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Mon, 22 May 2023
Court asks NCB for new affidavit in 2500kg drug bust

TIMELINEUPDATED JUST NOW   REFRESH



23:46   Not in PM race, working to get Oppn parties together: Sharad Pawar
Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Monday said he was not in the
race to become prime minister and asserted the Opposition wanted a leadership
that would work for the betterment of the country. 


Speaking at a condolence meet for Ram Takawale, vice chancellor of Pune
University who passed away recently, Pawar said opposition parties might face a
little task of projecting one person as the prime ministerial candidate if they
come together. 


"I am putting efforts to get the opposition together. I am not in the race to
become the prime minister as I am not contesting the next (Lok Sabha) election,"
he told reporters. 


Speaking on seat sharing with the Congress and the Shiv Sena-UBT, which are part
of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, he said, "Recently, a meeting was held at my
residence. Leaders from Maha Vikas Aghadi will decide on it." 


"Uddhav Thackeray, Sonia Gandhi or Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and I will
sit together to discuss more about it," he said on seat-sharing. 


The tenure of several civic bodies in Maharashtra got over early 2022 but polls
were not held due to the coronavirus pandemic. 


Moreover, assembly polls will be held in the latter part of 2024 in the state,
some months after the Lok Sabha elections likely to take place around May. --
PTI
Read more >

File image
23:37   Court asks NCB for new affidavit in 2500kg drug bust
A local court in Kochi on Monday asked the Narcotics Control Bureau, which is
probing the recent seizure of over 2,500 kg of methamphetamine from a vessel in
Indian waters in a joint operation with the Navy, to file a fresh affidavit
including the details of the arrest of the accused among other things.


The court was considering the petition of the NCB seeking the custody of
Pakistan national accused Zubair Derakshshandeh for five days from today. 


Lawyer representing the accused, B A Aloor, said the court asked the agency to
file whether the arrest was made from the Indian waters in order to decide on
the jurisdiction of the court. 


The court will consider the matter again on Tuesday. 


In the remand report filed by the agency on May 16, it had said that a drug
trafficker from Pakistan had offered the accused, "good money" after the work
was completed. 


The agency had on May 15 said that the actual commercial value of the contraband
after its latest evaluation was close to Rs 25,000 crore, because of the high
purity of the seized methamphetamine. 


NCB had said that the contraband was kept in 2,525 plastic boxes and placed in
132 bags. 


"The net weight of methamphetamine came out to be 2,525.675 kg," the agency
said. -- PTI
Read more >

File image
23:12   JNU students, teachers hold march in solidarity with protesting
wrestlers
Teachers and students of Jawaharlal Nehru University on Monday staged a march in
solidarity with wrestlers demanding action against Wrestling Federation of India
chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has been accused by a section of grapplers
of sexual harassment. 


The students and teachers, who demanded Singh's arrest, were joined by wrestler
Sakshi Malik. 


The march on the campus was jointly organised by the Jawaharlal Nehru University
Students' Union and the Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers' Association. 


Aishe Ghosh, president of the students' union, said in a Facebook post, "Today,
hundreds of students and teachers joined the solidarity gathering organised by
JNUSU and JNUTA inside the campus. Sakshi Malik addressed the gathering and
appealed (to the) JNU community to join the candlelight vigil tomorrow (Tuesday)
at India Gate." 


The wrestlers have been protesting at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi since April 23
demanding the arrest of Singh, accused of sexually harassing seven female
wrestlers, including a minor. -- PTI
Read more >

Representational image
22:46   Fresh western disturbance likely to become active over northwest India
A fresh western disturbance is very likely to become active over Northwest
India, including parts of Rajasthan, during the next 24 to 48 hours, a weather
department official said on Monday. 


Jaipur meteorological centre in-charge Radheshyam Sharma said as a result of the
disturbance, thunderstorms and rains will be seen in some parts of the state in
the next 24 hours. 


From Tuesday some parts of Jodhpur, Bikaner divisions of western Rajasthan and
some parts of eastern Rajasthan, especially Jaipur and Bharatpur will experience
thunderstorms, he said. 


There is a strong possibility that the effect of this system will be maximum
between May 24 and May 26. 


With the further intensification of this system after 48 hours, there is a
possibility of a further increase in thunderstorms and rain activities, he
said. 


Due to this, there is a possibility of a drop in temperature by two to four
degrees Celsius, Sharma added. 


According to the department, during the last 24 hours, 15 mm rain was recorded
in Sahada of Bhilwara, 8 mm in Jhalrapatan of Jhalawar, 5 mm in Rashmi of
Chittorgarh, 5 mm in Jhalawar, 3 mm in Gangadhar, 3 mm in Baran and 2 mm in
Pachpahar of Jhalawar. 


Churu was the hottest place in the state on Monday at 45.7 degrees Celsius,
according to the meteorological data. -- PTI
Read more >
Sponsored


File image
22:28   MiG-29's fuel tank falls off during training session
An additional fuel tank of a MiG-29 aircraft of the Indian Air Force got
dislodged during a training session on Monday, and fell in a forest area near
the Kalaikunda base in West Bengal's Paschim Medinipur district, a defence
official said. 


There was no loss of life or damage to property as a result of the incident, he
said. 


The MiG-29 aircraft was on a routine training mission. 


"While returning to Kalaikunda airbase, ventral drop tank which is used to carry
additional fuel got dislodged and fell into an uninhabited forest," the defence
official said. 


The drop tank was being brought to the Kalaikunda airbase in coordination with
the civil administration, he said. 


An investigation was started to find out the cause of the incident, the official
said. -- PTI
Read more >

21:55   You can soon edit WhatsApp messages 15 minutes later
Meta chief executive officer Mark Zuckerberg on Monday announced a new feature
on WhatsApp which would users to edit messages for up to 15 minutes after they
are sent. 


"For the moments when you make a mistake or simply change your mind, message
editing allows you to edit your sent messages, giving you greater control over
your chats," WhatsApp said. 


"From correcting a simple misspelling to adding extra context to a message,
we're excited to bring you more control over your chats. All you need to do is
long-press on a sent message and choose 'Edit' from the menu for up to 15
minutes after," it added. 


The edited messages will display 'edited' alongside them, so those you're
messaging are aware of the correction without showing edit history. 


"As with all personal messages, media and calls, your messages and the edits you
make are protected by end-to-end encryption," it said. 


This feature has started rolling out to users globally and will be available to
everyone in the coming weeks. 


Earlier, Zuckerberg on May 15 announced a new WhatsApp feature called 'Chat
Lock' to make users' most intimate conversations even more private. 


This feature lets you protect your most intimate conversations with a password
and secures them in a separate folder. When someone messages you and you have
that chat locked, the sender's name and the content of the message will also be
hidden. 


Zuckerberg's announcement read, "We're excited to bring to you a new feature
we're calling Chat Lock, which lets you protect your most intimate conversations
behind one more layer of security." 


"Locking a chat takes that thread out of the inbox and puts it behind its own
folder that can only be accessed with your device password or biometric, like a
fingerprint. It also automatically hides the contents of that chat in
notifications too," he added.
Read more >

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah
21:33   Teacher suspended for FB post critical of Sidda
A government school teacher has been suspended for allegedly sharing someone's
post on his Facebook page criticising Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for
burdening the state with debts during his previous tenure from 2013 to 2018. 


Shantha Murthy MG allegedly shared Rajashekhar Hiremath's post against
Siddaramaiah on the day he was sworn-in for the second time as Chief Minister on
May 20. 


Hiremath allegedly wrote in his post, "Siddaramaiah who sank the state with
maximum debts has come back again to further sink it in loans.' 


