To achieve this, we will encourage indigenous initiatives and induct maximum war systems and equipment that are manufactured in our country," he said.
&nbsp;
Gen Dwivedi said he would focus on ensuring that the Army is ready to operate in the"full spectrum of conflict".
&nbsp;
"I will endeavor to ensure that the Indian Army is always ready to operate in the full spectrum of conflict, maintaining complete synergy with the Indian Navy, Indian Air Force and other stakeholders," he said.
&nbsp;
"This will ensure that India's interests are secured and we become a major pillar of nation-building to achieve the vision of 'Viksit Bharat-2047'," Gen Dwivedi said.
&nbsp;
The Army Chief said it is a matter of immense pride for him to lead the force.
&nbsp;
"This is a moment of immense pride and honour for me to be assigned the responsibility to lead the Indian Army," he said.
&nbsp;
"The glorious traditions of the Indian Army rest on the legacy of valour and sacrifice of our soldiers. On this occasion, I pay my solemn tributes to the bravehearts who made supreme sacrifice in the line of duty," he added.
&nbsp;
The Army Chief said he was fully committed to protecting the interests of all the personnel in the force and to extending full support to ex-servicemen and their families.
&nbsp;
"It will be my priority to ensure that the interests and welfare of all ranks and defence civilians of the Indian Army are looked after," he said. 
&nbsp;
"My responsibility towards veterans, 'veer naris' and their families is a sacred commitment and I assure this extended family, my full support," he said.
&nbsp;
Gen Dwivedi has been serving as the Vice Chief of the Army since February 19.
&nbsp;
Before becoming the Vice Chief, he served as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Northern Command from 2022 to 2024.
&nbsp;
An alumnus of Sainik School, Rewa (MP), Gen Dwivedi was commissioned into a regiment of Jammu and Kashmir Rifles in 1984. He has a unique distinction of balanced command as well as staff exposure across Northern, Eastern, and Western theatres in varied operational environments.&nbsp;

New Army Chief Dwivedi affirms readiness of forces

Both benchmark indices, Nifty and Sensex, were trading firmly in the green, buoyed by a strong performance in the IT sector on July 1. Four out of five gainers on the NSE Nifty were IT stocks, with Wipro witnessing the sharpest rise.
&nbsp;
Experts attribute the rally to the resumption of foreign inflows and optimism about potential US Fed rate cuts. "From a long-term perspective, valuations in IT stocks look very attractive," said Kranthi Bathini, director of equity strategy at WealthMills Securities. Indian IT companies are sensitive to Fed rate cuts because they earn a significant portion of their revenue from U.S. clients.
&nbsp;
At about 12 pm, the Sensex was up 0.45 percent at 79,387, while the Nifty was up 107 points at 24,118. Around 2,391 shares advanced, 1,031 shares declined, and 125 shares remained unchanged. India VIX, which measures near-term volatility, inched up by a percent to trade around 14 levels.
&nbsp;
Among other sectors, Nifty Metal, FMCG, Auto, and Bank were the top performers, with metal being the highest gainer. Tata Steel, APL Apollo Tubes, and JSW Steel led the rally. Conversely, energy and public sector bank stocks slipped the most.
&nbsp;
The broader market, encompassing midcap and small-cap indices, outperformed the headline indices, trading 0.9 and 1.37 percent higher, respectively.
&nbsp;
Notably, the midcap index touched a new all-time high in the afternoon at 15,824.
&nbsp;
"Despite high valuations, the market is likely to remain resilient. The healthy trend in the recent rally, which has pushed Nifty by 6.5 percent in June, is that it is being led by fundamentally strong large caps," said V K Vijayakumar, chief investment strategist at Geojit Financial Services. "The high delivery-based buying among large caps is a strong trend that will impart resilience to the market," he added.

Nifty, Sensex rise with IT stocks

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Monday paid her tribute to the first chief minister of the state Bidhan Chandra Roy on his birth and death anniversary, which is celebrated as National Doctor&rsquo;s Day.
&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;">Banerjee also wished the doctors, nurses and other health workers on the occasion.
<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;My tributes to Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy, former Chief Minister of West Bengal, and a legendary physician, on his birth and death anniversary. My regards and best wishes to all the doctors, nurses and health workers of Bengal and the country on this very special occasion of &lsquo;National Doctor&rsquo;s Day&rsquo; for their selfless and dedicated services,&rdquo; she posted on X.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
My tributes to Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, former Chief Minister of West Bengal, and a legendary physician, on his birth and death anniversary. My regards and best wishes to all the doctors, nurses and health workers of Bengal and the country on this very special occasion of&hellip;
&mdash; Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/MamataOfficial/status/1807602484585840706?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2024</a></blockquote>
<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 with the committed support of my colleagues in the health sector that our government has been able to revolutionise the sector in Bengal in the last 13 years. Free treatment in government hospitals, cashless and virtually free treatment in private hospitals also under our Swasthya Sathi, many new medical colleges, hospitals, health centres and medical services&mdash; all these are our tributes to the cause of health,&rdquo; she 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;">The state government has declared a half-day holiday for all its departments, except the Revenue Department, in Roy&rsquo;s memory.
<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 first National Doctor&rsquo;s Day was celebrated in 1991 to pay tribute to Roy&rsquo;s contributions to the health sector of the country.
<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;">Roy, a Congress leader who was called the architect of modern West Bengal, was born on this day in 1882 and died in 1962. He was the chief minister of the state from 1950 to 1962.
<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 was honoured with the Bharat Ratna in 1961, and during his tenure as the CM, he played a crucial role in laying the foundation of cities such as Kalyani, Durgapur and Salt Lake, and setting up several institutions, including IIT-Kharagpur. 
&nbsp;

Kolkata

Mamata pays tribute to first CM of WB Bidhan Chandra Roy

India&rsquo;s manufacturing sector saw a notable uptick in June, with the Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) climbing to 58.3 from a three-month low of 57.5 in May.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The June PMI, comfortably above its long-run average, highlights a recovery in the Indian manufacturing sector, which had faced a dip in May. The report attributes this recovery to buoyant demand conditions, which spurred expansions in new orders, output, and buying levels.
&nbsp;
Maitreyi Das, Global Economist at HSBC, commented, &ldquo;The Indian manufacturing sector ended the June quarter on a stronger footing. The headline manufacturing PMI rose by 0.8 percentage points to 58.3 in June, supported by increased new orders and output. Consequently, firms increased their hiring at the fastest pace in over 19 years.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
The data showed that firms raised employment at the fastest rate recorded since the data collection began in March 2005. This surge in hiring is indicative of the sector&rsquo;s robust performance.
&nbsp;
The input buying activity also rose during the month. While cost pressures receded slightly from May, they remained among the highest in over two years. Manufacturers managed to pass on higher costs to customers, resulting in improved margins.
&nbsp;
Das added, &ldquo;Input costs moderated slightly in June but remained at elevated levels. Manufacturers were able to pass on higher costs to customers, as demand remained robust, resulting in improved margins. While the overall outlook for the manufacturing sector remains positive, the future output index receded to a three-month low, albeit remaining above the historical average.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
&ldquo;As a consequence of ongoing increases in new order intakes, firms stepped up recruitment. The rate of job creation was sharp and the strongest seen since data collection started in March 2005. Staff expenses reportedly intensified in June, which coupled with rising material and transportation costs caused another overall increase in operating expenses,&rdquo; the report noted.
&nbsp;
Export orders saw a substantial increase, driven by better demand from regions including Asia, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Europe, and the US.

India's June manufacturing PMI rises to 58.3

Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik, on Monday, was appointed as batting coach and mentor by Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Karthik announced his retirement from all forms of cricket last month.&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
"Welcome our keeper in every sense, Dinesh Karthik back into RCB in an all-new avatar. DK will be the batting coach and mentor of RCB Men's team," RCB posted on 'X', formerly Twitter.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
"You can take the man out of cricket but not cricket out of the man! Shower him with all the love, 12th Man Army," the post added.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Terming this an exciting opportunity, Karthik stated: "Coaching at a professional level is inspiring for me and is something I'm truly passionate about as a new chapter in my life. Hopefully, the breadth of my experiences as a player can contribute to the development of the group and bring added value."&nbsp;
&nbsp;
"I believe that cricket success hinges not only on technical proficiency but also on match intelligence and composure. I am eager to coach and mentor our batting group, helping them not only refine their method but also develop the keen match awareness needed to excel under pressure.
&nbsp;
"It's also great that I can continue my association with RCB as the franchise continues to move from strength to strength," he stated in a release issued by RCB.
&nbsp;
The cricketer, who is also into commentary, had a spectacular last season for RCB where he played the role of a finisher and scored 326 runs at an average of 36.22 with a massive strike-rate of 187.36.
&nbsp;
He was given an emotional farewell after RCB lost the Eliminator to Rajasthan Royals.
&nbsp;
Overall, the wicketkeeper-batter played 257 matches in IPL representing five franchises -- Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians, Delhi Daredevils, Kings XI Punjab, and RCB.
&nbsp;
He had amassed 4,842 runs at an average of 26.32.
&nbsp;
Playing for India, Karthik scored 1,752 runs and struck nine half-centuries in 94 ODI matches.
&nbsp;
In 26 Tests, Karthik has 1,025 runs to his name, which includes a century against Bangladesh.
&nbsp;
In 60 T20Is, he has scored 686 runs at an average of 26.38 with a 142-plus strike rate.
&nbsp;
Regarding Karthik's appointment, RCB Director of Cricket Mo Bobat said he will be just as impactful as a coach.
&nbsp;
"His longevity and track record as a player speaks volumes about his skill and dedication. I know he will bring that same quality and commitment to this new professional chapter," Bobat said.
&nbsp;
"DK's experiences across both international cricket and the IPL, make him a huge asset to RCB. I do not doubt that our players will benefit hugely from his expert support." RCB are yet to win an IPL title in the last 17 seasons.

