DailyWorld News - The First International Newspaper From India https://dailyworld.in/ Thu, 21 May 2026 14:07:00 +0530 en https://dailyworld.in/national/re-polling-begins-for-bengals-falta-assembly-constituency-674759.html Kolkata May 21 Repolling commenced for Falta Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district in West Bengal from 7 am on Thursday under a blanket security coverage provided by the 35 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces CAPF personnel a number significantly high for a single constituency The polling process had been peaceful till the time the report was filedWith Trinamool Congress candidate Jahangir Khan announcing his withdrawal from the contest recently political observers feel that a victory in the Falta repolling has now become a cakewalk for the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP which if won would thus improve the partys tally in the West Bengal Assembly to 208Last week Khan announced his decision to withdraw from the contest expressing solidarity with the new development package for Falta as announced by the new and ninth Chief Minister Suvendu AdhikariHowever the CEOs office clarified that irrespective of Khans announcement his name would remain as a Trinamool Congress candidate in the repoll and continue to appear on the EVMPolling for the Falta Assembly constituency had already been conducted once on April 29 On May 21 it will just be a repoll So nothing else changes including the candidates contesting from Falta the CEOs office insider saidObservers suggest that it will be interesting to see whether the vote percentages for the CPIM and Congress candidates in the Falta Assembly seat improve remain the same or decline compared to the previous electionsOn April 29 several complaints of alleged electoral malpractices emerged from Falta At several polling booths the EVM buttons corresponding to the names and symbols of BJP candidates were allegedly covered with white tapeSubsequently special poll observer Subrata Gupta currently serving as advisor to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari personally visited Falta and conducted an inquiry into the allegationsBased on Guptas findings the Election Commission of India ECI ordered repolling across the entire Falta Assembly constituency IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/re-polling-begins-for-bengals-falta-assembly-constituency-674759.html Thu, 21 May 2026 12:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/adani-power-to-acquire-24-pc-stake-in-jaiprakash-power-thermal-power-assets-for-rs-4-194-crore-674767.html Ahmedabad May 21 Adani Power on Thursday said it has entered into definitive agreements with Jaiprakash Associates Ltd JAL to acquire a 24 per cent stake in Jaiprakash Power Ventures Ltd JPVL and the 180 MW Churk thermal power plant in Uttar Pradesh under the NCLTapproved resolution plan for JAL In a stock exchange filing the Adani Group company said it has executed a Share Purchase Agreement to acquire JALâs 24 per cent holding in Jaiprakash Power Ventures Ltd for about Rs 29936 croreSeparately it has entered into a Business Transfer Agreement to purchase JALâs 180 MW Churk thermal power station in Sonbhadra along with associated assets including an 1149 per cent stake in Prayagraj Power Generation Company Ltd for Rs 1200 croreThe company noted that the transactions are part of the NCLTapproved resolution plan for Jaiprakash Associates Ltd under which Adani Enterprises Ltd is the resolution applicant and Adani Power is acting as one of the implementing entitiesAdani Power had earlier indicated its interest in participating in the resolution process and said the latest agreements formalise the asset acquisition under the approved frameworkThe deals will be completed in cash and are expected to be concluded on the âeffective dateâ defined under the resolution plan which is linked to the implementation timeline following regulatory approvals according to the exchange filingThe Competition Commission of India CCI had cleared the transaction in August 2025 while the NCLTâs Allahabad Bench approved the resolution plan in March 2026The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal NCLAT later upheld the order in May 2026JPVL operates a portfolio of thermal and hydropower assets with a combined capacity of 2220 MW along with interests in coal mining sand mining and cement grindingThe Churk plant is a 180 MW thermal power facility located in Uttar Pradeshâs Sonbhadra district IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/adani-power-to-acquire-24-pc-stake-in-jaiprakash-power-thermal-power-assets-for-rs-4-194-crore-674767.html Thu, 21 May 2026 12:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bangladeshi-national-living-illegally-in-lucknow-for-14-years-arrested-674771.html Lucknow May 21 A Bangladeshi national who had allegedly been living illegally in Lucknow for nearly 14 years was arrested by police from the Bakshi Ka Talab BKT area The accused has been identified as Arup Bakshi a native of Devbhog in Bangladeshâs Narail district According to the BKT police the accused had been residing in India after illegally entering the country in 2012 through Nepal and the Lakhimpur Kheri route Police said that he managed to stay in the country by obtaining forged Indian identity documentsSubInspector Yogendra Kumar of BKT Police Station lodged an FIR against the accused following a confidential complaint and subsequent investigation Acting on the findings police arrested Arup Bakshi and recovered an Aadhaar card a mobile phone and several other documents from his possessionDuring the investigation police found that after entering India illegally Arup initially stayed with Dr Swapna Biswas a resident of Udrauli village under the Maholi police station limits in Sitapur district During his stay there he allegedly procured several forged documents including a voter ID card driving licence Aadhaar card and opened a bank account Later he reportedly obtained an Indian passport as wellPolice further stated that between 2014 and 2015 the accused started living as a tenant at the residence of advocate Mrityunjay Singh Chauhan in Maa Durgapuram Colony near Asti Crossing in the BKT areaIn 2019 Arup allegedly purchased an 800squarefoot plot in Mamapur Bana village using forged documents Investigators also revealed that he had been operating a clinic without possessing a valid medical degree and was allegedly collecting money from people under the pretext of providing treatmentDuring interrogation the accused reportedly confessed that he had obtained all the forged documents while residing in Sitapur Police are now preparing a list of his associates and close contacts in Sitapur and are also investigating the people he was in contact with in Lucknow IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bangladeshi-national-living-illegally-in-lucknow-for-14-years-arrested-674771.html Thu, 21 May 2026 12:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/adani-ports-to-acquire-jaypee-fertilizers-for-rs-1-500-crore-under-jal-resolution-674774.html Ahmedabad May 21 Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd APSEZ on Thursday said it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Jaypee Fertilizers amp Industries Ltd JFIL for Rs 1500 crore as part of the NCLTapproved resolution plan for Jaiprakash Associates Ltd JAL In a regulatory filing the Adani Group company said it has entered into a share purchase agreement with JAL to acquire 100 per cent shareholding in JFIL which is the holding company of Kanpur Fertilizers and Chemicals Ltd KFCLThe acquisition would give APSEZ indirect control over KFCL which owns around 243 acres of industrial and commercial land in Kanpur that is considered strategically suitable for the development of a logistics park and warehousing facilities the filing saidAccording to APSEZ the transaction aligns with its strategy to strengthen inland logistics operations and expand service capabilities in north IndiaThe acquisition also supports the companyâs broader target of increasing its multimodal logistics park MMLP network from 12 to 16 and expanding warehousing capacity nearly fourfold by 2031The acquisition is being undertaken under the approved resolution plan submitted by Adani Enterprises Ltd for debtridden JAL where APSEZ is acting as one of the implementing entitiesThe transaction is expected to be completed on the effective date under the resolution plan which is expected within 90 days from the NCLT approval granted on March 17 2026Notably the Competition Commission of India had approved the transaction in August 2025 while the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal NCLAT upheld the resolution plan in May 2026Separately Adani Power said it has entered into definitive agreements with JAL to acquire a 24 per cent stake in Jaiprakash Power Ventures Ltd JPVL and the 180 MW Churk thermal power plant in Uttar PradeshShares of Adani Ports on Thursday rose 124 per cent to hit an intraday high of Rs 179550 apiece on the BSE IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/adani-ports-to-acquire-jaypee-fertilizers-for-rs-1-500-crore-under-jal-resolution-674774.html Thu, 21 May 2026 12:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-transport-strike-unions-demand-fare-revision-amid-rising-fuel-costs-674775.html New Delhi May 21 Truck taxi and autorickshaw drivers in the national capital began a threeday strike on Thursday demanding a revision in fares and relief from rising fuel prices and operational expenses The strike which will continue until May 23 is likely to impact transport services across DelhiNCR Drivers participating in the protest said that despite working for nearly 12 hours a day they are struggling financially due to stagnant fares and the continuous increase in the prices of diesel petrol and CNGSpeaking about the strike a truck driver said that transport workers have been demanding a fare hike for several yearsâOur fares have not been increased for a long time which means our wages have also remained stagnant At the same time diesel petrol and CNG prices have continued to rise and even the prices of food essentials have increased We have gone on strike to demand higher fares and better wagesâ he saidA cab driver expressed similar concerns saying âWe work throughout the night but are unable to save even Rs 500 From that amount we have to manage household expenses such as cooking oil vegetables and other essentialsâAnother cab driver told IANS that earlier they somehow managed to survive but now their financial condition has worsened considerably Our accounts are almost empty now Fuel prices have increased but if we raise fares customers face problems We are completely dependent on this work for survivalâ he addedA taxi driver at Delhi Airport also spoke about the impact of rising fuel costs âThe number of taxis is currently low and people are saying there could be a complete strike Diesel petrol and CNG prices have increased significantly Passengers are unwilling to pay higher fares making it difficult for us to operate vehiclesâ he saidThe impact of the strike was visible at Delhiâs Indira Gandhi International Airport where fewer taxis were seen compared to a normal day However passengers did not face major inconvenience as cabs operated by several appbased companies continued to functionDrivers at the airport stated that while the number of taxis had reduced fare rates had not yet been revised They blamed rising fuel prices for triggering the agitation and said the full impact of the strike could become visible later in the dayMore than 68 transport unions under the banners of the All India Motor Transport Congress AIMTC and the United Front of All Transport Associations UFTA are expected to participate in the âchakka jamâ protestEarlier this week the AIMTC wrote to Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta listing several demandsThe unions are demanding an increase in taxi fares a rollback of the Enhanced Congestion Charges ECC and reconsideration of restrictions imposed on commercial vehicles According to the unions taxi fares in DelhiNCR have remained unchanged for nearly 15 years despite a sharp rise in fuel prices and operational costsTransport unions have warned that if the Delhi government fails to issue a notification regarding fare revision within the next two weeks the agitation will be intensified further IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-transport-strike-unions-demand-fare-revision-amid-rising-fuel-costs-674775.html Thu, 21 May 2026 12:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sriganganagar-hottest-at-465-degrees-heatwave-to-intensify-in-rajasthan-674780.html Jaipur May 21 The Meteorological Department on Thursday warned of severe heatwave conditions in several districts of Rajasthan for the next four days Sriganganagar has emerged as the hottest city in the state in the last 24 hours recording a maximum temperature of 465 degrees Celsius Pilani in Jhunjhunu was the second hottest at 453 degrees CelsiusPhalodi and Bikaner recorded 448 degrees Celsius Churu 445 degrees Celsius Kota and Alwar 442 degrees Celsius and Chittorgarh 44 degrees CelsiusMost cities in Jaipur Jodhpur Bikaner Bharatpur and Kota divisions remained in the grip of heatwave conditionsThe Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for heatwave conditions in more than half of Rajasthan for the next three to four days with little relief expected from the scorching temperaturesAmid the rising heat preventive measures are being taken in several cities Water is being continuously sprinkled near Zorawar Singh Gate on Amer Road in Jaipur to reduce surface temperaturesIn Kota water is being sprayed morning and evening at some cattle shelters to protect animals from the intense heatFurther Sirohi recorded a maximum temperature of 39 degrees Celsius while Pratapgarh recorded 396 degrees Celsius making them among the few districts to remain below the 40degree mark on TuesdaySirohi in fact also recorded a minimum temperature of 218 degrees Celsius making it the lowest temperature in the state in the last 24 hoursJaipur recorded a slight fall in temperature on Wednesday but residents continued to face intense heat throughout the day The city recorded a maximum temperature of 425 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 311 degrees Celsius over the past 24 hoursAlwar continued to reel under temperatures close to 45 degrees Celsius for the third consecutive day The Municipal Corporation sprinkled water on roads and installed tents at several places to provide shade to pedestrians and commutersAjmer experienced severe heat and humidity from morning The district recorded a maximum temperature of 409 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 286 degrees CelsiusTraffic remained sparse during afternoon hours as residents tried to avoid the scorching conditionsThe Shekhawati region including Sikar district has been facing continuous heatwave conditions for the past six days On Wednesday Sikar recorded a maximum temperature of 43 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 244 degrees CelsiusHot winds and rising temperatures have disrupted normal life in most parts of the state with roads remaining deserted during the peak afternoon hours IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/sriganganagar-hottest-at-465-degrees-heatwave-to-intensify-in-rajasthan-674780.html Thu, 21 May 2026 12:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/adani-power-to-buy-24-stake-in-jaiprakash-power-ventures-thermal-assets-for-4-194-crore-674787.html Ahmedabad May 21 IANS Adani Power on Thursday said it has entered into definitive agreements with Jaiprakash Associates Ltd JAL to acquire a 24 per cent stake in Jaiprakash Power Ventures Ltd JPVL and the 180 MW Churk thermal power plant in Uttar Pradesh under the NCLTapproved resolution plan for JALnbspIn a stock exchange filing the Adani Group company said it has executed a Share Purchase Agreement to acquire JALs 24 per cent holding in Jaiprakash Power Ventures Ltd for about Rs 29936 croreSeparately it has entered into a Business Transfer Agreement to purchase JALs 180 MW Churk thermal power station in Sonbhadra along with associated assets including an 1149 per cent stake in Prayagraj Power Generation Company Ltd for Rs 1200 croreThe company noted that the transactions are part of the NCLTapproved resolution plan for Jaiprakash Associates Ltd under which Adani Enterprises Ltd is the resolution applicant and Adani Power is acting as one of the implementing entitiesAdani Power had earlier indicated its interest in participating in the resolution process and said the latest agreements formalise the asset acquisition under the approved frameworkThe deals will be completed in cash and are expected to be concluded on the effective date defined under the resolution plan which is linked to the implementation timeline following regulatory approvals according to the exchange filingThe Competition Commission of India CCI had cleared the transaction in August 2025 while the NCLTs Allahabad Bench approved the resolution plan in March 2026The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal NCLAT later upheld the order in May 2026JPVL operates a portfolio of thermal and hydropower assets with a combined capacity of 2220 MW along with interests in coal mining sand mining and cement grindingThe Churk plant is a 180 MW thermal power facility located in Uttar Pradeshs Sonbhadra districtIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/adani-power-to-buy-24-stake-in-jaiprakash-power-ventures-thermal-assets-for-4-194-crore-674787.html Thu, 21 May 2026 12:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/robber-injured-two-policemen-hurt-in-encounter-in-bihars-kishanganj-674792.html Patna May 21 A suspected robber was injured and two police personnel sustained gunshot wounds during a latenight encounter in Biharâs Kishanganj district police said on Thursday The exchange of fire took place near the Faringola railway crossing in Chauhan Basti under the Town Police Station limits on Wednesday night during an operation against an alleged motorcycle theft gangAccording to officials the gang was led by Pawan Kumar alias Chintu who is wanted in multiple criminal cases across several districts of Bihar Acting on intelligence inputs a police team launched an operation after learning that the suspects had gathered in the area to plan a major crimeTwo police personnel Nitish Kumar and Mushtaq sustained gunshot injuries during the exchange of fire Both officers were immediately shifted to the Sadar Hospital where they are currently undergoing treatmentOfficials said that during the operation Pawan Kumar alias Chintu allegedly opened fire on the police team triggering a retaliatory exchange of gunfire from both sides In the police counteraction the accused sustained a bullet injury to his leg and was subsequently apprehended He was later taken to the hospital for treatment alongside the injured police personnelSantosh Kumar the SP of Kishanganj stated that the accused has a criminal history and had been under police surveillance for several days after his photograph recently went viral in connection with criminal activitiesAccording to the SP dozens of criminal cases are registered against him in multiple districts and he has previously served jail time Police suspect he had arrived in Kishanganj along with associates to execute a major criminal actFollowing the incident District Magistrate Vishal Raj and SP Santosh Kumar rushed to the encounter site with a heavy police deployment and reviewed the situation in detailPolice have since cordoned off the entire area around the crime scene A Forensic Science Laboratory FSL team has also been called to collect scientific evidence from the siteRaids are underway to trace and apprehend the remaining accomplices who allegedly escaped during the encounter IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/robber-injured-two-policemen-hurt-in-encounter-in-bihars-kishanganj-674792.html Thu, 21 May 2026 12:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/fuel-dispensing-continues-without-curbs-in-maharashtra-674796.html Mumbai May 20 IANS Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies OMCs including Indian Oil Corporation Ltd IOCL Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd through State Level Coordinator Oil Industry for Maharashtra Mihir Joshi on Wednesday assured the people that the availability of essential petroleum products including petrol diesel and Liquefied Petroleum Gas LPG remains normal and uninterrupted across the stateThe overall fuel supply in Maharashtra continues to remain stable and adequate with all supply channels comprising terminals depots LPG bottling plants and retail outlets functioning efficientlyFuel stocks are being continuously monitored and replenishment activities are progressing seamlessly across all locations without any restrictions in line with prescribed safety and operational norms the statement saidAdequate stocks of petroleum products are available across the supply chain and replenishment is being carried out continuously to meet genuine consumer demand efficientlynbspLPG supplies to domestic consumers are also being maintained normally and deliveries are progressing smoothly across the statenbspPSU OMCs have appealed to the public to avoid panic buyingThe OMCs have also advised the public to rely only on official communications issued by the companies or government authorities for accurate and verified information regarding fuel availability the statement addednbspIn a bid to boost clean energy adoption residents of newly constructed buildings can now submit applications for Piped Natural Gas PNG connections on a collective or individual basis as applicablenbspSimultaneously City Gas Distribution CGD companies and their authorised distributors are launching largescale advertising campaigns across the state to encourage citizens to opt for new PNG connectionsnbspSince April 1 2026 a total of 94220 new PNG gas connections have been commissioned in Maharashtra marking one of the highest installation rates in the countryAccording to the statement to ensure the smooth and uninterrupted supply of petroleum products across Maharashtra and to curb black marketing and hoarding the state government has initiated strict vigilance measuresnbspDistrict Collectors have been directed to set up dedicated vigilance and mobile squads to conduct districtlevel inspections and raidsnbspndividuals involved in illegal activities such as the unauthorised use of domestic LPG hoarding and black marketing are facing stringent action under the Essential Commodities Act 1955As part of this statewide crackdown a total of 9494 raids were conducted up to May 17 2026nbspThese operations resulted in the seizure of 4449 cylinders due to distribution irregularitiesnbspAs many as 70 FIRs have been registered and 52 individuals have been taken into custodyIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/fuel-dispensing-continues-without-curbs-in-maharashtra-674796.html Thu, 21 May 2026 13:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bjp-accuses-karnataka-govt-of-prioritising-real-estate-development-over-bengalurus-safety-674798.html Bengaluru May 21 Senior BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly R Ashoka on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the state government alleging that it was more interested in attaching the Bengaluru tag to neighbouring districts to develop real estate rather than ensuring the safety and law and order situation in the state capital In a statement Ashoka alleged that if even âhalf the interestâ shown by the government in developing areas around Bengaluru had been shown towards public safety and law enforcement the Silicon City would not have turned into a âcrime cityâHe accused the government of neglecting Bengaluruâs development and law and order while focussing solely on developing neighbouring districtsâAs a result our proud Silicon City has turned into a crime city The capital of innovation is becoming the capital of crimesâ he allegedCiting crime statistics Ashoka alleged that Bengaluru ranked second in the country in murder cases among metropolitan cities with 176 murder cases registered in 2024He further alleged that crimes against women were on the rise stating that 4748 cases of atrocities against women including 16 gang rape cases had been registered in the cityâIs this the socalled âBrand Bengaluruââ he questionedAshoka also described Bengaluru as the âcyber crime capitalâ claiming that 17561 cyber crime cases were registered in a single year with cyber criminals looting the hardearned money of citizensReferring to drugrelated crimes he alleged that narcotic substances worth Rs 9869 crore including ganja and heroin had been seized but the drug mafia continued to operate fearlesslyThe BJP leader further claimed that even senior citizens were not safe in the city with 671 cases targeting elderly persons being registeredHe also expressed concern over the rise in juvenile crime cases stating that the number of such cases had increased from 200 in 2022 to 427 in 2023 while 386 cases had already been registered in 2024Questioning the state governmentâs Sadhana Samavesha celebrations Ashoka asked whether this was the governmentâs achievement and whether this represented its vision of Brand BengaluruHe alleged that while public safety in Bengaluru had collapsed Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar were more concerned about real estate gains in Tumakuru and Ramanagara districtsâThe government has lost the moral right to continue in powerâ he said adding that removing the Congress government had become essential for protecting Bengaluruâs dignity safety and future IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bjp-accuses-karnataka-govt-of-prioritising-real-estate-development-over-bengalurus-safety-674798.html Thu, 21 May 2026 13:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/12-day-saraswati-antya-pushkaralu-begins-in-telanganas-kaleshwaram-674799.html Hyderabad May 21 Saraswati Antya Pushkaralu began at Kaleshwaram in Jayashankar Bhupalapally district of Telangana on Thursday with Kanchi Math pontiff Sri Shankar Vijayendra Saraswati taking the first holy dip State Endowments Minister Konda Surekha IT and Industries Minister Dudilla Sridhar Babu and his wife and others also took the first sacred bath at 543 amAuthorities expect about 2030 lakh devotees to take part in the 12day holy event being held in Telangana for the first timeSaraswati River is a mystical subterranean stream that merges with the Godavari and Pranahita rivers at Kaleshwaram forming the sacred Triveni Sangam at Kaleshwaram It is one of the only two places in India along with Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh where this confluence occursTaking a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam is believed to wash away sins and free devotees from the cycle of rebirthMLAs Gandra Satyanarayana Rao and Malreddy Rangareddy Endowments Department Commissioner Hanumantha Rao District Collector Rahul Sharma religious advisor Govinda Hari and others also participated in the sacred bath A large number of devotees from various Telangana and other states are taking the holy dipAccording to an official release the district administration has made all arrangements to ensure devotees face no inconvenience All facilities such as security cleanliness drinking water medical services transportation and more have been provided District Collector Rahul Sharma stated that all departments are working in coordination to ensure devotees can perform their Pushkara Snanams comfortably and safely during this auspicious periodEarlier Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy called for the Saraswati Antya Pushkaralu to be observed with devotion and grandeur He stated that the state government has made extensive arrangements for the Saraswati Antya Pushkaralu to be held from May 21 to June 1 The CM has directed officials to ensure that devotees arriving for the Pushkara baths face no difficulties He instructed that traffic control be implemented without hindrance to the devotees movement Given the intense heat he advised devotees to take necessary precautions to protect their health IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/12-day-saraswati-antya-pushkaralu-begins-in-telanganas-kaleshwaram-674799.html Thu, 21 May 2026 13:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/biggest-ever-mass-surrender-in-jharkhand-as-27-maoists-lay-down-arms-674802.html Ranchi May 21 Security forces got major success in Jharkhand on Thursday as they secured the surrender of 27 Maoists marking the largest such collective surrender in the states history The group included 25 Maoists active in the Saranda and Kolhan regions of the state in West Singhbhum district along with two extremists from the banned Jharkhand Jan Mukti Parishad JJMP They laid down arms at the police headquarters in Ranchi in the presence of Director General of Police DGP Tadasha Mishra and senior officials of the police department and CRPFAmong those who surrendered were eight hardcore Maoists carrying cash rewards These included six cadres with a bounty of Rs 5 lakh each one with a reward of Rs 2 lakh and a woman cadre carrying a reward of Rs 1 lakhPolice said the surrendered extremists were involved in 426 serious cases across various police stations in the state These cases include charges of murder attacks on security forces extortion explosions and other armed activitiesDuring the surrender the cadres also handed over a large cache of arms and ammunition including one LMG INSAS four INSAS rifles nine SLRs a boltaction rifle a pistol 31 magazines 2987 live cartridges and eight walkietalkiesOfficials said the continued operations by security forces and the Jharkhand governmentâs surrender and rehabilitation policy played a key role in persuading them to return to the mainstream of societyThose who surrendered include seven subzonal commanders seven area commanders and 13 active cadres of the CPI Maoist Key surrendered Maoists include Gadi Munda alias Gulshan Nagendra Munda alias Prabhat Munda Rekha Munda alias Jayanti Sagen Angaria alias Dokol Suleman Hansda alias Suni Hansda and JJMP member Sachin BekOthers who returned to the mainstream include Darshan alias Binj Hansda Karan Tiu alias Dangur Basumati Jerai alias Basu Baijnath Munda Raghu Kayam alias Guna Kishore Sirka alias Durga Sirka and Ram Dayal MundaAmong the women cadres who surrendered are Vandana alias Shanti Sunita Sardar Sapna alias Suru Kalundia and Anisha Koda alias RaniPolice officials said all surrendered extremists would receive financial assistance and rehabilitation benefits under the state governmentâs policy Additional incentives will also be provided for depositing weaponsSenior officials present at the event included IG Pankaj Kamboj IG Prabhat Kumar IG Sunil Bansal IG Asim Vikrant Minz IG Anoop Birthare IG Mayur Patel Kanhaiyalal DIG Indrajeet Mehta DIG Manoj Ratan Chauthe DIG Kartik S Shailendra Barnwal SSP Rakesh Ranjan SP Harish Bin Juma and SP Saurabh among others IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/biggest-ever-mass-surrender-in-jharkhand-as-27-maoists-lay-down-arms-674802.html Thu, 21 May 2026 13:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/hyderabad-fire-breaks-out-in-shopping-complex-near-charminar-no-casualties-674804.html Hyderabad May 21 A huge fire broke out at a commercial complex near historic Charminar in Hyderabad on Thursday No casualties were reported The incident occurred in a garment shop and spread to adjoining shops on the first floor of SYJ Complex at Pathergatti near the busy Madina CrossroadsEight fire engines rushed to the spot to extinguish the fire Personnel from five different fire stations were mobilised to control the blazeFire services personnel and police brought the fire under control after strenuous efforts for two hoursDeputy Commissioner of Police Charminar Zone Kiran Khare and other senior officials supervised the firefighting operation which prevented the blaze from spreading to other shops Three shops were gutted in the fire Casualties were averted as the fire broke out before the shops opened for the day The complex has several shops banks and diagnostic centres The cause of the fire was not known Police said they were investigatingThe incident occurred a year after a devastating fire in the same area claimed the lives of 17 members of a pearl traderâs familyMeanwhile five shops were gutted in a fire in Telanganaâs Nagarkurnool district late on Wednesday nightThe fire broke out around midnight near Anjaneyaswamy temple in Maddimadugu in Padara mandal Police said the fire was caused by a short circuit Five shops a motorbike and other property were gutted in the blaze In another incident a huge fire erupted on the outskirts of Guntur in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh on ThursdayThe incident occurred at Teachersâ Colony near Inner Ring Road According to police pipelines used for underground drainage works caught fire in the morningMassive flames and dense smoke triggered panic among people in the area Fire services personnel and police rushed to the spot and were trying to douse the fireAccording to locals the pipelines were lying there for a long time due to a court case relating to underground drainage works A heap of garbage had piled up close to the pipelines IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/hyderabad-fire-breaks-out-in-shopping-complex-near-charminar-no-casualties-674804.html Thu, 21 May 2026 13:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/rajasthan-hc-raps-tantrik-based-probe-orders-change-of-investigating-officer-674811.html Jaipur May 21 The Rajasthan High Court has strongly criticised the police investigation into a jewellery theft case in Nagaur district after it emerged that the probe was influenced by a âtantrikâ witch doctor The court observed that a criminal investigation cannot be carried out on the dictates of a tantrik and ordered the removal of the investigating officer within 15 daysThe order was passed by the single bench of Justice Munnuri Laxman while hearing a petition filed by 80yearold petitioner Khemi Devi a resident of Utwalia village under Sri Balaji police station limits in Nagaur district The court directed the Nagaur Superintendent of Police to transfer the investigation from Sri Balaji police station to a subinspector or higherranking officer from another police stationAccording to the petition Khemi Devi had lodged an FIR on March 8 alleging theft of gold and silver jewellery belonging to her and her daughterinlaw from their home on the night of March 7 Her counsel advocate Manohar Singh Rathore told the court that despite being provided with the names of suspected persons the investigating officer Head Constable Ratiram failed to recover the stolen jewellery or identify the accusedThe petition further alleged that instead of relying on evidence the investigating officer resorted to superstition and allegedly visited a tantrik in Alwar district along with the daughterinlawâs father and some village eldersAccording to the petitioner the tantrik allegedly claimed that the daughterinlawâs father was involved in the theft after which the police began treating him as a suspect without any concrete evidence and attempted to frame him in the caseDuring the hearing Public Prosecutor Vikram Singh Rajpurohit appearing for the state government submitted a status report received from the Nagaur Superintendent of Police The report stated that the investigating officer had questioned several suspects and visited multiple places during the investigation While the prosecution denied that villagers had been taken to the tantrik it admitted that the investigating officer had visited the tantrikâs place in Alwar districtAfter examining the status report and hearing both sides Justice Munnuri Laxman observed that there was a possibility the investigation had been influenced or tainted by the tantrikâs opinionsThe court said an independent and impartial investigation was necessary to identify the actual culprits and held that under no circumstances could a criminal investigation be conducted at the behest of a tantrikOn these grounds the High Court ordered the removal of the present investigating officer and directed that the probe be handed over to another officer within 15 days IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/rajasthan-hc-raps-tantrik-based-probe-orders-change-of-investigating-officer-674811.html Thu, 21 May 2026 13:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/kmc-restricts-access-to-birth-death-registration-portal-to-verify-certificates-issued-in-bengal-sir-period-674812.html Kolkata May 21 The birth and death registration portal of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation has been partially closed to verify certificates issued during the Special Intensive Revision SIR period said KMC officials on Thursday Insiders from the KMC said that during the SIR period there was an abnormal rise in the number of applications for backdated birth and death certificates for the purpose of being used as supporting documents in the revision exerciseHowever the sources said the new state government feels that there are high possibilities that the death and birth certificates issued during that SIR period might not be genuine and hence a decision has been taken to reverify them for which the portal has been partially closedExplaining the partial shutdown of the portal an insider from the KMC said that certain options will not be available for some timeâFor now data of the current cases of deaths and births can be uploaded and certificates will be available from the portal However for the time being old birth and death certificates or digital certificates will not be available from that portal At the same time duplicate copies of lost certificates might also not be available from the portal for the time being However the partial closure of the portal will be temporary and soon all the options will be available thereâ the KMC insider saidHowever he admitted that the public might face some problems because of the partial closure of the portal âThe reverification of the certificates issued during the SIR period is also necessary to ascertain whether the certificates issued then were genuine or notâ the KMC insider addedHowever he admitted that following the decision there is confusion among the public who are trying to access old data an option which has been disabled for the time being Due to this altercations between people and KMC employees are breaking out IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/kmc-restricts-access-to-birth-death-registration-portal-to-verify-certificates-issued-in-bengal-sir-period-674812.html Thu, 21 May 2026 13:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pahalgam-terror-attack-probe-pak-sought-propaganda-victory-then-scrambled-to-deny-role-fearing-indias-response-674813.html New Delhi May 21 IANS India has managed to clearly establish a direct Pakistan hand in the Pahalgam attack in which 26 innocent lives were lost After a painstaking probe by the National Investigation Agency NIA it was established that the attack was handled from Lahore by Saifullah alias Sajid Jatt alias Langde a top operative of the LashkareTayibanbspnbspA clear pattern has come to light before and after the terror attack that took place on April 22 2025 in which 26 people were killedInvestigations suggest that Pakistan had thought it would get away with the attack However as the international condemnation grew and India began preparing for a strong response the Pakistanis did not want to have anything to do with the attackAn official explained that it all began with the provocative statements made by Pakistans army chief Asim MunirMunir had said days before the attack during an Overseas Pakistanis Convention that Kashmir is our jugular vein it will be out jugular vein and we will not forget itHe also spoke about the twonation theory and highlighted explicitly the differences between Hindus and MuslimsThis was aimed at ideological division Prior to this he had spoken about war Munir said that three wars had been fought for Kashmir and if need be then ten more would be foughtAn official said that these statements were aimed at inciting violence and it went on to become the platform for the Pahalgam terror attack on IndiaThe official pointed out that the sequence of events post the Pahalgam attack had the Pakistanis worried All of a sudden they wanted to have nothing to do with the attack The NIA describes this clearly in its chargesheet when speaking about The Resistance Front The outfit which is an offshoot of the LashkareTayiba had claimed responsibility for the attack but immediately withdrewThe claim was made on a Telegram channel called Kashmir Fight However when the heat was up and the Pakistanis realised that the Narendra Modi government was planning harsh retaliation The Resistance Front withdrew its statement and claimed that its Telegram channel had been hackedAnother official explained that ideally The Resistance Front would have wanted to tomtom about the attack and its capabilities in Jammu and Kashmir However the outfit was advised by the Pakistani establishment to withdraw that statementAfter having withdrawn the statement the Pakistanis indulged in a false flag narrative It wanted to send out a message that the attack was carried out by someone else and there was no Pakistani link to itAnother key aspect that played on the minds of the Pakistanis was the change of doctrine India said that an act of terror would not be treated as crossborder terror but as an act of war It was clear that despite Asim Munirs tall claims about being ready for ten more wars the Pakistan army was clearly not ready or prepared for a fight with IndiaThis explains the false flag narrative the official added The NIAs probe found that the Telegram channel Kashmir Fight was being operated from Battagram area in Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa KPA second channel called The Resistance FrontOfFcial which was also used to guide the Pahalgam attack was being operated from Rawalpindi according to the probe by the NIAThe mobile phones that were recovered from the Pahalgam attackers who were killed during Operation Mahadev also helped the NIA establish the Pakistan linkOne of the phones was purchased online and sent to an address in Lahores QaideAzam Industrial Estate The second phone was purchased from Karachi the NIA foundThe NIA said that the entire operation was managed staged and handled from Pakistan by Saifullah and this suggests the direct role of the LashkareTayibaThe NIA also identified two Pakistani locals Bashir Ahmed and Parvez who helped the Pakistani terrorists carry out the attack Further the NIA said that on April 15 and 16 the LashkareTayiba sent Faisal Jatt alias Suleiman Habib Tahir alias Chhotu and Hamza Afghani all Pakistanis to carry out a reconnaissance of the Baisaran Valley This helped them understand the security arrangements in the areaThe Pahalgam attack was then carried out on April 22 and during the entire duration of the strike the terrorists were provided real time information that included coordinates and other logistical dataIndia hit back by carrying out Operation Sindoor during which a significant number of terror infrastructure belonging to the LashkareTayiba JaisheMohammad and Hizbul Mujahideen were razed to rubbleIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pahalgam-terror-attack-probe-pak-sought-propaganda-victory-then-scrambled-to-deny-role-fearing-indias-response-674813.html Thu, 21 May 2026 13:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-hc-reserves-order-on-raghav-chadhas-interim-plea-against-removal-of-defamatory-content-674814.html New Delhi May 21 IANS The Delhi High Court on Thursday reserved its order on an interim application filed by Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha seeking the removal of allegedly defamatory and manipulated online content portraying that he sold himself for money after switching from the AAP to the BJPnbspA singlejudge Bench of Justice Subramonium Prasad orally observed that prima facie the content flagged by Chadha appeared to be criticism of a political decision and did not disclose any violation of personality rightsPrima facie there is no personality right involved in this case A decision taken by you in a political arena is being criticised the Delhi High Court remarked during the hearingIt further observed that the distinction between criticism and defamation was quite thin and indicated that the present matter may not warrant interim injunction on the basis of personality rightsJustice Prasad orally remarked that while personality rights protect against unauthorised commercial exploitation of an individuals persona they do not extend to shielding public figures from critique of their political actionsSenior advocate Rajiv Nayar appearing for Chadha contended that certain posts went beyond criticism and were defamatory in nature alleging that they falsely portrayed the MP as having sold himself for moneyThe senior counsel referred to images depicting the Prime Minister showering Chadha with cash and other morphed visualsNayar pressed for interim relief limited to the removal of such content arguing that the material was profane and damaging to Chadhas reputationHowever the Delhi High Court orally remarked that the issue raised may fall within the domain of defamation rather than personality rightsIt is not a defamation suit It is a suit on the basis of personality rights Justice Prasad said while suggesting that Chadha may seek amendment of the plaint if he intends to pursue defamation claimsAfter hearing submissions the Delhi High Court reserved its order on the plea seeking interim reliefChadha had moved the High Court seeking protection of his personality and publicity rights against the alleged unauthorised use and misuse of his name image likeness and identity across online and digital platforms including through AIgenerated deepfake and morphed contentThe plea also sought directions for removal of synthetic voice cloning fabricated speeches and manipulated digital content allegedly circulated after his recent switch from AAP to BJPThe Raghav Chadha case adds to a growing list of highprofile personalities invoking their personality and publicity rights before the Delhi High CourtIn recent months former cricketer and current head coach Gautam Gambhir former cricket captain Sunil Gavaskar spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar actors Arjun Kapoor Allu Arjun Nagarjuna Kajol Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan singer Jubin Nautiyal filmmaker Karan Johar podcaster Raj Shamani and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor have secured or sought court protection against the unauthorised use of their identity likeness or AIgenerated imitationsIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-hc-reserves-order-on-raghav-chadhas-interim-plea-against-removal-of-defamatory-content-674814.html Thu, 21 May 2026 14:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/nationwide-chemists-strike-today-against-online-sale-of-medicines-674594.html New Delhi May 20 Chemists across the country have called for a nationwide strike on Wednesday to protest against online pharmacies and the growing sale of medicines through digital platforms The agitation led by the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists AIOCD is expected to disrupt medicine supply with more than 124 million private medical stores likely to remain closedChemistsâ associations have alleged that several epharmacy platforms are selling medicines without adequate regulatory oversight They claim that prescriptions are often not properly verified and that norms governing the storage and delivery of medicines are not strictly followed raising concerns over patient safety and quality controlThe protesting groups have warned that the unchecked expansion of online medicine sales could increase the risk of counterfeit drugs medication misuse and the unauthorised sale of prescription medicines Pharmacists have flagged issues such as the easy availability of narcotics and Schedule H drugs online without adequate checks which they say is contributing to misuse and societal harmAccording to pharmacy professionals traditional chemists operate under strict provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act which mandate prescription verification and limit the quantity of medicines dispensedIn contrast they claim that epharmacies often lack such safeguardsRavi Kumar associated with the Bihar Chemists and Druggists Association emphasised that uniform regulations should apply to both online and offline pharmacies to ensure patient safetyPrasanna Kumar Singh President of the Bihar Chemists and Druggists Association said that many medicines require strict temperaturecontrolled storage cold chain which is often compromised during online delivery via courier servicesHe warned that such lapses can reduce the efficacy of medicines and in some cases make them harmfulMeanwhile the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana PMBJP Kendras will remain operational ensuring uninterrupted access to medicinesThe decision was taken by the PMBJK Retailer Association which announced on Tuesday that Jan Aushadhi Kendras will continue to function particularly at major hospitals such as AIIMS and Patna Medical College and Hospital to avoid inconvenience to patients IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/nationwide-chemists-strike-today-against-online-sale-of-medicines-674594.html Wed, 20 May 2026 09:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/rajasthan-govt-transfers-17-ips-officers-sps-of-seven-districts-changed-674601.html Jaipur May 20 The Rajasthan government has carried out a major reshuffle in the police department transferring 17 IPS officers and replacing the Superintendents of Police SPs in seven districts The districts affected by the late Tuesday night reshuffle include Chittorgarh Bhilwara DidwanaKuchaman Nagaur Tonk Bharatpur and DausaAs part of the transfers Harendra Kumar Mahawar has been appointed Inspector General IG of the Kota Range a post that had been lying vacant Manish Tripathi has been shifted from Superintendent of Police SP Chittorgarh to SP ATS JaipurDharmendra Singh who was serving as SP Bhilwara has now been appointed SP ChittorgarhSagar previously posted as SP Dausa will take over as the new SP of BhilwaraGyan Chandra Yadav who was serving in the ATS has been appointed SP of DidwanaKuchamanRicha Tomar the outgoing SP of DidwanaKuchaman has been transferred as Commandant of the 11th Battalion of the RAC in DelhiRajesh Kumar Meena has been transferred from SP Tonk to SP Bharatpur while Roshan Meena has been shifted from SP Nagaur to SP TonkPiyush Dixit earlier posted as SP in the ACB Jaipur has now been appointed SP DausaLata Manoj Kumar has been transferred from the post of ADG Civil Rights AntiHuman Trafficking and Community Policing to ADG Community Policing and Public GrievancesKB Vandana who was awaiting posting after returning from central deputation on April 29 has been appointed IG CID Crime Branch JaipurParam Jyoti has been transferred from IG Crime Police Headquarters to IG RAC Jaipur Kaluram Rawat has been shifted from IG Civil Rights and AntiHuman Trafficking to IG TelecommunicationsThe latest reshuffle has seen some officers transferred again within a short span Harendra Kumar Mahawar