According to the post, as former Chief Ministers S M Krishna borrowed Rs 3,590
crore, Dharam Singh Rs 15,635 crore, HDK Rs 3,545 crore, B S Yediyurappa, Rs
25,653 crore, D V Sadananda Gowda Rs 9,464 crore, Jagadish Shettar Rs 13,464
crore and Siddaramaiah Rs 2.42 lakh crore!' 


"The total loan amount from SM  Krishna to Jagadish Shettar is Rs 71,331 crore.
Debts by Siddu (Siddaramaiah) is Rs 2.42 lakh crore. What else will happen with
his freebies 'Bhagya'?" the post read. 


In the suspension order dated May 20, L Jayappa, discipline authority and block
education officer of the department of public instruction, said Shantha Murthy
violated the Karnataka Civil Service (Conduct) Rules -1966 due to which he has
been suspended. -- PTI
Read more >

Representational image
21:29   Crackdown on child porn: Kerala police arrest 8 after raids in 449
places
In a massive crackdown on child pornography, eight persons have been arrested
from various parts of the state in simultaneous raids, which also resulted in
the seizure of 212 electronic devices, the Kerala police said on Monday, adding
that 133 criminal cases have been registered. 


The Counter Child Sexual Exploitation unit of the Kerala police conducted raids
at 449 locations on May 21 and seized devices including mobile phones, modems,
hard disks, memory cards, laptops and computers containing graphic and illegal
videos and pictures of children, the police said. 


"Based on the recovery of the devices with the child sexual abuse material,
eight arrests were made. Among those arrested are youth working in good
professional jobs, and most of them are IT savvy, which is the reason why they
were using all kinds of encrypted handles to upload and download the material,"
police said in a release. 


The police said some are suspected to be involved in the trafficking of children
also, as there are many chats to this effect in their devices. 


"The covert operation named P-HUNT_ 23.3 was conducted mainly targeting CSAM
sellers in Kerala," police added. 


It also said that P-HUNT_ 23.2 was organised in April 2023 with a special
emphasis on nabbing migrant workers in Kerala during which 62 such locations
were identified throughout the State and 34 devices were seized and 18 cases
registered. 


Over the past couple of years, more than 1,120 cases have been registered and
more than 494 accused have been arrested for possession of CSAM, police said. --
PTI
Read more >

File image
21:16   Mumbai civic body bans two-wheelers, heavy vehicles on Parel flyover
from June 1
Two-wheelers and heavy vehicles, including public transport buses, will not be
allowed to ply on Parel TT flyover in central Mumbai from June 1, the
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation announced on Monday. 


The BMC in a release said it has received a no objection certificate from the
Mumbai traffic police to ban heavy vehicles on this decades old bridge on Dr
Babasaheb Ambedkar Marg, which serves as one of the major corridors in the
city. 


The civic body plans to install height barriers of 2.5 meters and hence, no
heavy vehicles, including BEST buses, will be allowed to use the bridge from
June 1, Ulhas Mahale, deputy municipal commissioner (Infrastructure) said. 


"The BMC has started filling potholes on the road to avoid inconvenience to
citizens during monsoon. Heavy vehicles cause potholes on the road every year.
Hence, the traffic police requested the BMC's bridge department to take measures
to ban heavy vehicles on the flyover," the release stated. 


Citizens have, however, expressed apprehensions about the move, as it is likely
to add to their travel woes in the area, which has been witnessing heavy traffic
snarls since the closure of Delisle bridge next to Lower Parel station. 


The civic body first plans to fill potholes on the flyover and install height
barriers before the end of the month, following which two-wheelers and heavy
vehicles will be banned on the structure, the release said. -- PTI
Read more >

File image
20:37   Caller to Mumbai cops claims to have 26/11 info
The Mumbai police on Monday said that another suspicious call was received in
the Mumbai police control room on Sunday night wherein the caller claimed that
he was getting multiple information about the 26/11 attack. 


As per the police, the unidentified caller claimed to be a resident of
Rajasthan. 


The police further said that the unidentified caller's phone is switched off
since he disconnected the call. 


"Another suspicious call was received in the Mumbai police control room on
Sunday night. The caller said that he is from Rajasthan and claimed that he is
receiving multiple calls wherein he is getting information about the 26/11
Mumbai attack. He disconnected the call after that," the Mumbai police said on
Monday. 


Earlier on March 1 too, the Mumbai police control room had received a call from
an unidentified person, who claimed that there was a bomb placed in the Kurla
West area. 


The caller reportedly had said there would be a blast in the next ten minutes
and disconnected the call. 


Despite searching for hours, the police had found nothing suspicious. -- ANI 
Read more >

20:23   Imran Khan receives luxury tax notice of PKR 14 lakhs for Lahore
residence
Pakistan's former premier Imran Khan received on Monday a luxury tax notice of
PKR 14 lakh for his Lahore residence from the Punjab provincial government,
media reports said. 


The challan issued by the department of excise and taxation to the Pakistan
Tehreek-e-Insaf chief for the payment of Rs 14,40,000 for his Zaman Park
residence, where he currently resides, is to be paid by Monday when the last
date to submit it was May 12, Geo News reported Khan submitted a record of the
house sought from him last month, the provincial tax collecting authority said,
and after estimation, a luxury tax challan was sent to the
cricketer-turned-politician, who received the notice. 


According to the report, Khan has filed his tax regularly but will be sent
another notice as per the law if he fails to do it this time. 


The PTI chief's old house in Zaman Park was demolished, and a new one was
constructed in its place, owned by him and his sisters, the report said. 


Last month, the department issued a notice to the 70-year-old politician's
mother, the late Shaukat Khanum, to assess the luxury house tax, which directed
Khan to clear arrears under the luxury tax amounting to Rs 36 lakh. 


The property continues to be in Khanum's name, who passed away in 1985, the
report said. 


Rejecting the element of political victimisation, an excise officer, Adeel
Amjid, said that the department decided to go through an assessment of all
luxury homes of two or more than two Kanals (around 1,012 sq metre). -- PTI
Read more >

Actor Ram Charan (right) at the Film Tourism for Economic and Cultural
Preservation event in Srinagar/Umar Ganie for Rediff.com
19:53   Kashmir coolest place to shoot in India: Ram Charan
RRR star Ram Charan on Monday said Kashmir is the "coolest" place to shoot films
in India and it is a surreal feeling to visit the Valley. 


The actor was speaking at the 'Film Tourism for Economic and Cultural
Preservation' event in Srinagar at Sheri Kashmir International Convention
Centre, being hosted as a part of the three-day Tourism Working Group Meeting of
the G20 countries. 


Charan said Kashmir was an "untapped" destination. 


"It will sound cliche, but the coolest place to shoot in India is Kashmir. I am
a second generation actor. My dad has shot extensively in Kashmir," the actor,
son of cinema veteran Chiranjeevi, said Charan said he visited Kashmir for the
first time in 1986 and last shot for a movie in the Valley in 2016. 


"I have shot in this auditorium (SKICC) in 2016. So, visiting Kashmir in Sumner
feels like an achievement for me. This is such a surreal feeling. It has been 95
years of existence of the film industry, (but) it will take them another 95
years to explore Kashmir. It is untapped, it is virgin," the Telugu star said,
adding that he would be filming his next two features predominantly in India. 


"I want to explore India more. I do not want to travel abroad for my next two
movies unless the producer is from Hollywood." Charan's last big screen outing
was the global blockbuster RRR, directed by SS Rajamouli. 


The period action film won the best original song award for its Telugu track
Naatu Naatu at this year's Oscars. 


