News Arena Network

Neha Singh

German, Chinese and French envoys mourned the loss of lives in a stampede in Uttar Pradesh&rsquo;s Hathras on Tuesday and extended condolences to victim&rsquo;s families.
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The stampede at a religious congregation killed 116 people as devotees suffocated to their deaths and bodies piled atop each other in the worst such tragedy in recent years.
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The stampede took place as the devotees &mdash; most of them women &mdash; headed home after a &lsquo;satsang&rsquo; in the Hathras district&rsquo;s Phulrai village. The &lsquo;satsang&rsquo; was conducted by Baba Narayan Hari, who is also known as Saakar Vishwa Hari Bhole Baba.
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German envoy Ackermann in a post on X offered condolences to the families that lost their loved ones in the stampede and said he was deeply saddened about the tragic incident.
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&ldquo;Deeply saddened about the tragic events in Hathras. My condolences to the families that lost their loved ones. We hope that help quickly reaches the injured,&rdquo; he wrote on the social media platform.
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Later on Tuesday night, the Chinese ambassador also took to X to mourn the loss of lives in the incident.
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&ldquo;Shocked and saddened about the tragic events in Hathras, UP. Deeply mourn for the lives lost and extend heartfelt sympathies to victim&rsquo;s families. Wish the injured a speedy recovery,&rdquo; he wrote on the social media platform.
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French Ambassador Thierry Mathou also posted a message on X, which has been reposted by the French Embassy in India.
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&ldquo;Deeply saddened by the loss of lives following the tragic stampede in Uttar Pradesh&rsquo;s #Hathras district. France expresses its deepest condolences to the bereaved families of the victims and wishes the injured a speedy recovery,&rdquo; the envoy wrote on X.
&nbsp;

New Delhi

Hathras stampede: Foreign diplomats extend condolences

Shweta Sengar

Director Chad Stahelski, famous for helming the popular Hollywood film series John Wick, starring Keanu Reeves, will oversee the production of an English-language adaptation of the upcoming Indian action film Kill.
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This news arrives shortly before the release of the original Hindi version, directed by Nikhil Nagesh Bhat, which is scheduled to hit the screens on Friday.
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"Kill" received rave reviews following its world premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival. Billed as "the most violent film made in India," the movie is produced by Dharma Productions and Sikhya Entertainment.
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Stahelski, who is producing the film for Lionsgate through his company 87Eleven Entertainment, characterized "Kill" as one of the most visually striking, exciting, and original action movies he has encountered lately.
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Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions stated that "Kill" is an unusual endeavour where the creators of a mainstream Bollywood film partner with a Hollywood studio for a theatrical premiere in North America and the UK.
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The movie depicts the journey of Amrit (Lakshya), an Indian Army commando, who falls in love with Tulika (Tanya Maniktala). Their lives take a dramatic turn when they become trapped in a hijacked train by Fani (Raghav Juyal) and his gang, resulting in the murder of passengers.
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Karan Johar and Apoorva Mehta produced the film for Dharma Productions, along with Guneet Monga Kapoor and Achin Jain from Sikhya Entertainment.
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"Kill" also features major roles for Ashish Vidyarthi and Harsh Chhaya. It was recognised as the first runner-up for the People's Choice Award: Midnight Madness at TIFF 2023.

Mumbai

Indian movie ‘Kill’ ready for Hollywood remake

Over 116 individuals lost their lives, and many others were injured in a stampede during a religious assembly in a village in the Hathras district on Tuesday.
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Instances of large numbers of people dying in stampedes at temples and other religious gatherings have occurred in India over the years.
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Some of the most significant stampede casualties at religious gatherings include the tragic loss of over 340 devotees at Maharashtra's Mandhardevi temple in 2005 and a toll of at least 250 at Rajasthan's Chamunda Devi temple in 2008.&nbsp;
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In addition, in 2008, a stampede at a religious gathering at Naina Devi temple in Himachal Pradesh resulted in the loss of 162 lives.
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Here is a list of some of such major tragedies that have taken place in the country in recent years:&nbsp;
<ol>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
March 31, 2023: At least 36 people died when the slab constructed on top of an ancient 'bawdi' or well collapsed during a 'havan' programme held on the occasion of Ram Navami at a temple in Indore city.
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
January 1, 2022: At least 12 people died, and over a dozen were injured in a stampede at the famous Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir triggered by a heavy rush of devotees.
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
&nbsp;July 14, 2015: Twenty-seven pilgrims died, and 20 others were injured in a stampede at a major bathing spot on the banks of the Godavari river where a huge crowd of devotees had gathered on the opening day of 'Pushkaram' festival in Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh.
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
&nbsp;October 3, 2014: Thirty-two people were killed and 26 others injured in a stampede at Gandhi Maidan in Patna shortly after the Dussehra celebrations ended.
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
&nbsp;October 13, 2013: 115 people were killed and over 100 injured in a stampede during the Navratri festivities near Ratangarh temple in Madhya Pradesh's Datia district. The stampede was triggered by rumours that a river bridge the devotees were crossing was about to collapse.&nbsp;
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
November 19, 2012: Around 20 people were killed and many others injured as a makeshift bridge caved in, triggering a stampede during the Chhath Puja at Adalat Ghat on the bank of river Ganga in Patna.&nbsp;
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
November 8, 2011: At least 20 people were killed in a stampede in Haridwar at Har-ki-Pauri ghat on the banks of the Ganga river.
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
January 14, 2011: At least 104 Sabarimala devotees were killed, and over 40 were injured in a stampede when a jeep crashed into homebound pilgrims at Pulmedu in Kerala's Idukki district.
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
March 4, 2010:&nbsp;About 63 people were killed in a stampede at Ram Janki Temple of Kripalu Maharaj in Uttar Pradesh's Pratapgarh district as people gathered to collect free clothes and food from the self-styled godman.
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
&nbsp;September 30, 2008: Nearly 250 devotees were killed and over 60 injured in a stampede triggered by rumours of a bomb going off at Chamunda Devi temple in Rajasthan's Jodhpur city.
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
&nbsp;August 3, 2008: 162 dead, 47 injured in a stampede triggered by rumours of rockslides at Naina Devi temple in Himachal Pradesh's Bilaspur district.
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
&nbsp;January 25, 2005: Over 340 devotees were trampled to death and hundreds injured during an annual pilgrimage at Mandhardevi temple in Maharashtra's Satara district. The accident occurred when some people fell down on the steps, which were made slippery by the devotees breaking coconuts.
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
August 27, 2003: 39 people were killed and around 140 injured in a stampede during the holy bath at the Kumbh Mela in Maharashtra's Nashik district.&nbsp;
</li>
</ol>

Deadly stampedes in India: A look at major incidents

US President Joe Biden on Tuesday blamed his recent foreign travels for his debate debacle.
&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 wasn&rsquo;t very smart. I decided to travel around the world a couple of times&hellip; shortly before the debate,&rdquo; Biden said while talking to donors at a fundraiser in a Virginia suburb of Washington DC. &ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t listen to my staff&hellip; and then I almost fell asleep on stage.&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;
In his remarks, Biden admitted that he did not have a good debate, and said he &ldquo;wasn&rsquo;t very smart&rdquo; for &ldquo;travelling around the world a couple times&rdquo; before the debate.
&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;">Biden also apologised by saying he was sorry for the performance. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s not an excuse but an explanation.&rdquo; The president&rsquo;s remarks at the fund raiser was just for six minutes, which is far shorter than what he speaks on such occasions.
<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;">Meanwhile, the White House said Biden will travel to Wisconsin on Friday. He will conduct a sit-down interview with George Stephanopoulos from ABC News, while on the campaign trail.
<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 will travel to Philadelphia on Sunday. And next week, he will host a NATO press conference, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters at her daily news conference. 
&nbsp;

Washington D.C.

Biden blames foreign travel for poor debate performance

Amazon India has announced that the 8th edition of the Prime Day sale will take place on July 20-21.
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Exclusive discounts and deals across various categories will be available to Amazon Prime members during the sale.
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Moreover, Amazon has introduced Crunchyroll on Prime Video Channels, allowing customers to enjoy their preferred anime content through an additional subscription.
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"We are excited to offer Prime members two days of great deals and savings, thousands of new product launches from over 450 brands, blockbuster entertainment and more.
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"Not just that, Prime members ordering from across India will be able to enjoy same day and next day delivery across millions of products," said Akshay Sahi, Director and Head of Amazon Prime, Delivery and Returns Experiences, India and Emerging Markets.

Amazon India's Prime Day sale on July 20-21

Vice President Kamala Harris, who has Indian and African ancestry, is considered to have a better chance of winning in the November presidential elections than President Joe Biden, according to a recent CNN poll.
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Biden's approval rating has dropped significantly following his poor performance in the Atlanta debate against his predecessor, Donald Trump.
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Since the debate, there has been a growing chorus within the Democratic party urging Biden to step aside and allow another candidate to run in the crucial November 5 presidential elections.
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According to the SRS-conducted CNN poll, Trump leads Biden by six points.
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The survey also indicates that Harris is close to Trump in a potential contest, with 45 per cent of registered voters favouring Harris and 47 per cent favouring Trump. This outcome falls within the margin of error, indicating that there is no distinct frontrunner in this situation.
&nbsp;
"Harris' slightly stronger showing against Trump rests at least in part on broader support from women (50% of female voters back Harris over Trump vs. 44% for Biden against Trump) and independents (43% Harris vs. 34% Biden)," the polls said.
&nbsp;
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre chose not to provide a direct response regarding the polls.
&nbsp;
In an Ipsos poll, Former First Lady Michelle Obama outpaces Trump by a substantial 11 points&mdash;50 per cent to 39 per cent&mdash;despite her office informing NBC News in March that she will not run for president this year.

Kamala Harris seen as stronger candidate than Biden

A replica of the Ram Mandir will be showcased during the India Day parade in New York on August 18. This event draws thousands of Indian Americans from in and around New York.
&nbsp;
According to Amitabh Mittal, the general secretary of Vishva Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA), the temple replica will measure 18 feet in length, nine feet in width, and eight feet in height. This marks the first time a Ram Mandir replica has been displayed in the United States.
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The annual India Day Parade in New York is the largest celebration of India's Independence Day outside India. Typically, over 150,000 individuals attend the parade, which stretches from East 38th Street to East 27th Street in Midtown, New York.
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The parade, arranged by the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA), will feature numerous floats showcasing different Indian American communities and a wide range of cultural expressions parading through the streets of New York.
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Recently, the VHPA-A conducted a Rath Yatra for the Ram Mandir, which travelled to 851 temples across 48 states over a 60-day period.

Ram Mandir replica to be part of NY India Day Parade

Numerous bodies were lying on ice blocks inside the government hospital in Hathras on Tuesday night in the aftermath of the deadly stampede at a religious congregation as the wailing relatives of the victims waited outside in drizzle to take mortal remains back home.
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Officials have put the death toll at 116 - 108 of them women and seven children. The victims were part of the crowd of thousands that had gathered near Phulrai village in the Sikandra Rao area for the 'Satsang' by religious preacher Bhole Baba.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Uttar Pradesh: The Forensic Team arrives at the incident site in Hathras, where a stampede took place yesterday, claiming the lives of 116 people. The incident happened during a Satsang conducted by 'Bhole Baba'. <a href="https://t.co/Yr1NR6th6p">pic.twitter.com/Yr1NR6th6p</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1808305260479631390?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2024</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The stampede occurred around 3.30 pm when Baba was leaving the venue.
&nbsp;
Outside the Sikandra Rao Community Health Centre, which is the nearest healthcare facility to the stampede location, scores of people persistently searched for their missing family members well into the night.
&nbsp;
Rajesh, a resident of Kasganj district, mentioned that he was trying to locate his mother, as Shivam was looking for his paternal aunt (bua).
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Both individuals held mobile phones and displayed images of their relatives.
&nbsp;
"I watched my mother's picture on a news channel and recognised her. She had come for the programme here along with two dozen other people from our village," Rajesh said.
&nbsp;
Several bodies were held at the local hospital. Some were located at the trauma centre in Sikandrarau near the scene of the incident, while others were transferred to the government hospital in the neighbouring Etah district.
&nbsp;
The District Magistrate Ashish Kumar informed the media that it was a private event for which permission was granted by the sub-divisional magistrate. The local authorities provided security outside the venue, while the organizers were responsible for the internal arrangements.
&nbsp;
The Uttar Pradesh government stated that the event organisers will face legal action, as an FIR will be filed against them.

Hathras

Hathras stampede: Bodies on ice, relatives await autopsies

Ayesha Banerjee

The horrific stampede which claimed 116 lives in Uttar Pradesh&rsquo;s Hathras on Tuesday occurred at a satsang organised for a self-professed preacher known as Bhole Baba.
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Not much is known about him but various news outlets are reporting that he had quit his 18-year career with the state police and started organising satsang (religious congregations), expressing his wish to be known as Narain Sakaar Hari or Sakar Vishwa Hari Baba.
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People were soon attracted to his teachings and over time thousands used to attend the statsangs where Baba, said to be in his fifties and almost always dressed in white, often had his wife accompany him.
&nbsp;
Belonging to a village in Kasganj district of Aligarh division, he has denied ever having a guru and reportedly claimed to have received direct communication from god.
&nbsp;
With more than 3,000 followers on Facebook, he also likes to stay away from the media and has had MPs and MLAs attend his congregations.
&nbsp;
The reason for the stampede, according to Inspector General Aligarh Range Shalabh Mathur, could have been the warm and humid weather conditions because of which people felt suffocated at the gathering.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
As soon as the satsang ended, women followers with children appeared to have tried to rush out into the open, causing a stampede, in which many fell down and were crushed to death.
&nbsp;
A young girl, Jyoti, &nbsp;admitted at the hospital said she had tried to run out with the others but the entrance had been blocked by several motorcycles. &nbsp;

Lucknow

Post

Stampede at UP satsang: Who is Bhole Baba?

Deepan

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally seized 62 immovable properties worth ₹9.67 crore belonging to Izhar Ansari under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
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The ED initiated the investigation based on an FIR registered by Jharkhand Police against Mohd. Izhar Ansari, his truck driver Syed Salmani, and others under various sections of the IPC and Coal Mines Act, 2017.
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A charge sheet has been filed by Jharkhand Police against Mohd. Izhar Ansari and others.
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In this case, 19.56 metric tonnes of illegally transported coal, including the truck, was seized by Jharkhand Police.
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The ED investigation revealed that Mohd. Izhar Ansari had misused the coal linkage policy, under which subsidized coal was allotted to his small and medium enterprise for captive consumption.
&nbsp;
Approximately 86,568 metric tonnes of coal were allotted to 13 SME firms of Mohammad Izhar Ansari. Instead of using it as raw material for his own consumption, he sold the coal in the open market, earning ₹71.32 crore.
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Further investigation revealed that these 13 firms were not functioning at their given addresses or did not even exist.
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The investigation also revealed that they acquired huge proceeds of crime (POC) by selling subsidised coal at higher prices in the open coal market of Varanasi and Dhanbad, and invested the same POC in several immovable properties.
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The ED investigation indicated that Izhar Ansari paid commissions to certain public servants in exchange for subsidised coal allocation.
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The ED conducted searches at the premises of Mohammad Izhar Ansari and seized cash worth ₹3.68 crore.
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Subsequently, Mohd. Izhar Ansari was arrested on January 16, 2024, and is presently in judicial custody.
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Furthermore, a prosecution complaint was filed on March 15, 2024, before the Special (PMLA) Court, Ranchi, against Mohd. Izhar Ansari, Ishtiaq Ahmed, and M/s Rajhans Ispat Pvt Ltd.
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The Court took cognisance of the complaint on March 18, 2024. The investigation in this case is ongoing.

Ranchi

ED seizes ₹9.67 cr in assets from Jharkhand coal trader

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) Executive President Hemant Soren has swiftly commenced preparations for the upcoming Assembly elections after being released on bail by the Jharkhand High Court.
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Soren sounded the election bugle from JMM&rsquo;s stronghold in Santhal Pargana on Sunday, declaring a "rebellion to drive out feudal forces from across the country."
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Addressing the public on the occasion of &lsquo;Hul Diwas&rsquo; &ndash; a day commemorating the 1855 Santhal (Hul) rebellion &ndash; Soren stated, "I was implicated in false cases... The Centre unleashes its probe agencies to harass those who raise their voice against it. It has only been two days since my release, and already the BJP is jittery. Top party leaders are frequenting Jharkhand and conspiring against me again."
&nbsp;
Speaking further, he said, "I am addressing you on 'Hul Diwas' after stepping out of my home for the first time since my release. This day serves as an inspiration for all of us. Just as the Santhal rebellion fought against the British, we now declare a 'Hul rebellion' to eliminate feudal forces, not only from Jharkhand but across the nation."
&nbsp;
Soren promised that in the next government, he would implement policies ensuring that the people of Jharkhand have the first right to the state's natural resources.
&nbsp;
"The JMM-led alliance government came into power in the state, but the BJP continuously created obstacles, conspiring against it at every step," he added.
&nbsp;
The former Chief Minister was released on June 28 from Birsa Munda Jail after being granted bail by the Jharkhand High Court in a money laundering case.
&nbsp;
Notably, Soren has called a meeting of INDIA block leaders on Wednesday to formulate a poll strategy for the upcoming assembly elections.
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He has already asked his party cadres to be prepared for early elections, and the INDIA block leaders are also gearing up for the polls.
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Assembly elections are due in Jharkhand at the end of this year, with the Election Commission likely to conduct the polls in October.

Hemant Soren gears up for polls, plans INDIA meet

Ansh Mavani

The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha, which started on June 24 and concluded on Tuesday, saw a productivity rate of 103 percent over seven sittings. Speaker Om Birla reported that the session lasted approximately 30 hours and 40 minutes. During this period, 539 members took the oath, and the Lok Sabha recorded 103 percent productivity.
&nbsp;
On June 26, Om Birla was re-elected as Speaker through a voice vote. The same day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced the Council of Ministers to the House, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was appointed as the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha.
&nbsp;
The discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address spanned more than 18 hours, with 68 members participating and 25 members laying out their speeches. The debate concluded with the Prime Minister's reply on Tuesday.
&nbsp;
The session saw a total of 41 matters taken up under Rule 377 and three statements made under Direction 73A. Additionally, 338 papers were laid during the session.
&nbsp;
Speaker Om Birla expressed his gratitude to Bhartruhari Mahtab, the Pro-tem Speaker, for the smooth conduct of proceedings, and thanked the Prime Minister, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, leaders of parties, and members of the House for their contributions.
&nbsp;
The session was marked by heated debates, especially on issues such as NEET exams, paper leaks, and the Agniveer Scheme. During the debate on the motion of thanks to President Draupadi Murmu's address, Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP and RSS of spreading violence and hatred, leading to protests from the Treasury benches.
&nbsp;
BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers Amit Shah, and Rajnath Singh, countered Gandhi's remarks, accusing him of speaking lies and misleading the House. Gandhi defended his statements, asserting that the BJP and RSS do not represent the entire Hindu community.
&nbsp;
BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj moved a notice under Rule 115, drawing the Speaker's attention to alleged inaccuracies in Rahul Gandhi's speech. Responding to Gandhi's remarks, Prime Minister Modi stated that there is a conspiracy to falsely accuse Hindus of being violent, and emphasized that such accusations will not be forgotten.
&nbsp;
PM Modi also criticized the Congress and its ecosystem for attempting to mislead the public about their electoral performance, stating that the Congress has failed to cross the 100-seat mark in three consecutive elections. He suggested that the Congress should accept its defeat and respect the people's mandate.
&nbsp;
The session ended with Lok Sabha being adjourned sine die after the adoption of the motion of thanks on the President's address. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh moved a motion condemning the behavior of opposition members, supported by Home Minister Amit Shah.
&nbsp;
The motion was adopted by the House through a voice vote. The BJP-led NDA has formed its third successive government following the Lok Sabha polls, winning 293 seats, while the opposition INDIA bloc won 243 seats.