and Kaluram Rawat had both been transferred earlier on February 23 Similarly Piyush Dixit who was appointed SP in the ACB on March 19 has now been shifted to Dausa within just two monthsShweta Dhankhar has been posted as DIG RAC Jaipur after serving as DIG Civil Rights at Police HeadquartersBhuvan Bhushan Yadav has been transferred from DIG ACB Bikaner to DIG SOG JaipurGordhan Lal Saunkariya has been shifted from SP Law and Order Police Headquarters to SP ACB JaipurAshima Vaswani has been transferred from SP Mavli to ASP Bharatpur CityAdditionally ADG Police Headquarters Hawa Singh Ghumaria has been given additional charge of ADG Civil Rights and AntiHuman Trafficking IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/rajasthan-govt-transfers-17-ips-officers-sps-of-seven-districts-changed-674601.html Wed, 20 May 2026 09:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/youth-shot-dead-in-northeast-delhi-police-suspect-personal-rivalry-674602.html New Delhi May 20 A 22yearold man was shot dead during the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday in the Welcome police station area of northeast Delhi officials said The incident took place near Keshav Chowk where unidentified assailants allegedly intercepted the victim while he was riding a scooter and opened fire at him from close range The deceased has been identified as Amanullah Qureshi a resident of Gurdwara Mohalla in MaujpurAccording to police officials and eyewitness accounts Amanullah was travelling towards Shahdara on his scooter late at night when the attackers who were allegedly waiting near Keshav Chowk targeted himThe assailants fired multiple rounds at the victim seriously injuring him He collapsed on the road soon after the attack The sound of gunfire created panic in the area and drew residents to the spotResidents immediately informed the police about the incident after which Delhi Police personnel reached the scene and shifted the injured man to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital for treatment However doctors declared him dead after examination officials saidThe murder has created fear and tension in the surrounding locality with heavy police deployment made in the area following the incidentDuring the preliminary investigation police indicated that the murder may have stemmed from personal enmity or an old dispute involving the deceased and the attackers However officials said the exact motive behind the crime is still being ascertained and all possible angles are being investigatedPolice teams are examining CCTV footage collected from cameras installed near the crime scene in an effort to identify the accused persons and trace their movements before and after the attackInvestigators are also questioning locals and eyewitnesses who may have seen the assailants or have information related to the incidentOfficials said several empty shell casings were recovered from the spot during the inspection The recovered evidence has been sent to the forensic team for detailed examinationThe body has been sent for postmortem examination and officials said the report is expected to provide crucial details related to the nature of injuries and other aspects connected to the murderAccording to police multiple teams have been constituted to identify and arrest the accused persons involved in the shooting and raids are being conducted at various locationsPolice said that an FIR has been registered at Welcome Police Station under Section 1031 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 27 of the Arms ActOfficials said efforts are underway to arrest the attackers at the earliest and an investigation into the case is continuingFurther details are awaited IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/youth-shot-dead-in-northeast-delhi-police-suspect-personal-rivalry-674602.html Wed, 20 May 2026 09:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/chittorgarh-simmers-at-463-degrees-yellow-orange-alerts-issued-in-18-rajasthan-districts-674603.html Jaipur May 20 Rajasthan continued to reel under an intense heatwave in the last 24 hours with Chittorgarh recording the highest temperature in the state at a scorching 463 degrees Celsius The Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert for severe heatwave conditions in two districts for Wednesday while 16 districts remain under a yellow alert as blistering temperatures and hot nights continue to grip large parts of the state Several districts across Rajasthan witnessed temperatures above 44 degrees Celsius as severe heatwave conditions gripped both western and eastern parts of the state from morning till late eveningAccording to the Meteorological Department nearly all districts of Rajasthan except Sirohi recorded daytime temperatures between 40 and 47 degrees Celsius Northwestern Rajasthan remained the worst affected by the ongoing heatwaveThe Meteorological Department has warned that similar heatwave conditions are likely to persist over northeastern and western Rajasthan for the next three to four days For Wednesday an orange alert for severe heatwave conditions has been issued in two districts while a yellow alert has been sounded for 16 districtsThe capital city Jaipur continued to face heatwave conditions for the second consecutive day The city recorded a maximum temperature of 432 degrees Celsius while the minimum temperature remained unusually high at 313 degrees Celsius making Jaipurâs night hotter than even desert cities like Barmer and Jaisalmer The Meteorological Department described the conditions as a âwarm nightâ indicating little overnight relief from the heatSimilar weather conditions are expected to continue in Jaipur for the next two to three daysAmid the severe heat special arrangements have been made at Jaipur Zoo where water sprinklers have been installed inside the Emu enclosure to protect animals from rising temperaturesUdaipur witnessed marginal relief compared to Monday though temperatures remained high The city recorded a maximum temperature of 417 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 256 degrees Celsius on Tuesday compared to 433 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius respectively a day earlier Despite the slight dip strong sunshine and hot winds continued to trouble residents with roads and markets appearing largely deserted during the afternoon hoursAjmer also continued to battle intense heat with the maximum temperature reaching 418 degrees Celsius and the minimum temperature settling at 293 degrees Celsius Officials said hot winds are now being felt even during nighttime hours as the gap between day and night temperatures narrows The Meteorological Department has forecast dry weather conditions in the Ajmer division for the coming week accompanied by strong winds of 20 to 30 kilometres per hourTo provide some relief from the heat the Fire Brigade deployed water tankers to sprinkle water on roads across the cityThe entire Shekhawati belt including Sikar remained under severe heatwave conditions Residents continued to face scorching heat and hot winds for the sixth consecutive daySikar recorded a maximum temperature of 435 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 259 degrees Celsius Roads and marketplaces wore a deserted look during peak afternoon hours as people stepped out only with their faces coveredThe weather department has predicted dry conditions in the region for the next four days with no immediate relief expectedJodhpur recorded a daytime maximum temperature of 43 degrees Celsius on Tuesday Humidity added to public discomfort while the Meteorological Department issued a heatwave alert for the city for the next three days IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/chittorgarh-simmers-at-463-degrees-yellow-orange-alerts-issued-in-18-rajasthan-districts-674603.html Wed, 20 May 2026 09:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/downpour-eases-tn-heatwave-five-districts-brace-for-heavy-showers-674605.html Chennai May 20 Rainfall across Chennai several districts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry brought muchneeded relief to residents after days of intense summer heat with people welcoming the sudden change in weather conditions The India Meteorological Department IMD has meanwhile forecast heavy rainfall in five districts Coimbatore Nilgiris Theni Erode and Dindigul over the next two daysAfter residents in Chennai experienced sweltering heat during the day weather conditions changed dramatically by evening as several parts of the city received rain Areas including Nungambakkam Kodambakkam Vadapalani Koyambedu and Saidapet witnessed showers that brought down temperatures and created a cooler atmosphere much to the delight of residentsRain was also reported from Chennaiâs suburban regions including Kelambakkam Padur and Thiruporur where motorists and commuters were caught in the downpour while travelling during peak evening hoursNeighbouring Tiruvallur district and surrounding areas such as Thirupachur Pandur Kuppammal Chathiram Siruvanur and Pullarambakkam also experienced rainfallWaterlogging was reported in certain stretches of the ChennaiTirupati highway due to the sudden showers In Chengalpattu district widespread rainfall was recorded in several localities including Singaperumal Koil Maraimalai Nagar Thiruporur and Thirukazhukundram Similar weather conditions prevailed in Krishnagiri district where areas including Kaveripattinam Bargur Allapatti and Kundarapalli witnessed a sudden shift from hot weather in the morning to cooler conditions after evening rainfallPuducherry also received widespread rain accompanied by thunder and lightning for nearly half an hour in areas such as Lawspet Muthialpet Uzhavarkarai Korimedu Bahour Usudu Mannadipet and ThirukanurDespite the rain in many regions intense heat conditions continued in some locations Tiruttani recorded the highest temperature at around 40 degrees Celsius while places including Chennai Meenambakkam Nungambakkam Vellore Erode Madurai Airport and Tiruchy also experienced high temperaturesAccording to the Meteorological Department an upperair cyclonic circulation persists over south coastal Andhra Pradesh and adjoining regions while a trough extends from the Lakshadweep area to south coastal Andhra PradeshThe weather system is expected to trigger heavy rainfall in parts of western Tamil Nadu over the next two days Chennai is likely to witness partly cloudy skies with continued hot and humid conditions IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/downpour-eases-tn-heatwave-five-districts-brace-for-heavy-showers-674605.html Wed, 20 May 2026 09:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/unity-move-in-aiadmk-as-efforts-begin-to-bridge-palaniswami-shanmugham-rift-674607.html Chennai May 20 Even as AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami EPS called for unity during a meeting of district secretaries parallel efforts appear to be underway within the party to reconcile differences between him and the dissident faction led by senior leader CVe Shanmugam amid concerns that continued infighting could weaken the party further Party sources said a section of senior leaders has initiated attempts to reduce tensions between the EPS camp and Shanmugamâs group believing that prolonged internal divisions would only benefit political rivals and hurt the AIADMKâs prospects in the long term However the extent of progress made in these efforts remains unclearThe developments come at a time when Shanmugam has reiterated his demand for an early meeting of the partyâs General Council to discuss crucial issues including the AIADMKâs repeated electoral setbacks in recent yearsThe informal meeting of district secretaries on Tuesday convened by Palaniswami witnessed some unexpected developments Though it was originally scheduled to be held at his residence the venue was shifted at the last minute to the AIADMK headquartersLeaders loyal to EPS claimed that the majority of the partyâs 82 district secretaries attended the meeting while the rival camp insisted that a considerable number of officebearers stayed awayFormer minister and senior leader D Jayakumar was among the notable absenteesThe AIADMK headquarters later stated that some district secretaries who could not attend had conveyed reasons for their absenceAccording to party sources Palaniswami used the meeting to explain the partyâs electoral performance and reassure district secretaries including newly appointed functionaries that AIADMK had previously overcome difficult political phases and returned to power despite severe electoral setbacksMeanwhile Shanmugam held separate consultations with supporting MLAs and officebearers at his office Speaking to reporters afterwards he said his camp was ready for dialogue but stressed that the General Council should be convened at the earliestâWe are ready for discussions but the General Council meeting should be convened at the earliest Our aim is to strengthen and unify the AIADMK by bringing back leaders who were expelled and those who drifted away from the partyâ Shanmugam saidHe also claimed that Palaniswami had so far removed 31 district secretaries from their positionsIn the latest organisational reshuffle former MLA Elambai R Thamizhselvan was removed as Perambalur district secretary on Tuesday evening IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/unity-move-in-aiadmk-as-efforts-begin-to-bridge-palaniswami-shanmugham-rift-674607.html Wed, 20 May 2026 09:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/passengers-hail-redevelopment-of-assams-majbat-railway-station-under-amrit-bharat-scheme-674609.html Guwahati May 20 Majbat Railway Station in Assamâs Udalguri district has been comprehensively redeveloped under the Centreâs Amrit Bharat Railway Station Scheme Passengers expressed happiness over the upgraded facilities and credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the transformation Equipped with modern infrastructure enhanced passenger amenities digital services and an upgraded architectural design the revamped station is likely to be inaugurated by the Prime Minister in the coming daysThe redeveloped station now includes several upgraded facilities aimed at improving passenger convenience and travel experience Key additions include a modern station building spacious circulating and parking areas a newly constructed Foot Over Bridge FOB for easier access between platforms and improved waiting halls for passengersPassengers speaking to IANS appreciated the transformation of the station and praised the Centre for introducing modern facilities such as airconditioned waiting rooms better seating arrangements and improved drinking water facilitiesA passenger said the condition of the station had improved significantly compared to earlier yearsâCompared to before more seating arrangements have been provided Clean drinking water filters have been installed Fans and other facilities have been arranged which are much better than before Cleanliness at the station has also improved a lot compared to earlierâ the passenger saidAnother commuter highlighted the newly built infrastructure and additional services introduced at the station under the redevelopment projectâA new building a new entrance gate and a newly developed platform have been built at Majbat Railway Station Additionally lifts WiFi facilities and other things have been brought in to redevelop this station New trains will also stop here After PM Modi came to power the city has seen significant development compared to earlier Our tourism has increased the businessmen here are happy because they are able to sell their products more efficiently and people are also getting several other benefitsâ the passenger told IANSAnother passenger remarked that the railway station has undergone a complete transformation and credited the Prime Ministerâs initiatives for the changesâThe station looks very beautiful and has become very modern Facilities have improved from every side Business has improved There are lights lifts and every kind of facility It has become like an airport I credit PM Modi for all these initiativesâ he saidA local also said that the redevelopment would bring longterm benefits to the town and improve overall connectivity and convenience for travellersâThe station has developed a lot Earlier there were not so many facilities but now there are many facilities including proper drinking water Compared to before it is much more developed now Now we are very happy it will benefit the city a lotâ another passenger saidThe redevelopment of Majbat Railway Station forms part of a larger national initiative to modernise railway infrastructure across the country Under the Amrit Bharat Railway Station Scheme 50 railway stations in Assam are being redeveloped with a focus on passenger convenience improved accessibility and modern facilitiesThe initiative also includes provisions for free WiFi services upgraded passenger information systems executive lounges and cleanliness improvements while simultaneously promoting local businesses through the âOne Station One Productâ initiativeThe Amrit Bharat Station Scheme is currently reshaping railway infrastructure across Assam and the wider northeast region under the jurisdiction of the Northeast Frontier RailwayA total of 92 railway stations have been identified for redevelopment within the Northeast Frontier Railway zone out of which 60 stations are being upgraded under the scheme These include 50 stations in Assam four in Tripura and one station each in Sikkim Meghalaya Arunachal Pradesh Manipur Mizoram and Nagaland IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/passengers-hail-redevelopment-of-assams-majbat-railway-station-under-amrit-bharat-scheme-674609.html Wed, 20 May 2026 10:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/greater-chennai-corporation-plans-biometric-attendance-system-to-ensure-full-duty-hours-for-employees-674613.html Chennai May 20 The Greater Chennai Corporation GCC in Tamil Nadu is planning to introduce a comprehensive biometric attendance system for its employees in an effort to improve workplace discipline and ensure staff complete their mandatory eighthour work shifts The move comes in response to repeated complaints regarding employees not reporting to work on time and concerns over attendance monitoring particularly among fieldlevel staff Corporation officials said complaints had surfaced from various zones with the Ambattur zone witnessing recurring allegations involving conservancy sanitary inspectors and irregular attendance patternsThe proposed system is expected to strengthen accountability and improve the monitoring of employee work schedules across the civic body According to GCC records the Corporation currently employs 36381 workers including 12960 permanent employees and 23421 contract staff membersGiven the size of the workforce and the nature of operations spread across multiple zones and departments officials believe a technologydriven attendance system could help streamline administration and enhance efficiencyGCC Commissioner GS Sameeran confirmed that preliminary discussions had been held regarding the feasibility of introducing biometric attendance for all categories of employeesHe stated that the proposal is still at an early stage and that detailed plans would be finalised only after further assessment of implementation requirements and operational progressAs part of the proposed framework employees may be required to record their attendance twice a day once at the beginning of their shift and again at the end of the workday Officials involved in field inspections and outdoor duties could also be brought under a mobilebased attendance mechanism integrated with geofencing technology Such a system would capture the employeeâs photograph and location details while marking attendance enabling authorities to verify field presence in real timeFormer GCC Commissioner J Kumaragurubaran said discussions on introducing facerecognition attendance systems had already taken place and that a mobile application for field staff attendance had been developed earlierEmployee unions however claim similar systems introduced in the past were not implemented effectively and have raised concerns about enforcement gaps At present biometric attendance is operational only for administrative staff at the Ripon Building while several senior officials remain exempt from the system IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/greater-chennai-corporation-plans-biometric-attendance-system-to-ensure-full-duty-hours-for-employees-674613.html Wed, 20 May 2026 10:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/onion-farmers-will-make-you-cry-tomorrow-shiv-sen-674622.html Mumbai May 20 The Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray UBT on Wednesday accused the Maharashtra government of apathy towards the onion growers who are reeling under financial stress due to a sharp fall in prices The party said that regardless of the season the onion growers in the state are perpetually left in tears Sometimes unseasonable rains and severe hailstorms snatch the harvest right out of their hands and at other times even when they manage a bumper harvest the governments sheer incompetence forces them to sell their produce at throwaway prices or dump it on the streets it saidThe Thackeray camp in an editorial in the partys mouthpiece Saamana said that the states onion farmers find themselves pushed to the brink once again While onion production has been excellent market prices have plummeted relentlessly The current price offered for onions fails to even cover the basic cost of production yet the government remains characteristically indifferent As a result the crop that farmers cultivated with immense hardship has turned into a lossmaking venture it saidThe editorial referred to the recent announcement of the onion procurement price of Rs 1235 per quintal made by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at a programme in Satara in the presence of Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan âHowever leave aside profit this price does not even cover the cost of production making this rate nothing but a mockery of the farmers The government should have determined the procurement price keeping various factors in mind Instead the government has forced a decadeold rate onto the farmers To add to this the government has hiked fuel prices for the second time which will further increase onion transportation costsâ claimed the editorialOn the international front the Gulf War has led to a drop in onion exports causing an oversupply in the domestic market State agencies however lack the capacity to manage and clear such a massive influx of onion stock These compounding factors have triggered a continuous collapse in onion prices stated the editorial highlighting the severity of the crisisâInstead of reining in this downward spiral the ruling administration has reduced farmers to a state where they are forced to sell their onions for a meagre Re 1 per kilogram In a poignant protest against this injustice Sudhakar Sultane a farmer from Marathwada mailed a letter a onerupee coin and a single onion to the Chief Minister Yet this thickskinned government remains completely unmovedâ remarked the editorialThe Thackeray camp said that three years ago while serving as the Deputy Chief Minister Fadnavis had promised a guaranteed rate of Rs 2410 per quintal Where has that promise vanished today Why is Fadnavis now stubbornly sticking to a mere Rs 1235 per quintal Since there are no immediate elections looming in the state the ruling politicians evidently feel no urgency to wipe away the tears of these farmers These are the same rulers who artificially freeze fuel price hikes during Assembly elections in five states purely for political mileage only to burden the public with heavy losses the moment voting concludes Expecting such politicians to provide a fair price and compensate the losses of ordinary onion growers is entirely unrealisticâ commented the editorialThe Uddhav Thackerayled Shiv Sena claimed that due to the governments neglect Maharashtras onion growers are trapped in a vicious cycle âIf they store the harvest it rots if they sell it it goes for dirtcheap prices Today the government has brought tears to their eyes and refuses to even bother wiping them away But the ruling administration must remember one thing tomorrow these very onion farmers will undoubtedly bring tears to your eyesâ it warned IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/onion-farmers-will-make-you-cry-tomorrow-shiv-sen-674622.html Wed, 20 May 2026 11:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/from-red-bastion-to-cong-led-treasury-bench-sudhakaran-becomes-kerala-pro-tem-speaker-674632.html Thiruvananthapuram May 20 In a politically loaded moment that underlined Keralaâs dramatic change of guard veteran legislator and former CPIM strongman G Sudhakaran was on Wednesday sworn in as a legislator of the 16th Kerala Legislative Assembly by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at the Lok Bhavan Present on the occasion were Chief Minister VD Satheesan and his cabinet colleaguesSudhakaran was nominated by the state cabinet on Monday as the Protem Speaker who was once among the most influential faces of the CPIM in south KeralaNow an Independent backed by the Congressled UDF has instantly become one of the most discussed political developments following the emphatic defeat suffered by the Left in the Assembly electionsThe 75yearold twotime former minister and a seasoned tactician during Left rule Sudhakaran had contested from his traditional Ambalapuzha constituency after openly rebelling against the CPIM leadershipFollowing his decision to enter the fray as an Independent the Congressled UDF threw its weight behind him turning the election into a prestige battleHis victory was later viewed in political circles as both a personal comeback and a symbolic rejection of the CPIM leadershipâs handling of senior leadersAs Protem Speaker Sudhakaran will administer the oath of office to the remaining 139 newly elected MLAs when the Assembly convenes on ThursdayHis tenure however will last only till the election of the new Speaker on FridaySenior Congress leader Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan is set to be elected Speaker with the numbers overwhelmingly stacked in favour of the ruling frontThe UDF currently commands 102 seats in the Assembly while the Left Democratic Front has been reduced to 35 membersThe BJP has opened its account with three seatsBut beyond the procedural formalities all eyes are now on the conduct of the CPIM legislators inside the House when Sudhakaran occupies the Speakerâs chairThe development carries unmistakable political irony for the party which had expelled him after he chose to contest against its official lineFor many observers Thursdayâs Assembly session promises more than a routine swearingin ceremony it will also serve as the first visual reminder of Keralaâs sharply altered political landscape IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/from-red-bastion-to-cong-led-treasury-bench-sudhakaran-becomes-kerala-pro-tem-speaker-674632.html Wed, 20 May 2026 11:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/tamil-nadu-class-10-results-declared-9431-pc-pass-674634.html Chennai May 20 Tamil Nadu has recorded an impressive overall pass percentage of 9431 in the Secondary School Leaving Certificate SSLC Class 10 board examinations for the academic year 202526 according to results announced by the Directorate of Government Examinations DGE on Wednesday More than nine lakh students who appeared for the crucial public examinations across the state can now access their marks through multiple channels introduced by the governmentThe SSLC examinations were conducted between March and April at examination centres across Tamil Nadu with lakhs of students appearing for one of the most significant milestones in their academic journey The declaration of results brings relief and excitement to students and parents after weeks of anticipationStudents can check and download their provisional marksheets through the official result portals including tnresultsnicin dgetngovin digilockergovin and umanggovinTo access their marks online candidates are required to enter their registration number along with their date of birth in the designated fields on the websites Education authorities advised students to keep their hall ticket details ready before logging in to avoid delays and ensure a smoother process while accessing the resultsWith a large number of students expected to visit the websites simultaneously officials have urged students and parents not to panic in case of temporary delays due to heavy trafficApart from online facilities students can also obtain their examination results directly from the schools where they studied School administrations across the state have been instructed to assist students and parents in accessing and verifying results without inconvenienceThe government has also made arrangements for delivering examination results through SMS services to ensure broader accessibility School students will receive result updates on the mobile phone numbers submitted to their respective schools while private candidates will receive notifications on the numbers provided during their online registration processOfficials from the School Education Department said multiple result access options had been introduced to reduce server congestion and ensure that students across urban and rural regions receive their results quickly and conveniently The department added that the measures are aimed at providing a seamless experience during one of the busiest result declaration days of the academic year IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/tamil-nadu-class-10-results-declared-9431-pc-pass-674634.html Wed, 20 May 2026 11:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-hails-global-appeal-of-indian-classical-dance-after-five-italian-women-perform-674638.html New Delhi May 20 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that it was wonderful to see Indian dance forms drawing global interest as he shared a video of five Italian women performing Kuchipudi Bharatanatyam and Kathak to welcome him in Rome during his visit to ItalynbspPM Modi took to social media X and said Five Italians passionate about Indian dance Svamini Atmananda Giri Ms Martina Meenakshi Argada Ms Lucrezia Maniscotti Ms Valeria Vespaziani Ms Rosella Fanelli performed Trigalbandi which included Kuchipudi Bharatanatyam and Kathak It is wonderful to see Indian dance forms drawing global interestArtist Martina Argada spoke to IANS and said He told us the performance was excellent We are very thankful to the Indian Embassy in Rome for giving us the opportunity to perform in front of the Indian Prime MinisterKathak artist Rosella Fanelli said It was very nice for me and for my friends We were waiting for a long time so the emotions were very high I consider this opportunity a very nice experience and I hope we can meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in IndiaMeanwhile PM Modi also visited the Colosseum in Rome along with his Italian counterpart Giorgia MeloniThe Colosseum is the largest ancient amphitheatre ever built situated in the historic centre of Rome It was completed in 80 AD under the Flavian dynastyThis iconic elliptical structure made of stone and concrete could accommodate up to 80000 spectators who came to watch gladiatorial contests and public spectaclesItalian PM Giorgia Meloni warmly welcomed Prime Minister Modi to Italy as he arrived in Rome on Tuesday night local time for the final leg of his fivenation tourExtending a personal greeting to the Indian Prime Minister Meloni posted on X Welcome to Rome my friend underlining the close rapport between the two leadersEarlier PM Modi also attended a dinner hosted by Italian PM Giorgia MeloniHe also shared pictures from the dinner in a post on XPM Modi said he is looking forward to holding talks with Meloni during which they will continue discussing how to strengthen IndiaItaly friendshipUpon landing in Rome had the opportunity to meet Prime Minister Meloni over dinner followed by a visit to the iconic Colosseum We exchanged perspectives on a wide range of subjects Looking forward to our talks today where we will continue the conversation on how to boost the IndiaItaly friendship PM Modi posted on XPM Modi is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with PM Meloni and meet President Sergio MattarellaPrime Minister Modi also shared details of his arrival saying he had landed in Rome for an official visit aimed at strengthening ties between the two countries The Prime Minister is scheduled to meet Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday at the historic Villa Doria Pamphili where both leaders are expected to adopt a joint declaration to further deepen the IndiaItaly strategic partnershipIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-hails-global-appeal-of-indian-classical-dance-after-five-italian-women-perform-674638.html Wed, 20 May 2026 13:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/vp-radhakrishnan-cm-dhami-pay-final-respects-to-bc-khanduri-in-dehradun-674648.html Dehradun May 20 IANS Vice President CP Radhakrishnan on Wednesday paid final respects to former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Major General Retd Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri in Dehradun calling him an extraordinary leader whose contributions leave a lasting legacyMaj Gen Khanduri passed away in Dehradun on Tuesday at the age of 91 The final rites will be held in Haridwar later in the day with full state honoursIn a statement VP Radhakrishnan said Paid heartfelt tributes to former Union Minister and former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Major General B C Khanduri Ji at his residence in Dehradun todayHe will be remembered as an extraordinary leader a distinguished soldier and a veteran administrator who devoted his life to the service of the nation and its people whose contribution to improving connectivity and strengthening Indias road infrastructure remains a lasting legacy he addedSeveral other leaders including Uttarakhand Governor Lt Gen Gurmit Singh and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also paid their final respects to the veteran BJP leader at his Basant Vihar residence in DehradunIn a post on X CM Dhami said For me revered Khanduri Ji was not merely a senior leader but a guardian source of inspiration and guide His affection discipline simplicity dedication to national service and work style will forever remain a source of inspiration The values guidance and ideals imparted by him in public life are an invaluable legacy for meLater the mortal remains of Maj Gen Khanduri were brought to the state BJP office for the people and party workers to pay their final respectsThe revered Khanduri ji made significant contributions to the service of Mother India while in the Army Thereafter he chose the path of public service through the Bharatiya Janata Party making national interest and social service his lifes mission His disciplined life simple personality and dedication to public welfare will forever remain an inspiration to us all CM Dhami said in another post on XHis passing is an irreparable loss to the BJP family His fearlessness sharp leadership abilities and unwavering commitment to principles in political and public life will continue to serve as a source of inspiration for us all he addedBhuwan Chandra Khanduri was born on October 1 1934 in DehradunA former Army officer who transitioned into politics Maj Gen Khanduri served two terms as the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand first from 2007 to 2009 and second from 2011 to 2012 steering the states administrationFrom 1954 to 1990 spanning a full 36 years he served in the Corps of Engineers of the Indian Army During this long tenure he served as a Regimental Commander participated in the 1971 IndiaPakistan War held the position of Chief Engineer in the Army and served as the Additional Military Secretary at Army HeadquartersnbspIn 1982 he was conferred the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal AVSM by the President of India in recognition of his exceptional services The discipline simplicity and integrity that had become ingrained in his very being during his time in the Army eventually became the defining characteristics of his political identity as wellHe was introduced to the world of politics during the Ram Mandir movement in the 1990s at which time he joined the BJPIn 1991 he entered Parliament for the first time after winning the Lok Sabha election from the Garhwal constituency Subsequently he continued to win from this very seat in 1998 1999 and 2004During Atal Bihari Vajpayees tenure he served as the Minister of State Independent Charge for the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways from 2000 to 2003 subsequently in 2003 he was elevated to the rank of Cabinet MinisterFollowing the 2004 Lok Sabha elections he transitioned from parliamentary politics to statelevel politicsIn February 2007 he led the BJP to victory in the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly elections and on March 8 2007 he assumed office as the states Chief MinisterDuring his tenure as the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand he took stringent measures against corruption and laid the foundation for a transparent and disciplined administration within the stateIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/vp-radhakrishnan-cm-dhami-pay-final-respects-to-bc-khanduri-in-dehradun-674648.html Wed, 20 May 2026 14:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/adani-green-energy-to-develop-2-250-mw-pumped-storage-project-in-andhra-pradesh-674650.html Amaravati May 20 Adani Hydro Energy Eleven Ltd AHE11L part of the diversified Adani Green Energy will develop the 2250 MW Gandikota2 Pumped Storage Project PSP in YSR Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh The state government approved the allocation of the project to AHE11L which is expected to further strengthen the stateâs position as Indiaâs emerging clean energy and energy storage hub said an official release on WednesdayThe project to be developed by the Adani Group under the Andhra Pradesh Integrated Clean Energy Policy 2024 is expected to become one of the largest pumped storage projects in the country and a key pillar of Andhra Pradeshâs nextgeneration power infrastructure strategy The approval was accorded following clearance by the State Investment Promotion Board SIPB chaired by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu The Gandikota2 PSP will be developed at the Lord Balaji Donthi Kona PSP Park in YSR Kadapa district The project is expected to significantly strengthen Andhra Pradeshâs renewable energy balancing and storage capabilities while supporting the stateâs rapidly growing ecosystem of green hydrogen advanced manufacturing electric mobility and AIdriven data centresGlobally pumped storage projects are increasingly viewed as the backbone of renewableheavy power systems enabling stable roundtheclock clean energy by storing surplus solar and wind power during offpeak hours and releasing it during peak demand periods said the releaseIndia is witnessing rapid expansion in pumped storage capacity as the country accelerates its transition towards largescale renewable energy integration According to Government of India data Andhra Pradesh has emerged as one of the leading destinations for pumped storage development with a significant pipeline of projects under implementation The Adani Group has also been expanding its national pumped storage portfolio as part of its broader renewable energy and energy transition strategy with projects across multiple states including Andhra Pradesh Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh Andhra Pradesh has already emerged as a major destination for Adani Groupâs clean energy investments including pumped storage and renewable energy infrastructure projects Industry experts view largescale storage assets such as Gandikota2 as critical enablers for Indiaâs future energy economy and for supporting energyintensive digital infrastructure such as hyperscale data centresAs part of the approvals the government has sanctioned allocation of 2920 MCM of water for onetime initial filling and 220 MCM annually towards evaporation losses from the existing Gandikota reservoir subject to prevailing guidelines The project will also be eligible for incentives under the Andhra Pradesh Integrated Clean Energy Policy 2024 which targets investments worth nearly Rs 10 lakh crore and aims to generate employment for approximately 75 lakh people across the clean energy value chain The government reiterated that Andhra Pradesh continues to attract some of Indiaâs largest energy and infrastructure investments due to its policy stability fasttrack approvals strong transmission planning and integrated approach towards industrial and clean energy developmentThe Gandikota2 PSP is scheduled to be completed within 72 months IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/adani-green-energy-to-develop-2-250-mw-pumped-storage-project-in-andhra-pradesh-674650.html Wed, 20 May 2026 14:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-issues-notice-on-pil-against-liquor-sold-in-tetra-packs-sachets-674652.html New Delhi May 20 IANS The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Centre and all states on a public interest litigation PIL raising concerns over the sale of alcohol in inconspicuous packaging such as tetra packs PET bottles plastic sachets and other portable containersnbspA Bench of Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi passed the order while hearing a petition filed by an NGODuring the hearing the CJI Kantled Bench orally remarked This is very deceptive after being informed by the petitioners counsel advocateonrecord Vipin Nair that certain alcoholic beverages were being packaged in containers resembling fruit juices complete with fruit imagery and flavoursThe plea seeks formulation of uniform and harmonised guidelines across states to regulate the packaging of liquor contending that divergent definitions under various State Excise Acts allow alcohol to be sold in flasks pots wrappers and other similar receptacles According to the petition alcohol is increasingly being sold in portable and inconspicuous packaging such as tetra packs plastic sachets and small PET bottles which can be easily concealed and carried in public placesIt argued that such packaging poses various risks including consumption by juveniles drinking in a moving vehicle health risks increased ease of smuggling ease of public consumption and environmental risksThe plea further highlighted that these products are often marketed using fruit names and colourful designs making them deceptively similar to nonalcoholic beverages and consequently increasing their appeal particularly among younger consumersSuch packaging being deceptively similar to fruit juices facilitates easy access and concealment encourages underage consumption promotes public drinking and drunk driving the petition statedIt added that unlike tobacco products these alcohol packs do not carry prominent health warnings with any cautionary messages being printed in small barely visible textThe petitioner organisation which has been campaigning against drunken driving and underage drinking for over two decades contended that the absence of uniform regulation has resulted in states prioritising revenue considerations over public health and safetyThe plea referred to provisions under different state excise laws including those in Uttar Pradesh Punjab Maharashtra Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh which define bottle and bottling in broad terms to include receptacles such as sachets wrappers flasks packets and similar containersSeeking intervention of the apex court the petition prayed for uniform and harmonised guidelines governing liquor packaging across the country while keeping public health road safety and environmental concerns in mindSeeking intervention of the top court the petition has prayed for directions to the Union and states to adopt a uniform definition of bottle restricted to clearly identifiable containers and to frame guidelines keeping in view public health road safety and environmental concernsIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-issues-notice-on-pil-against-liquor-sold-in-tetra-packs-sachets-674652.html Wed, 20 May 2026 14:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/vijay-led-tvk-govt-likely-to-expand-cabinet-tomorrow-674655.html Chennai May 20 The C Joseph Vijayled Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam TVK government is preparing for its first Cabinet expansion on Thursday with the exercise emerging as a crucial political balancing act aimed at addressing alliance expectations regional representation and internal party dynamics Sources indicated that the final round of consultations on the ministerial list is nearing completion ahead of a likely swearingin ceremony scheduled for Thursday morningGovernor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar who is currently holding additional charge is expected to arrive in Chennai on Wednesday evening to oversee the formalities related to the expansionAccording to sources within the ruling establishment the government is likely to accommodate alliance partner Congress in the expanded CabinetTwo Congress legislators have emerged as leading contenders for ministerial positionsDespite speculation surrounding possible Cabinet berths for members of the AIADMK faction led by CVe Shanmugam and SP Velumani sources indicated that the ruling leadership has stepped back from such a move following strong opposition from alliance partners including Congress Left parties and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi VCKA senior minister speaking on condition of anonymity said there had never been any formal discussion regarding the induction of AIADMK legislators into the Cabinet and clarified that their support during the Assembly confidence vote was merely political support extended on the floor of the HouseSources close to the government also revealed that legal advisers and alliance partners had warned against taking politically sensitive decisions that could potentially create instability at the beginning of the governmentâs tenureMeanwhile intense lobbying has reportedly begun within the TVK with several firsttime MLAs and influential party functionaries pushing for representation in the CabinetThe expansion is also expected to address the absence of ministers in more than 20 key government departments including Higher Education Revenue Transport and Social WelfareSeveral other portfolios such as Agriculture Housing and Urban Development Tourism Information Technology Labour Welfare Fisheries and Environment continue to remain without formally appointed ministersSecretariat sources said some departments are currently functioning under informal supervision by existing ministers with officials already reviewing files and holding discussions pending formal portfolio allocations IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/vijay-led-tvk-govt-likely-to-expand-cabinet-tomorrow-674655.html Wed, 20 May 2026 14:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/criminal-injured-during-encounter-with-police-in-samastipur-third-encounter-in-last-three-days-in-bihar-674657.html Patna May 20 The crackdown on criminals in Biharâs Samastipur district is intensifying with police carrying out another major operation in the early hours of Wednesday During an encounter between police personnel and a wanted criminal notorious accused Prince Kumar sustained a bullet injury to his leg and was subsequently arrestedAccording to police sources authorities received confidential information that Prince Kumarâallegedly involved in several robbery and snatching cases across the districtâwas hiding in the area along with his associatesActing on the tipoff a police team launched an early morning raid around 3 AM to apprehend himPolice officials stated that Prince Kumar allegedly opened fire after realising that he had been surroundedIn response the police retaliated in selfdefence During the exchange of fire Prince Kumar was shot in the leg and collapsed on the spot after which officers took him into custodyInvestigators say the accused had been linked to multiple incidents of robbery snatching and other criminal activities in the district and police had been searching for him for a long timeAuthorities are now trying to gather more information about his criminal network and identify his accomplicesFollowing the encounter the injured accused was admitted to Sadar Hospital in Samastipur under heavy police security where he is undergoing treatmentSenior police officials have so far refrained from issuing a detailed statement regarding the incidentHowever the operation is being viewed as a significant success in the districtâs ongoing campaign against organised crimeThis was the third incident of an encounter in the last three daysEarlier on Tuesday Patna Police as part of the campaign popularly referred to as âOperation Langdaâ conducted a halfencounter in the Gopalpur police station areaThe operation took place in Udayini village along the PatnaâMasaurhi roadAccording to Patnaâs Senior Superintendent of Police SSP Kartikeya Sharma one accusedâidentified as Nitish Kumar the alleged mastermindâwas shot in the leg during the exchange of fire while three others were arrested from the spotSiwan police carried out a similar half encounter of an accused involved in the robbery at a gold merchantâs outlet in the district on Monday IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/criminal-injured-during-encounter-with-police-in-samastipur-third-encounter-in-last-three-days-in-bihar-674657.html Wed, 20 May 2026 14:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/telangana-official-sent-to-judicial-custody-in-disproportionate-assets-case-674662.html Hyderabad May 20 An ACB court on Wednesday sent a top official of Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board to judicial custody for 14 days in a Disproportionate Assets case The AntiCorruption Bureau ACB which registered a case against SA Laxmi Kumar and arrested him on Tuesday produced him before the courtAfter the court remanded him to judicial custody he was shifted to Chanchalguda Central PrisonLaxmi Kumar General Manager Engg Project DivisionVIII Red Hills HMWSampSB was booked after assets of over Rs588 crore were found during searches at premises linked to himAccording to the ACB he acquired assets disproportionate to his known sources of income by indulging in corrupt practices and dubious means during his serviceAs this is an offence punishable under Section 13 1 b and 12 922 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 as amended in 2018 searches were conducted on May 1 at his residence and eight other places belonging to his relatives friends benamis and other associates the ACB said in a releaseThe antigraft agency stated that during the searches documents relating to 18 acres agricultural land in Nizamabad and Sangareddy six open plots three flats and one house in Hyderabad were foundFurther during the searches net cash of Rs110 crore gold ornaments weighing 21 kg and silver articles weighing 92 kg were also found in the accused officerâs house the ACB said Further one Maruti Ritz car one Bajaj motor bike all assets worth Rs 58855490 were foundâThe market value