Dinesh Karthik appointed as RCB's batting coach & mentor

Indian shooter Sandeep Singh's determination to overcome personal challenges and succeed as a sports shooter was forged in the harsh environment of Siachen, the world's highest battlefield.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;Enduring temperatures as low as -40 degrees Celsius, Sandeep lived in a tent, at a place where the weather remains a bigger threat than the enemy. 
The 28-year-old 10m air rifle shooter, who clinched victory in the Olympic Selection Trials to secure a berth at the Paris Olympics earlier this year, attributes his success to his gruelling experience in Siachen.
&nbsp;
"Being alone in the snowy wilderness at -40 degrees Celsius, where you have to prepare your food in the camp, was a test of resilience," Singh said during the ceremonial send-off of the Paris-bound Indian athletes.
&nbsp;
After serving as a reserve shooter for the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, a dip in form led to Singh, a Havildar, being sent back to his unit. He was posted in Siachen for six months between 2021 and 2022.
&nbsp;
"That period gave me the time to think about my future, what I needed to do, and how to enhance my shooting skills," Singh said.
&nbsp;
Coming from a humble background in Faridkot district, with his father working as a daily wage labourer and two brothers working as bike mechanics, Singh had no background in sports.
&nbsp;
"I used to run cross-country twice a day, covering 7-8 km, to join the Army. My younger brother wasn't as fortunate; he and my elder brother are bike mechanics now," Singh added.
&nbsp;
Singh used to do labour and daily-wage jobs before joining the Army.
&nbsp;
The first gun he held was an INSAS rifle, a standard weapon used by the Indian Army which also functions as a light machine gun.
&nbsp;
He used it to hone his shooting abilities.
&nbsp;
While the shooter is all set to leave for the upcoming summer Olympic Games being held in Paris, his story of perseverance and grit serves as an inspiration to young men and women in the country.

From Siachen to Olympics, shooter Sandeep Singh aims high

The Madhya Pradesh Assembly's Budget session has officially kicked off today, spanning from July 3 to July 19, with 14 sittings scheduled. This session is expected to be marked by intense debates and confrontations, particularly surrounding the alleged nursing college scam and the issue of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops.
&nbsp;
Speaker Narendra Singh Tomar conducted a thorough review of the preparations for the session on Sunday, ensuring everything was in order for the proceedings. This session is the third of the 16th legislative assembly, setting the stage for critical discussions and decisions.
&nbsp;
The Congress party, which is in opposition, is gearing up to challenge the government on several fronts. Key among their concerns is the alleged nursing college scam, a scandal involving significant irregularities in the functioning of several nursing colleges.
&nbsp;
This issue is currently under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The Congress has planned a protest at the residence of former Medical Education Minister Vishvas Sarang, who now holds the cooperative portfolio. They accuse him of being involved in the scam, and they are demanding a thorough investigation.
&nbsp;
In addition to the nursing college scam, the Congress is also set to press the government on its promise of ensuring MSP for farm produce, a commitment made during the previous assembly elections.
&nbsp;
The issue of MSP has long been a point of contention, with farmers and various political groups calling for its implementation to ensure fair prices for their crops.
&nbsp;
Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar has advocated for more transparency in the assembly's proceedings. He has called for the live broadcasting of the assembly's sessions, similar to what is done in the Lok Sabha, to allow the public to witness their representatives' actions and debates firsthand. Singhar has also stressed the importance of adhering to the schedule, urging that the sessions should not be adjourned prematurely, thereby ensuring that all issues are thoroughly discussed and debated.
 As the session unfolds, all eyes will be on the debates over the nursing college scam and MSP, with both sides preparing to present their arguments and evidence. The government's budget presentation today will also be a focal point, with stakeholders keenly observing the allocations and policies proposed.

Bhopal

Madhya Pradesh Assembly launches Budget session

Following a lackluster performance in the recent US Presidential debate, President Joe Biden's family has expressed disappointment, privately criticizing his campaign advisers for what they perceive as missteps leading up to the event.
&nbsp;
Reports indicate that Biden's relatives are urging him to consider a shake-up within his political team, highlighting concerns over over-preparation and inadequate rest prior to the debate.
&nbsp;
The debate, held on June 27, saw President Biden facing off against Republican opponent Donald Trump. Critics pointed out Trump's repetition of debunked claims and Biden's perceived struggle to pivot effectively in response. Biden's family members reportedly lamented that he was overly focused on defending his record rather than presenting a clear vision for a second term.
&nbsp;
Sources close to the situation revealed that there were pleas made to Biden's top aides to ensure he was well-rested before the debate. However, these requests allegedly went unheeded, with concerns mounting that Biden appeared tired and unwell during the event. "What a bad decision to send him out looking sick and exhausted," remarked one individual familiar with the discussions.
&nbsp;
Among those singled out for criticism were Anita Dunn and Bob Bauer. Dunn, a longtime Biden aide, and Bauer, the President's attorney who played Trump during debate rehearsals, faced calls for dismissal from figures within Biden's support network.
&nbsp;
John Morgan, a prominent Biden fundraiser, was particularly vocal, suggesting that Dunn and Bauer's involvement may have been detrimental to Biden's performance.
&nbsp;
The debate strategy itself was devised and endorsed by campaign chair Jen O'Malley Dillon, who played a pivotal role in Biden's successful 2020 campaign.
&nbsp;
Despite the internal criticism, Biden's campaign maintained that no immediate staff changes were under consideration. A campaign official clarified that multiple advisers, not just Dunn and Bauer, were involved in Biden's preparation.
&nbsp;
Biden's verbal missteps during the debate reignited concerns among voters and Democrats alike about his ability to effectively lead for another term. However, despite these challenges, Biden affirmed his determination to secure victory in the upcoming November presidential election against Trump.
&nbsp;
As the election season progresses, the Biden campaign faces the task of regaining momentum and addressing internal criticisms while maintaining focus on key issues and voter concerns.

New York

Biden's debate missteps prompt family criticism on advisors

France's far-right National Rally (RN), led by Marine Le Pen, emerged victorious in the first round of the country's parliamentary election, according to exit polls. The RN secured approximately 34% of the vote, surpassing its leftist and centrist competitors, including President Emmanuel Macron's Together alliance, which garnered between 20.5% and 23%. The New Popular Front (NFP), a coalition of left-wing parties, followed closely with around 29% of the vote, as indicated by multiple exit polls from Ipsos, Ifop, OpinionWay, and Elabe.
&nbsp;
Despite the RN's lead, the final outcome hinges on the upcoming run-off elections and the subsequent political negotiations. Traditionally, French politics has seen centre-right and centre-left parties forming alliances to prevent the RN from gaining power&mdash;a strategy known as the "republican front." However, the effectiveness of this approach is uncertain this time around.
&nbsp;
In French parliamentary elections, if no candidate secures over 50% of the vote in the first round, the top two contenders proceed to a run-off. Additionally, candidates with at least 12.5% of registered voters can also qualify for the second round. This election is likely to witness a record number of three-way run-offs, a scenario that typically benefits the RN more than simpler two-way contests.
&nbsp;
Following the first round, political manoeuvring commenced immediately. President Macron called upon voters to support candidates aligned with republican and democratic values, implicitly excluding those from the RN and the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) party. Meanwhile, LFI leader Jean-Luc Melenchon announced that NFP would withdraw third-placed candidates to consolidate votes against the RN.
&nbsp;
Jordan Bardella, the 28-year-old president of RN, expressed readiness to become prime minister if his party secures an outright majority. However, both Macron and NFP have ruled out forming alliances with the RN, setting the stage for potential "cohabitation" scenarios&mdash;a situation where the president and prime minister come from opposing parties.
&nbsp;
The exit polls suggested RN might win the most seats in the National Assembly, with one pollster, Elabe, even projecting a potential absolute majority of 289 seats in the run-off. However, projections based on first-round results can be notoriously inaccurate.
&nbsp;
Voter turnout was notably high compared to previous parliamentary elections, reflecting intense political engagement following Macron's decision to call for early parliamentary elections after RN's success in the recent European Parliament elections. This move has injected significant uncertainty into French politics and triggered reactions across Europe, including financial market reactions.
&nbsp;
Once considered a political outcast, RN now stands closer to power than ever before. Marine Le Pen's efforts to rebrand the party, shifting focus from racism and antisemitism to economic issues and immigration concerns, seem to have resonated with voters disillusioned with Macron's policies and economic challenges.
&nbsp;
As of 1500 GMT, voter turnout was nearly 60%, a substantial increase from the previous parliamentary election's 39.42%, marking the highest comparable turnout since the 1986 legislative vote, according to Ipsos France's research director, Mathieu Gallard.

Paris

Macron faces challenge as Le Pen's RN leads French polls

Following a deadly roof collapse at Terminal 1 (T1) of Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI), Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu has initiated a series of measures to ensure passenger safety and operational continuity. The incident, which occurred last Friday due to heavy rainfall, resulted in the death of a cab driver and injuries to several others.
&nbsp;
In response, Minister Naidu visited the Airport Operations Control Centre (AOCC) to evaluate the situation and review passenger handling procedures. All departing flights have been redirected to Terminals 2 (T2) and 3 (T3) following the closure of T1.
&nbsp;
Naidu held a meeting with senior officials from various aviation bodies, including the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), and airline representatives.
&nbsp;
During the meeting, Naidu emphasised the necessity of maintaining the highest safety standards for passengers during this transition period. He reiterated the importance of collaborative efforts among all stakeholders to ensure a seamless travel experience for passengers.
&nbsp;
The DGCA has set up war rooms to facilitate close coordination between DIAL and the airlines, ensuring timely communication and addressing any challenges due to the increased passenger volume at T2 and T3.
&nbsp;
Naidu highlighted the critical need for effective communication and coordination to manage the situation efficiently. "The DGCA confirmed the activation of war rooms, facilitating close coordination between DIAL and the airlines," Naidu mentioned in a post on X. This coordination is expected to help mitigate any operational disruptions and enhance passenger experience.
&nbsp;
An FIR has been lodged by Delhi Police under sections related to death by negligence, and investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the roof collapse. Meanwhile, authorities continue debris removal and a full structural assessment of T1.
&nbsp;
The terminal remains closed until further notice.&nbsp;To prevent similar incidents in the future, Naidu announced the involvement of a special team from IIT Delhi&rsquo;s structural engineering department for an initial inspection. He also instructed airlines to avoid any abnormal surge in airfare.
&nbsp;
"We don&rsquo;t want a similar incident to happen again, so we have asked for inspection reports from all airports across the country within 2-5 days. Based on these reports, we will take necessary actions to prevent such incidents," Naidu stated.
&nbsp;
The minister&rsquo;s proactive measures reflect the government&rsquo;s commitment to ensuring passenger safety and maintaining smooth airport operations amidst the crisis.
&nbsp;
As authorities work diligently to restore normalcy, passengers are advised to stay updated on flight schedules and follow instructions provided by airport authorities and airlines.