First session of 18th Lok Sabha achieves high productivity

Amarpreet Kaur

In an embarrassment to the AAP in Punjab, SAD's Surjit Kaur was back to the Akali fold on Tuesday evening, within hours after she had joined the ruling outfit in the presence of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Kaur will remain as SAD's candidate for Jalandhar West by-polls. 
&nbsp;
However, taking a U-turn by evening, Kaur, who had joined the AAP along with some of her family members, was back to the SAD fold led by the rebel group.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Days after the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) withdrew support and disowned its candidate Surjit Kaur, who was fielded for Jalandhar West bypoll, she had joined the ruling AAP in Jalandhar in the presence of the chief minister.
&nbsp;
Rebel Akali leader Bibi Jagir Kaur welcomed her back while interacting with reporters in Jalandhar.
&nbsp;
Sukhbir Singh Badal-led SAD had last week said the party will support the BSP nominee for the July 10 bypoll to the Jalandhar West assembly seat instead of the officially fielded candidate Surjit Kaur who was picked by a panel, two of whose members have now rebelled against the party chief.
&nbsp;
While Surjit Kaur did not speak much during the interaction with reporters in Jalandhar, Jagir Kaur, however, said, "We told her not to worry. We told her people are with her." 
&nbsp;
Her family has always been staunch Akalis who have never thought outside the Akali Dal, Jagir Kaur said.
&nbsp;
Surjit Kaur's son, while replying to questions about what prompted them to join the AAP and then return by evening, said, "Whatever the reasons have been, we realised we did wrong and we decided to come back." 
&nbsp;
Jagir Kaur said Surjit Kaur's family was disturbed after SAD decided to withdraw support to her and extend it to the BSP candidate for the July 10 bypolls.
&nbsp;
Jagir Kaur said Surjit Kaur will fight the elections strongly and from Wednesday all meetings, as scheduled earlier, will be held.
&nbsp;
The SAD, last week, was unable to change its authorised candidate Surjit Kaur as the last day for withdrawal of nominations had already passed.
Earlier in the day on Tuesday, Surjit Kaur along with some of her family members joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Jalandhar.
&nbsp;
Before making a U-turn, she had told reporters that she will now support AAP candidate Mohinderpal Bhagat for the bypolls.
&nbsp;
Speaking after she had joined the AAP, Chief Minister Mann had hit out at the SAD, saying first they gave the ticket to Surjit Kaur, but later they humiliated her.
&nbsp;
The chief minister said Surjit Kaur and her family are known to have dedicated their lives in the service of people.
&nbsp;
"As Punjab chief minister and as the party's state unit president, I welcome her," Mann had said.
&nbsp;
Kaur later told reporters that it was on Tuesday morning that she decided to join the AAP.
&nbsp;
"We did not speak to anyone. We decided in the morning about our move," she had said, when asked if she had spoken to any of the rebel SAD leaders.
&nbsp;
Before changing her mind, Kaur, on her joining the AAP, had earlier in the day said she and her family thought it was the best thing to do in the interests of people of the area after the SAD withdrew support to her.
&nbsp;
The SAD now does not have its own authorised candidate for the July 10 bypoll, senior party leader Daljit Singh Cheema had told reporters on Thursday.
&nbsp;
On Wednesday, the SAD's Jalandhar district unit chief had announced that the party has withdrawn support to Surjit Kaur, who is a two-time municipal councillor.
&nbsp;
Surjit Kaur was selected for the seat by a SAD panel comprising Bibi Jagir Kaur, Gurpartap Singh Wadala, MLA Sukhwinder Sukhi and Mohinder Singh Kaypee.
&nbsp;
However, Jagir Kaur and Wadala are now among the rebel party leaders who revolted against Badal, demanding that he should step down as the party chief.
&nbsp;
The last date of withdrawal of the nomination for the bypoll was July 26.
&nbsp;
Surjit Kaur had already been allotted the SAD symbol and she was among the 15 candidates who were left in the fray for the bypoll, which was necessitated following the resignation of Sheetal Angural as the AAP legislator.
&nbsp;
Notably, a section of SAD's senior party leaders have revolted against party chief Sukhbir Badal, demanding that he should step down from his post following its debacle in Punjab in the recently held Lok Sabha elections.&nbsp;

Jalandhar

Within hours of joining Punjab AAP, Surjit returns to SAD

Leaders from SC and OBC cells of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) joined the Haryana Congress on Tuesday, in the presence of the former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who welcomed them into the party, emphasising unity and respect.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Ved Singh Munde, Subhash Saini, Sant Ram, Dhanpat Singh, Satish Chhachia, Ashok Bhauria, Dr. Balwan Singh, and Uday Singh are among the prominent names who joined Congress.&nbsp;
 Hooda slammed the BJP, accusing them of using force during their tenure and now resorting to empty promises as their power wanes.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Speaking in Chandigarh, Hooda highlighted that the people of Haryana are disillusioned with the BJP's tactics and are determined to remove them from power.
&nbsp;
Addressing the media, Hooda criticised BJP's past actions of using force against Panchs and Sarpanchs in Panchkula, now acknowledging the importance of local governance.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
He accused the BJP of reversing decisions and failing in governance, suggesting they apologise to the public instead of seeking votes in the upcoming assembly elections.
 Regarding the Parliament session, Hooda supported Rahul Gandhi's remarks in the Lok Sabha, particularly criticizing schemes like Agniveer and Kaushal Nigam for exacerbating unemployment and crime in Haryana.
 In summary, Hooda's statements underscore a growing opposition sentiment against the BJP in Haryana, accompanied by significant defections to the Congress amid political turmoil.

Chandigarh

INLD leaders switch to Haryana Congress

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, responding to the debate on the motion of thanks to the President's address. In his speech, PM Modi took a veiled jibe at the opposition, particularly the INDIA bloc, expressing that he understands the pain of those who suffered a significant defeat despite spreading lies continuously.
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He emphasised that the people have supported the BJP-led alliance in the Lok Sabha polls, electing the NDA government for the third consecutive time.
&nbsp;
The Prime Minister highlighted that his government operates on the principle of "appeasement of none, justice for all." He credited the public's support to the government's zero-tolerance policy towards corruption and stated that India's credibility has increased globally due to this stance.
&nbsp;
PM Modi asserted that every policy, decision, and action of his government has been guided by the principle of putting India first.&nbsp;During his speech, PM Modi addressed the issue of corruption, stating that the public has chosen his government in the world's largest election campaign. He acknowledged the opposition's attempts to spread lies but noted that they still faced a huge defeat. The Prime Minister's remarks drew reactions from opposition members, who tried to raise the issue of ethnic violence in Manipur. However, Speaker Om Birla intervened, noting that an MP from the state had participated in the debate.
&nbsp;
Speaker Om Birla expressed his displeasure with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's behavior, accusing him of directing opposition members to come to the well of the House.
&nbsp;
PM Modi accused the opposition parties of engaging in appeasement politics and contrasted this with his government's focus on justice and satisfaction for all.
&nbsp;
The Prime Minister reiterated his commitment to working towards a developed India, assuring the country that his government is dedicated to fulfilling the resolution of "Viksit Bharat" (Developed India) with full dedication and honesty.
&nbsp;
He emphasized that the debate on the motion of thanks to the President's address started in the Lok Sabha on Monday, highlighting the contributions of first-time Parliamentarians who enhanced the dignity of the House with their views.
&nbsp;
PM Modi criticized the opposition's practice of appeasement politics, stating that his governance follows the principle of "santushtikaran" (satisfaction) instead of "tushtikaran" (appeasement).
&nbsp;
He explained that santushtikaran involves the saturation of government schemes and extending governance to the last person, leading to true social justice.
&nbsp;
Despite the opposition's continuous slogans and interruptions during his speech, PM Modi maintained that the principle of saturation ensures social justice in the truest sense.
&nbsp;
He asserted that the people of India have confided in his government by electing them to power for the third time, reflecting their support for the government's track record over the past decade.
&nbsp;
PM Modi concluded his speech by reiterating his government's belief in "Justice to All, Appeasement to None." He criticized the opposition's appeasement politics, asserting that it has destroyed the country.
&nbsp;
Instead, he emphasized that his government's focus on justice and non-appeasement has garnered the support and trust of the people, allowing them to serve the nation for a third term.

PM Modi hits back at Opposition in Lok Sabha address

At least 116 people were killed in a stampede at a religious congregation, on Tuesday, as devotees suffocated to their deaths and bodies piled atop each other in the worst such tragedy in recent years. The incident is reported in Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The stampede took place as people headed home after a 'satsang' in the district&rsquo;s Phulrai village, conducted by a preacher known as Bhole Baba.
Twenty-seven bodies were brought to a hospital in neighbouring Etah district. Senior Superintendent of Police Rajesh Kumar Singh said 23 of them were women. And 89 lay dead in Hathras itself.
&nbsp;
Aligarh Range Inspector General of Police Shalabh Mathur put the death toll at 116.
&nbsp;
Victims, dead or unconscious, were brought to the Sikandara Rao Trauma Centre in trucks and &lsquo;tempos&rsquo;. The bodies lay scattered outside the health centre as people milled around them.
&nbsp;
One video clip showed a woman crying, sitting amid five or six bodies in a truck. Another showed a man and a woman lifeless in another vehicle.
Clips before the stampede showed people in a large &lsquo;shamiana&rsquo; listening to Bhole Baba. The baba sat before them on a throne-like chair.
&nbsp;
District Magistrate Ashish Kumar said the 'satsang' was a private function for which the sub-divisional magistrate had granted permission. The local administration provided security outside the venue while the arrangements inside were made by organisers, he added.
&nbsp;
Eyewitness Shakuntala Devi stated that the stampede took place while people were leaving the venue after the &lsquo;satsang&rsquo;, which was a day-long affair. People fell atop each other, she said, and then the bodies were pulled out.
&nbsp;
According to Sikandra Rao sub-divisional magistrate Ravendra Kumar, the stampede took place when devotees tried to get a glimpse of Bhole Baba as the event ended. They also wanted to collect some soil from around the baba&rsquo;s feet, he stated. 
&nbsp;
Satsang participant Sonu Kumar blamed the slippery ground for the stampede.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;When Guru ji left the place after almost one and half hours, all of a sudden devotees ran behind him to touch his feet,&rdquo; he said. When they turned back, some slipped.
&nbsp;
Sikandra Rao police station SHO Ashish Kumar blamed &ldquo;overcrowding&rdquo; at the &lsquo;satsang&rsquo;.
&nbsp;
Another eyewitness, who left the place before the &lsquo;satsang&rsquo; ended said the arrangements were not adequate, given the number of devotees.
Agra&rsquo;s additional director general of police and Aligarh divisional commissioner are part of a team that would probe in the incident, the state government said. The team has been asked to give its report in 24 hours.
&nbsp;
PM Modi condoled the deaths
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Amid his reply to a two-day debate in Parliament on the motion of thanks on the President's address to both Houses of Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the deaths.
&nbsp;
"In the midst of discussions, I have also been given sad news. It has come to my attention that there have been many tragic deaths in the stampede in Hathras, UP," he said in the Lok Sabha.
&nbsp;
The prime minister said senior officials of the central government are in constant contact with the Uttar Pradesh administration to coordinate aid efforts.
&nbsp;
On social media, President Droupadi Murmu said the news was heart-rending. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge expressed sadness.
An FIR will be registered against the organisers of the event, a state government statement said.
&nbsp;
The Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office announced an ex-gratia compensation of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund for the next of kin of each person killed in the stampede. The injured would be given Rs 50,000.
&nbsp;
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that the state ministers Laxmi Narayan Chaudhary and Sandeep Singh were headed for Hathras. The chief secretary and the state police chief too were directed to reach the spot.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;
"The incident is extremely sad and heart-wrenching... Local organisers had organised a program of 'Bhole Baba'. After the program, when the preacher of the Satsang was coming down from the stage, suddenly a crowd of devotees started going towards him to touch him and when the 'sevadars' stopped them, this accident happened there."
&nbsp;
"To investigate this entire matter, we have formed a team under the chairmanship of Additional DG Agra and have asked them to give a detailed report. In view of the incident, the Chief Secretary and DGP of the state are camping there. Three ministers of the state government Chaudhary Laxmi Narayan, Sandeep Singh, Asim Arun, all three of them are at the spot."

116 dead in stampede at 'satsang' in UP's Hathras

Bodies lay scattered at a medical centre in Uttar Pradesh&rsquo;s Hathras district on Tuesday as people milled around them, wiping away tears and consoling one another.
&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 heartbreaking scenes unfolded outside the district&rsquo;s Sikandara Rao Trauma Centre, where victims, dead or unconscious, of the stampede that occurred at a &lsquo;satsang&rsquo; in Phulrai village, were brought in ambulances, trucks and cars.
<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 woman sat crying among five or six bodies in a truck, urging people to help her get the body of her daughter out of the vehicle. A video clip showed a man and a woman lying lifeless in a different vehicle.
<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;">Many of the injured were seen lying near the entrance of the local government hospital surrounded by anxious relatives. Locals blamed the administration's negligence for the tragedy.
<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 the hours went by, the official estimate of the fatalities jumped and the crowds outside the trauma centre and the mortuary swelled.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">According to a senior district official, 50 to 60 people, mostly women, are believed killed in the stampede and several more injured.
<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;There are almost 100-200 casualties and there was only one doctor at the hospital. There was no facility for oxygen. Some are still breathing but there are no proper treatment facilities," an agitated youth said outside the hospital.
<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;">Eyewitness Shakuntala Devi told the media that the stampede took place while people were leaving the venue at the end of the &lsquo;satsang&rsquo;. &ldquo;Outside, there was a road built on a height over a drain. People fell atop each other,&rdquo; she said.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">The stampede apparently occurred due to overcrowding, the Sikandra Rao police station SHO 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;">According to officials, the government has formed a team comprising the Agra additional director general of police and the divisional commissioner of Aligarh to probe the incident.
<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;">Speaking to media persons, District Magistrate Ashish Kumar said it was a private function for which the permission was granted by the sub-divisional magistrate. The local administration provided security outside the venue while the internal arrangement was to be looked after by the organisers, 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;">Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed condolences to the families of those killed in the stampede and instructed officials to reach the accident site and carry out relief measures. He announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh ex gratia for the families of the dead and Rs 50,000 each for the injured.
<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 Uttar Pradesh government said an FIR will be registered against the organisers of the programme.
<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;">Adityanath also directed the district administration to arrange for proper treatment of those injured and immediately take them to hospitals. He wished them a speedy recovery. 
&nbsp;

Uttar Pradesh

Hathras stampede: Victims lay on hospital floor

Rahul Gandhi, as the Leader of the Opposition appeared to confront the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party on its core Hindutva ideology. However, he was caught on the wrong foot as he tried to go overboard with his aggression which was unprecedented and unusual for the position he is holding now.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;
Gandhi started his speech by displaying a poster-size picture of Lord Shiva. The import of the message was not lost on anyone. Although he did mention other religions and their prophets also, his main emphasis was only on Lord Shiva.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;
His purpose was obvious to project himself as much a follower of Lord Shiva and a staunch Hindu as anyone else. This was apparently to overcome the image he cultivated during the 2024 General Election campaign, where he projected himself as the guardian and the protector of "the backwards, the Dalits, the Adivasis, and the minorities&rdquo;.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Never, not for a single time, did he mention Hindu or Hinduism in his speeches. He made it a point to emphasise only on "the backwards, the Dalits, the Adivasis, and the minorities". 
&nbsp;
His party also declined the invitation to attend the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. That image was carefully cultivated to appeal to the minority voters and it did help with minorities voting en masse for the Congress.
&nbsp;
During one of his speeches, while taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for saying that he takes guidance from God, Gandhi said that his God was the common people of the country. Unlike what he claimed in the parliament that he sought and got energy during the campaign from Lord Shiva, he never mentioned Lord Shiva during his campaign. He almost ended up suggesting that he did not have any such beliefs.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
While speaking on such sensitive issues mentioning religions by name, one has to be cautious in what he says. While attacking the BJP leaders for, what he said, misusing religion and saying they were not true Hindus, he said, "those claiming themselves to be Hindus are spreading hate and violence".
&nbsp;
There are over 100 crore people in India who represent themselves as Hindus.
&nbsp;
Of course, Gandhi&rsquo;s targets were the BJP leaders. But his use of words conveyed a different meaning providing the ammunition to the BJP to accuse him of saying that Hindu religion promoted violence and hatred. Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an intervention saying, it was a serious matter, which, in fact, it was. Gandhi in all likelihood may not have meant what he ended up saying, but the fact is that he did say it without any ambiguity.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
There was nothing wrong in Gandhi being aggressive in his maiden speech as the Leader of the Opposition. He had to convey a strong message both to the government and the people across the country that there was an &ldquo;opposition&rdquo; in the parliament, there was also a &ldquo;Leader of the Opposition&rdquo; now after 10 years and it was firm and undaunted in its attack on the government.
&nbsp;
But, the way Gandhi went on attacking the Prime Minister personally was unprecedented and unbecoming of the position he is holding now as the Leader of the Opposition, which is a constitutional position. Gandhi was not addressing an election rally. The way he made snide personal comments on the Prime Minister will not be accepted anywhere. Here he was speaking in the parliament.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
After all, Modi is the Prime Minister of the country of 140 crore people. He has been elected Prime Minister for a record third time consecutively, a distinction only Gandhi&rsquo;s great-grandfather Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru enjoys. He could and he should have been more discreet and circumspect in his criticism of the Prime Minister, his government, and its policies.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Gandhi also made some factually inaccurate remarks, which were duly corrected on the floor of the house instantly by different ministers in the government. As he said, if the Agniveers died in action they were not given any benefits including the martyr&rsquo;s status, he was instantly corrected by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who said, that every Agniveer, in case he dies in the line of duty, gets Rs 1 crore compensation from the government.
&nbsp;
Similarly, he was corrected by the union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan on the issue of Minimum Support Price on crops. Gandhi, who apparently meant to say that farmers were being denied the legal guarantee on MSP, said they were not being given the MSP, which they are already getting. He had to cut a sorry figure on both counts.
&nbsp;
Gandhi&rsquo;s cheerleaders in the party will of course praise and glorify his &ldquo;great speech&rdquo; in the parliament. But he could have done a better job, with better homework, and been more gracious, even while being aggressive.&nbsp;The way Gandhi carries and conducts himself as Leader of the Opposition will decide and determine his future political career, he should be cautious, conscious, and careful about it.

Rahul caught on wrong foot as he confronts BJP on Hinduism

India's pioneering solar mission, Aditya-L1, has achieved a significant milestone by completing its first halo orbit around the Sun-Earth L1 point, ISRO announced on Tuesday.
&nbsp;
This accomplishment follows the spacecraft's seamless transition into its second halo orbit, facilitated by a precise station-keeping manoeuvre.
&nbsp;
Launched on September 2, 2023, the Aditya-L1 mission aims to observe the sun from the advantageous Lagrangian point L1.
&nbsp;
The spacecraft successfully entered its targeted halo orbit on January 6, 2024. In this orbit, Aditya-L1 takes 178 days to complete a revolution around the L1 point.
&nbsp;
ISRO highlighted that the spacecraft encounters various perturbing forces during its journey in the halo orbit, necessitating periodic corrections to maintain its designated path.
&nbsp;
Notably, the mission has already undergone two crucial station-keeping manoeuvres on February 22 and June 7. The latest manoeuvre, executed on Tuesday, ensured Aditya-L1's continued travel in the second halo orbit around L1.
&nbsp;
The space agency explained that navigating the complex dynamics around the Sun-Earth L1 Lagrangian point requires sophisticated modeling and precise orbit adjustments.
&nbsp;
ISRO&rsquo;s state-of-the-art flight dynamics software, developed in-house at URSC, has been instrumental in accurately determining the trajectory and planning these critical manoeuvres.