of movable and immovable property may be many times higher than the document valueâ said the releaseFurther verification of additional assets is underway The case is under investigation it addedACB officials conducted simultaneous searches at eight locations since early morningOne of the teams conducted searches at his residence at Mallapur The officials were seen counting cash and sealing gold ornaments silver items and other valuables They were also checking documents relating to properties at various places in Hyderabad and other districts IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/telangana-official-sent-to-judicial-custody-in-disproportionate-assets-case-674662.html Wed, 20 May 2026 14:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/khalistan-networks-replicate-mumbai-underworld-model-groom-juveniles-for-low-cost-high-success-attacks-674664.html New Delhi May 20 The crime landscape in Punjab is fast changing with terror groups and criminal networks deploying new strategies almost daily to disrupt law and order While the larger push that is being made is for a separate Khalistan nation these syndicates at play are carrying out low intensity explosions to keep the state on the boil The Khalistan networks are also trying to replicate the Mumbai underworld model of grooming juveniles for lowcost highsuccess attacks The police and Intelligence agencies have stated that the target audience is the youth and these gangsterterror networks are taking advantage of the massive drug problem in the state to undertake recruitmentsHowever a particular area of concern that has now come to light is that these syndicates are largely targeting juveniles to be part of their network In recent weeks these networks have even recruited boys who are in their 12th standard to undertake attacksAn Intelligence Bureau official said that these criminal and terror syndicates are using the various loopholes in the law and hence are targeting juveniles As per the intercepts that the agencies have picked up there are several mentions made by the recruiters to spot juveniles and rope them into their networksThe law defines a juvenile as any person under the age of 18 Children above the age of 7 who commit heinous offences are tried by the Juvenile Justice Board The trial is also held depending on the childâs mental capacities and the circumstances of the crime These persons have the right to anonymity under the Juvenile Justice Care and Protection of Children Act 2015Another official explained that the Khalistan terror networks are replicating what the underworld in Mumbai did several years back In addition to all these safeguards these juveniles enjoy under the law they also have the advantage of not coming under the scanner of the law enforcement agenciesA school or college going boy hardly ever is a suspect and hence they have become the preferred choice for recruitments the officials explainedOfficials say that in addition to all these safeguards children of such young ages hardly ask any questions Even their enumerations are not high and this works as an added advantage officials say Moreover they do not even understand the consequences of their actions and with ideology not mattering to them either there is every chance that these persons would get the job done at least 90 per cent of the time the official explainedTake for instance the May 6 case that was reported from Chandigarh A class 12 student was picked up by the police after it was found that he was on his way to Tarn Taran allegedly to carry out a murderHe was operating at the behest of gangsters based abroad He was in contact with gangsters Prabh Dasuwal and Gurvinder Singh alias Afridi Tootawala through the social mediaThe gangster network learnt that he had got into a fight with another person and was looking for revenge The gangsters kept in touch with him and groomed him to commit a murder of a rival of the gangster network investigations foundAn official said that this is one case of where a juvenile was being used to commit a murder of another gangster Hiring such people also brings in the surprise element into an attack as these persons are unassuming and the suspicion levels are very low the official addedThe official added that the push to hire more juveniles is also being done with the aim of them being used to carry out grenade attacks This has been the latest strategy of the ISIbacked Khalistani elements where the modus operandi is to carry out lowcost grenade attacks at strategic locationsA student would be recruited and be asked to carry a grenade in his school bag He would then be instructed to hurl it at a location that is designated by the terror group While doing so the boy would hardly come under scrutiny and hence the chance of the strike being successful is very high the official also explainedIn Punjab a massive push is being made by the ISI to ramp up terror attacks It has over the last couple of years being pushing the Khalistan outfits to carry out strikes in the state and then push for the creation of a separate Khalistan nation carved out of Indiaâs Punjab officials point out IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/khalistan-networks-replicate-mumbai-underworld-model-groom-juveniles-for-low-cost-high-success-attacks-674664.html Wed, 20 May 2026 14:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pragati-2026-12-countries-join-multinational-military-exercise-in-meghalaya-674665.html Shillong May 20 A multilateral military exercise PRAGATI 2026 involving armed forces personnel from 12 friendly nations commenced on Wednesday at the Umroi Military Station in Meghalaya officials said The twoweeklong exercise has brought together participants from Bhutan Cambodia Indonesia Laos Malaysia Maldives Myanmar Nepal the Philippines Seychelles Sri Lanka and Vietnam to strengthen regional cooperation interoperability and strategic coordination among the participating countriesDefence spokesman Lt Col Mahendra Rawat said that the multilateral military exercise âPRAGATI 2026â which stands for partnership of regional armies for growth and transformation in the Indian Ocean Region is being conducted in the spirit of equality friendship and mutual respectThe exercise provides a common platform for participating armies to engage in professional exchange learn from one anotherâs experiences and build closer militarytomilitary ties he saidThe opening ceremony was attended by senior military officials and dignitaries In his address Major General Sunil Sheoran Additional Director General of Infantry Indian Army welcomed all contingents and highlighted the importance of collective engagement in addressing contemporary security challengesHe encouraged all participants to engage with openness mutual respect and a willingness to learn from one anotherâs experiences while highlighting that the strengths and perspectives brought by each nation would contribute meaningfully towards achieving the collective objectives of the exerciseAccording to Lt Col Rawat the objectives of the exercise include enabling seamless coordination among participating nations in joint operations and identifying common areas of cooperation sharing expertise and establishing an institutionalised mechanism for the exchange of best practices evolved through individual experiencesThe exercise is being held to strengthen defence ties and camaraderie through joint training and cultural exchange and evolving common concepts for management and sharing of intelligence in a multinational environmentThe twoweeklong exercise will focus on counterterrorism operations in semimountainous and jungle terrainThe defence spokesman said that the training programme will include joint planning exercises tacticallevel drills and coordinated operations designed to improve adaptability endurance and tactical proficiency of participating troopsEmphasis will be laid on physical fitness discipline and coordination while operating in challenging conditionsAs part of the exercise Indian technology and defence companies will showcase indigenous equipment and innovations under the âAatmanirbhar Bharatâ initiative providing a platform for knowledge exchange and highlighting Indiaâs growing capabilities in defence production innovation and selfreliance the official saidExercise âPRAGATI 2026â is expected to further strengthen militarytomilitary cooperation deepen professional bonds and contribute towards a shared approach to common security challenges among regional partners Lt Col Rawat pointed out IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pragati-2026-12-countries-join-multinational-military-exercise-in-meghalaya-674665.html Wed, 20 May 2026 14:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/third-accused-arrested-in-greater-noida-dowry-death-case-674668.html Greater Noida May 20 A third arrest has been made in the Greater Noida dowry death case after police apprehended the deceaseds husbands cousin officials said on Wednesday The arrested individual has been identified as Vinod the cousin of Hrithik Hrithik is the husband of the deceased 24yearold woman Deepika Nagar A total of three accused individuals Hrithik his father Manoj and Vinod have been arrested in connection with the case so farPolice teams are continuously conducting raids to apprehend the remaining individuals involvedThe incident occurred in Greater Noidas Ecotech3 area in Uttar Pradesh when Deepika died under mysterious circumstances The family of the deceased alleged that this happened due to dowry harassment at the hands of her inlaws A marriage that took place about a year ago with great opulence and grandeur turned tragic as the woman jumped to her death in Jalpura village earlier in the day leaving the local residents alarmed and panicked over the incidentThe deceaseds family members have alleged that it was a dowryrelated murder whereas the polices preliminary investigation suggests the case involves a suicide committed due to distress caused by dowry harassmentAccording to reports Deepikas marriage to Hrithik son of Manoj and a resident of Jalpura village took place with great pomp and grandeur approximately 14 months ago Her family members claim that nearly Rs one crore was spent on the wedding including the cost of a Fortuner carThe family alleges that Deepika was subjected to mental and physical torture ever since the marriage took place and her inlaws continued to demand additional dowryThe postmortem report has revealed a series of external and internal injuries on Deepika Nagars body including a bonedeep wound and spleen rupture indicating that she was under deep trauma before succumbing to injuries With the postmortem report identifying several injury marks on her body the city police will seek to corroborate the autopsy findings with the familys claims to draw a conclusionAccording to the autopsy report several external and internal injuries were found on Deepikas body and she was also under severe trauma triggered by rupture of the spleen and hematoma in the brainDetails of internal injuries suggest a hematoma blood clot condition in the central and left regions of the brain and haemorrhage bleeding while external injuries range from injuries in various body parts to a bonedeep woundThe postmortem report found swelling on her face injuries on her left elbow left forearm and wounds in the lower back and lower abdomen regionA blue pressure markcontusion measuring approximately 38 cm à 14 cm on the right thigh and a bonedeep wound measuring approximately 4 cm à 15 cm on the left knee joint said the reportIt also found bleeding from the left ear and deep abrasion marks on the left side of the chest and abdomenDeepikas parents had given Rs 10 lakh cash a car and several ornaments during the lavish wedding However they claimed that the demands kept increasing and now they were demanding an SUV and Rs 50 lakh in cash IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/third-accused-arrested-in-greater-noida-dowry-death-case-674668.html Wed, 20 May 2026 15:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bengal-govt-launches-major-security-revamp-at-5-kolkata-hospitals-night-patrols-in-place-674669.html Kolkata May 20 The Bharatiya Janata Partyled West Bengal government has initiated a major overhaul of security and infrastructure at five prominent government hospitals in Kolkata with authorities announcing stricter surveillance and tighter access control measures across the facilities The Kolkata Police issued formal directives to the authorities of SSKM Hospital Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College and Hospital RG Kar Medical College and Hospital National Medical College and Hospital and Calcutta Medical College and Hospital to implement the strict protocols immediatelyStrict police surveillance will continue to prevent incidents of damage to government property due to minor disturbances a senior government official stated on Wednesday The official added that individuals causing damage to hospital property will face heavy fines and imprisonment under various legal provisionsOfficials said the security network at the major hospitals would be strengthened significantly Each hospital will now be equipped with wireless communication systems to ensure swift coordination during emergenciesSuperintendents and principals of the medical colleges and hospitals will remain in direct contact with local police stations divisional control rooms and Lalbazar the headquarters of the Kolkata PoliceThe government has also directed hospitals to enhance fire safety preparedness Fire extinguishers and hydrants will remain ready for immediate use while hospital authorities have been asked to maintain close coordination with the fire department Joint night patrols involving police personnel and private security staff will also be introduced on hospital campusesAccording to officials the number of security guards at all five hospitals is being increased Strict checks will now be enforced at hospital entry points with visitors and attendants subject to screening before entering the premisesAuthorities said unrestricted movement inside hospitals would no longer be allowed Relatives of patients will be permitted only during designated visiting hours while the entry of outside vehicles into hospital campuses will also be restrictedA comprehensive database of private security guards ambulance operators and other hospitallinked personnel is expected to be prepared within the next monthThe administration has also moved to curb illegal parking inside hospital compounds Except for vehicles belonging to patientsâ families doctors and healthcare workers no other vehicles will be allowed within the premises Officials added that areas outside the main hospital gates would be made hawkerfree while helpline numbers for doctors nurses and patients would be prominently displayed across the campuses IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bengal-govt-launches-major-security-revamp-at-5-kolkata-hospitals-night-patrols-in-place-674669.html Wed, 20 May 2026 15:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/andhra-pradesh-governor-cm-pay-tribute-to-prakasam-pantulu-on-death-anniversary-674671.html Amaravati May 20 Andhra Pradesh Governor S Abdul Nazeer and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday paid tributes to Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu who served as the premier of the Madras Presidency and the first Chief Minister of Andhra State on his death anniversary The Governor said Prakasam Pantulu was a fearless freedom fighter visionary leader and a symbol of courage and integrity Popularly known as âAndhra Kesariâ he dedicated his life to the service of the nation and the welfare of the peopleHis sacrifices patriotism and commitment towards democratic values continue to inspire future generations Governor Abdul Nazeer saidChief Minister Chandrababu Naidu also paid tributes to Prakasam Pantulu âTanguturi Prakasam Pantulu Garu was a symbol of the courage adventures and selfrespect of the Telugu people He was a great soul who lived solely for the people with unwavering patriotism honesty and dedication On the occasion of Prakasam Pantulu Garus death anniversary let us remember the services of that noble leaderâ Chandrababu Naidu saidFormer chief minister and YSR Congress Party president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy paid floral tributes by garlanding the portrait of Prakasam Pantulu at the partyâs central office at Tadepalli âA symbol of courage an alter ego of integrity and an immortal emblem of public service the great leader Andhra Kesari Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu Garu He was a valiant hero who stood unflinchingly against the oppression of British rulers offering his chest to their bullets without fear The path he treaded for the rights of the people and the upliftment of society remains an eternal source of inspiration for todays generations On the occasion of Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu Garus birth anniversary today we remember his services and pay our homageâ Jagan Mohan Reddy said in a post on âXâMinister for Human Resources Development and Information Technology Nara Lokesh also paid tributes to Praksam Pantulu âOn the occasion of the death anniversary of the prominent freedom fighter and the first Chief Minister of Andhra State Shri Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu I offer my profound respects to the memory of that great soul Shri Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu was a person who dedicated his life to the nation He stands as a symbol of courage and valor public service and patriotism His services from the freedom struggle to the formation of the state are unforgettable Let us all rededicate ourselves to realizing the ideals of Shri Tanguturi Prakasam Pantuluâ Lokesh posted on âXâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/andhra-pradesh-governor-cm-pay-tribute-to-prakasam-pantulu-on-death-anniversary-674671.html Wed, 20 May 2026 15:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/gujarat-completes-221-crore-cubic-metres-of-earthwork-in-three-years-surpassing-target-674673.html Gandhinagar May 20 The Gujarat government has completed 221 crore 22137 lakh cubic metres of earthwork over the last three years to strengthen reservoirs and increase water storage capacity across the state exceeding its original target for the period Water Resources and Water Supply Minister Ishwarsinh Patel said on Wednesday The work was undertaken between 202223 and 202425 through government machinery under the Water Resources Department as part of annual special drives aimed at strengthening irrigation systems and extending irrigation facilities to farmers at the tailend of canal networksAccording to the government the department had planned to complete 203 lakh cubic metres of earthwork during the threeyear period but achieved 22137 lakh cubic metres insteadThe department had established a new milestone under the guidance of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel by surpassing the target Patel saidThe minister said the works were carried out to improve the strength of reservoirs and increase water storage and watercarrying capacity in canalsStructural improvement and maintenance activities were also undertaken across approximately 123 lakh square metres covering a total length of 4223 kilometresThe operations included the removal of unwanted vegetation such as bushes and shrubs growing on dams canals lakes and channels across the state during the last three years he saidA total of 1474 sites were completed during the period with an average of 88 to 96 government machinery deployed for the workâThe completion of this campaign has increased the strength of the stateâs reservoirs as well as the lifespan and water carrying capacity of canalsâ Patel saidThe department also undertook deepening and desilting work in reservoirs canals rivers check dams streams channels and lakesCleaning maintenance and restoration of canal and drainage systems removal of obstructions affecting floodwater flow and emergency floodrelief operations were also carried out through the use of modern heavy earthmoving machineryPatel said Offices functioning under the Irrigation Mechanical Circles of Vadodara and Ahmedabad played an important role in maintaining and improving irrigation infrastructure across different regions of the state using the irrigation departmentâs heavy machineryHe said major works included conservation and strengthening of reservoirs maintenance of canals rivers and drainage systems strengthening of earthen embankments and bunds prevention and improvement of salinity ingress and construction of cofferdams as part of specialised engineering activitiesâTo complete this campaign the departmentâs entire staff and labourers remained engaged day and night despite geographical challenges and adverse weather conditionsâ the minister saidHe added that the Irrigation Mechanical Department would continue modernisation and technologybased works in the coming years and expressed confidence that Gujarat would move further towards becoming a watersurplus state IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/gujarat-completes-221-crore-cubic-metres-of-earthwork-in-three-years-surpassing-target-674673.html Wed, 20 May 2026 15:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/centre-ready-for-in-principle-approval-for-hyderabad-metro-phase-ii-kishan-reddy-674674.html Hyderabad May 20 Union Minister for Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy said on Wednesday that the Centre has no objections for inprinciple approval to Hyderabad Metro PhaseII project He stated that the Centre is prepared to proceed on a costsharing basis wherein the Central and Telangana governments contribute equally Kishan Reddy stated this after meeting Union Minister for Urban Development Manohar Lal Khattar in New Delhi on WednesdayThey jointly conducted a review of various key projects currently underway in Hyderabad city under the aegis of the Union Ministry of Urban DevelopmentThe two Central ministers discussed several important issues related to urban development infrastructure sanitation and public transportationThey also discussed the Phase II project of the Hyderabad Metro In light of the State government having already taken over operations from LampT Khattar stated that the Central government would comprehensively examine the Detailed Project Report DPR and other technical specifications pertaining to the remaining PhaseII works and subsequently take a decisionKishan Reddy said in a statement that the Centre has no objection for inprinciple approval to Hyderabad Metro PhaseII project and that it is prepared to proceed on 5050 cost sharing basis with the Telangana governmentNoting that the State government has already submitted proposals for the PhaseII Metro expansion covering a stretch of 162 kms Khattar revealed that the Central government would give these proposals positive consideration and initiate further necessary actionsAccording to Kishan Reddy Manohar Lal Khattar shared key details regarding the sanitation of the Musi River in Hyderabad He stated that as part of the Central governments AMRUT 20 scheme a total of 39 Sewage Treatment Plants STPs have been sanctioned to treat the sewage flowing into the Musi River with the total cost of these projects amounting to â¹3975 croreKhattar further revealed that these 39 STPs will have the capacity to treat 972 million litres of sewage per day He noted that this initiative will not only prevent untreated wastewater from flowing directly into the Musi River but will also contribute significantly to the conservation of the river and the improvement of sanitation within the cityKishan Reddy said Khattar clarified that the Central government is extending its full cooperation towards the development of Hyderabad city and the provision of improved infrastructure facilities for its citizensKishan Reddy thanked him on behalf of the people of Hyderabad IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/centre-ready-for-in-principle-approval-for-hyderabad-metro-phase-ii-kishan-reddy-674674.html Wed, 20 May 2026 15:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/heatwave-grips-north-india-temperatures-cross-45-degrees-celsius-imd-issues-red-orange-alerts-674716.html New Delhi May 20 IANS Severe heatwave conditions continued to intensify across Delhi and several parts of North India on Wednesday with temperatures crossing 45 degrees Celsius in many areas of Rajasthan Haryana Punjab and Uttar Pradesh prompting the India Meteorological Department IMD to issue red and orange alerts in multiple statesnbspAccording to the IMD the ongoing heatwave is likely to persist over the next few days severely impacting normal life across the regionnbspIn Delhi scorching heat and hot winds made outdoor movement difficult during the afternoon hours as several areas recorded temperatures above 45 degrees CelsiusUttar Pradesh remained among the worstaffected states In Varanasi residents struggled with extreme heat as the mercury touched 4546 degrees Celsius Locals were seen using umbrellas and cotton cloths to shield themselves from the blazing sunnbspA local resident told IANS There is extreme heat in Varanasi and the temperature is soaring up to 4546 degrees Celsius People are using umbrellas and cotton clothes to cover their headsnbspAnother resident advised tourists and devotees to avoid venturing out during the afternoon hoursTourists and devotees should avoid going out in the afternoon Either step out in the evening or in the morning because theres a risk of falling sick the local saidHamirpur district is also witnessing severe heatwave conditions with residents complaining that this years summer is harsher than previous yearsnbspThis time the heat is much more intense than last year One does not feel like stepping out of the house a local resident saidnbspIn Noida authorities have stepped up medical preparedness amid rising cases of heatrelated illnesses A special heat stroke cool room has been established at the district hospital with separate beds reserved for heat stroke patients and additional doctors deployed on alert dutyIn Ghazipur Medical College Principal DrThenbsp Anand Mishra said a dedicated 10bed heatwave ward has been set up in view of temperatures ranging between 41 and 45 degrees Celsius and increasing heatwave alertsnbspBanda district in Uttar Pradesh also remained in the grip of severe heatwave conditionsnbspIn Rajasthans Kota extreme heat has started affecting both people and livestock Municipal officials said arrangements such as water sprays and coolers are being provided in gaushalas to protect animals from the scorching temperaturesChandigarh also reeled under intense heat IMD Director Surinder Paul said heatwavelike conditions are expected to continue for at least the next 48 hoursnbspHaryanas Rohtak recorded the highest temperature in the state at 469 degrees Celsius while Punjabs Faridkot registered 47 degrees Celsius he saidnbspHill states too are witnessing unusual heat conditions In Himachal Pradesh the Meteorological Department issued heatwave alerts for Kangra and Solan districts for Wednesday and ThursdayUna remained the hottest place in the state with a temperature of 434 degrees Celsius which was 45 degrees above normal Shimla also recorded the seasons highest temperature at 294 degrees CelsiusnbspIn Jammu and Kashmirs Rajouri district severe heatwave conditions disrupted daily life and livelihoods Medical experts advised people to stay hydrated and avoid exposure to direct sunlight during peak afternoon hoursnbspAuthorities across North India have urged citizens to remain indoors during peak daytime hours drink sufficient water and take precautions to avoid heatstroke and dehydration https://dailyworld.in/national/heatwave-grips-north-india-temperatures-cross-45-degrees-celsius-imd-issues-red-orange-alerts-674716.html Wed, 20 May 2026 20:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/india-italy-agree-to-expand-bilateral-trade-to-20-billion-euros-by-2029-674717.html Rome May 20 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday agreed to leverage the IndiaEU Free Trade Agreement to expand bilateral trade to 20 billion euros by 2029 according to a joint statement after their talksnbspThe leaders took note of the renewed momentum in bilateral economic and commercial ties growing investments and efforts to build longterm collaborations In this context they welcomed the exchange of three Business Forums last year They also met select Italian and Indian CEOs representing sectors such as defence digital energy transition infrastructure and logistics the joint statement saidBoth leaders agreed to leverage the opportunities from the IndiaEU Free Trade Agreement and called for its early implementation it saidnbspThe leaders also expressed satisfaction with growing engagements between researchers and scientific institutions from both countries They welcomed ongoing collaboration between the Italian Space Agency and the Indian Space Research Organisation and efforts to strengthen commercial space collaboration They also called for greater collaboration in the fields of AI semiconductors critical minerals and other cuttingedge technologies synergising Indias talented workforce and Italys technological prowessBoth leaders expressed their keen desire to build connectivity infrastructure through concrete projects and reaffirmed their commitment to the implementation of the IndiaMiddle EastEurope Economic Corridor IMEC according to the statementnbspThey welcomed the signing of MoUs between India and Italy on cooperation on the development of the National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal Gujarat and on the recruitment of nurses from IndiaBoth leaders acknowledged the valuable contribution of the Indian diaspora in Italy and agreed to facilitate mobility of students researchers and academia They agreed to celebrate 2027 as the Year of Culture and Tourism between India and ItalynbspPrime Minister Modi thanked Prime Minister Meloni for the warm hospitality extended by the Italian government and people and invited her to visit India at a mutually convenient timenbspThe two leaders also welcomed the signing of the Joint Declaration of Intent in the defence sector an Industrial Roadmap for collaboration in codesign codevelopment and coproduction of defence products https://dailyworld.in/national/india-italy-agree-to-expand-bilateral-trade-to-20-billion-euros-by-2029-674717.html Wed, 20 May 2026 20:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/nhrc-chief-cautions-state-rights-panels-against-exceeding-jurisdiction-674561.html New Delhi May 19 NHRC Chairperson Justice V Ramasubramanian cautioned State Commissions against exceeding their jurisdiction underlining the need to avoid duplication of cases and improve information sharing an official said on Tuesdayâ Addressing a daylong virtual conference of the State Human Rights Commissions SHRCs along with Special Rapporteurs and Special Monitors Justice Ramasubramanian said that while courts have expanded the scope of fundamental rights human rights institutions must remain guided by the definition under the Protection of Human Rights ActâHe said that maintaining jurisdictional clarity would reduce unnecessary litigation and enable Commissions to deliver more effective highquality serviceâJustice Ramasubramanian urged SHRCs to digitise their operations and join the common integrated HRCNet portal with the National Human Rights Commission NHRC expressing hope for closer collaboration and future inperson engagements among the CommissionsâNHRC Members Justice Dr Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi Vijaya Bharathi Sayani Secretary General Bharat Lal DG I Anupama Nilekar Chandra and senior officers were presentâJustice Sarangi described the interaction between the NHRC and SHRCs as an important initiative to strengthen coordinationâHe called for better communication and coordination between them to ensure effective implementation of orders and timely delivery of benefits to persons in distress particularly in sensitive matters such as custodial deathsâSayani urged SHRCs to increase field visits and engage more with affected communitiesâShe said that coordination between SHRCs and NHRC Special Monitors and Special Rapporteurs may strengthen institutional effectiveness She also highlighted the initiative of the Karnataka government to display SHRC contact details for public assistanceâSecretary General Bharat Lal highlighted that in the last 5 years 428 lakh complaints have been received out of which major complaints fall in different categories Police related violations 18 per cent organised exploitation by mafias 174 per cent service matters â nonpayment of pensionssalary 6 per cent violations of womenâs rights 58 per cent conditions in jails and prisons 35 per cent Workers rights violations 22 per cent health related violations 2 per cent human rights violations in educational institutions 2 per cent child rights violations 17 per cent among othersâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/nhrc-chief-cautions-state-rights-panels-against-exceeding-jurisdiction-674561.html Tue, 19 May 2026 18:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/rg-kar-rape-amp-murder-case-calcutta-hc-directs-cbi-to-seal-all-hospital-areas-that-may-be-linked-to-crime-674568.html Kolkata May 19 The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI to immediately seal all the areas in the staterun RG Kar Medical College amp Hospital that may be linked with the ghastly rape amp murder of a junior woman doctor there in August 2024 A division bench of Justice Shampa Sarkar and Justice Tirthankar Ghosh which had been recently assigned the matter at the end of its first hearing specially directed the agency to ensure that the seal of the seminar room within the hospital premises where the body of the victim was detected in the morning of August 9 2024 remained intactIt also directed the CBI to seal other suspected sports within the hospital premises like the office and chamber of the then Principal Sandip Ghosh who is already tainted both in the rape amp murder case as well as the multicrore financial irregularities in the said medical college amp hospitalDuring the hearing on Tuesday on the petition by the family members of the victim seeking permission to visit the scene of the crime the division bench asked the CBI counsel whether the seminar room was still in a sealed condition or the seal had been removedWhen the CBI counsel informed the court that the seal was still there the counsel of the victimâs family informed the court that the office and chamber of Ghosh had not been sealed Thereafter the division bench again questioned the CBI counsel whether the investigating officials of the central agency did not feel it necessary to seal spots other than the seminar room for the sake of proper investigationIt directed the CBI to immediately seal all the suspected spots within the hospital premises that might have links with the tragedy The next hearing in the matter had been scheduled on May 21After the previous division bench headed by Justice Rajasekhar Mantha recused from hearing the matter on May 12 observing that this important case needs to be heard quickly the Calcutta High Courtâs Chief Justice Sujoy Paul on May 15 referred the matter to the division bench of Justice Sarkar and Justice Ghosh IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/rg-kar-rape-amp-murder-case-calcutta-hc-directs-cbi-to-seal-all-hospital-areas-that-may-be-linked-to-crime-674568.html Tue, 19 May 2026 19:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/people-must-deliver-final-blow-to-drug-abuse-jampk-l-g-674569.html Srinagar May 19 JampK Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday urged the people to strike the final blow to drug abuse so that the people and the administration together dismantle the narcoterror network and save the younger generation from addiction JampK LG joined the peopleâs movement against drugs in Pulwama and addressed citizens urging them to intensify the fight against drug abuse and work collectively to dismantle the narcoterror networkHe said the past month had witnessed an awakening of public spirit across Jammu and KashmirâIn Baramulla I saw thousands raising their voices against drugs Similarly in Jammu Samba Udhampur Kathua Srinagar and other districts I saw young people and parents resolutely committed to this fightâ the JampK LG saidHe said that over the last 39 days across different districts of Jammu and Kashmir neighbours had become each otherâs support and the longstanding silence surrounding the issue had begun to breakAccording to the JampK LG that silence had now turned into a loud collective outcry against drugsâOur fight is against a vast narcoterror network fuelled by fear greed and destruction In Pulwama alone more than 11000 local events have been organised in recent daysâ he saidHe added that First Information Reports had been registered against 48 drug smugglers and 56 drug traffickers had been arrested saying these figures showed that authorities were striking directly at the roots of terrorThe JampK LG said that for many decades drug smuggling in Jammu and Kashmir had been treated merely as a local crime but people must now realise that drug smugglers and terrorists were âtwo sides of the same coinââDrug smugglers profit by destroying the futures of our youth and terror outfits use that money to fuel terrorism and radicalisation in Jammu and Kashmirâ he saidHe added that every deal made by a drug peddler not only wrecked a young life but also financed the killing of innocent citizensâWhen drug smugglers earn money our youth lose their future and that money arms terrorists against innocents in Jammu and Kashmirâ the JampK LG saidReaffirming his resolve the JampK LG said the administration would remove drug smugglers and peddlers from the soil of Jammu and KashmirHe warned the narcoterror ecosystem that it could no longer hide and said law enforcement agencies were actively pursuing those involvedâWe will hunt you down even in your deepest hideouts Our mission is not just arrests but the complete destruction of the narcoterror empire and tearing out the very roots from which this poison spreadsâ he saidIt is pertinent to mention that since April 11 about 897 drug smugglers and peddlers have been arrested while recommendations have been made to cancel the passports of 18 traffickersAdditionally the driving licences of 382 traffickers and peddlers and the registrations of 386 vehicles have been cancelled 49 immovable properties have been seized and 45 properties have been demolishedAcross both the Jammu and Kashmir divisions nearly 5045 drug stores have been inspected Licences of 225 drug stores have been suspended licences of 27 stores have been cancelled and First Information Reports have been registered against six storesFrom April 11 until now 393000 programmes have been held throughout Jammu and Kashmir with millions participating in awareness and outreach activitiesTo strengthen groundlevel monitoring and rehabilitation 6646 village womenâs committees and 2997 youth clubs have been formed across Jammu and Kashmir to block drug trafficking and ensure rehabilitation of those trapped by addictionThe JampK LG said more than 100 helpline calls were being received daily and over 52000 patients had so far received treatment at addiction treatment facilitiesâAs this 100day campaign advances we must fuel its momentum Stay vigilant Stay unitedâ he saidHe urged the people of Jammu and Kashmir to remember that stopping one peddler saved a life and every life saved weakened terror in the ValleyâTogether we will break addictionâs chains in Jammu and Kashmir end terrorism and light up our streets homes and future A month ago we dreamed of a drugfree Jammu and Kashmir Today we are proving it is realâ the JampK LG said IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/people-must-deliver-final-blow-to-drug-abuse-jampk-l-g-674569.html Tue, 19 May 2026 19:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/andhra-pradesh-waqf-board-set-to-receive-records-from-telangana-674572.html Amaravati May 19 Records about Waqf properties in Andhra Pradesh are set to be handed over to the state from Telangana a senior official said on Tuesday The records are with the Waqf Board of the combined Andhra Pradesh located in Telangana and their transfer has been pending for more than a decadeAndhra Pradesh Waqf Board Chairman Shaik Abdul Aziz said progress had been made towards resolving the longpending issue regarding the records which had remained stalled for 10 yearsHe said the positive development came after the intervention of Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu and Minister for Minority Welfare NMD FarooqAccording to Abdul Aziz the Waqf Board has also initiated measures to secure outstanding funds in addition to the recordsFollowing the bifurcation of the combined Andhra Pradesh in 2014 key records files survey forms districtwise gazettes copies of Board resolutions and other vital documents pertaining to the Andhra Pradesh Waqf Board had remained under the jurisdiction of the Telangana Waqf BoardAlthough the Waqf Act 1995 along with the bifurcation guidelines formulated by the Central Government mandated the transfer of all records asset details and associated funds relevant to Andhra Pradesh to the Andhra Pradesh Waqf Board the process had failed to gain momentum over the last several yearsAbdul Aziz stated that upon assuming responsibilities as Andhra Pradesh Waqf Board Chairman he treated the matter as a top priority He said he personally met the Chairman of the Telangana Waqf Board and devoted special attention to the issueHe further stated that he held multiple meetings with the Chief Executive Officer and other senior officials of the Telangana Waqf Board and actively pursued the matter through official correspondenceAccording to Abdul Aziz Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Minister Farooq took special cognisance of the issue He said they not only intervened at the appropriate levels but also extended exceptional cooperation towards resolving the problemHe noted that it was due to their intervention that rapid progress on the matter became possibleDescribing it as a welcome development Abdul Aziz said that as a result of continuous followups highlevel official discussions and administrative efforts the Telangana government had finally issued orders through a memorandum to the Hyderabad District Collector to release the records room and hand it over to the Chief Executive Officer of the Telangana State Waqf BoardHe informed that the Telangana Waqf Board currently holds a total of 2971 files eight Survey Commissioner report books and three gazettes pertaining to the Andhra Pradesh Waqf BoardHe stated that the Andhra Pradesh Waqf Board would take custody of the records once the records room was vacated and the records handed over to the Telangana Chief Executive OfficerHe added that official teams had already been dispatched on behalf of the Andhra Pradesh Waqf Board to expedite the process of identifying inventorying and taking custody of the recordsHe emphasised that these crucial records are indispensable for the protection of Waqf properties the management of legal cases the verification of surveys and the uploading of details onto the Central Governmentâs UMEED portalHe revealed that measures are currently underway to recover not only the records but also the outstanding cash balances deposits and other financial assets due to the Andhra Pradesh Waqf BoardHe noted that the outstanding cash balances deposits and other financial dues owed to the Andhra Pradesh Waqf Board amount to Rs 555 crore IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/andhra-pradesh-waqf-board-set-to-receive-records-from-telangana-674572.html Tue, 19 May 2026 19:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/rajasthan-can-meet-rising-critical-mineral-demand-g-kishan-reddy-674574.html Jaipur May 19 Union Minister for Mines and Coal G Kishan Reddy on Tuesday said Rajasthan possesses vast reserves of critical minerals and has the potential to meet the growing demand from strategic sectors such as defence energy agriculture solar power and automobiles He said the state is rapidly emerging as a major hub for critical minerals driven by proactive policies scientific mining practices and a favourable investment climateReddy was speaking during a review meeting of the Department of Mines and Coal held on Tuesday at the Chief Ministerâs Residence in JaipurThe Union Minister said the countryâs mining sector had witnessed comprehensive reformsâThe Central Governmentâs policies focused on improving the ease of doing business have accelerated exploration auctioning and production activities in the critical minerals sectorâ he saidAccording to Reddy Rajasthan possesses vast reserves of critical minerals and has the potential to meet growing demand from sectors such as defence energy agriculture solar power and automobilesHe added that the state was making rapid progress in the mining sectorâScientific mining practices investorfriendly policies and transparent governance have helped create a favourable investment climate positioning Rajasthan as a major mining hub in the countryâ the Union Minister saidReddy stressed the need for close coordination between the Central and State Governments to resolve miningrelated issues within a fixed timeframe and to promote investment and productionDetailed discussions were also held on matters related to the energy sector including the Coal IndiaRajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited joint venture solar energy projects auction of critical mineral blocks District Mineral Foundation funds environmental and forest clearances speedy operationalisation of mineral blocks and ongoing geological and mineral exploration activities in the stateChief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma stated that Rajasthan ranks among the countryâs leading mineralrich states and possesses immense potential in the mining sectorThe state is endowed with 82 mineral types of which 57 are currently being minedHe said the State Government was prioritising transparency policy reforms and infrastructure development in the mining sectorSharma directed officials to hold regular meetings in coordination with the Central Government to resolve miningrelated issues and ensure that all mining projects are completed within the stipulated timeframeHe said the Siwana Ring Complex spread over nearly 725 square kilometres in Barmer and Balotra districts is a geological structure comprising circular and semicircular igneous rocksRare Earth Elements and Heavy Rare Earth Elements have been identified in the Siwana Ring Complex and Siwana Granite formationsAccording to Sharma the region is strategically important to the modern technology and clean energy sectorsThe Chief Minister directed officials to appoint a nodal officer to ensure the effective implementation of initiatives related to the Siwana Ring ComplexHe also instructed the Mines Department and the concerned District Collectors to coordinate with Central Government officials to accelerate work on the projectSharma urged the Central Government to share information regarding sites identified and explored by the Geological Survey of India within the stateHe said this would help ensure that land identified for conservation purposes is not later allotted for other usesThe Chief Minister also directed officials to expedite processes for environmental and forest clearances emphasising that mineral blocks that have already been auctioned should commence production at the earliestSharma further instructed the Mines Department to conduct regular review meetings and formulate action plans for mining activities to prevent future bottlenecks and avoid duplication of workDuring the meeting Additional Chief Secretary for Mines and Petroleum Aparna Arora gave a presentation on the State Governmentâs policies related to the mining and petroleum sectors along with issues concerning the Central GovernmentChief Secretary V Srinivas and senior officials from the Central and State Governments were also present during the meeting IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/rajasthan-can-meet-rising-critical-mineral-demand-g-kishan-reddy-674574.html Tue, 19 May 2026 19:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ups-shahi-chief-mufti-backs-cm-yogis-order-says-offering-namaz-on-roads-against-islam-674576.html Aligarh May 19 Shahi Chief Mufti of Uttar Pradesh Maulana Chaudhary Ifraheem Husain on Tuesday came out in support of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths statement that offering namaz on public roads should not be allowed The Muslim religious leader asserted that such a practice is against Islam Addressing an event on Monday Chief Minister Yogi said that religious gatherings involving a large number of people should be conducted in an organised manner at designated places and if required in shifts to avoid overcrowding and disruptionDefending the UP CMs statement Hussain said CM Yogis statement that namaz should not be offered on roads is absolutely correct in terms of IslamFurther he said According to Islam namaz should not be offered at any disputed or public placesRoads are meant for commuters People of all religions commute through the roads and especially ambulances pass through them Therefore one should be careful that namaz is not offered at such places he addedHe reiterated Muslims should not do it Its against IslamThe religious leader referred to a recent Allahabad High courts judgment which held that the right to practise religion does not extend to converting private premises into an unregulated congregational spaceHe said According to the courts order the decision implies for all religions without any biasThe court had dismissed a plea seeking permission and police protection for offering regular namaz at an alleged private property in Uttar Pradeshs Sambhal districtUPs Shahi Chief Mufti further responded to claims that functions of other religions do take place on roads like Kanwar Yatra and Holika Dahan and jagratasThere is a difference between Kanwar Yatra and namaz The latter is offered while sitting and when one is at peace while Kanwar Yatra is a procession Both of them cannot be compared he saidEarlier the Uttarakhand Madarsa Education Board Chairman Mufti Shamoon Qasmi also expressed support for Chief Minister Adityanaths remarks saying that those who claim to represent the Muslim community often lack a proper understanding of Islamic teachings IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/ups-shahi-chief-mufti-backs-cm-yogis-order-says-offering-namaz-on-roads-against-islam-674576.html Tue, 19 May 2026 19:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/kumaraswamy-accuses-ktaka-govt-of-suppressing-farmer-suicide-cases-674581.html Bengaluru May 19 Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel and Janata Dal Secular leader HD Kumaraswamy on Tuesday alleged that the Congress government in Karnataka had deliberately suppressed farmer suicide cases in the state and accused it of celebrating governance achievements while farmers continued to die in distress Addressing reporters at the Janata Dal Secular state office JP Bhavan in Bengaluru Kumaraswamy cited National Crime Records Bureau data and claimed that 2423 farmers and agricultural labourers died by suicide in Karnataka in 2023 while another 2971 deaths were reported in 2024âIn just two years 5394 farmers have lost