Minister Naidu reviews IGI Airport after roof collapse

Today, with the implementation of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, the first FIR was lodged against a street vendor for blocking a road close to the New Delhi Railway Station.
&nbsp;
The FIR was filed under Section 285 of the new criminal code that states, "Whoever, by doing any act, or by omitting to take order with any property in his possession or under his charge, causes danger, obstruction or injury to any person in any public way or public line of navigation, shall be punished with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
The police filed an FIR after a patrolling officer noticed a street vendor selling water bottles and gutkha on the road last night. The vendor's makeshift stall was blocking the road, and despite repeated requests to move it, he did not comply. As a result, the police officer decided to file an FIR.
&nbsp;
According to the FIR, the street vendor had placed his stall near a foot-over bridge close to New Delhi Railway Station late last night.
&nbsp;
"The man was selling water, bidi and cigarettes on the street and the obstruction was causing difficulty for the public. The sub-inspector asked the man several times to remove the stall from the road, but he did not comply. The sub-inspector asked several passers-by to join the probe, but they refused. Then the sub-inspector shot a video using the E-praman application," the FIR says.
&nbsp;
The individual has been identified as Pankaj Kumar, hailing from Patna in Bihar.
&nbsp;
Today, three new criminal laws have been implemented&mdash;the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam. These will supersede the Indian Penal Code, the Indian Evidence Act, and the Code of Criminal Procedure, which date back to the colonial era.

1st FIR under new laws filed against Delhi vendor

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced the results for the NEET UG 2024 retest on Monday, July 1. This retest was specifically organised for the 1,563 candidates who were initially awarded grace marks due to alleged time loss during the main exam conducted on May 5, 2024.
&nbsp;
Out of the 1,563 affected candidates, only 813 appeared for the retest. The retest was essential to ensure fairness and accuracy in the evaluation process, addressing concerns raised by the candidates regarding the initial exam.
&nbsp;
Following the retest, the NTA promptly displayed the provisional answer keys, scanned OMR sheets, and recorded responses of the participating candidates on June 28.
&nbsp;
This display allowed candidates to challenge any discrepancies they found in the provisional answer keys. The NTA took these challenges seriously, and after a thorough expert review, the final answer keys for the retest were published on the NTA website.
&nbsp;
The revision of ranks based on the retest results aims to provide a fair and accurate reflection of the candidates' performance. This step ensures that the candidates who experienced difficulties during the main exam are given a just evaluation. The NTA's efforts to address these issues reflect its commitment to maintaining the integrity and credibility of the examination process.
&nbsp;
Candidates can now check their revised ranks and scores on the official NTA website. The revised rankings are expected to have a significant impact on the admissions process for various medical and dental colleges across the country. It is crucial for candidates to stay updated with the latest information and follow the necessary steps for the next stages of the admission process.
&nbsp;
The NEET UG exam is a highly competitive and critical step for students aspiring to pursue medical and dental education in India. The retest and subsequent revision of ranks highlight the importance of a transparent and fair evaluation process.
&nbsp;
By addressing the concerns of the candidates and providing them with an opportunity to retake the exam, the NTA has demonstrated its dedication to upholding the standards of the examination system.
&nbsp;
As the revised ranks are released, candidates are advised to carefully review their scores and prepare for the upcoming counselling sessions. The revised ranks will play a crucial role in determining the candidates' admission prospects and their future academic paths. It is essential for candidates to stay informed and proactive in managing their application and admission procedures.

NEET UG retest results declared, ranks revised for all

Iran's Constitutional Council has validated the results of the first round of the country's 14th presidential election, allowing candidates to begin their campaigns for the run-off.
&nbsp;
Hadi Tahan Nazif, the council's spokesman, made the announcement during a televised interview with the state-run IRIB TV on Sunday. He confirmed that the council had reviewed and validated the election results after thorough investigations.
&nbsp;
No objections were raised by any of the four candidates within the legal timeframe for complaints. With the validation, election campaigns are set to continue until Thursday morning, 24 hours before the run-off.
&nbsp;
In the first round of voting, which began early on Friday and concluded at midnight after being extended three times, no candidate secured the majority required to declare a winner.
&nbsp;
As a result, the election proceeds to a run-off scheduled for July 5, featuring the top contenders from the first round. Reformist Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran's former Health Minister, who garnered over 42 percent of the votes, will face principlist Saeed Jalili, the former chief negotiator in the nuclear talks between Tehran and world powers, who received more than 38 percent of the votes.
&nbsp;
This snap presidential election, originally planned for 2025, was rescheduled following the unexpected death of former President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash on May 19.
&nbsp;
The sudden vacancy led to the advancement of the election to address the urgent need for new leadership. The run-off between Pezeshkian and Jalili is expected to be a closely watched contest, reflecting the nation's current political dynamics and future direction.

Tehran

Iran election results validated by Constitutional Council

Perfume making dates back at least 3,000 years &ndash; to the time of Tapputi-belat-ekalle, who is considered the first chemist in history.
&nbsp;
What we know about her comes from inscriptions on fragments of clay tablets dating back to the Middle Assyrian period (1400&ndash;1000BC).
&nbsp;
The inscriptions tell us that Tapputi was in charge of &ldquo;overseeing the palace&rdquo; as the leader of a collective of female expert perfume makers in Mesopotamia (present day Iraq and Iran). These muraqqītu, experts in aromatics, prepared fragrances for the king and his royal family.
&nbsp;
The inscriptions, which are on display in the Vorderasiatisches Museum in Berlin, also show a detailed procedure for how Tapputi produced one of her perfumes. Tapputi and her team used aromatic and medicinal plants and flowers, that were commonly found at the time, to extract essential oils and fragrances.
 Perfumes can be floral, fruity, sweet, spicy, woody and much more. These attributes, or &ldquo;notes&rdquo;, are what we are drawn to when picking one to wear. The different chemical molecules that make up the perfume notes are known as volatile compounds.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
These are compounds that evaporate easily. When these molecules become a gas, they are detected by the sensory organs in your nose.
&nbsp;
Behind the sensations we get from our favourite perfume, there is a sophisticated process where art and chemistry are tightly interlaced.
&nbsp;
Tapputi&rsquo;s Ancient perfume recipes describe a series of techniques to extract and concentrate volatile scent compounds that are still foundational to several chemistry applications, such as the production of perfumes, cosmetics, medicines or supplements.
&nbsp;
Some of these extraction techniques involve heating. To prepare a decoction (the extraction of water-soluble substances from plants), for example, the raw material, such as leaves or roots, is boiled for a prolonged amount of time with a solvent such as water.
&nbsp;
The technique of infusion was also described. This is where the material to be extracted is soaked briefly in hot water, just like a tea.
&nbsp;
Other techniques rely on the extractive power of the solvent in which the raw material is soaked for a long time at room temperature &ndash; a process known as maceration.
&nbsp;
Tapputi&rsquo;s recipe also illustrated a sequence of heating and cooling down of the raw material, in a process that resembles what nowadays we would refer to as distillation.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
This method uses evaporation and condensation to separate the different volatile scent compounds from each other. This conversion from liquid to a gas state, and vice versa, is based on how easily, and at what temperature, the compounds evaporate.
&nbsp;
Finally, multiple steps of refinement via filtration were carried out, to obtain perfumes &ldquo;fit for a king&rdquo;.
&nbsp;
These very same techniques are still relevant in modern perfumery but have been optimised through the centuries and are now more efficient.
&nbsp;
Are all noses the same? If Tapputi had been born in modern times, she may have been a &ldquo;nose&rdquo;, the term for highly skilled fragrance artists, who master chemistry and creativity.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;Like in nature, many perfumes combine a large number of scent compounds. Making a perfume means assessing the interaction of many volatile compounds in a blend and their stability, alone and together, after bottling.
&nbsp;
These highly trained professionals can comfortably distinguish between notes with subtle differences and recreate them in their laboratory.
&nbsp;
The expertise of gifted noses also finds application in sensory analysis in the food, beverages and cosmetics industries, where they study how a product feels through their five senses.
&nbsp;
In the laboratory, chemists often rely on advanced instruments to try to understand the origin of the aroma of natural products. These instruments scan through the complex fragrance to separate and identify the hundreds of volatile molecules that, when combined, give the overall scent that our nose can smell.
&nbsp;
In our recent study, for example, we screened the aroma of some Irish honey samples, marketed as heather honey, to understand more of its botanical origin.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Volatile compounds found in the honey mainly originate from the plants and flowers that the honeybees visited to collect the nectar that, through much processing, is converted into honey. We found all of the samples had aroma notes from several different plants.
&nbsp;
A new frontier of aroma research lies in the development of the &ldquo;e-noses&rdquo;. These are molecule-sensing electronic devices that mimic how our noses detect volatile compounds, providing a &ldquo;fingerprint&rdquo;, a screening of the characteristic aroma compounds of a sample.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
These e-noses could be important for other industries too. For example, in the diagnosis of disease (volatile molecule fingerprints may change with blood sugar levels), and for quality control for the food industry, where the volatile fingerprint of a food may change as it spoils.
&nbsp;
Modern perfume research is also exploring the important, but often overlooked, psychology of fragrance. They hold highly evocative power over humans. We are starting to understand why certain scents make you fancy a cup of tea, want to keep your nose in a book or feel festive.
&nbsp;
This seems to depend on the physical interconnection between our sense of smell and the parts of our brain linked to memories and emotions.
&nbsp;
This could explain why, in Tapputi&rsquo;s day, the fragrances were not only seen as cosmetics, but they also had a religious function. They were used as part of rituals and ceremonies and offered to the gods to bridge an invisible connection with them.
&nbsp;
If reading this has left you feeling curious about perfumery, you can try making a perfume inspired by Tapputi&rsquo;s fragrance.
&nbsp;
(By arrangement with PTI/The Conversation. The author of this article is Roberta Angioi, a Postdoctoral Researcher in Analytical Chemistry, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland).