Sriharikota

Aditya-L1 completes initial halo orbit around Sun-Earth L1

It's poll time in Himachal again and the Congress government is under attack for being &lsquo;Mitron Ki Sarkar&rsquo; by the opposition BJP.&nbsp;
 It started with Chief Minister, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu appointing his friends to the cabinet rank immediately as he took over, which equates them with cabinet ministers in terms of facilities, though they are not elected representatives.&nbsp;
 Sukhu appointed two of his friends, Sunil Kumar Bittu as his Political Advisor and Naresh Chauhan as his Principal Media Advisor in the cabinet rank in December, 2022. Along with this, he also appointed Gokul Butail as his IT Advisor and Kehar Singh Khachi as Vice Chairman of Forest Corporation in the cabinet rank reportedly at the instance of high command.&nbsp;
 What made it a cause of heartburn in the party circles was that compared to this, the Chief Minister did not make appointments to boards and corporations, which are generally done to accommodate the party men in routine. Some appointments were however made after the revolt in ruling Congress in February-March this year, when a rival faction headed by Pradesh Congress Committee Chief, Pratibha Singh pointed it out. &nbsp;
 Many elected representatives too have been left sulking in the Congress government, as Sukhu, who is the first Congress CM from lower areas of the state hailing from Hamirpur district, gave more precedence to upper areas of the state in cabinet and other appointments, for reasons unknown.&nbsp;
 The slogan, which was reportedly coined by some Chief Minister&rsquo;s adversaries has come handy for BJP, which is referring to it as &lsquo;Mitron Ki Sarkar' on every platform.&nbsp;
 CM&rsquo;s Principal Media Advisor and Vice President of Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee, Naresh Chauhan, however, objected to the BJP&rsquo;s accusation of it being &lsquo;Mitron Ki Sarkar&rsquo;.&nbsp;
 "What is wrong with it if CM trusts his old friends, who stood by him through thick and thin, and is giving them responsibility in the government? Should enemies be given a place in government?," he questioned.&nbsp;
 He said the Congress party has won four out of six by-elections and will again win the by-polls slated for July 10 also because people have faith in Congress government and the leadership of Chief Minister, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.
 The opposition party has upped the ante against the Congress on the issue, alleging that the Chief Minister has been subtly distributing doles to his friends at the cost of the state exchequer in HP, which is already reeling under a huge debt burden.&nbsp;
 "Himachal Pradesh is under the debt burden of around Rs 80,000 crore, but the Congress government is not bothered. The Chief Minister is increasing the debt burden by distributing cabinet ranks among his friends, who are not even elected," said former BJP Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition, Jai Ram Thakur.
 He alleged that the state government had taken action against many stone crushers in the wake of natural calamity in 2023, but those owned by CM&rsquo;s friends were spared.
 Meanwhile, the government&rsquo;s move to give cabinet rank to three MLAs as Chairman of HP Tourism Development Corporation, Vice Chairman of State Planning Commission, and Chairman of 7th State Finance Commission has also not given positive signals politically.

Shimla

Cong under attack for being 'Mitron Ki Sarkar' in Himachal

A Delhi court has granted a two-hour parole to Baramulla MP-elect Engineer Rashid, currently jailed in Tihar Jail, allowing him to be sworn in as a Lok Sabha member on July 5.
 Engineer Rashid, incarcerated in connection with a money laundering case linked to terror funding, had sought interim bail or parole for the swearing-in ceremony.
&nbsp;
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) did not oppose parole but requested the court impose restrictions, including a ban on media interactions.
&nbsp;
Engineer Rashid, who triumphed over National Conference Vice President and former J&amp;K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the Baramulla constituency by a margin of over 200,000 votes, will now have the chance to take his parliamentary oath.
&nbsp;
Hailing from north Kashmir&rsquo;s Baramulla, he was arrested in August 2019 by the NIA.
&nbsp;
Engineer Rashid's name surfaced during the investigation when Srinagar-based businessman Zahoor Watali informed the NIA about Rashid's alleged links with terror and separatist organisations.
&nbsp;
The charges against him are linked to a money laundering case associated with terror funding. Specifically, Rashid is accused of receiving funds from various sources to finance terrorist activities and unrest in Jammu and Kashmir.
&nbsp;
The NIA's investigation is part of a broader crackdown on terror financing networks in the region. Rashid was allegedly involved in funnelling money to separatist leaders and organisations, which was then used to incite violence and support militant operations in Jammu and Kashmir.
&nbsp;
These charges fall under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), which aim to combat terrorism and its financing in India.
&nbsp;
While incarcerated, Rashid decided to contest the Lok Sabha elections from the Baramulla constituency. His son, Abrar Rashid, convinced him to run and led campaign efforts on his behalf.
&nbsp;
Rashid&rsquo;s victory is seen as a significant political development, reflecting a strong voter base and an effective campaign strategy despite his imprisonment.
&nbsp;

Engineer Rashid gets 2-hour parole for taking oath as MP

Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting him to facilitate a debate on the NEET issue in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
&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 said the Opposition&rsquo;s request to discuss the issue related to the medical entrance exam NEET was denied in both Houses of Parliament on June 28 as well as on Monday, and added that the Lok Sabha speaker had assured the Opposition that he would discuss the matter with the government.
<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 Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha said the aim was to engage &ldquo;constructively to find a way forward&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;
<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 writing to request for a debate in Parliament on NEET,&rdquo; Gandhi said in his letter to the prime minister on Tuesday.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;
<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;Our aim is to engage constructively to find a way forward. At this moment, our only concern is the welfare of nearly 24 lakh NEET aspirants across India,&rdquo; 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;">Referring to the government&rsquo;s move to postpone other examinations and replace the Director General of the National Testing Agency, he said these moves are to &ldquo;cover up the systemic breakdown of our centralised testing system&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;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&ldquo;The NEET examination deserves immediate attention because it has exposed the deep rot in our higher education system. The past seven years have seen over 70 paper leaks, affecting over two crore students,&rdquo; the Congress leader 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;">He said lakhs of families have made tremendous personal sacrifices to support their children, and for many, the paper leak is a betrayal of a lifetime dream.
<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;">Gandhi said those families are looking up to their public representatives to take &ldquo;bold and decisive steps&rdquo; to resolve the issue.
<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;Our students deserve answers. A parliamentary debate is the first step towards rebuilding and restoring their faith,&rdquo; 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;">&ldquo;Given the urgency of the matter, I request the government to facilitate a debate in the House tomorrow. I believe that it would be fitting if you were to lead this debate in the interest of the students,&rdquo; Gandhi 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;">Opposition INDIA bloc parties sought debate on the NEET issue in both Houses of Parliament on Friday. A number of adjournment notices were submitted in Lok Sabha, and under Rule 267 in Rajya Sabha to take up a debate on the issue immediately.
<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;">It was, however, not allowed in either of the Houses. While Lok Sabha was adjourned little after noon amid opposition demand for NEET debate, the Rajya Sabha also witnessed protests but had proceeded with debate on Motion of Thanks to President&rsquo;s address.
<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;">Later, opposition MPs had staged a walkout in the Upper House after a Congress MP fainted while protesting, and the Chair refused to adjourn the House. 
&nbsp;

Rahul Gandhi writes to PM urging for debate on NEET issue

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday inspected flood-affected areas in Bokakhat, Golaghat district.
&nbsp;
Traversing the inundated regions in Upper Assam by speedboat, Sarma visited relief camps set up after an embankment breach between Negheriting-Rongagorah Duke and Nikori PWD Road.
&nbsp;
In interactions with displaced residents, Sarma assured swift repairs to roads and embankments, enabling a prompt return to their homes.
&nbsp;
The chief minister also reviewed the flood situation in Kaziranga National Park, now extensively inundated after several years.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The floods and embankment breach at some places have caused severe distress to the people. We are constantly monitoring the situation and I am personally monitoring the relief efforts. 📍Bokakhat <a href="https://t.co/7aR3pKqvKA">pic.twitter.com/7aR3pKqvKA</a>
&mdash; Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) <a href="https://twitter.com/himantabiswa/status/1808127519163404447?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 2, 2024</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
"We are implementing stringent measures, including regulating vehicular traffic on the national highway, to ensure wildlife safety," Sarma stated. 
Addressing media persons outside a relief camp, he elaborated on ongoing relief efforts: "We are providing comprehensive relief and rehabilitation. Medical camps, food supplies, including baby food, are being organized for those in relief camps. Officials are directed to expedite road and embankment repairs."
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
असम के कई जिलों में भयानक बाढ़ का प्रभाव है। हमारी सरकार प्रभावित परिवारों को सहयोग करने में जुटी है। हमारा प्रयास यह भी है कि बाढ़ के कारण जानवरों को नुक़सान न पहुँचे। <a href="https://t.co/sEzXxFKRZ9">pic.twitter.com/sEzXxFKRZ9</a>
&mdash; Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) <a href="https://twitter.com/himantabiswa/status/1808146908336304460?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 2, 2024</a></blockquote>
Sarma acknowledged the severity of the second wave of flooding affecting the entire state, with some areas in Upper Assam showing signs of receding water levels. "Hopefully, the situation will improve in the next few days," he added.
&nbsp;
The chief minister pointed out the scale of the crisis, with 6.71 lakh people impacted across 20 districts and the Brahmaputra River, along with major tributaries, surpassing danger levels at multiple locations.
&nbsp;
District commissioners have been instructed to compile lists of fully or partially damaged houses for prompt compensation disbursement. Sarma announced plans to install geo-tubes at breached embankments once water levels recede.
&nbsp;
"We aim to complete this within the next two to four days, providing significant relief to the affected populace," he said.
&nbsp;
Sarma expressed confidence in the state&rsquo;s response capabilities but mentioned readiness to seek assistance from Prime Minister Narendra Modi if necessary.
&nbsp;
"We are doing our utmost to aid flood-affected residents. Should we need additional support, Prime Minister Modi has assured us of all possible assistance," Sarma concluded.
&nbsp;

Guwahati

Assam CM surveys flood damage in Golaghat, Kaziranga

Chief Minister of Haryana, BJP Leader, Nayab Singh Saini, on Tuesday, slams Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi for his 'Hindus' remarks in the lower house speech, demanding an apology for the same. He then takes a dig at those justifying Rahul's statements, saying, they all rather should help him enhance his knowledge and advice him not to lower parliamentary dignity.
 "He has insulted Hindus. He has spoken lies... He always defames Hindus... I strongly condemn it," Saini said during a press conference, slamming Gandhi.&nbsp; &nbsp;
In his first speech as the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha on Monday, Gandhi had launched a no-holds-barred attack on the BJP, accusing the leaders of the ruling party of dividing people on communal lines.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Saini said Gandhi called Hindus violent and hatemongers in the Parliament and this allegation is "unfortunate".&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Attacking the senior Congress leader, he said, "It is his frustration which is coming out from inside. The kind of words he has used, he and the Congress should apologise to the people of the country." "He did not speak a word on the President's address. He only spoke lies and nothing else," claimed Saini.&nbsp;
"In his speech, he insulted Hindus, calling them violent, hateful and liars," the chief minster pointed out, adding that the Congress is trying to justify what he has said.&nbsp; &nbsp;
Congress leaders should instead help Gandhi enhance his knowledge and make him understand that he should not lower parliamentary dignity, he added.&nbsp;
He said Congress has repeatedly launched Gandhi, but he has been rejected as a leader by the public.&nbsp;
 The way he repeatedly showed Lord Shiva's picture in the Parliament is strongly objectionable, Saini said.&nbsp;
Slamming Gandhi and the Congress on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Saini asked, "What the Congress did in 1984? Have they forgotten the hate which they spread?" He also raised the issue of violence against Kashmiri Pandits in the Kashmir valley during Congress regime, adding, "Was the Congress blindfolded at that time as well as in 1984?" He also asked why Gandhi maintained silence on several incidents in West Bengal and accused him of spreading lies by saying that no compensation is given to Agniveers who are martyred.&nbsp;
 Saini further claimed that the Congress tried to mislead the people on various matters, such as the farmers' issues, during the recent Lok Sabha elections. He demanded that Gandhi issued a white paper with all the steps taken by the Congress government for the welfare of farmers in the last 55-60 years of its tenure, he said.
 Gandhi is now the Leader of Opposition, so he should think before he speaks and now bring a change in his behaviour, said Saini.
 Gandhi's speech in the Lok Sabha on Monday drew massive protests from the treasury benches, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi slamming him for calling the entire Hindu community violent.
 The Congress leader was speaking during the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the president's address to a joint sitting of Parliament.
 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;

Saini seeks Rahul's apology over Hindus remarks in LS speech

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In a fiery address to the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lambasted the Congress party for its perceived arrogance and accused it of fostering economic instability.
&nbsp;
Modi&rsquo;s remarks came during a two-day debate on the President's address to both houses of Parliament, where he also targeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, describing him as displaying "balak buddhi" (childish behaviour).
&nbsp;
The Prime Minister's critique was aimed at the Congress's attempts to claim moral victory despite its repeated electoral defeats.
&nbsp;
"This is the first time that the Congress has not crossed 100 seats for three consecutive times. Instead of conceding defeat, they are being arrogant. They are trying to build a narrative that they have beaten us," Modi declared, amid fervent protests from opposition benches.
&nbsp;
Modi was particularly scathing towards Gandhi, suggesting that his recent emotional appeals in the House were a ploy for sympathy.
&nbsp;
"The House witnessed the wailing of a person with 'balak buddhi' who tried to gain sympathy without disclosing the wrongs he had committed," he said, referencing Gandhi&rsquo;s legal troubles and past controversial remarks.
&nbsp;
The Prime Minister pointed out the significant mandate his government received for a third term, citing the public's endorsement of his administration&rsquo;s work over the past decade. "In our third term, we will work at triple the speed. Our third term means we will put in thrice the strength.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
In our third term, we will ensure three times the results," Modi asserted, setting an ambitious tone for his continued governance.
&nbsp;
Modi also addressed accusations against his government regarding the Agnipath scheme and the minimum support price (MSP) for crops. He accused Congress of spreading falsehoods about these policies to create unrest.
&nbsp;
"Lies were spoken regarding the scheme and MSP. When seasoned leaders like him (Gandhi) choose this path of anarchy, it shows that the nation is headed for trouble," he remarked.
&nbsp;
The Prime Minister did not mince words about the Congress&rsquo;s handling of its electoral losses.
&nbsp;
"This is the third biggest defeat for the Congress. It would have been good if the Congress would have accepted its defeat and done some introspection. But it is busy in doing 'sirsasan' (headstand)," he said, accusing the party of distorting the narrative to suggest they had outperformed the BJP.
&nbsp;
Modi stressed that the public&rsquo;s trust in his government was based on its steadfast stance against corruption and its focus on national priorities. "Our primary objective is 'nation first'. Every step and action of ours has been guided by 'nation first'. With this in mind, we have continued reforms," he said, reiterating his government's commitment to comprehensive development and anti-corruption measures.
&nbsp;
He also took the opportunity to highlight India's enhanced global standing under his leadership. "India's prestige has increased and the country is being looked up to by the world," he noted, attributing this to his administration&rsquo;s consistent reforms and policies that prioritize national interest over appeasement.
&nbsp;
Modi concluded by urging the opposition to accept the democratic mandate with humility and to contribute constructively to national discourse.
&nbsp;
"Try to understand the mandate of the people honestly and accept it. I would urge the Congress to accept the mandate and not hide behind fake victory celebrations," he said.
&nbsp;
In the midst of the heated exchanges, Modi&rsquo;s message was clear: his government remains committed to driving India&rsquo;s progress with renewed vigor in its third term, while the Congress must introspect and realign with the electorate's expectations.
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PM Modi jibes at Rahul Gandhi's 'Balak Buddhi' in Parliament

Hockey India on Tuesday announced inaugural Masters Cup, a pioneering tournament which will feature veteran players in men&rsquo;s and women&rsquo;s categories.
&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 event is designed to celebrate the enduring passion and skill of seasoned hockey players.
<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;">All Hockey India affiliated state member units are eligible to participate in the event and all eligible veteran players, aged around and above 40, who want to participate in the tournament will have to contact their respective member units and register through the Hockey India Member Unit Portal.
<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 dates and venues for the tournament will be announced soon.
<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 thrilled to announce the first-ever Hockey India Masters Cup, an event that honours the dedication and passion of our veteran players. This tournament is a celebration of their enduring love for the sport and a testament to their invaluable contributions to hockey in India,&rdquo; HI president Dilip Tirkey 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;">&ldquo;By providing a platform for former players to continue competing, we aim to foster a strong sense of community and ensure that their experience and enthusiasm continue to inspire future generations of players.
<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;">Hockey India secretary general Bhola Nath Singh added, &ldquo;This tournament not only allows former athletes to maintain their connection to the sport but also provides a unique opportunity for them to showcase their skills and fitness. We encourage all eligible players to register and participate, as this event promises to be a memorable and enriching experience for everyone involved.&rdquo; 
&nbsp;

Hockey India to host maiden Masters Cup

Shyna Gupta

UBS is experiencing a transformation in client interactions driven by artificial intelligence, according to Sabine Keller-Busse, head of the Swiss bank's domestic business.
&nbsp;
Speaking at the Point Zero Forum in Zurich on Tuesday, Keller-Busse compared this shift to how patients approach doctors with preformed ideas about their ailments, now clients are using AI to generate proposals for the bank.
&nbsp;
"In our industry, this will happen as well because with Chat GPT there is more data available," Keller-Busse remarked. "We have to be aware that our clients are using it."
&nbsp;
UBS has been integrating artificial intelligence into its services and products. Last year, the bank launched a pilot for instant credit targeted at small and mid-sized companies that often require quick access to liquidity.
&nbsp;
This AI-driven service streamlines the process by bypassing credit officers, making it faster for clients to obtain the relatively standard product.
&nbsp;
"It's just the beginning of what we will see," Keller-Busse added, indicating that AI's role in banking is set to expand further.