their lives Karnataka stands second in the country in farmer suicide cases Is the government unaware of these figures or is it intentionally suppressing themâ he questionedKumaraswamy said he was shocked after reading a newspaper report highlighting the rise in farmer suicides and criticised the state government for allegedly ignoring the issue while organising large public conventionsâI expected the government to wake up after such reports appeared in newspapers Instead it is busy holding celebration conventions with no concern for farmersâ welfareâ he allegedTargeting the Congress governmentâs convention in Tumakuru marking three years in office Kumaraswamy accused it of spending crores of rupees extravagantly while farmers were sufferingâThis government has built a tomb over the lives of farmers and is showcasing its grandeur on top of it Farmers are dying every day while the government is celebrating in the name of guarantee schemesâ he saidQuestioning the effectiveness of the state governmentâs welfare guarantees Kumaraswamy asked why farmers were continuing to commit suicide if the schemes were truly successfulHe further alleged that officials were being misused to mobilise crowds for the government eventâThe government itself is bringing people to attend the convention Officials have been given targets to gather crowds because people are not voluntarily attending Congress programmesâ he chargedThe Union Minister also criticised the functioning of the Revenue Department alleging that farmers across the state continued to face serious problems despite the government publicising revenuerelated initiatives during the conventionâThey are now projecting a âLand Guaranteeâ as the sixth guarantee scheme and seeking publicity But the continuing farmer suicides expose the true state of governanceâ he saidResponding to Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumarâs challenge over the proposed Bidadi Township project Kumaraswamy said he was ready for a public debate anywhereâI am prepared for a debate Nearly 3500 people in Bidadi have submitted objections and petitions Farmers are allegedly being threatened by goons and police pressure If the project was genuinely beneficial farmers themselves would have willingly given their landâ he allegedKumaraswamy said the government should act in farmers interests and reconsider the projectThe Janata Dal Secular leader also announced that former Member of Legislative Assembly Akhanda Srinivas Murthy was likely to join the party soonDescribing his visit to Murthyâs residence in Bengaluru earlier in the day as a courtesy visit Kumaraswamy said discussions were held regarding strengthening the party organisationâHe is keen on joining the Janata Dal Secular and we will soon finalise a date for formally inducting him into the partyâ he saidKolar Member of Parliament Mallesh Babu Greater Bengaluru Janata Dal Secular President HM Ramesh Gowda former Legislative Council member Chowdareddy Thoopalli and several other leaders accompanied Kumaraswamy during the visit IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/kumaraswamy-accuses-ktaka-govt-of-suppressing-farmer-suicide-cases-674581.html Tue, 19 May 2026 19:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/jal-shakti-minister-cr-paatil-reviews-studies-on-assam-irrigation-projects-674582.html New Delhi May 19 Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Paatil on Tuesday reviewed the expanding role in externally funded projects including studies on sustainable irrigation development in Assam economic impacts of Brahmaputra water diversion and water management practices in North East India Speaking at the 6th Meeting of the Governing Body of the North Eastern Regional Institute of Water and Land Management NERIWALM an institute under the Department of Water Resources River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Paatil emphasised the importance of scientific water managementHe also shed light on capacitybuilding and greater state engagement to address emerging challenges in the North Eastern Region according to an official statementHe reaffirmed the Ministryâs commitment to strengthening NERIWALMâs role as a centre of excellence in water and land managementA major agenda item included the proposal to establish an Irrigation Field Laboratory and Demonstration Farm to enhance research field demonstrations and the dissemination of irrigation technologies in the regionThe Governing Body also discussed recommendations on scholarship support for MTech and PhD students faculty development strengthening research capabilities and advancing studies in climate and GISbased applications in water resources managementFurther the meeting reviewed findings of a significant study on livelihood challenges faced by erosionaffected families in the Brahmaputra Valley and deliberated on sustainable rehabilitation and livelihood interventions for displaced communitiesThe Governing Body reviewed the instituteâs achievements approved key institutional matters and deliberated on future strategies to strengthen water and land management in the North Eastern RegionThe Governing Body approved the Annual Report and Audited Accounts for FY 2024â25 and appreciated NERIWALMâs continued progress in capacity building research and academic activitiesDuring the year NERIWALM exceeded its training targets by organising 71 training programmes benefitting more than 2800 participants while continuing its specialised MTech and PhD programmes in Water Resource Management IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/jal-shakti-minister-cr-paatil-reviews-studies-on-assam-irrigation-projects-674582.html Tue, 19 May 2026 19:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/jharkhand-congress-seeks-sarna-religion-code-in-census-flags-voter-list-deletions-674583.html Ranchi May 19 The Congresss Jharkhand unit on Tuesday demanded that the Centre implement a Sarna religion code in the ongoing Census to ensure a distinct religious identity for tribal communities Addressing a press conference at the party office here state Congress President Keshav Mahto Kamlesh and CLP leader Pradeep Yadav said that more than 125 crore people in the country follow the tribal Sarna faith but there is no separate code or column for it in the Census formsThey said this is a decadesold demand of tribal communities which continues to be ignored by the Central governmentThe leaders alleged that the Centre does not want to recognise the independent religious and cultural identity of tribal people They asserted that the party will continue to raise the issue of the Sarna religion code both on the streets and in the legislatureRaising concerns over the Special Intensive Revision SIR of electoral rolls the Congress leaders claimed that the names of a large number of voters are being removed across the countryThey alleged that the process could unfairly delete crores of voters affecting democratic rights In Jharkhand too where the Election Commission is set to launch the exercise from June the party said it will closely monitor developmentsThey added that the Congress has already begun activating its organisation down to the booth level in the state to ensure that votersâ names remain on the electoral rollsThe leaders also criticised the Centreâs economic policies and rising inflation Yadav said prices of fuel and essential commodities continue to increase adding to the financial burden on common peopleReferring to the alleged NEET paper leak case the Congress demanded a fair probe by the Central government Yadav said repeated irregularities in the examination system are a matter of serious concern for studentsâ future IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/jharkhand-congress-seeks-sarna-religion-code-in-census-flags-voter-list-deletions-674583.html Tue, 19 May 2026 19:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/kerala-tourism-body-urges-cm-satheesan-to-fast-track-reforms-in-sector-674584.html Kochi May 19 A Kerala tourism body has welcomed the new government led by VD Satheesan while urging it to accord higher priority to the tourism sector through faster infrastructure development policy reforms and improved public amenities Flagging tourism as one of Keralaâs most critical economic drivers the tourism body leaders said the sector contributes substantially to the Stateâs GDP employment generation and tax revenues benefiting stakeholders ranging from hotels and tour operators to tourist guides taxi drivers and small businesses dependent on visitor trafficKerala Travel Mart Society KTM Society president Jose Pradeep stressed that despite improvements in road connectivity across the State the absence of clean and accessible public toilets continues to remain a major challenge particularly along major tourist routes leading to destinations such as Munnar and WayanadTourists he noted are often forced to rely on hotel facilities due to the lack of public infrastructureCalling for a more ambitious tourism vision KTM suggested that instead of fragmented microlevel initiatives the government should focus on developing landmark tourism projects in each district on the lines of the Muziris Heritage Project Jatayu Earth Centre and Sargaalaya Kerala Arts and Crafts VillageThe industry body also advocated publicprivate partnership models for maintaining modern public toilets including facilities linked to petrol pumps supermarkets and highways in line with international tourism standardsAnother major concern flagged by the tourism industry is the prolonged delay in land conversion approvals required for hotel and tourism infrastructure projectsAccording to KTM the process can take nearly two years discouraging private investment and delaying expansion plansThe organisation urged the government to introduce a transparent and timebound clearance mechanismKTM secretary S Swaminathan called for urgent attention to key tourism destinations including the renovation of Fort Kochi Beach and the revival of proposals such as the Queen of the Arabian Sea statue and the Fort KochiBolgatty cable car projectHe also expressed concern over the declining standards at Kovalam Beach and worsening traffic congestion on the Wayanad Ghat roadsThe body further alleged that only a fraction of the tourism budget is directly utilised for tourism promotion urging the government to ensure dedicated spending on global marketing trade fairs and destination campaigns ahead of the upcoming Kerala Travel Mart scheduled for September IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/kerala-tourism-body-urges-cm-satheesan-to-fast-track-reforms-in-sector-674584.html Tue, 19 May 2026 19:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-collegium-recommends-appointment-of-permanent-judges-in-bombay-hc-674585.html New Delhi May 19 The Supreme Court Collegium headed by Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant has recommended the appointment of six additional judges as permanent judges of the Bombay High Court In a statement issued on Tuesday the apex court Collegium said that in its meeting held on May 18 it approved the proposal for the appointment of Justices Nivedita Prakash Mehta Prafulla Surendrakumar Khubalkar Ashwin Damodar Bhobe Rohit Wasudeo Joshi Advait Mahendra Sethna and Pravin Sheshrao Patil as permanent judges of the Bombay High CourtâThe Supreme Court Collegium in its meeting held on 18th May 2026 has approved the proposal for appointment of the following Additional Judges as Permanent Judges of High Court of Bombay i Ms Justice Nivedita Prakash Mehta ii Shri Justice Prafulla Surendrakumar Khubalkar iii Shri Justice Ashwin Damodar Bhobe iv Shri Justice Rohit Wasudeo Joshi v Shri Justice Advait Mahendra Sethna and vi Shri Justice Pravin Sheshrao Patil the statement saidThe Chief Justice and Judges of the High Courts are appointed by the President under clause 1 of Article 217 of the ConstitutionWhile recommending the appointment of an additional judge as a permanent judge the Chief Justice of the High Court is required to furnish detailed statistics including monthwise disposal of cases and judgments delivered by the judge concerned as well as the number of cases reported in law journals The data must also include information regarding the total number of working days the number of days the judge actually attended court and the days of absence during the relevant period for which disposal statistics are submittedIn a separate development the Supreme Court Collegium has also approved proposals for the appointment of 19 advocates and judicial officers as judges of the Madras High Court IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-collegium-recommends-appointment-of-permanent-judges-in-bombay-hc-674585.html Tue, 19 May 2026 19:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/mp-one-dead-several-injured-in-satna-solvent-plant-boiler-blast-674434.html Satna May 19 At least one person was reported dead and several others injured after a boiler explosion triggered a massive fire at the Vidyashree Solvent Plant in Madhya Pradeshâs Satna district late on Monday Upon receiving information officials from the district administration and local police including SDM Rahul Siladia and CSP Devendra Singh reached the spot and monitored the situationConfirming the incident a police official said the exact cause of the boiler explosion would be known only after a technical inquiryHe added that experts would examine maintenance records operating pressure and whether standard safety protocols were followedSafety compliance and plant licensing will also be examined as part of the investigation including factory permits boiler certification and fire safety clearances he saidIn the incident a machine operator was trapped in the flames and died after being burned aliveThe deceased was yet to be identifiedKotwali police station TI Ravindra Dwivedi said that senior officials had reached the site and initiated an investigationThe injured persons were rushed to Satna district hospital and further investigation was underwayAccording to information the explosion occurred at a plant operating within the rice mill complex owned by local bullion trader Saurabh JainThe unit produced rice bran oil using paddy husksThe blast was so powerful that it triggered panic in the surrounding areaAs flames began to encroach upon a nearby residential settlement residents rushed out of their homes amid thick smoke and chaosFollowing the accident irate residents staged a brief road blockade demanding strict action and safety audits of industrial units near populated areasPolice later persuaded them to lift the blockade restoring traffic flowFurther details are awaited IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/mp-one-dead-several-injured-in-satna-solvent-plant-boiler-blast-674434.html Tue, 19 May 2026 10:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/hm-amit-shah-to-chair-26th-central-zone-council-meeting-in-bastar-today-674441.html New Delhi May 19 Union Home Minister Amit Shah will chair the 26th meeting of the Central Zonal Council in Bastar on Tuesday marking a significant moment for regional governance and development in central India The highprofile meeting being held in the historic Bastar region of Chhattisgarh is also being seen as a reflection of the successful restoration of peace and stability in an area once heavily affectedThe event will see the convergence of the Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh Uttar Pradesh Uttarakhand and the host state of Chhattisgarh making it a critical forum for interstate cooperation and federal dialogueIn anticipation of this significant event Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai chaired a comprehensive highlevel review meeting to assess the ongoing preparationsDuring this preparatory session senior administrative officials presented a detailed PowerPoint overview outlining the specific topics and strategic proposals that the Chhattisgarh government plans to introduce during the council proceedingsReviewing each agenda point thoroughly Chief Minister Sai assigned clear responsibilities to top officials and issued strict directives to ensure flawless execution emphasising that arrangements must be handled with utmost seriousness and seamless coordinationReflecting on the importance of the event Chief Minister Sai earlier highlighted that the member states of the Central Zonal Council play a pivotal role in achieving the vision of a Developed IndiaHe noted that this particular council serves as an exemplary model for the entire country uniquely defined by an atmosphere of mutual cooperation and a total absence of disputes among its participantsAccording to the Chief Minister these regional councils have transformed into highly effective platforms for fostering constructive dialogue and resolving shared challenges bridging the gap between individual states as well as between the provincial governments and the CentreHosting this national assembly in Bastar is a source of immense pride for ChhattisgarhChief Minister Sai pointed out that organising a convention of this magnitude in Bastar reflects the successful restoration of peace in the area under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/hm-amit-shah-to-chair-26th-central-zone-council-meeting-in-bastar-today-674441.html Tue, 19 May 2026 10:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-police-arrest-man-recover-stolen-mobile-phones-and-bike-674452.html New Delhi May 19 In a significant breakthrough against rising street crime and mobile snatching incidents the AntiAuto Theft Squad AATS of the South District Police apprehended a mobile phone snatcher on Tuesday It recovered six stolen and snatched mobile phones from his possession and the motorcycle allegedly used in the commission of the crime was also seized The case came to light after a complaint was lodged by Yuvika Wadhwa regarding the snatching of her mobile phone near GBlock CR Park Following the complaint FIR No 932026 under Section 3042 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS was registered at Police Station CR Park on May 5 and an investigation was initiated immediatelyTo crack the case a dedicated police team comprising Sub Inspector Sajid Husain ASI Ravinder Singh Head Constable Kamal Prakash HC Krishan Kumar HC Virender and Constable Arvind was constituted under the leadership of Inspector Umesh Yadav InCharge of AATS South District The team functioned under the close supervision of Additional DCP Operations Arvind KumarDuring the course of the investigation the police team reached the spot and carried out a detailed analysis of CCTV footage collected from cameras installed near the scene of the crime The footage revealed that the snatching was committed by a lone individual riding a motorcycle with a defective number plate The accused had concealed his identity by covering his facePolice officials said that sustained technical surveillance CCTV trail analysis and development of local intelligence helped investigators trace the accused to the Sangam Vihar area The suspect was later identified as AakashOn May 17 the police received specific secret information that the accused would arrive near Nala Road in Khirki Village to dispose of stolen property Acting swiftly on the tipoff the police team laid a strategic trap in the area and successfully apprehended the accused while he was riding the motorcycleDuring the search operation six stolen mobile phones were recovered from his possession Verification of the recovered devices revealed that all the mobile phones were linked to previously reported theft and snatching cases registered at different police stations in DelhiDuring interrogation the accused disclosed that he had sold the snatched mobile phone connected to the present CR Park case to a person identified as Bunty a resident of Sangam Vihar Police said efforts are underway to apprehend the receiver and recover the snatched deviceInvestigators further revealed that the accused used to target unsuspecting pedestrians in crowded areas while riding a motorcycle To avoid identification he deliberately used a motorcycle with a defective number plate and covered his face during the commission of the crimes After committing the offences he allegedly sold the stolen mobile phones through local contacts to earn quick money to support his drug addictionThe police recovered six stolen mobile phones and one motorcycle allegedly used in the commission of the crimesThe accused has been identified as Aakash son of Late Harkesh a resident of Sangam Vihar New Delhi aged 20 years According to police he is a budding criminal and drug addict who has allegedly resorted to theft and mobile snatching to finance his addictionPolice records show that although no previous involvement had been officially documented against him the present arrest helped solve multiple theft and snatching cases registered across DelhiThe cases worked out following the arrest include FIR No 932026 of Police Station CR Park EFIR No 8000297226 registered at Police Station Mehrauli EFIR No 8000712226 of PS Fatehpur Beri EFIR No 8006159225 of PS Mehrauli EFIR No 8000155326 of PS Saket EFIR No 8012394325 of PS Ambedkar Nagar and EFIR No 80058666025 of PS MehrauliDelhi Police stated that the prompt response detailed CCTV analysis technical surveillance and continuous field efforts by the AATS team led to the successful apprehension of the accused involved in several cases of theft and snatchingThe South District Police reiterated that they remain committed to maintaining public safety and taking strict action against criminals involved in street offences including theft and mobile snatching Further investigation into the matter is currently underway IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-police-arrest-man-recover-stolen-mobile-phones-and-bike-674452.html Tue, 19 May 2026 11:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/three-coaches-of-ujjaini-express-derail-in-rishikesh-probe-on-674454.html Rishikesh May 19 Three coaches of the Ujjaini Express derailed in the Khand Gaon area near the Yog Nagari Railway Station in Uttarakhands Rishikesh There were no passengers on board at the time of the incident officials said on Tuesday The incident occurred on Monday at around 930 pmRestoration work is currently underway at the site of the incidentAccording to the initial investigation the train derailed during shunting operations Three coaches of the train derailedUpon receiving the information a police team from the local Kotwali station also arrived at the site Repair work continued late into the night Kailash Chandra Bhatt the InspectorinCharge of the Kotwali station stated that the incident occurred during maintenance hours when no passenger was on boardLocals reported hearing a loud noise at the time of the accident prompting residents to rush out of their homes and shops Railway personnel at the scene immediately evacuated the area and all movement on the tracks was haltedAccording to sources a technical glitch or human error during shunting operations is preliminarily suspected to be the cause of the accident However railway officials are currently refraining from making any definitive statementsOfficials stated that the matter is under investigation and that a technical team is preparing a report Following the incident the railway tracks and the damaged sections were inspected The railway administration is currently carrying out relief and repair operationsThe incident adds to the series of railwayrelated accidents that have occurred in the past few daysEarlier on Monday a massive fire broke out in one of the coaches of a passenger train bound for Patna No injuries were reportedThe incident occurred on the SasaramPatna fast passenger train near the Bihars Sasaram railway station at around 6 am According to the preliminary investigation the fire was caused by a suspected short circuitThe coach caught fire while it was at the Sasaram railway station shortly before it was scheduled to departOn Sunday a fire broke out in two rear coaches of the Delhibound Rajdhani Express near Rajasthans Kota No injuries were reported in this incidentRailway officials said all passengers from the affected coach were immediately deboarded safely According to railway authorities the Overhead Equipment OHE power supply was immediately shut down after the fire was detected to prevent further danger and the affected coach was removedThe officials further stated that the builtin safety systems of the coach functioned promptly leading to the automatic halt of the train soon after the incident occurred IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/three-coaches-of-ujjaini-express-derail-in-rishikesh-probe-on-674454.html Tue, 19 May 2026 11:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/two-murder-accused-injured-in-police-encounter-in-noida-two-minors-detained-674455.html Noida May 19 In a major operation related to the murder of a youth at Sector63 Police Station in Noida Uttar Pradesh police arrested two accused following an encounter During the exchange of fire both accused sustained gunshot injuries while two other accused who are minors were detained during a subsequent combing operation Police also recovered illegal firearms cartridges a knife and two motorcycles from the possession of the accusedAccording to police officials on May 17 20yearold Deepak son of Suraj Singh and a resident of Chotpur Colony was attacked with knives by a group of youths over a monetary dispute Deepak was admitted to a hospital in critical condition where he later succumbed to his injuries during treatmentFollowing the incident a case was immediately registered at Sector63 Police Station After the victimâs death Section 1031 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS was added to the chargesWhile investigating the case and attempting to apprehend the accused the Sector63 Police team was conducting a latenight checking drive on Sunday on the green belt service road leading from the Bahalolpur underpass towards FNG Road During the operation four youths riding two motorcycles were seen approaching the areaPolice signalled them to stop but the accused allegedly turned their motorcycles around and attempted to flee Suspecting foul play the police team chased themAccording to police officials when the accused realised they were surrounded they allegedly opened fire on the police team with the intention to kill The police retaliated in selfdefence during which two of the accused sustained gunshot injuriesThe injured accused have been identified as Aman son of Veer Singh a resident of Bulandshahr and Sandeep Kumar son of Sanjay Singh also a resident of Bulandshahr Both were reportedly living as tenants in Chotpur ColonyPolice said the injured accused were admitted to a hospital for treatmentMeanwhile the two other accused involved in the incident were found to be juveniles in conflict with the law and were taken into custody during the combing operationFrom the possession of the accused police recovered three illegal countrymade pistols two empty cartridges four live cartridges one knife and two motorcycles allegedly used in the commission of the crimePolice officials stated that further investigation into the case is underway and efforts are being made to gather details regarding the criminal history of the accused IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/two-murder-accused-injured-in-police-encounter-in-noida-two-minors-detained-674455.html Tue, 19 May 2026 11:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/imd-issues-yellow-alert-for-heatwave-in-delhi-ncr-for-next-three-days-674460.html New Delhi May 19 The spell of intense heat across DelhiNCR is steadily worsening with the India Meteorological Department IMD issuing a yellow alert for severe heatwave conditions over the next three days According to the latest forecast issued by the weather department residents of DelhiNCR are likely to face scorching temperatures strong hot winds and rising discomfort from May 19 to May 22Delhi experienced its hottest day of the season on Monday with temperatures nearing 44 degrees Celsius in several areas of the city The Safdarjung observatory considered Delhiâs primary weather station recorded a maximum temperature of 434 degrees Celsius making it the hottest day of the month so farThe IMD has warned that the combination of intense sunlight and strong surface winds during daytime is likely to aggravate public discomfort In addition a steady increase in nighttime temperatures is expected offering little relief from the prevailing heat conditionsAccording to the departmentâs local weather forecast the maximum temperature on May 19 is likely to touch 44 degrees Celsius while the minimum temperature may remain around 28 degrees Celsius Heatwave conditions accompanied by strong surface winds are expected to persist during the afternoon and evening hours The IMD has advised residents to avoid venturing outdoors during peak afternoon hours unless absolutely necessary as prolonged exposure to the heat may adversely affect healthThe department stated that no major respite from the scorching weather is expected on May 20 either The maximum temperature is again forecast to hover around 44 degrees Celsius with the minimum temperature likely to settle at 27 degrees Celsius Heatwave conditions are expected to continue through the afternoon and evening while strong hot winds are likely to sweep across the region throughout the dayOn May 21 despite a marginal dip in temperature the impact of the heatwave is likely to continue The maximum temperature is expected to remain around 43 degrees Celsius while the minimum temperature may stay close to 27 degrees Celsius The weather department said heatwave conditions would prevail during the afternoon and evening hours on this day as wellHumidity levels are expected to fluctuate between 35 and 50 per cent increasing the feeling of mugginess and discomfort for residents Similar weather conditions are likely to continue on May 22 with the IMD forecasting a maximum temperature of 43 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 27 degrees Celsius Hot and dry winds are expected to blow throughout the dayHowever a slight change in weather patterns may begin from May 23 when the sky is likely to remain predominantly clear and conditions may improve graduallyHealth experts and doctors have advised children senior citizens and people suffering from preexisting medical conditions to take extra precautions during the heatwave They have recommended drinking water regularly staying hydrated avoiding direct exposure to sunlight and limiting outdoor activities to prevent dehydration and heatstroke IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/imd-issues-yellow-alert-for-heatwave-in-delhi-ncr-for-next-three-days-674460.html Tue, 19 May 2026 11:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ktaka-bjp-questions-cong-govts-self-praising-report-card-3-year-celebratory-event-674462.html Bengaluru May 19 Karnataka BJP President and MLA BY Vijayendra on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the Congress government questioning its decision to celebrate completion of three years in office and alleging that the state has witnessed âmisgovernance corruption and administrative collapseâ under its rule It can be noted that amid continuing speculation over leadership issues within the Congress party the Karnataka government is set to celebrate the completion of three years in office with a mega event titled Pragatiyatta Karnataka in Tumakuru near Bengaluru on Tuesday As part of the programme the government will distribute property documents to 152 lakh beneficiariesIn a statement Vijayendra asked what exactly the Congress government intended to celebrate alleging that the state was facing rising debt an empty treasury and a lack of development works He claimed that roads hospitals schools irrigation projects and civic infrastructure works across the state were suffering due to a shortage of funds while the government was focused on advertisements and political managementHe further alleged that the financial burden of the governmentâs policies would ultimately fall on the youth of Karnataka in the future The BJP leader also accused the government of failing to clear contractor payments delaying infrastructure projects and delivering âzero developmentâ during its tenureCriticising the Congress governmentâs guarantee schemes Vijayendra alleged that the guarantees were irregular and delayed and were being used more as electoral tools than welfare commitments He also accused the government of burdening common citizens through price hikes of essential commoditiesVijayendra further alleged that scams commissions and diversion of public resources had become rampant under the present administration He claimed that Karnataka was being turned into an âATMâ for the Congress high command in an attempt to protect the ruling leadershipâs positionThe BJP state president also targeted the government over the law and order situation in the state He alleged that riots drug networks rowdy activities murders and assaults had increased creating fear among citizens According to him criminals appeared emboldened under the current government while ordinary people no longer felt protectedReferring to recent allegations regarding prison conditions Vijayendra claimed that even jails were turning into âparty hubsâ with criminals allegedly enjoying VIP treatment inside prisons âIf criminals are celebrating inside prisons what moral right does the Congress government have to celebrate outsideâ he questionedAccusing the government of failing on finances development welfare delivery and law and order Vijayendra described the Congress governmentâs anniversary celebrations as a reminder of âthree years of misgovernance corruption appeasement and betrayal of peopleâs trustâHe asserted that while the Congress may project a âselfpraising report cardâ the people of Karnataka would deliver their verdict through the ballot box IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/ktaka-bjp-questions-cong-govts-self-praising-report-card-3-year-celebratory-event-674462.html Tue, 19 May 2026 11:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/new-division-bench-of-calcutta-hc-to-hear-rg-kar-rape-murder-case-today-674464.html Kolkata May 19 A new division bench of the Calcutta High Court Justice Shampa Sarkar and Justice Tirthankar Ghosh will hear on Tuesday the case on the 2024 ghastly rape and murder of a woman doctor of the staterun RG Kar Medical College and Hospital As per the cause list of the Calcutta High Court the hearing in the matter will start at 1 pmAfter the previous division bench headed by Justice Rajasekhar Mantha recused from hearing the matter on May 12 observing that âthis important case needs to be heard quicklyâ the Calcutta High Courtâs Chief Justice Sujoy Paul on May 15 referred the matter to the new division bench of Justice Sarkar and Justice GhoshWhile referring the matter to the new bench Justice Paul observed that all petitions connected to the matter including the plea by the victimâs family seeking permission to visit the crime scene would now be heard by the new division benchTo recall although the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI which is probing the matter did not object to the plea from the victimâs family seeking permission to visit the crime scene the previous state government led by the previous Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had objectedIn fact the previous division bench headed by Justice Mantha during a hearing then questioned why the state government was objecting to the plea from the victimâs family when CBI as the investigating agency was not objectingRecently the new state government led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced the suspension of former Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Kumar Goyal and two deputy commissioners of the city police namely Indira Mukherjee and Abhishek Gupta for shoddy handling of the initial probe by the city police before the charge of the probe was handed over to the CBI by the Calcutta High CourtAdhikari had on Monday also announced the state governmentâs decision to permit the ED to prosecute the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital Sandip Ghosh who has been linked to both the RG Kar financial irregularities case as well as the rape and murder of the junior doctor a permission which was long held back by the previous regimeHowever since the ED is conducting the probe into the RG Kar financial irregularities case the formal permission granted by the state government to prosecute and convict Sandip Ghosh is limited to that caseThe Central Bureau of Investigation is conducting a parallel probe into the RG Kar financial irregularities case as well as the rape and murder case within the same hospital premises in August 2024 IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/new-division-bench-of-calcutta-hc-to-hear-rg-kar-rape-murder-case-today-674464.html Tue, 19 May 2026 11:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/telangana-raises-upper-age-limit-by-10-years-for-direct-recruitment-jobs-674478.html Hyderabad May 19 The Telangana government has raised the upper age limit by 10 years for a period of one year for direct recruitment jobs The state government issued a Government Order GO Number 86 raising the upper age limitWith this the upper age limit has been raised from 34 years to 44 yearsThe government on February 8 2024 issued GO No 30 raising the maximum age limit prescribed in the Telangana State and Subordinate Service Rules 1996 for appointment by direct recruitments by two years in addition to 10 years for a period of two yearsThis had taken the upper age limit to 46 years However with the GO lapsing in February 2026 the base upper age limit for direct recruitment was reverted to 34 yearsThe latest GO states that a number of representations have been received from unemployed youths for considering relaxation of the upper age limit for direct recruitment to enable more unemployed youth to become eligible to compete in the recruitment processâAfter careful examination of the matter Government have decided to raise the upper age limit by ten 10 years ie from 34 years to 44 years to other than Uniform Services for a period of one 1 year for the ensuing direct recruitments in various categories of posts to be notified by the recruiting agencies in the Stateâ reads the GO issued by Chief Secretary K Ramakrishna RaoTelangana Rakshana Sena TRS leader K Kavitha had demanded that the state government implement the 10year age relaxation announced in 2024 for recruitments through the State Public Service CommissionShe called for cancelling the notification issued by the Public Service Commission to fill 20 posts of Assistant Scientist in the Pollution Control Board with an age eligibility criterion of 1834 yearsKavitha had warned that if the government fails to cancel the notification issued on April 20 and implement GO 30 issued in 2024 without any restrictions they will launch a massive agitationThe former MP said that Congress came to power with the votes of unemployed people after promising in its election manifesto to fill two lakh jobs within two months but after coming to power it completely forgot about issuing job notificationsShe stated on February 8 2024 the government issued GO 30 extending the 10year age relaxation granted by the previous government by an additional two years thereby projecting an image of benefiting the unemployedIt was stipulated that this relaxation would remain in force for two years Consequently the upper age limit for employment eligibility was raised from 44 to 46 years However despite the passage of twoandahalf years since then not a single job notification has been released she alleged IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/telangana-raises-upper-age-limit-by-10-years-for-direct-recruitment-jobs-674478.html Tue, 19 May 2026 11:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ahmedabad-crime-branch-arrests-jewellery-store-employee-in-rs-166-crore-gold-theft-case-674480.html Ahmedabad May 19 The Ahmedabad Crime Branch in Gujarat has arrested a female employee in connection with the alleged theft of gold ornaments worth over Rs 166 crore from a jewellery shop in the Nikol area officials said on Tuesday According to a police official a complaint was registered at Nikol Police Station after gold ornaments valued at Rs 16688437 were reported stolen on May 11 from âAabhushan Jewellersâ located at Gravity Shopping Mall in the areaThe accused identified as Harshida Shetty 38 a resident of Nikol area was employed at the shop at the time of the incidentFollowing the complaint the Crime Branch formed multiple teams to trace the accused Officers examined around 300 CCTV camera feeds and also used human intelligence inputs during the investigationThe accused was subsequently located and apprehended During the operation jewellery and other stolen property worth Rs 2254500 were recoveredDuring interrogation police stated that the accused had allegedly planned the theft with her associate identified as Mayur MaliAs per the alleged plan the stolen gold ornaments were taken after the incident and the duo attempted to flee GujaratThey travelled on a motorcycle from Ahmedabad to Udaipur and then proceeded towards Jaipur and DelhiInvestigators further stated that during their stay in a hotel the coaccused allegedly left the woman behind and escaped with the stolen gold ornamentsPolice have recovered multiple ornaments from the accused including a gold bracelet worth Rs 998 lakh an eagleembossed gold ring studded with white stones valued at Rs 134 lakh a gold mangalsutra worth Rs 743 lakh and a gold chain priced at Rs 362 lakhA mobile phone was also recovered from her possession The case was registered under Section 306 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNSThe arrested accused has been handed over to the Nikol Police Station for further legal proceedingsEfforts are underway to trace the absconding accused who is stated to be a resident of the Vastral areaPolice said further investigation is in progress to recover the remaining stolen valuables and establish the full sequence of events related to the alleged offence IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/ahmedabad-crime-branch-arrests-jewellery-store-employee-in-rs-166-crore-gold-theft-case-674480.html Tue, 19 May 2026 11:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ats-busts-illegal-arms-racket-one-arrested-with-pistols-in-mahas-buldhana-674484.html New Delhi May 19 In a major crackdown on illegal arms trafficking the AntiTerrorism Squad ATS has arrested a 22yearold man in Buldhana and recovered a cache of weapons and ammunition officials said The arrested accused has been identified as Shubham Pawar 22 a resident of Wardha district in Maharashtra According to officials the operation was conducted following specific Intelligence inputs indicating that the accused was attempting to sell illegal pistols in the regionActing on the tipoff an ATS team laid a trap in Pimpri Koli village under the Raipur police station limits in Chikhli tehsil The operation was carried out between approximately 100 AM and 130 AM when the accused had reportedly arrived at his relativesâ residence in the villageAs soon as he reached the location ATS personnel apprehended him on the spot During the search officials recovered two pistols four magazines and 92 live cartridges from his possession In addition a fourwheeler vehicle used in the operation was also seizedOfficials said the recovery highlights a suspected illegal arms supply network operating in the region Preliminary information suggests that the accused was en route to deliver the weapons for sale when he was intercepted by the ATS teamFollowing the arrest a case has been registered at Raipur Police Station under relevant Sections of the Arms Act Further investigation is underway jointly by the ATS and local police to trace the source of the weapons and identify other individuals possibly linked to the racketAuthorities have indicated that more arrests are likely as the probe progresses with investigators examining possible interstate links to the illegal arms supply chainThe ATS action has triggered concern in the district as officials continue efforts to dismantle organised networks involved in trafficking firearms and ammunition across regionsEarlier this month the Maharashtra ATS interrogated 57 people across the state as it launched a major operation earlier on Wednesday targeting individuals linked to or associated with Pakistanbased gangster networks including the Shahzad Bhatti gang and the Dogra gang officials saidAccording to officials coordinated ATS raids took place across multiple locations in Maharashtra including Mumbai Pune Nagpur Nalasopara Mira Road Akola Nanded Nashik and JalgaonThe operation is part of a larger crackdown aimed at dismantling alleged gangsterlinked networks operating within the state and identifying individuals suspected of maintaining direct or indirect connections with the gangs IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/ats-busts-illegal-arms-racket-one-arrested-with-pistols-in-mahas-buldhana-674484.html Tue, 19 May 2026 12:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-antf-shahdara-apprehends-liquor-supplier-1-200-quarters-of-illicit-liquor-seized-674485.html New Delhi May 19 The AntiNarcotics Task Force ANTF of Shahdara District Police on Tuesday has achieved a major breakthrough against illegal liquor smuggling by apprehending a liquor supplier and recovering 1200 quarters of illicit liquor intended for illegal distribution in Delhi Police also seized a car allegedly used for transporting the contraband According to police officials the operation was carried out following specific Intelligence inputs received by ANTFShahdara on May 15 The information suggested that an individual identified as Anand would arrive near JampK Block Dilshad Garden under the jurisdiction of Police Station Seemapuri around 730 PM in a white Hyundai Xcent car to deliver a consignment of illicit liquorThe Intelligence further indicated that a substantial quantity of illegal liquor could be recovered if a timely raid was conductedAfter verification of the information a dedicated raiding team comprising SI Dheer Singh ASI Shokinder HC Vikas Malik HC Rajesh Kumar HC Pankaj Kumar HC Vedpal and Constable Arjun was constituted under the leadership of Inspector Vinod Kumar Incharge of ANTFShahdara The operation was conducted under the supervision of ACP Vivek Vihar and the overall guidance of DCP ShahdaraDuring the operation the police team laid a trap near Main Road JampK Block Dilshad Garden and successfully apprehended the accused Upon checking the vehicle police recovered a large quantity of illicit liquor concealed for illegal supply in Delhi The recovered liquor and the vehicle were seized and taken into police custodySubsequently a case vide FIR No 3372026 dated May 16 2026 under Sections 33 and 58 of the Delhi Excise Act was registered at Police Station SeemapuriDuring interrogation the accused allegedly disclosed the identities of several individuals involved in the supply of illicit liquor Police said further raids are being conducted to identify and apprehend other members of the supply chain and receivers involved in the illegal tradeOfficials added that efforts are underway to uncover the entire network responsible for the procurement transportation and distribution of the contraband liquorThe recovery made by the police includes 1200 quarters 24 boxes of illicit liquor each bottle containing 180 ml The liquor was identified as Race7 Metro Liquor Police also recovered a white Hyundai Xcent car bearing registration number DL1RTBXXXX which was allegedly being used for transporting the illicit liquorThe accused has been identified as Anand a 33yearold resident of Karkardooma DelhiAccording to police Anand reportedly worked as a daily wage labourer During interrogation it emerged that due to financial difficulties he became involved in the illegal transportation and supply of liquorPolice said further investigation is in progress to trace the source of the liquor identify the supply chain and determine the intended distribution network Necessary legal action is being taken in accordance with the law IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-antf-shahdara-apprehends-liquor-supplier-1-200-quarters-of-illicit-liquor-seized-674485.html Tue, 19 May 2026 12:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/illegal-cannabis-cultivation-busted-in-gujarat-cops-seize-drugs-arrest-one-674486.html GandhinagarSabarkantha May 19 The AntiNarcotics Task Force ANTF of CID Crime and Railways carried out a raid in Gujarats Sabarkantha district leading to the seizure of cannabis plants and processed contraband valued at approximately Rs 638 lakh officials said on Tuesday Acting on specific intelligence inputs and under the supervision of senior police officers a team led by Police Inspector RV Patel conducted a search operation in agricultural land and a residential property at Vinchi village in the Wadi area of Poshina talukaDuring the raid on May 17 the team recovered approximately 8060 kilograms of green cannabis plants from cultivated land and 4700 kilograms of dry cannabis from a residential premisesThe total estimated value of the seized contraband was stated to be Rs 638000Police also detained one individual identified as Makana Gamar aged 53 a resident of Vinchi village in PoshinaAccording to the officials the operation was executed with the assistance of multiple personnel including police inspectors subinspectors assistant subinspectors head constables constables and technical expertsThe team also utilised surveillance inputs and technical intelligence to locate the illegal cultivation and storagePreliminary investigation suggested Gamars involvement in illegal cultivation and possession of narcotic substances under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances ActA case has been registered under relevant sections including Sections 8bc 20a and 20b1 and 20b2b of the NDPS ActPolice said further investigation is being conducted jointly by ANTF officials and Kheroj Police Station to determine the source of cultivation distribution network and any additional involvement of other individualsRecent ANTF operations in Gujarat have led to multiple major seizures and arrests across the state as part of intensified enforcement against drug networksIn one of the significant actions earlier this year units in Gandhinagar intercepted suspected traffickers and recovered nearly 12 kilograms of ganja worth around Rs six lakh after acting on specific intelligence inputs and conducting targeted surveillance operations including vehicle interception and coordinated raidsIn another major Ahmedabad zone operation ANTF teams carried out a raid at a residential premises in Bopal and seized a mix of narcotic substances including methamphetamine hybrid marijuana and cocaine valued at over Rs 18 lakh highlighting the unitâs continued focus on urban supply chains IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/illegal-cannabis-cultivation-busted-in-gujarat-cops-seize-drugs-arrest-one-674486.html Tue, 19 May 2026 12:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/fake-notes-from-the-sky-isis-latest-drone-plot-alarms-indian-agencies-674488.html New Delhi May 19 Pakistanâs ISI and its stooges have been making a massive push to flood the Indian markets with fake currency the agencies have learnt The key areas of concern remain the TripuraBangladesh border