News Arena Network

Vats Ambardar

Continuing the NEET paper leak investigation on the second day in Jharkhand, the CBI team on Thursday escorted Dr. Ehsan Ul Haq, the principal of Oasis School, Hazaribag, to the school for further questioning.
The CBI examined documents at the school premises.
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Earlier, on Wednesday, the CBI had visited the principal's residence, where he was interrogated for approximately three hours. Subsequently, the CBI team, along with the principal, arrived at the school around noon. Here, they interrogated the principal, teachers, and staff involved in the exam process.
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The questioning continued till 5 PM, and included an inspection of room number 18 in the school. Additionally, employees of Blue Dart, the courier company that delivered the question paper, were brought in for questioning at the school.
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Following the investigation, the CBI detained the school principal and another individual from the school. They were taken to the Charhi CCL Guest House, where they were interrogated overnight.
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It is noteworthy that a partially burnt NEET UG 2024 question paper was found at a private school in Ramakrishna Nagar, Patna. The serial code on the paper was linked to the Oasis School examination centre on Mandai Road, Hazaribagh, Jharkhand.
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The Bihar Police's Economic Offences Unit (EOU) discovered that the solved PDF copy of the question paper was sent to the mobile of the accused, Baldev Kumar alias Chintu, by Sanjeev Kumar alias Lutan Mukhiya on the morning of May 5, 2024, the exam date. The candidates were then allegedly coached based on this information.
After receiving details about the serial code from the NTA on July 20, it was confirmed that the code belonged to Oasis School in Kallu Chowk, Mandai Road, Hazaribagh. The EOU team visited Hazaribag for verification, where preliminary evidence suggested tampering with the packing trunk.\
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In another development, the CBI, as part of its ongoing investigation into the NEET-UG exam irregularities, arrested two individuals from Patna, Bihar, on Thursday. These are the first arrests made by the federal agency in connection with the alleged paper leak.
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Sources indicated that the accused allegedly provided a safe space for exam aspirants and assisted them in preparing for the test.

Ranchi

NEET leak case: CBI checks docs at J’khand School

Ansh Mavani

Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) V K Saxena has approved the temporary dissolution of the Delhi Dialogue and Development Commission (DDCD) and the removal of its non-official members.
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This decision will remain in effect until a new mechanism for screening and selecting domain experts as vice-chairman and members is developed. According to an official release from the LG's office on Thursday, the current structure of the DDCD was criticised for allegedly providing financial benefits and patronage to certain favoured political individuals.
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The LG's office stated that the establishment of the DDCD by the current government seemed aimed at extending financial benefits and political patronage to select individuals.
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The release accused the government of allowing politically appointed individuals to remain in their positions at the Chief Minister's discretion, without a transparent screening process.
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It also highlighted that these individuals were paid substantial salaries from the public exchequer, which were deemed disproportionate to their assigned duties, calling it a clear case of nepotism and favouritism that disregarded established rules.
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The LG's release noted that the Planning Department of the Delhi Government had documented the absence of specific work allocations among the DDCD members. Consequently, it was deemed both undesirable and illegal to continue paying these non-official members substantial salaries.
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The release added that all DDCD members were receiving salaries equivalent to the rank and pay of a Secretary to the Government of India. The LG also instructed the Finance Department to explore the possibility of recovering the salaries paid to these non-official members.
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This decision, aimed at establishing a transparent screening process for selecting domain experts, has sparked a political controversy. Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj described the move as "petty politics," criticising the LG's decision.
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Bharadwaj pointed out that political appointees in various commissions, committees, and boards are a common practice in the central government and BJP-ruled state governments. He mentioned commissions such as the Women Commission and the SC/ST Commission as examples.
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In a post on X, Bharadwaj further highlighted the irony of the situation, noting that LG Saxena himself was a political appointee without undergoing any advertisement, test, or interview process.
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He challenged the LG to enlighten the public if there had been any advertisement for the post of LG, sarcastically questioning whether Saxena had competed in a written exam to secure the position.
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This is not the first time that the DDCD has faced such actions. In 2022, the DDCD vice-chairman Jasmine Shah was restricted from performing his duties, his office was sealed, and the facilities provided to him were withdrawn following an order by the LG.
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The dissolution of the DDCD and the removal of its members underscore ongoing tensions between the Delhi government and the LG's office. The debate over political appointments and the need for transparent processes continue to be a significant point of contention in the capital's governance.

New Delhi

AAP calls LG Saxena's decision on DDCD 'petty'

Amarpreet Kaur

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has announced to hold a nationwide protest on June 29, following Delhi Chief Minister and party head Arvind Kejriwal's arrest in a liquor excise scam yesterday.&nbsp;
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A meeting of senior AAP leaders at its headquarters here decided to take to the streets and expand the protests by the party over Kejriwal's arrest in the whole country, according to a party statement.
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"The AAP workers across the country will hold massive &lsquo;dharna&rsquo; against the BJP for misuse of investigation agencies and Arvind Kejriwal's arrest on Saturday," AAP national general secretary (organisation) Sandeep Pathak.
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When the BJP felt that Kejriwal was going to get bail from the Supreme Court, they put the CBI forward to stop him. The BJP wants to keep him in jail at any cost so that he stays away from the elections and the AAP is finished, Pathak charged.
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The AAP is confident that all the people of Delhi stand with Chief Minister Kejriwal and will support the party's fight against this injustice, he said.
 Kejriwal was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the excise policy case. He was earlier granted bail by a trial court against a money laundering case linked to the alleged excise policy scam being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

AAP plans nationwide protest on Kejriwal's arrest

Ayesha Banerjee

There has been a 300 per cent annual increase in foreign tourist visits to Jammu and Kashmir this year, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has said.
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Speaking at the two-day Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Development Conclave-2024 at Sher-i-Kashmir Conference Centre by Dal Lake, Sinha highlighted government efforts to develop a sustainable tourism model to make J&amp;K a leading global tourist destination.
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&ldquo;We have witnessed unprecedented growth post-COVID, with a 300 per cent year-over-year increase in foreign tourists.
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Efforts were focused on new policies, a conducive environment, and stimulus for the tourism industry,&rdquo; Sinha said.
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Present at the event Bollywood actor Sanjay Suri highlighted the need for infrastructure and support to develop Kashmir as a film destination.
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"Kashmir has always been on everyone's wishlist. Infrastructure and support are crucial for more producers to shoot films here," Suri said.
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Deputy Director of Tourism Kashmir, Deebah Khalid, said experts from various professions were invited to the conclave to develop Kashmir as a sustainable tourism destination.
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Khalid also underlined the need to promote Kashmir as a leading wedding destination and an all-season tourist spot.
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It was Prime Minister Modi who, during a visit to J&amp;K in March repeated his slogan of &ldquo;Wed in India,&rdquo; saying he was keen to see lavish weddings in Kashmir and for people to &ldquo;spend lavishly to promote Kashmir&rsquo;s tourism and help the local population.&rdquo;&nbsp;
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Urging stakeholders to promote tourism, Sinha highlighted J&amp;K's potential as a wedding destination, given India's $130 million wedding industry.
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He added that recent successes, improvements in the security situation, a peaceful environment, and seeing people working and earning a livelihood from tourism were encouraging signs for the administration.
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During the event, Sinha said J&amp;K has the potential of not only attracting tourists but also filmmakers. He urged filmmakers to start considering J&amp;K over foreign locations and begin shooting here.
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G-20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant expressed optimism about Kashmir becoming a focal point for the film industry. "Filmmakers will come and shoot films in Kashmir, which is integral to all Indian stories," he said.
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Regarding &ldquo;conflict properties,&rdquo; Sinha said these need to be identified, stressing that innocents will not be affected, but those destabilising peace will be held accountable.
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Srinagar

Post

J&K to be tourism, wedding destination: LG Sinha

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has finally moved to a house in Jalandhar, which he has rented for himself and his family. He will be staying here for two days a week. The idea behind spending two days here is to remain easily accessible to the people of the Doaba and Majha regions, which are relatively far off from the capital city of Chandigarh. That is what the Chief Minister has been saying.&nbsp;
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For the first time, a Chief Minister in Punjab has decided to set up an alternate residence, which will consequently mean an office and senior officers around, away from the capital city.&nbsp;
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This is an excellent idea in terms of the government's outreach programme for the people living in far-off areas.&nbsp;
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There is also another reason for the Chief Minister to move to Jalandhar. He is faced with a tough by-election in Jalandhar West assembly segment.&nbsp;
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The by-election was necessitated by the resignation of the Aam Aadmi Party MLA from here, Sheetal Angural, who joined the Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of the General Elections.
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Mann apparently has made the by-election an issue of personal prestige. By-elections are normally a reflection of the performance of the government. But Mann, as the Chief Minister, appears to have taken a big gamble to lead the campaign himself and permanently move to Jalandhar for the purpose.
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The by-election is being fought in the immediate aftermath of the General Elections, where the AAP&rsquo;s performance was very poor.
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The party won just three of the thirteen seats when it had claimed to sweep all the seats. Moreover, when the party had a 3/4th majority in the Punjab assembly having 92 of the 117 seats there, its performance was far below the expectations, raised by Mann himself.
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A victory in this by-election will definitely help Mann to redeem his bruised image because of the poor General Election results. But he has a tough task at hand. In the General Election, the AAP candidate Pawan Kumar Tinu was a distant third from this constituency, while Charanjit Singh Channi of the Congress led from here.
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BJP candidate and sitting AAP MP Sushil Rinku, who had switched over to the BJP was a close second. While Channi got 44394, Rinku was a close second getting 42,837 votes, while Tinu got just 15,629 votes.
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This is an uphill task Mann has taken upon himself. But parliamentary and assembly elections are different ball games. Besides, in an assembly by-election, the ruling party does have an inherent advantage no matter how strong the opponents might be. Whether that advantage can translate into an electoral victory is too difficult to predict at this stage.
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Mann has another reason also to ensure his party&rsquo;s victory from here. Initially it was reported that Mann will not be leading the Jalandhar by-election campaign and it would be led by Sandeep Pathak, a Rajya Sabha MP and the party &lsquo;in-charge&rsquo; for Punjab.
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Although the idea apparently was to protect the Chief Minister from any adverse results, his camp did not like the idea as it was being interpreted in a different way that the Chief Minister was being sidelined after the poor show in the parliamentary elections.
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Both the Congress and the BJP are in a very strong position in Jalandhar West as is obvious from the parliamentary election results. Also, the BJP has the advantage of having in its fold, two former MLAs from here, Sushil Rinku, who represented the constituency as a Congress candidate from 2017 to 2022 and Sheetal Angral, who won in 2022 on the AAP ticket.&nbsp;
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The AAP candidate is a former BJP leader who contested on the party ticket unsuccessfully in 2017 and 2022. The Congress has fielded a former Deputy Mayor from the city.&nbsp;
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Despite the odds being heavily against the AAP, Mann has decided to lead from the front, which he could have easily avoided. In fact, if media reports are to be believed, he was also provided a chance, when Pathak was said to lead the campaign. And Mann is giving his best and has been making his presence felt, giving the Congress and the BJP, the run for their money.&nbsp;

Jalandhar

A house for Bhagwant Mann in Jalandhar

Neha Singh

Amid multi-tier security escort, the first batch of Amarnath pilgrims will depart for twin base camps in Kashmir from Jammu on Friday, marking the beginning of this year&rsquo;s pilgrimage from here.
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The comprehensive arrangements, including three-tier security, area dominations, elaborate route deployment and checkpoints have been put in place for a smooth yatra.
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The 52-day pilgrimage will commence from the twin tracks &mdash; the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag and the 14-km shorter but steep Baltal route in Ganderbal &mdash; on June 29. The yatra will conclude on August 19.
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&ldquo;The first batch of the yatra will leave Jammu base camp at Bhagwati Nagar for Kashmir at 0400 hours in the morning of Friday,&rdquo; a senior officer told the media.
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He said the yatra will be flagged off by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha from Yatri Niwas amid high security arrangements.
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&ldquo;Traffic restrictions will be imposed on various routes from June 28 to August 19, with daily advisories issued to minimise inconvenience,&rdquo; he said, adding that cut-off timings have been fixed for each sector on the highway, which is monitored through CCTV surveillance.
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For this, over 3,000 tokens have been handed over to the devotees travelling in the first batch for twin base camps of Pahalgam and Baltal in the Kashmir valley, the officials said.
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Over 2,000 pilgrims have arrived at the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu, from where they will leave in escorted convoys for the base camps in north Kashmir&rsquo;s Baltal and south Kashmir&rsquo;s Anantnag, the officials said.
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There is a huge rush of devotees arriving at the base camp, they added.
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According to reports, over 3.50 lakh yatris have registered for this year&rsquo;s yatra. There are 125 community kitchens (langars) set up along the two routes to the cave shrine and supported by over 6,000 volunteers.
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The administration on Thursday began the process for on-the-spot registration of devotees arriving here for the pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave shrine.
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The Lieutenant Governor, who is the chairman of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), reviewed the security and other arrangements in a high-level meeting and grassroot visits to various base camps in J&amp;K.
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Top officials led by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo also visited the base camps and emphasised ensuring seamless facilities and services to the pilgrims, monitoring the control room 24&times;7 and publicising transport rates for taxis and three-wheelers.
&nbsp;
The LG and the CS stressed the importance of an incident-free yatra, urging the officials to maintain vigilance against anti-national elements and ensure coordinated responses.
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Jammu has come under a security blanket with enhanced security measures, including a multi-layer security grid and the use of technology for surveillance.
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A three-tier security system has been implemented around the Jammu base camp, with search and sanitisation operations being conducted to ensure safety, the officials said.
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Union Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed the security situation and arrangements for the Amarnath yatra on June 16 in the light of recent terror strikes in the Jammu region.
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Jammu

Security beefed up in Jammu for Amarnath Yatra

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar extended a warm welcome to the 61 newly-elected and nominated members of the House during the commencement of its 264th session. He emphasised the importance of harnessing their potential to fulfil the aspirations of the people and urged collective efforts towards nurturing democracy.
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"This session follows the recent general elections and state assembly polls in four states. The people of India have reaffirmed their trust in our democratic principles and values through their participation in this significant 'festival of democracy'," Dhankhar stated.
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Acknowledging the partial reconstitution of the Upper House after the biennial elections, he congratulated the new members and expressed confidence in their ability to contribute effectively. He highlighted the essential role of dialogue, discussion, deliberation, and debate in the democratic process.
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"Let us all work together towards the flourishing of democracy. Our contributions in fostering meaningful exchanges are crucial," Dhankhar affirmed.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present in the session where he introduced the council of ministers to the House. Dhankhar recognized Modi's third consecutive term as Prime Minister, a historical achievement after six decades, which received applause from the members.
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During the session, J P Nadda was appointed as the leader of the House, an announcement greeted with enthusiasm by the members.
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Later, Dhankhar engaged in discussions with several members individually in his chamber. Additionally, six new members took their oaths, further enriching the composition of the Rajya Sabha.
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The House also addressed reports from the Privileges Committee, which found 12 MPs, including AAP's Sanjay Singh, guilty of misconduct for disrupting proceedings.
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The committee recommended cautionary measures for their conduct and suggested the lifting of Sanjay Singh's previous suspension, deeming the punishment sufficient.
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The proceedings underscored the ongoing commitment to uphold parliamentary decorum while fostering constructive legislative engagements for the benefit of the nation.

RS chairman VP Dhankhar welcomes new members

At least 30 senior politicians, including Adarsh Pal Singh and Ajay Gautam, joined Haryana Congress, today, along with hundreds of office bearers, ahead of the state assembly polls.&nbsp;
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Former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda, along with Haryana Congress President Chaudhary Udaibhan and MP Deepender Singh Hooda, extended a warm welcome to a host of leaders joining the Congress today.&nbsp;
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Adarsh Pal Singh, State Organization Secretary of the Aam Aadmi Party and brother of former Haryana DGP KP Singh, along with Ajay Gautam, who contested as the JJP candidate from Panchkula in the 2019 elections, joined the Congress. They were accompanied by numerous office bearers from BJP, JJP, and INLD, as well as former Sarpanches, councilors, and various leaders.
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Addressing the gathering, Hooda emphasised on the significance of the leaders' decision to join at this crucial juncture, asserting that their inclusion will fortify the Congress and amplify efforts towards securing a change of power in the state. He expressed confidence that the party's victory in the upcoming assembly elections is inevitable, following the promising outcome in the recent Lok Sabha polls.
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PCC President Chaudhary Udaibhan echoed Hooda's sentiments, describing the Lok Sabha results as a mere preview of the Congress's upcoming dominance in the state. He predicted a resounding victory for the party, paving the way for government formation with a substantial majority.
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MP Deepender Singh Hooda added to the chorus of welcomes, extending his felicitations to all leaders joining the Congress fold today.
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Among those joining the Congress alongside Singh and Gautam were notable figures such as Mahendra Sharma from JJP, Pappu Ram Odd representing INLD &amp; JJP Halka Pramukh SC Cell, Madan Lal Chauhan from Hisar JJP, Sunil former Sarpanch Bichpadi from BJP, Jogendra Jangra of BJP, Vinod Dhawan from JJP, Gulab Singh, Vice President of AAP Lok Sabha, Lakhwinder Singh Lakha, District Vice President of AAP, Roshan Lal Pasi from All India Pasi Samaj Haryana, Satpal Pasi of Pasi Ekta Samiti Karnal, Prakash Veer from Kori Samaj Karnal, and Billu from Bhatt Samaj Karnal, among others.
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The influx of these leaders into the Congress is viewed as a strategic move to consolidate support and bolster the party's prospects in the upcoming state elections.

Chandigarh

Several senior leaders switch to Haryana Congress

Shyna Gupta

What began as a straightforward test flight to the International Space Station (ISS) for NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams aboard Boeing&rsquo;s Starliner spacecraft has transformed into an unplanned, prolonged stay in orbit.
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The mission, initially set for an eight-day duration, has been extended indefinitely due to a series of technical difficulties that have once again cast a shadow on Boeing's troubled Starliner program.
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The road to launch was bumpy from the outset. After two aborted attempts due to technical issues including a helium leak in the spacecraft&rsquo;s propulsion system, Wilmore and Williams finally launched on June 5.
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Their spacecraft, dubbed Calypso, successfully docked with the ISS the next day, joining a crew of seven astronauts.
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However, what was meant to be a temporary visit has now stretched into an uncertain wait.
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NASA announced on June 21 that the astronauts&rsquo; return would be delayed until at least July.
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The latest delay comes as engineers struggle with two significant hardware problems that emerged after launch.
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While the astronauts remain safe, the prolonged stay highlights the persistent issues that have plagued Starliner from its inception.
In addition to the previously known helium leak, four more leaks were discovered in Calypso&rsquo;s propulsion system during the flight to the ISS.
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The helium is critical for pushing propellant to the spacecraft&rsquo;s reaction control system (RCS) thrusters, which are essential for small, precise maneuvers.
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Despite the multiple leaks, tests indicated that the losses were minimal, and the spacecraft retained enough helium for its operations.
Another problem arose as Calypso approached the ISS: five of its 28 RCS thrusters failed.
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Although follow-up diagnostics restored four of the thrusters to normal operation, the underlying cause remains unclear and is thought to be unrelated to the helium leaks.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;We are taking our time and following our standard mission management team process,&rdquo; said Steve Stich, manager of NASA&rsquo;s Commercial Crew Program. This cautious approach is driven by the fact that once Starliner&rsquo;s service module&mdash;containing the problematic RCS thrusters and helium system&mdash;is jettisoned and incinerated upon reentry, it will be impossible to conduct further direct investigations of these components.
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The current issues are just the latest in a series of setbacks for Boeing&rsquo;s Starliner program. The spacecraft&rsquo;s development has been marred by delays and technical missteps, costing Boeing an estimated $1.5 billion.
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In contrast, SpaceX&rsquo;s Crew Dragon, developed under the same NASA contract, has already completed multiple successful crewed missions.
Despite the technical challenges, NASA officials remain confident in the safety of Wilmore and Williams. The ISS is well-equipped to support an extended stay, and Calypso is designed for emergency return if necessary.
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However, the spacecraft is only certified for a 45-day docking at the ISS on this first crewed flight, a limit it will reach on July 20.
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A Glimpse Back: The Columbia Tragedy
&nbsp;
The current situation with Starliner also brings to mind the somber anniversary of the Columbia tragedy, which occurred over 20 years ago.
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On February 1, 2003, the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated upon reentry, resulting in the loss of all seven crew members, including Indian-American astronaut Kalpana Chawla.
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The disaster was a devastating reminder of the inherent risks of space travel and led to a lengthy investigation and significant changes in NASA&rsquo;s safety protocols.
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The memory of Columbia takes into account the importance of safety in all space missions.
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As Boeing works to resolve Starliner&rsquo;s issues and bring Wilmore and Williams home safely, the lessons from past tragedies continue to resonate within the aerospace community.