Dublin

Science of scents: From 3,000 years ago to now

India is set to enter a new era in its legal system with the enforcement of three new criminal laws on Monday, July 1. These laws, named the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, will replace the colonial-era Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, and the Indian Evidence Act, respectively.
&nbsp;
The new laws aim to modernise India's justice system by incorporating several contemporary features. Among these are Zero FIR, which allows for the immediate filing of a First Information Report (FIR) regardless of jurisdiction, online police complaint registration, electronic summonses via SMS, and mandatory videography of crime scenes for all serious offences. These changes are expected to streamline legal processes and enhance the efficiency and transparency of law enforcement.
&nbsp;
Following the notification of these new criminal laws on December 25, 2023, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) initiated extensive preparations to ensure their effective implementation and to raise awareness among all relevant stakeholders. This includes police, prison officials, prosecutors, judicial officers, forensic personnel, and the general public.
&nbsp;
To support these new laws, the existing Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) application underwent 23 functional updates. These updates are designed to align with the technological requirements of the new laws, including FIR filing and other key processes.
&nbsp;
States and Union Territories (UTs) received technical support to facilitate a smooth transition to the new system, with support teams and call centres established to provide continuous monitoring and assistance.
&nbsp;
In addition, the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) is developing the CCTNS 2.0 application. This new version will incorporate secure cloud storage and features for crime scene videography and forensic evidence collection.
&nbsp;
To further support these efforts, the MHA launched a mobile and web application called the NCRB Compendium of Criminal Laws. This app is available on multiple platforms, including the NCRB, Ministry of Home Affairs, Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&amp;D), Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA), and iGot websites, as well as on Google Play Store and iOS.
&nbsp;
Another significant development is the e-Sakshaya app, which enables the videography and photography of crime scenes and document onboarding. This app has been distributed to all police departments across states and Union Territories, and comprehensive testing has been completed.
&nbsp;
Similarly, the Nyayashruti App facilitates electronic judicial hearings and document onboarding and has been shared with all states/UTs and the e-Committee of the Supreme Court for court implementation. The e-Summon App facilitates the electronic service of court summonses.
&nbsp;
In line with the new laws, necessary updates were made to the CCTNS, e-Prison, e-Prosecution, and e-Forensic applications. These updates ensure that these systems are fully compatible with the new legal framework.
&nbsp;
To build capacity among various stakeholders, the MHA implemented comprehensive training initiatives. These included the development of several training modules and the conduct of over 250 training courses, webinars, and seminars, resulting in the training of a large number of officers and personnel.
&nbsp;
Control rooms with teams comprising law and police officers have been established to manage and address queries and challenges raised by field personnel during the implementation of the new laws.
&nbsp;
The MHA also carried out extensive publicity campaigns on social media to inform the public about the three new criminal laws. Ministries published advisories, press releases, and infographics on social media platforms. Additionally, dialogue workshops were held in state capitals, focusing on regional media to highlight the benefits of implementing the new laws.
&nbsp;
As India embarks on this new journey, the government remains committed to ensuring that these laws not only modernise the legal system but also make justice more accessible and efficient for all citizens.

India's legal system gets overhauled with new laws

Neither India nor Indian films are strangers to celebrated Sri Lankan filmmaker Prasanna Vithanage.&nbsp;
 His visits to India are so frequent that he calls it his second home.
 "In fact, I would say India launched me all those years ago. It is only after I was accepted in India that I found the courage to take my films to all those festivals in Europe," says Vithanage.
 Now, India is giving him yet another milestone in Paradise, released worldwide on June 28, including almost 100 theatres in India's big cities.
 Paradise is set in the backdrop of Sri Lanka's financial crisis of 2022, but told from the viewpoint of a Malayalee couple.&nbsp;
 Malayalam film stars Darshana Rajendran and Roshan Mathew play the lead.
 As he is known for, in Paradise too Vithanage uses the inner conflicts of his lead characters, as they are forced to shed their political apathy, to push forth the bigger narrative of social injustices.
 Paradise, produced by Newton Cinema, is already a force to reckon with in the festival circuit. Among others, it won the prestigious Kim Jiseok award at the Busan Film Festival last year.
 But the fact that the film will receive a wider audience is a great achievement for him, acknowledges Vithanage. He recalls the time when his wife, Damayanthi Fonseka, an actor, had to pawn her jewellery to produce his film.
 "I got lucky, though. All my films from 2008 were partly funded by Indian producers. So, for 32 years now, I have been able to make films, without having to think about an alternative career," said Vithanage.
 In fact, Vithanage pointed out, renowned Indian film technician, editor Sreekar Prasad, has been part of his film journey for 27 years. He is the editor of Paradise too.
 "He even produced Akasa Kusum in 2008. Later, filmmaker Rahul Roy produced a film With You, Without You and the docudrama Silence of the Court.
&nbsp; Mumbai-based Jar Pictures produced Gaadi: Children of the Sun. Now, Newton Cinema is 100 per cent behind Paradise, added Vithanage.
 Although he has been in and out of India, Kerala has always been a favourite, because it is very similar to Sri Lanka, said Vithanage.
 "So, it was kind of natural that I would gravitate towards Malayalees as my lead. When you weave a story, if you know about the people that you are talking about, it becomes easy to portray them," said Vithanage.
 Another recurring thing about Vithanage's films are his "strong women." Just as Paradise, which has people from and outside Sri Lanka, making him adjust his lens to accommodate both their points of view, even though he is a man, Vithanage said he tries to see where a woman might come from, looking at her beyond the male gaze.
 "In fact, in my films I am questioning the male gaze&hellip; In art, that should happen. The artists who have inspired me have done that. Leo Tolstoy has done that. Gabriel Garcia Marquez has done that. Fyodor Dostoevsky has done that. In real life, I may not be able to do that, but when I start to write, I try to understand human beings from a woman&rsquo;s point of view," said Vithanage.
 Although he has a niche audience within Sri Lanka, the scope within his country, admitted Vithanage, is very limited.
&nbsp;
"Yes, six million people had watched films in the 200 theatres of Sri Lanka last year, but the trending genre was comedy," added Vithanage.
 A far cry from what Vithanage makes. Naturally, his cinematic scope expanded to include people from outside Sri Lanka as well, said Vithanage.
 With time, he had mastered the art of telling his stories in a way that would appeal to even people who have no idea of what is happening in Sri Lanka, he added.
 But Vithanage said looking away from the issues plaguing his country had never been an option for him.
&nbsp;
"As a filmmaker, what is happening around me affects me and it is my responsibility to use the visual media as a tool to communicate that," added Vithanage.
 Perhaps, it is how he has learnt to package the macro into the micro that has earned him a place among the all-time greats, not just in Sri Lanka but also in South Asia.
 For instance, in his second film, Dark Night of the Soul, released in 1996, loosely based on Tolstoy's Resurrection, he alludes to the second uprising of the Naxalites that Sri Lanka witnessed in 1988/89.
&nbsp;
While the crux of the film is the moral struggle of the male protagonist and his betrayal, the hints about the inequalities of the society that peppers the narration is just about right to pique one&rsquo;s curiosity about the larger picture.
 "My views may be subjective. But I always believed in portraying the objective truth in my films, without distorting them," added Vithanage.
 When telling any truth, Vithanage is aware that censorship is inevitable.
 "Because politicians choose nationalism to drive their careers, they may not like any narrative other than theirs. So, censorship is real. Artists must fight against it," said Vithanage, recalling how he managed to release one of his banned films, Death on a Full Moon Day, after a year-long legal battle.
 Vithanage also said these kinds of difficulties are also a blessing in disguise for filmmakers, giving them opportunities to fine tune their craft.
 "For instance, the political atmosphere prevalent in Sri Lanka has made me tell my story in a more imaginative manner," he added.&nbsp;

Paradise: From inner conflict to a greater war

Rajasthan has been experiencing heavy rainfall, with Churu recording the highest amount of rainfall on Sunday, as reported by the weather office. The Meteorological Department has forecasted continued heavy rains in parts of eastern Rajasthan and light to moderate rains in parts of western Rajasthan for the next four to five days.
&nbsp;
In the past 24 hours, various regions within the Bharatpur division have experienced heavy to very heavy rainfall. Additionally, light to moderate rainfall was recorded in parts of the Jodhpur, Bikaner, Kota, and Jaipur divisions. The spokesperson for the Jaipur Meteorological Centre noted that Ajmer and Udaipur also received light to moderate rainfall.
&nbsp;
Churu, in particular, recorded the highest rainfall at 51.4 mm from Sunday morning until 5:30 pm. Despite the rainfall, temperatures in the city remained high, with a maximum of 40.2 degrees Celsius.
&nbsp;
The Bharatpur region saw significant rainfall, with 12 cm recorded in Bari (Dholpur), 11 cm in Baseri, and 10 cm in Bharatpur city. Other areas such as Kumher, Deeg, Pahari, Roopbas, and Nagaur also received substantial rainfall, ranging from 5 to 9 cm.
&nbsp;
In other parts of Rajasthan, Dungarpur recorded 4.5 mm of rain, Jaipur recorded 3.7 mm, and Alwar recorded 1.6 mm of rainfall. The highest maximum temperature in the state was recorded in Sri Ganganagar at 41.3 degrees Celsius.
&nbsp;
Fatehpur and Bikaner also experienced high temperatures, recording 40.9 degrees Celsius and 40.5 degrees Celsius, respectively. Many other cities in Rajasthan saw maximum temperatures ranging between 32 and 40 degrees Celsius.
&nbsp;
The ongoing heavy rainfall has brought much-needed relief to some areas, but it has also caused a rise in humidity and temperatures in others. The forecasted rains for the next few days are expected to continue impacting various regions across Rajasthan, providing a mix of challenges and benefits to the residents.
&nbsp;
As the rains persist, it is crucial for residents to stay updated with weather reports and take necessary precautions to ensure safety. The Meteorological Department's continuous monitoring and updates will play a vital role in helping people prepare and respond to the changing weather conditions in the state.