AI drives new client proposals at UBS

Tamil Nadu Youth Welfare and Sports Development Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, who launched the TN RISE&mdash; Women Start Up Council here on Tuesday said the initiative will help liberate women economically and culturally.
&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 main focus of TN RISE, the special platform of the Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women, is to bring more women entrepreneurship from the rural areas of the state, 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;">&ldquo;This reflects the progressive tradition of our Dravidian movement, which is represented in the current government of Tamil Nadu. We refer to it as the Dravidian model government,&rdquo; Udhayanidhi Stalin said at the event.
<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 claimed that women were enslaved in two domains&mdash; economic and culture.
<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;
Organisations like the World Bank were extending financial assistance to liberate women economically.
&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;Likewise, our Dravidian movement strives hard to liberate women from enslavement in the cultural domain. Now, our Dravidian Model government is proud to join hands with the World Bank in empowering women in the economic domain as well,&rdquo; the Minister 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;">He said women entrepreneurs faced numerous challenges in advancing their business ideas, as well as in accessing finance, credit, and marketing opportunities. The TN RISE was aimed to eliminate such obstacles by offering customised market linkages, financing, and operational advice.
<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;">Also, it will provide high-end business incubation services to women-led rural enterprises, he said and added &ldquo;I am proud to say that TN-RISE has signed MoUs with various multinational companies like Flipkart and HP to provide guidance and training for our budding women entrepreneurs.&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;
<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;">Udhayanidhi invited industries and entrepreneurs to join hands with the state government to create more women entrepreneurs from Tamil Nadu.
<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 had announced in the Budget in March last year to establish an exclusive Women Start Up Council. Accordingly it was launched today.
<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;">Earlier, the Minister unveiled the logo and website of TN RISE in the presence of Additional Chief Secretary, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, Gagandeep Singh Bedi and other officials. 
&nbsp;

Chennai

Udhayanidhi unveils a start-up council to uplift women

Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty hit fresh lifetime high levels on Tuesday before closing flat due to profit-taking in select banking and telecom shares amid concerns over rich valuations.
&nbsp;
The 30-share BSE Sensex declined 34.74 points or 0.04 percent to settle at 79,441.45 after a volatile trading session. Earlier in the day, it surged 379.68 points or 0.47 percent to reach a record peak of 79,855.87.
&nbsp;
The Nifty dropped 18.10 points or 0.07 percent to close at 24,123.85, after climbing 94.4 points or 0.39 percent to a lifetime high of 24,236.35 during intra-day trading.
&nbsp;
In the Sensex pack, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Bharti Airtel, IndusInd Bank, Tata Motors, ICICI Bank, Bajaj Finance, State Bank of India, and Titan were the biggest laggards. Conversely, Larsen &amp; Toubro, Infosys, HDFC Bank, Tata Consultancy Services, HCL Technologies, and Tata Steel emerged as the top gainers.
&nbsp;
On Monday, the BSE benchmark had settled higher by 443.46 points or 0.56 percent at an all-time peak of 79,476.19. The Nifty had climbed 131.35 points or 0.55 percent to close at a fresh lifetime high of 24,141.95.
&nbsp;
In Asian markets, Tokyo, Shanghai, and Hong Kong closed in positive territory on Tuesday, while Seoul ended lower.&nbsp;

Sensex, Nifty hit highs, end flat amid profit-taking

India's markets regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), has issued a show cause notice to Hindenburg Research, accusing the US firm of engaging in "unfair trade practices" in relation to its 2023 report on the Adani Group.
&nbsp;
The notice, dated June 26, charges Hindenburg with "deliberately sensationalising and distorting certain facts" and alleges collaboration with a New York hedge fund to profit from the release of the report.
&nbsp;
Hindenburg Research, which has publicly shared the notice on its website, described SEBI's actions as "nonsense" and an attempt to "silence and intimidate" those exposing corruption. The firm stated that it made approximately USD 4.1 million from its declared positions on Adani stocks, and criticized SEBI for not focusing its investigation on the evidence presented in the January 2023 report.
&nbsp;
Hindenburg's report had claimed that the Adani Group created a "vast network of offshore shell entities" and moved billions of dollars "surreptitiously" between public and private entities.
&nbsp;
The US-based research firm argued that SEBI's notice wrongly targeted it while failing to address the involvement of Kotak Mahindra Investments Ltd (KMIL), which Hindenburg claims facilitated the offshore fund structure used by its investor partner to bet against Adani. SEBI's notice, however, referred to KMIL under the acronym "KMIL" without directly naming it.
&nbsp;
Hindenburg admitted to sharing its report with Kingdon Capital before its public release, which led to a massive drop in the market value of Adani group stocks, erasing over USD 150 billion at their lowest point. Despite this, most of Adani's stocks have since recovered.
&nbsp;
Hindenburg, in its defense, highlighted the extensive two-year investigation behind its report and criticized SEBI for focusing on the wording of the report rather than addressing the substantive allegations against the Adani Group.
&nbsp;
The firm reiterated its stance that its work on Adani was driven by a commitment to expose corruption rather than financial gain.
&nbsp;
The Supreme Court of India, following the release of the Hindenburg report, had directed SEBI to investigate the allegations and set up an expert panel to examine regulatory lapses. The panel did not find any adverse evidence against Adani, and the apex court declared that no further probe beyond SEBI's was required.

SEBI issues notice to Hindenburg over Adani report

The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Post Graduate (NEET-PG) for 2024 is expected to be conducted in mid-August, according to sources briefed on Tuesday.
&nbsp;
An official announcement regarding the revised exam date is anticipated later this week following discussions held on Monday at the Union home ministry.
&nbsp;
The meeting, attended by officials from the health ministry, National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), technical partner Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), and Cyber Cell officials, focused on assessing readiness for the upcoming NEET-PG, slated to be conducted online.
&nbsp;
"In addition to NEET-PG, the meeting evaluated the preparedness for the Foreign Medical Graduates Examination, scheduled for July 6," revealed a source familiar with the discussions.
&nbsp;
TCS executives provided insights into the procedural aspects of the exam during the meeting aimed at ensuring the robustness of the examination system in upcoming sessions.
&nbsp;
Earlier postponed from June 23 as a precautionary measure amidst integrity concerns in competitive exams, the NEET-PG's future scheduling was reassessed by the Union health ministry. A thorough evaluation of the examination processes, managed by NBEMS in collaboration with TCS, remains underway.

NEET-PG 2024 examination likely to be held mid-August

Four hog deer drowned while 24 other animals were rescued from flood water following inundation of the Kaziranga National Park on Tuesday, a park official said on Tuesday.
&nbsp;
According to officials forest department personnel have moved the rescued animals, mostly deer, to a dry and safe area.
&nbsp;
Out of the total 233 camps in the Eastern Assam Wildlife Division, 167 have been inundated so far by the gushing flood waters, the official said.
&nbsp;
Forest department employees including security personnel stay in camps inside the national park to conduct patrolling for the protection of flora and fauna.
Altogether eight camps have been vacated by the forest personnel so far in various divisions.
&nbsp;
Meanwhile, the Golaghat district administration has issued prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) restricting the speed of vehicular traffic on NH-37 (New NH-715) passing through the national park between 20 to 40 km/hour.
&nbsp;
Experts point out that floods are essential for the preservation and rejuvenation of the ecosystem of the Park as the Brahmaputra river's overflowing water not only revitalises the grasslands but also flushes out the aquatic weeds and unwanted plants.
&nbsp;
The excess water flow also adds mineral-rich alluvial soil essential for the growth of grass and shrubs essential for the feeding of the herbivores.
&nbsp;
Kaziranga National Park, a world heritage site, is famous for the Great Indian one-horned rhinoceros.
&nbsp;
The landscape of Kaziranga is of sheer forest, tall elephant grass, rugged reeds, marshes &amp; shallow pools. It was declared as a national park in 1974.&nbsp;

Four animals dead, 24 rescued in Kaziranga floods so far

After Shiromani Akali Dal aka SAD publicly withdrew support for its Jalandhar West by-poll candidate, Surjit Kaur, switched to ruling Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab on Tuesday.&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Joining AAP in the presence of the state Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Kaur affirmed her support for AAP's face for Jalandhar West Mohinder Bhagat for the by-polls.&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Last week, the Sukhbir Singh Badal-led Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) announced its support for the BSP nominee in the upcoming July 10 by-poll for the Jalandhar West assembly seat. This decision comes despite having an officially fielded candidate, chosen by a panel. Two members of this panel have now rebelled against the party chief.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The SAD could not withdraw its authorised candidate, Kaur, as the deadline for the withdrawal of nominations had already passed.&nbsp;Kaur along with some of her family members joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Jalandhar.&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Speaking after she joined the AAP, Mann hit out at the SAD, saying first they gave the ticket to Surjit Kaur, but later they humiliated her.
 They (SAD) said they will support the candidate of some other party (BSP), said Mann.
 The chief minister said Kaur and her family are known to have dedicated their lives to the service of people.
 "As Punjab chief minister and as the party's state unit president, I welcome her," said Mann.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Kaur later told reporters that it was on Tuesday morning that she decided to join the AAP.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
"We did not speak to anyone. We decided in the morning about our move," she said when asked if she had spoken to any of the rebel SAD leaders.
&nbsp;
About her step to join the AAP, Kaur said she and her family thought it was the best thing to do in the interests of the people of the area after the SAD withdrew support for her.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
AAP leader Pawan Kumar Tinu said the ruling party's candidate is going to win the Jalandhar West seat by a big margin. Kaur's joining is going to strengthen the AAP, he said.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The SAD now does not have its own authorised candidate for the July 10 bypoll, senior party leader Daljit Singh Cheema told reporters on Thursday.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
On Wednesday, the SAD's Jalandhar district unit chief had announced that the party has withdrawn support to Kaur, who is a two-time municipal councillor.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Kaur was selected for the seat by a SAD panel comprising Bibi Jagir Kaur, Gurpartap Singh Wadala, MLA Sukhwinder Sukhi, and Mohinder Singh Kaypee.&nbsp; &nbsp; However, Jagir Kaur and Wadala are now among the rebel party leaders who revolted against Badal, demanding that he should step down as the party chief.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The last date of withdrawal of the nomination for the by-poll was July 26.
 Surjit Kaur had already been allotted the SAD symbol and she was among the 15 candidates who were left in the fray for the bypoll, which was necessitated following the resignation of Sheetal Angural as the AAP legislator.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Notably, a section of SAD's senior party leaders have revolted against party chief Badal, demanding that he should step down from his post following its debacle in Punjab in the recently held Lok Sabha elections.

Setback to SAD, Jalandhar West bypoll candidate joins AAP

The Indian Army contingent has set off for the 13th edition of the India-Thailand joint military Exercise MAITREE, scheduled from July 1-15 at Fort Vachira Prakan in Thailand's Tak Province, announced the Defence Ministry on Tuesday. Previously, the exercise was held in Umroi, Meghalaya in September 2019.
&nbsp;
Comprising 76 personnel, the Indian Army contingent is led by a Battalion of the Ladakh Scouts, supported by personnel from various arms and services. The Royal Thailand Army contingent, also consisting of 76 personnel from the 1st Battalion, 14 Infantry Regiment of 4 Division, will participate alongside them.
&nbsp;
Exercise MAITREE aims to bolster military cooperation between India and Thailand, focusing on joint counter insurgency/terrorist operations in jungle and urban environments under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. The exercise emphasises high physical fitness, joint planning, and tactical drills.
&nbsp;
Tactical exercises during MAITREE will include setting up a Joint Operation Centre, intelligence and surveillance operations, utilisation of drones and counter-drone systems, securing landing sites, small team insertions and extractions, special heliborne operations, cordon and search operations, room intervention drills, and demolition of illegal structures.
&nbsp;
The exercise will facilitate the exchange of best practices in tactics, techniques, and procedures for joint operations between the two armies. It aims to enhance interoperability, foster camaraderie, and strengthen bonds between soldiers from India and Thailand.
&nbsp;
MAITREE, which means "friendship" in Thai, underscores the ongoing effort to deepen the friendship and cooperation between the armed forces of Thailand and India.
&nbsp;
This annual exercise covers both air and ground forces, including medical support activities, and serves as a practical platform to hone skills necessary for addressing shared security challenges.
&nbsp;
Through exercises like MAITREE, India and Thailand continue to build upon their strategic partnership, promoting regional stability and reinforcing their commitment to mutual defence cooperation.

Bangkok

Indian Army departs for MAITREE exercise in Thailand

Dr. Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, newly elected MP from Inner Manipur Parliamentary constituency, has criticised central leaders for their silence on the ongoing crisis in Manipur, calling it a reflection of colonial-era attitudes persisting into the post-colonial period.
&nbsp;
During his address in Parliament presenting a motion of thanks, Dr. Akoijam expressed dismay over Prime Minister Modi's silence and the omission of Manipur's crisis from the President's speech, despite more than a year of turmoil in the state.
&nbsp;
"The silence from the Prime Minister and the neglect of Manipur's plight in the highest addresses of the nation are deeply concerning. It reflects a continuation of colonial-era policies in modern governance," Dr. Akoijam remarked.
&nbsp;
He highlighted the severe humanitarian impact of the crisis, citing over 60,000 people displaced and 200 lives lost amidst a civil war-like situation where communities are forced into armed conflict for self-defense.
&nbsp;
"Manipur is one of the most militarised regions in the country, yet the Indian state has failed to protect its people. How can thousands lose their homes under the watch of extensive armed forces without national leadership addressing this?" he questioned.
&nbsp;
Dr. Akoijam challenged the notion of nationalism, stating, "I will remain silent when the Prime Minister acknowledges Manipur's crisis and assures care for its people. That is true nationalism."
&nbsp;
He criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), expressing disappointment in their complacency towards Manipur's suffering, contrasting it with the state's significant contributions to national honor through figures like Major Laishram Jotin and sportswomen like Mary Kom and Mirabai Chanu.
&nbsp;
"It is a dishonor to these icons and to Manipur itself when the central government remains indifferent to our crisis," Dr. Akoijam added, urging empathy and action from national leaders.

MP Akoijam slams PM's silence on 'ignored crisis in Manipur'

Superstar Shah Rukh Khan will be feted with the career achievement honour, at the 77th edition of the Locarno Film Festival, the organisers announced on Tuesday.
&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 is also the first Indian personality to be honoured with the &lsquo;Pardo alla Carriere Ascona-Locarno Tourism&rsquo;.
<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;
Italian filmmaker Francesco Rosi, American singer-actor Harry Belafonte, and Malaysian director Tsai Ming-liang are the previous recipients.
&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 58-year-old actor will receive the award on August 10 at the Piazza Grande, located in Locarno, Switzerland.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">His 2002 film Devdas, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, will also be screened during the gala, set to commence on August 7. Shah Rukh, who completed 32 years in cinema last week, will also appear at the Forum @Spazio Cinema for a conversation open to the public on August 11.
<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;At the 77th edition of the Locarno Film Festival, Indian superstar and global icon, Shah Rukh Khan will be awarded with the Festival&rsquo;s career achievement award, the prestigious Pardo alla Carriera Ascona-Locarno Tourism.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&ldquo;The award will pay tribute to his remarkable career in Indian cinema consisting of more than 100 films in a breathtaking multitude of genres,&rdquo; the organisers 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;">Shah Rukh returned to the big screen after a five-year gap in 2023 with Pathaan. He followed up the blockbuster actioner with back-to-back two releases: another action hit Jawan, and Dunki, a social drama.
<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;">Giona A Nazzaro, Artistic Director of the Locarno Film Festival, said it is a dream come true for the gala to welcome the living legend.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&ldquo;The wealth and breadth of his contribution to Indian cinema is unprecedented. Khan is a king who has never lost touch with the audience that crowned him.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">According to the festival&rsquo;s website, the Pardo alla Carriera Ascona-Locarno Tourism pays tribute to one or more personalities whose artistic contributions have redefined cinema and the collective imagination. In addition to the awards ceremony on the Piazza Grande, the tribute also comprises a conversation with the audience and a small retrospective.
<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 Padma Shri recipient, Shah Rukh has appeared in over 100 feature films and the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and L&eacute;gion d&rsquo;honneur conferred by the Government of France.
<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 Locarno Film Festival will conclude on August 17. 
&nbsp;

SRK to receive Locarno's Honorary Award

Veteran actor and MP Shatrughan Sinha, who is admitted to a hospital here, says he is away from the &ldquo;controversy and confusion&rdquo; created by a section of social media influencers and spending time with family and friends as he is nursed back to health.
&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;">After developing a strong fever last week, the 77-year-old Trinamool Congress leader was taken to a hospital, where he is also undergoing an annual health check-up.
<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;">While he didn&rsquo;t share his health status, Sinha posted a couple of pictures from his hospital room where he could be seen watching Sunday&rsquo;s T20 World Cup final, in which India emerged victorious, with family and friends.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&ldquo;Away from the &lsquo;controversy &amp; confusion&rsquo; created by some of our good friends from the social media/Youtubers. The fact is enjoying with best of our family members, brothers &amp; dear friends,&rdquo; the actor-TMC MP wrote in an X post on Monday.
<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;">Some on social media had speculated about the actor&rsquo;s ill health just days after daughter Sonakshi Sinha&rsquo;s marriage to Zaheer Iqbal.
<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 veteran actor&rsquo;s son, Luv Sinha, previously thanked well-wishers for their concern over his father&rsquo;s health, reiterating he was admitted to the hospital after he developed a &ldquo;strong fever&rdquo; and not because he underwent a surgery.
<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 his post, Sinha praised the Indian men&rsquo;s cricket team for their &ldquo;magnificent win&rdquo;. The squad, led by skipper Rohit Sharma, clinched the trophy on late Saturday night in Bridgetown, Barbados by defeating South Africa by seven runs in a nail-biter. This is India&rsquo;s second T20 World Cup title since 2007's maiden tournament.
<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;Enjoying the most talked about International Cricket match between #SouthAfrica &amp; #India. Also great to watch the 'hero' of not only our dear #AnushkaSharma but also the hero of the nation #ViratKohli. It was a treat watching great performances of #JaspritBumrah #HardikPandya #SuryaKumarYadav &amp; of course everyone's favorite the one, &amp; perhaps the only one #RohitSharma...
<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;Both stalwarts #ViratKohli &amp; #RohitSharma taking a bold &amp; beautiful decision at the right time of retiring from T20s on a High note &amp; paving the way for the next generation is truly a fantastic encouragement indeed! It was a most thrilling, exciting &amp; entertaining match &amp; we must give full credit to Team South Africa also for their most committed performance. God Bless! Jai Hind!&rdquo; he said. 
&nbsp;

MP Shatrughan Sinha goes to hospital to avoid 'controversy'

Less than a per cent of teenagers in middle-income countries, including India, sought professional help for mental health problems, despite 28-50 per cent facing high levels of such issues, according to a study led by the University of Turku in Finland.
&nbsp;
The research also found that informal sources of help are widely used among adolescents for seeking help in many countries, particularly in lower-income nations.
&nbsp;
Researchers found that 0.6-0.9 per cent of girls and 0.9-1.2 per cent of boys in the middle-income countries they studied -- India, Vietnam and China -- sought professional help.
&nbsp;
The study included over 13,000 teenagers aged 13-15 across eight Asian and European countries who responded to surveys between 2011 and 2017.
Overall, girls were found to be more likely than boys to seek help for mental health problems, PTI reported.
&nbsp;
In high-income countries, the researchers found that more adolescents sought formal help -- 6-7 per cent in Greece, Israel and Japan, and 21-25 per cent in Norway and Finland.
&nbsp;
The findings were published in the journal European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
&nbsp;
The researchers also surveyed the participants for the means of seeking support and found that informal sources of help are widely used among adolescents and are the key sources of help in many countries, particularly in lower-income countries.
&nbsp;
Among the teenagers who sought help, about 90 per cent sought informal help in all Asian countries, ranging from almost 92 per cent (India) to 96 per cent (China) for girls, and almost 88 per cent (India) to 96 per cent (China) for boys, the authors found.
&nbsp;
Further, in India, more boys were found to seek help from teachers than girls.
&nbsp;
"Adolescents may get help from informal sources such as friends, teachers, and family members or formal sources such as school nurses, psychologists, and counsellors for professional assistance. Where they seek help from depends, for example, on the availability of services, cultural background, and stigma associated with mental illness," said the study's lead author Yuko Mori, a doctoral researcher at the University of Turku.
&nbsp;
Widely used informal sources of help, especially in lower-income countries, highlight a global need for mental health awareness and literacy programmes, according to Andre Sourander, a professor at the University of Turku and leader of the Eurasian Child Mental Health Study (EACMHS), of which this research was a part.
&nbsp;
"Cross-cultural studies on adolescent mental health such as the present study are important because almost all mental health research comes from high-income Western countries. There is a huge knowledge gap because most research represents less than 10 per cent of adolescent population," said Sourander.&nbsp;

Mental health: Less than 1pc teens sought help, says study

A team of scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has unveiled a new species of horned frog, named Xenophrys apatani, found in Arunachal Pradesh's Tale Wildlife Sanctuary.
&nbsp;
This discovery, situated within the Eastern Himalaya Biodiversity hotspot, marks a significant addition to India's amphibian diversity.
&nbsp;
Led by Bhaskar Saikia and Bikramjit Sinha from ZSI Shillong, along with colleagues A. Shabnam and K. P. Dinesh from ZSI Pune, and Ilona Jacinta Kharkongkar from ZSI Itanagar, the study corrects a previous misidentification of the species as Xenophrys maosonensis.
&nbsp;
Initially reported in 2019 by Bhaskar Saikia's team as X. maosonensis due to genetic similarities, further genetic and morphological analyses revealed distinct differences.
&nbsp;
"Through rigorous phylogenetic analysis involving 142 molecular sequences, we identified substantial genetic disparities between the Arunachal specimen and true X. maosonensis," explains Bhaskar Saikia.
&nbsp;
The frog was discovered in a water tank near Pange forest guard camp inside Tale Wildlife Sanctuary, highlighting the sanctuary's role in preserving biodiversity.
&nbsp;
Named Xenophrys apatani after Arunachal Pradesh's Apatani tribe, known for their conservation efforts in the Lower Subansiri Valley, the species exhibits unique genetic and physical traits.
&nbsp;
"Our discovery underscores the importance of meticulous taxonomy and integrative methods in species identification," emphasizes Bikramjit Sinha, formerly of ZSI Itanagar, who led the field team.
&nbsp;
Tale Wildlife Sanctuary, renowned for its rich biodiversity including diverse amphibian species, reaffirms its status as a critical conservation area in the Eastern Himalayas and Indo-Burma region.
&nbsp;
The findings are published in Records of the Zoological Survey of India, contributing significantly to India's biodiversity research and conservation efforts.