Washington D.C.

A troubled journey in space

Despite a crushing defeat in the recent elections that saw his party&rsquo;s tally plummeting to 11 in the 175-member Andhra Pradesh assembly, the YSR Congress president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has sought the status of Leader of the Opposition (LoP) for himself in the House.
&nbsp;
In a letter to the assembly Speaker Ch. Ayyanna Patrudu, the former Chief Minister contended that it was not mandatory to secure 10 per cent of the total number of assembly seats for the leader of a political party to be recognised as the Leader of Opposition.
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&ldquo;The Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Assembly notified under Article 208 of the Constitution do not prescribe mandatory 10 per cent seats for a leader of a party to be recognised as the Leader of Opposition,&rdquo; Jagan said.
&nbsp;
Also, there has been no convention of the insistence of 10 per cent strength on the floor of the House for the Opposition party, in the unified State of Andhra Pradesh to grant such recognition as LoP, he argued.
&nbsp;
Going by the precedents in the Lok Sabha, Delhi Assembly and the Assembly of undivided Andhra Pradesh, he said the Leader of Opposition status should be given to the YSRCP leader.
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The Leader of Opposition post was given to a leader belonging to the opposition parties though their numerical strength was less when compared to the total strength of the House, Jagan said.
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There have been intense discussions in the public domain that the YSRCP would not be entitled to have the Leader of Opposition post because it did not have 10% members of the total strength of the House. As per the legislative practice, the Leader of the Opposition is given cabinet rank.
&nbsp;
The ruling Telugu Desam Party has, however, made it clear that the YSRCP should not aspire for the LoP status since it does not have the requisite numbers. &ldquo;Jagan should respect the people&rsquo;s mandate and accept the reality,&rdquo; the state Finance and Legislative Affairs Minister P Keshav said.
&nbsp;
However, the supporters of Jagan and his party point out that in 1984, the TDP was given the Leader of Opposition status in Lok Sabha even though it secured only 30 seats of the total 543 in the House. In 1994, the Congress was given the Leader of Opposition status in undivided Andhra Pradesh though its strength was only 26 of the total 294 seats. In 2015, the LoP post was given to the BJP in the Delhi Assembly though the saffron party secured only three of the total 70 seats.
&nbsp;
The LoP, with the associated rights of addressing the matters of grave public concern, imparts the necessary bi-partisanship to the proceedings of the House and the legitimacy of ensuring participation of divergent and opposing views on the policies of the government, the YSRCP leaders argued.

Vijayawada

Jagan wants LoP status despite lacking in numbers

It was a lovely script and a story that was "inherently dramatic", says Junaid Khan about social drama Maharaj, currently featuring in Netflix and marking his debut in the Hindi film industry.
 While it was always meant for a direct-to-digital release on Netflix, the Yash Raj Films project landed quietly on the streamer on Friday night, without much fanfare and pre-release promotion.
&nbsp;
Directed by Siddharth P Malhotra and produced by Aditya Chopra, Maharaj features Junaid, son of superstar Aamir Khan and producer Reena Dutta, in the role of the real-life 19th century social reformer Karsandas Mulji.
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His debut comes almost four decades after his father burst on the scene as a romantic hero in 1988's Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak.
&nbsp;
"I don't know about it being an unconventional (debut) because YRF is a big banner and Sid sir wanted me (in the film). The story is inherently very dramatic. I have been doing theatre in Mumbai since 2017. Sid sir asked me to come and test for this film. I didn't think of it as conventional or unconventional," Junaid told PTI in an interview when asked if the film was an unconventional choice as a newcomer.
&nbsp;
Asked whether he thought a romantic story would have been a safer bet, the actor said, "I guess producers and directors didn't see me in romantic dramas. You do the work you get but it was a lovely script. It is such a wide medium, I don't think there is any protection in films."&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Maharaj, based on an 1862 libel case involving Mulji and a Vaishnavite religious leader, briefly ran into legal trouble with the members of the sect filing a petition in the Gujarat High Court against the film.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
While the premiere was delayed by a week, the high court cleared its release after a brief stay, observing that it did not target any religion.
&nbsp;
Junaid, who has two more films in the making, one of them with Aamir Khan Productions, is happy the matter was resolved sooner than later.
&nbsp;
Also starring Jaideep Ahlawat, Sharvari, and Shalini Pandey, the movie was previously scheduled for release on Netflix on June 14.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
It is based on Saurabh Shah's Gujarati novel of the same name. "It is a sensitive topic for sure but I think Sid sir and Adi sir made it very sensitively.
&nbsp;
Certain things happened before the release of the film without context. But all's well that ends well. I don't think the film was intended to hurt anybody. And I don't think it has hurt anybody who has seen the film," he said.
&nbsp;
The actor studied at the Los Angeles-based American Academy of Dramatics and Arts for three years. Upon his return in 2017, he honed his skills on stage.
&nbsp;
Aamir, Junaid said, has known about his aspiration to become an actor for almost a decade.
&nbsp;
Asked whether he discussed his debut project with his father, he said, "Film ke baare mein itna discussion nahi hua Papa se (there haven&rsquo;t been too many discussions with Papa on the film). It is not his film and he is busy with his work. Sid sir and Adi sir showed him the film. He liked it and had some suggestions. They took some of it and didn't take the others.
&nbsp;
"He would normally give advice if you have specific questions for him. But beyond that, he does not get too much into our lives. He lets us be. If you have a specific question, then he is very helpful actually," said Junaid.
&nbsp;
The actor is currently in Delhi shooting for a project.
&nbsp;
"I don't know how much I should talk about those films because producers haven't announced them yet but one is being made by AKP and another by Phantom Films."For now, there are these two projects and then we will see. I am supposed to be on stage in September. I keep myself busy. I have the year pretty packed," the actor added.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;Malhotra said he fell in love with the subject when he read the novel and then watched its theatrical production. The story was not widely known but is a popular one in Gujarat, he added.
&nbsp;
The director, known for YRF's Hichki, said he essentially saw it as a "David vs Goliath" story of a powerful man and a young reformer who challenges his ideology.
&nbsp;
"We are fools when we start falling in love with a subject without thinking that it is going to fall into trouble. When you realise it is going to fall into trouble, then you double check your intent and you realise your intent was correct because I am not going against any religion or community," Malhotra said, referring to the delay in the release of Maharaj.
&nbsp;
"People from the community are my writers, they are working on the film as actors. So let people see the film and find the context. My wife is from the community and I have never disrespected anyone in my life then why would I do this story? I didn't think that this would happen before the release," he added.&nbsp;

Script, drama attracted me to Maharaj: Junaid

Himachal Pradesh government is set to launch the 'Himachal Pradesh Early Childhood Care and Education Tutor Scheme' for overall growth of the children between 3-6 years of age.
&nbsp;
Disclosing this here, Chief Minister, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that presently 6,297 pre-primary sections in primary schools were being run by the state government catering to approximately 60,000 children.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
As many as 2,377 anganwadis were also co-located with these primary schools.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;In alignment with the National Education Policy, 2020, which recommends comprehensive Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), the Education department would implement a combination of all four ECCE models,&rdquo; said the Chief Minister.
&nbsp;
He said these models include standalone anganwadis and anganwadis co-located with primary schools, pre-primary schools covering at least ages 5 to 6 years co-located with existing primary schools and standalone pre-primary schools," added the Chief Minister.
&nbsp;
Sukhu said that the state government would engage ECCE tutors for all 6,297 schools, adhering to NCTE norms.
&nbsp;
"This initiative highlights the state government&rsquo;s commitment to providing quality early childhood education and ensuring the holistic development and nurturing of the young minds in Himachal,&rdquo; he said.
&nbsp;
The Chief Minister reiterated the state government's commitment to improving educational accessibility by ensuring quality education closer to student's homes. He emphasised ongoing efforts to introduce innovative schemes in the education sector, including the upcoming recruitment of teachers of various categories.
&nbsp;
He said that the recruitment process would commence soon so as to avoid any disturbance in studies due to shortage of teachers in schools.
&nbsp;
He said in addition to these initiatives, the state government is also launching Rajiv Gandhi Day Boarding School in every assembly constituency.

Shimla

HP to launch Early Childhood Care and Tutor Scheme

Mirabai Chanu, the silver medallist from the Tokyo Olympics in weightlifting, is preparing to surpass a 90 kg lift in the snatch category at the upcoming Paris Games.
&nbsp;
After recovering from a six-month injury layoff due to hip tendonitis, Chanu returned to competition with a strong performance at the Phuket World Cup, lifting a total of 184 kg (81 kg snatch and 103 kg clean and jerk).
&nbsp;
Chanu acknowledges the need to achieve a total lift of over 200kg (combined snatch and clean and jerk) to contend for a medal in Paris. Working closely with her coach Vijay Kumar Sharma, she has been gradually increasing her training intensity, aiming for lifts between 70-80% of her capacity until the Olympics.
&nbsp;
"While my personal bests are 88 kg in snatch and 119 kg in clean and jerk, my goal for Paris is to exceed 90 kg in snatch and improve my clean and jerk," Chanu mentioned during a virtual interaction organised by the Sports Authority of India (SAI).
&nbsp;
Reflecting on her recovery phase, Chanu emphasised the lessons learned and the importance of injury prevention through proper technique, rest, and conditioning.
&nbsp;
"I've gained valuable insights into managing my body and dealing with setbacks. Self-doubt is natural after an injury, but I remained focused and followed my coaches' and physiotherapists' guidance," she explained.
&nbsp;
Acknowledging the pressure heading into Paris, Chanu expressed determination to deliver another medal-winning performance for India, building on her success in Tokyo where she secured India's first medal of the Games.
&nbsp;
Currently training at NNIS Patiala, she will depart for Paris on July 7 to continue her preparations for the upcoming challenge.

Patiala

Mirabai Chanu preps for Paris Olympics 90kg snatch

Members of NSUI, the student wing of the Congress party, staged a protest at the National Testing Agency (NTA) headquarters, alleging irregularities in the NEET-UG and UGC-NET exams.&nbsp;They forcibly entered the NTA office in Okhla and locked its doors, prompting police intervention to manage the situation.
&nbsp;
Led by NSUI's national president Varun Choudhary, protesters chanted slogans demanding the shutdown of NTA, accusing it of corruption. Visuals shared by NSUI depicted students sealing the NTA office entrance with an iron chain and lock, with messages criticising the agency's integrity.
&nbsp;
Authorities from NTA have yet to respond to the incident. Delhi Police arrived at the scene to maintain order, reporting that the NTA had initially locked its doors in response to the protest, prompting demonstrators to take further action.
&nbsp;
The protest stems from widespread concerns over alleged exam irregularities, including leaks, affecting national-level exams like NEET-UG, NEET-PG, and UGC-NET administered by NTA.
&nbsp;
Varun Choudhary condemned these issues, labelling them as detrimental to students nationwide and calling for NTA's dissolution in favour of a more transparent examination system.
&nbsp;
Choudhary emphasised that the disruptions caused by exam postponements and leaks represent a severe setback for students' futures. He threatened further protests, stating that unless their demand to abolish NTA is met, similar actions will be replicated at NTA offices across India.
&nbsp;
The NEET-UG, conducted on May 5 with participation from approximately 24 lakh candidates, faced subsequent controversies following its June 4 result announcement.
&nbsp;
Allegations of question paper leaks in states like Bihar fueled dissatisfaction, leading to the Education Ministry's decision to cancel UGC-NET and NEET-PG exams over concerns about compromised exam integrity.

NSUI members lock NTA office amid NEET-UG protest

He seemed to be going into relaxation mode, letting his head fall back on his seat, but what was actually happening to a six-foot-tall wax statue of former US President Abraham Lincoln in Washington was that it was melting as the US Capital's temperatures soared to more than 37 degrees Celsius last weekend.
&nbsp;
In a tongue-in-cheek post on its website, CulturalDC, a non-profit that facilitates arts and cultural development in Washington, which had commissioned the piece, said, &ldquo;This conceptual art piece has caused a lot of buzz lately.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
"This 3,000 lb wax sculpture is intended to be burnt like a candle and to change over time, but this wild heat has done a number on Lincoln.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
The wax sculpture, created by educator and artist Sandy Williams IV, whose work, according to his website, &ldquo;generates moments of communal catharsis,&rdquo; started melting in the heat, its head falling backwards and one leg starting to disintegrate, news outlets reported.
&nbsp;
Displayed at a school, which used to be the site of Camp Barker, a Civil War-era refugee camp that housed formerly enslaved and freed African Americans, the sculpture is now being repaired by authorities.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;With this record-level heat, Lincoln has slumped into his chair more than ever anticipated! All that wax is leannnnnnnning back under the weight of 2024 and the state of our warming planet!&rdquo; read the post.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Williams IV created the replica of the Lincoln Memorial in wax, adding a wick for viewers to light to interact with the art.&nbsp;
 According to Cultural DC, &ldquo;The installation is a direct commentary on DC&rsquo;s history of Civil War-era Contraband Camps, refugee camps that housed formerly enslaved and free African Americans.&rdquo;
 The sculpture is part of &nbsp;Williams&rsquo; 40 ACRES Archive: The Wax Monument series in which he has created replicas in the image of &ldquo;popular public monuments and cultural symbols,&rdquo; such as Stonewall Jackson, a prominent figure in the American Civil War and a skilful tactician and Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Staff at Cultural DC had purposely removed Lincoln&rsquo;s head to prevent it from falling and breaking, the CulturalDC post added, concluding with: &ldquo;We can&rsquo;t guarantee he&rsquo;ll be sitting up straight for the months ahead, but who really will be?&rdquo;&nbsp;

Lincoln’s wax statue melts in Washington heat

The UN Human Rights Office has expressed concern over the use of anti-terror laws in India to stifle dissent, specifically urging authorities to drop legal cases against author Arundhati Roy over her remarks on Kashmir.
&nbsp;
High Commissioner Volker Turk, leading the UN Human Rights Office, underscored the need for a review of the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (#UAPA), calling for the release of human rights defenders detained under its provisions.
&nbsp;
The appeal comes in response to cases involving Roy and former Central University of Kashmir professor Sheikh Showkat Hussain, accused of delivering provocative speeches at a 2010 event in New Delhi.
&nbsp;
Earlier this month, Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena sanctioned the prosecution of Roy and Hussain based on allegations stemming from their participation in a conference titled &lsquo;Azadi &ndash; The Only Way&rsquo;. This move has sparked international debate and criticism, particularly regarding freedom of expression in India.
&nbsp;
Arundhati Roy, celebrated for her literary contributions and outspoken activism, was recently honoured with the prestigious Pen Pinter Prize 2024. This accolade, bestowed by the charity English PEN in memory of Nobel laureate Harold Pinter, recognizes her unwavering commitment to free speech and fearless writing.
&nbsp;
The case against Roy and Hussain reflects broader concerns about the rights of individuals to express dissenting views without facing punitive legal action.
&nbsp;
As global attention focuses on their plight, advocates continue to call for a fair and impartial review of the legal charges, emphasising the importance of upholding fundamental freedoms in democratic societies.
&nbsp;
The Pen Pinter Prize underscores Roy's significant literary achievements and her role in advocating for social justice and human rights, resonating with the ongoing discourse on freedom of expression worldwide.

Geneva

UN requests India to drop legal cases against Roy

Maharashtra's political landscape was abuzz when Uddhav Thackeray, Shiv Sena's chief, and Devendra Fadnavis, the state's Deputy Chief Minister, were spotted sharing a seemingly impromptu conversation in a Vidhan Bhawan lift.
&nbsp;
This encounter during the monsoon session's first day sparked speculations about potential shifts in political alignments, though Thackeray dismissed it as a casual chat.
&nbsp;
The viral video capturing their exchange as they waited for the lift intrigued many, prompting curiosity about their discussion. Thackeray humorously remarked that it's fortunate lifts don't have ears, hinting at the intrigue surrounding such "secret meetings."
&nbsp;
Later, addressing media queries, Thackeray playfully referenced a popular song to downplay any significant developments from the encounter, asserting there were no plans for unexpected alliances.
&nbsp;
BJP legislator Pravin Darekar, who witnessed the scene, noted that Fadnavis headed towards the ruling party's offices upon exiting the lift, while Thackeray proceeded towards the opposition's quarters, suggesting no imminent shifts in political stance.
&nbsp;
Adding a light-hearted touch to the day, Senior BJP minister Chandrakant Patil presented Thackeray with a bouquet and chocolate during another interaction, prompting Thackeray to jest about handing out "chocolates" to the public, possibly hinting at forthcoming budgetary sops.
&nbsp;
During a subsequent press conference, Thackeray criticised both the Maharashtra government and the BJP-led Centre over issues like the NEET-UG paper leak and controversies surrounding the Ram temple, dubbing them as "leakage governments" due to their alleged mishandling of these matters.
&nbsp;
The encounter in the lift, while intriguing, seems to have been more about courtesy and light banter than a harbinger of seismic political shifts in Maharashtra. As the session progresses, the state's political dynamics continue to evolve amidst ongoing debates and legislative sessions.