Jaipur

Heavy rains in Rajasthan with Churu receiving most

The government has launched a new portal to combat drug abuse among children. This initiative is aimed at creating a robust monitoring system to prevent the sale of contraband around schools and to raise awareness among students and teachers.
&nbsp;
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai, introduced the "Prahari Portal" as part of the Joint Action Plan designed to involve various stakeholders in addressing the drug menace among youngsters.
&nbsp;
The portal is intended to create an effective system to monitor and prevent drug sales near schools and to educate students and teachers through Prahari Clubs.
&nbsp;
In conjunction with the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), a national review and consultation meeting was organised.
&nbsp;
This event marked the beginning of the implementation of the Joint Action Plan aimed at preventing drug and substance abuse among children, aligning with the vision of a "Nasha Mukt Bharat" or drug-free India.
&nbsp;
The Joint Action Plan, titled "A War Against Drugs," aims to shift the focus towards preventing drug abuse among children. It calls for the involvement of all stakeholders, including agencies, duty bearers, officials, media, and parents, to protect children from drugs and substances.
&nbsp;
Rai praised the Joint Action Plan developed by NCPCR and NCB, highlighting the prime minister's commitment to a drug-free nation. He emphasised the importance of protecting the youth, who make up 59 percent of the population, as they are the future leaders of a developed India.
&nbsp;
In his address, Rai discussed the government's zero-tolerance policy towards drugs and terrorism. He mentioned the empowerment of the Border Security Force (BSF), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), and Assam Rifles to file FIRs against those involved in drug trafficking, as well as the comprehensive measures being taken to eradicate the drug trade.
&nbsp;
He also highlighted the significant role of the National Narcotics Coordination (NCORD), initiated in 2019, in combating drugs.&nbsp;Thirty District Magistrates were honoured for their exemplary implementation of the Joint Action Plan.
&nbsp;
Rai encouraged them to share their successful models and experiences with other districts to ensure effective nationwide action against drugs. He assured the ministry's full support for NCPCR's efforts in protecting children from drugs.
&nbsp;
NCPCR Chairperson Priyank Kanungo reiterated the commitment to safeguarding the youth. He emphasised that protecting children from drugs is crucial to realising the Prime Minister's vision of a developed India. Kanungo acknowledged the collaborative effort in developing the Joint Action Plan, which consolidates existing policies and effective laws to contribute to the mission for a Drug-Free India.
&nbsp;
Sachin Jain, Deputy Director of NCB, discussed the agency's role and efforts in protecting children from drugs. He stressed the need for joint efforts and the significance of Prahari Clubs as an effective body for safeguarding children from drug abuse.
&nbsp;
Representatives from 33 states and Union territories also shared the steps taken under the Joint Action Plan and their efforts to protect children from drugs.
&nbsp;
This comprehensive approach aims to ensure that children across the nation are protected from the dangers of drug abuse, aligning with the broader goal of a drug-free India.

Govt launches new portal to fight child drug abuse

In Punjab, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party was widely believed and expected to win the maximum number of seats in the parliament because of the 300 units of free electricity it provides to consumers every month. It only won 3 of the 13 parliamentary seats in the state, despite the fact that thousands of households across the state, cutting across socio-economic status, are getting &lsquo;zero electricity bills&rsquo;.
&nbsp;
In the two-month billing cycle, it comes to 600 units of free electricity. With power costing about Rs 7 per unit in Punjab, up to 300 units a month comes to about Rs 2100 in subsidy every month to every household, irrespective of its social or economic status.
&nbsp;
Even if someone is a multimillionaire, if his or her monthly consumption is less than 300 units, there will be no electricity bill.&nbsp;The subsidy amount has been increasing from Rs 15,700 crores in the first financial year of the government (2022&ndash;23) to over Rs 20,477 crores in the current fiscal.
&nbsp;
This is the additional burden the state has to bear since the AAP government launched the free electricity scheme in July 2022, within four months of coming to power in Punjab. A large number of households across the state have been getting &ldquo;zero electricity bills."
&nbsp;
Some households have bifurcated the power connections, using various legal loopholes, thus increasing the number of people getting the power subsidy. Sometimes, as many as 90 percent of households were reported to have &ldquo;zero electricity bills." The maximum number of households usually get a &ldquo;zero electricity bill&rdquo; during the winters when there is low consumption of electricity.
&nbsp;
Punjab is not an exception where the freebies, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi calls 'rewris', have not worked in the general elections. Even in Delhi, where the AAP government is providing free electricity and water to the maximum number of people, it has not been able to open any accounts during the last three general elections since 2014.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
However, it has managed to win the Delhi assembly elections regularly since then, and that too with a sweeping majority. Akali stalwart Parkash Singh Badal made power free for the agriculture sector in Punjab after he took over as the Chief Minister in 1997. He was voted out in the 2002 assembly elections.
&nbsp;
Before him, Ms. Rajinder Kaur Bhattal had announced free power for farmers owning up to 7 acres of land. The Congress lost badly within a few months of announcing the subsidy.&nbsp;Congress, in its 2024 election manifesto, had, among other things, promised Rs 8500 monthly cash assistance to every family living &lsquo;below poverty line&rsquo; (BPL family) and a Rs 8500 monthly stipend for every fresh graduate and diploma holder.
&nbsp;
The Congress still could not reach the double-figure mark and was stuck at 99 seats.&nbsp;Rahul Gandhi&rsquo;s statement that money will be deposited every month &ldquo;khata-khat, khata-khat...&rsquo; (immediately) in people&rsquo;s bank accounts did not seem to make much of an appeal anywhere.
&nbsp;
He had even announced the date of July 1, 2024, for the &ldquo;khata-khat&rdquo; deposits to start, while expecting to form the government on June 4. That did not happen, though, and he was saved from doing what was practically and economically impossible to do, and the country&rsquo;s economy was saved from being bled and crippled.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
He, along with other Congress leaders like Mallikarjun Kharge and Priyanka Gandhi, even used to quote examples of HP, Karnataka, and Telangana, claiming that their party had fulfilled all the guarantees it had made to people in those states.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
In the states of Karnataka and Telangana, where the Congress stormed to power with the promise of certain "guarantees,"&nbsp; the party did not fare well in the general elections.&nbsp;In Karnataka, the Congress, according to its own estimates, was expected to win about 15-20 of the 28 seats in the state. It could win just nine seats despite having fulfilled guarantees like free bus travel for women and Rs 2000 in monthly cash assistance for women from socio-economically weaker backgrounds.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Despite bearing a huge financial burden of Rs 36,435 crores in 2023&ndash;24 and Rs 52,009 crores in the current fiscal, the party&rsquo;s performance in the general elections was far from its expectations. It is rightly believed that if the Congress had performed along expected lines in Karnataka and Telangana, the BJP-led NDA may have found it difficult to cross the halfway mark.
&nbsp;
In Telangana state, too, the Congress&rsquo; performance was below par, far below its expectations. Having won a landslide victory in the assembly elections last year, the Congress could win only 8 of the 17 parliamentary seats in the state, while the BJP also won 8 and AIMIM won one.&nbsp;The guarantees included Rs 2500 every month for every woman from a poor family, 200 units of free electricity, a gas cylinder for Rs 500, and free bus travel for women.
&nbsp;
While free bus travel and 200 units of free power have been started, the government is yet to start paying Rs 2500 every month to women under the Gruhalakshmi scheme. It has promised to fulfil this guarantee after the general&nbsp; elections. It may now delay the implementation of this scheme for the time being.
&nbsp;
The Congress government has also promised and implemented some similar populist schemes in Himachal Pradesh, like the &lsquo;Old Pension Scheme&rsquo; and free bus travel for women. Also, the Congress drew a blank, losing all four parliamentary constituencies to the BJP. However, it won four of the six assembly by-elections in the state. This proves that people are generally not convinced by the unrealistic promises or guarantees made at the time of elections.
&nbsp;
Besides, for the Congress at the national level, there was a tough, almost invincible rival in Narendra Modi that the populist guarantees didn&rsquo;t work.&nbsp;The political parties will be doing a great service to the nation if they start avoiding the 'rewri&rsquo; culture of freebies.
&nbsp;
Either it does not deliver any desired results, or the dividends are just short-term while the adverse economic and financial impact on the country or states is long-term. And the worst problem with the freebies is that once they are started, no political party can dare to reverse them, lest it end up writing its own epitaph and obituary.