Itanagar

ZSI discovers new species of horned frog in Arunachal

The 16th edition of the joint military exercise &lsquo;Nomadic Elephant&rsquo; between the Indian and Mongolian armies is set to begin in Meghalaya's Umroi from July 3 to July 16. The Indian Army announced that this exercise aims to enhance interoperability between the two forces, particularly in semi-conventional operations in semi-urban and mountainous terrains.
&nbsp;
The Additional Directorate General of Public Information, IHQ of MoD (Army) shared on X that the exercise is conducted under the UN mandate, focusing on improving the capabilities of both armies in handling operations in challenging terrains.
&nbsp;
This annual training event alternates between Mongolia and India, with the 15th edition having been held in Mongolia&rsquo;s Ulaanbaatar. The previous exercise saw participation from the Mongolian Armed Forces Unit 084 and the Indian Army's Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry Regiment.
&nbsp;
In May, the 12th Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting between the Defence Ministries of India and Mongolia was held in Ulaanbaatar. The meeting, which took place on May 16-17, reviewed progress on various bilateral defence cooperation initiatives and explored ways to further enhance cooperation between the two nations.
&nbsp;
The meeting was co-chaired by Joint Secretary (International Cooperation) of the Ministry of Defence Amitabh Prasad and Brigadier General Gankhuyag Davagdorj, State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Mongolia. India's Ambassador to Mongolia, Atul Malhari Gotsurve, also attended the meeting.
&nbsp;
During the JWG, both sides expressed satisfaction with the ongoing defence cooperation and discussed the current geopolitical situation. Joint Secretary Amitabh Prasad emphasised the potential of India's defence industry and its capacity for fruitful partnerships with the Mongolian Armed Forces.
&nbsp;
The Mongolian representatives acknowledged the growing ties and expressed confidence in the capabilities of the Indian defence industry.
&nbsp;
Exercise &lsquo;Nomadic Elephant&rsquo; is a testament to the strong and evolving military relationship between India and Mongolia. It not only strengthens the operational readiness of both armies but also enhances their ability to work together in diverse and challenging environments. The continued success of this exercise underscores the commitment of both nations to maintaining peace and stability in the region while fostering a deep and enduring partnership.

Shillong

India and Mongolia to begin joint military exercise

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak launched his campaign with an early morning visit to a distribution center in eastern England, marking the penultimate day before polling day on Thursday.
&nbsp;
Urging voters to avoid "regrettable decisions," Sunak cautioned against granting a "supermajority" to Labour under Keir Starmer, as polls indicate a strong lead for the opposition.
&nbsp;
The Conservative leader and Starmer are crisscrossing the UK in a final bid to sway undecided voters, highlighting stark policy differences amid predictions of a potential Labour landslide.
&nbsp;
Sunak's campaign pivots on tax hikes and migration concerns under Labour rule, warning of unchecked governance and fiscal impacts.
&nbsp;
"In these final 48 hours, prevent a Labour supermajority that spells higher taxes," Sunak emphasised, framing the election as pivotal for economic policies and national security.
&nbsp;
Sunak maintained his commitment to tax cuts, pension protection, and border security, challenging the perception of an inevitable Labour victory as forecasted by polling experts.
&nbsp;
Meanwhile, Starmer countered with a message of every vote counting and the need for a strong mandate to overhaul a perceived broken system after 13 years of Tory rule.
&nbsp;
The Labour leader advocated for economic growth through planning reforms and skills development, disputing Conservative claims of across-the-board tax hikes.
&nbsp;
As both leaders intensify their campaigns ahead of Thursday's vote, the electorate faces a critical choice that could reshape UK policies and governance post-election.

London

British PM Sunak warns against 'Regrettable Choices'

Pro-Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh's written request seeking 'temporary bail' to take oath has been forwarded to the Lok Sabha Assembly speaker, Om Birla by the Punjab ruling AAP government. Singh, currently, is detained under the National Security Act (NSA) in Dibrugarh jail, Assam.
&nbsp;
 He recently won from the Khadoor parliamentary constituency with a record margin as an independent candidate. 
&nbsp;
Singh's lawyer, Rajdev Singh Khalsa, speaking on the matter, cited, "The Punjab home secretary has told us that he has forwarded the letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker. Once received, the Speaker can decide about the oath-taking within 60 days that starting from June 25. According to the procedure, the Speaker takes the advice of the home department before taking a decision." 
&nbsp;
Amritpal&rsquo;s legal adviser, Imaan Singh Khara, informed on Tuesday that the plea by the radical Sikh leader was submitted to the Punjab government via the jail superintendent under Section 15 of the NSA on June 9.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
What comes under Sec 15 of NSA? 
&nbsp;
It states, "The appropriate Government may, at any time, direct that any person detained in pursuance of a detention order may be released for any specified period either without conditions or upon such conditions specified in the direction as that person accepts, and may, at any time, cancel his release."

Punjab govt forwards Amritpal's oath request to LS speaker

Books by two Indian authors and one writer of Indian origin have made it to the shortlist of the Asian Prize for Fiction, an award which celebrates the nuanced and diverse voices that shape the global literary landscape.
&nbsp;
Besides Witch in the Peepul Tree by Arefa Tehsin, Rescuing a River Breeze by Mrinalini Harchandrai and Woman Who Climbed Trees by Nepali-Indian writer Smriti Ravindra, the other three shortlisted books are Nigerian writer Ayobami Adebayo's Spell of Good Things, The Idle Stance of the Tippler Pigeon by Safinah Danish Elahi of Pakistan and Sri Lankan-American author VV Ganeshananthan's Brotherless Nights, PTI reported.
&nbsp;
Each narrative offers a nuanced portrayal of life, weaving together an intricate tapestry of human experiences from different corners of the world, the organisers said.
&nbsp;
Following an extensive process spanning seven months, 13 group discussions were conducted by five book clubs from Africa, Asia, and Europe, according to the Asian Review. This global participation resulted in the identification of the six books for the shortlist from the 10-book longlist.
&nbsp;
From the shortlist, three books will be selected to The Asian Trio. The winner will be determined by a composite criterion encompassing book club-based selection, a public poll, and evaluation by the Asian Committee. The Asian Committee consists of five permanent members and three rotating members annually.
&nbsp;
The Trio or the super-shortlist will be announced on November 13.&nbsp;

Colombo

2 Indians in Asian Prize for Fiction shortlist

The Orang National Park in Assam faces a critical situation as 70% of its expanse succumbs to rising waters from the Dhanashree and Brahmaputra rivers.
&nbsp;
The deluge, exacerbated by River Pasnai, inundates the park's southern region, posing dire threats to wildlife and park personnel alike.
&nbsp;
Of the park's 50 camps, 35 are now underwater, with areas like Khayarasali and Balicamp submerged under seven to fifteen feet of water.
&nbsp;
Foresters struggle amid the deluge to protect endangered one-horned rhinos from both flooding and potential poaching activities, complicating wildlife management efforts.
&nbsp;
The sudden surge in the Dhanashree River's levels has worsened conditions, particularly impacting camps on the park's eastern perimeter.
&nbsp;
Authorities have pointed out the urgency and the help of all, including locals in safeguarding animals and supporting forest staff in these challenging times.

Floods threaten wildlife at Assam's Orang National Park

Portions of Rahul Gandhi&rsquo;s maiden speech as Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha have been expunged from the parliamentary records on the orders of the Speaker.
&nbsp;
His speech, which targeted the central government on various issues including minorities, the NEET row, and the Agnipath scheme, contained remarks that were deemed inappropriate and have been removed from the official records.
&nbsp;
During the debate on the motion of thanks on President Draupadi Murmu&rsquo;s address, Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP and RSS of spreading violence and hatred.
&nbsp;
His comments drew strong protests from the Treasury benches, with BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, expressing their objections. They accused Gandhi of misleading the House and making false statements about the Hindu community.
&nbsp;
In his speech, Rahul Gandhi invoked religious figures such as Lord Shiva, Prophet Mohammad, Guru Nanak, Jesus Christ, Lord Buddha, and Lord Mahavir, claiming he drew his inspiration of fearlessness from their teachings.
&nbsp;
However, his remarks on the BJP&rsquo;s treatment of minorities and his criticism of the party&rsquo;s alleged connections with industrialists Adani and Ambani, as well as comments on the Agniveer Scheme, were among the portions expunged from the records.
&nbsp;
Prime Minister Modi criticised Gandhi&rsquo;s speech, calling his accusations against the Hindu community serious. Home Minister Amit Shah demanded an apology from Gandhi.
&nbsp;
The BJP held a press conference to denounce Gandhi&rsquo;s remarks, while the Congress responded with its own press conference, attacking the ruling party.
&nbsp;
Dilip Mandal, a prominent Dalit voice, defended the BJP government, claiming that the past decade under BJP rule has been the most peaceful time for India since independence.
&nbsp;
He dismissed Gandhi&rsquo;s claims of violence against minorities and accused the Congress leader of attempting to scare investors and appease Muslims for electoral gains, particularly targeting votes in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
&nbsp;
Mandal argued that the number of communal riots has significantly reduced under BJP rule compared to the Congress regime. He stated that during the Congress era, numerous riots occurred, whereas in the last ten years, only two major communal incidents have been recorded, referring to the Delhi and Manipur riots.
&nbsp;
According to Mandal, Gandhi&rsquo;s remarks were an attempt to regain Muslim votes from parties like the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).
&nbsp;
The expunging of portions of Rahul Gandhi&rsquo;s speech highlights the contentious nature of the current political climate, with both major parties, BJP and Congress, trading accusations and defending their respective positions.
&nbsp;
The removal of these remarks from the parliamentary records underscores the Speaker&rsquo;s role in maintaining decorum and ensuring that the debates within the Lok Sabha adhere to established parliamentary norms.

Speaker expunges parts of Rahul Gandhi's LS address

In a fiery exchange within the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, Chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar admonished Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge, accusing him of repeatedly disrespecting the Chair.
&nbsp;
"You (Kharge) cannot continually disparage the chair. You cannot consistently show disrespect... You rise abruptly and speak without comprehending my words," a visibly irate Dhankhar asserted.
&nbsp;
"Never before in the history of our country's parliamentary democracy and Rajya Sabha proceedings has there been such disregard for the chair as exhibited by you... It's time for introspection... Your dignity has been repeatedly undermined... I have always endeavored to safeguard your dignity," the Rajya Sabha Chairperson further remarked.
&nbsp;
These remarks emerged amid a sharp verbal duel between Dhankhar and Kharge, who serves as the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha.
&nbsp;
During the session, Dhankhar also reprimanded Congress's Jairam Ramesh as he attempted to interject.
&nbsp;
"You are so intelligent, so talented, so capable that you should promptly replace Kharge. In essence, you are performing his role, undermining him," Dhankhar commented.
&nbsp;
In response to the Vice President's comments, Kharge, gesturing towards Sonia Gandhi, retorted, "The person who shaped me is seated here. No one like Jairam Ramesh can shape me."
&nbsp;
"The varna system is still ingrained in your mind. This is why you deem Ramesh as intelligent and me as unintelligent," Kharge, a Dalit leader, added.
&nbsp;
Last week, Dhankhar expressed dismay over Kharge's act of entering the Well of the House during an opposition protest, highlighting it as a first-time breach of decorum by a Leader of the Opposition.
&nbsp;
However, the two leaders shared lighter moments on Monday.
&nbsp;
During the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President's address, as Kharge rose to speak, he mentioned his difficulty in standing due to knee pain. Dhankhar promptly suggested, "You may address the House while seated."
&nbsp;
Kharge responded, stating that a seated speech lacks the impact of one delivered standing. Dhankhar chuckled in agreement, noting that sitting speeches lack the "jazba" (passion).

Dhankhar, Kharge exchange heated words in Rajya Sabha

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has backed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's recent remarks in Parliament, which have stirred significant political controversy. Raut emphasised that the INDIA bloc, which includes the Shiv Sena (UBT), does not support what he termed the "fake Hindutva" promoted by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
&nbsp;
In a media address in the national capital, Raut stated that Gandhi's comments about Hindutva being distinct from the ideology of the BJP were accurate. According to Raut, Hindutva is a broader concept that the BJP does not fully comprehend. He clarified that Gandhi did not criticise Hindus but rather pointed out the BJP's misinterpretation of Hindutva.
&nbsp;
The controversy began with Rahul Gandhi's speech in the Lok Sabha, his first as the Leader of the Opposition, during which he criticised the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for spreading hatred and violence.
&nbsp;
This led to protests from BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, who demanded an apology from Gandhi. They accused him of misleading the House and labelling the entire Hindu community as violent.
&nbsp;
Gandhi's speech covered several contentious issues, including the NEET-UG controversy and the Agniveer scheme. He criticised the Agniveer scheme, claiming it offers temporary employment without the benefits typically afforded to soldiers, such as pensions.
&nbsp;
Gandhi argued that Agniveers, who serve for only four years, are not given the same recognition or benefits as regular soldiers, and he referred to them as "use and throw labourers."
&nbsp;
Gandhi also invoked the Hindu symbol 'Abhayamudra,' which represents fearlessness and reassurance, as a symbol of the Congress party. He argued that true Hinduism, as taught by great spiritual leaders, emphasises non-violence and truth, contrasting this with the BJP's promotion of violence and hatred.
&nbsp;
The BJP leaders responded strongly, accusing Gandhi and the Congress of spreading falsehoods and demanded an apology. In response, the Congress held a press conference to counter the BJP's allegations and to defend Gandhi's statements.
&nbsp;
As the debate on the motion of thanks on President Draupadi Murmu's address continued, Prime Minister Modi criticised Gandhi's remarks, calling them a serious matter. The session saw heated exchanges, with both parties defending their positions vigorously.
&nbsp;
The political drama is set to continue, with PM Modi scheduled to deliver his reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President's address. Various other leaders, including JP Nadda, MoS Jadhav Prataprao Ganpatrao, and Union Minister Ramdas Athawale, are also expected to lay papers on the table in Lok Sabha.
&nbsp;
This incident highlights the deepening political divide and the intense scrutiny of the BJP's policies and rhetoric by opposition parties. The debate over what constitutes true Hindutva and the role of the BJP in promoting its version of this ideology is likely to remain a significant point of contention in Indian politics.

Sanjay Raut supports Rahul Gandhi on BJP's Hindutva stance

Manoj Jha, a prominent leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha, has emerged as a vocal figure in Indian politics, known for his articulate speeches and staunch advocacy on various social and political issues. His recent comments regarding Rahul Gandhi's remarks in Parliament reflect his unwavering stance on principles of justice and representation.
&nbsp;
Jha's response came swiftly after portions of Rahul Gandhi's speech, criticising the central government and its policies, were expunged from the parliamentary records.
&nbsp;
He emphasised that while the official records may erase these remarks, they cannot be erased from the memories of the people. This statement underscores Jha's belief in the enduring impact of political discourse beyond procedural constraints.
&nbsp;
Born into a modest family in Bihar, Manoj Jha's journey into politics has been shaped by his academic background and commitment to social justice. He holds a PhD in Social Work and has been associated with academia before entering mainstream politics. His academic insights often inform his political perspectives, especially on issues related to education, social welfare, and minority rights.
&nbsp;
As an RJD leader, Jha has been instrumental in shaping the party's narrative on inclusive development and secularism. He has consistently voiced concerns over rising communal tensions and the need for policies that safeguard the interests of marginalised communities. His role as an MP has been marked by advocacy for legislative measures that promote equity and justice across various domains of governance.
&nbsp;
In addition to his parliamentary duties, Jha has actively engaged in public debates, media interactions, and grassroots mobilisation efforts. His speeches in Parliament are noted for their eloquence and depth, often resonating with constituents and political observers alike. He has used these platforms to critique government policies, advocate for legislative reforms, and champion causes that align with his party's agenda.
&nbsp;
Jha's stance on Rahul Gandhi's remarks reflects his broader ideological alignment with secularism and his commitment to defending pluralism in Indian society. By asserting that no political entity can claim exclusive representation of any religion, he underscores the RJD's stance on inclusive politics and diversity.
&nbsp;
Beyond his political engagements, Jha's personal integrity and dedication to public service have earned him respect across party lines. He remains a formidable voice in Parliament, navigating complex issues with clarity and conviction.
&nbsp;
His ability to articulate the concerns of marginalised communities has positioned him as a leader capable of bridging ideological divides and advocating for comprehensive socio-economic reforms.
&nbsp;
Manoj Jha's response to Rahul Gandhi's expunged remarks exemplifies his role as a conscientious parliamentarian committed to upholding democratic values and representing the diverse voices of his constituents.
&nbsp;
His journey from academia to politics underscores a deep-rooted commitment to social justice and inclusive governance, making him a pivotal figure in India's political landscape.

Manoj Jha stands firm on Rahul Gandhi's expunged remarks

parvesh_kapoor

Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa will look to sharpen his game after squandering winning opportunities when he takes on last-placed Deac Bogdan-Daniel of Romania in the sixth round of the Superbet Classic Chess tournament.
&nbsp;
While Praggnanandhaa has not been at his best in better positions, World Championship challenger D Gukesh has survived pretty well despite living dangerously in a couple of games in the tournament, which is a part of the Grand chess tour.
&nbsp;
With five rounds gone and just four more to come, the two Indians with three points apiece, are within striking distance of the tournament leader Fabiano Caruana of United States who is on 3.5 points.
&nbsp;
Alireza Firouzja and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave of France, Russian Ian Nepomniachtchi and American Wesley So share the fourth spot on 2.5 points each, a half point ahead of Dutchman Anish Giri and Uzbek Nodirbek Abdusattorov. Bogdan-Daniel is at the bottom of the table with 1.5 points.
&nbsp;
Gukesh will have black pieces against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and it should not be a tall order for the Indian who has been trying various set ups against the King pawn opening.
&nbsp;
Vachier-Lagrave, on the other hand, will be hoping for a complicated struggle but the fact that he is not very adventurous when it comes to opening choices makes his task a little more difficult.
&nbsp;
Praggnanandhaa will not only be favourite but will also be under pressure. In the previous round, the Indian missed out on a straightforward winning manoeuvre against Wesley So while earlier on, Gukesh survived what was a technically difficult but theoretically lost endgame against him.
&nbsp;
With the white pieces to back him the ball will be in Praggnanandhaa's court to deliver the goods.
&nbsp;
Bogdan-Daniel is still hunting for an elusive victory with just three draws thus far and the Romanian knows it will not be easy to cross a tiger on the prowl.
&nbsp;
Caruana has had some good games and will like to continue in similar fashion. The next round is against Ian Nepomniachtchi who has drawn all his games so far in the tournament.
&nbsp;
Pairings round 6: Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (Fra, 2.5) vs D Gukesh (Ind, 3); Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzb, 2) vs Anish Giri (Ned, 2); Alireza Firouzja (Fra, 2.5) vs Wesley So (Usa, 2.5) R Praggnanandhaa (Ind, 3) vs Deac Bogdan Daniel (Rou, 1.5); Fabiano Caruana (Usa, 3.5) vs Ian Nepomniachtchi (FID, 2.5).