The actor will next be seen in S Shankar's feature directorial alongside Kiara
Advani. The film is currently in production. -- PTI
Read more >

Representational image
19:34   China demands 20km buffer zone in Depsang: Report
'The Chinese army has demanded the creation of a 15-20 km buffer zone inside
India-claimed lines on the strategic Depsang Plains as a precondition for
disengagement, refusing India's offer of a 3-4km demilitarised strip, sources in
the security establishment have told The Telegraph,' reports Imran Ahmed
Siddiqui in The Telegraph Online. 


'The Chinese want a buffer zone with a width of 15-20 km inside Indian territory
as part of the disengagement process from the Depsang plains,' Siddiqui quotes
an official from the intelligence wing of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
in his report. 


India is learnt to have rejected the demand and instead agreed to a 3-4 km
buffer zone, which the Chinese side promptly dismissed, Siddiqui reports. 


'The Depsang plains remain the only friction point where no disengagement has
taken place since the Chinese transgressed India-claimed lines in eastern Ladakh
in May 2020. 


'Demilitarised "buffer zones' have so far been established on the Galwan Valley
(3km wide), Pangong Lake (10km), Gogra (3.5km) and Hot Springs (4km) as part of
the disengagement process, defence ministry sources said,' Siddiqui
reports, here.
Read more >

File image
19:21   'The Kerala Story' reaches Rs 200-crore mark at India box office
The Kerala Story has raised Rs 200 crore at the India box office, the makers
said Monday. 


In a press note, production house Sunshine Pictures said The Kerala Story has
touched Rs 200 crore net at the Indian box office and continues to grow across
the country. 


Directed by Sudipto Sen and fronted by Adah Sharma, the Hindi movie released in
India on May 5. 


Produced by Vipul Shah, The Kerala Story depicts how women from Kerala were
forced to convert and recruited by the terror group Islamic State. 


The movie, which has polarised the political discourse in the country, was
banned by the West Bengal government on May 8, fearing tensions among
communities. 


Theatres in Tamil Nadu had decided to stop the screening from May 7 onwards,
citing the law-and-order situation and a poor audience turnout. 


Last week, the Supreme Court stayed the West Bengal government's order banning
the film in the state and asked Tamil Nadu to ensure the safety of the
moviegoers. 


A special screening of the movie was organised at the main theatre of the
Pune-based Film and Television Institute of India on Saturday amid a protest by
some students. -- PTI
Read more >

19:12   Cong hits at PM over report on Ladakh situation
The Congress on Monday accused the Narendra Modi government of failing to
restore the status quo in Depsang in eastern Ladakh in the last three years and
said it would be 'unforgivable' to allow the situation to worsen.    



Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh said Prime Minister
Narendra Modi's 'clean chit' to China on June 19, 2020 has immeasurably weakened
India's negotiating position and it is paying a heavy price for it.


Expressing concern over the 'very worrisome' situation at the border as
highlighted in a news report, he said access to the strategic sector of Depsang
has been denied to Indian patrols for more than three years now, with no signs
of a return to the status quo.


'Now we learn that, far from withdrawing, the Chinese are demanding a 'buffer
zone' 15-20 km further inside Indian territory. This after having already
intruded 18 km past our rightful border,' he said in a statement.    



Ramesh alleged that the Modi government has already ceded territory in Galwan,
Pangong Tso, Gogra Post and Hot Springs by agreeing to buffer zones inside
Indian territory in return for a Chinese withdrawal.


'The Modi government must stand firm against China. India cannot lose access to
the 1,000 sq. km. Depsang Plains that separate Chinese and Pakistani forces and
is crucial to any defence of Ladakh.


'PM Modi's public 'clean chit' to China on June 19th, 2020, immeasurably
weakened India's negotiating position and the country is paying a heavy price
for it. It's bad enough that the Modi government has failed to restore the
status quo in the last three years. To allow it to worsen would be
unforgivable,' Ramesh said in the statement.


He cited media reports which claimed that China has demanded the creation of
buffer zone inside India-claimed lines in the Depsang Plains.


The Congress has been demanding status quo ante as on May 2020 at the border in
eastern Ladakh.


The party has also been alleging that Indian troops have lost control over
patrolling points ever since the troops of both the countries clashed at the
border in 2020 in which many soldiers lost their lives.   -- PTI

Read more >

19:07   Actor Aditya Singh Rajput found dead
Actor, model and casting director Aditya Singh Rajput was found dead in the
bathroom of his apartment in suburban Andheri in Mumbai on Monday, police said.


Rajput, 33, was allegedly not keeping well since the last couple of days and he
collapsed in the bathroom of his apartment in Oshiwara area this afternoon, an
official said.


The actor's maid noticed the fall and informed the building's security guard,
following which he was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him
dead, he said.


"We have not found anything suspicious about Rajput's death so far. An
accidental death report (ADR) has been registered and his body has been sent for
autopsy," the official added.


Rajput has participated in reality shows such as Splitsvilla and also acted in
films such as Maine Gandhi Ko Nahi Mara.   -- PTI
Read more >

18:37   Shivakumar meets Deve Gowda
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Congress leader D K Shivakumar meets Janata
Dal-Secular supremo and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda in Bengaluru. --
ANI

Read more >

18:22   'Vast majority' of oppn parties to meet soon: Cong
Efforts to forge unity in the opposition ranks gained momentum on Monday with
the Congress asserting that a 'vast majority' of non-Bharatiya Janata Party
outfits will meet soon, after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar met its
president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi.


Congress general secretary (organisation) K C venugopal told reporters that the
venue and date of the expected meeting will be announced in a day or two.


In a tweet, Kharge said, "The country will be united now. The strength of
democracy is our message. Rahul Gandhi and myself discussed the current
political situation with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today and took
forward the process of giving a new direction to the country."


Kumar was accompanied by his Janata Dal-United president Lalan Singh.



After holding meeting with Kharge last month, Kumar has met leaders of a host of
regional parties in his bid to bring them together on one platform with the
Congress to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.


The JD-U leaders had met AAP convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal
on Sunday at his residence here and extended 'complete support' to him in the
ongoing face-off with the Centre over the control of administrative services.


Significantly, Bihar Chief Minister Kumar, Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav,
Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar,
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin and National Conference president Farooq
Abdullah attended the swearing-in ceremony of Siddaramaiah as the Karnataka
chief minister on Saturday, in a show of opposition unity.


Some regional leaders, including Kejriwal and Telangana Chief Minister K
Chandrashekar Rao, were not invited to the ceremony.


Kumar, though, has been trying to bring them on board as well.  -- PTI

Read more >

18:12   KC Tyagi is back as JD-U spokesperson months after being dropped
The Janata Dal-United on Monday appointed its seasoned leader K C Tyagi as its
chief spokesperson and 'special advisor', months after the omission of his name
from the party's list of new office-bearers had raised eyebrows.


In a statement, the JD-U acknowledged Tyagi's experience in socialist politics
and noted his association with former prime minister Charan Singh besides Bihar
chief minister and its pre-eminent leader Nitish Kumar. The party needs his
organisational experience, it said.


Tyagi, a former MP, was the general secretary of the JD-U and the main
spokesperson before his name was omitted from the list of office-bearers
announced in March. 


The party had then claimed that he was relieved of organisational
responsibilities upon his "repeated requests". 
Read more >

17:40   DCW chief promises action against those trolling Shubman's sister
Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal on Monday slammed those
trolling Shubman Gill's sister on social media after the cricketer's ton guided
Gujarat Titans to a victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian
Premiere League.


She said action will be taken against those trolling the batter's sister.