Mumbai

Thackeray Fadnavis lift chat sparks speculations

Irish Ambassador to India, Kevin Kelly, today, met Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan at the Vidhan Sabha complex. The speaker requested to encourage Irish companies to invest in the state.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Sandhwan while recognising India's age-old relations with Ireland, stressed further strengthening cooperation in agriculture, industry, technology, and other fields.
&nbsp;
The speaker noted that both nations could benefit from the mutual exchange of knowledge and technology.
&nbsp;
According to an official statement, highlighting Punjab's investment-friendly environment, Sandhwan also urged Kelly to encourage Irish companies to invest in Punjab.
&nbsp;
Kelly discussed the Ireland-India relationship and appreciated the hardworking spirit of Punjabis, the statement said.
&nbsp;
He noted that Ireland has been continuously promoting strong bilateral cooperation with India, which will further strengthen the relationship between the two countries.
&nbsp;
Kelly was accompanied by Raymond Mullen, Deputy Ambassador; Peadar O'hUbain, Consul, Second Secretary; and Cairbre O'Fearghall, Head of Visa Office.&nbsp;

Irish Ambassador meets Punjab Assembly speaker

Deepan

The Indian government is reportedly moving towards mandating a universal charging port for smartphones and tablets sold in the country, similar to rules adopted by the European Union in 2022.
&nbsp;
According to reports, this new regulation is expected to be implemented by June 2025, potentially extending to laptops by 2026.
&nbsp;
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is likely to soon require all device manufacturers to adopt a standardised charging port, with the USB Type-C connector being considered for the mandate.
&nbsp;
This move aims to reduce electronic waste generated by the multitude of cables and adapters currently in use due to varying charging standards across devices.
&nbsp;
While many Android smartphones have already adopted the USB Type-C connector, some tablets and accessories still use microUSB chargers.
&nbsp;
Recent Apple iPhones and iPads have largely transitioned to Type-C chargers, though some MacBook models still utilise MagSafe technology alongside Type-C.
&nbsp;
The EU's precedent-setting rule in 2022 influenced Apple's shift towards Type-C chargers for its devices, aligning with global efforts to standardize charging ports across electronic products.
&nbsp;
Reports indicate that discussions on standardising charging ports in India have been ongoing since November 2022, involving stakeholders from industry associations, educational institutions, and major smartphone brands like Samsung and Apple.
&nbsp;
This collaborative effort aims to streamline charging technologies while promoting sustainability in electronic manufacturing.
&nbsp;
The government's push towards a unified charging port has also involved negotiations with Apple to reintroduce older iPhones with USB-C ports, despite concerns over potential disruptions to local production goals.
&nbsp;
While specific timelines for implementation remain fluid, sources suggest that the mandate will first apply to smartphones and tablets by mid-2025, with laptops following suit by 2026.&nbsp;

India plans universal smartphone charging port

The police in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir seized and took control of land properties worth Rs 1 crore belonging to five Pakistan-based terror handlers in the Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.
&nbsp;
"Police in Baramulla after obtaining attachment order passed by Hon'ble Court Baramulla attached nine kanals (1.125 acres) land worth 1 crore belonging to five terror handlers based in Pakistan," read an official statement.
&nbsp;
"The property was identified as belonging to terror handlers during an investigation conducted by police," it added.
&nbsp;
The officials said the terror handlers have been identified as Bashir Ahmad Ganie, Mehraj ud din Lone, Ghulam Mohd Yatoo, Abdul Rehman Bhat, and Abdul Rashid Lone.
&nbsp;
The action was taken under Section 83 of the Criminal Procedure Code and the accused persons to a case registered in 2008, they added.&nbsp;

JK police seizes land of terror handlers

Indian benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty, closed at fresh record highs on June 27, continuing their bullish run for the fourth consecutive day amid the monthly F&amp;O expiry.
&nbsp;
The Sensex breached the 79,000 mark, while the Nifty crossed the 24,000 level for the first time, marking the second-fastest 1,000-point move by the 50-share index.
&nbsp;
The sharp rally in key benchmarks and broader markets has been bolstered by Foreign Institutional Investor (FII) inflows over the past 13 trading sessions and robust retail inflows. The private banking sector, which had been lagging for the previous eight quarters, played a significant role in reaching the 24,000 milestone, continuing to be a favorite among foreign participants.
&nbsp;
On the Nifty, top gainers included UltraTech Cement, Grasim Industries, LTIMindtree, Wipro, and NTPC. Conversely, Shriram Finance, L&amp;T, Eicher Motors, Bajaj Auto, and Divis Lab were among the losers.
&nbsp;
Increasing buying in index heavyweights, political stability, and the return of FIIs into the domestic market have been key factors driving market ascent.
&nbsp;
Analysts are optimistic about the continuation of positive momentum, driven by expectations of a reformative budget that will support economic growth. Both domestic and foreign investors are anticipated to continue their inflows.
&nbsp;
Analysts suggest that large-cap stocks with better valuations and new segments tapping into capital markets will be the focus going forward. Additionally, there is a consensus building around a potential rate cut in the second half of the year, which could further bolster foreign flows into the country.
&nbsp;
Indian equity markets are expected to deliver better returns compared to other emerging markets such as China, Taiwan, and South Korea.
Jaykrishna Gandhi, Head of Business Development, Institutional Equities at Emkay Global, highlighted improved confidence in the government following recent announcements in infrastructure, manufacturing, housing, and other significant areas.
&nbsp;

Bank, infra stocks lead as Sensex set records

BJP's Manipur president A Sharda Devi met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Thursday and held an extensive discussion on the current situation in the ethnic strife-hit state.
&nbsp;
Devi said that she urged for immediate attention to bring permanent solution and tranquility to the state.
&nbsp;
"Met Hon'ble Home Minister, Mananiya Shri @AmitShah ji, for an extensive discussion on the current situation in Manipur. Conveyed the people's aspirations and urged immediate attention to bring permanent solution and tranquillity to the state, while appreciating the ongoing efforts," she posted on X.
&nbsp;
"Additionally, highlighted the need for resettling IDPs (internally displaced persons) and providing maximum support for smooth rehabilitation," she added.
&nbsp;
Devi maintained on her post that Home Minister Shah assured her that the Centre is aware of the delicate situation on the ground and committed to fulfilling the aspirations of people in the state of Manipur.
&nbsp;
More than 200 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in the ethnic violence between hills-based Kuki-Zo people and Imphal Valley-based Meiteis since May last year.

Imphal

Manipur BJP Chief meets Shah over state crisis

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who also handles the finance portfolio, tabled the Economic Survey 2023-24 in the Maharashtra Assembly during the monsoon session on Thursday.
&nbsp;
The survey projects a positive outlook for the state's economy, despite challenges in certain sectors.
&nbsp;
According to the Economic Survey, Maharashtra's economy, which is the top contributor to the national nominal GDP, is expected to expand by 7.6% in 2023-24.
&nbsp;
This growth rate aligns with the country's projected growth of 7.6%. The state had recorded a growth rate of 6.8% in the previous fiscal year.
&nbsp;
The survey provides a detailed analysis of various sectors within the state:
&nbsp;
1.Agriculture and Allied Activities: This sector, which faced a "scarcity situation," is expected to grow by 1.9%.
2.Industry: The industrial sector is projected to grow by 7.6%.
3.Services: The services sector is anticipated to see an expansion of 8.8%, reflecting robust growth in the last fiscal year.
&nbsp;
Maharashtra's GSDP at current prices for 2023-24 is projected at Rs 40,44,251 crore, while the real GSDP is estimated at Rs 24,10,898 crore.
&nbsp;
The GSDP measures the total economic output generated within the state's boundaries over a fiscal year.
&nbsp;
The total anticipated expenditure for annual schemes in the last financial year was Rs 2,31,651 crore, with Rs 20,188 crore allocated towards district annual schemes.
&nbsp;
Revenue receipts for 2023-24 are expected to be Rs 4,86,116 crore, up from Rs 4,05,678 crore in the previous fiscal. Revenue expenditure for the same period is projected at Rs 5,05,647 crore, compared to Rs 4,07,614 crore the year before.
&nbsp;
The annual credit plan size for the state's priority sector for 2023-24 is Rs 6.51 lakh crore. Within this, the agriculture and allied activities sector is allocated 25.9%, while the micro, small, medium enterprises (MSMEs), and khadi and village industries sector are allocated 55.6%.
&nbsp;
The per capita state income for 2022-23 was Rs 2,52,389, an increase from Rs 2,19,573 in the previous fiscal year. Maharashtra continues to have the highest average share in the all-India nominal GDP at 13.9%.

Maharashtra's economy to grow 7.6%:Economic Survey

Delhi Water Minister Atishi, a key figure in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has recently been discharged from Lok Nayak Hospital after a two-day stay, marking the culmination of her indefinite hunger strike.
&nbsp;
Atishi commenced her protest on June 22, demanding the release of Delhi's rightful share of water from Haryana.&nbsp;The decision to admit Atishi to hospital arose as her health deteriorated during the hunger strike aimed at addressing Delhi's water crisis exacerbated by the shortfall in water supply from Haryana.
&nbsp;
Her health condition, particularly concerning her blood sugar levels dropping dangerously low, necessitated urgent medical attention. Despite efforts to sustain her strike, mounting health risks led to her hospitalisation, emphasising the intensity of her commitment to the cause.
&nbsp;
AAP's Rajya Sabha MP, Sanjay Singh, acknowledged the end of Atishi's hunger strike while affirming continued advocacy within Parliament and beyond. Singh highlighted the urgency of the water issue affecting millions in Delhi, underscoring the party's ongoing efforts to mobilise opposition support and raise awareness at the national level.
&nbsp;
The AAP has strongly criticised Haryana for allegedly withholding 100 million gallons per day (MGD) of water meant for Delhi, severely impacting approximately 28 lakh residents.
&nbsp;
This reduction in supply has compounded the city's water scarcity issues, aggravated by soaring temperatures and frequent heat waves. The reliance on water tankers has become commonplace across many parts of Delhi, illustrating the daily challenges faced by its inhabitants during the sweltering summer months.
&nbsp;
Atishi's hunger strike was a dramatic yet poignant gesture aimed at drawing attention to the critical water shortage issue plaguing Delhi. Despite its cessation, the AAP remains resolute in its commitment to address the underlying causes and ensure adequate water supply for the city's residents.
&nbsp;
The episode has sparked renewed debate and political discourse surrounding water management and interstate water disputes, prompting calls for sustainable solutions and cooperative governance to mitigate future crises.
&nbsp;
In conclusion, Atishi's hospital discharge marks the end of a physically demanding protest that thrust the issue of water scarcity into the spotlight. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by urban centres in managing essential resources and underscores the imperative for collaborative efforts in ensuring water security for all residents of Delhi.

AAP Min Atishi recovers, ends hunger strike

Chief Minister and Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president A Revanth Reddy on Thursday said he has informed the AICC to appoint a new chief to head the state unit as he is about to complete his three-year term.
&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 mediapersons in the national capital, Reddy said he successfully led the party through Assembly and Lok Sabha polls during his tenure.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; 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;">Reddy was appointed as PCC president on June 27, 2021 and took charge on July 7 same year. His three-year term comes to an end on July 7 this year.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&ldquo;I have requested AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and AICC general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal to appoint a new PCC president before the completion of my three-year term,&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;">Reddy said he requested the senior leadership of the party to relieve him from the responsibilities of PCC and appoint an eligible leader.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; 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 party will take an appropriate decision in this regard, he further 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;">Under Reddy&rsquo;s leadership, Congress emerged victorious by winning 64 seats in the 119-member state assembly elections held last year and eight Lok Sabha seats out of a total 17 in Telangana in the recently concluded general polls. 
&nbsp;

Hyderabad

CM Reddy urges for new T'gana Cong chief to AICC

Jannayak Janta Party leader Dushyant Chautala on Thursday, took a clear stance to support Congress for the Rajya Sabha election, while ruling out any probability of alliance with the ruling Haryana government of Bharatiya Janata Party.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The JJP's four-and-a-half-year alliance with the BJP came to an end after the saffron party replaced Manohar Lal Khattar with Nayab Singh Saini as chief minister in March.
&nbsp;
In the recently held Lok Sabha polls, JJP fielded candidates in all 10 parliamentary assemblies in Haryana but drew a blank.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Congress' Rajya Sabha MP Deepender Singh Hooda won the Rohtak Lok Sabha seat, leading to a seat in the Upper House of Parliament becoming vacant.
At his first news conference here after the announcement of Lok Sabha results, Chautala, the former Haryana deputy chief minister, was asked how much of a benefit or loss his party had because of its earlier tie-up with the BJP.
&nbsp;
The recent Lok Sabha results have shown that "what BJP had to face, we too had to face that", Chautala said and admitted that his JJP also bore the brunt of farmers' anger.
&nbsp;
Dushyant Chautala, the son of JJP chief Ajay Singh Chautala, said the party will in the next few weeks seek feedback from its workers and based on that would decide on allying with any party other than the BJP for the Assembly polls slated to be held in the next few months.
&nbsp;
Ruling out any truck with BJP, he said, "I can make it clear there is no point of going with the BJP in future. Even after elections, we will not have any truck with BJP," he said.
&nbsp;
Dushyant Chautala claimed that the JJP's loss in the Lok Sabha polls was "because of our alliance with the BJP".
&nbsp;
About a Rajya Sabha seat from Haryana falling vacant following Deepender Hooda's election to the Lok Sabha, the JJP leader said his party is ready to support the Congress for the Upper House polls, provided they field a prominent personality or an eminent sportsperson as a candidate.
&nbsp;
The Congress is the main opposition in Haryana But leader of opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda has remarked that other outfits should join hands and field a candidate as the grand old party does not have the required numbers to put up its candidate, Chautala said.
&nbsp;
"If the Congress wants to take on the BJP, they should not look at win or loss. If they put up any candidate which is acceptable, we will support them. The candidate can be any prominent personality or eminent person, including from the sports field and he can be a joint candidate of the opposition. But if the Congress does not want to put up its candidate when polls are held for the Rajya Sabha seat, it would indicate that "there is match-fixing between Congress and BJP", Chautala said.
&nbsp;
"If our party had around 30 MLAs like the Congress, we would have fielded our candidate without thinking about winning or losing." About the Assembly polls in the state, Chautala said the JJP will hold meetings with party workers from July 5 to seek feedback and to rebuild the organisation. The focus is to make our organisation ready for the assembly poll," he said.
&nbsp;
In reply to a question, Chautala alleged both the BJP and the Congress were working to weaken regional parties.
&nbsp;
Hitting out at the Nayab Singh Saini-led BJP government in Haryana on the law-and-order front, the JJP leader demanded the state should have "a full-time home minister".
&nbsp;
To another question, Chautala reiterated that the Saini government has been in the "minority" after three Independents withdrew their support last month.
"As against the Assembly's effective strength of 86, BJP has the support of 43, but the majority mark is 44," he said, adding the JJP has written to the Haryana Governor, urging him to hold a floor test.
&nbsp;
Chautala also said that party leaders will meet the Assembly Speaker and seek the disqualification of two JJP MLAs.
&nbsp;
The JJP recently moved a petition before the Haryana Assembly Speaker, seeking the disqualification of two party MLAs - Ramniwas Surjakhera and Jogi Ram Sihag - under the anti-defection law for allegedly indulging in anti-party activities.&nbsp;

JJP to support Congress for RS polls

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has successfully prosecuted and sentenced two members of the banned Bangladeshi terrorist group Ansar-al-Islam for their involvement in a conspiracy to plan terrorist attacks in India.
&nbsp;
Identified as Mahmud Hassan alias Shariful Hassan (A-1) and Mohamad Sayad Hussain alias Mohamad Sa'ad Hussain alias Sohan Molla alias Shihab Hossain, both Bangladeshi nationals, have each received five years' imprisonment.
&nbsp;
They were also fined Rs 10,000 each, with an alternative of one month's imprisonment, for their roles in violating various provisions of the IPC, Foreigners Act, and UA(P) Act.
&nbsp;
The NIA Special Court in Aizawl, Mizoram, delivered the verdict after the agency took over the case in September 2019 and subsequently charged the individuals in January 2020.
&nbsp;
The investigation, under case RC-11/2019/NIA-GUW, uncovered their use of fake Indian identity documents, including Aadhar cards, to illegally reside in India.
&nbsp;
The agency's probe revealed their connection to Ansar-al-Islam, claiming affiliation with Al-Qaeda's Bangladesh wing, and their active involvement in planning terrorist activities.
&nbsp;
Digital evidence, including incriminating audios, Jihadist propaganda, and bomb-making details, along with multiple mobile phones and SIM cards seized, substantiated their roles in the conspiracy.
&nbsp;
Mahmud Hassan, mentored by Abdul Wadud and guided by handler Munir, conducted surveillance on significant locations in Bengaluru, while Mohamad Sayad Hussain, directed by Bashir Ahmed, evaded detection through frequent relocations and false identities.

Aizawl

NIA court convicts B'deshis in India-terror plot

NASA astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams are currently stranded aboard the International Space Station (ISS) with no definite return date due to persistent issues plaguing Boeing's Starliner spacecraft.
&nbsp;
Initially slated to return on June 14, Wilmore and Williams now face indefinite delays following multiple setbacks. Steve Stich, NASA&rsquo;s Commercial Crew Program manager, emphasised the cautious approach in addressing technical challenges.
&nbsp;
"We are meticulously evaluating the small helium system leaks and thruster performance observed during rendezvous and docking," Stich stated in response to the ongoing situation.
&nbsp;
The mission began on June 5 when Starliner, carrying Commander Barry &ldquo;Butch&rdquo; Wilmore and Pilot Sunita &ldquo;Suni&rdquo; Williams, launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, reaching the ISS the next day. This flight is pivotal for NASA&rsquo;s Commercial Crew Program, assessing Starliner&rsquo;s capability for routine missions to and from the ISS.
&nbsp;
Despite the setbacks, NASA and Boeing assure that the astronauts aboard the ISS are safe with ample supplies and a flexible station schedule extending through mid-August. Wilmore and Williams are integrated into the Expedition 71 crew, assisting in station operations and fulfilling NASA&rsquo;s certification objectives for Starliner.
&nbsp;
Mark Nappi, Boeing&rsquo;s Starliner program manager, expressed optimism despite challenges. "The crew&rsquo;s feedback has been positive, underscoring that every lesson learned from this flight test will enhance our readiness for future missions," Nappi remarked.
&nbsp;
Starliner encountered hurdles even before liftoff, initially delayed due to an oxygen valve issue on the launch rocket. Subsequent delays ensued after discovering a helium leak in the service module. Despite docking successfully with the ISS, ongoing helium leaks and thruster issues pose potential obstacles for the return journey.
&nbsp;
NASA and Boeing continue to monitor the situation closely, prioritising crew safety and mission success. As investigations and assessments proceed, the fate of Wilmore and Williams&rsquo; return to Earth hinges on resolving these technical challenges and ensuring Starliner&rsquo;s readiness for future missions.

Cape Canaveral

Astronauts stranded on ISS due to Starliner issues

Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar on Thursday mocked demand from some Ministers to create three more posts of Deputy Chief Minister, saying they will get no &ldquo;solution&rdquo; by discussing it before 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;">Some of the Ministers have been pitching for leaders from Veerashaiva-Lingayat, SC/ST and minority communities to be given the post of Deputy Chief Minister.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; 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;">Currently, Shivakumar, a member of the Vokkaliga community, is only the Deputy Chief Minister in the Siddaramaiah-led 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;">&ldquo;Let those speaking to papers (newspaper or media) go and speak to high command, get a solution and come. Let them go and get whatever solution they want. There is no need to discuss before the media. I will also not discuss anything before the media,&rdquo; Shivakumar said, making no secret of his displeasure.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; 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;Let anyone go and get whatever solution they want, who will say don&rsquo;t? Neither newspapers nor TV channels will give a solution for this, you (media) only give publicity, that&rsquo;s all,&rdquo; he told the media.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">To a question regarding demand from some quarters in the party about the need to change the KPCC (state Congress) President &mdash; the post he currently holds, Shivakumar said, &ldquo;very happy, they should not waste time, they should go and find a solution for it... let them go and find solution from wherever they want, we don&rsquo;t have any objection.&rdquo; According to sources, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has apparently urged ministers not to issue statements seeking additional Deputy Chief Minister posts in public.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; 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;">Siddaramaiah is said to have spoken to Minister KN Rajanna, who is in the forefront with such a demand, over the phone and cautioned him against making any more public statements on the issue. He opined that public statements on this would negatively impact the government and the party.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; 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;
Meanwhile, a Vokkaliga seer on Thursday publicly urged Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to step down and make way for his deputy Shivakumar, amid a power tussle within the ruling Congress.
&nbsp;
"Everyone has become Chief Minister and has enjoyed power, but our D K Shivakumar has not become the Chief Minister. So the request is, Siddaramaiah, who has experienced (the post), should please give up the power to our D K Shivakumar in the future, and bless him good," Chandrashekaranatha Swamiji 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;">In such a situation, a section within the Congress is of the opinion that the statement by the Ministers seeking three more Deputy CMs, was part of a plan by Siddaramaiah&rsquo;s camp to keep Shivakumar in check, amid talks he might seek the CM post after two-and-half years of this government&rsquo;s tenure, and to counter his influence both in the government and party.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; 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;">Co-operation Minister Rajanna, Housing Minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan, Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi and a couple of others &mdash; all considered to be close to Siddaramaiah &mdash; earlier this week once again raised the pitch for three more Deputy CMs.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">The Congress had decided that Shivakumar will be &ldquo;the only&rdquo; Deputy Chief Minister amid stiff competition between him and Siddaramaiah for the Chief Minister&rsquo;s post after the Assembly election results in May last year, according to party sources.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; 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 also said to be a &ldquo;commitment&rdquo; made by the Congress leadership to Shivakumar while convincing him to give up his claim for the CM post and to take up the role of Deputy Chief Minister, the sources 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;">Leaders in Shivakumar&rsquo;s camp too seem to have started coming out openly in support of their leader.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; 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;">Channagiri Congress MLA Basavaraju V Shivaganga on Wednesday urged the party to make Shivakumar the Chief Minister.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; 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;">&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Bengaluru

Shivakumar mocks demand for 3 more DCMs in K'taka

Renowned National Award-winning filmmaker Rima Das, hailing from Assam, has received a prestigious invitation to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
&nbsp;
This honour places her among 487 artists and executives worldwide selected for their significant contributions to the film industry.
&nbsp;
Membership in the Academy holds immense influence, particularly in activities like voting for the Oscars, which are among the most esteemed awards in cinema.
&nbsp;
Expressing her excitement, Das remarked, "It's an honour to become a member of The Academy. Thank you for this opportunity. Excited to celebrate the power and magic of cinema. Congrats to my fellow members..." She took to social media platforms to share her joy.
&nbsp;
Joining Das in this year&rsquo;s cohort of notable Indian invitees are several esteemed personalities including actor Shabana Azmi, director SS Rajamouli, cinematographer Ravi Varman, director Anand Kumar Tucker, costume designers Rama Rajamouli and Sheetal Sharma, documentary filmmakers Nisha Pahuja and Hemal Trivedi, producer Ritesh Sidhwani, and choreographer Prem Rakshith.
&nbsp;
Das, a self-taught filmmaker who originated from a remote village near Chhaygaon in the Kamrup district, has already made her mark on the global stage.
&nbsp;
Her film "Village Rockstars" was India&rsquo;s official entry in the Best Foreign Language Film category at the Oscars in 2019. Her latest feature, "Tora&rsquo;s Husband," has also garnered international acclaim, winning five trophies at the Filmfare Awards Assamese 2024.
&nbsp;
The Academy's invitation is a testament to Das&rsquo;s journey from humble beginnings to international recognition.
&nbsp;
Last year, the Academy extended invitations to 398 artists and executives, including prominent Indian figures like directors Mani Ratnam, Karan Johar, and Shaunak Sen, composer MM Keeravani, cinematographer KK Senthil Kumar, production designer Sabu Cyril, and producer Siddharth Roy Kapur.
&nbsp;
The 2024 class stands out for its diversity, with 44% women, 41% from underrepresented ethnic/racial communities, and members from 56 countries and territories outside the United States.
&nbsp;
This reflects the Academy's commitment to inclusivity and global representation in the film industry.
&nbsp;
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), based in the United States, presents the Academy Awards of Merit, known as the Oscars.
&nbsp;
These awards recognise excellence in cinematic achievements, assessed by the Academy's esteemed voting membership, and are widely regarded as the pinnacle of achievement in filmmaking worldwide.