Bucharest

Praggnanandhaa to take on Bogdan-Daniel; Gukesh up against Vachier-Lagrave

Structural engineers from IIT Delhi, engaged by the Civil Aviation Ministry, are expected to complete an independent assessment of the roof collapse incident at Delhi airport's T1 in a month's time, according to a senior official.
 After a thorough assessment of the findings and taking into consideration other aspects, the decision will be taken on restarting operations at the terminal.
 All flights from T1 have been shifted to Terminal 2 (T2) and Terminal 3 (T3), and all of them were being operated, the senior government official said.
&nbsp;
On June 28, a canopy at the old departure forecourt of T1 partially collapsed amid heavy rains resulting in the death of a person and injuries to at least six people.
&nbsp;
Following the incident, the Civil Aviation Ministry said structural engineers from IIT Delhi have been asked to immediately assess the partial collapse of the canopy.
&nbsp;
The official said the ministry is engaging structural engineers from IIT Delhi to do an independent assessment of roof collapse incident at T1 and they are expected to complete the assessment in one month.
&nbsp;
After the findings come in, a decision will be taken about recommencing operations at T1, the official added.
&nbsp;
The Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), operated by a GMR Group-led consortium DIAL, has three terminals -- T1, T2 and T3 -- and handles around 1,400 flight movements daily.
&nbsp;
T1 was used for domestic flight operations by IndiGo and SpiceJet.
&nbsp;
From T1, the official said 72 flights of IndiGo have been shifted to T2 and T3, and 17 flights to T3, adding that all the flights are operational.
&nbsp;
Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu held a meeting with senior officials from regulators, airport operator DIAL and airlines to review the measures in place to ensure smooth functioning and deployment of additional manpower to manage the increased passenger movements at T2 and T3.
&nbsp;
Naidu visited the Airport Operations Control Centre (AOCC) on Sunday to review the operations as T2 and T3 are now also handling the traffic of T1.
&nbsp;
As per an update provided by the ministry on Monday, the war rooms to help passengers have been activated and close coordination between DIAL and airlines is being facilitated.
&nbsp;
Two sources in the know said it might take a few months before operations can resume at T1.
&nbsp;
In response to a set of detailed queries related to T1, DIAL on Sunday said its cross-functional teams are actively evaluating the situation and engaging with various stakeholders to ensure passenger safety and convenience.
&nbsp;
"We remain committed to maintaining flight operations at T3 and T2, while operations at T1 are temporarily suspended. We appreciate the understanding and support of all stakeholders," a DIAL spokesperson said in a statement on Sunday.
&nbsp;
To queries about business loss of concessionaries operating shops and services at T1, the spokesperson had said as the evaluation process is still ongoing, it is too early to provide specific inputs.

IIT-Delhi assessment of IGI Airport damage in a month

The Tripura government has announced a prohibition on registering all types of three-wheeler passenger and goods vehicles within the v(AMC) area starting July 10, aimed at easing traffic congestion and promoting sustainable urban mobility.
&nbsp;
A notification issued on Monday under Section 115 of the MV Act 1988 highlighted the decision's objective to enhance alternative transportation systems in West Tripura District's civic body areas.
&nbsp;
"All types of three-wheeler passenger and goods vehicles, including e-rickshaws, e-carts, e-autos, petrol autos, diesel autos, CNG autos, and vehicles using bio-fuel (methanol &amp; ethanol), are covered under this ban," the notification clarified.
&nbsp;
According to data from the transport department, West Tripura district currently registers 23,474 three-wheelers and 4,259 e-rickshaws, with 70 operational within Agartala.
&nbsp;
"The recent decision follows discussions with Chief Minister Manik Saha and senior officials on managing Agartala's traffic challenges," noted Superintendent of Police (SP), Traffic, Manik Das, on Tuesday.
&nbsp;
"We emphasised the growing issue of three-wheeler traffic contributing to congestion, and it appears the government has taken proactive steps based on our inputs," SP Das added.

Agartala

Tripura govt bans three-wheeler vehicles in Agartala

Swati Maliwal, a Rajya Sabha MP and former Chief of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW), has raised serious allegations against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi.
&nbsp;
She claims that the Delhi government is determined to shut down the DCW and has already terminated the 181 women helpline, a crucial support service for women in distress.
&nbsp;
Maliwal highlighted the significant role DCW has played over the past eight years. The commission has handled around 170,000 cases, offering support and justice to countless women. However, since her resignation from the chairperson's post, Maliwal alleges that the Delhi government has been consistently undermining the commission's efforts. She stated that the government has not released any funds for the DCW for the past six months and has also slashed the commission&rsquo;s budget for the year by 30%.
&nbsp;
Maliwal expressed deep concern over the leadership vacuum at DCW, noting that the chairperson's position has been vacant for six months, along with two other critical positions. She described the closure of the 181 Helpline as a particularly shameful act, given Delhi's reputation as a city with high rates of violence against women. The 181 Helpline served as a vital lifeline for many women facing abuse and harassment, providing them with immediate assistance and support.
 In an attempt to address these issues, Maliwal has written a letter to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, urging him to reconsider the government&rsquo;s stance. She questioned how the women of Delhi can feel safe and protected if the state&rsquo;s women&rsquo;s commission is incapacitated.
&nbsp;
Maliwal suggested that the government might be uncomfortable with women who speak out and challenge the status quo.&nbsp;Maliwal also took to social media to voice her concerns. In a post on 'X,' she lamented the systematic dismantling of the DCW since her resignation in January 2024.
&nbsp;
She described how the systems she had built with great effort since 2015 are being eroded by the government, expressing her deep regret over these developments.
&nbsp;
This situation has sparked a broader debate about the government&rsquo;s commitment to women's safety and empowerment. Many see the alleged actions against the DCW as a step backward in the fight for women's rights and protection in Delhi.
&nbsp;
The closure of the 181 Helpline, in particular, has raised alarm among activists and the general public alike, who fear that this could lead to an increase in unreported and unaddressed cases of violence against women.
&nbsp;
The ongoing conflict between Swati Maliwal and the Delhi government underscores the need for robust support systems and leadership within organisations dedicated to women's safety.
&nbsp;
As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how the government will respond to these allegations and what steps will be taken to ensure the protection and empowerment of women in Delhi.

Maliwal alleges systematic dismantling of DCW by Delhi govt

Two newly elected Trinamool Congress MLAs resumed their dharna on Tuesday, demanding that they be administered oath in the assembly rather than in the Raj Bhavan as per Governor CV Ananda Bose&rsquo;s invite.
&nbsp;
Baranagar MLA Sayantika Bandyopadhyay and Bhagabangola legislator Rayat Hossain Sarkar, who were elected in by-polls held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha elections, have refused to take oath in the Raj Bhavan.
&nbsp;
Their dharna entered the fourth day on Tuesday as they staged the sit-in on the West Bengal assembly premises on June 27, 28 and July 1.
&nbsp;
They resumed their sit-in in front of BR Ambedkar&rsquo;s statue in the assembly complex, demanding that Governor Bose facilitate the oath-taking ceremony in the House, enabling them to perform their duties as legislators.
&nbsp;
The governor had invited the two MLAs to take oath in the Raj Bhavan last Wednesday.
&nbsp;
They declined the invitation, claiming that convention dictates that in the case of by-poll winners, the governor assigns the Speaker of the House or the Deputy Speaker to administer the oath.
&nbsp;

Kolkata

Two TMC MLAs continue dharna outside WB assembly

BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj has given a notice in the Lok Sabha, highlighting alleged inaccuracies in the speech made by Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi. On Tuesday, Speaker Om Birla acknowledged Swaraj's notice, where she claimed that Gandhi's statements during his speech on Monday contained certain "inaccurate" elements. She urged the Chair to take cognizance of her notice.
&nbsp;
Following Gandhi's speech on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address, Union ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and Kiren Rijiju accused the Congress leader of making "untruthful" claims on various issues, including the Agnipath scheme and compensation paid to locals in Ayodhya. These claims have stirred a significant political debate, leading to a closer scrutiny of Gandhi's statements.
&nbsp;
Under Direction 115 of the Speaker, if a member wishes to point out any mistake or inaccuracy in a statement made by a minister or any other member, they must write to the Speaker before referring to the matter in the House.
&nbsp;
This letter should detail the particulars of the mistake or inaccuracy and seek permission to raise the issue. The member may also provide evidence in support of their allegation.
&nbsp;
The Speaker then has the discretion to bring the matter to the notice of the concerned minister or member to ascertain the factual position. This process ensures that any inaccuracies or mistakes in parliamentary statements are addressed and corrected.
&nbsp;
In this instance, significant portions of Rahul Gandhi's speech were expunged from the records early Tuesday morning by the Chair. This expunging of records indicates the seriousness with which the Chair viewed the alleged inaccuracies in Gandhi's speech.
&nbsp;
Bansuri Swaraj's action comes amid heightened political tensions in the Lok Sabha, following Gandhi's pointed remarks during the debate. His speech targeted the central government on various fronts, drawing sharp reactions from the Treasury benches.
&nbsp;
The expunged portions of his speech included comments on sensitive topics such as the Agnipath scheme and the handling of compensation in Ayodhya, both of which have been contentious issues in recent times.
&nbsp;
The political implications of this incident are significant. It underscores the ongoing tussle between the ruling party and the opposition, with each side leveraging parliamentary procedures to advance their respective positions.
&nbsp;
The scrutiny of Gandhi's speech by BJP leaders and the subsequent expunging of parts of his address highlight the intense political contestation within the Lok Sabha.
&nbsp;
The expunging of speech portions is a rare and serious parliamentary procedure, reflecting the gravity of the allegations made by Bansuri Swaraj and others. It also brings to light the critical role of parliamentary oversight and the mechanisms in place to ensure the accuracy and integrity of statements made by members.
&nbsp;
As the debate continues, it is clear that the Lok Sabha will remain a battleground for political contestation, with both sides keenly aware of the stakes involved.
&nbsp;
The scrutiny of Rahul Gandhi's speech and the actions taken by the Speaker will likely be a topic of discussion and analysis in the days to come, as both the ruling party and the opposition navigate the complexities of parliamentary politics.

Bansuri Swaraj challenges Rahul's parliamentary accuracy

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has announced a rare two-day holiday for the upcoming Rath Yatra scheduled on July 7 and 8 in Puri, marking a significant occasion not witnessed since 1971.
&nbsp;
Chairing a high-level meeting to oversee preparations for Lord Jagannath's annual Rath Yatra, Majhi underscored the festival's auspicious timing coinciding with the tenure of the new BJP government.
&nbsp;
"I direct all concerned officers to declare public holidays on these days," Majhi stated, emphasising the festival's importance in upholding Puri and Odisha's cultural pride.
&nbsp;
President Droupadi Murmu is expected to grace the Rath Yatra celebrations, arriving in Puri on July 6 to participate in the festivities and chariot pulling on July 7.
&nbsp;
Highlighting the convergence of key rituals such as &lsquo;Nabajaubana Darshan&rsquo;, &lsquo;Netra Utsav&rsquo;, and the &lsquo;Gundicha Yatra&rsquo; on July 7th, Majhi urged stakeholders to collaborate for the seamless execution of rituals and the successful culmination of the festival.
&nbsp;
The meeting, attended by Deputy Chief Ministers K V Singh Deo and Pravati Parida, along with ministers and senior officials, marked the final coordination effort for ensuring a smooth Rath Yatra.

Bhubaneswar

Odisha CM announces two-day Rath Yatra holiday

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has written a letter to his Telangana counterpart A Revanth Reddy, proposing a face-to-face meeting on July 6 to address unresolved bifurcation issues.
&nbsp;
Naidu proposed to meet at Reddy&rsquo;s place in Hyderabad.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;It has been 10 years since bifurcation of erstwhile Andhra Pradesh. There have been multiple discussions concerning issues arising from the Reorganisation Act, which hold significant implications for the welfare and advancement of our states,&rdquo; said Naidu in the letter.
&nbsp;
It is incumbent upon the CMs of the Telugu speaking states to foster close collaboration to ensure sustained progress and prosperity of both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, he said.
&nbsp;
He said a face-to-face meeting will provide an opportunity to engage comprehensively towards achieving mutually beneficial solutions.
&nbsp;
Detail on issues pertaining to both the states
&nbsp;
This includes both asset sharing and joint capital
&nbsp;
Row over payment of dues for supply of power. Transfer of employees is one of the issues which is waiting for final resolution. The Telangana Non-Gazetted Officers&rsquo; Union Central that they submitted a memorandum to Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka on May 18 urging the government to bring back the leftover (144) Telangana employees allotted to AP during state bifurcation. These employees have been working in AP since 2014. Another example is the disagreement between the two states over assets of the state-run Road Transport Corporation. A senior official of the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) told the media that AP sought a share in assets of the corporation located in Hyderabad and that the TSRTC has denied and disagreed on it. The TSRTC feels that these assets belong to it as per the definition of &lsquo;headquarters&rsquo; given by the Sheela Bhide panel. CM A Revanth Reddy had instructed the officials to settle amicably the pending transfer and repatriation of employees to Andhra Pradesh. He had told the officials to resolve the issues where there is reconciliation between the two states and to act in such a way to protect the interests of Telangana over other pending matters. It was fulfilment of a decades-long demand when Telangana came into existence on June 2, 2014 following the passage of Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation bill in Parliament in February, 2014, during the previous UPA regime. According to Section 5 of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, after 10 years of bifurcation, Hyderabad will be the capital of Telangana only.
Buildings like the Lake View government guest house in Hyderabad which were given to Andhra Pradesh for a period of 10 years have been asked to return. The row over Andhra Pradesh Bhavan in Delhi was resolved in March this year with the Centre making land allocation to the two states. The Centre had held a meeting with senior officials from both the states in the National Capital in March on bifurcation issues.
&nbsp;
The asset sharing between the two states detailed in Schedules IX and X of the Reorganisation Act of 2014 still stands unresolved. Even now, both states are fighting in tribunals for the share of Krishna and Godavari waters.
&nbsp;
While Schedule X listed training institutes that the two states must share, Schedule IX listed the division of state public sector units. The division of 22 PSUs, out of 91 PSUs, remains unresolved.
&nbsp;
The act distributes assets according to their location and debt, and liabilities according to population.
&nbsp;
The 10th Schedule of the Act includes 107 training institutions/centres like AP State Co-operative Union, Environment Protection Training and Research Institute, AP Forest Academy, Centre for Good Governance and Andhra Pradesh Police Academy.
&nbsp;
Though an expert committee headed by retired bureaucrat Sheela Bhide gave recommendations on bifurcation of Schedule IX and X institutions, the matter remained unresolved.
&nbsp;
The total fixed asset value of 245 institutions that are to be shared between the states has been pegged at Rs 1.42 lakh crore. The headquarter assets of institutions under Schedule IX were valued at Rs 24,018.53 crore, while those under Schedule X were valued at Rs 34,642.77 crore.
&nbsp;

Amaravati

Naidu calls on Reddy to solve bifurcation issues

The Delhi High Court has taken cognisance of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's plea challenging his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with an alleged excise policy scam.
&nbsp;
Justice Neena Bansal Krishna's bench issued a notice to the CBI, demanding a response within 7 days.
&nbsp;
Kejriwal, also the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), contested his arrest and subsequent remand in CBI custody for three days, as ordered by a trial court on June 26.
&nbsp;
He was later sent to judicial custody until July 12, following allegations that he played a central role in the purported corruption scheme under investigation.
&nbsp;
The CBI, which took Kejriwal into custody from Tihar jail on June 26 in connection with a related money-laundering case pursued by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), asserted non-cooperation during interrogation and raised concerns about potential witness tampering.
&nbsp;
Despite defence claims seeking to invalidate the arrest timing, the trial court declined, underscoring that while the circumstances might raise suspicion, they did not meet the threshold for illegality.
&nbsp;
Kejriwal, previously granted bail in the ED case on June 20 after an initial arrest on March 21, faced a setback when the high court intervened and stayed the trial court's bail order.
&nbsp;
The controversy stems from the 2022 scrapping of Delhi's excise policy, following allegations of procedural irregularities and favoritism in its implementation, prompting a CBI inquiry at the behest of the Lieutenant Governor.

Delhi HC seeks CBI response on Kejriwal arrest

Two judicial tribunals, led by a Delhi High Court judge, have approved the government's decision to ban two pro-Pakistan groups based in Jammu and Kashmir, including late Syed Ali Shah Geelani&rsquo;s Tehreek-e-Hurriyat (TeH).
 The confirmation of TeH as a banned organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) was given on June 22 by a tribunal headed by Justice Sachin Datta of the Delhi High Court.
&nbsp;
The group was founded by the late separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
&nbsp;
Another tribunal led by Justice Datta confirmed the ban on the Muslim League Jammu and Kashmir (Masrat Alam faction) or MLJK-MA under the UAPA.
&nbsp;
According to a notification from the Union Home Ministry, Tehreek-e-Hurriyat was declared an unlawful association by the Indian government on December 31, 2023.
&nbsp;
The tribunal was later formed to review this declaration on January 16, 2024.
&nbsp;
The latest notification stated, &ldquo;The tribunal, exercising its powers under subsection (3) of section 4 of the UAPA, confirmed the declaration on June 22, 2024.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
In a separate notification, the Home Ministry said that the MLJK-MA was declared an unlawful organisation on December 27, 2023, and a tribunal, also including Justice Sachin Datta, was set up on January 15, 2024. This tribunal confirmed the ban on June 22, 2024.
&nbsp;
Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated that the TeH was banned for fomenting terrorism and spreading anti-India propaganda in Jammu and Kashmir.
&nbsp;
He mentioned that TeH has been declared an 'Unlawful Association' under the UAPA. The group is involved in activities aimed at separating J&amp;K from India and establishing Islamic rule.
&nbsp;
The outfit has been found spreading anti-India propaganda and engaging in terror activities to fuel secessionism in J&amp;K.
&nbsp;
"Under PM Narendra Modi's zero-tolerance policy against terrorism, any individual or organisation found involved in anti-India activities will be thwarted forthwith," Amit Shah stated in a post on X.
&nbsp;
According to data on the Ministry of Home Affairs website, at least ten associations from Jammu and Kashmir have been banned under the UAPA Act. &nbsp;
&nbsp;

Tribunals uphold ban on two J&K separatist factions

A chilling plot to assassinate Bollywood superstar Salman Khan has been uncovered, with jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi at the helm.
&nbsp;
According to a Maharashtra Police chargesheet, Bishnoi issued a ₹25 lakh contract to murder the actor, revealing an elaborate conspiracy.
&nbsp;
The chargesheet details the sinister plan, establishing clear links to Bishnoi and his gang. On April 14, two men allegedly associated with Bishnoi fired shots outside Khan's Bandra residence.
&nbsp;
Multiple arrests followed, and the chargesheet includes charges of conspiracy to murder and other serious offences.
&nbsp;
The investigation revealed that the plot spanned several months, from August 2023 to April 2024.
&nbsp;
The Bishnoi gang attempted to procure advanced firearms from Pakistan, including AK-47s, AK-92s, M16 rifles, and the Turkish-made Zigana pistol.
&nbsp;
The same Zigana pistol was used in the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala in 2022, a crime also attributed to the Bishnoi gang.
&nbsp;
The chargesheet indicates that the gang aimed to kill Khan in a manner similar to Moosewala's murder.
&nbsp;
The plan involved attacking Khan either during a movie shoot or while he was leaving his Panvel farmhouse.
&nbsp;
Extensive surveillance was conducted on Khan, with 60 to 70 individuals tracking his movements at his Mumbai residence, Panvel farmhouse, and Goregaon Film City.
&nbsp;
The gang employed minors to monitor Khan's residence, acting under the orders of Goldy Brar and Bishnoi's brother Anmol.
&nbsp;
Communication within the gang was carried out through a WhatsApp group with 15-16 members, including Brar and Anmol.
&nbsp;
Mumbai Police recovered audio from one of the arrested suspects in the firing incident, which matched the voice of Anmol Bishnoi.
&nbsp;
This recording was sent to a forensic laboratory for verification.
&nbsp;
Lawrence Bishnoi's brother Anmol played a crucial role in the plot, motivating the shooters and providing them with target information.
&nbsp;
After receiving a weapons delivery in Panvel on March 15, 2024, Anmol instructed the shooters to carry out the attack at Khan's residence.
&nbsp;
The police recently recorded statements from Salman Khan and his brother Arbaaz regarding the case.
&nbsp;
This detailed conspiracy highlights the extent of the Bishnoi gang's reach and their methodical approach to executing the assassination plot.
&nbsp;
The involvement of minors and the procurement of advanced weaponry underscore the grave nature of the threat posed by the gang.