and PunjabWhile couriers are being used to push fake currency into the Indian market along the Bangladesh border in Punjab the menace is rising due to the use of dronesIt is a twopronged strategy that the ISI has adopted when it comes to fake Indian currency On one hand it wants to hurt the Indian economy and on the other the intention is to raise funds for terror groups in Pakistan an official said The problem is however higher along the IndiaBangladesh border when compared to Punjab an official saidAgencies such as the National Investigation Agency NIA which is at the forefront of battling this problem have also been probing cases within the country The NIA is not only trying to stop the menace at the border but is also probing several cases within West Bengal The area of focus in the state has remained Malda where scores of units that print fake currency have come upAn Intelligence Bureau official said the ISI would eventually move to using drones to drop off fake currency Almost all attempts that have been made to drop fake Indian currency using drones have been foiled so farThe official however added that it is not the time to remain complicit as these attempts may be just dry runs These elements are trying to study the security apparatus and hence are undertaking dry runsFake currency that has been coming in is in lower quantities Once they are able to dodge the security mechanism these elements would look to push in fake currency using drones in much larger numbers the official further addedAnother official said the main focus would first be to shut down fake currency printing units in West Bengal Once the Malda module is shut down it would solve a large part of the problemThe focus could then shift to the borders through which fake currency is being smuggled into the country the official added Officials say that the ISI is aware that the main focus would be on the couriers who carry the fake currencyWith the NIA upping the ante the ISI would move completely towards the drone module to send fake currency to India officials also saidInvestigators who are dealing with the menace say the challenge would be immense going forward The choice of drones to further this racket will be a big test for the security agencies The border forces have been successful in tracking drones that have been used to drop off drugs arms and ammunition However fake currency would be a real testSmaller payloads of fake currency are harder to detect These drones carrying smaller payloads are capable of evading the radar and also dodging surveillance an official saidThe ISIbacked elements are trying to utilise every loophole within the system to drop fake currency into India Currently this modus operandi is in testing mode Once all tests are conducted and multiple dry runs are attempted then these elements will go in for the big operation This would involve using multiple drones at regular intervals However the payload would be smaller as this would help in avoiding detection the official addedThe agencies are bracing up for this new modus operandi and it would be crucial to get the better of these elementsThe ISI has long pushed fake currency into India using the Dawood Ibrahim syndicate with the clear intention of undertaking economic sabotage in India apart from also using the money generated to fund terror groups officials say IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/fake-notes-from-the-sky-isis-latest-drone-plot-alarms-indian-agencies-674488.html Tue, 19 May 2026 12:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bjp-criticises-karnataka-govt-over-3-year-anniversary-celebration-questions-achievements-674489.html Bengaluru May 19 Senior BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the Congress government over its threeyear anniversary celebrations in Tumakuru questioning the achievements of the administration and accusing it of corruption financial mismanagement and administrative failure Addressing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar in a statement he targeted the government over the alleged Mysuru Urban Development Authority MUDA caseHe claimed that the Enforcement Directorate ED had attached properties worth nearly Rs 100 crore including assets allegedly linked to associates close to the Chief MinisterHe further alleged that the government had spent Rs 316 crore from the state exchequer towards legal fees to prevent a Central Bureau of Investigation CBI probe into the matter It can be noted that CM Siddaramaiah is named as the accused number one in the MUDA scamAshoka asked whether the government was aware of the âreal conditionâ of Karnataka while organising grand celebrations to mark three years in officeWhich great achievement are you celebratingâ he questionedAshoka alleged that the Congress government had pushed the state into severe financial distress He claimed that Karnatakaâs debt burden had crossed Rs 8 lakh crore and alleged that the 202526 budget proposed fresh borrowings of Rs 150 lakh crore According to him every Kannadiga was burdened with debt exceeding Rs 1 lakhThe BJP leader also accused the Congress government of pushing electricity supply companies into a debt crisis He claimed that Electricity Supply Companies ESCOMs in the state were burdened with debts of Rs 42750 crore including dues of Rs 6211 crore from Bangalore Electricity Supply Company BESCOM aloneAshoka further alleged that the Public Works Department PWD had awarded road project tenders worth Rs 10000 crore in Hoskote and Malur to a company facing a CBI investigation He questioned the governmentâs claims of transparency in administrationReferring to an alleged scam in the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board KIADB office in Ballari he claimed that Rs 16 crore had been illegally diverted through fake cheques and bank transactions He alleged that the incident was another addition to a series of scams including the Valmiki Corporation MUDA and Karnataka Public Service Commission KPSC controversiesThe BJP leader also accused the Congress government of attempting to suppress the Opposition and critics He said the state government had filed a defamation case against the BJP over its âtwo years of failureâ chargesheet and alleged that cases were being registered against social media critics which according to him amounted to stifling democracyOn farmersâ issues Ashoka alleged that the government had failed to respond to protests by sugarcane and maize growers He claimed that farmers were forced to run from office to office for years without getting their work done and alleged that some farmers had been driven to extreme distressThe BJP leader also referred to the wall collapse incident at the Bowring Hospital complex in Bengaluru on April 29 in which seven persons including three children lost their lives He alleged that the Lokayukta had termed the incident a result of âmisgovernanceâ and accused the government of negligence in maintaining public hospitalsHe further alleged that government hospitals in the state were suffering due to shortage of medicines doctors and scanning facilities pushing poor patients into hardshipAshoka concluded by alleging that while people across the state were facing hardships the Congress government was spending public money to operate around 4000 buses for the anniversary celebrations He asserted that the people of Karnataka would âteach the government a fitting lessonâIt can be noted that over 2 lakh people are expected to attend the mega statelevel convention in Tumakuru today May 19 which is being held to commemorate the third anniversary of the Congress governments administration in KarnatakaThe conventionâofficially titled the Sadhana Samaveshaâfocusses on state achievements virtual inaugurations and the distribution of land title deeds to around 152 lakh beneficiaries The Congress government is completing three years at office on May 20 IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bjp-criticises-karnataka-govt-over-3-year-anniversary-celebration-questions-achievements-674489.html Tue, 19 May 2026 12:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/mamata-banerjee-to-meet-party-mlas-today-to-outline-oppn-strategy-674492.html Kolkata May 19 IANS Trinamool Congress supremo and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has on Tuesday convened a meeting with the 80 elected party legislators in the recently concluded Assembly polls to discuss and adopt a strategy as the principal opposition party in the state nownbspTrinamool Congress general secretary and the partys Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee is also supposed to be present at the meeting in the afternoonA party member in the current Assembly on strict condition of anonymity said one of the major issues on the agenda is how to tackle the situation when the political administration of the different civic bodies in the state which are still Trinamool Congresscontrolled are facing bureaucratic insubordination in the changed political situationThe meeting has been convened amid the development with Kolkata Municipal Corporation KMC authorities which still has the current and fourtime Trinamool Congress and former member in the previous Mamata Banerjeeled cabinet Firhad Hakim as its Mayor issuing notices under Section 4001 of the KMC Act 1980 which allows owners of allegedly illegal constructions an opportunity to appear before civic authorities and present their casenbspNotices have been served to 17 properties owned by Abhishek Banerjee in areas within the KMC jurisdiction and copies have been pasted on the walls of these propertiesIncidentally the KMC authorities served these notices a couple of days after the current Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari while addressing a gathering at Falat in South 24 Parganas district last week hinted at enquiries about such properties linked to one corporate entity reportedly owned by Abhishek BanerjeeHowever while hinting at this the Chief Minister felt short of directly naming Banerjee and instead addressed him as Mr NephewIn the meeting Adhikari also said that he had brought a list of 24 properties owned by a company of Mr Nephew from the KMCEven on Monday the Chief Minister reminded that the new cabinet led by him is determined to take strong legal action against every person who was involved in corruption and looting public money during the previous Trinamool Congress regimeIncidentally on Monday the Chief Minister announced the formation of two separate probe commissions both headed by retired judges of the Calcutta High Court to investigate cases of institutional corruption and crime against womenBoth the probe commissions will start functioning from June Justice Biswajit Basu retired of the Calcutta High Court will head the committee probing cases of institutional corruption On the other hand the committee probing cases of crime against women will be headed by Justice Samapti Chattopadhyay the Chief Minister told media persons on Monday afternoonIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/mamata-banerjee-to-meet-party-mlas-today-to-outline-oppn-strategy-674492.html Tue, 19 May 2026 12:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-refuses-to-dilute-directions-on-relocation-of-stray-dogs-from-public-spaces-674493.html New Delhi May 19 IANS The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to recall its earlier directions on the management of stray dogs in public places while issuing a series of fresh directions to ensure stricter implementation of the Animal Birth Control ABC framework across the countrynbspA Bench of Justices Vikram Nath Sandeep Mehta and NV Anjaria dismissed a batch of applications filed by dog lovers and animal rights groups seeking modifications to the directions issued by the apex court in November last yearThe directions mandated that stray dogs picked up from sensitive public places such as schools hospitals bus stands and railway stations must not be released back at the same locations after sterilisation and vaccinationPronouncing the judgment the Justice Nathled Bench stressed that the right to life with dignity includes the right to live without fear of dog attacks in public spaces and pulled up authorities for failing to effectively address the growing menace of stray dog bitesReferring to multiple reports of attacks the top court observed that the issue has assumed staggering dimensions and reflects serious deficiencies in the implementation of existing directions and statutory rulesThe Justice Nathled Bench warned that erring officials who fail to comply with its directions would be liable for contempt of court and disciplinary actionIssuing comprehensive directions the Supreme Court ordered all states and union territories UTs to take timebound steps to strengthen infrastructure under the ABC Rules It mandated the establishment of at least one fully functional ABC centre in every district equipped with surgical facilities trained personnel and adequate logistics supportAuthorities have also been directed to expand the number of such centres based on population density and geographical requirements and to undertake capacitybuilding measures including training of staff strengthening of shelters and coordinated vaccination drivesThe apex court also ordered that antirabies vaccines and immunoglobulin must be adequately available in all government medical facilities along with a robust public health response mechanism to deal with dog bite casesIn a significant direction the Justice Nathled Bench allowed authorities to take legally permissible measures including euthanasia in cases involving rabid incurably ill or demonstrably aggressive dogs to effectively mitigate threats to human lifeIt further directed the National Highways Authority of India NHAI in coordination with states and UTs to formulate and implement a comprehensive mechanism to address the presence of stray animals on national highways and expressways This includes deployment of specialised transport vehicles creation of holding facilities and collaboration with animal welfare organisationsThe top court also asked authorities to consider extending its directions to other highfootfall public areas after assessing ground realities and risks to public safety Providing protection to officials implementing its orders the Justice Nathled Bench said that no FIR or coercive action should ordinarily be initiated against officers acting in good faith in compliance with judicial directionsThe judgment comes in the backdrop of the top court reserving its verdict in January this year after an extensive hearing involving multiple stakeholders including the Centre state governments the Animal Welfare Board of India and civil society groupsIn November 2025 the Supreme Court directed that stray dogs be removed from key public spaces and relocated to shelters making it clear that such animals should not return to the same locations Subsequent pleas sought dilution of these directions which now stand rejectedIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-refuses-to-dilute-directions-on-relocation-of-stray-dogs-from-public-spaces-674493.html Tue, 19 May 2026 12:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/india-meteorological-department-issues-yellow-alert-for-heatwave-in-delhi-ncr-for-the-next-three-days-674494.html New Delhi May 19 IANS The spell of intense heat across DelhiNCR is steadily worsening with the India Meteorological Department IMD issuing a yellow alert for severe heatwave conditions over the next three daysnbspAccording to the latest forecast issued by the weather department residents of DelhiNCR are likely to face scorching temperatures strong hot winds and rising discomfort from May 19 to May 22Delhi experienced its hottest day of the season on Monday with temperatures nearing 44 degrees Celsius in several areas of the city The Safdarjung observatory considered Delhis primary weather station recorded a maximum temperature of 434 degrees Celsius making it the hottest day of the month so farThe IMD has warned that the combination of intense sunlight and strong surface winds during daytime is likely to aggravate public discomfort In addition a steady increase in nighttime temperatures is expected offering little relief from the prevailing heat conditionsAccording to the departments local weather forecast the maximum temperature on May 19 is likely to touch 44 degrees Celsius while the minimum temperature may remain around 28 degrees Celsius Heatwave conditions accompanied by strong surface winds are expected to persist during the afternoon and evening hours The IMD has advised residents to avoid venturing outdoors during peak afternoon hours unless absolutely necessary as prolonged exposure to the heat may adversely affect healthThe department stated that no major respite from the scorching weather is expected on May 20 either The maximum temperature is again forecast to hover around 44 degrees Celsius with the minimum temperature likely to settle at 27 degrees Celsius Heatwave conditions are expected to continue through the afternoon and evening while strong hot winds are likely to sweep across the region throughout the dayOn May 21 despite a marginal dip in temperature the impact of the heatwave is likely to continue The maximum temperature is expected to remain around 43 degrees Celsius while the minimum temperature may stay close to 27 degrees Celsius The weather department said heatwave conditions would prevail during the afternoon and evening hours on this day as wellHumidity levels are expected to fluctuate between 35 and 50 per cent increasing the feeling of mugginess and discomfort for residents Similar weather conditions are likely to continue on May 22 with the IMD forecasting a maximum temperature of 43 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 27 degrees Celsius Hot and dry winds are expected to blow throughout the dayHowever a slight change in weather patterns may begin from May 23 when the sky is likely to remain predominantly clear and conditions may improve graduallyHealth experts and doctors have advised children senior citizens and people suffering from preexisting medical conditions to take extra precautions during the heatwave They have recommended drinking water regularly staying hydrated avoiding direct exposure to sunlight and limiting outdoor activities to prevent dehydration and heatstrokeIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/india-meteorological-department-issues-yellow-alert-for-heatwave-in-delhi-ncr-for-the-next-three-days-674494.html Tue, 19 May 2026 13:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/second-fuel-price-hike-in-a-week-pushes-petrol-near-rs-109-in-jaipur-674496.html Jaipur May 19 IANS Rajasthan witnessed the second hike in petrol and diesel prices within a week on Tuesday as petroleum companies increased petrol rates by around 94 paise per litre and diesel by approximately 91 paise per litre Following the latest revision petrol prices in Jaipur have risen to Rs 10891 per litre while diesel is now being sold at Rs 9414 per litrenbspThe fresh increase comes just four days after fuel prices were hiked by Rs 3 per litre on May 15 intensifying concerns over rising transportation and household expenses Oil companies have attributed the repeated hikes to the continued surge in crude oil prices in the international marketWith fuel costs steadily climbing transporters and traders fear a ripple effect on the prices of vegetables food items construction materials and delivery services potentially adding further pressure on inflation Amid rumours of fuel shortages circulating on social media and in local markets petrol companies have assured the public that fuel and LPG supplies across Rajasthan remain normal and adequateManoj Gupta Executive Director and Rajasthan StateLevel Coordinator for Indian Oil Corporation said fuel stocks are being monitored roundtheclock and replenishment is taking place without delay wherever required Oil companies have appealed to citizens to avoid panic buying maintain normal fuel consumption patterns and refrain from believing or spreading misleading reports regarding fuel availabilityStateLevel Coordinator Manoj Gupta Executive Director and State Head IOCL stated The overall petroleum supply situation in Rajasthan is completely stable normal and adequate The entire fuel supply chain from all our terminals and depots right down to the retail outlets petrol pumps in cities and villages is operating smoothly and with great efficiency There are absolutely no disruptions of any kind to the supply anywhere across the entire stateAccording to officials fuel stocks across all districts of Rajasthan are being monitored continuously and in realtimeIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/second-fuel-price-hike-in-a-week-pushes-petrol-near-rs-109-in-jaipur-674496.html Tue, 19 May 2026 13:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ai-needs-oversight-enforceable-accountability-in-law-justice-manmohan-at-jgu-674497.html New Delhi May 19 âAI needs institutional oversight and enforceable accountability in lawâ said the Honâble Justice Manmohan Judge Supreme Court of India at the Dr HR Bhardwaj Memorial Lecture on the theme The Emergence of AI and Its Implications for Justice Delivery and Legal Systems held at OP Jindal Global University âWhat is needed is that human judgment must remain central even with the use of AI India requires a clear regulatory framework for judicial AI and it must be developed in the Indian context Capacity building within the judiciary will be required and universities will have to develop courses on ethical constitutional and procedural dimensions of AI deploymentâ he addedJustice Manmohan paid tribute to Dr HR Bhardwaj and said âDr HR Bhardwaj was a multifaceted personality He was an author and a senior advocate designated by the Supreme Court He was a Member of Parliament five times and a minister for 15 years under three Prime Ministers He belonged to a generation where people across the political divide could be friends His question across five decades was always the same How do we bring justice to every Indian And he believed in technology In fact the first phase of the programme the eMode Phase One which is being implemented in the Supreme Court was launched while he was the law minister Technology and law have always had a very symbiotic relationship where technology has challenged fundamental concepts of law All our laws when they were promulgated we were dealing with a physical world Today we live in a digital world So when we are applying these laws are we doing the right thing by applying the same principles Or do we need a different set of principlesâAI the artificial intelligence as we call it is also demanding the same reckoning but at a pace which is unimaginable and at a scale which is also unbelievable due to its evolving nature If a computer software programme operates according to rules defined in advance by the programmers it is not an AI system But if a system is built using techniques that allow the programme to create rules of its own based on input data or data sets provided to the programme then it is an AI system Today the question is no longer whether they will be used or not The question is whether their use will be structured by clear principles of institutional oversight and enforceable accountability Keeping in view the importance of AI the Supreme Court has constituted an AI committee chaired by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court to lay down a broad strategy and policy with adequate guardrailsThe Supreme Courts White Paper on AI and judiciary released by the Centre for Policy Research and Planning in November 2025 is an authoritative statement of where the institution currently stands The paper positions AI as an assisted technology capable of supporting legal research transcription translation filing scrutiny and administrative analytics while firmly stating that judges must remain the ultimate decision makers with every AI output subject to human verification In consonance with our constitutional mandate there is human oversight throughout the process There is also the issue of privacy Data is collected by consent or not but what are the inferences that are being drawn and whether the individual who has given their consent is even aware of the downstream consequencesIn his Welcome Address Prof Dr C Raj Kumar Founding Vice Chancellor OP Jindal Global University said âThis is an occasion of remembrance gratitude and reflection a tribute to a statesman a constitutionalist a mentor an institution builder and above all a remarkable human being It was a dream to be able to come to India and be part of an effort to build a worldclass university I had not known HR Bhardwaj before I wrote to him and shared with him the idea of creating a university in India This is how the idea of establishing OP Jindal Global University began I want to begin by expressing this deep sense of institutional gratitude from the bottom of my heart and also from the hearts of more than 16000 students 4000 faculty members and the staff of O P Jindal Global University Dr Bhardwaj believed that India deserved a truly global university A university rooted in Indian values but globally engaged A university committed to constitutional morality public service and intellectual excellence He had extraordinary faith in the transformative power of youth and education Bharadwajs contribution is quite extraordinary He had a deep commitment to the Constitution of India and dedicated his life to preserving democratic values He oversaw significant legal and judicial reforms and promoted modernization within legal institutions He supported the expansion of legal aid and initiatives and was a strong advocate for worldclass legal education in India A number of his writings including books reflected the idea of Indias history civilization and heritage He believed education must cultivate humanity and compassion Legacies survive not only through institutions but through families preserved through values and memories and today I also pay tribute to his family for their supportâKarn Bhardwaj Advocate shared his reflections on his illustrious grandfather Dr HR Bhardwaj and said âToday is very meaningful for us because not only are we here with our near and dear ones but its also the birth anniversary of my grandfather Dr HR Bhardwaj The digitization of the courts and the use of AI are very new and very fastevolving aspects of legal practice And it is something that everybody is engaging with New entrants into the legal profession come with a very different mindset they are technologydriven They believe in electronic case management And they are really very differently evolved as professional individuals And as a lawyer in my generation I believe that this mindset transition has come not just because of access to technology but because of the integration of technology into the legal profession Today technology is so deeply integrated in law and Im proud to say that the late Dr H R Bhardwaj has had a founding role in the implementation of technology in our justice system as it stands todayâAlso present at the Memorial Lecture were members of his family including his wife Dr Prafullata Bhardwaj his son Arun Bharadwaj Senior Advocate and grandchildren Karn Bhardwaj Advocate and Gautam Bhardwaj AdvocateDr Hans Raj Bhadwaj 17th May 1937 08th March 2020 former Governor of Karnataka and Kerala 201213 former Union Minister of Law and Justice 20042009 was an inspirational leader eminent lawyer humanitarian educationist and politician who leaves behind a remarkable legacyIn a legal and political career spanning over five decades as a fivetime Member of Parliament Rajya Sabha 19822009 Dr Bhardwaj served under several Prime Ministers Dr Bharadwaj also played a founding role in establishing the International Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution ICADR and has been at the helm of legal and judicial reforms including womenâs right to property introduction of rural courts for doorstep justice reservation for women in the House of the People Lok Sabha and legislative assemblies perks and privileges for the judiciary etcThe Concluding Remarks were given by Prof Dabiru Sridhar Patnaik Registrar OP Jindal Global University IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/ai-needs-oversight-enforceable-accountability-in-law-justice-manmohan-at-jgu-674497.html Tue, 19 May 2026 13:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/former-uttarakhand-cm-bhuwan-chandra-khanduri-passes-away-in-dehradun-674499.html Dehradun May 19 Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Major General Retd Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri passed away on Tuesday at Max Hospital in Dehradun after a prolonged illness A former Army officer who transitioned into politics General Khanduri served two terms as the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand first from 2007 to 2009 and second from 2011 to 2012 steering the states administration During his tenure he took stringent measures against corruption and laid the foundation for a transparent and disciplined administration within the stateUttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed grief over the passing of General Khanduri and called his death an irreparable loss in the landscape of national politics In a statement CM Dhami said I have received the tragic news of the passing of the Honourable Major General Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri Retd former Chief Minister of UttarakhandRecalling Gen Khanduris tenure in the Indian Army the Chief Minister said During his tenure in the Indian Army Shri Khanduri set an unparalleled example of national service discipline and dedication From his military career to his public life his persona remained steadfastly devoted to the national interest and public serviceIn the realm of politics CM Dhami said that Gen Khanduri established a strong legacy defined by the development of Uttarakhand good governance transparency and an honest work ethic As a public leader he took numerous pivotal decisions for the progress of the state and through his simplicity candour and efficiency carved a special place for himself in the hearts of the people His demise constitutes an irreparable loss not only for Uttarakhand but for the landscape of national politics as well he saidI pray to the Almighty to grant eternal peace to his noble soul at His divine feet and to bestow upon his bereaved family the strength to bear this profound grief CM Dhami added IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/former-uttarakhand-cm-bhuwan-chandra-khanduri-passes-away-in-dehradun-674499.html Tue, 19 May 2026 13:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/acb-searches-telangana-officials-premises-unearths-rs-110-crore-cash-gold-674500.html Hyderabad May 19 More than Rs 110 crore cash one kg of gold ornaments and property documents were uncovered during Telangana ACBâs raids on premises linked to an official of Hyderabad Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board here on Tuesday Officials of the AntiCorruption Bureau ACB conducted simultaneous searches at eight locations linked to SL Kumar General Manager of Hyderabad Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board HMWSSB Red HillsThe searches were conducted following allegations that the official owns assets disproportionate to his known sources of incomeSearches led by a Deputy Superintendent of Police DSP reportedly uncovered Rs 11 crore in cash around one kg of gold ornaments 25 kg of silver items and documents relating to prime properties Officials suspect Kumar owns assets worth nearly Rs 100 crore including three flats in gated communities in Hyderabad six open plots and three acres of agricultural land in Nizamabad district The antigraft agency also reportedly uncovered a couple of cars owned by KumarThe searches began early Tuesday morning at Kumarâs house and other premises linked to him and his relatives in Hyderabad Rangareddy and Nizamabad districtsOne of the teams was conducting searches at his residence at Mallapur The officials were seen counting cash and sealing gold ornaments silver items and other valuables They were also checking documents relating to properties at various places in Hyderabad and other districtsThe ACB officials have detained Kumar and are questioning him to collect more details about his assets The agency was also examining bank lockersDetails regarding the alleged disproportionate assets are likely to be released by eveningIn a similar case in December last year the ACB uncovered assets of over Rs100 crore allegedly amassed by an official of the Telangana transport departmentA case of disproportionate assets was registered against Mood Kishan Deputy Transport Commissioner Mahabubnagar districtThough the document value of his properties was pegged at Rs 1272 crore their actual market value is estimated to be over Rs 100 crore The 31acre agricultural land he holds in Sangareddy district near Hyderabad alone is estimated to be worth over Rs 60 crore IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/acb-searches-telangana-officials-premises-unearths-rs-110-crore-cash-gold-674500.html Tue, 19 May 2026 13:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/man-kills-wife-three-children-in-bihars-darbhanga-attempts-suicide-674501.html Patna May 19 A gruesome case of domestic violence has emerged from Biharâs Darbhanga district where a man allegedly killed his wife and three children following a domestic dispute a police official said The incident occurred in the Chandanpatti area under the jurisdiction of Pator Police Station around 5 am on TuesdayAccording to the police the accused identified as Sandeep Das attacked his family using a baton and sharpedged weapons in a fit of rage during the early hours of TuesdaySandeep Das a native of Dalkhola in West Bengal had been working at a poultry farm in Chandanpatti along with his wife Phool Kumari Das 30 and their childrenPolice sources indicated that the couple frequently engaged in heated argumentsOn Tuesday morning another dispute broke out between them which allegedly escalated into fatal violenceIn the assault Sandeep brutally attacked his wife and three children leaving them critically injuredHis wife and two children died on the spot while the third child succumbed to injuries during treatment at Darbhanga Medical College and HospitalAfter the attack the accused also attempted to take his own life and sustained injuriesHe is currently undergoing treatment at the same hospital and is reported to be out of dangerChandra Bhushan Kumar Station House Officer SHO of Pator Police Station confirmed that police reached the spot promptly after receiving information and have initiated an investigationThe bodies have been taken into custody and sent for postmortem examinationA team from the Forensic Science Laboratory FSL has been called to assist in the investigation The district police have seized the weapons used in the crimeThe police are waiting for the recovery of the accused to take his statement and accordingly lodge an FIR against himThe exact cause of the dispute is yet to be determinedThe incident has sent shockwaves across the region raising serious concerns about domestic violence and mental health IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/man-kills-wife-three-children-in-bihars-darbhanga-attempts-suicide-674501.html Tue, 19 May 2026 13:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/gujarat-traders-employees-abducted-robbed-of-rs-42-lakh-in-kolkata-after-fake-deal-trap-674505.html Kolkata May 19 Two employees of a businessman from Gujarat were allegedly robbed by a gang on the pretext of carrying out a business transaction After looting Rs 42 lakh from them the accused allegedly abducted the two employees and forced them into a car However it is alleged that the two men were later taken to the Kona Expressway in Howrah district and thrown out of the car After learning about the incident the businessman from Gujarat arrived in Kolkata and lodged a formal complaint the police said on TuesdayThe alleged robbery took place in the Survey Park area of South Kolkata The businessman lodged a complaint at the Survey Park police station following which a case of robbery and kidnapping was registered The police launched an investigation and are examining CCTV footage from the area to identify the accusedThe police said that the incident took place in the first week of this month The businessman from Gandhinagar in Gujarat was allegedly contacted by some people from Kolkata over a business deal The suspects introduced themselves as businessmen and discussed sending certain goods from Kolkata to GujaratThe Gujarati businessman was allegedly told that the goods would be dispatched immediately if he paid Rs 42 lakh to the accused Following the agreement the businessman from Gandhinagar sent the money to Kolkata through two of his employees They were taken to a house in the New Santoshpur area of south Kolkata On reaching there the employees were allegedly asked to hand over the cash while they in turn demanded delivery of the goodsIt is alleged that the two employees were then confined in a room in the same house Around six armed men allegedly held them at gunpoint and snatched the bag containing Rs 42 lakh from the employees The victims reportedly kept banging on the door in an attempt to escape Later the accused allegedly took them out at gunpoint on the pretext of dropping them at Howrah station The accused took the victims in a vehicle and abandoned them on the Kona Expressway before fleeing the sceneThe victims managed to reach the Howrah railway station and returned to Gujarat where they informed the businessman about the entire incident On Monday the businessman reached Kolkata and lodged a complaint at the Survey Park police station regarding the robbery and abduction of his employeesThe Police are now trying to identify the house in the Survey Park area where the victims were kept Investigators are trying to trace the vehicle and identify the accused through the contact numbers used to communicate with the businessman The CCTV footage from Kolkata and Howrah is also being examined the police said IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/gujarat-traders-employees-abducted-robbed-of-rs-42-lakh-in-kolkata-after-fake-deal-trap-674505.html Tue, 19 May 2026 13:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/drdo-employee-posted-in-bengaluru-found-hanging-from-tree-in-jharkhands-ramgarh-674506.html Ramgarh Jharkhand May 19 A Defence Research and Development Organisation DRDO employee posted in Bengaluru was found hanging from a tree near his native village in Jharkhandâs Ramgarh district on Tuesday morning police said The deceased was identified as Kamal Kishore Mahto a resident of Talatad Bhuiyan Tola under the Patratu police station area He had returned to his ancestral village on leave on April 19 and had been staying with his family for the past few weeksAccording to family members Mahto had been under severe mental stress and depression for several days They said he had also been suffering from insomnia and often appeared disturbed and withdrawn because of his worsening mental conditionVillagers said he was seen roaming alone in the locality around 11 pm on Monday His behaviour reportedly appeared unusual though no one suspected that something tragic might happen later in the nightFamily members woke up around 2 am and found his bed empty Concerned over his sudden disappearance relatives and villagers started searching for him through the night but they could not trace him due to the darkness and the hilly terrain around the villageThe search resumed early on Tuesday morning with the help of more villagers A few hours later his body was discovered hanging from a tree on a nearby hill sending shockwaves through the entire localityThe incident has left the village griefstricken Mahto is survived by his wife and two young sons aged six and fourAfter receiving information about the incident a team from Patratu police station rushed to the spot and brought the body down from the tree Police completed the preliminary legal formalities and later sent the body to Sadar Hospital for postmortem examinationOfficials said further investigation is underway to ascertain the circumstances that led to the incident IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/drdo-employee-posted-in-bengaluru-found-hanging-from-tree-in-jharkhands-ramgarh-674506.html Tue, 19 May 2026 13:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/police-arrest-mastermind-behind-park-circus-violence-in-kolkata-674513.html Kolkata May 19 The sleuths of Kolkata Police on Tuesday morning arrested Faridul Islam the mastermind behind the violence at minoritydominated Park Circus area in central Kolkata on Sunday afternoon Protesters pelted stones and bricks injuring several police personnel while the latter attempted to prevent a violent demonstration against the use of bulldozers to demolish illegal constructions An insider from the city police said that the arrested person took the lead role in organising the violent protest demonstration first through provocative social media posts and then by giving instigating speeches at the demonstration site on Sunday afternoonAccording to a city police insider the accused persons involved in rowdyism on that day are being identified and arrested after examining the CCTV footage of the day of the incidentWith the arrest of Faridul the number of people arrested in this connection has increased to 46The entire Park Circus area turned into a virtual battlefield on Sunday afternoonAfter the protesters blocked the busy sevenpoint crossing at Park Circus illegally the Kolkata Police and the Central Armed Police Force CAPF personnel tried to remove the blockade The protesters then started pelting stones and bricks at themPolice vehicles were vandalised and some police and CAPF personnel were severely injured in that sudden attack by the protesters Later the police and CAPF personnel resorted to massive lathicharge to bring the situation under controlChief Minister Suvendu Adhikari went to the office of the deputy commissioner of the South East Division of Kolkata Police under whose jurisdiction Park Circus comes to talk to them on MondayStanding at Park Circus crossing CM Adhikari gave a message of zero tolerance towards hooliganism He made it clear that no antisocial act would be tolerated Highranking officials of Kolkata Police including the city police chief Ajay Nand were present along with the Chief Minister thenThis was the first and last attack on police personnel during my governmentâs tenure If any policeman is attacked in future strict legal action would follow Sundayâs agitation was a preplanned action Any political organisation or religious organisation can inform the police and organise their programme But gathering people raising religious slogans and pelting stones cannot be accepted Stone pelting at police has stopped in Kashmir and Srinagar and I think it will stop in West Bengal and Kolkata as wellâ the Chief Minister said on Monday afternoonLater he spoke to the injured police personnel and injured CAPF personnel IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/police-arrest-mastermind-behind-park-circus-violence-in-kolkata-674513.html Tue, 19 May 2026 14:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ktaka-dy-cm-shivakumar-visits-tirumala-temple-says-prayed-for-country-to-overcome-economic-crisis-674518.html BengaluruTirumala May 19 Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress President DK Shivakumar on Tuesday said that he prayed to Lord Venkateshwara at the Hindu pilgrimage centre of Tirumala for the country to overcome the economic crisis and for the state to receive good rainfall His visit to Tirumala has assumed significance amid the ongoing leadership tussle in the state Shivakumar along with his wife Usha offered prayers and had darshan of Lord Sri Venkateshwara Swamy at around 3 amHe arrived in Tirumala on Monday evening and stayed there overnight Later he travelled to Tumakuru to attend the mega event organised by the Karnataka government to mark the completion of three years in officeShivakumar is considered a strong contender for the post of Chief Minister and had recently stated that both he and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah would be called to Delhi Speaking to mediapersons after offering prayers at the Tirumala Tirupati temple Shivakumar said he sought blessings for peace prosperity and good health for people across the countryâI have prayed to Lord Venkateswara that the country should not suffer from an economic crisis that everyone be blessed with strength and good health and that the state receives good rainfallâ he saidThe Deputy Chief Minister said he also prayed for peace and stability in the country and for the nation to effectively face its challengesâI have prayed that the entire country be filled with peace and that it faces its challenges effectively I am very happy to have come here on this significant dayâ he saidShivakumar said he was visiting Tirumala after nearly six to seven years and appreciated the changes and development initiatives undertaken by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams TTDâThe Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams has brought about many changes and developments It has maintained discipline and cleanliness and is running a good administration The government has done good work I thank everyoneâ he saidExpressing happiness over the darshan of Lord Venkateshwara Shivakumar also praised the functioning of the TTD administration and its chairmanâI am delighted to have had the darshan of Sri Venkateswara The TTD Chairman is also doing excellent work along with his team I met the Revenue Minister here as well and he too is doing outstanding work I extend my best wishes to all of themâ he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/ktaka-dy-cm-shivakumar-visits-tirumala-temple-says-prayed-for-country-to-overcome-economic-crisis-674518.html Tue, 19 May 2026 14:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-hc-sentences-youtuber-to-six-months-jail-for-criminal-contempt-674521.html New Delhi May 19 IANS The Delhi High Court has sentenced YouTuber Gulshan Pahuja who runs the channel Fight 4 Judicial Reforms to six months simple imprisonment in two criminal contempt cases for making derogatory and scandalous remarks against the judiciary and judicial officersnbspA division bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Ravinder Dudeja also imposed a fine of Rs 2000 in each matter while observing that the contemnor had shown no remorse and had in fact compounded the contempt through further scandalous submissions made during the hearingHowever the Delhi High Court suspended the sentence for 60 days to enable Pahuja to challenge its judgment holding him guilty of criminal contempt before the Supreme CourtThe Justice Chawlaled Bench said that despite being given an opportunity to make submissions on punishment the contemnor questioned the conviction itself and during oral arguments made further scandalous remarks against the judicial systemHe in fact compounds his contempt by making further scandalous submissions before this Court and thus evidently he is neither repentant nor deserves any mercy the order saidRejecting his plea to recall the conviction judgment the Delhi High Court said it could not sit in review of its earlier order and that the contemnor was free to challenge the same in accordance with lawAs far as his submissions on our judgment dated 21042026 are concerned we cannot sit in review of the said judgment and the contemnor has full right and had an opportunity to challenge the same in accordance with law the bench saidIt further recorded that during oral arguments Pahuja made remarks such as adaalaton ki manmarzi badhti jaa rahi hai aur main koi nyay ki umeed nahi kar raha the wilfulness of the courts is constantly increasing and I am not hopeful of any justice and described the functioning of courts as taanashahi dictatorshipAdvocate Harsh Prabhaka amicus curiae appointed in the matter submitted that Pahuja had shown no course correction or remorse and continued uploading videos targeting judicial officers despite earlier directions restraining him from doing soConsidering the nature of the conduct the Delhi High Court observed that leniency in such circumstances could embolden similar conduct in the future and that the case warranted maximum punishmentnbspWe also find that by not imposing adequate punishment on him we may encourage him to repeat these acts in future and to embolden him in doing the same We are of the opinion that these cases call for the imposition of the maximum punishment the bench observednbspAccordingly the Delhi High Court sentenced Pahuja to six months simple imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 2000 in each case directing that the sentences would run concurrentlynbspIt further ordered that in case of default in payment of the fine he would undergo an additional one months simple imprisonmentnbspHowever taking note of the contemnors submission that he intends to challenge the judgment before the Supreme Court the bench suspended the sentence for a period of 60 daysnbspIn case an order suspending the sentence is not passed by the Supreme Court the contemnor shall on his own surrender before the Registrar General of this Court forthwith on expiry of the abovementioned period the order saidnbspThe contempt proceedings arose from videos and online content uploaded by Pahuja on his YouTube channel in which he made sweeping and unverified allegations against judicial officers and the judiciary In its earlier judgment the Delhi High Court had held that such remarks were intended to scandalise the institution and lower public confidence in the justice system and were not protected under the right to free speechnbspIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-hc-sentences-youtuber-to-six-months-jail-for-criminal-contempt-674521.html Tue, 19 May 2026 15:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/indias-4-pc-fuel-price-hike-lowest-among-major-economies-674524.html New Delhi May 19 Indiaâs increase of Rs 391 per litre in the prices of petrol and diesel announced this week works out to 44 per cent which is the smallest hike of any major economy outside the directly subsidising Gulf producers such as Saudi Arabia according to figures compiled by GlobalPetrolPricescom An Indian Oil official pointed out that the Rs 391 increase which restores only part of the rise in crude prices has been undertaken after 76 days of complete absorption of costs by the public sector oil companies In sharp contrast the rest of the world has been adjusting prices for the rise in crude costs through increases ranging from 10 to 90 per cent in the retail prices of the two fuelsThe passthrough has been steepest in liberalised emerging markets directly exposed to West Asian supply and freight where governments do not absorb volatility Myanmar Malaysia Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates have all seen petrol move up by more than half the prewar price with diesel rising even more sharply because of its closer link to global trade and freight The Pakistani consumer is paying about 55 per cent more for petrol today than three months ago the Malaysian about 56 per cent more and the Emirati consumers about 52 per cent higher prices the figures show In the advanced economies the increases are smaller in percentage terms but still substantial