Guwahati

Oscars Academy invite for Assam's Rima Das

A new cultural platform 'Agla Varka' aiming to tell the stories of Punjab will kickstart on June 29. Curated events featuring music, poetry, literature, performance, film, and art will be held across the country.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Majha House and The Kuldip Nayar Trust have started Agla Varka to begin meaningful conversations on Punjab that reflect the realities on the ground.
&nbsp;
Agla Varka 2024 will kick-off in New Delhi with a conversation on "Panjab: A Question of Identity". This will be followed by poetry, the release of Kirpal Dhillon's "Identity and Survival: Sikh Militancy in India 1978-1993", and conclude with a performance by storyteller and singer Rene Singh.
&nbsp;
Participants for the inaugural edition include author and former ambassador of India to the US Navtej Sarna, musician Rabbi Shergill, filmmaker Bani Singh, and poet-singer Daras.
&nbsp;
To support this platform and as a first step, Kunzum Books, New Delhi, will have a shelf devoted to the best writing on Punjab - whether it is history, contemporary issues, or literature.
&nbsp;
The next programme of Agla Varka 2024 will be in Delhi in November. It will move to Amritsar in December with a two-day festival.
&nbsp;
"The tag of being a border state has overshadowed everything else," says Preeti Gill, founder of Majha House and programme director of Agla Varka. &nbsp;Gill set up Majha House six years ago as a literary and cultural space in Amritsar to bring the best writers, poets, performers, and singers to the border city and start conversations on Punjab in the state. &nbsp;
&nbsp;
"We felt that it was now time to take many of these critical conversations on Punjab to the rest of India. We decided to start the series in June to mark 40 years since 1984, that cataclysmic watershed year that changed things for the state," she adds.
&nbsp;
"At a time when India is rewriting its history to include the aam aadmi, the aam aurat, I feel it is essential to include the aam Panjabi," says Mandira Nayar of The Kuldip Nayar Trust and programme director of Agla Varka.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;The Kuldip Nayar Trust was started by Nayar's family to preserve his memory by creating conversations on Punjab centred around culture, history, and politics.

'Agla Varka': Punjab's stories via art & culture

In a reciprocal gesture following Tripura Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha's goodwill offering of 500 kg of Queen Pineapples, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sent 400 kg of Haribhanga mangoes, 50 kg of Hilsa fish, and 50 kg of rasgulla to Dr. Saha through the Agartala-Akhaura Integrated Check Post on Thursday.
&nbsp;
The gifts, including the renowned Haribhanga mangoes from Dinajpur and Rangpur regions, known for their exceptional taste, along with delicious Hilsa fish and traditional rasgulla sweets, were delivered as a token of diplomatic goodwill.
&nbsp;
Md Rezaul Haque Chowdhury, First Secretary and Assistant High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Agartala, confirmed that the gifts would be handed over to Chief Minister Dr. Saha upon his return from Delhi, where he is currently visiting.
&nbsp;
"This gesture from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina signifies the strong historical ties between Bangladesh and Tripura, predating 1971. We maintain a cordial relationship with Tripura, and the deep bond between India and Bangladesh continues to strengthen," Chowdhury remarked.
&nbsp;
Tripura's Horticulture Department Assistant Director, Dipak Baidya, highlighted the significance of the Queen Pineapple, a prized variety cultivated across 8,800 hectares in the state. Tripura annually produces 1.28 lakh tonnes of two major varieties - Kew and Queen - of pineapples in 8,800 hectares of mountainous orchards across the state and for many years, exporting the pineapples and lemons to many countries and many Indian states as well.&nbsp;

Agartala

Tripura CM receives B'deshi treats from PM Hasina

Congress MP KC Venugopal has raised a significant concern regarding a recent statement made by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. In a letter addressed to the Speaker, Venugopal expressed his shock and disappointment over remarks made about the Emergency imposed in June 1975, calling it a grave matter that affects the credibility of Parliament.
&nbsp;
Venugopal's letter, written on June 26, 2024, highlights the gravity of the situation. He mentioned that during the general camaraderie in the House, which is typical during such occasions, the Speaker&rsquo;s reference to the Emergency from the Chair was unprecedented and deeply shocking.
&nbsp;
Venugopal emphasised that making such a political reference from the Chair, especially as one of the first duties of a newly elected Speaker, assumes even graver proportions.
&nbsp;
The Congress MP, on behalf of the Indian National Congress, expressed profound concern and anguish over what he described as a travesty of Parliamentary traditions. He conveyed that political statements from the Speaker&rsquo;s mouth could have been avoided, and such messages do not foster cooperation.
&nbsp;
Speaking to ANI, Venugopal reiterated his stance. He noted that the Lok Sabha Speaker had officially declared Rahul Gandhi as the Leader of Opposition and that it was a courtesy for Rahul Gandhi to meet and thank him.
&nbsp;
However, he pointed out that political statements from the Speaker&rsquo;s position should be avoided as they send the wrong message about cooperation. Venugopal also criticised the President's address, stating it lacked new initiatives and failed to meet the expectations of the youth, women, poor, and farmers of the country.
&nbsp;
The controversy stems from the Lok Sabha's resolution adopted on Wednesday, which condemned the Emergency imposed by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
&nbsp;
Speaker Om Birla read out the resolution, describing June 25, 1975, as a black chapter in India's history. He praised the strength and determination of those who opposed the Emergency and fought to protect India's democracy.
&nbsp;
The Emergency, imposed nearly 50 years ago, remains a sensitive and contentious issue in Indian politics. It involved a 21-month period during which the government, led by Indira Gandhi, declared a state of emergency across the country.
&nbsp;
During this time, civil liberties were suspended, political opponents were imprisoned, and the press was censored. The period is widely regarded as one of the most controversial and tumultuous times in Indian democratic history.
&nbsp;
Venugopal&rsquo;s letter and subsequent statements highlight the ongoing sensitivity of the issue and the potential repercussions of invoking such historical events in contemporary political discourse.
&nbsp;
The Congress party's reaction underscores their concern about maintaining the sanctity and non-partisan nature of Parliamentary proceedings, especially from the Speaker&rsquo;s Chair.

LS Speaker's 'Emergency' statement draws INC ire

Stating that hawkers&rsquo; eviction is not the goal of the West Bengal government, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday gave them one month to clear the footpaths and the stretch of roads they have encroached on to carry on with their business.
&nbsp;
Banerjee&rsquo;s statement came amid the ongoing eviction of encroachers including hawkers from various parts of the state.
&nbsp;
The chief minister, who held a review meeting regarding the issue of hawkers' encroachment, also constituted a committee to conduct a survey in this regard and submit a report to her office within 15 days.
&nbsp;
She said that the state government would identify &lsquo;hawking zones&rsquo; in the state, erect buildings to accommodate the hawkers, godowns for keeping their wares and issue identity cards to them.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;I have no right to take away anyone&rsquo;s source of income or render anyone unemployed. Millions run their family by doing hawking. There will be no eviction for one month. During this period, the hawkers have to clear footpaths,&rdquo; said Banerjee, also the Trinamool Congress supremo.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;We will conduct a survey. The government will see where legal hawkers can be accommodated. Godowns will also be set up. But roads cannot be occupied. If new hawkers are found (encroaching footpaths), they will be arrested,&rdquo; she said.
&nbsp;
Senior ministers, bureaucrats and police officers, mayors of all corporations, and chairmen of municipalities were present in the meeting.
&nbsp;
Banerjee asserted that political leaders and policemen were responsible for occupying the streets.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;Councillors should have kept a watch on this from the start. But they don&rsquo;t even see it. If you help a new hawker (to encroach), you will be arrested. The leaders of the area first take money (from hawkers) and allow them to sit and start doing business. Afterwards they bulldoze them... This cannot be allowed,&rdquo; she said.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;What is the use of blaming the hawkers? It&rsquo;s our fault. Why are we not making a building in the New Market area? The hawkers will be shifted there,&rdquo; Banerjee stated.
&nbsp;
Established during British rule, New Market, which was earlier known as Hogg Market, is a market complex in Esplanade region in the heart of Kolkata. The market area is crowded with hawkers.
&nbsp;
The chief minister said she would review the situation in a month.
&nbsp;
She also ordered removal of all illegal parking lots in and around Kolkata.
&nbsp;
Banerjee said her government will not allow littering streets with garbage.
&nbsp;

Kolkata

Mamata tightens the noose on encroachers

A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court against the newly amended criminal law bills: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita, 2023.
&nbsp;
The petitioners, Anjali Patel and Chhaya, represented by advocates Sanjeev Malhotra and Kunwar Siddhartha, are seeking an expert committee to assess the viability of these new laws, which aim to overhaul the country's criminal justice system by replacing the Indian Penal Code of 1860, the Code of Criminal Procedure, and the Indian Evidence Act of 1872.
&nbsp;
The plea highlights several concerns with the new laws. The petitioners argue that the proposed bills, despite some changes, suffer from defects and discrepancies.
&nbsp;
They point out that the bills were withdrawn and reintroduced with modifications before being passed by Parliament on December 21, 2023, and published in the Gazette on December 25, 2023, effectively becoming law.
&nbsp;
One significant issue raised in the plea is that the changes made to the criminal laws are unprecedented and claim to replace old colonial laws. The petitioners argue that while the new laws aim to modernise the criminal justice system, they retain many offences from the Indian Penal Code, 1860.
&nbsp;
For instance, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita introduces community service as a form of punishment and removes sedition as an offence, replacing it with a new offence for acts endangering the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India.
&nbsp;
It also adds terrorism and organised crime as offences, with specific provisions for crimes like kidnapping, extortion, and cybercrime committed by crime syndicates.
&nbsp;
Additionally, murder by a group of five or more people based on identity markers such as caste, language, or personal belief is now punishable by seven years to life imprisonment or death.
&nbsp;
The petitioners also express concerns about the new provisions allowing up to 15 days of police custody, which can be authorised in parts during the initial 40 or 60 days of the 60 or 90 days period of judicial custody. This, they argue, could lead to the denial of bail for the entire period if the police have not exhausted the 15 days of custody.
&nbsp;
The plea further notes irregularities in the passage of the bills in Parliament. It states that many Members of Parliament were suspended during the passage of the bills, leading to very little participation and no substantial debate on the elements of the bills. This lack of debate and challenge, according to the petitioners, undermines the legislative process.
&nbsp;
The petitioners are calling for the Supreme Court to stay the operation and implementation of the three new criminal laws until a thorough assessment is conducted.
&nbsp;
They believe that an expert committee should be constituted to evaluate the new laws' impact on the criminal justice system and ensure that they are in the best interest of justice and fairness.
&nbsp;
This PIL highlights the need for careful scrutiny and debate when making significant changes to the legal framework governing criminal justice in the country.
&nbsp;
The petitioners' concerns underscore the importance of a transparent and inclusive legislative process to ensure that new laws serve the public interest and uphold the principles of justice.

SC PIL challenges new Criminal Law bills

From calling for denouncing of attempts to undermine the credibility of the Mother of Democracy, India, to applauding Kashmir&rsquo;s record voter turnout during the recent Lok Sabha polls, President Droupadi Murmu spoke on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and covered past highlights and new initiatives of the Central government on Thursday in the first joint sitting of the Houses following the constitution of the 18th Lok Sabha.
&nbsp;
The President&rsquo;s speech touched upon development as well as welfare initiatives of the BJP-led NDA alliance in power at the Centre.
&nbsp;
Under categories of &lsquo;vikas&rsquo; to &lsquo;virasat,&rsquo; progress of the country with focus on its cultural heritage, she said Nalanda University had been established and street vendors from rural and semi-urban areas were being included in the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Street Vendor's AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi).
&nbsp;
Free treatment under Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) would also cover seniors over 70 now.
&nbsp;
Job hunting would be easier too with interview processes scrapped for certain government jobs and self-attestation allowed for students&rsquo; certificates.
&nbsp;
With the successful completion of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, she said, people should feel proud that India conducts such a large election exercise without any major violence and disorder.
&nbsp;
Reflecting upon the massive population of voters handled expertly by the election commission, the President said "This was the largest election in the world. About 64 crore voters performed their duty with enthusiasm and zeal. Women cast their votes in huge numbers this time also. A very heartening aspect of this election emerged from Jammu and Kashmir."&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The Kashmir Valley broke records of voter turnout of many decades, she noted.
&nbsp;
Hurting the faith of people in democratic institutions
"Today, the whole world respects us as the Mother of Democracy. The people of India have always demonstrated complete trust in democracy and expressed full faith in the electoral institutions," President Murmu told the members of the two Houses.
&nbsp;
There was a need to preserve and protect this trust to sustain the country's robust democracy. "We must realise that hurting the faith of people in democratic institutions and the electoral process is like cutting the very branch on which we all are sitting," she said.
&nbsp;
"We all should collectively denounce every attempt to undermine the credibility of our democracy," she said.
&nbsp;
"We all remember those times when ballot papers were snatched and looted. To ensure the sanctity of the electoral process, it was decided to use EVMs. The EVM has passed every test, from the Supreme Court to the people's court, in the last few decades," she asserted.
&nbsp;
President Murmu&rsquo;s reference to EVM&rsquo;s came after top political parties in the country, including the Congress, questioned the reliability of the Electronic Voting Machines. Some top opposition leaders have even urged the government to go back to the old paper ballot system for voting.
&nbsp;
Successive chief election commissioners have maintained that EVMs are reliable and cannot be hacked. They have noted that the EVMs can at times become faulty but cannot be manipulated.
&nbsp;
Several parties, which were in the opposition earlier, have come to power in elections conducted using EVMs.
&nbsp;
Terming the suspicion of manipulation of the EVMs "unfounded", the Supreme Court had on April 26 rejected the demand for reverting to the old paper ballot system.
&nbsp;
Progress and legacy
Murmu also hailed the new campus of Nalanda University, which was recently inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Bihar.
&nbsp;
"My government, along with making efforts to build a future, is also reviving the country's cultural heritage and glory. Recently, the new grand Nalanda University campus that was inaugurated has added a new chapter to this," she said.
&nbsp;
She also underlined that various pilgrimage sites and centres of faith in the country are being rejuvenated so that people can get inspired by their ancient culture.
&nbsp;
On the legacy of greats, she said tribal leader Birsa Munda's birth anniversary was celebrated as Janajatiya Gaurav Diwas and his 150th anniversary will be marked next year.
&nbsp;
The 500th anniversary of the legendary Gondwana queen regent Rani Durgawati was celebrated and the 300th anniversary of Rani Ahilyabai Holkar was commemorated. Additionally, landmark years of Prakash Parv of Sikh gurus -- Guru Nanak Dev and Guru Gobind Singh -- have been observed in recent years, Murmu stated in her address, adding that Kashi Tamil Sangamam was organised to inspire people.
&nbsp;
Progress or vikas was made in space exploration programmes, including to the landing of Chandrayaan-3 near the moon's south pole.
&nbsp;
President Murmu said, as a country, "we should take pride in this" and added that India is on its way to becoming the world's third-largest economy.
&nbsp;
The president said that in the third decade of the 21st century, global order is assuming a new form and as a "Vishwa Bandhu", India is giving new faith to the world.
&nbsp;
Welfare schemes
The PM SVANidhi scheme will be expanded and street vendors in rural and semi-urban areas will also be brought under its ambit, Murmu informed Parliament.
&nbsp;
The Scheme, launched by the Modi government in 2020 during the COVID-19 outbreak, is a micro-credit scheme for urban street vendors, which provides collateral-free loans of up to Rs 50,000.
&nbsp;
On December 11, 2023, the then Union Housing and Urban Affairs (HUA) Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had informed in Rajya Sabha that loans disbursed to PM SVANidhi beneficiaries stood at Rs 2,039 crore in the 2020-21 fiscal, Rs 1,248 crore in 2021-22, Rs 1,866 crore in 2022-23 and Rs 4,637 crore up to December 5 of the current 2023-24 fiscal, taking the total to Rs 9,790 crore.
&nbsp;
As of December 5, 2023, 56,58,744 street vendor beneficiaries had been disbursed loans under this scheme.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Ayushman Bharat
Under AB-PMJAY, free health services weree being provided to 55 crore beneficiaries. Now, &ldquo;the Government is going to take yet another decision in this area. All the elderly above 70 years of age will also be covered and get the benefit of free treatment under Ayushman Bharat Yojana," the President said.
&nbsp;
No interviews, self-attestations
Citing self-attestation of certificates and abolishing interviews for certain categories of government job recruitment as key good governance initiatives, President Murmu on Thursday said all such obstacles for the country's youth have been removed.
&nbsp;
The government is working towards creating an enabling environment for the youth of this country to dream big and realise those dreams, she added.
&nbsp;
"In the last 10 years, every such obstacle which caused trouble to our youth has been removed. In the past the youth had to run from pillar to post in order to get their certificates attested. Now their self-attestation is sufficient.
&nbsp;
"Interviews for recruitment into Group-C and Group-D posts of the central government have been abolished," the president said.
&nbsp;
The continuous endeavour of the government to provide right opportunities to the youth of the country to demonstrate their talent.
&nbsp;
"Whether it is competitive examinations or government recruitment there should be no reason for any hindrance. This process requires complete transparency and probity," Murmu said.
&nbsp;
The statement assumes significance given the current protests over medical entrance test NEET-UG irregularities and cancellation of UGC-NET
&nbsp;
She said the Lok Sabha poll has been an election of trust in policy, intention, dedication and decisions.
&nbsp;
Murmu said it has been an election of "trust in a strong and decisive government", "trust in good governance, stability and continuity" and "trust in honesty and hard work," among others.
&nbsp;
"It is a stamp of approval for my government&rsquo;s mission of service and good governance undertaken in the past 10 years. It is a mandate that the work of making India a developed nation continues uninterrupted and India attains its goals," the President said.
&nbsp;

Denounce forces undermining democracy: Murmu

All citizens aged above 70 years will be provided free treatment under the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme, President Droupadi Murmu said on Thursday.
&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 opening of 25,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras in the country is also progressing at a fast pace, she said while addressing the joint sitting of Parliament.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; 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;">Under the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), free health services are being provided to 55 crore beneficiaries, Murmu 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;Further, the Government is going to take yet another decision in this area. Now all the elderly above 70 years of age will also be covered and get the benefit of free treatment under Ayushman Bharat Yojana,&rdquo; the President 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;">India is helping create a healthy world by promoting AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy), Murmu 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;">She stated that the International Day of Yoga was recently celebrated as a global 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;">&ldquo;The prestige of this great legacy of the country is continuously rising in the world. By promoting yoga and AYUSH, India is helping create a healthy world,&rdquo; the President 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;">Today, India is emerging as a leader in every sector from IT to Tourism and from Health to Wellness, she stated.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; 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 AB-PMJAY, the largest publicly funded health insurance scheme in the world, aims to provide health cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation to 12 crore families.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; 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;">Hospital Empanelment and Management (HEM) guidelines for empanelment of hospitals under AB-PMJAY mandates the State Health Agencies (SHAs) with the responsibility of empanelling hospitals under the scheme. 
&nbsp;

Age bracket expanded to 70 under Ayushman Bharat

Former Indian cricketing legend Kapil Dev has praised Jasprit Bumrah, asserting that the current pacer surpasses him by a significant margin.
&nbsp;
Bumrah's stellar performance in the ongoing T20 World Cup, where he has taken 11 wickets with an impressive economy of 4.08 in 23 overs, drew admiration from Kapil.
&nbsp;
"Bumrah is 1000 times better than me. These young boys are far better than us. We had more experience. They are better," Kapil Dev commented.
&nbsp;
Known for his all-round skills, Kapil Dev, who clinched a then-world record of 434 Test wickets, acknowledged Bumrah's prowess in modern cricket.
&nbsp;
Bumrah's international career boasts 159 Test wickets in 26 matches, 149 ODI wickets in 89 appearances, and 85 T20I scalps from 68 games.
&nbsp;
Kapil, who led India to its first-ever World Cup victory in 1983, also commended the current team's fitness levels.
&nbsp;
"They are very good. Outstanding. They are fitter. They are much more hardworking. They are fantastic," he added, highlighting the evolution of cricketing standards over the years. Meanwhile, India, led by Rohit Sharma, aims to accomplish a feat on June 27 not achieved in a decade: qualifying for the T20 World Cup final.
&nbsp;
The Men in Blue last reached the final in 2014, when Sri Lanka, led by Lasith Malinga, claimed the title.
&nbsp;
Defending champions England secured their second T20 World Cup trophy in 2022 by defeating Pakistan.