'Extremely shameful to see trollers abusing #ShubhmanGill's sister just because
the team they follow lost a match. Previously we had initiated action against
people abusing #ViratKohli's daughter. DCW will take action against all those
who have abused Gill's sister as well. This shall not be tolerated!' she said in
a tweet.


Shubman Gill reaffirmed his status as Virat Kohli's heir apparent with a
magnificent hundred as Gujarat Titans knocked Royal Challengers Bangalore out of
the IPL with a six-wicket win, allowing Rohit Sharma's Mumbai Indians to sneak
through as the fourth team in the play-offs.


Gill scored an unbeaten 104 off 52 balls that saw Titans chase down the target
with elan.   -- PTI

Read more >

17:28   Delivery man falls off 3rd-floor evading dog
A delivery person of an e-commerce firm was injured after falling from the
third-floor of a building in Hyderabad when he tried to evade the customer's
barking dog, police said.


The incident took place in an apartment at Manikonda on Sunday when the delivery
executive, aged 30, went there to deliver a mattress and the dog started barking
at the customer's door, which was reportedly partly open, they said.


Afraid of being attacked, the man ran for safety and climbed a railing but
slipped and fell on the ground from there, police said, adding that the customer
and some others got him admitted to a hospital and his condition is said to be
out of danger.


The delivery person suffered multiple injuries in the incident, a police
official at the Raidurgam police station said.


A case has been registered under the Indian Penal Code Section 289 (negligent
conduct with respect to animal) against the dog owner, the official said.


A probe is on.


Meanwhile, the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) in a release
demanded that the dog owner bear the expenses of treatment of the delivery
executive.


In January this year, a 23-year-old food delivery executive died after he
suffered critical injuries after jumping off the third floor of an apartment
building in Hyderabad, out of fear of being attacked by a pet dog of a customer
that chased him.   -- PTI

Read more >

File pic
17:04   Nitish Kumar meets Kharge, Rahul on...
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and
former party chief Rahul Gandhi here on Monday, the second such meeting in the
last one and a half months amid efforts to strengthen Opposition unity to take
on the BJP in the 2024 general elections. 


 Kumar met Kharge and Gandhi at the Congress chief's 10, Rajaji Marg residence
here. Sources said during the meeting the roadmap for strengthening Opposition
unity and a possible meeting of Opposition leaders in Patna was being
discussed. 


 Congress General Secretary (Organisation) K C Venugopal and JD(U) chief Lalan
Singh were also present during the meeting, which came a day after Kumar and
Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal called for opposition unity to take on the
BJP. 


 The JD(U) leader met the AAP convenor at his residence here and extended
"complete support" to him in the ongoing face-off with the Centre over the
control of administrative services. 


 Significantly, Bihar Chief Minister Kumar, Tejashwi Yadav, Jharkhand CM Hemant
Soren, Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar, Tamil Nadu Chief
Minister M K Stalin and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah attended
the swearing-in ceremony of Siddaramaiah as the Karnataka chief minister on
Saturday, in a show of opposition unity, Kumar has been meeting Opposition
leaders and regional satraps as part of the unity exercise which is yet to take
a concrete shape. Late last month, Kumar had hinted that a meeting of opposition
leaders may take place in Patna after the Karnataka assembly polls were over and
issues related to forging opposition unity are expected to be discussed at
length at that meeting. PTI
Read more >

16:37   Will Rs 2000 notes withdrawal impact economy?
Reserve Bank Governor Shaktikanta Das on Monday said the impact of withdrawal of
Rs 2,000 currency notes will be "very very marginal" on the economy because it
accounts for only 10.8 per cent of currency in circulation.


Describing the withdrawal exercise as part of currency management operations of
the Reserve Bank, he said, he expects most of the withdrawn Rs 2,000 notes to be
returned to the exchequer by the deadline of September 30. 


 Talking to reporters, Das said, "the impact of this on the economy will be very
very marginal because it is only 10.8 per cent of currency in circulation. As
you know that Rs 2,000 notes were not commonly used in any transaction We have
found that it is hardly being used for carrying out transactions. Therefore,
economic activity will not be impacted." 


"As part of a clean note policy," he said, "RBI has been conducting such
exercise of withdrawal of currency notes from time to time and such exercise was
undertaken in 2013-14, whereby the notes which were printed prior to 2005, were
withdrawn from public circulation."


 So, he said, withdrawal of Rs 2,000 notes is part of clean note policy and they
continue to be a legal tender. Asked if Rs 2,000 notes will continue to be a
legal tender, Das said "It will continue as legal tender. We will wait how many
notes are coming. I cannot give a speculative answer about what will happen post
September 30." Most of the notes are expected to come back, he said, adding
"that is our expectation at this stage. We will see how many notes come back.
And as we approach September 30, we will decide at that stage."


Read more >

File pic
16:21   Abandoned houses set ablaze in Manipur
Manipur simmers again: Abandoned houses have been set ablaze by miscreants in
New Lambulane area in Imphal in Manipur. Security personnel are on the spot. 


As the state of essential supplies in violence-hit Manipur began to dwindle and
reach critical levels, the India Army and Assam Rifles have been working in
close coordination with utmost synergy to assure protection to vehicles carrying
essential goods to and from Imphal, officials said.


"At any given point of time while the movement of vehicles is being undertaken
prophylactic Area Domination Patrols of Army and Assam Rifles, Quick Reaction
Teams operating from Company Operating Bases located astride NH 37, aerial
surveillance by Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Cheetah Helicopters, Companies of
CRPF, Manipur Police personnel from five police stations along with persons from
India Reserve Battalion  tasked to ensure security of civilian vehicles plying
on NH 37," Indian Army said.


Normalcy is slowly returning to Manipur after violence left 70 people dead and
1,700 houses were burnt down.
 
 As per the latest figures, close to 71 people lost their lives while more than
230 were injured and close to 1700 houses were burnt down during the violence in
Manipur. 
Read more >

16:07   Heat wave alert across N India; Delhi 44C today
As the summer season peaks in India, mercury simmered above 40 degrees Celsius
in Delhi and several other parts of North India.


The highest recorded temperatures in Delhi reached a maximum of 40 degrees
Celsius on Saturday, climbed to above 42 degrees on Sunday, and reached 44
degrees Celsius on Monday.


India Meteorological Department (IMD) scientist Soma Sen Roy stated that a
heatwave alert has been issued on Monday for North India.


"We have issued a heatwave alert for today for south Haryana, Delhi, south UP,
north MP, Jharkhand, Bihar and Bengal. Tomorrow, heatwave alert is not given for
any place other than Jharkhand," said IMD scientist Soma Sen Roy
Read more >

16:01   Actor Sarath Babu passes away
Veteran Actor Sarath Babu who worked in several films including Telugu and Tamil
passed away today in AIG hospital.
Read more >

15:48   Man held for killing great-grandson (4) in Indore
An 80-year-old man was on Monday arrested for allegedly killing his
four-year-old great-grandson in Madhya Pradesh's Indore more than a month ago,
police said.


 Shobharam Chowdhary was arrested for allegedly strangling to death his
great-grandson Shreyansh at their house in Shipra police station area on April
7, Superintendent of Police (Rural) Hitika Vasal said. Shreyansh and his mother
Neetu had been living with her parents for the last two years following a
dispute with her husband. 


She was also preparing for competitive exams, she said. 


 "Neetu's parents considered her and her son a burden and used to mentally
harass her. They claimed that the boy would stake claim to their property when
he grows up," the official said. 