Police reveals details of Bishnoi's plot to kill Salman Khan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to deliver a significant address today in the Lok Sabha, marking his first speech to the MPs of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) during this parliamentary session. This comes as PM Modi assumes office for a third consecutive term, aiming to respond to the Motion of Thanks on the President's address.
&nbsp;
Alongside PM Modi&rsquo;s address, Union Health Minister JP Nadda will present updates on the implementation status of recommendations from various parliamentary committee reports related to health and family welfare ministries. This includes reports on demands for grants pertaining to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Ministry of AYUSH.
&nbsp;
Joining JP Nadda, a lineup of ministers including Jadhav Prataprao Ganpatrao, Jitin Prasada, Ramdas Athawale, Ram Nath Thakur, Nityanand Rai, Satya Pal Singh Baghel, Shobha Karandlaje, BL Verma, L Murugan, Ajay Tamta, Kamlesh Paswan, and Ravneet Singh will present papers in the Lok Sabha today.
&nbsp;
In his recent address, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi stirred controversy during his first speech as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. His remarks, which accused the BJP of spreading violence and misleading the House, drew strong reactions from BJP leaders.
&nbsp;
Prime Minister Modi, responding to Gandhi&rsquo;s allegations, emphasised the seriousness of labelling the entire Hindu community as violent and called for an apology from Rahul Gandhi.
&nbsp;
The political atmosphere remains charged following these developments, with both BJP and Congress engaging in press conferences to counter each other&rsquo;s claims.
&nbsp;
Rahul Gandhi, in his speech, targeted the BJP over various issues including the NEET-UG controversy and the Agniveer scheme. He also asserted the symbol of &lsquo;Abhayamudra&rsquo; as emblematic of fearlessness, safety, and reassurance across Indian religions.
&nbsp;
Meanwhile, discussions in the Rajya Sabha were equally tense, with BJP members raising objections to Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge&rsquo;s allegations against PM Modi&rsquo;s divisive speeches during the Lok Sabha campaign.
&nbsp;
The debate on the motion of thanks on the President&rsquo;s address has sparked broader political debates on governance and communal harmony in India.
&nbsp;
As PM Modi prepares to address the Lok Sabha today, his response is anticipated to further shape the ongoing discourse on national policies and political rhetoric.

PM Modi set to respond to President's address motion today

Embattled Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has opted not to resign despite an agreement between the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML to form a new coalition government.
&nbsp;
Instead, Prachanda will face a vote of confidence in Parliament, as decided in a meeting of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) office-bearers in Baluwatar on Tuesday, according to party Secretary Ganesh Shah.
&nbsp;
"The Prime Minister has decided to seek a vote of confidence," Shah confirmed.
&nbsp;
Prachanda, 69, has previously won three confidence votes during his one-and-a-half-year term.
&nbsp;
This development follows a midnight power-sharing deal between Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN-UML leader KP Sharma Oli to form a new 'national consensus government' to replace the current Prachanda-led coalition.
&nbsp;
Nepali Congress, the largest party in the House of Representatives (HoR), currently holds 89 seats, while CPN-UML has 78 seats.
&nbsp;
Together, their combined strength of 167 seats surpasses the 138-seat majority required in the 275-member HoR. Deuba, 78, and Oli, 72, have agreed to rotate the Prime Ministerial position for the remainder of the parliamentary term.
&nbsp;
Meanwhile, efforts to preserve the existing coalition between Prachanda and CPN-UML chief Oli have failed, according to Maoist sources.
&nbsp;
Prachanda has accused his opponents of conspiring to topple the government and destabilise the country at a time when the government is focused on combating corruption and promoting good governance.
&nbsp;
Under constitutional provisions, the Prime Minister has 30 days to seek a vote of confidence in the House of Representatives, providing Prachanda with some time for political maneuvering.
&nbsp;
"We will engage in discussions with various parties, including the Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Nepali Congress, and CPN-UML, to save the coalition," Prachanda stated.
&nbsp;
Nepali Congress President Deuba briefed party officials about the agreement with CPN-UML during a meeting at his residence in Budhanilkantha on Tuesday morning, explaining that the leadership of the new government would alternate between the two parties.
&nbsp;
The RSP, a key ruling coalition partner, has decided not to participate in the new alliance between the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML.
&nbsp;
During a secretariat meeting on Tuesday, the party also resolved to withdraw from the current government. The RSP holds 21 seats in the House of Representatives.
&nbsp;
Nepal has experienced 13 governments in the last 16 years, underscoring the fragile nature of the country's political landscape. The current political turmoil adds to this history of instability.

Kathmandu

Nepal PM Prachanda opts for confidence vote over resignation

A young Indian cricket team, led by Shubman Gill, departed for Zimbabwe to play a five-match T20I series starting in Harare on July 6. Under the guidance of National Cricket Academy head VVS Laxman, the squad includes promising talents like Riyan Parag and Abhishek Sharma, who have earned their maiden India call-ups following impressive performances in the latest IPL season.
&nbsp;
Skipper Gill, the reserve opener for the T20 World Cup was on a break and will link up with the Zimbabwe-bound squad directly in Harare from the US.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The BCCI took to X to post pictures of those who boarded the flight, which includes Sharma, Parag, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar, Tushar Deshpande and NCA head Laxman.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Five members of the squad - Shivam Dube, Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, and Khaleel Ahmed were either part of the T20 World Cup-winning team or were travelling reserves are stranded in Barbados due to Hurricane Beryl. They will join the squad later.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
With Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja retiring form the shortest format of the game, the T20 series against Zimbabwe will provide the youngsters with the perfect opportunity to cement their places in the team for future series.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
India's squad for T20I series against Zimbabwe:
&nbsp;
Shubman Gill (Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Abhishek Sharma, Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Shivam Dube, Riyan Parag, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar, Tushar Deshpande.&nbsp;

Indian team heads to Zimbabwe for T20I series

The Telangana government has decided to expand the disaster management wing of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) to offer various services, including protecting government assets like water bodies against the threat of encroachments.
&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 preliminary decision has been taken at a meeting held by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy to name the expanded wing as Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Monitoring and Protection (HYDRA), an official release said on Monday night.
<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 view of the expansion of the geographical area of Hyderabad, the CM directed expanding the purview of the disaster management wing up to the city's Outer Ring Road (ORR).
<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 wing would serve the GHMC and also the 27 municipal bodies, 33 Gram Panchayats neighbouring the city.
<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;">CM Revanth Reddy directed Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari to prepare a draft on the reorganisation, requirement of personnel, duties, allocation of funds and responsibilities of the wing.
<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 CM decided that the disaster management wing would take up key responsibilities of protecting the lakes and ponds within the GHMC area of about two thousand kilometers, 'nalas' (drainages) in the city and the government properties from the threat of encroachment.
<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;">Apart from this, the disaster management wing will also provide services like controlling hoardings, drinking water pipelines, power supply lines, drainages, flood management and traffic control, the release 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;">The Chief Minister instructed officials to speed up the works of Musi Riverfront Development project and said it should work in tune with the government&rsquo;s goal to promote Hyderabad as the &lsquo;best international city&rsquo;.
<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;">Officials were also asked to take appropriate measures to restore the buildings of historical importance in Hyderabad.
<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 GHMC officials made a powerpoint presentation on various historic places, including City Library, ayurvedic hospital near Charminar, Nizamia Observatory, Gudimalkapur lake.
<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 Chief Minister suggested exploring ways to develop them as tourist spots, the release added. 
&nbsp;

Telangana

T'gana: Govt to expand city's disaster management system

The flood situation in Assam remains dire, with over 6.71 lakh people impacted across 20 districts in the second wave of flooding this year.
&nbsp;
The Indian Air Force (IAF) played a crucial role, rescuing 13 stranded fishermen from the heavily affected Dibrugarh district on Tuesday, an official stated.
&nbsp;
The Brahmaputra and 12 other major rivers are flowing above the danger mark at various locations.
&nbsp;
The state's weather forecast predicts heavy to very heavy rainfall in several districts, further exacerbating the flood situation, according to an official bulletin.
&nbsp;
The fishermen were stranded in Hatia Ali, a 'char' (sandbar) area in Dibrugarh. Their rescue was facilitated by the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), which requested the IAF's assistance.
&nbsp;
"ASDMA requested IAF to airlift these 13 stranded fishermen. All the expenditure for airlifting the people will be borne by ASDMA," the official noted.
&nbsp;
The IAF, sharing pictures of the rescue operation on social media, wrote: "#IAF rescued 13 marooned survivors from a small island in the flooded Brahmaputra, north of Dibrugarh in Assam. On 2 Jul 24, after a sunrise takeoff, a Mi-17 IV helicopter from AFS Mohanbari flew in challenging weather conditions and undertook rescue ops from a marshy piece of land."
&nbsp;
The coordinated efforts of the pilot and flight gunner ensured prompt and safe boarding of the 13 survivors, it added.
&nbsp;
Emergency first aid was provided to the rescued individuals by the IAF. This rescue operation follows a similar mission on Sunday when the IAF saved eight State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel and a revenue official stranded during relief operations in Jonai, Dhemaji district.
&nbsp;
Dibrugarh remains one of the most severely affected districts, with the major town in Upper Assam submerged for the sixth consecutive day.
&nbsp;
According to an ASDMA bulletin, 6,71,167 people are reeling under floodwaters in 67 revenue circles across 20 districts including Biswanath, Cachar, Charaideo, Darrang, Chirang, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Jorhat, Kamrup, Lakhimpur, Sivasagar, Sonitpur, Morigaon, Nagaon, Majuli, Karimganj, Tamulpur, Tinsukia, and Nalbari.
&nbsp;
The death toll from this year's floods, storms, and landslides has risen to 46, with one fatality reported in the last 24 hours.
&nbsp;
The Brahmaputra is flowing above the danger mark at Neamatighat (Jorhat), Tezpur (Sonitpur), Guwahati (Kamrup), and Dhubri (Dhubri).
&nbsp;
Other major rivers breaching danger levels include Subansiri at Badatighat (Lakhimpur), Burhidihing at Chenimari (Dibrugarh), Dikhou at Sivasagar, Disang at Nanglamuraghat (Sivasagar), Dhansiri at Numaligarh (Golaghat), Jia-Bharali at NT Road Crossing (Sonitpur), Kopili at Kampur (Nagaon), Puthimari at NH Road Crossing (Kamrup), Beki at Barpeta Road Bridge, Dhaleswari (Hailakandi), Kushiyara (Karimganj), and the Barak river at BP Ghat.
&nbsp;
The Regional Meteorological Centre in Borjhar, Guwahati, has issued an alert for potential heavy to very heavy rain in isolated areas over Goalpara, Bongaigaon, Karbi Anglong, and Dima Hasao. In response to the worsening conditions, 8,142 people are taking shelter in 72 relief camps spread across the affected districts.
&nbsp;
For ongoing relief and rescue operations, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed in Cachar, Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Golaghat, Majuli, and Lakhimpur.
&nbsp;
Additionally, SDRF, fire and emergency services, police forces, and AAPDA Mitra Volunteers from ASDMA are aiding district administrations in flood-affected areas. The Indian Army is also actively participating in relief efforts, particularly in Golaghat district.
&nbsp;
A total of 614 SDRF personnel, including 159 deep divers, with 295 boats have been deployed in 54 locations.
&nbsp;
Reports indicate breaches in embankments in Golaghat, Jorhat, Nagaon, and Majuli, alongside damage to other infrastructure, such as roads, according to the ASDMA bulletin.
&nbsp;
Kaziranga National Park has not been spared, with 95 out of 233 forest camps inundated.
&nbsp;
In response, the Golaghat district administration has issued prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), restricting vehicular movement on NH-37 (New NH-715) and limiting vehicle speeds to between 20 and 40 km/hour.

Over 6.71 lakh hit in Assam floods, IAF steps In

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose met the victims of Uttar Dinajpur incident in Cooch Behar on Tuesday, informed sources.
&nbsp;
In the&nbsp;North Dinajpur incident, a man and a woman were publicly whipped allegedly by a TMC leader. A video of the incident surfaced on social media.
&nbsp;
Bose arrived in Bagdogra from New Delhi in the morning and proceeded directly to Cooch Behar, where the victims were waiting for him.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;At the moment, the Governor is interacting with the victims at the Cooch Behar circuit house and gathering details from them,&rdquo; an official told the media.
&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;">Sources said Bose would decide later whether to proceed with the planned visit to Chopra.
<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;Since the victims expressed their desire to meet him in Cooch Behar and have already arrived here, the Governor is meeting them here. Whether or not he visits Chopra will depend on his assessment,&rdquo; the official 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;">Bose on Monday had sought a report from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on the flogging of a couple.
<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;">Police on Sunday registered a case after the video of the incident that happened on Friday went viral on social media, sparking widespread outrage. PTI could not independently verify the video.
<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 man seen in the video beating up the couple with a bamboo stick was identified as Tajmul alias &lsquo;JCB&rsquo;, claimed to be a local Trinamool Congress leader. He was later arrested.
<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 couple was allegedly engaged in an illicit relationship because of which they were flogged on the direction of a kangaroo court, police said. 
&nbsp;

West Bengal

WB Guv meets victims of Uttar Dinajpur incident

The southwest monsoon arrived before the time it was scheduled for, the India Meteorological Department said on Tuesday. The southwest monsoon covered the entire nation six days ahead of the normal date. 
&nbsp;
"The southwest monsoon has further advanced into the remaining parts of Rajasthan, Haryana, and Punjab today. Thus, it covered the entire country on 2nd July 2024, against the normal date of July 8 (six days before the normal date of covering the entire India)," the IMD said in a statement. 
&nbsp;
The monsoon arrived in Kerala and the northeastern region on May 30, two and six days earlier than usual.
&nbsp;
It progressed normally up to Maharashtra but lost momentum, extending the wait for rains in West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh, and worsening the impact of a scorching heat wave in northwest India.
&nbsp;
The country recorded 16 days of below-normal rainfall activity - from June 11 to June 27 - which led to an overall below-normal precipitation in June, 147.2 mm of rainfall against a normal of 165.3 mm for the month, the seventh lowest since 2001.
&nbsp;
June rainfall accounts for 15 per cent of the total precipitation of 87 cm recorded during the four-month monsoon season in the country.
&nbsp;
The IMD on Monday said India could experience above-normal rainfall in July, with heavy rains potentially leading to floods in the western Himalayan states and river basins in the central parts of the country.&nbsp;

Southwest monsoon covers India early

A devastated David Miller described South Africa's narrow defeat to India in the T20 World Cup final as a "tough pill to swallow," but expressed pride in his team&rsquo;s journey and resilience.
&nbsp;
The Proteas, shedding their infamous "chokers" tag, reached their first-ever T20 World Cup final unbeaten. Despite their stellar run, they fell short by seven runs in a nail-biting finish against India.
&nbsp;
In an Instagram story posted late on Monday, Miller shared his heartbreak: "I am gutted!! Really tough pill to swallow after what transpired 2 days ago. Words don't explain how I am feeling. One thing I do know is how proud I am of this unit."
&nbsp;
South Africa had enjoyed a remarkable tournament, emerging victorious in high-pressure situations and becoming the favorites for the title.
&nbsp;
"This journey was an incredible one, with highs and lows throughout the entire month. We have endured pain, but I know this team has the resilience and will keep raising the bar," Miller added.
&nbsp;
The final saw South Africa on track for a historic win, needing 30 runs from the last 30 balls. However, a superb effort by India's bowlers, led by Jasprit Bumrah, saw them snatch victory. Key wickets of Heinrich Klaasen and Marco Jansen turned the tide.
&nbsp;
With Miller at the crease and 16 runs needed off the last over, South Africa's hopes were still alive. However, a brilliant boundary catch by Suryakumar Yadav ended Miller's innings and dashed the Proteas' dreams.
&nbsp;
This was South Africa's closest attempt at a title, having exited&nbsp;in the semifinals seven times in ICC events. Despite the loss, Miller remains optimistic about the future and the team's potential to break new ground.

Barbados

Painful T20 loss, but proud of proteas' journey: Miller

Farmers in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district have successfully implemented a lift irrigation system on the Sigdi-Chatroo river which now, &nbsp;supports their horticultural operations and hybrid walnut nurseries. This initiative is carried out in collaboration with the district administration.&nbsp;
 The project was spearheaded by Suneel Singh, a progressive orchardist from Gunderna-Tagood in Mughal Maidan tehsil. Singh and fellow farmers and orchardists sought technical and financial assistance from the district administration to lift water from the Sigdi-Chatroo river. This support was crucial in ensuring adequate irrigation for their orchards and hybrid walnut nurseries, according to an official.
 The official said the total project cost was substantial, with a major portion funded by the district administration, Kishtwar under the convergence of the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) and other agriculture schemes, and the remaining contribution by the progressive farmer himself.&nbsp;
 This successful endeavor exemplifies the achievements possible through the convergence of the HADP and other agricultural schemes, the official said, adding by proactively engaging with these government initiatives, farmers can significantly benefit.
 Farmers from Satarwajan in Dadpeth area of Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar have overcome various challenges to establish a lift irrigation system.
 The farmers approached deputy commissioner, Kishtwar Devansh Yadav, who provided financial and technical support, the official said, adding the technical resolution involved using 18mm steel wire and 50mm High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipes to cross the rivers, drilling holes, and erecting pillars on both sides.
 Despite the odds, their persistent efforts paid off, leading to the successful lifting of water from the Sigdi Chatroo river, the official said, adding that the results of this achievement are manifold, boasting high-value crops in the area.
 The official said the high-value crops now grown in the area have not only boosted yields but also enhanced the farmers' income, improved food security, and stimulated local economies.
 Additionally, this success has inspired other farmers to adopt similar practices, leading to overall agricultural development and sustainability in the region, he said.
 The official said the endeavour is a testament to the power of determination, hard work, and the collaborative efforts of the administration and farmers in tapping the horticultural potential of the area by utilizing the ongoing HADP and agriculture schemes.&nbsp;

Srinagar

JK's Kishtwar farmers implement lift irrigation system

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has sounded a Red Alert for Assam and Meghalaya, warning of extremely heavy rainfall today. Uttarakhand is also under the same warning as North India braces for intense monsoon activity.
&nbsp;
The forecast predicts continued heavy rain across North India, impacting states like Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Bihar over the next few days. Coastal regions of Gujarat and the West Coast are also expected to experience significant rainfall.
&nbsp;
IMD&rsquo;s monthly outlook suggests that July will bring above-normal rainfall across the country.
&nbsp;
While most regions are likely to receive normal to above-normal precipitation, parts of Northeast India, including Assam, and some areas in Northwest, East, and Southeast Peninsular India might experience below-normal rainfall.
&nbsp;
The Monsoon Mission Climate Forecast System indicates a potential development of La Nina conditions in the latter part of the monsoon season, which could influence weather patterns.
&nbsp;
In response to the Red Alert, authorities in Assam and Meghalaya are gearing up for the severe weather.
&nbsp;
With heavy rain forecasted, there are concerns about potential flooding and landslides.
&nbsp;
Local administrations have been placed on high alert, and precautionary measures are being implemented to ensure the safety of residents and infrastructure.
&nbsp;
Meanwhile, Delhi witnessed light drizzles this morning, with cloudy skies and heavy rain expected in the coming days.
&nbsp;
The capital's temperatures are forecasted to range between 27 and 33 degrees Celsius.