Dev praises Bumrah as '1000 Times Better' bowler

The State Election Commission of Nagaland has declared the poll conducted on June 26 at Polling Station No. 4 under Ward 20 of Dimapur Municipal Council as void.
&nbsp;
Following the provisions of the Nagaland Municipal Act, 2023, and the Nagaland Municipal Election Rules, 2023, a fresh election has been scheduled for June 28.
&nbsp;
The decision to annul the poll was made based on the report submitted by the Returning Officer of Dimapur Municipal Council, taking into account all pertinent circumstances.
&nbsp;
Polling Station No. 4, encompassing areas such as Circuit House Area, W/W- Ura Villa, Circuit House &amp; Imkonglenden Colony, will see the re-election conducted from 7:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
&nbsp;
Authorities have been directed by the State Election Commission to ensure extensive publicity in the affected polling station areas.
&nbsp;
They are also tasked with informing all political parties and contesting candidates about the rescheduled poll on June 28, ensuring transparency and adherence to electoral procedures.
&nbsp;
A notable voter turnout of 83.54% marked the Urban Local Bodies Elections (ULB) held across three Municipalities and 21 Town Councils on June 26.
&nbsp;
This election holds historical significance for Nagaland, being conducted after a gap of 20 years, and notably included 33% reservation for women.
&nbsp;
Voting occurred across 420 polling stations within 214 wards, featuring 523 candidates, including 198 women and 325 men.
&nbsp;
According to the State Election Commission, polling proceeded smoothly across all stations except one under the Dimapur Municipal Council.

Dimapur

Fresh poll scheduled in Nagaland’s Dimapur ward

Denmark&rsquo;s Ambassador to India, Freddy Svane, praised President Droupadi Murmu&rsquo;s address to the joint sitting of Parliament as &ldquo;fantastic.&rdquo; He expressed Denmark&rsquo;s anticipation of India&rsquo;s economic growth and its emergence as a strong global power. Svane highlighted the extensive agenda outlined by President Murmu and looked forward to India&rsquo;s continued development.
&nbsp;
Several international delegates, including Israel&rsquo;s Ambassador to India, Naor Gilon, and Singapore&rsquo;s High Commissioner to India, Simon Wong, were present at the Parliament to hear President Murmu&rsquo;s speech. The dignitaries were warmly welcomed by officials upon their arrival.
&nbsp;
In her address, President Murmu reassured the nation that significant economic and social decisions, along with historic steps, would be announced during the upcoming Union Budget sessions.
&nbsp;
She emphasised the importance of the stable government formed with a complete majority after six decades, noting that the people&rsquo;s trust has been placed in this government for the third time.
&nbsp;
She remarked on the historic nature of the 18th Lok Sabha, formed in the early years of the Amrit Kaal, and its significance in witnessing the 56th year of the adoption of the Constitution.
&nbsp;
President Murmu highlighted the government&rsquo;s commitment to presenting a budget that reflects far-reaching policies and a futuristic vision. She assured that the budget would include major economic and social decisions, showcasing the government&rsquo;s dedication to addressing the nation&rsquo;s needs.
&nbsp;
She congratulated the newly elected members of the 18th Lok Sabha and expressed gratitude to the Election Commission of India for conducting peaceful elections.
&nbsp;
The President acknowledged the privilege of serving the country and urged the newly elected members to fulfil their duties with a spirit of prioritising the nation. She praised the high voter turnout in Jammu and Kashmir, breaking decades-long records and countering negative international propaganda.
&nbsp;
Additionally, President Murmu addressed the government&rsquo;s efforts to achieve lasting peace in the North East, resolving longstanding issues over the past decade.
&nbsp;
She mentioned the enhancement of connectivity and development in various sectors such as education, health, tourism, and employment in the region. She also highlighted a significant investment in a semiconductor plant in Assam, which would position the North East as a hub for Made in India chips.
&nbsp;
In her speech, President Murmu emphasised the government&rsquo;s focus on making India the third-largest economy in the world. She credited the country&rsquo;s rapid economic growth to the reforms and decisions taken in the national interest over the last ten years.
&nbsp;
Despite challenges such as the pandemic and global conflicts, India has achieved an impressive average growth rate of 8 percent from 2021 to 2024. The President noted India&rsquo;s contribution to 15 percent of global growth and reiterated the government&rsquo;s resolve to continue on this path of economic advancement.

Denmark envoy Freddy praises Prez Murmu's speech

But I can't forget 1975!

Led by party general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, AIADMK MLAs and party workers held a hunger strike on Thursday to press for a CBI probe into the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy.
&nbsp;
Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam chief Premalatha Vijayakanth visited the venue and lent her party&rsquo;s support to the protest.
&nbsp;
Clad in black shirts, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam legislators, who have been suspended from the ongoing Assembly session for disrupting proceedings, began their fast here by 9 am at the Rajarathinam stadium.
&nbsp;
The fast is also to condemn &lsquo;denial of permission&rsquo; to raise the issue in the state Assembly, according to the main opposition party.
&nbsp;
Palaniswami, in a post on X, demanded Chief Minister MK Stalin&rsquo;s resignation and reiterated that the hooch deaths be investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
&nbsp;
While the deaths have &lsquo;crossed 60&rsquo;, why has not Stalin visited Kallakurichi so far, he asked. He also slammed the chief minister&rsquo;s &lsquo;reluctance&rsquo; to have a honest discussion over the issue in the Assembly.
&nbsp;
Premalatha Vijayakanth, speaking to reporters at the venue of the fast, backed AIADMK&rsquo;s demand for CBI probe and also demanded that Minister for Prohibition and Excise, S Muthusamy resign from his post to do justice.
&nbsp;
She alleged police have not permitted the AIADMK leaders to &lsquo;make speeches&rsquo;, (using public address system) and decried &lsquo;repression&rsquo;. Facts related to the hooch tragedy will emerge only if the CBI probed the matter and both the AIADMK and her party the DMDK are firm on this stand.
&nbsp;
She alleged, &ldquo;ruling party persons abetted the brewing of illicit arrack". Denouncing suspension of AIADMK MLAs, she demanded that the government specify the norms violated by the opposition party members.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;Where could the Kallakurichi tragedy could be discussed other than the Assembly,&rdquo; she asked.
&nbsp;
The leader of opposition &lsquo;Annan&rsquo; (elder brother) Edappadi Palaniswami and AIADMK members were not allowed to take up the matter and she asked if this was fair. &ldquo;The Assembly is for discussing only people&rsquo;s problems. The House is run on tax payers money.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
Referring to Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi&rsquo;s comment in Lok Sabha that he is confident that &ldquo;you (Speaker) will allow us to represent our voice, allow us to speak, to represent voice of people of India,&rdquo; and support of DMK MPs for that, she asked how could there exist one kind of rule for the Parliament and another for the state Assembly.
&nbsp;
She alleged the DMK regime did not allow opposition to raise issues in state Assembly but it is for opposition&rsquo;s voice to be heard in Parliament.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;History will say that it is the DMK (when it was in opposition) which has staged more walkouts and did not allow the House proceedings to go on,&rdquo; she claimed.
&nbsp;
She rejected chief minister Stalin's allegation that the AIADMK disrupted proceedings for the sake of publicity.
&nbsp;
During the previous AIADMK regime, the way Stalin showed a &lsquo;torn shirt&rsquo; (in 2017, when the Palaniswami-led regime won vote of confidence amid bedlam) was the height of publicity. The AIADMK does not need any new publicity, a more than 50-year old party that has ruled the state for decades.
&nbsp;
Republican Party of India leader CK Tamilarasan also visited the venue of hunger-strike and extended support.
&nbsp;
Palaniswami had said on Wednesday that &lsquo;denying a honest debate&rsquo; over the hooch tragedy, that has reportedly left over 60 dead, and evicting and suspending AIADMK MLAs was against democracy.
&nbsp;
The former Chief Minister condemned what he described as &lsquo;diversionary politics&rsquo; of the DMK government rather than taking action over hooch deaths.
&nbsp;
The hunger strike is likely to end by 5 pm on Thursday.
&nbsp;

Chennai

TN hooch tragedy: AIADMK holds hunger strike

President Droupadi Murmu, today, addressed the first joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament - Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, which was boycotted by the Aam Aadmi Party MPs, protesting the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister and AAP head, Arvind Kejriwal. 
&nbsp;
MPs of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) boycotted the President's address and claimed it was written by the Central government while maintaining that they had full respect for her. Kejriwal was arrested on Wednesday, by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the alleged excise policy scam. 
&nbsp;
They protested against Kejriwal's arrest outside the Parliament and alleged it "was a gross misuse of investigation agencies".
&nbsp;
They held placards that read 'ED, CBI ka durupyog bandh karo' (stop the misuse of ED, CBI), 'Taanshahi nahi chalegi' (dictatorship will not be allowed), 'Kejriwal ko riha karo' (free Kejriwal), and raised slogans such as 'PM Jawab do' (answer us, PM).
&nbsp;
"The protest is against dictatorship. This protest is to protect the Constitution and democracy. Today an elected chief minister was arrested and put behind bars. We are asking the prime minister to stop the misuse of investigative agencies and release Kejriwal," AAP MP Sanjay Singh said during the protest.
&nbsp;
"We are boycotting the President's address since it is written by the government. We will participate in the discussion and do the job of waking up the government," Singh said. 
&nbsp;
Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, AAP MP from Sangrur, said the Constitution and democracy are being "crushed in the entire country" under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.
&nbsp;
"Investigative agencies are being openly misused from Delhi to West Bengal, Jharkhand and Maharashtra," Hayer alleged.
&nbsp;
"Current Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal was put in jail. The former chief minister of Jharkhand Hemant Soren was also put in jail. Our (Delhi) Education Minister Manish Sisodia and Health Minister Satyendar Jain were arrested and are in jail for about two years. AAP MP Sanjay Singh was jailed for six months for no reason. This is very dangerous for the democracy of the country," he said.
&nbsp;
Hayer said Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the CBI in a hurry when he had every possibility of getting bail from the Supreme Court because he had got bail from the trial court.
&nbsp;
"This is a big example of dictatorship," he added.
&nbsp;
He said the AAP is discussing the matter with its INDIA bloc allies and with their support, the voice of dissent will be raised louder.
&nbsp;
Murmu on Thursday addressed a joint sitting of Parliament after the constitution of the 18th Lok Sabha.&nbsp;

AAP boycott Prez's address over Kejriwal's arrest

AAP MP Sanjay Singh has been granted a significant relief as his suspension from Rajya Sabha has ended. Following this, Sanjay Singh, along with other Aam Aadmi Party MPs, held a protest in the Parliament premises.
&nbsp;
They demonstrated against the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister and AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal, just before President Droupadi Murmu's address on Thursday.
&nbsp;
The AAP MPs were seen holding placards that read, &ldquo;Stop misusing ED and CBI&rdquo; and &ldquo;Dictatorship will not work.&rdquo; The protest comes in the wake of recent legal actions against Kejriwal.
&nbsp;
On Wednesday, the Rouse Avenue Court of Delhi sent Kejriwal to three days of CBI remand in connection with the Excise policy case. Vacation Judge Amitabh Rawat, after considering submissions from both sides, decided to place Kejriwal under CBI remand until June 29, 2024.
&nbsp;
During this remand period, the court permitted Kejriwal&rsquo;s wife, Sunita Kejriwal, to meet him for 30 minutes and his lawyer to meet him daily for the same duration. Additionally, the court allowed him to have his prescribed medications during this time.
&nbsp;
In the hearing, Arvind Kejriwal addressed the court himself, stating that the CBI's claim that he made a statement against his colleague Manish Sisodia was completely false.
&nbsp;
He asserted, &ldquo;Manish Sisodia is innocent, Aam Aadmi Party is innocent. I am also innocent. Statements are being made to tarnish our image in the media.&rdquo; Kejriwal further accused the CBI of attempting to defame him and his party through media reports, alleging that the CBI was using unnamed sources to spread false information.
&nbsp;
He explained, &ldquo;CBI sources are tarnishing our image in the media. They plan to make headline news that Kejriwal has shifted all the blame to Manish Sisodia.&rdquo; However, the court clarified, &ldquo;I have read your statement&hellip; you have not said this.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday stayed the bail order for Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal that was passed by the trial court. The High Court stated that the trial court should have at least recorded its satisfaction with the fulfilment of the twin conditions of Section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) before passing the impugned order.

Sanjay Singh returns to RS after suspension ends

Sikkim's Manita Pradhan, a 38-year-old professional mountaineer from Soreng, has added another achievement to her Seven Summit project by successfully summiting Mt Denali in North America.
&nbsp;
On June 23, 2024, Pradhan and her team commenced their ascent at 11:00 am, reaching the peak by 10:30 pm the same day.
&nbsp;
Pradhan's triumph on Mt Denali further cements her impressive mountaineering record, which includes successful ascents of Mt Everest, Mt Kilimanjaro, Mt Elbrus, and Mt Aconcagua.
&nbsp;
Her journey to conquer the highest mountains on each of the seven continents continues, with only two peaks remaining: Mount Vinson Massif in Antarctica and Carstensz Pyramid in Indonesia.
&nbsp;
Earlier this year, in January, Pradhan conquered Mt Aconcagua, the highest peak in South America, reaching the 6,962-meter summit in the Andes mountain range in Argentina.
&nbsp;
With her sights set on completing the Seven Summits challenge, Pradhan continues to inspire with her determination and achievements, pushing the boundaries of mountaineering and leaving a lasting legacy in the field.

Gangtok

Sikkim mountaineer conquers North America's Denali

Chris Silverwood has stepped down as Sri Lanka&rsquo;s head coach on Thursday, following the team&rsquo;s dismal outing in the ongoing T20 World Cup, the SLC announced.
&nbsp;
Former captain Mahela Jayawardene had resigned from the post of the consultant coach on Wednesday.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;Being an international coach means long periods away from loved ones. After lengthy conversations with my family and with a heavy heart, I feel it is now time for me to return home (England) and spend some quality time together,&rdquo; Silverwood, who played six Tests and seven ODIs for England as a pacer, said in his statement.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;It has been a real honour for me to be part of Sri Lanka Cricket and I will be taking away many fond memories,&rdquo; added Silverwood.
&nbsp;
Sri Lanka crashed out of the T20 WC in the group stages itself with two losses, a no result and a solitary win, and it was the former champions&rsquo; worst performance in the ICC showpiece.
&nbsp;
During Silverwood&rsquo;s tenure, Lanka won the T20 Asia Cup in 2022 and also reached the final of the 50-over Asia Cup last year where they lost to India.
 They also secured a slew of bilateral series wins both at home and overseas, including one against Australia in the 50-over format and two away Test series wins over Bangladesh.
 The SLC has already started the process of finding a new head coach ahead the team&rsquo;s next international outing against India in a white ball series next month.
 The Lankans will then head to England for a two-match Test series.

Colombo

Silverwood steps down as Sri Lanka's head coach

parvesh_kapoor

President Draupadi Murmu on Thursday conveyed her best wishes to Indian athletes who would be competing in next month's Paris Olympics, and backed the country's audacious bid to host the 2036 Games in her address to a joint sitting of the two houses of the Parliament here.
&nbsp;
In her address, Murmu said the efforts of the central government, led by Narendra Modi, has ensured higher-than-ever medal hauls for Indians at global events.
&nbsp;
"Due to effective efforts of my Government, young Indian players are winning a record number of medals at global platforms. The Paris Olympics is also going to start in a few days," Murmu said.
&nbsp;
"We are proud of every athlete representing India at the Olympics. I convey my best wishes to them. To take these achievements further, the Indian Olympic Association is also preparing to host the 2036 Olympic Games," she added.
&nbsp;
Over 100 Indians have qualified for the Paris Games, including a record 21 shooters. They would be aiming to better the best-ever haul of seven medals that the country achieved in the previous Tokyo Olympics.
&nbsp;
That performance included an unprecedented athletics gold medal from javelin throw star Neeraj Chopra.
&nbsp;
Encouraged by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) head Thomas Bach, India would be bidding for the 2036 Games hosting rights but will face competition from strong contenders like Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and Qatar among others.
&nbsp;
The bid is yet to be submitted and Indian Olympic Association officials would be lobbying hard for the nation during the Paris Games starting July 26.
&nbsp;
A decision on the 2036 host will be taken only after the IOC elections next year.

President offers best wishes to Paris-bound athletes, mentions India's Oly bid in Parliament address

The Global Chess League's second edition will take place in London from October 3 to 12, the organisers announced on Thursday.
&nbsp;
This international event, a collaboration between the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and Tech Mahindra, aims to elevate the profile of chess worldwide.
&nbsp;
Set in the heart of London at Friends House, the 10-day league promises to feature top players from across the globe.
&nbsp;
"After a fantastic response to the inaugural season, we are excited to continue our mission of expanding the reach of chess worldwide and drawing in new experiences for chess fans," said FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich.
&nbsp;
The league is designed to revolutionise the fan experience with a new format and ecosystem, offering a platform for supporters to rally behind their favourite teams and stars, akin to major global sports leagues.
&nbsp;
The second edition will spotlight reigning world champions and emerging talents, competing in a unique team-based format that emphasises strategy,&nbsp;collaboration, and high-stakes play.
&nbsp;
Each team will comprise six players, including two top female chess players and a prodigy, competing in a double round-robin format. The winner will be determined by a best-of-six board scoring system.
&nbsp;
"We will continue to leverage the Global Chess League's innovative format and next-gen technologies to captivate and engage fans worldwide. Together with FIDE, our vision for the league is to bring the best from the chess world," said Peeyush Dubey, chairperson of the Global Chess League Board.