 The accused felt there were a lot of disputes in the family because of his
great-grandson and that if the child dies, these problems would end, she said.
The child slept with his great-grandfather every night and on the night of April
7, the latter strangled him using a bedsheet, she said.
Read more >

15:31   Heatwave alert issued for several states for today: IMD
India Meteorological Department (IMD) scientist Soma Sen Roy on Monday said that
a heatwave alert had been issued for today for south Haryana, Delhi, south UP,
north MP, Jharkhand, Bihar and Bengal.


"We have issued a heatwave alert for today for south Haryana, Delhi, south UP,
north MP, Jharkhand, Bihar and Bengal. Tomorrow, a heatwave alert is not given
for any place other than Jharkhand," said Soma Sen Roy while talking to ANI.
"Yes, there is a strong possibility that is likely," she said when asked if
there will be relief from the heatwave from tomorrow.


She said that because of the western disturbances the heatwave conditions will
ameliorate.


"...The change is that moisture incursion is there in northwest India...We are
expecting that Rajasthan temperatures will fall slightly but heatwave conditions
will persist over south Haryana, south UP, parts of Delhi, north, northeast MP,
Jharkhand, Bihar and south Bengal. This entire belt is likely to see heatwave
conditions even today. From tomorrow we will see amelioration because there is a
fresh western disturbance coming...So, we are expecting that temperatures will
start to fall over this entire region and heatwave conditions will ameliorate,"
said Soma Sen Roy.


The MeT department issued a yellow alert for today.


According to reports, Chandigarh has been witnessing a lot of heat for the
previous two days. The temperature on Sunday crossed 40 degrees Celsius and the
temperature could cross 40 degrees Celsius on Monday as well.
Read more >

15:28   NCLAT upholds order on Go First's insolvency
The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) on Monday upheld an NCLT
order allowing crisis-hit Go First's voluntary insolvency resolution
proceedings. 


 A two-member NCLAT bench asked several aircraft lessors of Go First opposing
insolvency, to approach National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) for any remedy. 


 "The order dated May 10, 2023 allowing insolvency is upheld," said the NCLAT
bench headed by Chairperson Justice Ashok Bhushan. The direction came on a batch
of four petitions filed by aircraft lessors opposing Go First's insolvency
proceedings. 


The lessors are SMBC Aviation Capital Ltd, GY Aviation, SFV Aircraft Holdings
and Engine Leasing Finance BV (ELFC). These four lessors own around 22 aircraft
operated by the Wadia Group firm, which is presently going through Corporate
Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP). The lessors had opposed the decision of
Delhi-based principal bench of NCLT, which had earlier this month allowed a
voluntary insolvency plea by Go First. 


 NCLT had appointed an interim resolution professional (IRP) to look after the
affairs of Go First and also suspended its board as part of the insolvency
resolution process. As per the provisions of the Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code,
NCLT had put Go First under moratorium, which means that lessors are barred from
taking back aircraft and creditors are restrained from taking coercive action.
NCLT in the order passed on May 10, 2023, had also directed the IRP to keep the
airline as a going concern and not to retrench its employees. The crisis-hit
carrier has more than 7,000 employees on its roll. This was immediately
challenged by SMBC Aviation Capital before NCLAT within hours of the NCLT order.
Later, other lessors also moved NCLT and the appellate tribunal on May 15,
reserved its order. So far this month, several lessors have approached aviation
regulator DGCA for deregistration and repossession of Go First's 45 planes. Go
First stopped flying on May 3. PTI KRH ANU
Read more >

15:12   TB vaccine may have protective effect against Alzheimer's: Study
Treatment with the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccinewhich prevents
tuberculosisis associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease and related
dementias, according to a study. 


 The BCG vaccine has been found to offer multiple beneficial effects, and is
currently a recommended therapy for nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer, the
researchers said.


 The team at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Brigham and Women's
Hospital (BWH), US followed 6,467 individuals for up to 15 years after they were
diagnosed with nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer. The group included 3,388
patients who underwent BCG vaccine treatment and 3,079 who served as controls,
matched by factors such as age, sex, and medical co-morbidities. During
follow-up, the study published in the journal JAMA Network Open found that 202
patients in the BCG vaccine group and 262 in the control group developed
Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. 


 The incidence was 8.8 per 1,000 person-years and 12.1 per 1,000 person-years in
the respective groups, the researchers said. Analyses revealed that treatment
with the BCG vaccine was associated with a 20 per cent lower risk of Alzheimer's
disease and related dementias. 


 The protective association was greater in patients aged 70 years or older.
Additionally, during follow-up, 751 patients in the BCG vaccine group and 973 in
the control group died.
Read more >

Siddaramiah meets the family of the victim
15:01   Family of woman who died in underpass files FIR
An FIR was registered at Bengaluru's Halasuru Gate Police Station in connection
with the death of a 23-year-old woman after car gets submerged in the flooded
underpass in Bengaluru's K.R. Circle on Sunday, police said.


The woman has been identified as Bhanurekha. 


An FIR was registered on the complaint filed by her brother Sandeep. Karnataka
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah met the family members of 23-year-old woman
Bhanurekha who died after drowning in the waterlogged underpass in the KR Circle
area in Bengaluru.


Severe water-logging was witnessed in an underpass in the KR circle area in
Bengaluru after heavy rain lashed the city. Earlier, several people stuck in the
underpass were safely rescued and taken to the hospital.


Heavy rainfall and hailstorms lashed Bengaluru on Sunday leading to severe
water-logging in several parts of the city.


The rains disrupted normal activities for residents in different parts of the
city.


Trees were uprooted in several localities and severe water-logging was witnessed
in an underpass in the KR circle area. Earlier, several people stuck in the
underpass were safely rescued and taken to the hospital.


An old building collapsed in Vidyaranyapura in Bengaluru after heavy rains
lashed the city on Sunday, officials said. No casualties were reported,
officials added.


The onset of monsoon over Kerala is likely to be delayed this year, predicting
its arrival on June 4, four days after the normal date predicted on June 1,
India Meteorological Department said.
Read more >

14:47   Bodies of Rohingya piling up in Myanmar after Cyclone Mocha
Days after powerful Cyclone Mocha ripped through the Bay of Bengal, bodies of
Rohingya Muslims are piling up in Myanmar's Rakhine state, families and aid
agencies have said.


The country's military government said the death toll had surpassed 145, but
residents say it is much higher.


Thousands of Rohingya, a persecuted minority in Myanmar, live in squalid camps
for the displaced and impoverished villages near the port town of Sittwe. Read
more 
Read more >

14:36   DKS orders report on 18 underpasses in Bengaluru
Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar on the tragic death of a young girl in a
flooded underpass in Bengaluru. "We have ordered for a report on all the
underpasses in the state including the 18 underpasses in Bengaluru, following
the death of a techie. Everything won't happen in a day but will ensure that
such an incident doesn't happen again. It is our duty to protect our citizens'
lives," Shivakumar said. 


A 22-year-old woman drowned on Sunday after a car she was travelling in with her
family got stuck in neck-deep water at KR Circle underpass, just a stone's throw
from Vidhana Soudha, the seat of power in Karnataka.


Fire and emergency services personnel saved five from the family and the driver,
with the help of people who had rushed to save those trapped in the flooded
underpass in the heart of the city. The victim as well as the others were taken
to St Martha's Hospital where doctors declared the woman, identified as
Bhanurekha, dead.


Former Karnataka CM Bommai said, "Heavy rains and underpass waterlogging
happened earlier also but I don't remember any death happening before... This
(death) could have been avoided and timely action by BBMP could have saved the
life. There are some lapses, needs to look into it."
Read more >

Biplab Deb
14:26   No rift in Tripura BJP : party state president
The ruling BJP in Tripura has denied any rift within the party following former
chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb's allegation of 'outsider' interference in it.
BJP state unit president Rajib Bhattacharjee on Sunday said he will talk to Deb
if he has any grievance in the handling of the party.