American petrol prices which respond quickly to crude because federal and state excise loadings are modest have risen by close to 45 per cent and diesel by 48 per cent In Europe where excise duties dampen the swing the United Kingdom is up about 19 per cent on petrol and 34 per cent on diesel Germany about 14 per cent on petrol and 20 per cent on diesel and France about 21 per cent and 30 per cent respectively In the case of Japan South Korea and Singapore the hike in petrol prices has been held below 20 per cent The price of diesel has risen considerably faster with Singapore registering a 65 per cent jumpIn Indiaâs case the Rs 391 per litre increase has helped reduce the daily losses that the governmentowned oil companies were incurring due to the skyrocketing cost of imported crude from Rs 1000 crore a day to Rs 750 crore The retail increase in fuel prices has resulted in cutting losses by only 25 per cent the Indian Oil official saidâIndia is the visible exception as until 15th May 2026 the public sector oil marketing companies held petrol and diesel prices essentially unchanged from their 23rd February 2026 levels absorbing the cost of crude at refinery gate and accumulating daily underrecoveries of around Rs 1000 croreâ he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/indias-4-pc-fuel-price-hike-lowest-among-major-economies-674524.html Tue, 19 May 2026 15:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/trinamool-block-president-arrested-in-cooch-behar-on-charges-of-violence-molestation-674529.html Kolkata May 19 A Trinamool Congress block president has been arrested in north Bengals Cooch Behar district for allegedly indulging in violence and molestation said the police on Tuesday The police have arrested Abdul Kader the Trinamool Congress president of Cooch Behar IB block The police arrested him from Guriahati II gram panchayat areas on MondayHe was produced in court on Monday afternoon According to police sources there are allegations of vandalism looting and molestation against him before the West Bengal Assembly elections Based on a complaint over these allegations the Trinamool leader has been arrestedThis marks the second highprofile arrest of a Trinamool block president in the region within a matter of days signalling a sweeping crackdown on political violence following the recent change of guard in the state administrationA few days back Shuvankar Dey the Trinamool President for Cooch Behar Block II was arrested in connection with an attack on the convoy of the current Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari dating back to August 5 2025It may be recalled that in August last year Adhikaris convoy was attacked in Cooch Behar district of north Bengal where he had gone to lead a protest rallyThe arrest of two Trinamool Congress block presidents in Cooch Behar has started a heated discussion in political circlesSince the BJP formed a government in the state there has been a crackdown on illegal and criminal activities of Trinamool Congress leaders The police have been active in taking action against antisocial elements and often acting against Trinamool Congress leaders against whom allegations of breaking the law were raisedRecently Trinamool Congress councillor of Baranagar Municipality in North 24 Parganas district Shantanu Majumdar alias Mejo has been arrested on charges of extortion He is the councillor of ward number 14 of BaranagarOn May 9 police arrested Trinamool Congress councillor Bhishmadev Karmakar in Berhampore of Murshidabad district who was accused of obstructing Congress leader Adhir Chowdhurys Assembly election campaignOn May 6 a Trinamool councillor was arrested on charges of punching and breaking a police officers nose in Hooghlys Serampore Trinamool councillor Rajesh Shah alias Kukua however alleged political vendetta against himOn May 5 a Trinamool Congress councillor named Amirul Sheikh Islam was arrested again under the Arms Act He is the councillor of ward number 14 of Pujali Municipality in Diamond Harbour of South 24 Parganas district IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/trinamool-block-president-arrested-in-cooch-behar-on-charges-of-violence-molestation-674529.html Tue, 19 May 2026 15:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/the-stunning-fall-of-kerala-cpi-674542.html Thiruvananthapuram May 19 From being projected as the golden generation of the CPIM to becoming symbols of political arrogance and public backlash the journey of Arya Rajendran and KM Sachin Dev is perhaps one of the most dramatic political cautionary tales in recent Kerala politics There was a time when the young couple embodied everything the party wanted to showcase before the public ie youth energy modernity and ideological commitmentAt just 21 Arya scripted history by becoming the youngest mayor in the country when she took charge of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation in 2020Few months later Dev emerged as the youngest member of the Kerala Assembly after his emphatic victory from Balussery at the age of 23For the CPIM they were not merely young leaders They were branding exercises proof that the party could still produce fresh faces capable of connecting with a changing generationTheir 2022 marriage only added to the aura around them and the media celebrated them endlessly while party workers flaunted them proudlyTogether they looked like a political fairytale in the making But politics has a cruel way of humbling those who begin to believe too deeply in their own invincibilityThe first visible crack came in April 2024 when the couple got embroiled in the now infamous altercation with a KSRTC driver in ThiruvananthapuramWhat could have remained a routine roadside argument quickly snowballed into a public relations disasterAllegations flew from both sides police cases were registered and television channels played the visuals repeatedlyFor many ordinary people the incident reinforced an uncomfortable perception that power had begun getting into the heads of the oncerelatable young leadersThat single episode altered public perception sharplyThe image of youthful simplicity slowly gave way to accusations of entitlement and political arroganceSocial media which had once celebrated them as icons of a new generation turned mercilessTrolls multiplied Memes flourished The political sheen around the couple began fading rapidlyThe electoral setbacks that followed only deepened the fall Arya was denied renomination in the local body polls a stunning development for someone once seen as the partyâs future face in the capitalWorse still for the CPIM the BJP wrested control of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation ending decades of Left dominance and symbolically marking the collapse of the image that Arya once representedThen came the final blow Dev once hailed as one of the brightest young legislators in Kerala lost the Assembly election by over 16000 votes to the Congress candidateThe defeat was not merely electoral it was psychologicalFrom commanding headlines as rising stars the couple suddenly found themselves reduced to examples in debates about political immaturity and unchecked egoAnd now comes the bitterest irony of all the KSRTC driver whose clash with them damaged their public image is set to be reinstated almost serving as the closing scene in a political downfall few could have imagined six years agoIn Kerala politics where leaders often rise rapidly on waves of public affection Arya and Devâs story is a reminder that humility remains the most valuable currency in public lifePower may arrive early Fame may arrive suddenly But when authority begins to resemble entitlement the fall can be even faster than the rise IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/the-stunning-fall-of-kerala-cpi-674542.html Tue, 19 May 2026 16:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/no-compromise-on-safeguarding-rights-of-fishermen-says-andhra-cm-naidu-674544.html Amaravati May 19 Amid reports of alleged trespassing and illegal fishing by mechanised fishing boats of Tamil Nadu in the territorial waters of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday made it clear that Andhra Pradesh will not tolerate anyone from neighbouring states encroaching upon its coastal waters âThis coastline belongs to us the boats are ours and the fishing rights are ours there will be no compromise on this matterâ he declared while addressing fishermen at Thummalapenta Village in SPSR Nellore districtâWe will not tolerate anyone from neighbouring states encroaching upon our coastal waters We will safeguard the rights of our fishermenâ he saidThe Chief Minister assured farmers that the government will maintain strict surveillance along the coastline and take measures to prevent boats from neighbouring states from entering our watersParticipating in the programme âin the service of fishermenâ the Chief Minister said as the fishing is banned from April 15 to June 14 the government is providing financial assistance of Rs 20000 to every fishermans familyâWe have deposited a total of Rs 262 crore directly into the bank accounts of 130796 fishermen familiesâ he said and assured that the coalition government remain committed to supporting themHe noted that hundreds of thousands of fisherfolk derive their livelihood from fishing along the stateâs extensive coastline However between 2019 and 2024 fish production witnessed a drastic declineThe Chief Minister stated that after agriculture and the construction sector the fisheries sector is the primary source of livelihood for the largest number of peopleâAndhra Pradesh stands at the forefront of fish production in the country We will continue to stand firmly by our fishermenâ he saidHe listed the steps taken to help fishermen including a diesel subsidy of Rs 9 per litre for mechanised and motorised fishing boats In 202627 the government provided diesel subsidies worth Rs 50 crore to fishing boatsThe government is also establishing nine fishing harbours and eight fish landing centres for Rs 3256 crore To ensure the safety of fishermen it installed 4550 transponders at sea and established a robust communication systemHe gave an assurance that 200 mechanised boats will be sanctioned for fishermen In addition to providing a 60 per cent subsidy the government will sanction the remaining amount as a loanStating that the government is undertaking construction of the Juvvaladinne Fishing Harbour for Rs 288 crore to economically empower fishermen he urged them not to believe the false propaganda being spread by certain individuals regarding this projectâWe will encourage fishermen to embrace new technologies alongside their traditional fishing practices We will bring prosperity into the lives of fishermen through seaweed cultivation We will enable fisherwomen and women belonging to DWCRA groups to earn additional income through seaweed farmingâ Chandrababu Naidu said IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/no-compromise-on-safeguarding-rights-of-fishermen-says-andhra-cm-naidu-674544.html Tue, 19 May 2026 16:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/tourist-death-case-ktaka-govt-announces-compensation-minister-calls-for-strict-guidelines-674547.html Bengaluru May 19 Karnataka Minister for Minor Irrigation Science and Technology and Madikeri District Incharge Minister NS Boseraju on Tuesday directed the Madikeri district administration to strictly enforce guidelines at the famous Dubare Elephant Camp following the tragic death of a woman tourist during a clash between captive elephants in the camp In a press release the Minister expressed deep sorrow over the incidentâI have discussed the matter with the Madikeri Deputy Commissioner senior officials of the Forest Department and the Police Department and obtained preliminary information regarding the incident I have instructed officials to submit a comprehensive report on the exact cause of the incident and whether there was any lapse in the management of tourist guidelinesâ the Minister statedKeeping tourist safety in mind the Minister directed officials to implement strict safety guidelines âOfficials and staff must ensure that these guidelines are mandatorily followed by everyone The district administration should take appropriate precautionary measuresâ he clarifiedThe Minister further noted that it is impossible for anyone to accurately predict the behaviour and reactions of wild animals Therefore tourists visiting forest areas and elephant camps must strictly follow the instructions issued by the Forest Department While observing animals visitors should maintain a safe distance and exercise extreme caution regarding their own safety he appealedIt can be recalled that in a tragic incident a woman tourist from Tamil Nadu was killed on Monday after coming under a captive elephant that was fighting with another elephant at the Dubare Elephant Camp in Karnatakaâs Madikeri districtThe deceased was identified as 33yearold S Juneshe Her husband Joyal sustained severe injuries in the incident and has been shifted to the Kushalnagar Government Hospital for treatmentAccording to police the couple had arrived at the Dubare Elephant Camp on Monday morning They initially got photographs taken with the trained elephants Later they ventured into the waterbody along with other tourists while elephants were being taken for a bath by mahouts The tourists were also participating in cleaning and bathing the elephantsWhile the tourists were engaged in the activity two captive elephants Marthanda and Kanjan suddenly started fighting with each other Despite repeated attempts by the mahouts to control them the elephants continued fightingDuring the commotion Marthanda reportedly fell on Juneshe killing her on the spot and seriously injuring her husband IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/tourist-death-case-ktaka-govt-announces-compensation-minister-calls-for-strict-guidelines-674547.html Tue, 19 May 2026 16:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/woman-dies-under-mysterious-circumstances-in-kolkata-guest-house-two-arrested-674550.html Kolkata May 19 A young woman died under mysterious circumstances in a guest house in the Salt Lake area of Kolkata the police said on Tuesday adding that two persons have been arrested Initially it was known that she died after falling from a mango tree However the family of the deceased alleged that their daughter was raped and murdered The police later recovered the body and sent it for an autopsyIt is learnt that the deceased woman went to the guest house in Salt Lake in an app cab on Monday night with one of her friends and two young men She died mysteriously thereHer companions claimed that the woman had climbed a tree on the premises of the guest house late on Monday night to pick mangoes But she fell and sustained serious injuries She was rushed to the hospital and declared dead by the doctorsAs soon as the matter came to light tension erupted in the area On receiving the news the police recovered the body and sent it for a postmortemThe Bidhannagar North Police Station is investigating the exact cause of the death of the young womanTwo people including a woman have already been arrested However the family of the deceased is reluctant to accept the theory of death while picking mangoes from the treeThe family has informed the Bidhannagar North Police Station that their daughter could not have climbed the tree The family claimed that the woman was raped and thrown from the guest house A senior officer of Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation said that investigators are exploring all possible anglesA complaint has been lodged by the family of the deceased The body has been sent for autopsy Once the autopsy report comes the cause of the death will be known and also whether any foul play was involved Investigation is on Two people have been arrested said the officer IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/woman-dies-under-mysterious-circumstances-in-kolkata-guest-house-two-arrested-674550.html Tue, 19 May 2026 16:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/interstate-drug-syndicate-courier-held-with-opium-in-jharkhands-chatra-674551.html Chatra Jharkhand May 19 Police in Jharkhandâs Chatra district have arrested an alleged courier of an interstate narcotics syndicate with 29 kg of illegal wet opium worth nearly Rs 17 lakh during a vehicle checking drive near the JharkhandBihar border officials said on Tuesday The accused identified as Anil Kumar Yadav a resident of Sikkid village under Chatra Sadar police station limits was arrested during a vehicle checking drive near the JharkhandBihar border Police said raids are underway to nab the main supplier and other members of the networkAddressing a press conference at the Collectorate on Tuesday Chatra Superintendent of Police Animesh Naithani said the district police had received specific intelligence that a youth carrying a large consignment of opium was travelling from the ChatraJori route towards Delhi via Biharâs Gaya district in a passenger tempoActing on the input a special raiding team led by the SubDivisional Police Officer SDPO was constituted Barricades were set up near Gosaidih on the JharkhandBihar border and intensive checking of vehicles was launchedDuring the operation police intercepted a passenger tempo On spotting the police team a suspicious youth attempted to flee with a black backpack However the alert personnel chased and overpowered him before he could escapeA search of the bag led to the recovery of 29 kg of highquality wet opium two smartphones and Rs 1200 in cashSP Naithani said the arrested accused was working as a courier for a larger interstate narcotics network According to a preliminary investigation he had been assigned the task of transporting the consignment to Delhi where he was to receive the exact delivery location and details of the buyer over phone callsPolice said interrogation of the accused has yielded several crucial leads about the syndicates operations and supply chain The main supplier involved in the racket has been identified and is expected to be arrested soonInvestigators said the illegal opium network operating from Chatra has links extending to Bihar Delhi Punjab and Haryana Police also suspect that the accused had delivered narcotics consignments to other states on multiple occasions in the past IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/interstate-drug-syndicate-courier-held-with-opium-in-jharkhands-chatra-674551.html Tue, 19 May 2026 16:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/meghalaya-youth-second-to-none-says-conrad-sangma-at-ncc-battalion-inauguration-674557.html Shillong May 19 Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Tuesday said the stateâs youth are âsecond to noneâ and asserted that investments in young people should be seen not as expenditure but as the foundation for the stateâs future growth and transformation Addressing the inauguration ceremony of the newly relocated 41 Meghalaya Battalion NCC complex at Cherangre in Tura the Chief Minister said the National Cadet Corps plays a crucial role in shaping disciplined confident and responsible citizensâI have always believed that the youth of Meghalaya are second to none not just in the country but in the worldâ Sangma said adding that young people in the state only need the right opportunities and exposure to excel in different fieldsCalling the inauguration a âmomentous occasionâ the Chief Minister said the establishment of the battalion in Tura was âalmost like a dream come trueâ and aligned with the governmentâs broader vision of youth empowermentâThe success of a government should not be measured by how many crores are spent or how many buildings are constructed It should be measured by how many lives are transformed because of those investmentsâ he saidHighlighting Meghalayaâs demographic profile CM Sangma said nearly 75 per cent of the stateâs population is below the age of 35 and almost half is below 20 years making youth development one of the governmentâs top prioritiesHe said the recently announced Youth and Sports Policy aims to create a longterm roadmap to empower young people through education sports entrepreneurship arts culture and skill developmentâThe inauguration of the 41 Meghalaya Battalion NCC complex is part of that larger vision It brings us one step closer to achieving the future we envision for our youthâ he statedRecalling his childhood fascination with the armed forces and police services CM Sangma said the discipline dedication and sense of purpose associated with uniformed personnel had deeply inspired himâThe NCC instils discipline patriotism hard work and values that shape young people into responsible citizensâ he addedThe Chief Minister also assured continued government support for strengthening NCC infrastructure and youthoriented initiatives across the stateTracing the battalionâs history officials said the 41 Meghalaya Battalion NCC originated from the 15 Assam Artillery Battery NCC raised in 1961 and was upgraded in October 2020 The battalion currently oversees NCC activities across five districts of Garo Hills and has expanded its reach to seven colleges and 18 schools with around 2400 cadets enrolled as of May 2026 IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/meghalaya-youth-second-to-none-says-conrad-sangma-at-ncc-battalion-inauguration-674557.html Tue, 19 May 2026 18:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/jampk-chief-secretary-reviews-arrangements-for-machail-mata-yatra-674559.html Srinagar May 19 Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Tuesday reviewed arrangements for the annual Machail Mata Yatra Officials said that the Chief Secretary reviewed elaborate arrangements for smooth safe conduct of Machail Mata Yatra at a highlevel meetingThe Chief Secretary took stock of the arrangements being put in place by the concerned Divisional and District Administrations for the smooth safe and hasslefree conduct of the annual Machail Mata Yatra scheduled to commence in August this year in the mountainous region of KishtwarThe meeting besides Additional Chief Secretary PWD and Principal Secretary Home was attended by Director General Fire amp Emergency Services Divisional Commissioner Jammu IGP Jammu Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar SSP Kishtwar Managing Director JPDCL Chief Engineer Project Sampark and other officers concernedDuring the meeting the Chief Secretary took a detailed assessment of the arrangements being made for ensuring safe and smooth conduct of the pilgrimage this year including sanitation measures entrusted to the Rural Development Department and arrangements related to water supply power medical facilities transport management and emergency response by the line departments concernedThe Chief Secretary also reviewed the implementation of the directions issued in the aftermath of last years disaster incident along the yatra route He took a detailed appraisal of measures such as introduction of online and RFIDbased registration systems disaster mitigation initiatives installation of Automatic Rain Gauges ARG and Automatic Weather Stations AWS for realtime weather alerts and development of detailed Standard Operating Procedures SOPs aimed at ensuring safety and smooth movement of pilgrims throughout the Yatra periodThe Divisional Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar apprised the meeting that elaborate accommodation arrangements were being made at various locations including Kishtwar headquarters Gulabgarh Chishoti and Machail to cater to the expected rush of devoteesGovernment accommodations private lodging facilities homestays and tented accommodations are being augmented while a dedicated tent city is also being established at Machail for the convenience of pilgrimsSpecial emphasis was laid on crowd management and realtime monitoring of pilgrims through implementation of 100 per cent online registration and RFIDenabled tracking mechanismsThe arrangements for daily monitoring of pilgrim movement deployment of adequate manpower at sensitive points and strengthening coordination among departments for effective management of the Yatra were also detailed out by the Divisional Commissioner during this meetingTo enhance pilgrim safety the administration is also undertaking landslide mitigation measures and strengthening monitoring systems at vulnerable stretches along the routeThe departments concerned were directed to maintain strict vigil and ensure immediate response to any weatherrelated exigencies during the pilgrimage periodThe Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar Pankaj Kumar Sharma divulged the details about the comprehensive traffic and transport management plans prepared to ensure smooth vehicular movement and timely restoration of road connectivity wherever requiredHe apprised the meeting about the establishment of designated parking areas regulation of traffic movement and ensuring uninterrupted access for emergency response vehiclesThe Chief Secretary further reviewed medical preparedness and emergency response arrangements for the Yatra The meeting was informed that medical camps ambulance services emergency response teams and firstaid facilities would be established at key locations along the routeAdequate healthcare personnel and essential medicines are also being arranged to meet any eventuality during the pilgrimage The meeting also reviewed arrangements related to drinking water supply uninterrupted electricity communication facilities sanitation and solid waste management made for this years yatraDirections were issued to all departments to work in close coordination to ensure efficient delivery of essential services and maintain cleanliness and environmental protection along the pilgrimage routeReiterating the administrationâs commitment towards ensuring a spiritually fulfilling and incidentfree pilgrimage the Chief Secretary called for coordinated efforts among all stakeholder departments and agencies for successful conduct of the Machail Mata Yatra this year IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/jampk-chief-secretary-reviews-arrangements-for-machail-mata-yatra-674559.html Tue, 19 May 2026 18:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/fir-filed-against-arrested-businessman-in-bluru-over-threats-to-customs-officer-674304.html Bengaluru May 18 The Bengaluru police have registered another FIR against businessman M Kripalani who was earlier arrested in connection with allegations of blackmail and sexual assault of a female Customs officer The latest case has been registered at the Halasuru Police Station following a complaint filed by Customs officer D Anthony police said on Monday Anthony is serving as a Customs Superintendent in Mangaluru According to the complaint Kripalani had earlier been involved in a smuggling case in an attempt to evade Customs charges In connection with the case Anthony had imposed a penalty of around Rs 850 lakh on KripalaniPolice said Kripalani allegedly sought revenge over the action taken against him He is accused of calling one of Anthonyâs colleagues and issuing death threats According to the complaint Kripalani allegedly threatened that Anthony his wife and children would not be spared aliveFollowing the complaint Halasuru police registered a case against Kripalani under Sections 3084 3513 and 3511 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNSKripalani is already under arrest in another case involving allegations of blackmail and sexual assault of a female Customs officer Police said the accused allegedly blackmailed the woman officer and threatened to release her private photographs and videos if she did not comply with his demandsThe woman officer unable to bear the alleged harassment later approached the police and lodged a complaint Initially a rape case was registered against Kripalani at the Yelahanka Police Station before it was transferred to the Indiranagar Police Station for further investigationThe woman officer has also levelled several other serious allegations against Kripalani According to the complaint Kripalani who was involved in the electronics business allegedly carried out several transactions while evading Customs scrutinyPolice investigations further revealed that Kripalani had become acquainted with the woman Customs officer nearly nine years ago and allegedly gained her trust by pretending to be in a romantic relationship with her He is also accused of luring her with promises of marriage and obtaining information about loopholes in Customs proceduresUsing such information Kripalani allegedly filed false complaints against some Customs officers and extorted money from them Police suspect that several Customs officials may have suffered due to his activities and have urged anyone who may have been similarly victimised to come forward and file complaintsFurther investigation is underway IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/fir-filed-against-arrested-businessman-in-bluru-over-threats-to-customs-officer-674304.html Mon, 18 May 2026 14:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ex-tn-minister-takes-break-from-politics-after-electoral-loss-says-will-return-recharged-674305.html Chennai May 18 Senior DMK leader and former Tamil Nadu Finance Minister P Thiaga Rajan PTR has announced that he will temporarily step back from active politics following the partyâs defeat in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections saying he intends to take a âshort breakâ after spending a decade in elected office In a detailed statement reflecting on the election outcome and the evolving political environment in Tamil Nadu PTR said he was looking forward to spending a few weeks away from public life and reconnecting with life as a private citizenHe explained that the break would allow him to pursue opportunities that had remained out of reach during his years in public office including invitations to deliver lectures and participate in events in India and abroadPTR also revealed that he plans to devote time to writing a book Alongside his professional commitments he said he hopes to focus on his health and adopt a more balanced lifestyle after recently turning 60At the same time the former minister made it clear that his decision should not be interpreted as a permanent withdrawal from politics âI am adapting to the reality that I am not going to be an elected representative for a while at least until the next electionBut my passion for public service and to be an agent of change remains undiminished I shall return recharged and refreshedâ he saidPTR has been one of the prominent and articulate faces of the DMK in recent years earning recognition for his strong views on governance and economic policy mattersHe was first elected from the Madurai Central constituency in the 2016 Tamil Nadu Assembly election and retained the seat in 2021Following the DMKâs victory that year Chief Minister MK Stalin appointed him Minister for Finance and Human Resources Management During his tenure PTR released a White Paper detailing Tamil Naduâs financial condition and debt profile In a Cabinet reshuffle in May 2023 he was moved to the Information Technology and Digital Services portfolio However his electoral journey suffered a setback in the 2026 Assembly election when he lost Madurai Central to TVK candidate Madhar Badhurudeen who secured a decisive victory by a margin of more than 19000 votes IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/ex-tn-minister-takes-break-from-politics-after-electoral-loss-says-will-return-recharged-674305.html Mon, 18 May 2026 14:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/edappadi-fears-losing-grip-over-his-party-leadership-dmks-elangovan-on-aiadmk-rift-674306.html Chennai May 18 DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan on Monday claimed that the ongoing rift within the AIADMK is rooted in Edappadi K Palaniswamiâs fear that his leadership position could weaken if senior leaders from the partyâs past are brought back into the fold The remarks came as the internal crisis within the AIADMK intensified further with factional tensions spreading across several district units in Tamil Nadu and leading to police intervention in multiple locationsThe growing confrontation between supporters of AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami EPS and the rival faction led by former Ministers SP Velumani and CVe Shanmugham has reportedly escalated into a battle for organisational control In several districts party offices were locked and placed under police security amid rising tensionsEPS has meanwhile accused the rebel faction of prioritising personal ambitions for ministerial posts over the unity and stability of the partyReacting to the developments Elangovan told IANS âThis fight has been going on for quite some time and Edappadi K Palaniswami does not want to bring back leaders who were earlier senior members of the AIADMK He is afraid that if they return his own position may be weakened This only reflects the weakness in Edappadiâs leadership which has led to all these splitsâThe DMK leader also commented on actor Rajinikanth congratulating actorturnedpolitician Vijay following the announcement of the Assembly election resultsRajinikanth had earlier taken to X to extend his wishes to Vijay after the election outcome Later he also dismissed rumours suggesting that he was jealous of Vijayâs political success The veteran actor clarified that his recent meeting with former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin was purely personal in nature and stressed that their friendship spans nearly four decades and goes beyond political affiliationsRajinikanth had also strongly rejected speculation that the meeting with Stalin was aimed at preventing Vijay from emerging as Chief MinisterResponding to the issue Elangovan said âWhat is wrong with it He appreciates Stalin and knows that Stalin is a close friend of his When someone from the film industry comes to power he Rajinikanth will definitely wish them What is wrong with thatâElangovan also reacted to criticism raised by actor Vishal and several others over Chief Minister Vijay allocating the Film Industry portfolio to Minister RajmohanâThere should be somebody who knows the film industry They must be posted as ministers so that they know what the film industry is and how to improve it Maybe that is the reason there is criticismâ Elangovan said IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/edappadi-fears-losing-grip-over-his-party-leadership-dmks-elangovan-on-aiadmk-rift-674306.html Mon, 18 May 2026 14:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/after-taking-oath-cm-satheesan-holds-first-cabinet-meeting-674308.html Thiruvananthapuram May 18 Heavy rain failed to dampen the spirit of thousands of jubilant supporters as the new government led by VD Satheesan formally stepped into office on Monday marking the beginning of a new political chapter in Kerala after a gap of 10 years Soon after the swearingin ceremony Satheesan and his 21member cabinet drove to Lok Bhavan for the customary tea hosted by Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath ArlekarEven as ministers exchanged greetings and settled into the reality of governance dark clouds gathered over the capital cityBy the time the new ministers began their journey to the North Block of the State Secretariat for the first cabinet meeting torrential rain had lashed the cityBut the weather only seemed to energise the crowd waiting outside Amid the downpour rose loud chants of âSatheesanâ and slogans welcoming the Congressled UDF government back to powerA sizeable section of the crowd comprised proUDF Secretariat employees party workers and ordinary supporters who had gathered despite the rain to witness the historic momentSecurity personnel struggled to control the swelling crowd as ministers made their way into the Secretariat premisesSatheesan first entered the Chief Ministerâs office where he formally assumed charge by signing the initial files marking the transfer of powerWhile the new Chief Minister completed the official formalities cabinet colleagues slowly assembled in the cabinet meeting hall adjacent to his officeMinutes later Satheesan walked into the cabinet room and took his seat at the head of the long table signalling the formal commencement of the first cabinet meeting of the new governmentExpectations are already mounting over the decisions to emerge from the maiden meeting with several key policy announcements and welfare measures anticipated in the coming daysMany of these are expected to directly impact the lives of ordinary Keralites Satheesan will brief the media after the conclusion of the cabinet meeting outlining the governmentâs immediate priorities and direction IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/after-taking-oath-cm-satheesan-holds-first-cabinet-meeting-674308.html Mon, 18 May 2026 14:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/jampk-crime-branch-files-chargesheet-against-retired-senior-engineer-for-forgery-destruction-of-evidence-674309.html Srinagar May 18 Jammu and Kashmir Crime Branch filed a chargesheet on Monday in the court against a retired senior engineer in a case of forgery and destruction of evidence The accused was the Superintendent Engineer of the JampK State Power Development Corporation and has retired nowA statement by the Crime Branch Kashmir said âThe Economic Offences Wing EOW of Crime Branch has submitted a chargesheet before the Honâble Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Srinagar in FIR No 092015 under Sections 420 467 468 471 and 201 RPC against the then incharge Superintendent Engineer JampK State Power Development Corporation now retiredThe Crime Branch said that upon receipt of a written complaint alleging manipulation of the date of birth in the service records of the then incharge Superintendent Engineer JampK State Power Development Corporation a probe was initiated at the police station Crime Branch Kashmir now Economic Offences Wing KashmirInvestigation revealed that the accused fraudulently manipulated his date of birth in official service records from 28101955 to 28101958 in order to secure undue service benefits the press release mentionedThe manipulation was confirmed through FSL Srinagar and JampK BOSE verification reports The accused also destroyed his original service book to conceal evidence leading to the invocation of Section 201 RPCThe investigation in the instant case was concluded as proved against him and accordingly the chargesheet was submitted before the Court of Law for judicial determination The statement also had a word of caution saying the general public is advised to remain vigilant against economic fraudsters and report any such incidents directly to SSP EOW Kashmir Crime Branch JampK Victims of economic fraud may also send their complaints to the official email sspeowkmrjkpolicegovin said the statementThe Crime Branch wing of JampK Police carries out dedicated investigations in special crimes and in economic offences that require special expertise and dedicated investigation The executive police engaged with maintenance of law and order cannot devote full time to such investigations and that is why such crimes are handled by the Crime BranchJampK Crime Branch has two wings one for the Valley and one for the Jammu division Both these wings have special teams of sleuths deployed to deal with economic offences exclusively IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/jampk-crime-branch-files-chargesheet-against-retired-senior-engineer-for-forgery-destruction-of-evidence-674309.html Mon, 18 May 2026 14:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/high-voltage-drama-in-jharkhand-youth-climbs-200-foot-tower-to-press-for-marriage-with-girlfriend-674311.html Giridih Jharkhand May 18 Mobile towers in Jharkhand are increasingly becoming the stage for dramatic displays of love defiance and emotional outbursts In yet another incident resembling the iconic Veeru scene from the blockbuster film Sholay a youth in Giridih district climbed a nearly 200foothigh mobile tower on Monday demanding that his family arrange his marriage with his girlfriend triggering panic and drawing huge crowds to the spot The incident took place in Motileda village under Bengabad police station limits in Giridih districtAccording to locals the youth identified as Sanjay Rajak climbed the tower early in the morning and declared that he would not come down until arrangements were made for his marriage to his girlfriendThe sight of the youth perched atop the towering structure triggered panic in the village with hundreds of residents gathering at the spot within a short time Fearing an untoward incident villagers immediately alerted the policeActing swiftly a team from Bengabad police station reached the scene and launched a rescue operation Police personnel along with villagers and local elders repeatedly appealed to the youth through loudspeakers to climb down safely However Sanjay remained adamant and continued to insist on immediate marriageThe incident is the latest in a series of similar episodes reported from Jharkhand in recent daysOn Sunday a woman in Gomoh area of Dhanbad district climbed a mobile tower demanding the release of her arrested boyfriend A day earlier in Nimiaghat area of Giridih a married man had remained atop a tower for nearly seven hours creating high drama and forcing police and local authorities into actionOfficials said this is the fourth such incident reported in Jharkhand within the last fifteen days highlighting a growing trend of emotionally charged public spectacles that have become a major challenge for the police and administrationAfter several hours of persuasion and coordinated efforts involving police personnel and respected local residents Sanjay Rajak was finally brought down safely from the tower He was later taken to the police station where his family members were called for counselling and further discussions IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/high-voltage-drama-in-jharkhand-youth-climbs-200-foot-tower-to-press-for-marriage-with-girlfriend-674311.html Mon, 18 May 2026 14:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/justice-manoj-jain-to-hear-cbi-plea-division-bench-to-hear-contempt-case-against-kejriwal-674315.html New Delhi May 18 IANS The Delhi High Court has constituted a new Bench to hear the CBIs plea challenging the discharge of AAP leaders including former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and exDeputy CM Manish Sisodia in the excise policy case after Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma recused from the matter following initiation of criminal contempt proceedingsnbspA singlejudge Bench of Justice Manoj Jain will now hear the CBIs revision petition against the trial court order that had discharged Kejriwal Manish Sisodia and others in the alleged excise policy corruption case The matter is scheduled to be taken up on TuesdaySeparately a Division Bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Ravinder Dudeja has been constituted to hear the criminal contempt case against Kejriwal Sisodia AAP MP Sanjay Singh and party leaders Saurabh Bharadwaj Vinay Mishra and Durgesh Pathak The contempt proceedings will also be heard on TuesdayThe developments come days after Justice Sharma initiated criminal contempt proceedings observing that a coordinated social media campaign had been carried out to scandalise the judiciary in connection with the excise policy caseIn a detailed order the Delhi High Court held that the actions of the proposed contemnors were calculated to scandalise the Court lower the authority of the institution of justice interfere with the administration of justice and intimidate the independent exercise of judicial functionsIt observed that while fair criticism of judicial orders is permissible there is a distinction between fair criticism and running a campaign to portray a judge as biasedThe Court cannot permit erosion of the constitutional system and the justice delivery system by tolerating organised assaults in the name of public discourse the order said adding that such attempts if unchecked could undermine public confidence in the judiciaryJustice Sharma also made it clear that the contempt proceedings were not driven by personal grievance stating that she neither seeks sympathy nor demands immunity from criticism but is dutybound to protect the institutionThe judge had clarified that transfer of the main excise policy case to another Bench was not a recusal at the asking of the accused persons but a step necessitated by judicial propriety and discipline after initiation of contempt proceedingsThe main revision petition can always be heard by any other Bench However the acts of the proposed contemnors directed against this Court and the institution of the judiciary could only have been noticed and addressed by this Court the order saidIt added that the transfer of the case should not be construed as succumbing to recusal demands stating that the earlier order rejecting recusal continues to hold the fieldThe contempt proceedings were initiated after the Delhi High Court took exception to alleged defamatory and vilifying material circulated against Justice Sharma on social media following her refusal to recuse from the matterAccording to the Delhi High Court instead of challenging the recusal order before a higher forum the accused persons sought to carry the matter to social media by publishing letters and videos questioning the judges impartiality thereby attempting to create public distrust in the judiciaryThe trial court in a judgment running into more than 1100 paragraphs had discharged all accused persons holding that the nowscrapped excise policy was the outcome of a consultative and deliberative process and that the prosecution failed to establish an overarching conspiracyIn its revision plea before the High Court the CBI has alleged that the excise policy framed by the then AAPled Delhi government was manipulated to favour select liquor traders in exchange for kickbacksIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/justice-manoj-jain-to-hear-cbi-plea-division-bench-to-hear-contempt-case-against-kejriwal-674315.html Mon, 18 May 2026 14:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/indias-exports-to-scale-1-trillion-mark-in-fy27-piyush-goyal-674319.html New Delhi May 18 IANS Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said on Monday that India is targeting exports worth 2 trillion over the next five years while pegging the overall exports target for FY27 at 1 trillionnbspIndias total exports of goods and services increased to an alltime high of 863 billion in FY26 despite the uncertainties in global markets triggered by the US tariff turmoil and geopolitical tensionsThe minister said India continues to remain a bright spot amid global geopolitical and economic uncertainty caused by the war in Ukraine and tensions in West Asia due to the Iran warAddressing an event here the minister said that Indias FTAs now cover over twothirds of global tradeThe minister also said that Indias free trade agreement with Oman is expected to come into effect from June 1 while the FTAs signed with other countries are also likely to be implemented this year after the legal process is completedIndia and Oman signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement CEPA on December 18 2025 giving most Indian exports including textiles dutyfree accessThe CEPA gives India zeroduty access on 9808 per cent of Omans tariff lines covering 9938 per cent of Indian exports by valueIndia will cut duties on about 78 per cent of its tariff lines covering nearly 95 per cent of imports from Oman with sensitive products given access mainly through tariffrate quotasTalks for the free trade agreement began in November 2023 and were successfully wrapped up in August 2025 after five rounds of negotiations The total volume of trade between India and Oman touched 1061 billion in 202425 which represented a growth of 186 per cent over the previous yearIndia has also operationalised trade agreements with the UAE Australia and the European Free Trade Association EFTA bloc among others while pacts with the European Union and the United Kingdom are expected to come into force this yearOther FTAs which are going through legal ratification will also start kicking in Goyal saidThe minister also released the seventh Logistics Ease Across Different States LEADS 2025 report and the 4th ceremony for Logistics Excellence Advancements and Perform Shield LEAPS 2025 He said that the government has taken reducing logistics costs as an urgent national mission to make India globally competitiveHe added that heavy investments are being made in infrastructure and delivery systems to ensure seamless logistics across the country Goyal highlighted that the countrys growth remains strong driven by continuous investments across sectors rapid innovation by startups and competitive labour costs backed by Indias skilled workforceIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/indias-exports-to-scale-1-trillion-mark-in-fy27-piyush-goyal-674319.html Mon, 18 May 2026 14:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bhilwara-petrol-pumps-shut-indefinitely-as-dealers-protest-unethical-inspections-674323.html Jaipur May 18 All petrol pumps in Rajasthanâs Bhilwara district were shut indefinitely from Monday after the Bhilwara Petroleum Dealer Society called a strike protesting alleged âunethicalâ inspection practices and objectionable social media remarks targeting pump owners The decision was taken during a meeting of the Society held on Sunday According to Society Secretary Ashok Kumar Mundra the sale of petrol and diesel at all fuel stations in the district was suspended from 9 am on MondayThe dealers have launched the strike in protest against alleged objectionable social media comments targeting petrol pump owners as well as what they described as âunethicalâ inspection procedures that have damaged their reputationThe Society said it would submit a memorandum to the district administration outlining its demands and grievances Dealers claim the move was necessary to protect their credibility and public image after surprise inspections were conducted at several petrol pumps in Bhilwara on the directions of Rajasthan Minister for Consumer Affairs Sumit GodaraThe inspections were carried out under the provisions of the Legal Metrology Act During the inspections officials allegedly detected a shortage of 30 millilitres of fuel in a standard 5litre measurement However the Dealersâ Society has strongly contested the findings arguing that the testing process was technically flawed and misleadingAccording to the Society the design of dispensing machines is such that even a discrepancy of 21 millilitres can cause the metre to display a reading of 30 milliliters Dealers insist this does not necessarily mean consumers were shortchanged by the same amountThe Society further clarified that government norms allow a permissible variation of up to 25 millilitres either excess or short in a 5litre fuel measurement In such cases dealers cannot legally be held guilty of underdelivery they saidPetrol pump owners also objected to what they termed a âmedia trialâ alleging that the issue was widely circulated across print electronic and social media platforms before any legal determination of wrongdoing had been made The dealers alleged that several unidentified individuals posted derogatory and baseless comments against petrol pump owners on social media severely harming their reputationSociety officebearers including President Zahir