IMD warns of heavy rain in Assam, Meghalaya today

Gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections in June rose 7.7 percent year-on-year to Rs 1.74 lakh crore, marking the slowest rate of growth in three years, according to sources.
&nbsp;
This growth figure, based on sales in May, is the lowest since June 2021.
&nbsp;
The announcement coincided with the seventh anniversary of the GST rollout. In a significant move, the government announced that it will cease the official release of monthly gross GST collections, which had typically been published on the first day of each month.
&nbsp;
Henceforth, no statements regarding GST collections will be issued, according to sources.
&nbsp;
Historically, the monthly release included a state-wise breakdown of the revenue, serving as an indicator of economic and consumption activities. It also detailed the breakup of Central GST (CGST), State GST (SGST), and compensation cess collected from imports and domestic sales.
&nbsp;
For the current financial year (April-June), the gross GST collection has reached Rs 5.57 lakh crore. The government collected Rs 1.73 lakh crore in May 2024 and Rs 1.61 lakh crore in June 2023. The Integrated GST (IGST) of Rs 39,586 crore was settled towards CGST and Rs 33,548 crore towards SGST, sources added. The GST mop-up had hit a record high of Rs 2.1 lakh crore in April 2024.
&nbsp;
In a series of posts on social media platform X, the Finance Ministry highlighted the benefits of the GST regime on its seventh anniversary. "With reduced tax rates on household goods after GST implementation, #7yearsofGST has brought happiness and relief to every home through lower GST on household appliances and mobile phones," the Ministry stated.
&nbsp;
The GST regime, implemented on July 1, 2017, was hailed as a significant tax reform intended to simplify the tax structure and boost compliance.

GST collection rises 7.7% to Rs 1.74 lakh crore in June

Bhaderwah, famed as &lsquo;Mini Kashmir&rsquo; for its pristine beauty, meadows, lakes, mountains and valleys is also called the lavender capital of India for its cultivation of best quality lavender flowers.
&nbsp;
It is now becoming one of the best offbeat destinations for tourists, including vloggers, offering cool temperatures, and picturesque landscapes. 
&nbsp;
In 2022, Bhaderwah celebrated its first-ever lavender festival in a bid to promote lavender farming among locals.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
While the plains endure a severe heatwave and traditional tourist spots are overcrowded, "tourist demands have become more specific this year," said Muzzafar Farooq, who runs a travel agency in Srinagar.
&nbsp;
The lavender farms, renowned for their sprawling fields of vibrant purple blooms, have emerged as popular destinations for travellers seeking to unwind in picturesque locales.
&nbsp;
The blooming season lasts typically from late spring to early summer.
&nbsp;
Agri-tourism activities further enhance visitor experience at lavender farms. Guided tours provide insights into lavender farming techniques and include tastings of lavender-infused products, such as oils, soaps, and culinary delights.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The rise of social media has contributed significantly to the popularity of the farms.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Also referred to as the birthplace of India's purple revolution, Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district is experiencing a boom in lavender farming under the 'one district, one product' scheme with the government, Army and institutions supporting its production.
&nbsp;
The Centre also designated lavender as a 'Doda brand product' to promote the exotic plant, aiming to help agri startups, entrepreneurs and farmers associated with its cultivation under the Aroma Mission of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
&nbsp;
And now, tourism is getting a boost too.
&nbsp;
Picturesque scenes of lavender fields have become Instagram sensations, attracting influencers and travellers seeking unique, natural backdrops for their content creation.
&nbsp;
As global travel trends continue to emphasise wellness, nature, and unique experiences, lavender farms are poised to remain sought-after destinations for tourists across the country.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
On offer is a sensory escape into fields of fragrant lavender, coupled with opportunities for relaxation and education.

Why J&K’s Bhaderwah lavender farms are a tourist hit

This morning, some containers fell off a goods train onto the tracks in Haryana, affecting the rail traffic. The incident took place near Taraori in Haryana's Karnal district on Tuesday.&nbsp;
 The train was on its way from Ambala to Delhi, a Government Railway Police official said.
 Speaking on the incident, the officials stated, "Eight containers fell off, the reasons for the same are under investigation by the railway authorities. The train was on its way from Ambala to Delhi when the incident happened near Taraori in Karnal."
 He said the rail traffic on the Ambala-Delhi railway route has been affected.
 "Efforts are on to restore the traffic, but it is going to take a few hours more," he said.&nbsp;

Containers fall off goods train in Haryana

In just the first three days of the annual pilgrimage, over 50,000 devotees from across India have visited the holy cave of Shri Amarnath Ji, officials said.
&nbsp;
The Yatra, which commenced on June 29 from the twin tracks of Baltal and Nunwan-Pahalgam, has seen a steady influx of pilgrims negotiating the challenging terrain to reach the sacred site in the south Kashmir Himalayas.
&nbsp;
On Tuesday, a fresh batch of more than 6,500 pilgrims embarked on the journey from Jammu, departing at 3:05 am in 261 vehicles, accompanied by tight security measures.
&nbsp;
This group included 4,431 pilgrims who opted for the 48-kilometre traditional Pahalgam route, while 2,106 chose the shorter but steeper 14-kilometre Baltal route.
&nbsp;
The officials noted that on Monday alone, over 23,000 devotees paid obeisance at the 3,880-metre high cave shrine, with more than 2,000 on-the-spot registrations completed that day.
&nbsp;
Before the commencement of the Yatra, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who flagged off the pilgrimage on June 28, extended an invitation to people from across the country and abroad to participate in this year's Amarnath Yatra, aiming to make it a successful spiritual journey.
&nbsp;
Personally overseeing the arrangements, LG Sinha is ensuring the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage. On Thursday, he, along with top police officials, reviewed the ongoing arrangements at the base camp in Jammu.
&nbsp;
The 52-day pilgrimage, which concludes on August 19, continues to attract a large number of devotees, demonstrating their unwavering faith and dedication in undertaking this spiritually significant journey.
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Jammu

50,000 pilgrims visit Amarnath Shrine in three days

Manan Tandon

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A new group of over 6,500 pilgrims set off for the Amarnath shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas on Tuesday under tight security, officials reported.
 On Monday, more than 23,000 devotees visited the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine, bringing the total number of pilgrims to over 51,000. Additionally, more than 2,000 on-the-spot registrations were completed that day.
&nbsp;
The fifth batch of 6,537 pilgrims departed in 261 vehicles at 3:05 am, heading towards the twin base camps of Baltal and Pahalgam, escorted by security vehicles.
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Of these, 4,431 pilgrims chose the 48-km traditional Pahalgam route, while 2,106 opted for the shorter but steeper 14-km Baltal route.
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Since June 28, when Lt Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the first batch, a total of 26,101 pilgrims have left the Jammu base camp for the valley. The 52-day Yatra began on June 29 and will conclude on August 19.
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Meanwhile, multi-layered security has been put in place to thwart any terror threat. &ldquo;Stringent security arrangements have been put in place for the smooth conduct of the Yatra,&rdquo; an official said.
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Additionally, thousands of security personnel from the police, Central Reserve Police Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police and other paramilitary forces have been deployed along the route. Aerial surveillance is also being carried out.
&nbsp;
Over 50,000 pilgrims from across the country have paid obeisance at the holy cave of Shri Amarnath Ji in the first three days of the pilgrimage, which began on June 29 from the twin tracks of Baltal and Nunwan-Pahalgam.

New batch of 6,500 pilgrims leaves for Amarnath

Indian stock markets experienced a notable dip today after opening at record highs. The S&amp;P BSE Sensex, which hit an all-time high of 79,855.87 at the opening bell, fell 38.34 points to 79,437.85 around 10:17 am.
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Meanwhile, the NSE Nifty50 declined 8.70 points to 24,133.25, after initially surging to 24,236.35.
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The downturn was primarily driven by significant declines in major sectoral indices, including Nifty Bank and Nifty Financial Services.
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This came after the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) issued a directive for stock exchanges to levy uniform charges on brokers, causing a sharp fall in brokerage stocks.
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The slide in banking and financial services overshadowed a more than 1% gain in information technology stocks. Among the top gainers on the Nifty50 were Infosys, Coal India, LTIM, Wipro, and ONGC. On the flip side, the top losers included HDFC Life, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Shriram Finance, Bajaj Finance, and SBI Life.
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Dr. VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services, commented on the market dynamics, noting the impressive performance of the Nifty in recent times. "Nifty has delivered 10.4% returns in the first half of 2024 on top of the 20% returns in 2023. These are impressive returns. An important feature of this bull market which began after the COVID crash of March 2020 (Nifty at 7511) is that it has been devoid of any significant correction."

Brokerage stocks fall, drag markets down

The Delhi High Court is set to hear Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal&rsquo;s petition today, challenging his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the alleged liquor policy scam. This comes after Kejriwal's request for two additional video conferencing meetings with his lawyers was denied by the Rouse Avenue court on July 1.
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Special judge Kaveri Baweja dismissed the application, noting that Kejriwal's counsel failed to present convincing reasons for additional legal meetings. The judge emphasised that the grounds presented were previously discussed and rejected in an earlier order. The court highlighted that a similar application was already dismissed on April 10, 2024, reinforcing the decision to deny Kejriwal&rsquo;s recent request.
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Kejriwal's legal team argued that he is involved in around 30 litigations nationwide, necessitating more frequent consultations with his lawyers to ensure a fair trial. They also mentioned his recent arrest in another case by the CBI and pointed out that co-accused Sanjay Singh was previously granted additional legal meetings in February 2024.
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During the hearing, the CBI argued that Kejriwal was uncooperative during his police custody remand. They claimed that he provided evasive answers and failed to explain the increase in the profit margin for wholesalers from 5% to 12% under the new Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22. The agency maintained that, based on the evidence, further custodial interrogation of Kejriwal was not necessary at this stage.
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The controversy surrounding Kejriwal's arrest began on June 26 when the CBI detained him after obtaining permission from a Vacation Judge of the Delhi Court.
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The court had allowed the CBI to interrogate Kejriwal in the courtroom, paving the way for his formal arrest. The court also directed the CBI to present the material evidence justifying his arrest.
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The alleged liquor policy scam has been a point of contention, with accusations of financial irregularities and favouritism in the formulation and implementation of the policy.
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The policy, introduced in 2021, aimed to revamp the liquor trade in Delhi but faced criticism and allegations of corruption.&nbsp;As the Delhi High Court prepares to hear Kejriwal&rsquo;s petition, the case continues to draw significant attention.
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The outcome of the hearing could have major implications for both Kejriwal and the broader political landscape in Delhi. Kejriwal&rsquo;s supporters argue that the arrest is politically motivated, while his critics insist that the legal process must take its course.
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The hearing today will be crucial in determining the next steps in this high-profile case, as Kejriwal seeks relief from what his legal team describes as unjust treatment by the CBI. The court's decision will be closely watched, with significant ramifications for the Chief Minister and his party.

Delhi HC to hear Kejriwal's plea on Liquor scam arrest

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) recently reported the destruction of a kilometre-long terror tunnel and the elimination of approximately 100 terrorists. The operation was part of a broader effort by the IDF's 99th Infantry Division to neutralise terrorist threats in the central Gaza Strip.
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During this mission, the IDF successfully targeted and destroyed more than 100 terrorist structures, which included weapons storage facilities, observation posts, rocket launch pits, and underground tunnel routes.
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The 99th Division, notable for being the only reserve division operating in Gaza, has been actively engaged in this region for several months, focusing on dismantling terrorist infrastructure.
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The terror tunnel, equipped with multiple branches for underground movement, was destroyed with the assistance of the Yahalom (Diamond) Special Forces Engineering Unit. This unit specialises in handling such complex operations, ensuring the tunnel's complete destruction to prevent further terrorist activities.
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In addition to the tunnel, IDF troops also targeted a booby-trapped mosque that served as a hideout for terrorists. The strike on the mosque resulted in secondary explosions, indicating the presence of a substantial cache of weapons stored at the site. This further highlights the ongoing efforts of the IDF to dismantle terrorist capabilities and ensure the safety and security of the region.
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The success of this operation underscores the IDF's commitment to combating terrorism and protecting civilian lives. By targeting and eliminating key terrorist structures and personnel, the IDF aims to disrupt terrorist activities and restore stability in the area.
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The coordinated efforts of the 99th Infantry Division and the Yahalom Special Forces Engineering Unit have been crucial in achieving these objectives.
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As the conflict continues, the IDF remains vigilant and prepared to respond to any threats, maintaining their stance against terrorism and ensuring the safety of their nation.
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The destruction of the terror tunnel and the elimination of terrorists mark significant steps in this ongoing battle, demonstrating the IDF's resolve and capability in counter-terrorism operations.

Gaza 

Over 100 terrorists killed as IDF demolishes tunnel

Body mass index (better known as BMI) has long been used to get a quick and easy snapshot of a person&rsquo;s body fat levels. To calculate someone&rsquo;s BMI, you divide their weight in kilograms by their height in metres times itself. The resulting number is used to determine a person&rsquo;s health risk.
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Although there are far better ways of getting an accurate measure of a person&rsquo;s body fat levels &ndash; such as using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (Dexa) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) &ndash; these are very resource-intensive. This may explain why BMI has remained the go-to method for measuring health since it first started being used in the latter part of the 20th century.
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But many health experts believe BMI has significant limitations, particularly for children and young people (whose body fat levels change as they grow), athletic people (who have high levels of muscle mass) and people from ethnic minority groups (who may develop health problems at lower body fat levels).
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BMI was never created for use in health and was developed using data from European people in the 19th century. Although child and ethnicity‐specific adjusted BMI and alternative height and weight ratios have been suggested, none have made sufficient headway to improve BMI&rsquo;s reputation.
&nbsp;
Several alternatives to BMI have also been suggested &ndash; such as using waist-to-hip ratio (waist circumference divided by hip circumference) or body volume index (which uses 3D body scanners to estimate total body fat distribution).
&nbsp;
But a recent study suggests that instead of BMI, we should be using something called body roundness index (BRI) to get a more accurate picture of a person&rsquo;s body fat levels and predict health risk.
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What is body roundness index?
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BRI was developed by US researchers in 2013 in response to criticisms of BMI. Instead of looking at height and weight, BRI mathematically quantifies body fat levels by looking at height and waist circumference instead. This provides a value typically ranging from one to 20. It is the lowest and highest values that suggest the highest health risk.
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Numerous studies have shown that BRI may be better than BMI at predicting the health risks associated with different levels of body fat. This includes predicting risk of weight-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, kidney disease and cancer, as well as death from any cause.
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This latest study, which looked at 32,995 US adults between 1999 and 2018, found an association between BRI and death from any cause. Specifically, they also found that people with the lowest and highest BRI scores had the greatest health risks.
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They also found that BRI was better than BMI at accurately detecting this risk. This is because BRI considers the fat held around the abdomen, which is linked to greater risk of health problems. This is different to BMI, which only considers overall weight.
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BRI vs BMI
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Given BRI only requires a tape measure and a maths equation, this means it&rsquo;s as easy to use and accessible as BMI. But assuming BRI is manually measured, it remains as subject to human error as BMI.
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One study even found that eight out of ten trained health professionals demonstrated such high levels of human error when manually measuring the abdomen that they failed to notice an increase of 3cm the second time they took the measurement. This margin of error will probably be even higher in people taking their own measurements at home.
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As a new metric, BRI also does not yet have the kind of extensive data backing up its use that exists for BMI. This makes it harder to know just how effective and reliable it is compared to these more established methods.
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And like BMI, BRI is a composite measure &ndash; meaning it combines multiple highly related measures into a single index. This makes it very hard to unpick the impact that different body fat levels can have on health &ndash; and can lead to misleading interpretations of the results.
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While BRI may improve on some of BMI&rsquo;s shortcomings, it&rsquo;s not immune to misclassification. For example, people with high muscle mass might still face inaccuracies in their health risk assessments if their body fat distribution does not conform to &ldquo;typical&rdquo; patterns around the abdomen. Research also suggests that BRI&rsquo;s accuracy at predicting the health risks may vary depending on a person&rsquo;s ethnicity, age and sex.
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BRI most certainly represents an advancement in the hunt for a more accurate alternative to BMI by focusing more on body shape and fat distribution rather than just body size. But it still has its limitations. Although this latest study gives us more data on BRI&rsquo;s accuracy, more research is still needed before we can be certain it&rsquo;s better than BMI and should replace it.
&nbsp;
Perhaps an even better way of getting a picture of a person&rsquo;s health is to use 3D body surface imaging. This creates a scale digital 3D image of the human body which allows health professionals to explore all potential existing body measures, including both BRI and BMI, as well as allowing us to explore new digital alternatives.
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But regardless of which body measure you or a doctor may use to asses your health, it&rsquo;s important to remember that every person is unique, and our bodies do &ndash; and should &ndash; always come in a wide range of shapes and sizes.
 This article first appeared in The Conversation.
&nbsp;

Time to ditch BMI for Body Roundness Index?

Hina Khan has recently disclosed that she has received a stage 3 breast cancer diagnosis. She posted a video on Instagram on Monday, documenting her hospital visit for her first chemotherapy session immediately after attending an award show.&nbsp;
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The video commences with Hina posing for photographers on the red carpet and being presented with an award at the function. It then shows her entering the hospital for her chemotherapy session.
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"All glam is gone and I'm ready for my first chemo in the hospital. Let's get better," Hina said in the video.
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Alongside the post, she wrote, "This award night, I knew about my cancer diagnosis, but I made a conscious choice to normalise it - not just for myself, but for all of us. This was the day that changed everything, it marked the beginning of one of the most challenging phases of my life."
&nbsp;
Hina Khan added, "So Let's do some affirmations. We become what we believe in, and I have decided to take this challenge as an opportunity to reinvent myself. I have decided to keep the spirit of positivity as the first tool in my toolkit. I choose to Normalise this experience for me and have consciously decided to manifest the desired outcome. For me ..my work commitments matter. For me my motivation, passion and art matter. I refuse to bow down. This award that I received right before my first chemo was not my motivation alone, in fact, I attended this event to reassure myself that I am living up to the benchmark, I have set up for myself. Mind over matter."
&nbsp;
"I attended the event and went straight up to the hospital for my first chemo. I humbly urge everyone out there too to first Normalise the challenges of your lives then set goals for yourself and try to live up to them all along the way. No matter how hard. Never back down. Never give up," she concluded.

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