 The statement came hours after Deb made his allegation of 'outsider'
interference in the ruling party which, he claimed, is hurting the organisation.


"Biplab da and Manik da (Chief Minister Manik Saha) are our leaders ... There is
no trouble in the party. But if it is there we will try to remove it,"
Bhattcharjee said to questions by reporters of a probable rift within the
saffron party. 


"Biplab da is our leader and the ex chief minister of Tripura. He is now the
'prabhari' (in-charge) of Haryana. I saw him venting his anger before the media.
We will hold talks to know the reason for his feelings. We want to work together
as a family," he added. 


 The allegation by Deb, a Rajya Sabha member of the BJP, at a press meeting came
just a day before the crucial BJP Tripura state executive meeting on Monday to
chalk out the party's strategy for the 2024 Lok Sabha election. 


 He said "outsiders" were interfering in the BJP's organisational affairs and
weakening it. Deb said he has apprised the party's leadership of it. He left for
Delhi later on Sunday after an "urgent call" from the BJP central leadership. He
is set to skip the state executive meeting, party sources said on Monday.
Read more >

14:11   Ready to undergo Narco test: Bajrang Punia
Olympic bronze medallist Bajrang Punia on Monday accepted Brij Bhushan Sharan
Singh's challenge of undergoing narco-analysis test to ascertain the
truthfulness of wrestlers' sexual harassment allegations against the WFI
president. 


 The WFI chief in a Facebook post on Sunday said that he is ready to appear for
a narco-analysis or polygraph test to prove his innocence. 


 "I am ready to undergo narco test, polygraph test or lie detector test, but my
condition is that Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia should also undergo these
tests with me. If both the wrestlers agree to undergo it, call a press
conference and make announcement. I promise them that I am ready for the test,"
he posted in Hindi. 


 Responding to this, Bajrang said, "We are ready to face Narco Test but we would
also want him (Brij Bhushan) to also face the Test under Supreme Court's
supervision and with live streaming on national television." 


 "We would like to see what questions are being asked. He has asked for Narco
Test of Vinesh and myself. I am saying why only two of us but also all those
girls who have filed complaints should also undergo Narco Test," Bajrang,
sitting alongside Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat at protest site in Jantar
Mantar, said.


 Vinesh on her part said that whole country should know what kind of injustice
they have faced for years now. "The whole country should know what kind of
atrocities and injustice we faced." 


 Bajrang seemed peeved that a section of media is glorifying Brij Bhushan and
urged them to not do so "He is not a star but a sexual harassment accused so
please treat him accordingly," Vinesh added. The protesting wrestlers will take
out another round of candlelight march from Jantar Mantar to India Gate. 


 "As you are aware our protest turns one month, on May 23, we would take out a
candle march at India Gate. "We must remind people that ours is a peaceful
protest and anyone trying to disrupt peace with provocative speeches or any kind
of trouble would be himself responsible for consequences and we don't take any
responsibility," Sakshi said.
Read more >

13:24   Why RBI set a Sept 30 deadline for Rs 2000 notes
Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das said the deadline of September 30
for the exchange of Rs 2000 notes was decided so that people take the process
seriously and it does not become endless.


"...Time is given up to Sept 30 (for exchange of notes) so that it is taken
seriously, otherwise, if you leave it open-ended, it becomes a kind of an
endless process," Shaktikanta Das said in an interaction with the media.


 "We have clearly explained in our press note that the Rs 2000 notes were
primarily issued for the purpose of quickly replenishing the value of money
which was being taken out from the system when the legal tender status of
then-prevailing Rs 1000 and Rs 500 notes was withdrawn..(demonetisation). That
purpose has been fulfilled, today there are enough notes in circulation, of
other denominations." 


 He said the move was part of the currency management operations of the Reserve
Bank. 


 "Let me clarify and re-emphasise that it is a part of the currency management
operations of the Reserve Bank...For a long time, the Reserve Bank has been
following a clean note policy. From time to time, RBI withdraws notes of a
particular series and issues fresh notes...We are withdrawing the Rs 2000 notes
from circulation but they continue as legal tender," he said. 


 The Reserve Bank of India on Friday decided to withdraw the Rs 2000
denomination banknotes from circulation but said they would continue to remain
as legal tender. It advised banks to stop issuing Rs 2000 denomination banknotes
with immediate effect.
Read more >

People queue up for their own money in 2016 during demo
12:58   RBI's 'shade, water' order to banks for 2K notes
In a welcome departure from the mayhem during demonetisation during 2016, the
Reserve Bank on Monday advised banks to provide shade from the sun and water to
customers waiting to exchange or deposit Rs 2,000 notes. 


 It can be noted that during the note ban in 2016, there were allegations of
customers dying while waiting in queues to exchange bank notes.


 Following the Friday's announcement of withdrawing Rs 2,000 notes -- the notes
continue to be legal tender unlike demonetisation exercise -- there were
concerns about customers facing inconvenience, especially given the summer being
at peak. 


 Banks are advised to provide appropriate infrastructure at the branches such as
shaded waiting space, drinking water facilities, etc. considering the summer
season, RBI said in a notification on Monday.


 It asked banks to provide the note exchange facility across the counter to the
public in the usual manner, that is, as was being provided earlier. The banking
regulator also asked banks to maintain daily data on deposit and exchange of Rs
2,000 notes. PTI
Read more >

12:11   Don't rush to banks: RBI guv on Rs 2000-note demo
Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das on Monday reiterated that Rs 2000
notes will continue to be a legal lender, after the Central bank's announcement
that the notes will be withdrawn from circulation. 


 He also said he doesn't expect a rush in the branches and urged people to not
rush to banks. The Governor said the Rs 2000 note was primarily issued to
replenish money, taken out from the system during the demonetisation of Rs 500
notes and Rs 1,000 notes. 


 Shaktikanta Das in an interaction with media persons today said that the higher
value of currency was manufactured in a brief period of time to increase
liquidity in the economy. He also added that Rs 2000 notes circulation came down
below 50 per cent since then. 


 On being asked about the deadline of September 30, the governor said the
deadline, given for Rs 2000 notes exchange, was decided so that it would be
taken seriously. The apex bank's governor said that it will revisit the
September deadline based on the situation. 


 The Reserve Bank of India on Friday withdrew the Rs 2000 denomination banknotes
from circulation but they will continue to remain as legal tender. It advised
banks to stop issuing Rs 2000 denomination banknotes with immediate effect.


 Meanwhile, RBI said that people would continue to be able to deposit Rs 2000
banknotes into their bank accounts and/or exchange them into banknotes of other
denominations at any bank branch up to September 30, 2023.


 The Rs 2000 denomination banknote was introduced in November 2016, primarily to
meet the currency requirement of the economy in an expeditious manner after the
withdrawal of the legal tender status of all Rs 500 and Rs 1000 banknotes in
circulation at that time.
Read more >

11:59   My wife and I are receiving threats: Wankhede
Former Zonal Director of Mumbai Narcotics Control Bureau of India (NCB) Sameer
Wankhede on Monday said that he and his wife have been receiving threats for the
past four days. 


 On Sunday, Wankhede was booked by the CBI for allegedly demanding Rs 25 crore
as a bribe for not framing Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan in
the drugs-on-cruise case.


 "My wife Kranti Redkar and I are receiving threats for the last 4 days and
obscene messages coming on social media. I will write to Mumbai Police
Commissioner today about it and demand special security," Wankhede told ANI. 