Freebies bleed economy, yield no dividends

Two asteroids, one of them discovered earlier in June, passed by the Earth this week, a rare occurrence with serendipitous timing to commemorate the International Asteroid Day, according to space agencies around the world.
&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;">None of the asteroids posed any threat to the planet, they 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;">Explaining the footage taken by The Virtual Telescope Project, astrophysicist Gianluca Masi said that asteroid 2024 MK, with a diameter of around 200 metres, was at a distance of about three lakh kilometres when closest to the Earth&mdash; 77 per cent of the planet&rsquo;s distance from the Moon.
<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;">Masi, founder and director of the crowd-funded service provided by the Bellatrix Astronomical Observatory, Italy, was the commentator of a YouTube feed, streamed live at about 2:30 am June 30, IST. The asteroid was the closest to Earth about 10 hours before the feed went live, according to the commentator.
<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 a huge asteroid coming significantly close (to Earth) this time, but luckily for us, with no risks at all for our planet,&rdquo; Masi could be heard saying.
<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;But being so close and so large, this object has been very bright at the time of the close approach, so that if you were in the right part of the world, like the South-Western Americas, you could (see) this with a modest binoculars, my friends,&rdquo; Masi continued, deeming the asteroid fly-by as an &ldquo;exceptional&rdquo; one.
<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;">Further, hurtling at an average speed of nine metres per second, Masi said the celestial object was &ldquo;peculiar&rdquo;, in that it was moving &ldquo;pretty fast&rdquo; against the stars.
<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 fly-by is perfectly timed to coincide with International Asteroid Day on June 30. The day, also supported by the United Nations, marks the anniversary of the largest observed asteroid strike in recorded history in 1908, when an airburst above Tunguska in Siberia flattened more than 80 million trees.
<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;">Remnants from when the Solar System was formed, asteroids are often called 'minor planets'. There are thought to be about a billion of these irregular-shaped rocky objects orbiting the Sun.
<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 asteroid 2024 MK, which was discovered on June 16, 2024, highlights the need to continue improving our ability to detect potentially hazardous objects in our cosmic neighbourhood, said the ESA in a statement.
<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 second asteroid, named (415029) 2011 UL21, is the bigger of the two which approached Earth this week. Measuring 2.3 kilometres across, it is larger than 99 per cent of all known near-Earth objects (NEOs), according to the ESA.
<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;">A close approach of an asteroid this size happens on an average every 10 years, according to The Virtual Telescope Project.
<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;">At its closest to Earth, the asteroid 2011 UL21 was at about 66 lakh kilometres, 177 times the lunar distance&mdash; a &ldquo;truly safe encounter&rdquo;, according to Masi, the commentator for the YouTube livestream on June 27.
<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 asteroid is also among the top 10 biggest ones to have come within 75 lakh kilometres of Earth's distance since 1900, Masi 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;">There are an estimated 50 lakh NEOs out there larger than 20 metres&mdash; the threshold above which an impact could cause damage on the ground, the ESA 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;">As part of its planetary defence projects, the ESA is expected to launch the Hera mission in October 2024, the statement 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;">Hera is touted to perform a detailed post-impact survey of the asteroid Dimorphos, which was targeted by NASA&rsquo;s planetary defence mission on September 26, 2022.
<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;">Named 'Double Asteroid Redirection Test&rsquo;s (DART), the US space agency&rsquo;s mission was the first-ever to demonstrate deflecting an asteroid by striking it in a manner such that it was forced to change its motion in space.
<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;">DART had hit the moonlet Dimorphos, just about 160 metres in diameter, orbiting a larger 780-metre asteroid called Didymos, according to NASA&rsquo;s website.
<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;">Chrisphin Karthick, a scientist at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru, and involved in the DART mission, had told PTI then that it &ldquo;certainly (was) a step towards&rdquo; preparing the world for a potential event in the future, such as the one believed to have led to the extinction of dinosaurs, some 66 million years ago.
<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 are surrounded by several asteroids and comets that orbit our Sun. Very few of them are potentially hazardous to Earth. Hence, It is better to prepare our defenses to avoid such asteroids on a collision course with Earth in the future,&rdquo; Karthick had said. 
&nbsp;

Asteroids celebrate International Asteroid Day

Expressing shock over the killing of a party functionary and seeking immediate action to bring to justice the perpetrators of the crime, AIADMK (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Sunday slammed Chief Minister MK Stalin over law and order in the state.
&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;">It is an irony that Chief Minister Stalin is boasting of excellent law and order maintenance while people are always &lsquo;in fear&rsquo;, be it day or night, Palaniswami, the leader of opposition claimed.
<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;I have been pointing out often that law and order has completely deteriorated in Tamil Nadu under the DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) regime. The truth is, no one, be it the general public, police personnel and those belonging to political parties are safe&rdquo; he alleged in a social media post.
<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;
The former CM said he was shocked to learn that his party's office-bearer (district representative and former councillor) Pushpanathan of Vandipalayam area in Cuddalore district was hacked to death by a six-member gang. Conveying his condolences to the kin of his party worker, he demanded that Stalin take swift action and punish the guilty.
&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 Saturday, a police constable was assaulted by a suspect in Tiruchirappalli and he sustained injuries. 
&nbsp;

AIADMK slams DMK on TN's law & order situation

The Karnataka government has requested the Centre to sanction supernumerary MBBS seats in government autonomous medical colleges under the Department of Medical Education from the academic year 2025-26 onwards in order to start NRI quota in medical colleges.
&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;">Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil said in a statement that he has written to the Chairman of the National Medical Commission (NMC) requesting sanction of 15 per cent NRI quota by creating 508 additional supernumerary MBBS seats for admission in 22 government medical colleges in the state.
<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;Supernumerary is nothing but creating additional seats over and above the annual sanctioned intake of UG-MBBS seats within the government medical colleges,&rdquo; the Minister said in a statement.
<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;">Justifying the proposal to have NRI quota in government medical colleges, Patil cited UGC guidelines for admission and supernumerary seats of international students in UG and PG programmes and National Education Policy 2020 that emphasised the intake of international students in Indian higher educational institutions for global outreach.
<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 minister also referred to the example of Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Puducherry that provide seven to 15 per cent quota for NRI students in government medical colleges charging over USD 75,000 to USD 100,000 for five-year course whereas in Karnataka only private medical colleges are allowed to take NRI students who pay Rs 1 crore to Rs 2.5 crore.
<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;">Patil pointed out that the government veterinary, agriculture and horticulture universities in Karnataka have 15 per cent NRI quota and these are above the sanctioned intake and higher fees collected help these universities provide better facilities and quality education.
<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 said autonomous medical institutions in the state face shortage of funds despite budgetary allocation, fees from students, Central and state grants and other donations.
<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;">Patil contended that in order to make these institutions centres of excellence, additional funds are necessary for quality education, training, maintenance, purchase of medical equipment, drugs, handling patient load, improving infrastructure, faculty strength and research.
<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;">Creating NRI quota within the available annual intake of seats is not feasible, he said and expressed apprehension that disturbing the existing intake will create fewer seats for the poor and underprivileged, also triggering protests from students and parents.
<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 minister has proposed that an annual fee of Rs 25 lakh per student can be fixed which would generate Rs 127 crore for the medical education department for the first year and Rs 571.5 crore from the fifth year onwards.
<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;I am confident that the Centre would accede to the State&rsquo;s demand to sanction 15 per cent NRI quota by creating supernumerary MBBS seats and enable the state to start NRI quota in government medical colleges from the academic year 2025-26,&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;">Patil said there are 22 government medical colleges under the Department of Medical Education having intake capacity of 3,450 seats for the year 2023-24 out of which 85 per cent comprising 2,929 seats was Karnataka quota and 521 seats (15 per cent) was all-India quota. 
&nbsp;

K'taka seeks NRI quota in govt MBBS colleges

General Upendra Dwivedi has assumed the role of the 30th Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), succeeding General Manoj Pande, who retired on June 30 after over forty years of dedicated service to the nation.
&nbsp;
General Dwivedi is a seasoned military leader with a rich background spanning 40 years in the Armed Forces. He began his journey at Sainik School, Rewa (MP) and was commissioned into the Regiment of Jammu &amp; Kashmir Rifles in 1984.
&nbsp;
Throughout his career, he has commanded and served in various strategic positions across Northern, Eastern, and Western theatres, gaining diverse operational experience.
&nbsp;
Taking charge as COAS comes at a crucial time amidst a rapidly changing global geo-strategic landscape. The security challenges are evolving with technological advancements, making operational readiness and preparedness paramount for safeguarding the nation.
&nbsp;
General Dwivedi's leadership will focus on enhancing operational capabilities to effectively counter emerging threats and address non-traditional security challenges.
&nbsp;
General Dwivedi is known for his strategic planning and execution capabilities, having held pivotal roles in national security, including combating unconventional threats.
&nbsp;
He possesses a deep understanding of modern security technologies and aims to integrate these advancements into military systems to bolster effectiveness on the ground. His approach aligns with the Indian Army's efforts towards self-reliance (Atmanirbharta) in modernization and capability development.
&nbsp;
A strong advocate of the 'Chetwode Motto', General Dwivedi prioritises fostering a culture of trust within the Army. He emphasises empowering junior officers, ensuring the well-being of soldiers, and supporting veterans and their families (Veer Naris).
&nbsp;
General Upendra Dwivedi brings a wealth of experience and a proactive vision to his new role as COAS, aiming to steer the Indian Army towards greater preparedness and capability amidst evolving security challenges.

New Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi assumes charge

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy paid homage to senior Congress leader and former Rajya Sabha member Dharampuri Srinivas who was cremated in Nizamabad with state honours on Sunday.
<p style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px; margin: 0cm 0cm 19.5pt 0cm;">Several Congress leaders paid their last respects to Srinivas, who passed away on Saturday after a prolonged illness. He was 76.
<p style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px; margin: 0cm 0cm 19.5pt 0cm;">The Chief Minister flew to Nizamabad in a helicopter. He visited Srinivas&rsquo; house and placed a wreath on the mortal remains. He consoled the family members of the senior leader, who headed Congress party and served as a minister in undivided Andhra Pradesh.
<p style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px; margin: 0cm 0cm 19.5pt 0cm;">Revanth Reddy recalled that as PCC chief, DS, as Srinivas was popularly known, worked hard for Congress to come to power in 2004 and under his leadership, Congress came to power again in 2009.
<p style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px; margin: 0cm 0cm 19.5pt 0cm;">Srinivas began his political career as a student leader and carved a niche for himself by ascending to the top level in Congress. Even though DS stayed away from the party for a while, Congress chairperson Sonia Gandhi used to greet the senior leader warmly in Parliament, the Chief Minister noted.
<p style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px; margin: 0cm 0cm 19.5pt 0cm;">He said DS&rsquo; wish to drape the Congress flag over him when he dies is fulfilled.
<p style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px; margin: 0cm 0cm 19.5pt 0cm;">Former MP V. Hanumantha Rao recalled that Srinivas quit his bank job to dedicate himself to serving people.
<p style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px; margin: 0cm 0cm 19.5pt 0cm;">Minister P. Srinivas Reddy, MLC Mahesh Kumar Goud, former minister Mohammed Ali Shabbir, T. Jeevan Reddy, Sudarshan Reddy and other leaders consoled Srinivas&rsquo; sons D. Sanjay and D. Arvind.
<p style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px; margin: 0cm 0cm 19.5pt 0cm;">Sanjay is a former mayor of Nizamabad while Arvind is BJP from Nizamabad.
<p style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px; margin: 0cm 0cm 19.5pt 0cm;">The Congress leaders recalled the role played by Srinivas in the formation of Telangana state. They said the late leader encouraged several leaders belonging to weaker sections and backward classes.
<p style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px; margin: 0cm 0cm 19.5pt 0cm;">A large number of leaders and workers cutting across party lines attended the funeral procession.
&nbsp;

Telangana

Cong's Srinivas deceased, T'gana CM pays tribute

The Eknath Shinde-led MahaYuti government of Maharashtra marked its two-year anniversary on Friday, gearing up for the upcoming Assembly elections slated for September-October amidst challenges posed by anti-incumbency and a vigorous opposition.
&nbsp;
Despite setbacks in recent general elections, Chief Minister Shinde remains optimistic about the government's prospects. He aims to showcase their initiatives for Maharashtra's development, emphasising support for marginalised groups like farmers, women, youth, and labourers.
&nbsp;
"Our performance speaks louder than opposition claims," stated CM Shinde, countering criticism with confidence in the electorate's support. He highlighted infrastructure advancements and policies benefiting various sectors, expressing gratitude for public trust and alliance support.
&nbsp;
Post-budget, the government plans extensive outreach to explain pro-farmer, women, youth, minority, Dalit, and development-focused policies. Key initiatives include schemes like Manila Samman Yojana, Lek Ladki Yojana, and Mission Shakti, aimed at empowerment and welfare.
&nbsp;
Amid competitive federalism, Maharashtra stands out with a $500 billion economy, targeting $1 trillion by 2028 and $3.5 trillion by 2047. It leads in FDI inflows, ranks high in electricity capacity, organic farming, and exports, reinforcing its economic prowess.
&nbsp;
Challenges include managing protests for reservations among Maratha, OBC, Dhangar, and Muslim communities, crucial for social harmony and electoral success.
&nbsp;
The government faces allegations of industrial flight to states like Gujarat, necessitating a robust defence and transparent investment monitoring.
&nbsp;
As Maharashtra prepares for crucial elections, the Shinde-led government remains focused on development, trust-building, and effective governance, aiming to secure another term based on its performance and promises.

MahaYuti Govt celebrates 2 Years, gears for polls

All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja announced his retirement from T20I a day after India&rsquo;s T20 World Cup 2024 triumph.
&nbsp;
India beat South Africa by 7 runs to clinch their second T20 World Cup trophy at the Kensington Oval in Barbados.
&nbsp;
The Indian all-rounder followed Virat Kohli and his captain Rohit Sharma into retirement as the Indian team changed guard after their ICC title win.
&nbsp;
Jadeja was not in good form in this tournament but had been at the helm of the Indian team in all three formats that dominated world cricket in the last decade. Jadeja, known as one of the finest all-rounders of all time calls his time from T20I cricket at the age of nearly 36 years.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;With a heart full of gratitude, I bid farewell to T20 internationals. Like a steadfast horse galloping with pride, I&rsquo;ve always given my best for my country and will continue to do so in other formats. Winning the T20 World Cup was a dream come true, a pinnacle of my T20 International career. Thank you for the memories, the cheers, and the unwavering support,&rdquo; Jadeja wrote on his Instagram post on Sunday, 30 June.
&nbsp;

Ravindra Jadeja hangs up his boots in T20I

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar announced on Sunday that his party, along with the Congress and Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray (UBT), will join forces to contest the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections scheduled for October this year.
&nbsp;
Speaking at a press conference, Pawar emphasised the coalition's commitment to protect the interests of smaller allies who were part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The MVA coalition previously governed Maharashtra from November 2019 until its dissolution in June 2022 under Thackeray's leadership.
&nbsp;
Pawar underscored the need for change in the state and expressed the coalition's collective responsibility to fulfil this mandate. Referring to the upcoming elections as their primary focus, he likened their electoral strategy to Arjuna's focus on his target in the epic Mahabharata.
&nbsp;
Regarding seat-sharing arrangements for the assembly polls, Pawar mentioned that discussions have not yet commenced but are expected to begin soon.
&nbsp;
He acknowledged the positive response received by the NCP, Shiv Sena, and Congress alliance in the recent Lok Sabha polls and stressed the importance of including other coalition partners like Left parties and the Peasants and Workers Party (PWP) in the upcoming assembly elections.
&nbsp;
Responding to questions about the state budget presented by the Eknath Shinde government, Pawar commented on the economic challenges faced by the state, likening the situation to venturing into a market with empty pockets. He hinted that the reality of the budget's impact would unfold in the coming days.
&nbsp;
On a cultural note, Pawar expressed his intent to participate in the Wari pilgrimage procession, particularly welcoming the procession in Baramati, his hometown in Pune district.
&nbsp;
The Wari, an ancient tradition, involves palanquins carrying the footprints of saints Tukaram and Dnyaneshwar Maharaj from Dehu and Alandi to Pandharpur's Vitthal temple, culminating on Ashadhi Ekadashi.
&nbsp;
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar added that the Maharashtra government plans to nominate the Pandharpur Wari for UNESCO World Heritage status, recognizing its thousand-year-old tradition.
&nbsp;
The government also aims to enhance facilities for Wari pilgrims, announcing financial support and the establishment of a dedicated corporation for their welfare in the state budget.
&nbsp;
The alliance between NCP, Congress, and Shiv Sena prepares to contest Maharashtra's upcoming elections with a focus on inclusive governance and cultural preservation through initiatives like the Pandharpur Wari.

NCP, Cong, Sena unite for Maha assembly polls

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced on Sunday that his government is dedicated to establishing a film city in Mysuru. This project is aimed at enhancing the Kannada film industry and will be developed on a public-private partnership basis.
&nbsp;
During the inauguration of the new building of the Kannada Film Producers' Association, Siddaramaiah revealed that the state government has already allocated 100 acres of land in Mysuru for the film city.
&nbsp;
This initiative is in line with the vision of the legendary Kannada actor, Dr. Rajkumar, who dreamt of a film city for the Kannada film industry. Siddaramaiah emphasised that his administration is committed to realising this vision, contrasting his efforts with the previous BJP government, which he criticised for not taking any substantial steps towards this project.
&nbsp;
The Chief Minister also addressed the need for a Kannada Over-The-Top (OTT) platform to promote and distribute Kannada films. He assured the film producers that his government is considering this proposal and will take appropriate actions to support the industry. The OTT platform is expected to provide a new avenue for filmmakers to reach a broader audience and enhance the accessibility of Kannada films.
&nbsp;
Siddaramaiah&rsquo;s announcement has been welcomed by the Kannada film community, who see this as a significant step towards boosting the regional film industry.
&nbsp;
The establishment of the film city is anticipated to provide state-of-the-art facilities for film production, including studios, editing suites, and other infrastructure necessary for modern filmmaking. This move is expected to attract more filmmakers to Mysuru, fostering growth and creating job opportunities within the industry.
&nbsp;
The proposed Kannada OTT platform is another promising development that is likely to benefit filmmakers and viewers alike. By providing a dedicated platform for Kannada films, the government aims to support local talent and ensure that Kannada cinema receives the recognition and audience it deserves. This platform will also help in preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of Karnataka through its films.
&nbsp;
The film city and OTT platform are part of Siddaramaiah&rsquo;s broader vision to support the Kannada film industry and ensure its growth and sustainability. By providing the necessary infrastructure and support, the government aims to create a conducive environment for filmmakers and boost the industry&rsquo;s contribution to the state&rsquo;s economy.
&nbsp;
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah&rsquo;s commitment to building a film city in Mysuru and exploring the creation of a Kannada OTT platform marks a significant step forward for the Kannada film industry.
&nbsp;
These initiatives reflect the government&rsquo;s dedication to fostering the growth of regional cinema and supporting local talent, ensuring that the Kannada film industry continues to thrive and contribute to the cultural and economic development of Karnataka.