London

London to host 2nd Global Chess League in October

Arundhati Roy, the Booker Prize-winning author known for her fearless literary voice, has been awarded the prestigious Pen Pinter Prize 2024.
&nbsp;
The accolade, presented by the charity English PEN in memory of Nobel Laureate playwright Harold Pinter, honours writers who exhibit an &ldquo;unflinching, unswerving&rdquo; commitment to truth and justice.
&nbsp;
Roy, who faces potential prosecution for comments made on Kashmir 14 years ago, expressed her delight at receiving the prize amid what she described as an &ldquo;incomprehensible turn&rdquo; in global affairs.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;I am delighted to accept the PEN Pinter prize. I wish Harold Pinter were with us today to write about the almost incomprehensible turn the world is taking. Since he isn&rsquo;t, some of us must do our utmost to try to fill his shoes,&rdquo; said the 62-year-old author.
&nbsp;
Best known for her debut novel &lsquo;The God of Small Things,&rsquo; which won the Booker Prize, Roy was selected by a panel of judges comprising Ruth Borthwick, Chair of English PEN; actor and activist Khalid Abdalla; and writer and musician Roger Robinson.
&nbsp;
They lauded her for her unwavering dedication to social justice through both her fiction and non-fiction works.
&nbsp;
Ruth Borthwick praised Roy&rsquo;s ability to tell urgent stories of injustice with both wit and beauty.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;While India remains an important focus, she is truly an internationalist thinker, and her powerful voice is not to be silenced,&rdquo; Borthwick noted.
&nbsp;
Khalid Abdalla spotlighted the significance of Roy&rsquo;s work in the current global context.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;Arundhati Roy is a luminous voice of freedom and justice whose words have come with fierce clarity and determination for almost 30 years now. This year, as the world faces the deep histories that have created this moment in Gaza, our need for writers who are &lsquo;unflinching and unswerving&rsquo; has been immense. In honouring Arundhati Roy this year, we are celebrating both the dignity of her body of work and the timeliness of her words, that arrive with the depth of her craft exactly when we need them most,&rdquo; he said.
&nbsp;
Roger Robinson echoed these sentiments, stating, &ldquo;Arundhati Roy was the unanimous choice for this prestigious award, a testament to her unparalleled contribution to literature. Her vast body of work, encompassing both fiction and non-fiction, has not only captivated readers worldwide but also consistently focused on themes of social justice.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
The judges noted that Roy&rsquo;s incisive commentary on issues ranging from environmental degradation to human rights abuses underscores her commitment to advocating for the marginalised and challenging the status quo.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;Her unique voice and unwavering dedication to these causes make her a deserving recipient of this honour,&rdquo; they said.
&nbsp;
Roy will receive the award at a ceremony co-hosted by the British Library on October 10, where she will also deliver an address.
&nbsp;
The Pen Pinter Prize will be shared with a &ldquo;Writer of Courage,&rdquo; an individual who defends freedom of expression at great personal risk. Roy will select this co-winner from a shortlist supported by English PEN.
&nbsp;
The Pen Pinter Prize, established in 2009, is awarded annually to a writer of outstanding literary merit resident in the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, or the Commonwealth.
&nbsp;
The prize celebrates those who, in Pinter&rsquo;s words, cast an &ldquo;unflinching, unswerving&rdquo; gaze upon the world and demonstrate a &ldquo;fierce intellectual determination&hellip; to define the real truth of our lives and our societies.&rdquo;

Arundhati Roy awarded Pen Pinter Prize 2024

First two arrests have been made by CBI in the NEET-UG paper leak case, today, the officials stated.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Manish Kumar and Ashutosh Kumar allegedly provided safe premises to the aspirants before the examination where they were given leaked papers and answer keys, the officials said.
&nbsp;
The CBI has registered six FIRs in the NEET paper leak case.
&nbsp;
The NEET-UG is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and other related courses in government and private institutions nationwide.
&nbsp;
This year's examination was conducted on May 5 at 4,750 centres in 571 cities, including 14 abroad. Over 23 lakh candidates appeared for the test.
&nbsp;
The first CBI FIR was registered on Sunday, a day after the ministry announced it would hand over the probe into the alleged irregularities in the conduct of the exam to the central agency.
&nbsp;
The demand for a CBI probe was raised by a section of protesting students.&nbsp;

CBI arrests two in NEET-UG paper leak

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced that its upcoming mission, Chandrayaan-4, which aims to bring back samples from the Moon, will be launched in parts and assembled in space.
&nbsp;
This innovative approach, disclosed by ISRO Chairman S Somanath on Wednesday, marks a first in space exploration history.
&nbsp;
Chandrayaan-4, expected to surpass the carrying capacity of ISRO's most powerful rockets, will necessitate multiple launches. The spacecraft will be assembled in orbit before commencing its journey to the Moon, Somanath revealed on the sidelines of an event in Delhi.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;We have worked out the configuration of Chandrayaan-4&hellip; how to bring back samples from the Moon to Earth. We propose to do it with multiple launches because our current rocket capability is not (strong) enough to do it at one go,&rdquo; said Somanath.
&nbsp;
To achieve this, ISRO will develop docking capabilities for joining different parts of the spacecraft both in Earth orbit and lunar orbit. This technique, while routine for docking modules during the return journey from the Moon, will be a pioneering effort for spacecraft assembly.
&nbsp;
Docking involves the landing part of the spacecraft detaching from the main body to land on the Moon, while the other part remains in orbit. Upon completing its mission on the lunar surface, the landing module docks with the orbiting part, merging into a single unit for the return to Earth.
&nbsp;
Somanath also mentioned an upcoming mission called Spadex, scheduled for later this year, which will demonstrate this docking capability. &ldquo;So, we have to have docking capability (joining of different parts of a spacecraft) in space &mdash; both in Earth space as well as in Moon space. We are developing that capability,&rdquo; he stated.
&nbsp;
The assembly-in-space approach for Chandrayaan-4 aligns with the methods used in constructing the International Space Station and similar facilities, which were built by launching and assembling different parts in orbit.&nbsp;

Chandrayaan-4 to launch in parts: ISRO

Delhiites get relief from heatwave as rain lashes parts of the national capital on Thursday morning.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The minimum temperature in Delhi was recorded at 28.6 degrees Celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
&nbsp;
In a notification issued at 9.30 am, the IMD said thunderstorms with light to moderate intensity rain, heavy rain at isolated places, and winds with speeds of 20-40 kmph would continue to occur over Delhi-NCR and adjoining areas for the next two hours.
&nbsp;
Moderate rain over parts of Delhi-NCR and adjoining areas is very likely to cause slippery roads, low visibility, traffic disruption, and localised waterlogging in low-lying areas, it said.
&nbsp;
Police said a wall of a vacant plot collapsed due to rain in southwest Delhi's Vasant Kunj area.&nbsp;They said no one was injured in the incident.
&nbsp;
While the IMD has not said when the monsoon is expected to arrive in Delhi, private weather forecasting agency Skymet Weather Services had said on Wednesday that the monsoon current could arrive in Delhi by the end of this week.
&nbsp;
The monsoon current typically enters Delhi between June 27 and 29.
 Last year, it arrived on June 26 while the first monsoon showers of 2022 were recorded on June 30, according to official data.&nbsp;

Heavy rain hits national capital amid heatwave

Severe flooding in Assam's c has led to the closure of 270 schools, with 93 of them repurposed as temporary relief camps to shelter those displaced by the disaster.
&nbsp;
District Commissioner Mridul Yadav announced that these schools will remain closed until June 29.
&nbsp;
Despite the widespread disruption, the district commissioner's office assured that all other government and non-government educational institutions would continue to operate normally.
&nbsp;
The district administration is working tirelessly to manage the crisis, providing essential aid and support to the flood-affected population.
&nbsp;
The relief camps set up in schools are offering temporary shelter and basic necessities to displaced residents, ensuring their safety and well-being.
&nbsp;
Residents and students are urged to stay informed about further updates from the district administration regarding the status of educational institutions and flood relief efforts.
&nbsp;
The monsoon-induced floods have displaced over 137,842 people across eleven districts, including Kamrup and Golaghat.
&nbsp;
As of June 26, 2024, 487 villages are submerged, with the Kushiyara River breaching its danger mark in Karimganj, exacerbating the crisis, according to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA).
&nbsp;
The state has established 109 relief camps and distribution centres, sheltering more than 10,049 displaced individuals.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Although no casualties were reported on Wednesday, rescue operations using boats and helicopters are ongoing to assist those stranded.
&nbsp;
The floods have submerged 1,334.51 hectares of agricultural land, affecting 124,872 animals and disrupting livelihoods.
&nbsp;
Relief efforts focus on providing essential supplies like rice, dal, and medical aid to affected communities.
&nbsp;
Authorities are closely monitoring water levels and weather forecasts as they brace for further challenges in managing the disaster, they informed.

Assam floods close 270 schools, turn 93 to camps

The annual Ambubachi Mela, marking the revered menstruation cycle of Maa Kamakhya, has concluded with a record turnout at the Kamakhya Temple in Assam's Guwahati.
&nbsp;
The four-day festival, which began on June 22, saw the temple doors reopened to devotees on June 25, following a period of closure.
&nbsp;
This year witnessed an unprecedented influx of devotees, with the temple secretary, Jnan Nath Sarma, reporting a significant increase from last year.
&nbsp;
"In 2023, around 22 lakh devotees visited the temple, but this year, the numbers have surged to 30 lakh," Sarma revealed, attributing the rise to the widespread media publicity and the festival's growing global recognition.
&nbsp;
Sarma highlighted the transformation of Ambubachi Mela from a largely spiritual gathering of sadhus and ascetics to an event of international significance.
&nbsp;
"Initially, only those involved in spiritual practices knew of the mela. However, with extensive coverage on social media and other media platforms, it has now become a global event, attracting visitors from across the world," he said.
&nbsp;
Among this year's attendees were a large number of sadhus, including Naga sadhus, and holy men from countries such as Nepal and Canada.
&nbsp;
The festival also saw a notable increase in participation from the Kinnar Akhada, a group representing transgender devotees.
&nbsp;
A temple committee member noted that the number of transgender devotees had risen, partly due to the Assam government's recent approval of the Transgender Policy, which has facilitated greater inclusion.
&nbsp;
Priotests in Kamakhya
&nbsp;
Despite the extensive preparations by the Assam government and the Kamakhya Temple Management Committee, the festival's final day was marred by protests.
&nbsp;
Thousands of devotees staged a demonstration at the temple's main gate, citing inadequate amenities as their primary grievance.
&nbsp;
Protesters highlighted the lack of proper sanitation and medical facilities, which they claimed were insufficient for the large gathering of sadhus and devotees.
&nbsp;
Specific complaints included the absence of ambulances and restricted access to medical services, with allegations of mistreatment by authorities, particularly towards senior citizens.
&nbsp;
Some transgender devotees also reported being barred from using the premises' toilets by NGO members, who allegedly confiscated their identity cards.
&nbsp;
The protests, marked by slogans against the administration and police, criticised the stringent regulations that limited devotees' movement within the temple complex.
&nbsp;
There were also accusations that the administration restricted the free movement of Naga Sadhus in areas of religious significance.
&nbsp;
However, according to the temple management, in response to the increased number of devotees and the intense heat, it had enhanced several facilities.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Sarma noted that additional water tanks were distributed, and the number of medical and rest camps was increased. "However, to accommodate the large number of visitors, the usual resting and food arrangements were moved outside the temple premises, near Pandu Port and Kamakhya Railway Station, to ensure sufficient space for prayer within the temple," he added.

Record footfall at Kamakhya's Ambubachi Mela

Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh started off on a positive note, beating Deac Bogdan-Daniel of Romania in the first round of the Superbet Classic chess tournament at Bucharest, Romania.
&nbsp;
Set to challenge reigning World Champion Ding Liren of China later this year, Gukesh got a bit lucky in the middle game as the both players missed a tactical nuance but the Indian emerged on top soon after to give his campaign a positive start in his first classical game since winning the Candidates tournament.
&nbsp;
The other Indian in fray R Praggnanandhaa tried hard but had to settle for a draw against Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan in a keenly-contested game.
&nbsp;
The other winner of the round was Fabiano Caruana of the United States, who beat Firouzja Alireza of France, while the other two games in the 10-player round-robin tournament ended in draws.
&nbsp;
It was a Nimzo Indian defense by Deac Bogdan-Daniel that led to a complicated middle game.
&nbsp;
The Romanian was up to the task in finding counter-attacks and won a sacrificed pawn in the middle game. The position looked promising when Gukesh erred and allowed a tactical skirmish.
&nbsp;
However, Bogdan-Daniel failed to spot the best move and ended up trading his rook for a minor piece. The position remained complicated but Gukesh converted it with ease.
&nbsp;
Praggnanandhaa faced the Ruy Lopez with black against Abdusattorov and, after initial opening duel, won a pawn to reach a rook and pawns endgame.
&nbsp;
While the position remained within the boundaries of a draw, the Indian tried hard for over sixty moves. However Abdusattorov did not give much as the two players eventually decided to split points.
&nbsp;
Caruana was in a spot of bother in the middle game arising out of a London system but Alireza could not find the right attacking moves. The American exchanged pieces at regular intervals and his extra pawn came in handy in the ensuing queen and minor piece endgame.
&nbsp;
In other games of the day, Dutchman Anish Giri played out a draw against American Wesley So, while Maxime Vachier-Lagrave of France also had to sign peace against Russian Ian Nepomniachtchi.
&nbsp;
Results after Round 1: Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA) drew with Ian Nepomniachtchi (FID); Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB) drew with R Praggnanandhaa (IND); D Gukesh (IND) beat Deac Bogdan-Daniel (ROM); Firouzja Alireza (FRA) lost to Fabiano Caruana (USA); Anish Giri (NED) drew with Wesley So (USA).&nbsp;

Bucharest

Gukesh beats Deac Daniel in Superbet Classic chess

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a forecast of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms for the northeastern region of India, as the southwest monsoon makes significant progress.
&nbsp;
The northern limit of the monsoon now extends from Mundra in Gujarat to Raxaul in Bihar, signalling its steady advance.
&nbsp;
The IMD attributes this development to favourable atmospheric conditions, including an east-west trough and a cyclonic circulation, which are expected to drive the monsoon further into various regions over the next 3-4 days.
&nbsp;
The east-west trough, stretching from Madhya Pradesh to Assam, is likely to affect weather patterns in areas such as south Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;Additionally, a cyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal is anticipated to impact the weather in the west-central and northwest Bay of Bengal regions.
&nbsp;
With the monsoon's progression and the presence of these weather systems, residents and authorities in the affected areas are urged to remain vigilant. The increased likelihood of heavy rainfall necessitates close monitoring of weather updates and strict adherence to safety guidelines issued by local authorities.

Heavy rain, thunderstorms to hit northeast India

A day after two newly elected Trinamool Congress MLAs failed to take oath following a row over the venue of the swearing-in ceremony, they launched a dharna on the West Bengal Assembly compound on Thursday.
&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 MLAs, Sayantika Bandyopadhyay and Rayat Hossain Sarkar, sat before the statue of BR Ambedkar, demanding that Governor CV Ananda Bose enable them to perform the duty of elected public representatives by facilitating the oath-taking ceremony inside the assembly.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; 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;">Raj Bhavan had earlier invited the two, who were elected to the assembly in recent by-polls, to take the oath at the Governor&rsquo;s House on Wednesday.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; 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;">However, the TMC claimed that the convention dictates that in the case of by-poll winners, the governor assigns the Speaker or the Deputy Speaker of the assembly to administer the oath.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; 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 governor refused to hold the programme in the assembly as requested by the two and had gone to New Delhi on June 26 evening.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; 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 had waited till 4 PM on Wednesday for the governor to conduct the oath-taking ceremony, but he didn&rsquo;t come. Today we are sitting before the statue of Ambedkar with the demand that our constitutional rights to work for the people be facilitated without any delay,&rdquo; Bandopadhyay told the media.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">Speaker Biman Banerjee on Wednesday accused Bose of turning the swearing-in ritual into an &ldquo;ego battle&rdquo; and intentionally complicating 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;">Bose told the media from New Delhi on Wednesday night that the Constitution empowers him to decide who should be entrusted with the task of administering oath to MLAs.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; 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 had no objection to fixing the assembly as the venue, but because of an objectionable letter from the Speaker, undermining the dignity of the office of Governor, that option was not found feasible,&rdquo; Bose said. 
&nbsp;

WB: TMC MLAs launch sit-in on Assembly premises

The Tomo Riba Institute of Health &amp; Medical Sciences (TRIHMS) in Arunachal Pradesh's Naharlagun has received approval to increase the number of MBBS seats from 50 to 100 for the academic year 2024-2025, officials said on Thursday.
&nbsp;
The approval was granted in response to an application submitted by the institute under relevant sections of the National Medical Commission (NMC) Act, 2019, they said.
&nbsp;
This will help in enhancing medical education capacity in the region, officials said.
&nbsp;
The approval letter, issued by Jitulal Ramprasad Meena who is a member of the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) of the NMC, stated that the permission for the increased seats will remain valid until the first batch of students admitted under the new capacity appears for their final examination.
Subsequently, the institute must seek recognition of the qualification under section 35(2) of the NMC Act, 2019, it said.
&nbsp;
TRIHMS must maintain the required norms, including infrastructure, human resources, teaching faculty, and clinical material throughout the academic year as per NMC regulations, it added.
&nbsp;
The institute is mandated to contribute 15 per cent of MBBS seats and 50 per cent of postgraduate broad specialities (MD/MS) seats to the all India quota, officials said.

Itanagar

Arunachal’s TRIHMS doubles MBBS seats to 100

Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, the newly-elected National Conference (NC) MP from Srinagar, urged Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to uphold parliamentary decorum by preventing derogatory remarks against Muslim parliamentarians and ensuring thorough deliberations on significant legislation like the abrogation of Article 370.
&nbsp;
In his brief inaugural speech following Birla's election as Speaker on Wednesday, the National Conference member appealed for non-partisan conduct, stating, "I would request you (to remember) that from today you are neither BJP nor Congress or Samajwadi, and you have only one party,&nbsp;&nbsp;and that is the Constitution of India."
&nbsp;
Mehdi expressed optimism that the Speaker would uphold constitutional values and ensure the House remained as a bastion of democracy.
He cryptically referred to the Speaker's legacy, highlighting that his actions in managing both government and opposition voices would define his tenure.
&nbsp;
"This House would remember you for your actions whether you forced treasury benches to listen to the opposition or you silenced the opposition," he stated.
&nbsp;
Mehdi pointed out the importance of respecting elected representatives and recalled a past incident where a fellow MP had derogatorily referred to a Muslim parliamentarian as a "terrorist."
&nbsp;
Furthermore, he said, "You will remember how you silenced the voices in the House that called an elected Muslim MP a terrorist or did you allow those voices," he remarked, prompting an intervention from Speaker Birla.
&nbsp;
While expressing concerns about the treatment of Muslims across the country, Mehdi stressed the need to prevent instances where elected representatives are disparaged in the House.
&nbsp;
He referenced an incident from a special session last September when former BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri had made derogatory remarks against former BSP&rsquo;s Danish Ali, calling him, among other things, an aatankwadi ( terrorist).&rdquo;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The Speaker had expunged these remarks from the records, which was soon followed by an apology by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for Bidhuri&rsquo;s comments.
&nbsp;
Mehdi also called for thorough discussions on critical bills, citing concerns over the passage of the Article 370 bill, adding that he was amazed to see how a bill in Parliament was passed within two hours.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
In response, Speaker Birla defended the legislative process, informing the House about the extensive debate preceding the passage of the Article 370 bill, countering Mehdi's assertion of a rushed legislative process.