 Wankhede was questioned for the second consecutive day on Sunday in connection
with the case. After coming out of the NCB office, Wankhede said that he will
continue to cooperate in the investigation. 


 "I am fully cooperating with the CBI and will continue to do it. I answered
whatever I was asked by CBI," Wankhede told ANI. The agency said that the deal
was closed for Rs 18 crore adding that assets to Wankhede were not proportionate
to his known sources of income.
Read more >

Satyendar Jain has been in jail since May 2022
11:38   Ex-AAP minister Satyendar Jain hospitalised
Former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain, who has been arrested in connection with a
money laundering case, was taken to the Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi as he
was feeling "unwell", party sources said on Monday. Jain has been lodged in
Tihar Jail since his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a
money laundering case in May 2022.
Read more >

11:26   Sibal tells Shah: PM not country, PM works for...
Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Monday took a swipe at Home Minister Amit Shah's
'insult to the prime minister is an insult to the country' remark, saying his
understanding of the Constitution is that the PM is not the country but works
for it. 


 Sibal's dig came a day after Shah, while addressing a national convention of
the Modi community in Ahmedabad, referred to Purnesh Modi's defamation suit that
led to Rahul Gandhi's disqualification as an MP over his "Modi surname" remark. 


 "If someone insults a person, it is not a big deal, but if someone insults an
entire community and country's PM, then it is an insult to the entire country.
Purneshbhai fought this battle with firmness and won it. I congratulate him and
others for fighting a battle for the dignity of your community. Entire country
is with you," Shah had said. 


 Reacting to Shah's remarks, Sibal said on Twitter, "Amit Shah: 'Insult to PM is
insult to country'. Amitji my understanding of the constitution is that: PM
works for the country, PM is not the country. Just as: Government works for the
country, government is not the country." 


 In his remarks, Shah said PM Modi gave the OBCs their due respect and
understood the pain of poor citizens because he himself was born in such a
family. 


 Sibal, who was a Union minister during UPA 1 and 2, had quit the Congress in
May last year and was elected to the Rajya Sabha as an Independent member with
the Samajwadi Party's support. He recently floated a non-electoral platform
'Insaaf' aimed at fighting injustice. PTI
Read more >

11:18   Delhi HC summons BBC on defamation suit
The Delhi High Court has issued a summons to BBC on a defamation suit claiming
its documentary cast a slur on the reputation of India, the judiciary and PM
Modi.


 BJP leader Binay Kumar Singh had filed a defamation suit, seeking a permanent
restraint order from broadcasting the BBC documentary 'India -- The Modi
Question'. The suit also seeks an unconditional apology and damages worth Rs 10
lakh.


The suit says that the documentary has generated an atmosphere of terror and
fear among members of various groups, and possesses the potential to trigger
violence and jeopardise public order across the nation.
Read more >

11:03   Hoarders of Rs 2000 notes being welcomed: Ex-FM
Congress veteran and former finance minister P Chidambaram on Monday said that
the government's decision of the "Rs 2000 note was a foolish move in 2016".


The former finance minister further said that he was glad that the "foolish move
is being withdrawn at least 7 years later". 


Chidambaram slammed the central government over introducing new notes and said,
"The BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)'s spin that the Rs 2000 notes are being
withdrawn to unearth black money stands demolished."


Chidambaram said in a long tweet: "Banks have clarified that no identity, no
forms and no proof will be required to exchange the Rs 2000 notes. Ordinary
people do not have Rs 2000 notes. They shunned it soon after it was introduced
in 2016. They were useless for daily retail exchange."


The Reserve Bank of India on Friday said it will withdraw Rs 2,000 notes from
circulation and people can exchange or deposit them in their bank accounts till
September 30. The Rs 2000 denomination banknote was introduced in November 2016,
primarily to rapidly meet the currency requirement of the economy after the
withdrawal of legal tender status of all Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes in circulation
at that time.


 The purpose of introducing Rs 2000 banknotes was served once banknotes of other
denominations became available in sufficient quantity. Therefore, printing of Rs
2000 notes was subsequently discontinued in 2018-19, the RBI said.


Chidambaram further said in his tweet, "So, who kept the Rs 2000 notes and used
them? You know the answer. The Rs 2000 note only helped keepers of black money
to hoard their money with ease. The keepers of Rs 2000 notes are being welcomed
on a red carpet to exchange their notes!" 
Read more >

10:59   TCS-led consortium bags Rs 15,000 cr BSNL contract for 4G deployment
Tata Consultancy Services-led consortium has bagged a Rs 15,000-crore contract
from BSNL to deploy 4G network for the state-run telco. In a statement, TCS said
it has received an "advance purchase order" valued over Rs 15,000 crore from
BSNL. 


 The announcement ends months of speculation around the deal, where TCS was
tipped to be the front runner for the contract. The deal has been in the works
for many months. 


 TCS is the country's largest software exporter and typically books over 5 per
cent of its revenue domestically. Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) provides fixed
line and wireless telephony, and data services across the country barring Mumbai
and New Delhi. Private rivals of BSNL already provide 4G services and have also
launched 5G offerings in select pockets of the country.
Read more >

10:41   Modi hosts Millet Biryani, Khandvi lunch at Summit
Indian cuisine and millets found a prominent place at the lunch hosted by Prime
Minister Narendra Modi for leaders attending the 3rd Summit of the Forum for
India-Pacific Islands Cooperation on Monday. Modi along with his Papua New
Guinea counterpart James Marape hosted the key summit in Port Moresby. 


Modi is the first Indian prime minister to visit Papua New Guinea. The lunch
included Khandvi, Millet and Vegetable Soup, Malai Kofta, Rajasthani Ragi Gatta
Curry, Dal Panchmel, Millet Biryani, Nannu Fulka and Masala Chaas. Paan Kulfi
and Malpua were served as desserts. Drinks included Masala Tea, Green Tea, Mint
Tea and freshly brewed PNG coffee. 


 The inclusion of millet in the menu reflects the importance India gives to
these small-seeded foods. The UN General Assembly in March 2021 declared 2023 as
the International Year of Millets at the behest of the Government of India.


 Millets are one of the oldest foods known to mankind. Small-seeded and hardy,
these crops can grow on arid lands with minimal inputs and are resilient to
changes in climate. They are, therefore, an ideal solution for countries to
increase self-sufficiency and reduce reliance on imported cereal grain. 


 Millets, which are rich in proteins, antioxidants, minerals and other
nutrients, help to lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels. The types of
millets commonly grown in India include Jowar (Sorghum), Bajra (pearl millet),
Ragi (finger millet), Jhangora (barnyard millet), Barri (proso or common
millet), Kangni (foxtail millet) and Kodra (kodo millet). Due to their short
growing season, millets can develop from seeds to ready-to-harvest crops in
short periods. If stored properly, millets can keep well for two years or
beyond. PTI
Read more >

10:09   Sidda meets family of woman who died in underpass
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah met the family members of a 23-year-old woman
Bhanurekha, who died after drowning in the waterlogged underpass in KR Circle
area in Bengaluru. 


A 22-year-old woman drowned on Sunday after a car she was travelling in with her
family got stuck in neck-deep water at KR Circle underpass in Bengaluru, just a
stone's throw from Vidhana Soudha, the seat of power in Karnataka.


Fire and emergency services personnel saved five others of the family and the
driver, with the help of people who had rushed to save those trapped in the
flooded underpass in the heart of Bengaluru.


Read the report here. 
Read more >

Security personnel patrol Srinagar on the eve of the G20 summit
09:50   Drones, NSG, MARCOs deployed for Srinagar G20
The security measures have been heightened in Srinagar as the city is all set to
host the third G20 Tourism Working Group meeting, which will start on Monday.