Mysuru

Siddaramaiah pledges for new film city in K’taka

The Kerala Excise Department has issued directions to strengthen surveillance around schools in the state to prevent the spread and use of drugs.
&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 directions were issued on Saturday at a meeting of district-level officers and above, chaired by State Excise Minister MB Rajesh.
<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;">Rajesh said since schools are in session, diligent vigilance and special monitoring must be ensured.
<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;Special efforts should be made to prevent the spread and usage of drugs. Enhanced monitoring should be implemented in all educational institutions, including schools. Women officers should be appointed to monitor schools, and a special squad can be formed if necessary,&rdquo; the minister was quoted as saying in a release issued by the department The minister also suggested that female excise officers receive special training for this purpose.
<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;">Directions were issued to intensify the surveillance of shops within school premises.
<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 the wake of the recent spurious liquor disaster in Kallakurichi in Tamil Nadu, the meeting also decided that special measures should also be taken in Kerala to prevent such incidents.
<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;Special attention should be given to districts bordering neighbouring states. A district-level special squad should be formed to tighten inspections. Efforts should be made to curb the spread of drugs and illicit alcohol,&rdquo; the release said. 
&nbsp;

Thiruvananthapuram

Excise dept steps up to curb drug abuse in Kerala

The Federation of Resident Doctors' Association (FORDA) recently met with Union Health Minister J P Nadda to address concerns surrounding medical education, particularly the postponement of the NEET-PG exam.
&nbsp;
The meeting took place on Saturday, where representatives from FORDA expressed their apprehensions and sought clarity on the rescheduling of the exam.
&nbsp;
During the discussion, FORDA emphasised the urgency of announcing new exam dates. They stressed the importance of conducting the NEET-PG exams transparently and efficiently.
&nbsp;
The exam, initially scheduled for June 23, was postponed at the last minute as a precautionary measure due to recent allegations questioning the integrity of some competitive exams.
&nbsp;
In response, Minister Nadda reassured the delegation that the government is committed to the welfare of students and is working diligently to improve the current system.
&nbsp;
He stated that the reasons behind the postponement are being thoroughly addressed, and new dates for the exam will be announced shortly. Nadda emphasised that the ministry is focused on ensuring the exams are conducted fairly and without further complications.
&nbsp;
Apart from the postponement of the NEET-PG exam, the FORDA delegation also brought up other significant issues that have been pending since before the Lok Sabha elections.
&nbsp;
These issues are of great concern to the medical community, and FORDA sought the minister's intervention to expedite their resolution. Nadda assured the representatives that further meetings would be held to discuss these matters in detail and to find appropriate solutions.
&nbsp;
The FORDA delegation included its President Dr. Aviral Mathur, General Secretary Dr. Sarvesh Pandey, along with Dr. Gautam Sharma from RML, Dr. Sarada from LHMC, Dr. Bharani, Dr. Ayush from VMMC and SJH, and Dr. Meet Ghonia from NITRD. Their collective presence underscored the unified stance of the medical community on these pressing issues.
&nbsp;
This meeting marks a critical step in addressing the concerns of resident doctors and ensuring that the medical education system in India is both fair and effective.
&nbsp;
The commitment from the Health Minister to resolve these issues promptly is a positive development, and the medical community is hopeful for swift action and clear communication regarding the new NEET-PG exam dates.
&nbsp;
The continued dialogue between FORDA and the Health Ministry is expected to yield fruitful results, benefiting medical students and professionals across the country.

FORDA meets Health Min to discuss NEET PG delay

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Sunday said new railway projects worth Rs 1 lakh crore will be implemented in Odisha in the next five years.
&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;">Vaishnaw said this while addressing a felicitation programme organised by Odisha Bharatiya Janata Party to felicitate the party&rsquo;s 20 MPs and 78 MLAs elected in recently held Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in the state.
<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 Congress government and then the Biju Janata Dal government have neglected the development of the railway sector in Odisha. So, with the formation of a double-engine government of BJP in Odisha and Centre, now, the gap created during the past years, will be met by creating a new record in these five years, he 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;">Though many mega railway projects have been sanctioned, those were delayed due to delay in land acquisition by the previous BJD government, said Vaishnaw, adding, &ldquo;Now double engine government is formed and the pace of the railway projects will be accelerated.&rdquo;
<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;
The Union minister said the allocation to Odisha in the railway budget has been enhanced from Rs 800 crore during the UPA government tenure to over Rs 10,000 crore during Modi government.
&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;">During the past three consecutive years, more than Rs 10,000 crore has been allocated to the state in the railway sector, he 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;">Vaishnaw further said that a new railway line of 1,826 km was constructed in Odisha during the last 10 years, which is higher than the total railway network of Sri Lanka (1700 km). He also said that 315 special trains will run to and from Puri during the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath for smooth travel and convenience of the pilgrims. Last year, 222 trains were run during the Rath Yatra. The special trains have been planned from 25 districts of Odisha, 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;">Vaishnaw, who is also the IT minister, said that an electronic manufacturing cluster and a semi-conductor training centre will be set up in Odisha. Congratulating the newly elected MLAs and MPs, he expressed confidence that the BJP government will continue to serve the people of Odisha for the next 50 years.
<p class="MsoNormal" style="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;

Bhubaneswar

Railways to invest Rs 1 lakh crore in Odisha

Every year, on Easter Sunday, Irish republicans commemorate their martyrs, remembering lives lost during the 1916 Easter Rising and in the years since. Such events have a pattern: a street parade, speeches and flowers at the cemetery.
&nbsp;
The 2022 commemoration, however, was unusual for the presence of four men wearing balaclavas and dressed all in black. They were members of the dissident republican paramilitary group &Oacute;glaigh na h&Eacute;ireann (&Oacute;NH).
&nbsp;
This was the group&rsquo;s first public appearance since its ceasefire announcement in January 2018 &ndash; but it also carried wider significance for terrorism experts because of the weapons that two of the men were carrying. This was the first time paramilitary members in Northern Ireland had been seen with 3D-printed guns &ndash; specifically, a .22 calibre modification of the FGC semi-automatic firearm.
&nbsp;
FGC stands for &ldquo;f**k gun control&rdquo;, and the acronym reflects the ideological leaning of its designer &ndash; and many others involved in the development of 3D-printed weapons.
&nbsp;
The first 3D-printed firearm emerged in May 2013 with the release of the Liberator, a handgun created by Cody Wilson, a University of Texas law student and libertarian pro-firearms activist.
&nbsp;
Essentially a proof of concept, Wilson let the BBC film him firing the gun before releasing the open-source design for anyone to download. Its release caused a sensation: the gun was pictured on the front page of the New York Post, with fears it could be smuggled past metal detectors on to planes (in fact, a metal detector would spot the gun&rsquo;s metal firing pin and any ammunition).
&nbsp;
Despite the hype, the reality was that the gun was impractical and unreliable. The Liberator could only shoot one bullet before it needed reloading, and was prone to falling apart from the pressure of being fired. The technology still had a long way to go, both in terms of the designs of the guns and the accessibility of 3D printing.
&nbsp;
It was not until spring 2020 that the threat of 3D-printed guns grew significantly with the emergence of the FGC-9 (&ldquo;9&rdquo; denotes its 9mm bullets). This futuristic-looking, semi-automatic pistol calibre carbine required no regulated components and was fully DIY.
&nbsp;
About 80% could be made from plastic using a standard 3D printer, while the remaining metal parts could be fashioned from widely available steel tubes and springs.
&nbsp;
The open-source design &ndash; which was quickly shared in many like-minded chatrooms &ndash; was accompanied by a meticulous, step-by-step instructional guide akin to an Ikea assembly booklet. All of this, the gun&rsquo;s creator wrote, was to overcome &ldquo;regulations and tyrannical laws&rdquo; on gun ownership. Later, his group released a guide to making homemade 9mm ammunition.
&nbsp;
Since then, we have seen evidence of the firearm&rsquo;s use worldwide. It dominates online discussion of 3D-printed firearms and has been broadly adopted by various hobbyists, organised criminals, insurgents, and terrorists.
&nbsp;
The gun&rsquo;s mysterious designer, who used the pseudonym JStark1809 when he posted in chatrooms, estimated it would take a novice eight days to make the gun from scratch.
&nbsp;
He posted an upgraded Mark II version of the FGC-9 a year later, and boasted in one anonymised interview that, by bringing out these designs and sharing them freely: &ldquo;We f****ed gun control for good &hellip; Gun control is dead, and we killed it.&rdquo;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Since the release of the FGC-9, the occurrence of 3D-printed guns has become more prevalent all over the world &ndash; from organised criminals in Europe to anti-junta rebels in Myanmar.
&nbsp;
In May 2022, police stopped a car in Bradford in the UK and discovered a man transporting an FGC-9. Alongside two accomplices, he had been selling 3D-printed guns on the black market. A search of his accomplice&rsquo;s house revealed many more FGC-9 components.
&nbsp;
In 2023, the trio became the first people in the UK to be convicted of trying to supply other criminal groups with 3D-printed firearms; they were sentenced to a combined 37 years in prison.
&nbsp;
As a researcher at the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation at King&rsquo;s College London, I&rsquo;ve been keeping track of this and many other cases around the world involving the production and use of 3D-printed guns.
&nbsp;
(By arrangement with PTI/The Conversation. The author of this article is Rajan Basra,&nbsp;Senior Research Fellow, International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation, King's College London).&nbsp;

Over 60% voter turnout in three LS seats of Bengal till 3PM

Tripura tribal voters boycott polls over neglected road

Bengal BJP worker’s death on polling day ignites political debate

Tripura records highest voter turnout among other 12 states going to polls in second phase

Policeman shoots himself during poll duty in Chhattisgarh

36.79% average voter turnout till 11 am in Tripura east

Chhattisgarh records 15.42 per cent turnout in three seats till 9 am

Five LS seats in Assam record voter turnout of 9.15 pc till 9 am

Voting begins for 3 Lok Sabha constituencies in north Bengal

East goes for Phase 2 Lok Sabha polls

Assam braces for second phase of LS polls with 61 contesting

Jailed preacher Amritpal Singh's family visits Dibrugarh jail after poll fight claim

TOP CATEGORIES

QUICK LINKS