Scrapping Article 370 a hasty move: NC’s Ruhullah

Heavy rains lashed many parts of Kerala on Wednesday night, prompting authorities to urge people to take utmost care while travelling through hilly and inundated areas.
&nbsp;
An orange alert has been issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in seven districts, and a yellow alert in the remaining districts in the state for Thursday.
&nbsp;
An orange alert means very heavy rain of 11 cm to 20 cm and a yellow alert means heavy rainfall between 6 cm and 11 cm.
&nbsp;
Heavy rain with maximum surface wind speed up to 40 Kmph (in gusts) is very likely to occur in many places at Kannur, and Kasaragod districts, the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority said on Thursday.
&nbsp;
Relief camps have been opened in Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha districts to accommodate people affected by the floods.
&nbsp;
Authorities have declared holidays for all educational institutions, including professional colleges, in Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Wayanad, Ernakulam, Kottayam, and Alappuzha districts, and educational institutions in the Iriti taluk of Kannur district on Thursday.
&nbsp;
In Kasargod, two young men had a miraculous escape this morning when their car was swept away while crossing a river via a bridge inundated by floodwaters.
&nbsp;
While heavy rains continue in the state, widespread damage has been reported in the lower areas of Kottayam district due to the wind that accompanied the rain.
&nbsp;
In the Kumarakom area, billboards, sheet roofs of houses and institutions, and water tanks fell on the ground.
&nbsp;

Thiruvananthapuram

Torrential rain brings Kerala to a standstill

Shweta Sengar

Fans all over the globe will have the opportunity to experience the enchanting voice of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan once more, as a new collection of previously unreleased recordings by the late Qawwali legend is scheduled to be unveiled in September.
&nbsp;
Titled 'Chain of Light', the collection was unearthed in the archives of Real World Records, a label owned by British musician Peter Gabriel.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The label, which inked a deal with Khan in 1989 and produced a series of widely praised albums with him in the 1990s, has chosen to debut the collection on September 20, according to a press release.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve had the privilege to work with a tonne of different musicians from all over the world in my time, but perhaps the greatest singer of them all was Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan,&rdquo; Peter Gabriel said in a statement on the label's official website.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;What he could do and make you feel with his voice was quite extraordinary and we were very proud to have played a role in getting him to a much wider global audience. It was a real delight when we found out this tape had been in our library. This album really shows him at his peak. It&rsquo;s a wonderful record,&rdquo; he added.
&nbsp;
The tapes were stored deep in a warehouse at Real World Studios in England and were discovered during the label's archive relocation in 2021.
&nbsp;
The tape recording featuring "Chain of Light" captures Khan at a pivotal moment, standing on the verge of global success, the statement revealed.
&nbsp;
Khan, frequently referred to as the "Shahenshah-e-Qawwali," gained worldwide recognition for his commanding and heartfelt vocals.
&nbsp;
He was born in 1948 in Faisalabad, Pakistan, into a family with a deep heritage in Qawwali, a type of sufi devotional music. His talent for blending traditional Qawwali with modern musical styles earned him international renown, and he is acknowledged for popularizing the genre globally.
&nbsp;
He passed away suddenly from a cardiac arrest in 1997 at the age of 48.

Lost album by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan out in Sep

Letitia Wright has expressed her interest in reprising her role as Shuri from "Black Panther" in future Marvel Cinematic Universe projects.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
In "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" (2022), Shuri continues the legacy of the original "Black Panther" film following the loss of King T'Challa, portrayed by the late Chadwick Boseman. This change in the storyline was made in response to Boseman's passing in 2020 due to colon cancer.
&nbsp;
In an appearance on the chat show "The View", Wright called Shuri "one of my favourite characters".
&nbsp;
&ldquo;Let&rsquo;s just say&hellip; I would like to continue with Shuri. She&rsquo;s one of my favourite characters, such a blessing, honestly, I kid you not. I&rsquo;m so grateful for her,&rdquo; she said.
&nbsp;
When asked if a third installment of "Black Panther" was in development, the actor said, &ldquo;There&rsquo;s a lot coming up.&rdquo; In 2018's "Black Panther," Wright was introduced as Shuri, a brilliant tech wiz, the princess of Wakanda, and T'Challa's younger sister.
&nbsp;
The character has since appeared in three MCU films, "Avengers: Infinity War" (2018), "Avengers: Endgame" (2019) and "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" (2022).
&nbsp;
Wright is looking forward to the release of her film "Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot".&nbsp;

Los Angeles

Letitia Wright teases Shuri's MCU return

Nag Ashwin's Kalki 2898 AD, featuring Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Prabhas, and Kamal Haasan in pivotal roles, also has a star-studded line-up for cameos in the movie.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
South Indian stars Vijay Deverakonda and Dulquer Salmaan also make brief appearances. Furthermore, Mrunal Thakur has also joined the ensemble. Fans of Mrunal Thakur have shared glimpses of her role from Kalki 2898 AD on the day of its release. The movie hits the theatres today, June 27. 2024.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kalki?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kalki</a> Mrunal in Kalki2898AD ❣️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/mrunalthakur?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#mrunalthakur</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MrunalThakur?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MrunalThakur</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kalki2898AD?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kalki2898AD</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KALKI2898AD%E2%80%8CO?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KALKI2898AD&zwnj;O</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KALKI2898AD%E2%80%8CBookings?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KALKI2898AD&zwnj;Bookings</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Prabhas%E2%80%8C?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Prabhas&zwnj;</a> <a href="https://t.co/oKlMVqRDka">pic.twitter.com/oKlMVqRDka</a>
&mdash; Chandu_Virat18 (@Chandu_Kohli18) <a href="https://twitter.com/Chandu_Kohli18/status/1806093698452898073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
Nag Ashwin, best known for directing the National Award-winning 2018 biographical drama Mahanati, helms Kalki 2898 - AD. This film marks Deepika Padukone and Prabhas' first collaboration, while Deepika has previously appeared alongside Amitabh Bachchan in the 2015 film Piku.
&nbsp;
The duo will also star together in the Hindi adaptation of the Hollywood movie The Intern, which originally featured Anne Hathaway and Robert De Niro.
&nbsp;
Mrunal Thakur rose to fame starring in the TV show Mujhse Kuchh Kehti... Yeh Khamoshiyaan, and later gained popularity for her role in Kumkum Bhagya. She has recently appeared in The Family Star, Pippa, and Hi Nana alongside superstar Nani. In addition, she was part of Gumraah, Lust Stories 2, and Selfiee last year.
&nbsp;
Mrunal Thakur is recognised for her impressive performances in movies such as Sita Ramam, Super 30, Toofaan, Batla House, Love Sonia, and Ghost Stories, among others. She has also acted in Dhamaka alongside Kartik Aaryan and Jersey, in which she stars opposite Shahid Kapoor.

Mrunal Thakur shines in Kalki 2898 AD cameo

Guyana gives visitors from India a homey vibe, and Indianness is quite palpable in every corner.
&nbsp;
You feel that immediately upon entering the Providence Cricket Stadium in Georgetown, the capital of Guyana, the only English-speaking country in South America.
&nbsp;
The primary entrance of the stadium greets visitors with a noticeable "Bhojpuri Nights" banner, which is being promoted by a nearby nightclub.
&nbsp;
A brief stroll from this location leads to one of the numerous and perhaps the most extensive temples in Georgetown, known as ISKCON.
&nbsp;
A well-liked Indian restaurant, owned by the former West Indies cricket player Ramnaresh Sarwan, is a must-visit for individuals from the Indian subcontinent.
&nbsp;
The Guyanese Indians, the largest ethnic group in the country, reside in a nation that borders Brazil, Suriname, and Venezuela.
&nbsp;
The majority of Guyanese Indians practice Hinduism, including Sarwan, while the incumbent president, Irfaan Ali, is a Muslim of Indian descent.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;The Guyanese Indians are very powerful here. As far as places of Hindu worship are concerned, you would find a temple every four to five miles,&rdquo; says Sarwan.
&nbsp;
The prosperous community accounts for more than 40 per cent of the population and consists of the descendants of indentured labourers from India who were transported to European colonies during the British Raj in the early 19th century.
&nbsp;
Contributing to the Indian atmosphere are the vibrant, often messy, bustling streets and the continuous honking of cars. Though they are far from reaching Indian noise levels.
&nbsp;
The majority of the political power is also in the hands of Guyanese Indians, with President Ali and former head of state Bharrat Jagdeo leading the government.
&nbsp;
So, it's natural that the local population is wholeheartedly supporting the Indian cricket team here after the West Indies' exit from the T20 World Cup.
&nbsp;
Oil discovery fuels economy&nbsp;
&nbsp;
In 2015, an organisation found 11 billion barrels of oil in Guyana, leading the country toward significant economic growth and a promising future.
&nbsp;
This discovery garnered global interest, prompting Chinese companies to initiate the construction of crucial infrastructure within the nation.
&nbsp;
Similarly, India is contributing to the enhancement of Guyana's infrastructure by pledging to finance a USD 100 million road project in the capital.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;The huge Chinese presence is largely not welcomed by the local people as they are not employing the local population for their projects.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;They did initially, but now all of their employees are from China. How does it help us in the long run?&rdquo; asks a travel agent seeking anonymity.&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Georgetown

Bhojpuri nights, temples – Guyana's Indian roots

The domestic benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty 50, soared to fresh record highs for the third consecutive session on Thursday, propelled by key heavyweights.
&nbsp;
In today's trading, the Nifty 50 surged past the 23,900 mark for the first time, reaching an all-time high of 23,974 points, inching closer to the 24,000 milestone. Simultaneously, the Sensex crossed the 79,000 threshold, achieving a new lifetime high of 79,013 points.
&nbsp;
Notable performers among the Nifty 50 constituents included UltraTech Cement, Grasim Industries, Reliance Industries, ICICI Bank, and Axis Bank, each hitting new 52-week highs. Cement stocks were particularly strong, with UltraTech Cement climbing 4.3% and Grasim Industries advancing 2.6%.
Overall, 19 out of 50 Nifty constituents traded in the green, with gains ranging from 0.1% to 4.3%.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;Key heavyweights continue to push the benchmark index higher to achieve new targets. We remain positive on the market and advise traders to maintain a positive bias and use any dips as a buying opportunity,&rdquo; said Rajesh Bhosale, Equity Technical and Derivative Analyst at Angel One.
&nbsp;
Despite starting the session with gains on the day of the monthly derivatives' expiry, both the Sensex and Nifty 50 experienced some losses due to profit-booking in early trade.
&nbsp;
Meanwhile, the Nifty Bank index also hit a fresh high, crossing the 53,000 mark and continuing its winning streak for the fourth day in a row.

Sensex crosses 79,000 mark

Air India is set to enhance its long-haul international operations with the deployment of its wide-body A350-900 aircraft on the Delhi-London route, starting September 1.
&nbsp;
The airline will operate two daily flights using the A350-900, marking the aircraft's debut on this key international route.
&nbsp;
This strategic move is part of Air India's broader efforts to revamp and expand its operations, aiming to bolster its presence in both international and domestic markets.
&nbsp;
The introduction of the A350-900 will see it replace the currently deployed Boeing 777-300 ER and Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner on 14 of the 17 weekly flights between Delhi and London Heathrow. Consequently, an additional 336 seats will be available each week on this route, according to an airline release on Thursday.
&nbsp;
Air India will also introduce premium economy class seats in the A350-900 planes operating on the Delhi-London Heathrow route, enhancing the travel experience.
&nbsp;
Air India commenced operations with the A350-900 on international routes earlier this year, with the first service between Delhi and Dubai starting on May 1.
&nbsp;
Owned by the Tata Group, Air India currently operates 31 weekly flights to London Heathrow, including 17 from Delhi and 14 from Mumbai. Additionally, the airline serves London Gatwick from Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bengaluru, Goa, and Kochi with 17 weekly flights. There are also 6 weekly flights to Birmingham from Delhi and Amritsar.
&nbsp;
The introduction of the A350-900 is part of Air India's ongoing fleet expansion and modernization plan. The airline has placed an order for 40 A350 planes, with 6 already inducted into its fleet. These aircraft are also being utilized for domestic flights.
&nbsp;
"The deployment of our flagship A350s and the B777s with upgraded cabin interiors to London Heathrow marks a significant milestone for Air India," said Campbell Wilson, Air India's CEO and MD. "This move ensures our commitment to providing enhanced connectivity and superior travel experiences to our customers", he added.

Air India debuts A350-900 on Delhi-London route

India has denounced Pakistan's "baseless and politically motivated" remarks on Jammu and Kashmir at the United Nations Security Council, calling it a habitual attempt to divert attention from Pakistan's grave violations against children.
&nbsp;
During the UNSC open debate on Children and Armed Conflict, India's Deputy Representative to the UN, R Ravindra, emphasised that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are integral parts of India. 
&nbsp;
Responding to Pakistan's comments, Ravindra stated, "I categorically dismiss and condemn these baseless remarks with the contempt they deserve.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;This is nothing but another habitual attempt to divert attention from the grave violations against children that continue unabated in his own country."
&nbsp;
His comments came after Pakistan&rsquo;s representative had drawn specific references to J&amp;K.
&nbsp;
He said, "The abuse, exploitation, sexual violence, and other grave violations against children committed by terrorists need greater focus and determined action."
&nbsp;
He also stressed the importance of quality education, digital tools, and protecting schools and healthcare facilities to support children in conflict situations.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
"The right to a joyful childhood leading to a life full of opportunities is a fundamental right of every child," Ravindra concluded, reiterating India's commitment to supporting the UN in protecting children in armed conflicts.
&nbsp;
During the debate, Ravindra noted the progress made since the adoption of Security Council Resolution 1261 on children and armed conflict, while stressing the need for continued efforts.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;He said, "There remains much progress to be made with the changing landscape of armed conflicts and the varied nature of vulnerabilities that children face."
&nbsp;
He urged national governments to protect children's rights as mandated by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and encouraged member states to adopt robust legal frameworks.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Ravindra also stressed the need for inclusive protection for child victims of armed conflicts, emphasising the importance of education and skill development to mitigate negative consequences.

New York

India slams Pakistan’s remarks at UN over J&K

Palak Chouhan

The government announced on Wednesday that it received Rs 11,340 crore through the auction of 141.4 MHz of spectrum across various bands. This year&rsquo;s auction saw activity in the 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, and 2500 MHz bands.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;Bharti Airtel emerged as the top spender, investing Rs 6,856.76 crore to secure spectrum in the 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 2100 MHz bands. Vodafone Idea followed with a total expenditure of Rs 3,510.40 crore, while Reliance Jio Infocomm spent Rs 973.62 crore.
&nbsp;
Both Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea successfully renewed their expired spectrum in the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands. Additionally, telecom service providers acquired an extra 87.2 MHz worth Rs 6,164.88 crore to enhance their services.
&nbsp;
The Ministry of Telecommunications noted that the unsold spectrum would be offered in future auctions. The spectrum available this year included expiring licenses set to end in 2024 and unsold spectrum from the 2022 auction.
&nbsp;
The auction aimed to meet the spectrum requirements of telecom service providers, ensuring the continuity and growth of services.&nbsp;The demand was particularly high for the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands during the auction, which had a total value of Rs 96,000 crore.

Govt earns Rs 11,340 Cr from spectrum auction

India&rsquo;s external debt to GDP ratio decreased to 18.7% at the end of March 2024 from 19.0% at the end of March 2023, indicating a strengthening of the country&rsquo;s macroeconomic fundamentals.
&nbsp;
In absolute terms, India's external debt stood at $663.8 billion at the end of March 2024, an increase of $39.7 billion over the previous year. The rise in GDP due to robust economic growth contributed to the decline in the debt-to-GDP ratio.
&nbsp;
According to data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the valuation effect, driven by the appreciation of the US dollar against the Indian rupee and other major currencies such as the yen, the euro, and the SDR, amounted to $8.7 billion. Excluding this valuation effect, the external debt would have increased by $48.4 billion instead of $39.7 billion.
&nbsp;
At the end of March 2024, long-term debt (with an original maturity of over one year) was $541.2 billion, an increase of $45.6 billion from March 2023. The share of short-term debt (with an original maturity of up to one year) in total external debt declined to 18.5% from 20.6% in the same period.
&nbsp;
The ratio of short-term debt (original maturity) to foreign exchange reserves also decreased to 19% at the end of March 2024 from 22.2% a year earlier. On a residual maturity basis, short-term debt constituted 42.9% of total external debt at the end of March 2024, down from 44.0% in March 2023, and stood at 44.1% of foreign exchange reserves, compared to 47.4% a year earlier.
&nbsp;
US dollar-denominated debt remained the largest component of India&rsquo;s external debt, accounting for 53.8% at the end of March 2024. This was followed by debt denominated in the Indian rupee (31.5%), yen (5.8%), SDR (5.4%), and euro (2.8%).
&nbsp;
Both government and non-government sectors saw an increase in outstanding debt at the end of March 2024 compared to the previous year. Non-financial corporations held the highest share of total external debt at 37.4%.
&nbsp;
Loans were the largest component of external debt, with a share of 33.4%, followed by currency and deposits (23.3%), trade credit and advances (17.9%), and debt securities (17.3%).
&nbsp;
Debt service, which includes principal repayments and interest payments, increased to 6.7% of current receipts at the end of March 2024 from 5.3% at the end of March 2023, reflecting higher debt service obligations.

India's debt-to-GDP ratio drops to 18.7% in 2024

One of the things I often hear as an emotions researcher is that emotions should not &ldquo;cloud&rdquo; people&rsquo;s decisions, that they get in the way, or that they are irrational.
&nbsp;
But emotions are a critical part of the human experience and, indeed in making decisions. They help people to process information, form goals and guide behaviour. So, if you&rsquo;re struggling to decide how to vote in the UK general election, don&rsquo;t ignore or discount your emotions. In fact, it&rsquo;s important to be aware of how politicians may try to tap into voters&rsquo; emotional state.
&nbsp;
Emotions are rooted in appraisals of meaningful events. This leads to &ldquo;action tendencies&rdquo;, which means the creation of intentions or readiness for a certain type of action.
&nbsp;
We feel angry when we think something is unjust and can feel propelled to change it, often using force. We feel guilty when we (or our group) have wronged others and may be motivated to make amends through reparations or change. We feel hopeful when we see a possibility to improve our situation, and this can drive us to achieve a goal that is important to us.
&nbsp;
Awareness of our emotions can help us to predict what events will elicit which emotions, and how these emotions shape our responses and behaviour.
&nbsp;
This is even more important when we are trying to make decisions when the stakes are high, or there&rsquo;s an overwhelming amount of information, such as the forthcoming UK general election. Political parties and politicians do not underestimate the power of emotions &ndash; neither should we.
&nbsp;
Three emotions particularly relevant in the run-up to elections are fear, anxiety and hope. What these emotions have in common is a sense of low control over outcomes.
&nbsp;
Fear and anxiety increase people&rsquo;s sensitivity to threats. Research shows that fear and anxiety trigger increased attention and information processing but that this cognitive processing is often biased in political situations, reducing openness to opportunities for change.
&nbsp;
In extreme cases, fear can even increase people&rsquo;s support for aggressive policies towards people seen as a &ldquo;danger&rdquo;. Narratives invoking fear will warn and caution, promising stability and security.
&nbsp;
Hope, on the other hand, is a pleasant emotion that is induced when we imagine a positive and desired goal for the future.
&nbsp;
A 2010 study of US national survey data found the extent to which Barack Obama made respondents feel hopeful served as a strong and reliable predictor that they voted for him.
&nbsp;
Like fear, hope also involves a sense of uncertainty. But hope comes with a feeling of opportunity. A 2015 study found belief in a changing world increased participants&rsquo; support for concessions in the Israel-Palestine conflict. Hope can increase openness to different perspectives and open-mindedness in decision-making. Research has also shown hope can encourage cooperative negotiation and collective action, which are critical in creating change.
&nbsp;
Narratives using hope will paint ideal pictures of the future, making promises and enumerating countless possibilities.
&nbsp;
What you can do&nbsp;
&nbsp;
When you are trying to decide who to vote for, my advice is to take back control of your emotions. Think about what you fear and what things in the future make you worry about yourself, your family, your community or your country. Next, ask yourself what you hope for in your personal life and for your city or region.
&nbsp;
Take note of what things feel important to you when you&rsquo;re trying to imagine a better future.
&nbsp;
Only then should you seek information about politicians and the parties they belong to, keeping in mind your emotions and the priorities and values they inform you of.
&nbsp;
Acknowledge how different discussions, statements, parties and candidates make you feel and identify why. When you engage with information presented by a political party or candidate, we should ask &ndash; what is it that they want me to feel and why? Are they trying to induce fear (of the other, of the future, of change). Are they presenting an idyllic future so that I don&rsquo;t notice it is unrealistic?&nbsp;
&nbsp;
This approach can help you to uncover your own goals and intentions, as well as to differentiate information from exaggerated wording. Studies have shown that this exercise, known as cognitive reappraisal, can help to regulate emotional responses.
&nbsp;
Emotional regulation, the process of influencing emotional responses, is a growing field in psychology.
&nbsp;
Indirect emotion regulation means using interventions or general messages, such as putting forward a perception of people as malleable, to change the way other people may experience emotions and process events. This may be used by educators, psychologists and politicians, and has been found useful in extreme conflicts, when people are reluctant to change their attitudes.
&nbsp;
On the other hand, direct emotion regulation is when we choose to change our emotions to drive functional responses, that are based on our values and goals, to events or information.
&nbsp;
Both approaches can improve our decision-making and understanding of the role of emotions in decision-making processes.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
This article first appeared in The Conversation.