The three-day working group meeting is being held here on May 22-24. For this
three-day G20 Summit, from May 22-24, Kashmir is under a three-tier security
grid for aerial surveillance drone monitoring is put in place National Security
Guard (NSG) and MARCOS commandos are being deployed around the venue Jammu and
Kashmir Police's special operation group (SOG) will be deployed at several
places to give security cover to prevent from any terror incident.


As Srinagar hosts the G20 meeting, a local singer Bilal Ahmad said, "I would
like to thank our government, who gave an opportunity to Kashmir to host this.
We welcome the G20 Summit that begins today. This is for the development of our
Kashmir. We thank the Govt for this."


"The delegates are welcomed in the city. I think that since this new government
came, this is the first time something good happened. This will not only boost
tourism but also the music industry," he added. -- ANI
Read more >

DK Shivakumar visited the spot where an Infoysys employee died in floodwaters
09:37   K'taka Assembly begins today with pro-tem Speaker
The first Karnataka Legislative Assembly session, after formation of the new
Congress government will be held today in Bengaluru, during which newly elected
MLAs will be administered oaths and a new Speaker will be elected. The session
will be held for three days till May 24. 


Senior Congress leader RV Deshpande will be the pro-tem Speaker of the Karnataka
Legislative Assembly for the ongoing session.


Congress leader Siddaramaiah was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Karnataka for
the second time on Saturday after the party's thumping victory in the Assembly
elections.


DK Shivakumar was sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka. Eight
Congress MLAs were also sworn in as ministers in the Karnataka Cabinet during
the oath-taking ceremony in Bengaluru.


Soon after being sworn in as the chief minister, Siddaramaiah said that the
first Cabinet meeting has issued orders for the implementation of five
guarantees which were promised by the party before the elections.


Addressing a press briefing after the first Cabinet meeting at the Vidhan
Soudha, Siddaramaiah said, "Five guarantees in the manifesto were promised and
the order for the implementation of those five guarantees was given after the
first cabinet meeting. All will be in force after the next cabinet meeting which
will be called within a week."


The five 'main' guarantees are 200 units of free power to all households (Gruha
Jyoti); Rs 2,000 monthly assistance to the woman head of every family (Gruha
Lakshmi); 10 kg of rice free to every member of a BPL household (Anna Bhagya);
Rs 3,000 every month for unemployed graduate youth and Rs 1,500 for unemployed
diploma holders (both in the age group of 18-25) for two years (Yuva Nidhi) and
free travel for women in public transport buses (Uchita Prayana).
Read more >

09:30   Modi gov't ignores internal red flags on health risks to force fortified
rice on poor
Union government ignored pilot projects' failure and internal warnings that it
is 'premature' to universalise fortified rice without first studying its health
impact, particularly on children. Read more
Read more >

09:28   5 things I wish I heard at the graduation I never had
The advice I shared with the class of 2023 is advice I could have used myself,
writes Bill Gates. A must-read. 
Read more >

A three-tier security has been put in place for the summit
09:12   G20 summit to begin in Srinagar today
Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar is all set to host the third G20 Tourism Working
Group meeting on Monday, all preparation has been put in place and security has
been kept on high alert as this is the first major international event after
Jammu and Kashmir's special status was scrapped in 2019. 


 For this three-day G20 Summit, from May 22-24, Kashmir is under a three-tier
security grid for aerial surveillance drone monitoring is put in place National
Security Guard (NSG) and MARCOS commandos are being deployed around the venue
Jammu and Kashmir Police's special operation group (SOG) will be deployed at
several places to give security cover to prevent from any terror incident. 


 Srinagar city's walls and roads are decorated to welcome delegates. The people
of Kashmir are also ready to welcome the G20 summit meetings held in Srinagar
which boosts the tourism and business sector in Kashmir.


 While there will be no restrictions on public movement public in Srinagar all
shops and business establishments are open to welcome the G20 summit guest. 


People from different sectors welcome the delegates and believe that this G20
summit meeting give a boost to the development of Jammu and Kashmir in all
fields and boost the tourism sector on an international level which boosts the
economy of the Union Territory. Time and again Pakistan has shown strong
discontent at New Delhi's intention to convene the G20 Tourism Working Group
conference in Kashmir.
Read more >

08:52   Ready for narco test if Phogat...: Brij Bhushan
Bharatiya Janata Party MP and Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan
Sharan Singh, who has been accused of sexual harassment by a section of
wrestlers, on Sunday said he is ready to undergo a narco test provided wrestlers
Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia take it too.  
   
The president of the Wrestling Federation of India made the remark in a Facebook
post.  
 
"I am ready to undergo narco test, polygraph test or lie detector test, but my
condition is that Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia should also take them with me.
If both the wrestlers agree for the same, call a press conference and make
announcement. I promise them that I am ready for the test," he posted in Hindi.
 
"I stand by my word even today and promise the countrymen to remain steadfast
forever. Jai Shri Ram," Singh added.
 
Prominent wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik,
are protesting at Delhi's Jantar Mantar since April 23, accusing the BJP MP from
Kaiserganj in Uttar Pradesh of sexual exploitation.  
 
The MP also held a public meeting in this Uttar Pradesh district on Sunday.
 
Speaking at the meeting, he said, "I don't understand that the children for
whose success I sacrificed everything, have become toys of politics today".  
 
"Even after four months, they do not have any audio, video or any other
recording to prove allegations against me. Story after story is being told. They
should know that the whole country is angry today. People of all castes and
religions are standing with me," Singh claimed.
 
On the directions of the Supreme Court, Delhi Police is investigating the case
after lodging an FIR against Singh. In the meantime, the Sports Ministry has
cancelled all activities of the wrestling federation with immediate effect till
the investigation into the allegations of the wrestlers is completed. -- PTI 
Read more >

08:38   2019 LS polls were fought on soldiers' bodies: Malik
Former Jammu and Kashmir governor Satyapal Malik again attacked the government
over the Pulwama attack issue, saying the 2019 Lok Sabha elections were "fought
on the bodies of our soldiers", and the then home minster would have to resign
had there been a probe into the incident.



He claimed he had informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the attack just
after the incident but "he told me to keep quiet".



"Elections (Lok Sabha 2019) were fought on the bodies of our soldiers and no
investigation was done. Had an inquiry been done, the then home minister
(Rajnath Singh) would have to resign. Many officers would have been jailed and
there would have been a huge controversy," Malik said at an event in Bansur of
Alwar district.



Malik has been vocal about the issues related to Jammu and Kashmir where he was
the governor before the state was divided into the two Union Territories of
Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir.



He said during the event on Sunday that when the Pulwama attacked happened on
February 14, 2019, the prime minister was in a shooting at the Jim Corbett
National Park.



"When he came out from there I got a call (from him). I told him that our
soldiers have been killed and they got killed by our mistake. He told me to keep
quiet," Malik said.



Malik was recently questioned by the CBI over his claim that he was offered Rs
300 crore as bribe to clear files related to an insurance scheme during his
tenure as Jammu and Kashmir governor between August 23, 2018 and October 30,
2019.



He also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Adani issue. Malik said
Adani has created much wealth in just three years, and asked those present if
they had been able to increase their wealth.



He said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi told Parliament that Adani had got Rs
20,000 crore and asked the government 'where did it come from'.



"The prime minister could not answer. He talked for two days but could not
answer one thing because he had no answer and I am saying that it is all his
money," Malik said.



"They loot from their chief ministers and give it to Adani and he does business
and he is sure that it is my money," Malik said. -- PTI
Read more >
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