How to choose your vote – a psychologist’s advice

As the heatwave begins to grip the UK and the heat health alert is in effect, people are looking for ways to keep cool and reduce the risk of heat stroke &ndash; the most severe form of hyperthermia, with a body temperature above 40&deg;C.
&nbsp;
Older adults, those with underlying health conditions and the very young are at greatest risk. Some of this arises because the young and elderly have less efficient body systems to dissipate heat away from the body.
&nbsp;
Older people hold heat more than young people because their sweat glands don&rsquo;t function as well, and their hearts don&rsquo;t circulate blood as efficiently, so less heat is lost from the skin.
&nbsp;
Sweating is the most powerful way your body can remove heat. As sweat evaporates, it takes heat with it. In the heat, people can produce between a half to two litres of sweat per hour.
&nbsp;
In temperatures where the air temp is above the body temperature, heat can be transferred from the air to the body, which produces an additional challenge in removing heat from the body.
&nbsp;
Aside from sweating, the other major way we lose heat is vasodilation (a widening of the blood vessels) in peripheral tissues. In extreme heat, the skin can receive between six and eight litres of blood per minute to help carry heat away from central organs.
&nbsp;
Much of how the body responds is aimed at moving heat away from the major organs and the central nervous system to keep their temperature at as close to 37&deg;C as possible.
&nbsp;
While sweating and vasodilation are effective, they are limited &ndash; especially when temperatures stay high for several days.
&nbsp;
The best ways to reduce your temperature are ones that support the body&rsquo;s existing mechanisms to remove heat.
&nbsp;
Applying cold things to the body 
&nbsp;
Applying cold water or a cold, damp sponge to the skin is effective in moving heat from the body. This is beneficial in people with limited mobility and older adults.
&nbsp;
Those who are able can take a cool shower or bath. Evidence suggests that water that is about 26 or 27&deg;C is optimal. It is cool enough to take heat away from the body but not cold enough to initiate shivering, which will generate heat. (Immersing in water that is too cold can also cause cold shock.) Studies looking at the French heatwave of 2003 showed that cooling (using a mister, cool, or cold bath or shower, sponge bath, mechanical fan or air conditioner) may be beneficial and prevent heat-related deaths.
&nbsp;
Ice or cool packs (a damp towel or cloth works just fine) can be applied to the body. The groin, armpit, neck, forehead, wrists and torso are all areas that have plenty of blood vessels close to the surface. The cooled blood can then return to the major organs to bring the core temperature down.
&nbsp;
Ice or ice packs should be wrapped in a towel or something similar to avoid burning the skin. Cycling them on and off the body every ten minutes reduces the risk of injury.
&nbsp;
Partial filling of hot water bottle and placing in the freezer, to use at bedtime, or placing pillowcases in a plastic bag and into the freezer to chill them for bedtime may also help at night.
&nbsp;
Fans 
&nbsp;
A recent study has shown that fans can improve the body&rsquo;s sweat evaporation but not significantly enough to help reduce the core body temperature. And this becomes even less so when ambient temperatures rise above 33&deg;C or for older people and those with an impaired ability to sweat.
&nbsp;
Hot and cold drinks 
&nbsp;
Evidence from performance athletes exercising in temperatures of 28&deg;C showed that chilled fluids at fridge temperature were better at bringing down core temperatures than ice or temperature-neutral liquids at 37&deg;C.
&nbsp;
Drinking hot beverages activates the body&rsquo;s mechanism to cool, but this will remove much-needed fluid from the body if you haven&rsquo;t drunk enough, so chilled drinks are probably best in this situation.
&nbsp;
Shade 
&nbsp;
All of these things are more effective in a cooler shaded area to increase the temperature gradient between the body and the ambient temperature. If you try these in the sun, they&rsquo;re likely to be less effective as the ambient air is warmer in the sun, meaning there is less capacity to take heat away, or it happens more slowly.
&nbsp;
Overall, though, the evidence suggests (ice) water immersion is the most effective way to cool off &ndash; which at home is most easily done by immersing feet or hands in a cool bowl of water. Water immersion is how many animals in hot weather and climates reduce their body temperature by standing in water, so it&rsquo;s a good technique for humans, too.
&nbsp;
But if you&rsquo;re unable to do this, evaporation (mist and fan) is the next most effective.
&nbsp;
This article first appeared in The Conversation.

How to cool down quickly and safely in a heatwave

A group of young Kashmiri mountaineers has achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the first in over seven decades to climb one of the six dangerous glaciers of the Thajiwas range in Sonmarg, Kashmir.
&nbsp;
The trio planned to conquer Umbrella Peak, one of the glacier range's most challenging and dangerous peaks.
&nbsp;
Standing at approximately 4,500 metres (14,764 feet) in the Thajiwas range of Sonmarg, Kashmir, Umbrella Peak features steep ridges and is considered the third and most treacherous in the expedition.
&nbsp;
Before this exemplary effort, it was C.W.F. Noyce and A. Jones in October 1944, followed by John A. Jackson in 1945, who ascended the challenging Glacier No. 3 of Thajiwas' Umbrella Peak via the Basmai Nar and over the lowest point at the west end of the Kazim Pahalin Ridge.
&nbsp;
The range was believed to be conquered only through two of its well-known tracks. However, Inayatullah Bhat, Shariq Rashid, and Waseem Raja ventured onto an unexplored path, discovering a new unexplored route to the summit&mdash;the Steep Couloir.
&nbsp;
This expedition marks the third route to Umbrella Peak, etching their names in the history of Kashmir Himalaya mountaineering.
&nbsp;
The expedition to the peak occurred after a 79-year hiatus. "Out of the six glaciers of Thajiwas, the third one, which is the most dangerous, leads the way to Umbrella Peak," stated group leader Inayatullah Bhat.
&nbsp;
During British rule, Sonmarg was developed as a hub for climbing and mountaineering activities.
&nbsp;
According to Bhat, this new accomplishment will pull more mountaineering enthusiasts to Kashmir, as this range presents challenges with majestic beauty that will mesmerise climbers.
&nbsp;
According to reports, the first training centre, the Himalayan Club, was established in 1928. Expeditions were documented in Alpine and Himalayan journals.&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The club was founded to promote and support Himalayan travel and exploration and to expand knowledge of the Himalayas and adjacent ranges through science, art, literature, and sport.

Kashmiris summit Thajiwas peak after 79 years

Customers at eateries in Singapore might soon have the opportunity to enjoy consuming insects. This could include glutinous rice balls topped with plump silkworms and crunchy crickets served on sushi rolls. Singapore might be on the verge of permitting the sale of specific insects for people to eat.
&nbsp;
Channel News Asia reported that Singapore could allow the sale of certain insects as food as early as next month, quoting restaurants and potential farms that have been informed of the latest development.
&nbsp;
The authorisation for selling insects for human consumption has been postponed for over a year.
&nbsp;
The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) held a public consultation on regulating insects and insect products at the end of 2022. In April of the following year, the agency announced that 16 species of insects, including crickets, silkworms, and grasshoppers, would be approved for consumption in the second half of 2023.
&nbsp;
Earlier this year, the SFA stated that it is finalising the implementation details and plans to introduce a regulatory framework in the first half of this year.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;We will work closely with food business operators to ensure that they are able to meet SFA&rsquo;s regulatory requirements before insects and insect products are permitted for sale as food for human consumption in Singapore,&rdquo; it said.
&nbsp;
According to the report, the legislation will likely be tabled in Parliament soon.
&nbsp;
Insect suppliers said they had been briefed by the SFA, according to the report.
&nbsp;
Amid increasing frustrations among businesses wanting to sell insects as food, the number of insect farms closing due to lengthy approval processes has risen.
&nbsp;
The United Nations, Food and Agriculture Organisation, has been advocating for the farming of insects as a source of human food and animal feed due to their sustainability as a protein source.
&nbsp;
Insects such as crickets, grasshoppers, and mealworms are high in protein and also contain antioxidants and essential minerals like iron, zinc, copper, and magnesium. 
&nbsp;
The report mentioned that strict measures will be implemented to guarantee the safety of the insects for eating. These measures involve the requirement for the insects to be raised in a tightly controlled setting and not gathered from their natural habitat in order to avoid the spread of illnesses, pollutants, and pests.

Singapore

Are insect foods the next trend in Singapore?

The US has said it is looking forward to the results of the Indian inquiry into the allegations that an Indian official was involved in an alleged plot to assassinate Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil.
&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 November last year, US federal prosecutors charged Indian national Nikhil Gupta of working with an Indian government employee in the foiled plot to kill Pannun in New York. Pannun, wanted in India on terror charges, holds dual citizenship of the US and Canada.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; 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;">Gupta, who was arrested in the Czech Republic in June last year, was extradited to the US on June 14.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; 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;They (Indian officials) have announced that they are conducting an inquiry, and we will look forward to the results of that inquiry,&rdquo; State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters at his daily news conference on Wednesday.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">He was responding to a question on members of the Foreign Senate Foreign Relations Committee writing a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken calling for a strong diplomatic response on the Indian government's involvement in an alleged assassination attempt on a US citizen on US soil.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; 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;">Following the allegations, India appointed a high-level inquiry committee to look into the inputs provided by the US on the plot.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; 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;">Miller said, &ldquo;We will respond to those members privately as we always do. I won't speak to that here. But as pertains to the other issue, when this issue first arose, we made clear that we had raised it with the government of India and told them that we expected there to be a full investigation.&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;
During a virtual media briefing on Wednesday on his and US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's visit to India last week, US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said, the US has consistently pressed India for updates on the Indian investigation into the alleged foiled plot to kill Sikh separatist Pannun and made it clear that it seeks accountability in the case.
&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&ldquo;We have had constructive dialogue with India on this topic and I would say that they have been responsive to our concerns,&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;We&rsquo;ve made clear that we seek accountability from the Government of India and we have consistently asked for updates on the Indian committee of inquiry&rsquo;s investigations,&rdquo; Campbell 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;And I would just simply say that we raised this issue directly with the Indian government... at the most senior levels between our two sides,&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;">He was replying to a question on whether the 'murder-for-hire' plot targeting Pannun was raised during meetings that he and Sullivan held with their Indian counterparts.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; 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;">Responding to another question on the Lok Sabha elections in India, Miller said, &ldquo;When it comes to the Indian elections, we have been quite clear on behalf of the United States government that we celebrate what was the largest exercise of democracy in the history of the world. It was an extraordinary achievement. And then when it comes to the outcome of the election, we obviously take no side. That's a question for the people of India to decide,&rdquo; Miller said. 
&nbsp;

Pannum case: US seeks accountability from India

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has stated that there has been a worrying increase in anti-conversion laws, hate speech, and destruction of homes and places of worship for minority faith communities in India.
&nbsp;
On Wednesday, during the release of the annual State Department report on international religious freedom, Blinken mentioned that people worldwide are simultaneously making efforts to safeguard religious freedom.
&nbsp;
In 2023, the report indicated that high-ranking US officials persisted in expressing concerns about religious freedom matters with their Indian counterparts.
&nbsp;
"In India, we see a concerning increase in anti-conversion laws, hate speech, demolitions of homes and places of worship for members of minority faith communities. At the same time, people worldwide are also working hard to protect religious freedom," the secretary of state said.
&nbsp;
According to the 2023 Report on International Religious Freedom, 10 out of 28 states in India have implemented laws restricting religious conversions for all faiths. Some of these states have also established penalties specifically targeting forced religious conversions for the purpose of marriage.
&nbsp;
The report also noted that during the year, certain individuals from religious minority communities questioned the government's capacity and willingness to safeguard them from violence, probe crimes against members of religious minority groups, and uphold their freedom of religion or belief.
&nbsp;
India has previously rejected the US State Department's annual human rights report on the country, saying it continues to be based on "misinformation and flawed understanding."
&nbsp;
The US State Department, in its annual report, mentioned that laws prohibiting forced religious conversions have led to the arrest of both Christians and Muslims. According to religious groups, these laws have been misused to harass and imprison members of religious minority groups on false charges or for engaging in lawful religious practices.
&nbsp;
The State Department also noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has once again emphasized the need to implement a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) at the national level, as outlined in the Constitution, instead of having separate personal laws for different religious communities.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
However, some Muslim, Sikh, Christian, and tribal leaders, along with certain state government officials, have opposed this initiative, arguing that it is linked to an effort to transform the country into a "Hindu Rashtra (a Hindu Nation)".

US raises alarm over India's anti-conversion laws

Nobel laureate Amartya Sen asserted on Wednesday that the outcome of the most recent Lok Sabha elections indicates that India is not a 'Hindu Rashtra'.
&nbsp;
Sen arrived in Kolkata from the US in the evening and expressed displeasure over the "continuation" of putting people behind bars "without trial" even under the new dispensation.
&nbsp;
"That India is not a 'Hindu Rashtra' only has been reflected in the election results," Sen told a Bengali news channel at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport.
&nbsp;
"We always hope to see a change after every election. Some of what happened earlier (during the BJP-led central government), like putting people behind bars without trial and widening the gap between the rich and poor, are still continuing. That must stop," he said.
&nbsp;
The eminent economist said people need to be politically open-minded, especially in India, a secular country with a secular Constitution.
&nbsp;
"I do not think the idea of turning India into a 'Hindu Rashtra' is appropriate," Sen, 90, said.
&nbsp;
He also believed that the new Union cabinet was "a copy of the earlier one".
&nbsp;
"The ministers continue to hold similar portfolios. Despite a slight reshuffle, the politically powerful are still powerful," he said.
&nbsp;
On the BJP losing the Faizabad Lok Sabha seat despite building the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Sen said attempts were made to overshadow the country's true identity.
&nbsp;
"... Building the Ram Temple spending so much money... to portray India as a 'Hindu Rashtra', which should not have happened in the country of Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. It shows an attempt to neglect India's true identity, and it must change," he said.
&nbsp;
Sen also said that unemployment was rising in India, and sectors like primary education and healthcare were neglected.

Amartya Sen on LS polls: India not 'Hindu Rashtra'

A chapter explaining the excesses and repression committed during the 1975-77 Emergency in the country and a spirited fight by those opposed to the drastic measure will be included in the school curriculum in Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has said.
&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">Speaking on Wednesday, Yadav also announced several additional facilities for &ldquo;Loktantra Senanis&rdquo; (democracy fighters) who took part in the struggle against Emergency, whose 50th anniversary was on June 25.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; 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;">With an aim of making the present generation aware of the struggle during the Emergency, a lesson on circumstances that prevailed in the country, repression and determination of Loktantra Senanis to oppose the drastic step taken by the then-Congress government will be included in the school curriculum, 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;">The CM was addressing a gathering of those who fought against the Emergency, a 21-month-long period characterised by the suspension of civil liberties, suppression of dissent, and erosion of democratic principles, at his residence in Bhopal.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; 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;">Yadav said these Loktantra Senanis will be provided the facility of staying in government circuit and rest houses for three days on a discount of 50 per cent in tariff. They will also get relaxation in paying toll on highways.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; 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;">There will be no delay in payment of expenses incurred by democracy fighters on treatment through their Ayushman health card. The respective collector will ensure payment to them within three months, he stated.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; 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 case of serious health problems, air ambulances will be made available to them to travel to big hospitals or other metros for treatment, Yadav declared on the occasion.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">Under the air taxi service started in the state, a 25 per cent discount will be provided in fares to anti-Emergency crusaders, 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;">Arrangements will be made for the last rites of Loktantra Senanis with state honours. Besides, the amount given to their families at the time of funeral will be increased to Rs 10,000 from Rs 8,000 now, Yadav maintained.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; 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;">Employment opportunities will be made available to family members of democracy fighters by providing them necessary training for setting up industries or other business ventures, 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;">On June 25, 1975, the then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi imposed Emergency in the country, jailing opposition leaders, dissidents and effecting press censorship. 
&nbsp;

Bhopal

Chapter on Emergency to be part of school syllabus

Veteran BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani was admitted to the AIIMS here late on Wednesday night, sources said.
&nbsp;
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;">&ldquo;He is stable and under observation,&rdquo; a source 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 96-year-old former deputy prime minister has been admitted in the old private ward of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and is learnt to being treated by doctors from the Department of Urology.
<p style="background: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; 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;
However, there was no immediate clarity on his ailment.
&nbsp;
The former deputy prime minister was hospitalised just three months after being conferred the Bharat Ratna, the countr&rsquo;'s highest civilian honour. President Droupadi Murmu presented the Bharat Ratna to Advani at his residence in Delhi.
&nbsp;
The formal ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah and the family members of LK Advani.
&nbsp;
LK Advani served as the deputy prime minister of India from June 2002 to May 2004 and as the Union Home Minister from October 1999 to May 2004. He was BJP president multiple times&mdash; from 1986 to 1990, 1993 to 1998 and 2004 to 2005.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Advani admitted to AIIMS, situation stable

On Tuesday, NASA announced that it had selected SpaceX to construct a spacecraft designed to transport the International Space Station back to Earth and ultimately to a permanent location in the Pacific Ocean once its operational life ends in 2030.
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Elon Musk's company has secured a contract worth up to $843 million to create and transport the spacecraft named the US Deorbit Vehicle.
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"Selecting a US Deorbit Vehicle for the International Space Station will help NASA and its international partners ensure a safe and responsible transition in low Earth orbit at the end of station operations," said NASA's Ken Bowersox in a statement.
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NASA intends to acquire the spacecraft once it is constructed by SpaceX and oversee operations throughout the mission's duration.
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The International Space Station (ISS), which weighs 430,000 kilograms (950,000 pounds), stands as the largest individual structure ever assembled in space.
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Drawing from historical observations of the atmospheric re-entry disintegration of other stations like Mir and Skylab, NASA's engineers anticipate the orbital outpost breaking up in three phases.
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Initially, the colossal solar arrays and the radiators responsible for regulating the temperature of the orbital lab will detach. Then, the individual modules will separate from the truss or the station's central support structure. Lastly, the truss and the modules themselves will disintegrate.
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Most of the material is likely to be turned into vapour, but sizable fragments are anticipated to endure. Because of this, NASA is targeting an area in the Pacific Ocean known as Point Nemo, which is one of the most secluded places on the planet and is referred to as the resting place for satellites and spacecraft.
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The first segment of the ISS was launched in 1998, and an international crew has continuously inhabited it since 2001.
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Several companies, including Axiom Space and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin, are developing commercial successors to the ISS.

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