Hussain Secretary Ashok Kumar Mundra and Treasurer Dinesh Bhagat said they have full faith in the judicial system but would not tolerate public defamation in the name of investigations In their memorandum to the District Collector the dealers demanded immediate legal action against those spreading false information and posting objectionable remarks on social mediaThe Society stated that petrol pumps across Bhilwara would remain closed until their demands are addressedEarlier on Sunday officials from the Rajasthan Ministry for Consumer Affairs said that four fuel nozzles at three petrol pumps in Bhilwara district have been sealed after inspections found discrepancies in fuel dispensingAt Deepak Petroleum Shiv Indian Oil and Shri Shyam Filling Station the pumps were reportedly delivering 34 to 90 millilitres less petrol than the prescribed quantity they said in an official statement IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bhilwara-petrol-pumps-shut-indefinitely-as-dealers-protest-unethical-inspections-674323.html Mon, 18 May 2026 15:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bengal-cabinet-clears-7th-pay-commission-annapurna-bhandar-rollout-674329.html Kolkata May 18 The West Bengal cabinet on Monday approved implementation of the 7th Pay Commission for state government employees Announcing the decision after the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari state minister for Women amp Child Development and Social Welfare Agnimitra Paul said the move addresses a longpending demand of employees She said the matter was taken up at the cabinet meeting and the proposal was clearedShe said that the state cabinet also cleared the proposal for implementation of the Annapurna Bhandar project the monthly financial assistance scheme for women in the state involving a monthly allowance of Rs 3000 which was proposed in the Bharatiya Janata Party BJPâs Sankalp Patra election manifesto in the recently concluded West Bengal assembly electionsAccording to her the women who were receiving monthly allowances under the previous Lakshmir Bhandar scheme a similar financial assistance scheme run by the previous Mamata Banerjeeled government will automatically get linked to the new Annapurna Bhandar projectâThe money will be automatically transferred to their bank accounts Those who were not receiving the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme benefits so far can now apply for enrollment under the Annapurna Bhandar scheme The new applications can be made only for which a new portal will be opened shortlyâ Paul explainedâAt the same timeâ she added âthe state cabinet in its meeting today had also cleared a proposal for free rides for all women in the state in all staterun public buses from June 1âShe also said that at the moment no decision has been made in the cabinet meeting about increasing the number of buses âWe will use the existing infrastructure of government buses The full state budget will be presented in June However in the cabinet meeting the Chief Minister said that some new electric buses will be included in the state transport systemâ Paul saidHowever she informed that the state cabinet has decided to stop all supportive schemes provided on the basis of religious classifications under both the state information amp cultural affairs and minority affairs amp madrasah education departments from next monthâSuch scholarship will be in force only for this current month and will be stopped from June 1â Paul said IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bengal-cabinet-clears-7th-pay-commission-annapurna-bhandar-rollout-674329.html Mon, 18 May 2026 16:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/jodhpur-police-registers-suo-motu-fir-in-womans-suspicious-death-followed-by-overnight-cremation-674330.html Jodhpur May 18 Jodhpur Rural Police registered a suo motu FIR in connection with the suspicious death of a woman in the AsopBhopalgarh area and her subsequent overnight cremation Superintendent of Police PD Nitya said on Monday According to the SP the incident is being treated as serious and suspicious due to the circumstances surrounding the womanâs death and the hurried cremation carried out during the night without prior information to the authoritiesSP PD Nitya stated that on May 14 the woman and her husband had visited the Asop police station following mutual disputes and familyrelated tensionsBoth parties expressed apprehension and claimed they felt threatened by one another Police officials counseled the couple at the police station and asked the woman whether she wished to file a formal complaintHowever she declined to lodge any report Considering the situation the Station House Officer presented both individuals before an Executive Magistrate for preventive legal actionDuring this process the womanâs brothers also arrived at the police station and assured officials that they would take responsibility for her safety and ensure that no further dispute occurred between the two sidesThe woman subsequently left with her brothers for her maternal home The SP further stated that on the morning of May 15 police received information regarding the death of a woman in the village and that her cremation had already been carried out overnightWhen police reached the spot it emerged that the deceased was the same woman who had visited the police station a day earlierFamily members informed officials that the woman had allegedly died by suicide following which her cremation was performed during the night itselfFinding the circumstances suspicious police took suo motu cognisance and registered an inquest reportForensic investigation teams including the FSL and Mobile Forensic Unit were called to the site to collect evidence Police officials collected samples from the cremation site including bones and bodily remains firewood and other materials used during the cremation processAccording to SP PD Nitya a Medical Board has conducted a postmortem examination of the remains and all collected samples will be sent for forensic analysisThe investigating agency has been directed to conduct a detailed enquiry into all aspects related to the womanâs death and the circumstances under which the cremation was carried outFurther legal action will be initiated based on the findings of the investigation the SP added IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/jodhpur-police-registers-suo-motu-fir-in-womans-suspicious-death-followed-by-overnight-cremation-674330.html Mon, 18 May 2026 16:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/indias-exports-to-scale-1-trillion-mark-in-fy27-piyush-goyal-674331.html New Delhi May 18 Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said on Monday that India is targeting exports worth 2 trillion over the next five years while pegging the overall exports target for FY27 at 1 trillion Indias total exports of goods and services increased to an alltime high of 863 billion in FY26 despite the uncertainties in global markets triggered by the US tariff turmoil and geopolitical tensionsThe minister said India continues to remain a bright spot amid global geopolitical and economic uncertainty caused by the war in Ukraine and tensions in West Asia due to the Iran warAddressing an event here the minister said that Indiaâs FTAs now cover over twothirds of global tradeThe minister also said that Indiaâs free trade agreement with Oman is expected to come into effect from June 1 while the FTAs signed with other countries are also likely to be implemented this year after the legal process is completedIndia and Oman signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement CEPA on December 18 2025 giving most Indian exports including textiles dutyfree accessThe CEPA gives India zeroduty access on 9808 per cent of Omanâs tariff lines covering 9938 per cent of Indian exports by valueIndia will cut duties on about 78 per cent of its tariff lines covering nearly 95 per cent of imports from Oman with sensitive products given access mainly through tariffrate quotasTalks for the free trade agreement began in November 2023 and were successfully wrapped up in August 2025 after five rounds of negotiations The total volume of trade between India and Oman touched 1061 billion in 202425 which represented a growth of 186 per cent over the previous yearIndia has also operationalised trade agreements with the UAE Australia and the European Free Trade Association EFTA bloc among others while pacts with the European Union and the United Kingdom are expected to come into force this yearOther FTAs which are going through legal ratification will also start kicking in Goyal saidThe minister also released the seventh Logistics Ease Across Different States LEADS 2025 report and the 4th ceremony for Logistics Excellence Advancements and Perform Shield LEAPS 2025 He said that the government has taken reducing logistics costs as an urgent national mission to make India globally competitiveHe added that heavy investments are being made in infrastructure and delivery systems to ensure seamless logistics across the country Goyal highlighted that the countryâs growth remains strong driven by continuous investments across sectors rapid innovation by startups and competitive labour costs backed by Indiaâs skilled workforce IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/indias-exports-to-scale-1-trillion-mark-in-fy27-piyush-goyal-674331.html Mon, 18 May 2026 16:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/cm-satheesan-unveils-welfare-bonanza-in-first-cabinet-meeting-674333.html Thiruvananthapuram May 18 Delivering on election promises within hours of assuming office the maiden cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister VD Satheesan on Monday rolled out a series of sweeping welfare decisions signalling the beginning of an aggressive peoplecentric governance model under the new Congressled UDF government In perhaps the biggest announcement of the day the government declared free travel for women in KSRTC buses from June 15 implementing one of the five guarantees promised by the UDF during the election campaignCM Satheesan also announced the creation of a separate department for the welfare of senior citizens describing it as the first such initiative in the countryDrawing inspiration from Japanâs elderly care system the Chief Minister said a detailed study of the Japanese model would be conducted within two monthsâA society is judged by how it treats its elderly Kerala will soon become a model state in caring for senior citizensâ CM Satheesan said after the cabinet meetingThe government also moved swiftly to address longpending demands of ASHA workersKeeping another election promise the cabinet approved a Rs 3000 hike in their honorarium raising it to Rs 12000Retirement benefitrelated announcements for ASHA workers are expected within a monthAnganwadi workers catering workers preprimary teachers and ayahs were also granted a Rs 1000 increase in wages Satheesan said additional benefits would be considered once the stateâs financial condition improvesIn another politically significant move veteran former CPIM leader G Sudhakaran who was booted out of the party and contested with the UDF support was appointed Protem Speaker The MLAs swearingin will be held on May 21 and the next day the election of the Speaker will take place On May 29 the Governor will address the AssemblyThe government also named senior advocate Jaiju Babu as Advocate General after the incumbent resigned while T Asaf Ali was appointed Director General of ProsecutionThe cabinet further ordered a Special Investigation Team probe into the alleged assault on Youth Congress workers during the Nava Kerala Sadas programme in Alappuzha in December 2023CM Satheesan announced that a White Paper on Keralaâs finances would soon be prepared by an expert committee while monsoon preparedness would be treated as an urgent priority of the new administration IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/cm-satheesan-unveils-welfare-bonanza-in-first-cabinet-meeting-674333.html Mon, 18 May 2026 16:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-refuses-to-hear-pil-on-temple-priests-wages-674336.html New Delhi May 18 The Supreme Court on Monday declined to entertain a public interest litigation PIL seeking directions for framing a uniform wage and welfare framework for priests sevadars and temple staff working in statecontrolled temples across the country A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta expressed disinclination to interfere in the matter and refused to entertain the plea filed by advocate Ashwini Upadhyay who appeared in personAfter the apex court indicated its unwillingness to examine the issue Upadhyay sought permission to withdraw the petition with liberty to approach the appropriate authoritiesThe Justice Vikram Nathled Bench thereafter dismissed the matter as withdrawnThe petitioner seeks permission to withdraw the plea with liberty to approach the appropriate authorities The petition is dismissed as withdrawn the top court recorded in its orderThe plea had sought directions to the Centre and state governments to constitute a judicial commission or expert committee to review the wages and service conditions of priests sevadars and temple staff in temples under government control The petition also sought a declaration that priests and temple staff fall within the definition of employee under Section 2k of the Code on Wages 2019 making them entitled to minimum wages and other labour welfare protectionsThe plea contended that once state governments assume administrative financial and economic control over temples an employeremployee relationship arises between temple administrations and priests or temple workers It claimed that priests and temple staff in several states survive on arbitrary honorariums dakshinabased payments and meagre remuneration often ranging between Rs 1000 and Rs 5000 per month without pension healthcare or social security protectionsReferring to statutory frameworks governing temples in states such as Tamil Nadu Andhra Pradesh Telangana Karnataka and Kerala the plea argued that governments exercise pervasive control over appointments service conditions disciplinary supervision and temple revenues while simultaneously denying labour welfare protections to temple workersThe petition further relied on constitutional provisions under Articles 14 and 21 contending that denial of fair wages and dignified livelihood to priests and temple staff violates their fundamental rightsReferring to judicial precedents including observations of the Allahabad High Court on minimum wages for temple staff the plea contended that the issue had nationwide implications and warranted intervention by the apex court IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-refuses-to-hear-pil-on-temple-priests-wages-674336.html Mon, 18 May 2026 17:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/there-can-be-no-rift-between-bjp-and-jd-674340.html Bengaluru May 18 Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda on Monday asserted that there can be no difference between the BJP and the JDS stating that the partnership between the two parties within the NDA will continue to be robust Speaking to reporters after offering special prayers at the Venkateshwara Temple in JP Nagar on the occasion of his 94th birthday Deve Gowda said he remained committed to working for the welfare of the people despite his advancing ageâI will continue to work for the people of the state to the best of my ability I have made a firm resolve to continue fighting for the problems of the people for some more time I will not sit at home just because I have turned 93 Even if required I will move around in a wheelchairâ he saidResponding to questions regarding the 2028 Assembly elections Deve Gowda stated that the JDS was a partner in the NDA and shared cordial relations with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit ShahâWe are partners in the NDA We have good relations with PM Modi and Amit Shah There will not be any crisis in this alliance Even if difficult situations arise during the course of this political struggle we will sit together resolve them and continue the fightâ he saidHe further stated that he had no concerns regarding the future of the alliance due to the strong relationship the party shared with the BJP leadershipReferring to the political situation in South India Deve Gowda said Congress leaders often claimed that the party was strong in Kerala Telangana and Karnataka but added that the future political scenario remained to be seenâLet us wait and see what happens in the future I do not want to speak much about it now I will speak when the appropriate time comesâ he remarkedCalling upon JDS workers to remain disciplined and committed to the party Deve Gowda urged them to fulfil the responsibilities assigned by Union Minister and senior JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy at the taluk and district levelsâI appeal to party workers and legislators to work sincerely as disciplined soldiers of the party and carry out the responsibilities entrusted to them with dedicationâ he saidDeve Gowda also expressed concern over the worsening problems faced by the people and indicated that he would address the issue further during a press conference scheduled for May 20âThe problems faced by the people have become very serious I have already spoken about this in a press conference earlier I will again address the media on May 20 and discuss issues concerning the state and the countryâ he saidHighlighting his long political journey Deve Gowda said he had spent 68 years in public life fighting for peopleâs causesâIt does not matter how much recognition people give me What matters is continuing the struggle I will keep workingâ he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/there-can-be-no-rift-between-bjp-and-jd-674340.html Mon, 18 May 2026 17:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/assam-rifles-seize-1-200-detonators-in-mizoram-one-held-674341.html Aizawl May 18 Assam Rifles personnel seized 1200 detonators and arrested an individual in Mizoramâs Aizawl district officials said on Monday A defence spokesman said that in a successful operation Assam Rifles troops recovered the detonators used to trigger a larger explosion in a bomb or explosive charge from the Durtlang area of AizawlDuring the operation one individual was apprehended and his vehicle seizedThe spokesman said that the operation was launched based on specific intelligence inputs regarding the movement of explosive materials in the Aizawl areaActing swiftly on the information troopers of the Assam Rifles carried out vehicle interception and checking in the suspected area he said During the check the team recovered 1200 detonators concealed inside the driverâs seat of the vehicleThe entire operation was conducted with utmost caution keeping in view the sensitive nature of the recovered itemsThe apprehended individual along with the recovered detonators and vehicle has been handed over to the Durtlang police station for further investigation and legal proceedingsAn Assam Rifles statement said that the successful recovery once again highlights the unwavering commitment of the Assam Rifles towards maintaining peace security and stability in MizoramAssam Rifles continues to remain vigilant and committed in its efforts to curb illegal activities and ensure safety in the region it notedAizawl district shares interdistrict borders with Champhai and Mamit districts which in turn share unfenced international borders with Myanmar and Bangladesh respectively Officials suspect that the explosive materials were procured for transborder smugglingMizoram has emerged as a major drug and various contraband trafficking corridors in Northeast India due to its long unfenced borders with Myanmar and Bangladesh Among the most commonly trafficked narcotic substances from Myanmar are highly addictive methamphetamine tablets widely known as Yaba or âparty tabletsâ and heroin Often referred to as the âcrazy drugâ these tablets contain a mixture of methamphetamine and caffeine and are strictly banned in India Officials said that such illegal consignments are frequently smuggled through six districts of Mizoram Champhai Siaha Lawngtlai Hnahthial Saitual and Serchhip IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/assam-rifles-seize-1-200-detonators-in-mizoram-one-held-674341.html Mon, 18 May 2026 17:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/rajasthan-governor-unveils-new-emblem-names-13-gates-within-assembly-premises-674342.html Jaipur May 18 Marking 75 years of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly Governor Haribhau Bagde on Monday unveiled the newly designed emblem of the Assembly and announced the names of 13 gates within the premises Describing the Legislative Assembly as the âsacred temple of democracyâ the Governor said the new emblem reflects Rajasthanâs rich cultural identity and democratic heritage He noted that while the Legislative Assembly was formally constituted in 1952 after Independence the roots of representative governance in the state go back to 1913 when Maharaja Ganga Singh established a Pratinidhi Sabha Representative AssemblyCalling the unveiling a significant milestone during Indiaâs Amrit Kaal Bagde said the emblem symbolises the collective spirit and values of Rajasthanâs peopleThe logo developed on the initiative of Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani incorporates symbols such as the Rohida flower the Khejri tree and the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly buildingThe Governor said these elements represent the resilience and vibrant cultural spirit of Rajasthanâs people who continue to celebrate life despite the regionâs harsh geographical conditions Referring to the Khejri tree as Rajasthanâs own Kalpa Vriksha he also recalled the historic sacrifice made by villagers in Khejadli to protect trees describing it as a lasting symbol of harmony between nature and societyDuring his address the Governor shared an anecdote involving Ganesh Vasudev Mavalankar the first Speaker of the Lok Sabha He recounted how Mavalankar once responded to a man claiming expertise in management by pointing out the food left wasted on his plate and remarking that proper management begins with personal disciplineUsing the story to underline the importance of responsibility and practical conduct the Governor said effective management principles should guide every aspect of life and governance The Governor stressed the need to improve educational opportunities for underprivileged children stating that a nation progresses through education and the talent of its youth He called for greater emphasis on practical learning and quality education in schoolsDrawing from his experience as Speaker of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Bagde said democracy becomes stronger when citizens remain equally conscious of their duties and rights He also praised the decision to name the Assembly gates after places associated with Rajasthanâs valour and heroic traditions calling it a tribute to the stateâs glorious legacy IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/rajasthan-governor-unveils-new-emblem-names-13-gates-within-assembly-premises-674342.html Mon, 18 May 2026 17:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-cm-gupta-calls-on-lg-sandhu-to-discuss-development-growth-issues-674343.html New Delhi May 18 Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday discussed issues related to development and growth with Lieutenant Governor TS Sandhu a meeting which came amid a major push by the government to promote public transport and undertake measures to check monsoon flooding âHonâble Chief Minister Smt guptarekha called on Honâble LtGovDelhi Sardar SandhuTaranjitS LokNiwasDelhi Discussions focussed on key issues related to the development and growth of Delhiâ said Lok Niwas in a message on XThe discussions followed the Chief Ministerâs reiteration that if it concerns Delhiâs people the development work will get doneShe also announced Rs 150 crore for Dwarkaâs development alongside the Rs 6200 crore Metro expansion project from Kirti Nagar to PalamEarlier on Monday Chief Minister Gupta participated in the âMetro Mondayâ initiative launched under the âMera Bharat Mera Yogdanâ public campaign conveying the message of public transport usage fuel conservation and responsible citizen participationFollowing the Chief Ministerâs appeal all Ministers of the Delhi Government and senior government officials also used Metro Rail and buses of the Delhi Transport Corporation DTC to commute to their officesThe Chief Minister began her day with a message of public participation She walked from her residence at Raj Niwas Marg in Civil Lines to Lok Niwas closeby to attend a meeting chaired by the Lieutenant GovernorThereafter the Chief Minister travelled by electric car to Kashmere Gate Metro Station and used Delhi Metro services from there to ITO Metro Station After reaching ITO Metro Station the Chief Minister used the feeder bus service to travel to her office at the Delhi SecretariatCabinet Ministers in the Delhi Government Parvesh Verma and Ravinder Indraj were also present with the Chief Minister during the journeyThe Chief Minister said that the âMera Bharat Mera Yogdanâ campaign is not merely a government initiative but a movement for public participation Its objective is to convey to every citizen that even a small effort made in national interest plays a significant role in strengthening the countryâs energy security environmental protection and economic balance IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-cm-gupta-calls-on-lg-sandhu-to-discuss-development-growth-issues-674343.html Mon, 18 May 2026 17:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/mp-three-held-for-forging-mbbs-degree-securing-employment-under-national-health-mission-in-damoh-674236.html BhopalDamoh May 17 A major and shocking fraud involving the healthcare system has come to light in Madhya Pradeshs Damoh where three alleged doctors employed at Sanjeevani Clinics operated under the National Health Mission have been apprehended by the police officials said Earlier a doctor N John Cam was apprehended by the police for forging a cardiology postgraduate degree and performing surgery on innocent patients in DamohThe individuals were found to be working on the basis of forged MBBS degrees and fraudulent Medical Council registrations police said on SundayThe revelation of this case has sent shockwaves through the Health Department and the administrative machinery alikeInvestigations conducted by the Kotwali police revealed that the accused had been posing as doctors and treating patients at government health centres for nearly a yearThe police suspect that this case is not limited to just these three individuals but rather suggests a vast network involving forged degrees and fraudulent appointments that may extend across the entire stateAccording to the police on May 16 the Kotwali police station received an investigative report from the office of the Chief Medical and Health OfficerThe report said that Kumar Sachin Yadav a resident of Gwalior and Rajpal Gaur a resident of Sehore had submitted forged and fabricated MBBS degrees Medical Council registration certificates and other educational documents to secure appointments at the Sanjeevani Clinic located in Subhash Colony of DamohDuring the verification of these documents several discrepancies and suspicious details were identifiedConsequently the police registered separate cases against both accused individuals and initiated legal proceedingsSubsequent interrogation and document verification confirmed that the certificates submitted by both individuals were indeed forgedThe investigation also revealed that both accused had been providing government healthcare services while posing as doctors for nearly a yearDuring this period they treated numerous unsuspecting patientsOfficials have said that this constitutes not merely an act of fraud but a grave endangerment to the health and lives of the general publicAccording to police officials had this matter not come to light in a timely manner this fraudulent scheme would have continued for a much longer durationDuring the interrogation of the two accused the name of Ajay Maurya who was employed in Jabalpur surfacedThe police received information indicating that he was also working at a Sanjeevani facility on the basis of forged documentsActing swiftly the police team immediately took him into custody as wellThe police are now questioning all three accused to ascertain who provided them with the forged degrees and registration documentsPolice officials have emphasised that this case is extremely serious and sensitive given that Sanjeevani Clinics are directly involved in providing medical treatment and healthcare services to the general publicThe Kotwali Police Station has registered a case against the accused under Sections 318 338 336 and 340 of the Bharatiya Nyaya SanhitaIn this context the fact that fake doctors were posted in government hospitals raises serious questions about the entire system The police are now searching for those individuals involved in procuring fake degrees medical registrations and other documents as well as in facilitating these appointmentsThe investigation into the matter is ongoing and the police claim that further major revelations regarding this widespread fraud may emerge in the coming days as the network is uncovered IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/mp-three-held-for-forging-mbbs-degree-securing-employment-under-national-health-mission-in-damoh-674236.html Mon, 18 May 2026 12:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/plea-in-sc-seeks-immediate-shift-of-neet-ug-to-computer-based-test-mode-674238.html New Delhi May 18 IANS A fresh petition has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking immediate transition of the National EligibilitycumEntrance Test NEETUG to a ComputerBased Test CBT mode contending that repeated paper leak controversies and alleged security lapses have exposed the vulnerability of the existing penandpaper examination system conducted by the National Testing Agency NTAnbspnbspAccording to the plea despite recommendations made by the highlevel committee headed by former ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan after the 2024 controversy NEETUG 2026 continued under substantially the same penandpaper framework involving physical printing storage transportation and handling of confidential examination materialThe present penandpaper system is inherently vulnerable owing to dependence upon physical logistics chains strong rooms transportation networks and thirdparty operational mechanisms each creating multiple access points and possibilities of unauthorised disclosure the petition statedThe plea said that the Union government had already publicly announced that NEETUG would transition to a fully computerbased test mode from 2027 which itself amounted to an acknowledgement that technological reform and secure digital examination architecture are necessaryOnce the Respondents authorities have accepted the inevitability of transition to CBT mode postponing implementation despite the events of NEETUG 2026 lacks reasonable justification it addedThe petition contended that the CBT mode would substantially reduce risks associated with physical handling of confidential papers through encrypted delivery systems digital audit trails biometric verification and realtime security protocolsSeeking urgent directions the plea prayed for conducting the retest scheduled on June 21 through the CBT mode instead of the existing penandpaper format It also sought directions to the Centre to prepare a timebound roadmap for the transition of NEETUG to a fully computerbased framework along with details of infrastructure development cybersecurity mechanisms and candidate accessibility measuresFurther the petition sought replacement of the NTA with a new independent transparent and professionally regulated National Examination Authority having statutory accountability judicial oversight and advanced technological safeguardsThe plea also sought the constitution of a highlevel monitoring committee comprising retired Supreme Court judges educationists psychologists cybersecurity experts forensic scientists and administrative experts to recommend structural reforms for the secure conduct of nationallevel examinationsIn addition the petition sought directions for the implementation of encrypted digital paper transmission systems biometric verification AIbased surveillance systems and strict cybersecurity protocols in national examinationsThe plea further prayed for strict criminal prosecution and fasttrack investigation against individuals coaching centres middlemen and officials allegedly involved in examination leaks and organised cheating racketsIt also sought a direction to the CBI to file a status report before the apex court within four weeks regarding the investigation into the alleged NEETUG 2026 paper leak including details of arrests charges and progress of prosecutionReferring to the NEETUG 2026 examination conducted on May 3 the petition alleged that guess papers and leaked material were circulated on digital platforms including WhatsApp and Telegram before the examination The cancellation of a national examination affecting more than 22 lakh candidates itself demonstrates that the integrity of the examination process stood compromised and that the existing security architecture failed to preserve the confidentiality of examination material the plea statedThe petition said that the National Testing Agency NTA cancelled the examination on May 12 after receiving investigative inputs regarding compromise of examination integrity and directed the reconduct of the test on June 21According to the plea the events surrounding NEETUG 2026 were not isolated incidents but part of a continuing pattern of controversies linked to examinations conducted by the NTAThe petition filed under Article 32 of the Constitution clarified that it does not challenge the cancellation or reconduct of NEETUG 2026 itself Rather its limited grievance concerns the repeated institutional failures in the conduct of NEET examinations and the urgent need for structural reformsIt referred to instances of impersonation forged identities proxy candidates and organised solver networks allegedly detected during NEET examinations in 2021 as well as allegations of remoteaccess software misuse and organised cheating modules in JEEMain 2021The petition further cited the NEETUG 2024 controversy involving allegations of paper leaks circulation of solved papers suspicious grace marks and interstate cheating syndicatesReferring to the Supreme Courts observations in Vanshika Yadav vs Union of India 2024 the plea quoted the apex court as saying This indicates that there is a serious lapse in security and that security measures which are stringent and effective must be implemented by NTAThe petition also referred to the cancellation of UGCNET 2024 following concerns relating to compromise of examination integrityThe petition has been filed before the Supreme Court by RJD MP Sudhakar Singh social activist Anubhav Garg Dr Dhruv Chauhan National Spokesperson of the Indian Medical Association IMA and political leader Harisharan Devgan through advocate Satyam Singh Rajput advocateonRecord Neema along with a legal team comprising Muskan Singh and Adarsh SinghIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/plea-in-sc-seeks-immediate-shift-of-neet-ug-to-computer-based-test-mode-674238.html Mon, 18 May 2026 12:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/plea-in-sc-seeks-immediate-cbt-mode-for-neet-ug-674240.html New Delhi May 18 IANS A fresh petition has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking immediate transition of the National EligibilitycumEntrance Test NEETUG to a ComputerBased Test CBT mode contending that repeated paper leak controversies and alleged security lapses have exposed the vulnerability of the existing penandpaper examination system conducted by the National Testing Agency NTAnbspnbspAccording to the plea despite recommendations made by the highlevel committee headed by former ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan after the 2024 controversy NEETUG 2026 continued under substantially the same penandpaper framework involving physical printing storage transportation and handling of confidential examination materialThe present penandpaper system is inherently vulnerable owing to dependence upon physical logistics chains strong rooms transportation networks and thirdparty operational mechanisms each creating multiple access points and possibilities of unauthorised disclosure the petition statedThe plea said that the Union government had already publicly announced that NEETUG would transition to a fully computerbased test mode from 2027 which itself amounted to an acknowledgement that technological reform and secure digital examination architecture are necessaryOnce the Respondents authorities have accepted the inevitability of transition to CBT mode postponing implementation despite the events of NEETUG 2026 lacks reasonable justification it addedThe petition contended that the CBT mode would substantially reduce risks associated with physical handling of confidential papers through encrypted delivery systems digital audit trails biometric verification and realtime security protocolsSeeking urgent directions the plea prayed for conducting the retest scheduled on June 21 through the CBT mode instead of the existing penandpaper format It also sought directions to the Centre to prepare a timebound roadmap for the transition of NEETUG to a fully computerbased framework along with details of infrastructure development cybersecurity mechanisms and candidate accessibility measuresFurther the petition sought replacement of the NTA with a new independent transparent and professionally regulated National Examination Authority having statutory accountability judicial oversight and advanced technological safeguardsThe plea also sought the constitution of a highlevel monitoring committee comprising retired Supreme Court judges educationists psychologists cybersecurity experts forensic scientists and administrative experts to recommend structural reforms for the secure conduct of nationallevel examinationsIn addition the petition sought directions for the implementation of encrypted digital paper transmission systems biometric verification AIbased surveillance systems and strict cybersecurity protocols in national examinationsThe plea further prayed for strict criminal prosecution and fasttrack investigation against individuals coaching centres middlemen and officials allegedly involved in examination leaks and organised cheating racketsIt also sought a direction to the CBI to file a status report before the apex court within four weeks regarding the investigation into the alleged NEETUG 2026 paper leak including details of arrests charges and progress of prosecutionReferring to the NEETUG 2026 examination conducted on May 3 the petition alleged that guess papers and leaked material were circulated on digital platforms including WhatsApp and Telegram before the examination The cancellation of a national examination affecting more than 22 lakh candidates itself demonstrates that the integrity of the examination process stood compromised and that the existing security architecture failed to preserve the confidentiality of examination material the plea statedThe petition said that the National Testing Agency NTA cancelled the examination on May 12 after receiving investigative inputs regarding compromise of examination integrity and directed the reconduct of the test on June 21According to the plea the events surrounding NEETUG 2026 were not isolated incidents but part of a continuing pattern of controversies linked to examinations conducted by the NTAThe petition filed under Article 32 of the Constitution clarified that it does not challenge the cancellation or reconduct of NEETUG 2026 itself Rather its limited grievance concerns the repeated institutional failures in the conduct of NEET examinations and the urgent need for structural reformsIt referred to instances of impersonation forged identities proxy candidates and organised solver networks allegedly detected during NEET examinations in 2021 as well as allegations of remoteaccess software misuse and organised cheating modules in JEEMain 2021The petition further cited the NEETUG 2024 controversy involving allegations of paper leaks circulation of solved papers suspicious grace marks and interstate cheating syndicatesReferring to the Supreme Courts observations in Vanshika Yadav vs Union of India 2024 the plea quoted the apex court as saying This indicates that there is a serious lapse in security and that security measures which are stringent and effective must be implemented by NTAThe petition also referred to the cancellation of UGCNET 2024 following concerns relating to compromise of examination integrityThe petition has been filed before the Supreme Court by RJD MP Sudhakar Singh social activist Anubhav Garg Dr Dhruv Chauhan National Spokesperson of the Indian Medical Association IMA and political leader Harisharan Devgan through advocate Satyam Singh Rajput advocateonRecord Neema along with a legal team comprising Muskan Singh and Adarsh SinghIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/plea-in-sc-seeks-immediate-cbt-mode-for-neet-ug-674240.html Mon, 18 May 2026 12:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/heatwave-eases-as-rain-brings-relief-across-tn-heavy-rain-alert-issued-674243.html Chennai May 18 Even as the intense summer heat continued to affect many parts of Tamil Nadu widespread rainfall across several districts brought muchneeded relief and cooler weather conditions The India Meteorological Department IMD has indicated that atmospheric circulations over the southern region are influencing weather patterns and are expected to trigger more rain across the state over the next few daysAccording to weather officials one atmospheric circulation is persisting over the Kanyakumari Sea and adjoining regions while another has formed over northeast Tamil Nadu and nearby areas These systems led to widespread rainfall across several districts on SundayModerate rain was recorded in Hosur and the surrounding areas of Krishnagiri district including Madagiri Jujuvadi Begepalli and BagalurSivaganga and nearby localities experienced heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds for more than an hour resulting in a noticeable drop in temperatureIn Dindigul district Palani and Kodaikanal witnessed nearly two hours of rainfall causing waterlogging on several roads Periyakulam and nearby areas in the Theni district also received moderate showers lasting over half an hourSeveral parts of Pudukkottai including the new bus stand area Thiruvappur Machuvadi Thirukokarnam Bose Nagar Mettupatti and Malayedu experienced thunderstorms and steady rainfallIn Madurai district areas such as Pandian Nagar Vadakarai Chengulam Karisalpatti and Maravankulam in and around Thirumangalam reported heavy rain accompanied by thunderNagapattinam district also received substantial rainfall in places including Sikkal Velankanni Kilvelur Valivalam and Thirukkuvalai leading to water accumulation in lowlying areasThe weather department has forecast heavy rainfall for Nilgiris Coimbatore Tiruppur Theni Dindigul Madurai and Sivaganga districts on MondayStrong winds accompanied by heavy rain are also expected in Pudukkottai Karur Tiruchy Erode Salem Namakkal Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districtsThe forecast also suggests continued heavy rainfall on Tuesday in the hilly regions of Coimbatore and Tiruppur along with the Nilgiris Theni Dindigul and Madurai districts Chennai may witness moderate rain with thunderstorms in isolated areasMeanwhile the southwest monsoon is expected to set in over Kerala around May 26 IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/heatwave-eases-as-rain-brings-relief-across-tn-heavy-rain-alert-issued-674243.html Mon, 18 May 2026 13:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/massive-fire-erupts-in-passenger-train-in-bihar-all-on-board-safe-674244.html Patna May 18 A massive fire broke out in one of the coaches of a passenger train bound for Patna No injuries have been reported officials said on Monday The incident occurred on the SasaramPatna fast passenger train near the Bihars Sasaram railway station at around 6 am According to the preliminary investigation the fire was caused by a suspected short circuit officials said The coach caught fire while it was at the Sasaram railway station shortly before it was scheduled to depart officials saidThe railway officials said that the blaze caused panic among the passengers on the platform though no casualties were reportedVisuals from the incident show thick smoke emerging from the train coach Upon receiving the information the Railway Police administration arrived at the scene and with the assistance of the fire brigade team brought the fire under control However due to the severity of the fire one coach of the SasaramPatna Passenger train was destroyedMeanwhile procedures are currently underway to detach the damaged coach adjust the schedule and dispatch the train following a thorough inspectionThis incident comes a day after a fire broke out in two rear coaches of the Delhibound Rajdhani Express near Rajasthans Kota on Sunday No injuries were reported in this incident Railway officials said all passengers from the affected coach were immediately deboarded safely According to railway authorities the Overhead Equipment OHE power supply was immediately shut down after the fire was detected to prevent further danger and the affected coach was removedThe officials further stated that the builtin safety systems of the coach functioned promptly leading to the automatic halt of the train soon after the incident occurredFollowing the fire railway authorities also launched a nationwide audit of firerelated systems installed in coaches and associated railway infrastructure to assess safety preparedness and prevent similar incidents in the future IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/massive-fire-erupts-in-passenger-train-in-bihar-all-on-board-safe-674244.html Mon, 18 May 2026 13:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/mettur-water-crisis-casts-shadow-over-kuruvai-cultivation-in-tns-cauvery-delta-674248.html Tiruchi May 18 A sharp decline in storage levels at the Mettur reservoir has raised concerns over the future of kuruvai cultivation in Tamil Naduâs Cauvery delta region with farmers and agricultural experts warning that the customary release of water on June 12 now appears unlikely The water level at the Mettur dam on Sunday stood at 79 feet considerably lower than the 108 feet recorded during the corresponding period last year Reservoir storage has also dropped significantly to 41035 TMC compared to 76031 TMC during the same period in 2025 creating uncertainty over irrigation prospects in the delta districtsThe customary release of water from Mettur for kuruvai cultivation has traditionally taken place when reservoir levels exceed 100 feet With current storage far below that mark concerns are growing that the scheduled opening may not be possible this yearThe development has intensified worries among farmers in the Cauvery delta particularly after a series of successful agricultural seasons in recent yearsBetween 2020 and 2025 Mettur releases largely took place on time except in one season leading to bumper harvests and helping kuruvai cultivation exceed targets in several years Samba cultivation also recorded a strong performance during this periodAuthorities have now substantially revised cultivation expectations for the current season The kuruvai cultivation target has been reduced to 344 lakh acres from the 631 lakh acres achieved in 2025 Districtwise targets have been fixed at 157 lakh acres in Thanjavur 97000 acres in Tiruvarur 87000 acres in Mayiladuthurai and 59000 acres in NagapattinamAgricultural activity across the delta has progressed slowly with only about 35 per cent of the targeted area reportedly covered so farFarmers who have already begun cultivation are depending largely on groundwater resources and borewells while hoping for favourable southwest monsoon conditionsAgricultural experts estimate that the reservoirâs storage could decline further by early June due to allocations for drinking water requirements increasing pressure on irrigation planningThere are also growing calls for ensuring the release of Tamil Naduâs allocated share of Cauvery water in accordance with established watersharing arrangementsWith uncertainty continuing over water availability there are concerns that farmers may increasingly shift their focus towards a single samba crop strategy in an effort to reduce risks and minimise potential losses during the current agricultural season IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/mettur-water-crisis-casts-shadow-over-kuruvai-cultivation-in-tns-cauvery-delta-674248.html Mon, 18 May 2026 13:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/aiadmk-rift-deepens-in-tn-as-district-units-turn-battlegrounds-674252.html Chennai May 18 The internal crisis within the AIADMK has deepened further as the partyâs growing factional battle spread across district units in Tamil Nadu triggering tensions and prompting police intervention in several places Supporters of Edappadi K Palaniswami EPS and the rival faction led by former Ministers SP Velumani and CVe Shanmugham are increasingly engaged in a struggle for control leading to party offices being locked and brought under security watchFollowing similar developments in Villupuram Cuddalore Pudukkottai and Karur the latest flashpoint emerged in Dindigul where police stepped in to prevent a confrontation between rival groups seeking control of the district party unitThe Dindigul dispute has brought two influential leaders and former ministers Natham Viswanathan and Dindigul Srinivasan into direct conflict The differences surfaced after EPS removed several districtlevel functionaries believed to be aligned with the rebel factionWhile Natham Viswanathan has backed the VelumaniShanmugham camp Dindigul Srinivasan has remained firmly with EPS Supporters of Viswanathan sought police protection to enter the district office while Srinivasanâs supporters opposed the move resulting in police sealing access and preventing both groups from entering the premises to avoid any lawandorder situationLater Srinivasan held a meeting with his supporters and reiterated that the AIADMK general council had unanimously accepted Edappadi K Palaniswami as the partyâs general secretary and undisputed leaderResponding to questions regarding the rebel MLAs he said the matter would be decided according to legal procedures and indicated that action against them remained inevitableMeanwhile the VelumaniShanmugham faction intensified efforts to convene an emergency general council meeting aimed at challenging the current leadership structureSupporters of the rebel camp have reportedly begun collecting signatures from general council and executive committee members across the state and claim they have already secured support from more than 1000 members At the same time the EPS camp has continued pressing for action against the 25 rebel MLAs accused of violating the party whip during the Assembly trust vote IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/aiadmk-rift-deepens-in-tn-as-district-units-turn-battlegrounds-674252.html Mon, 18 May 2026 13:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/unprecedented-victory-kerala-witnessing-new-political-era-kharge-674255.html New Delhi May 18 On attending the swearingin ceremony of CMdesignate VD Satheesan as the 13th Chief Minister of Kerala Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday said the occasion marks a historic and celebratory moment for the state âAll the Cabinet Ministers will take oath along with him and the ministers from the LDF will also take oath We are going to celebrate a grand occasion today This is an unprecedented victory with such a huge majority never seen there before It is the first time such a large mandate has been achieved and everyone is happy which is why we are all going togetherâ Kharge saidSenior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala also described the moment as significant for the people of Kerala and said the verdict reflected a strong public mandate for changeâToday is an auspicious day for the people of Kerala because after 10 years the UDF is coming to power The 10year rule of LDF has been rejected by the people of Kerala So it is our bounden duty to give good governance to the people of Keralaâ he saidPreparations were done at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram as VD Satheesan is set to take oath as Chief Minister of Kerala A large number of people have gathered at the venue ahead of the swearingin ceremonyFifteen years after the Congress last occupied the seat of power in Kerala under late former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy the state woke up on Monday to a politically charged atmosphere filled with celebration nostalgia and renewed expectations as the Congressled UDF returns to powerGovernor Rajendra V Arlekar will administer the oath of office to the entire cabinet at the Central Stadium VD Satheesan will take oath as Keralaâs 13th Chief Minister formally ending the decadelong rule of CPIM veteran Pinarayi VijayanThe swearingin marks not merely a change of government but the Congress leaders describe it as the beginning of a new political era in KeralaFrom the early hours of the day the state capital wore a festive look Roads leading to the venue were packed with Congress workers and supporters dressed in white khadi waving party flags chanting slogans and distributing sweetsVehicles from across Kerala streamed into Thiruvananthapuram as thousands gathered to witness the historic transition of power The mood within the Congress camp remained one of triumph and vindication after years of political setbacksThe United Democratic Front UDF staged a strong comeback winning 102 seats in the 140member Assembly while the Congress alone secured a record 63 seats its bestever performance in the state IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/unprecedented-victory-kerala-witnessing-new-political-era-kharge-674255.html Mon, 18 May 2026 13:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-extends-birthday-wishes-to-deve-gowda-lauds-his-contributions-to-nation-674256.html New Delhi May 18 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday extended best wishes to former PM HD Deve Gowda on his birthday and said that he has made an outstanding contribution to the nation during his long years in public life PM Modi took to social media X and said Best wishes to Shri HD Deve Gowda Ji on his birthday He has made an outstanding contribution to our nation during his long years in public life He is known for his deep understanding of policyrelated issues and during his long years in public life Praying for his long and healthy lifeUnion Home Minister Amit Shah also extended birthday greetings and said Birthday greetings to former PM amp towering statesman Shri H D Devegowda Ji A son of the soil in the truest sense your lifelong dedication to farmers amp rural India has left an indelible mark on our nation Wishing you a long healthy amp blessed lifeBJP President Nitin Nabin extended birthday wishes and said Warm birthday greetings to former Prime Minister Shri HD Deve Gowda Ji As a veteran leader and a true Son of the Soil your lifelong commitment to the welfare of farmers and the development of rural India is truly inspiring I pray for your good health happiness and a long life in the service of the nationDefence Minister Rajnath Singh said Greetings and warm wishes to former Prime Minister Shri H D Deve Gowda ji on his birthday He has made noteworthy contribution to Indias development particularly in safeguarding the interests of farmers Praying for his good health and long lifeHD Deve Gowda a staunch crusader of socioeconomic development and an ardent admirer of Indiaâs rich cultural heritage was born on this day in 1933 in Haradanahalli village Holenarasipura taluk Hassan district KarnatakaA Civil Engineering diploma holder Deve Gowda plunged into active politics at the early age of 20 After completing his education he joined the Congress Party in 1953 and remained a member until 1962 Coming from a middleclass agrarian background and exposed to the hardships of farmersâ lives young Gowda vowed to champion the cause of poor farmers underprivileged communities and oppressed sections of societyStarting from the grassroots level of the democratic system Gowda gradually rose through the political ranks He earned a place in the hearts of the people while serving as the President of the Anjaneya Cooperative Society and later as a member of the Taluk Development Board HolenarasipuraAspiring to address social inequalities he always envisioned an ideal welfare state At the age of 28 Gowda contested the 1962 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election as an Independent candidate and achieved a remarkable victory An effective speaker on the Assembly floor he earned admiration from colleagues and seniors alike The Holenarasipura constituency elected him to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly for three more consecutive terms the Fourth Assembly 196771 the Fifth Assembly 197277 and the Sixth Assembly 197883His tenure as the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly from March 1972 to March 1976 and again from November 1976 to December 1977 brought him considerable acclaimAs a member of the Seventh and Eighth Assemblies he served as the Minister for Public Works and Irrigation During his tenure as Irrigation Minister several irrigation projects were initiated and implemented In 1987 he resigned from the Cabinet in protest against insufficient budgetary allocation for irrigation projectsA crusader for freedom and equality he incurred the displeasure of the Central government during the Emergency period 197576 and was imprisoned Deve Gowda used this period of incarceration to deepen his knowledge through extensive reading His interactions with other prominent political leaders jailed during the Emergency helped shape his political outlook and personality He emerged from prison more experienced and determinedElected to Parliament from the Hassan Lok Sabha constituency in 1991 he played a significant role in highlighting the problems of Karnataka especially those affecting farmers to national attention He earned respect for his forthright advocacy of farmersâ issues in Parliament and for upholding the dignity and prestige of parliamentary institutionsDeve Gowda served twice as president of the Janata Party at the state level and became the President of the Karnataka unit of the Janata Dal in 1994 He was the driving force behind the Janata Dalâs rise to power in Karnataka in 1994 Elected leader of the Janata Dal Legislative Party he assumed office as the 14th Chief Minister of Karnataka on December 11 1994 He later contested from the Ramanagara Assembly constituency and won by a massive marginHis vast political experience and strong grassroots support enabled him to address several challenges faced by the state His political acumen was evident in his handling of the Idgah Maidan issue in Hubballi a politically sensitive dispute involving property claimed by the minority community Gowda successfully facilitated a peaceful resolution to the matterIn January 1995 Gowda visited Switzerland to attend the Forum of International Economists His visits to several European and Middle Eastern countries reflected his stature as a dedicated political leader His visit to Singapore helped attract muchneeded foreign investment to Karnataka demonstrating his administrative and economic visionSince the 1970s both friends and critics have noted his deep involvement in politics and governance Gowda often described his politics as âthe politics of the peopleâ expressing happiness when surrounded by people and working for their welfareIn the 1989 Karnataka Assembly elections the Janata Party performed poorly winning only 2 out of 222 seats contested Gowda himself faced defeat in both constituencies he contested marking the first electoral setback of his political careerThis defeat sharpened his determination to rebuild his political standing and prompted him to reassess his political approach He strengthened relationships both in Karnataka and in Delhi and set aside past rivalries Gowda became known for his simple lifestyle lowprofile personality and effective leadershipBefore entering politics Gowda worked as a contractor undertaking minor public works His seven years as an Independent legislator gave him a valuable perspective on party politics A tireless worker he was frequently seen reading books and periodicals in the legislature library After being reelected in 1967 he gained greater confidence and following the split in the Congress Party in 1969 he joined the Congress O led by Shri Nijalingappa which was then in power in Karnataka His major political breakthrough came after the defeat of Congress O in the 1971 Lok Sabha elections when he emerged as a prominent opposition leader during the wave of support for Indira GandhiBorn to Dodde Gowda and Smt Devamma Deve Gowda has always taken pride in his humble agricultural background He is married to Chennamma and the couple has four sons and two daughters One of his sons became an MLA in Karnataka while another was elected to the Lok SabhaThe leadership of the Third Front a coalition of regional parties and nonCongress nonBJP parties and eventually the office of Prime Minister came to Gowda without active personal ambition for the postDeve Gowda resigned as the Chief Minister of Karnataka on May 30 1996 and was sworn in as the 11th Prime Minister of India on June 1 1996 He headed a United Front coalition government for just under a year leaving office after losing support from the Congress party IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-extends-birthday-wishes-to-deve-gowda-lauds-his-contributions-to-nation-674256.html Mon, 18 May 2026 13:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/car-catches-fire-near-bhajanpura-metro-station-in-delhi-driver-escapes-unhurt-674265.html New Delhi May 18 Chaos erupted near the Bhajanpura Metro Station in Northeast Delhi after a moving car suddenly caught fire on Monday According to reports the driver was on his way to attend to an urgent task when smoke began to emerge from the vehicle and to everyones horror the car was quickly engulfed in a massive blaze Within moments the fire spread through the entire vehicle turning it into a blazing fireball Panic gripped people present at the scene as flames and thick smoke were visible from a considerable distanceAccording to the Delhi Fire Services DFS a short circuit is suspected to have caused the fire though there has been no official confirmation yet Upon receiving information about the incident a fire department team rushed to the spot and managed to bring the blaze under control after strenuous effortsFortunately the driver managed to step out of the vehicle just in time preventing any loss of life However the car was completely reduced to ashes in the incidentThe Fire Control Room received a call regarding the incident at around 730 am A fire tender was immediately dispatched to the location and firefighters successfully extinguished the blaze Officials confirmed that the driver remained safeEarlier on May 15 at least 10 cars and two scooters were gutted after a fire broke out at an MCD parking lot in Bihari Colony in Delhiâs Shahdara areaFirefighters had managed to douse the blaze after sustained efforts police saidThe fire triggered panic in the locality as flames rapidly spread from one vehicle to another However officials confirmed that no casualties were reported in the incidentPolice personnel also reached the spot and cordoned off the area to facilitate firefighting operations and prevent onlookers from approaching the siteSeveral videos of the incident surfaced on social media showing vehicles engulfed in flames and dense smoke rising from the parking area IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/car-catches-fire-near-bhajanpura-metro-station-in-delhi-driver-escapes-unhurt-674265.html Mon, 18 May 2026 13:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/eci-announces-biennial-elections-for-16-maha-legislative-council-seats-polling-on-june-18-674267.html Mumbai May 18 The Election Commission of India ECI on Monday announced the schedule for the longdelayed biennial elections to the Maharashtra Legislative Council MLC from 16 Local Authorities Constituencies The polling is scheduled on June 18 and the counting of votes will be conducted on June 22 According to a press note the ECI has outlined a swift timeline for the entire electoral process which must be completed before late June The notification will be issued on May 25 the last date of filing nominations on June 1 scrutiny of nominations on June 2 and the last date for withdrawal of nominations on June 4The constituencies along with the names of the members whose terms expired include Solapur Prashant Prabhakar Paricharak Retired January 1 2022 Ahmednagar Arunkaka Babhimrao Jagtap Retired January 1 2022 Thane Phatak Ravindra Sadanand Retired June 8 2022 Jalgaon Chandubhai V Patel Retired December 5 2022 SanglicumSatara Kadam Mohanrao Shripati Retired December 5 2022 Nanded Amarnath Anantrao Rajurkar Retired December 5 2022 Yavatmal Dushyant Satish Chaturvedi Retired December 5 2022 Pune Anil Shivajirao Bhosale Retired December 5 2022BhandaracumGondia Dr Parinay Ramesh Fuke Retired December 5 2022 RaigadcumRatnagiricumSindhudurg Aniket Sunil Tatkare Retired May 31 2024 Nashik Narendra Bhikaji Darade Retired June 21 2024 WardhacumChandrapurcumGadchiroli Ramdas Bhagwanji Ambatkar Retired June 21 2024 Amravati Pravin Ramchandra Pote Retired June 21 2024 OsmanabadcumLaturcumBeed Dhas Suresh Ramchandra Retired June 21 2024 ParbhanicumHingoli Viplove Gopikishan Bajoria Retired June 21 2024 and AurangabadcumJalna Ambadas Eknathrao Danve Retired August 29 2025The upcoming elections will fill vacancies that have been piling up since 2022Under standard ECI guidelines an election for a Local Authoritys constituency can only be conducted if at least 75 per cent of the local bodies within that constituency are actively functioning and at least 75 per cent of the electors voters within those local bodies are in position Due to the expiration of terms and extensive delays in holding local body elections such as municipal corporations municipal councils and zilla parishads across Maharashtra over the last few years these criteria were not met As a result representation for these areas remained suspendedThe situation has now changed The Chief Electoral Officer CEO of Maharashtra recently informed the Commission that the 75 per cent functionality and elector threshold criteria have finally been fulfilled across all 16 affected constituencies paving the way for the democratic process to resume said the ECI in the notification The 16 seats up for polls have been vacant for varying periods with some members having retired as far back as January 2022The Model Code of Conduct MCC concerning this biennial election has come into force with immediate effect in all the concerned constituencies Political parties and sitting representatives in these districts will have to strictly adhere to the ECIs code guidelines restricting any fresh policy announcements administrative transfers or major government advertisements in the polling zones until the formal completion of the election cycle on June 25The sweeping mandate secured by the Mahayuti alliance in the recent local selfgovernment elections has fundamentally flipped the script as it is expected to win more seats against the Maha Vikas Aghadi during the upcoming state council elections Major regional hubs like Pune Thane Nashik SangliSatara and Yavatmal which went vacant following a series of expirations and political realignments are now heavily dominated by ruling alliance councillorsHaving successfully consolidated corporate bodies like Pune and Solapur the BJP expects to claim a lions share of these 16 local body seats Eknath Shindeâs Shiv Sena backed by a dominant showing in the Thane Municipal Corporation and parts of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region is driving a hard bargain to secure seats in its regional strongholds like ThanePalghar and RaigadRatnagiriSindhudurgFor the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi comprising the Congress Uddhav Thackerayâs Shiv SenaUBT and Sharad Pawarâs NCPSP these upcoming local body council seats present a grim tactical landscape Unlike the Assemblyelected seats where a clear quota system allows proportional representation based on MLA numbers the Local Authorities seats are a winnertakesall game decided by the absolute numbers of local councillorsThe reality of the local bodies tier is that your strength on paper mirrors your strength on the ground noted a political analyst Since the MVA took a severe beating in the municipal corporation elections across the state their capability to defend historical strongholds in places like Nashik Jalgaon or Kolhapur will be tested to the limit The only exceptions lie in pockets like Kolhapur where Congress still retains a fighting chance through its traditional cooperative network and pockets of Marathwada where the Shiv SenaUBT maintains a committed cadre baseWith 10 newly elected members recently sworn in including six from the BJP the ruling alliance is on the cusp of an absolute majority Successfully capturing the bulk of the 16 remaining local body seats will give the Devendra Fadnavisled Mahayuti complete legislative hegemony allowing a frictionfree passage for crucial infrastructure approvals industrial policies and administrative reforms ahead IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/eci-announces-biennial-elections-for-16-maha-legislative-council-seats-polling-on-june-18-674267.html Mon, 18 May 2026 13:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/eci-announces-biennial-polls-for-17-maha-legislative-council-seats-voting-on-june-18-674276.html Mumbai May 18 The Election Commission of India ECI on Monday announced the schedule for the longdelayed biennial elections to the Maharashtra Legislative Council MLC from 17 Local Authorities Constituencies The polling is scheduled on June 18 and the counting of votes will be conducted on June 22 According to a press note the ECI has outlined a swift timeline for the entire electoral process which must be completed before late June The notification will be issued on May 25 the last date of filing nominations on June 1 scrutiny of nominations on June 2 and the last date for withdrawal of nominations on June 4The constituencies along with the names of the members whose terms expired include Solapur Prashant Prabhakar Paricharak Retired January 1 2022 Ahmednagar Arunkaka Babhimrao Jagtap Retired January 1 2022 Thane Phatak Ravindra Sadanand Retired June 8 2022 Jalgaon Chandubhai V Patel Retired December 5 2022 SanglicumSatara Kadam Mohanrao Shripati Retired December 5 2022 Nanded Amarnath Anantrao Rajurkar Retired December 5 2022 Yavatmal Dushyant Satish Chaturvedi Retired December 5 2022 Pune Anil Shivajirao Bhosale Retired December 5 2022BhandaracumGondia Dr Parinay Ramesh Fuke Retired December 5 2022 RaigadcumRatnagiricumSindhudurg Aniket Sunil Tatkare Retired May 31 2024 Nashik Narendra Bhikaji Darade Retired June 21 2024 WardhacumChandrapurcumGadchiroli Ramdas Bhagwanji Ambatkar Retired June 21 2024 Amravati Pravin Ramchandra Pote Retired June 21 2024 OsmanabadcumLaturcumBeed Dhas Suresh Ramchandra Retired June 21 2024 ParbhanicumHingoli Viplove Gopikishan Bajoria Retired June 21 2024 and AurangabadcumJalna Ambadas Eknathrao Danve Retired August 29 2025For the 17th seat from Nagpur Local Authoritiesâ Constituency which fell vacant on November 23 2024 after the incumbent BJP legislator Chandrashekhar Bawankule resigned the polling will also take place on June 18 Bawankule who was to retire on January 1 2028 stepped down as he contested the state Assembly elections and won from the Kamthi constituencyThe upcoming elections will fill vacancies that have been piling up since 2022Under standard ECI guidelines an election for a Local Authoritys constituency can only be conducted if at least 75 per cent of the local bodies within that constituency are actively functioning and at least 75 per cent of the electors voters within those local bodies are in position Due to the expiration of terms and extensive delays in holding local body elections such as municipal corporations municipal councils and zilla parishads across Maharashtra over the last few years these criteria were not met As a result representation for these areas remained suspendedThe situation has now changed The Chief Electoral Officer CEO of Maharashtra recently informed the Commission that the 75 per cent functionality and elector threshold criteria have finally been fulfilled across all 17 affected constituencies paving the way for the democratic process to resume said the ECI in the notification The 17 seats up for polls have been vacant for varying periods with some members having retired as far back as January 2022The Model Code of Conduct MCC concerning this biennial election has come into force with immediate effect in all the concerned constituencies Political parties and sitting representatives in these districts will have to strictly adhere to the ECIs code guidelines restricting any fresh policy announcements administrative transfers or major government advertisements in the polling zones until the formal completion of the election cycle on June 25The sweeping mandate secured by the Mahayuti alliance in the recent local selfgovernment elections has fundamentally flipped the script as it is expected to win more seats against the Maha Vikas Aghadi during the upcoming state council elections Major regional hubs like Pune Thane Nashik SangliSatara and Yavatmal which went vacant following a series of expirations and political realignments are now heavily dominated by ruling alliance councillorsHaving successfully consolidated corporate bodies like Pune and Solapur the BJP expects to claim a lions share of these 17 local body seats Eknath Shindeâs Shiv Sena backed by a dominant showing in the Thane Municipal Corporation and parts of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region is driving a hard bargain to secure seats in its regional strongholds like ThanePalghar and RaigadRatnagiriSindhudurgFor the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi comprising the Congress Uddhav Thackerayâs Shiv SenaUBT and Sharad Pawarâs NCPSP these upcoming local body council seats present a grim tactical landscape Unlike the Assemblyelected seats where a clear quota system allows proportional representation based on MLA numbers the Local Authorities seats are a winnertakesall game decided by the absolute numbers of local councillorsThe reality of the local bodies tier is that your strength on paper mirrors your strength on the ground noted a political analyst Since the MVA took a severe beating in the municipal corporation elections across the state their capability to defend historical strongholds in places like Nashik Jalgaon or Kolhapur will be tested to the limit The only exceptions lie in pockets like Kolhapur where Congress still retains a fighting chance through its traditional cooperative network and pockets of Marathwada where the Shiv SenaUBT maintains a committed cadre baseWith 10 newly elected members recently sworn in including six from the BJP the ruling alliance is on the cusp of an absolute majority Successfully capturing the bulk of the 17 remaining local body seats will give the Devendra Fadnavisled Mahayuti complete legislative hegemony allowing a frictionfree passage for crucial infrastructure approvals industrial policies and administrative reforms ahead IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/eci-announces-biennial-polls-for-17-maha-legislative-council-seats-voting-on-june-18-674276.html Mon, 18 May 2026 13:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ncp-supremacy-tussle-sunetra-pawar-caught-between-young-turks-and-old-guard-674277.html Mumbai May 18 The Nationalist Congress Party NCP has plunged into a quiet but fierce battle for institutional supremacy At the absolute centre of this storm is Maharashtraâs first woman Deputy Chief Minister and newlyminted NCP National President Sunetra Pawar Having recently won the highstakes Baramati Assembly byeelection to secure her legislative legitimacy she now faces a far more complex domestic battlefield Party insiders confirm she is increasingly caught in a structural tugofwar between the ambitious Young Turks championed by her son Rajya Sabha MP Parth Pawar and the partyâs deeplyentrenched Old Guard led by political veterans Praful Patel and Sunil TatkareThe friction within the NCP erupted into public view following a series of highly scrutinised communications sent by Sunetra Pawar to the Election Commission of India ECIA formal list of officebearers in the newlyconstituted national executive submitted to the ECI on April 29 this year explicitly omitted the definitive organisational titles of Praful Patel National Working President and Sunil Tatkare Maharashtra State Unit ChiefWhile smaller officebearers had their designations clearly detailed the spaces next to the names of the two veteran leaders were left conspicuously blankAs the letter leaked and triggered intense media speculation of a fresh vertical split both Sunetra Pawar and party leaders including Umesh Patil rushed to downplay the issue labelling it a technical oversight or clerical mistakeDespite public damage control senior sources within the party reveal that the letter was an intentional defensive manoeuvre aggressively pushed by the factions younger leadership tier notably Parth Pawar The move was reportedly designed to halt any unauthorised constitutional changes or structural dominance by the veteran duo in the administrative vacuum left by late Ajit PawarTo effectively guide the NCP out of this crisis and prevent a structural meltdown Sunetra Pawar will have to navigate three immediate interlocking challenges including striking an equilibrium in the succession war overcoming the diminished leverage factor and navigating the shadow of Maratha strongman and family patriarch Sharad Pawar and reunification rumoursSunetra Pawarâs most delicate challenge is balancing maternal and dynastic obligations with pragmatic party administrationThe Young Turks want to quickly centralise power within the immediate family to preserve Ajit Pawars core legacy However if Sunetra Pawar sidelining veterans like Praful Patel Sunil Tatkare and Chhagan Bhujbal is perceived as systemic it risks alienating the very leaders who possess the organisational machinery corporate networks and legal expertise necessary to keep the party afloatWhile Sunetra Pawar holds her late husbands executive title of Deputy Chief Minister she does not possess his unparalleled administrative leverageLate Dy CM and NCP chief Ajit Pawarâs authority was anchored in his control over the State Finance Ministry which allowed him to control funding to vital rural constituencies With that portfolio currently resting with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Sunetra Pawar is left managing State Excise Sports and Minority DevelopmentLacking the financial leverage to heavily incentivise rural cooperative satraps she faces an uphill task in retaining the loyalty of sugar cooperative directors district cooperative bank chiefs and Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee APMC heads who may begin looking towards Eknath Shindeâs Shiv Sena or the Opposition MVA for political survivalMoreover the Opposition NCP SP faction led by leaders like Rohit Pawar has actively capitalised on this internal rift By publicly fanning rumours that the Old Guard is merely looking out for personal political survival at the expense of the Pawar family the Opposition is testing the resilience of Sunetras cadreSunetra Pawar will have to definitively assert her autonomous leadership brand to halt grassroots confusion regarding a potential messy future reconciliation with the family patriarchAgainst this backdrop to transition the NCP from a party managing a legacy of grief to a robust independent political force political analysts said that Sunetra Pawar will have to immediately convene a formal national executive meeting to officially reaffirm the roles of the Old Guard while concurrently defining clear substantial responsibilities for the younger leadershipLeaving designations ambiguous only invites paralysing distrust She will have to carve out a peoplecentric identity of her factionWith critical local body elections on the horizon she must fiercely protect the partyâs seatsharing quotas against a highly assertive BJP and Shindeled Shiv Sena demonstrating to her MLAs that her leadership can still guarantee their electoral survivalSunetra Pawarâs transition from a lowprofile social organiser to a frontline political chief is complete However her true test does not lie in beating external political opponents but in whether she can successfully broker peace between the ambitious youth and the seasoned veterans inside her own war roomSanjay Jog can be contacted at sanjayjiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/ncp-supremacy-tussle-sunetra-pawar-caught-between-young-turks-and-old-guard-674277.html Mon, 18 May 2026 13:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/even-ed-raids-wont-be-able-to-save-bjp-in-goa-atishi-674279.html New Delhi May 18 Former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Atishi Marlena on Monday said that even Enforcement Directorate ED raids would not be able to save the BJP in Goa Her remarks came after the ED conducted raids at premises linked to AAP leader Deepak Singla and others in Delhi and Goa in connection with an alleged money laundering caseAtishi took to social media platform X to share a video message saying âEven ED raids wonât be able to save the BJP in GoaâShe alleged that the BJP had previously used the ED against the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal during electionsâThe whole nation saw how the BJP used the ED against the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal The agency targeted Trinamool Congress leaders during the elections and several party workers were sent to jailâ she saidShe further alleged that data related to Trinamool Congress organisations was accessed with the help of the EDâOnce the elections were over those workers were released from jail After Bengal they started targeting Punjab Raids were conducted at the houses of AAP leaders Leaders who joined the BJP did not face any actionâ she claimedAtishi also referred to AAP leader Sanjeev Arora alleging that action was taken against him after he refused to join the BJPâAfter Punjab their next target is Goa They know very well that the people of Goa are unhappy with the BJP government and that the party could be voted out of power They are also seeing that AAPâs popularity in the state is increasingâ she saidClaiming that the raids on Deepak Singlaâs residence were politicallymotivated she said âAround 15 ED vehicles and nearly 50 officers are involved in the raids They are trying to gather organisational data and information about how AAP functions how it connects with people and who its workers areâAtishi asserted that the AAP would not be intimidated by such actionsâI want to tell the BJP that we are not afraid of ED threats The people of Goa are watching everything The BJP has ruined Goa and even ED raids will not be able to save the party thereâ she said IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/even-ed-raids-wont-be-able-to-save-bjp-in-goa-atishi-674279.html Mon, 18 May 2026 13:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/my-best-wishes-for-his-tenure-pm-modi-congratulates-vd-satheesan-on-taking-oath-as-kerala-cm-674286.html New Delhi May 18 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday congratulated veteran Congress leader VD Satheesan on taking oath as the Chief Minister of Kerala and conveyed best wishes for his tenure PM Modi took to social media platform X and said Congratulations to Shri VD Satheesan Ji on taking oath as the Chief Minister of Keralam My best wishes for his tenure The Central Government assures all possible support for the newlyformed Keralam Government in fulfilling the aspirations of the peopleMeanwhile a thunderous roar swept across the packed Central Stadium as VD Satheesan rose to take oath as the 13th Chief Minister of Kerala marking the return of a Congressled UDF government to power after a gap of 10 yearsThe moment Satheesanâs name was announced by Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar the crowd erupted into prolonged cheers with party workers waving flags and raising slogans in celebration of the Congressâ return to officeThe excitement was unmistakable as for many Congress workers and supporters this was a longawaited political homecomingThe last Congressled UDF government in Kerala was headed by the late former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy who took oath in 2011The swearingin ceremony held at the Central Stadium just a stoneâs throw away from the seat of power the Secretariat carried both political symbolism and emotional weightSatheesan who turns 62 on Sunday took the oath in the name of God as thousands watched from inside and outside the overflowing venueIn a departure from established convention several national and state political heavyweights shared the dais with Satheesan and his 20 Cabinet colleaguesAmong them were senior Congress MPs Rahul Gandhi Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge outgoing Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan State BJP president and newlyelected MLA Rajeev Chandrasekhar secretaries of both Communist parties and senior Congress veteransThe Chief Ministers from Congressruled Karnataka Telangana and Himachal Pradesh were seated on the dais underlining the national importance attached by the Congress leadership to the Kerala victoryVeteran IUML leader PK Kunhalikutty was the second to take the oath followed by senior Congress leaders Ramesh Chennithala and Sunny JosephThe 21member ministry includes 12 ministers from the Congress five from the IUML and one each from Kerala Congress Kerala Congress Jacob CMP and RSP IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/my-best-wishes-for-his-tenure-pm-modi-congratulates-vd-satheesan-on-taking-oath-as-kerala-cm-674286.html Mon, 18 May 2026 13:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/fire-breaks-out-in-passenger-train-at-sasaram-station-no-casualties-reported-674289.html Patna May 18 Panic gripped passengers at a railway station in Rohtas district of Bihar on Monday morning after a sudden fire broke out in a general coach of the SasaramâPatna Fast Passenger train 53212 The incident occurred while the train was stationed at Platform Number 6 ahead of its scheduled departure at 645 AMAccording to initial reports the fire was triggered by a short circuit in the fifth coach from the engineThe flames spread rapidly engulfing the entire coach within minutesFortunately since the incident took place before departure passengers had already disembarked from the affected coach preventing any casualtiesRailway officials along with personnel from the local fire department rushed to the spot and launched a firefighting operationAfter considerable effort the blaze was brought under control and the damaged coach was later detached from the trainAn eyewitness Rajesh Kumar said the fire escalated quickly after smoke was first noticedHe alleged that a delayed response from both Railway staff and the fire brigade contributed to the intensity of the blazeâThe train was standing at the platform at the time when smoke suddenly started coming out of one coach Within moments it was engulfed in flames Had the fire brigade and Railway staff reached earlier the fire could have been controlled soonerâ he saidOfficials from the Railway Protection Force RPF stated that they received information about the fire around 600 AMFirefighters subsequently managed to contain the blazeAn RPF Inspector in Sasaram confirmed that the cause of the fire is under investigationâHow a fire broke out in a train stationed at the platform is being probed The burnt coach has been removed and the train was dispatched to Patna after a delay of nearly two hoursâ the officer saidAnother official Inspector Sanjeev Kumar reiterated that the fire was limited to a single coach and was extinguished in time with no injuries reported among passengers or railway staff IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/fire-breaks-out-in-passenger-train-at-sasaram-station-no-casualties-reported-674289.html Mon, 18 May 2026 13:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/congratulations-best-wishes-to-new-govt-bjps-chandrasekhar-as-vd-satheesan-takes-oath-as-kerala-cm-674290.html New Delhi May 18 Kerala BJP State President Rajeev Chandrasekhar extended congratulations and best wishes to the new government as VD Satheesan took oath as the 13th Chief Minister of Kerala on Monday at a grand ceremony in Thiruvananthapuram âEvery five years in our democracy people are given the opportunity to vote and choose a new government and today is that day In every democracy this is an important occasion In the democracy of our state through the process decided by the people a government has been elected It is our duty to be part of this event and we are here to extend our best wishes to the incoming governmentâ Chandrasekhar saidKerala Mayor VV Rajesh also termed the event historic and noted the participation of senior political leaders across party linesâThatâs a historic moment and our state president who is an MLA also attended that programâ he saidCongress leader K Muraleedharan said he was taking on the responsibility entrusted to him with seriousness âI am taking this responsibility very seriouslyâ he saidMeanwhile VD Satheesan took oath as the 13th Chief Minister of Kerala amid a thunderous roar at the packed Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday morning marking the formal return of a Congressled United Democratic Front UDF government after a gap of 10 yearsAs Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar called out his name the crowd erupted in loud cheers with party workers waving flags and raising slogans celebrating the return of the Congressled alliance to powerThe atmosphere at the venue reflected a strong sense of political homecoming for Congress supporters many of whom had waited over a decade for the partyâs return to office in the stateThe last Congressled UDF government in Kerala was headed by the late Oommen Chandy who took oath in 2011The swearingin ceremony at the Central Stadium located close to the Kerala Secretariat carried strong political symbolism and emotional significanceSatheesan who turns 62 on Sunday took the oath in the name of God in the presence of thousands of supporters and dignitariesIn a notable display of political convergence leaders from multiple parties and national figures shared the stage with the new Chief Minister and his Cabinet colleaguesAmong those present were senior Congress MPs Rahul Gandhi Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge outgoing Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar and senior leaders from both the Communist parties and CongressChief Ministers from Congressruled Karnataka Telangana and Himachal Pradesh were also present underscoring the national significance of the political eventVeteran IUML leader PK Kunhalikutty was the second to take the oath followed by senior Congress leaders Ramesh Chennithala and Sunny Joseph IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/congratulations-best-wishes-to-new-govt-bjps-chandrasekhar-as-vd-satheesan-takes-oath-as-kerala-cm-674290.html Mon, 18 May 2026 13:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/barmer-sizzles-at-454-degrees-c-imd-issues-yellow-alert-in-19-rajasthan-districts-674293.html Jaipur May 18 Heatwave conditions intensified across Rajasthan with a sharp rise in both day and night temperatures in several districts The India Meteorological Department IMD has issued a yellow alert for 19 districts for Monday and Tuesday warning that maximum temperatures in many areas are likely to remain between 42 and 45 degrees Celsius The highest maximum temperature in the state was recorded in Barmer at 454 degrees Celsius while Sirohi registered the lowest minimum temperature at 226 degrees CelsiusAccording to the Meteorological Department the heat is expected to intensify further this week not only in western Rajasthan but also in the northern and eastern parts of the stateOn Sunday clear skies and intense sunshine prevailed across Rajasthan Along with Barmer several other cities recorded extremely high daytime temperatures Bikaner recorded 45 degrees Celsius Jaisalmer 449 degrees Celsius Phalodi 448 degrees Celsius Chittorgarh 446 degrees Celsius Kota and Vanasthali Tonk 442 degrees Celsius Sri Ganganagar 441 degrees Celsius Jodhpur 438 degrees Celsius and Churu 436 degrees CelsiusThe heatwave has also begun affecting nighttime temperatures Hanumangarh recorded the hottest night in the state with a minimum temperature of 332 degrees Celsius Minimum temperatures were recorded at 326 degrees Celsius in Chittorgarh 322 degrees Celsius in Phalodi 32 degrees Celsius in Barmer 311 degrees Celsius in Jodhpur 301 degrees Celsius in Kota and 30 degrees Celsius in JaisalmerMeteorologists say the unusually high nighttime temperatures are increasing discomfort levels and preventing relief from the daytime heat Jaipur witnessed intense sunshine from morning until evening on Sunday with temperatures rising for the third consecutive dayThe maximum temperature increased by 13 degrees to reach 427 degrees Celsius while the minimum temperature settled at 286 degrees Celsius The Meteorological Department has forecast similar weather conditions in Jaipur over the next three to four days with temperatures likely to rise by another 1 to 2 degrees Kota remained under severe heat conditions on Sunday with the maximum temperature reaching 442 degrees Celsius and the minimum temperature recorded at 301 degrees CelsiusThe intense heat significantly reduced public movement during afternoon hours with roads appearing deserted between 11 am and 4 pm In several gaushalas cow shelters coolers have been installed and water is being sprayed on cows multiple times a day to protect them from the heatAjmer also experienced severe heatwave conditions as hot winds Loo blew throughout the day The maximum temperature crossed 424 degrees Celsius while the minimum temperature hovered around 27 degrees Celsius Jodhpur continued to record abovenormal temperatures with the maximum temperature reaching 438 degrees Celsius nearly 23 degrees above normal The minimum temperature was recorded at 311 degrees Celsius about 3 degrees above seasonal averagesThe Meteorological Department has advised residents to avoid direct exposure to sunlight during afternoon hours stay hydrated and take precautions against heatrelated illnesses as the heatwave conditions are expected to continue across Rajasthan over the coming days IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/barmer-sizzles-at-454-degrees-c-imd-issues-yellow-alert-in-19-rajasthan-districts-674293.html Mon, 18 May 2026 13:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/indias-drug-war-pushes-cartels-underground-sparks-rise-of-local-narco-labs-674303.html New Delhi May 18 With several international cartels being busted by the Indian security agencies the shift to produce narcotics locally has begun Smuggling drugs into the country is not as easy as it used to be courtesy the drugfree initiative that has been initiated by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government Union Home Minister Amit Shah has on numerous occasions said that no effort will be spared to crack down on the narcotic cartelsSince the launch of this initiative drugs running into crores of Rupees have been seized by various agencies across the countryThese crackdowns have made the cartels most of which are backed by Pakistans ISI desperateAn official explained that there is realtime Intelligence and seamless coordination by the central and state agencies which has led to the busting of so many consignmentsThe official said that earlier the trend was to get drugs into the Indian markets and then supply themOver the years the modus operandi changed and drugs that came into the Indian market were not only meant for local consumptionThese drugs were being smuggled into countries such as Maldives Sri Lanka and most recently ThailandToday what these cartels intend to do is set up laboratories across the country and locally produce the drugs Cartels have directed their local stooges to produce narcotics in very high quantitiesThis is not only meant for local consumption but also to be smuggled into countries across the worldAn Intelligence Bureau official said that the worry is that these cartels are no longer treating India as just a landing hub They are making it a massive production hub and 80 per cent of the drugs produced in the country are meant to be smuggled out of the country to nations across the globeThe ISI in particular has been finding it hard to smuggle drugs into India Its two main entry pointsJammu and Kashmir and Punjab have been secured to such an extent that 8 out of every 10 consignments are bustedVarious techniques such as the use of drones to bring in the drugs have been tried but this modus operandi too is failing heavilyThe police forces and the border agencies have enhanced surveillance capabilities and today handling the drones has become relatively easier when compared to what it was about two years back an official saidFor cartels especially the ones that are backed by the ISI the supply of narcotics is extremely vital It is the money that is raised through drug trade that finances terrorWith the ISI desperate to revive its terror groups in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor it becomes important for it to fuel the narcotics tradeDuring the operation Pakistan did not just lose face but also suffered immense losses in terms of terror infrastructure In order to piece all of this together once again it is in desperate need of fundsAnother official said that the Modi governmentâs resolve to tackle the narcotics menace with an iron fist has hurt the ISI and its cartels the mostWhile the Indian agencies have been handling the international operations of these drug cartels the challenge currently is to tackle the units that are manufacturing narcotics locally the official also addedThe official further said that these cartels are aware that the agencies will figure out ways to tackle the local operations sooner or later In the meantime the intention is to set up as many local laboratories as possible and produce drugs in massive quantitiesThey want to get this done before their operations get busted more frequently and raise as much funds as possibleAmong all the players that are part of this racket the most desperate are the cartels backed by the ISI They are under immense pressure from the ISI to ramp up operations and raise funds so that terror groups are taken care of the official also addedWhile these cartels ramp up operations signs of their modules being busted are already being seen The seizure of a massive consignment of Captagon also known as the Jihadi drug or rage drug is a sign that the Indian agencies are cracking down heavily on local modulesCaptagon tablets worth Rs 182 crore was seized from Gujaratâs Mundra Port and Delhiâs Neb Sarai area by the Narcotics Control Bureau NCB as part of Operation Ragepill that was announced by Home Minister ShahThe illegal laboratory that was producing this drug operated out of a pharmaceutical unit in Dehradun Uttarakhand A Syrian national and the Dehradun factory owner were arrestedThe drugs were intended to be smuggled into the Middle EastGulf regionThe Modi government is resolved for a drugfree India Our agencies have achieved the firstever seizure of Captagon the socalled Jihadi Drug Home Minister Shah said post the operation IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/indias-drug-war-pushes-cartels-underground-sparks-rise-of-local-narco-labs-674303.html Mon, 18 May 2026 14:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/incredible-india-tourism-takes-spotlight-in-streets-of-rome-with-popular-buses-674154.html Rome May 17 Indias cultural and tourist attractions are being promoted across Rome through popular Hop On Hop Off buses the Embassy of India in Rome said Incredible India on the move in Rome Indias cultural and tourist attractions are being promoted across Rome through popular Hop On Hop Off buses the Embassy of India in Rome said on social media platform X on SaturdayAccording to the Embassy the campaign was flagged off by Deputy Chief of Mission Gaurav GandhiHop On Hop Off HOHO buses are red tourist buses that offer a panoramic tour of Rome with multilingual commentariesTourists can hop on and hop off the buses as many times as they wantThe campaign was launched by the Indian Embassy ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Italy from May 19 to May 21Prime Minister Modi is visiting Italy at the invitation of PM Giorgia MeloniThe Prime Minister had last visited Italy in June 2024 for the G7 SummitDuring the visit PM Modi will call on the Italian President Sergio Mattarella and hold talks with Prime Minister MeloniThe visit comes after intense leaderlevel engagement and is anchored by the Joint Strategic Plan of Action 202529 which serves as the operational roadmap for the partnershipItaly increasingly views India not just as a market but as a major power and an indispensable partner for EuropeItalys championing of IndiaâMiddle EastâEurope Economic Corridor IMEEC as a founding member with the SparkleAirtel BlueRaman submarine cable to Genoa now activated makes it the western anchor of the corridorIMEEC ensures not just stability of supply chains but also gives a boost to Indias energy securityItaly is Indias fourth largest trading partner in the EU with bilateral trade reaching 1677 billion in 2025 and a target of â20 billion by 2029Tata Motors â38 billion acquisition of the Iveco Group is the largest Indian investment in Italy till date while Italy has opened a SIMEST office in Delhi with a â500 million funding line and SACE has added â200 million for SMEsThe postIndiaEU Free Trade Agreement environment unlocks fresh scale for both sides IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/incredible-india-tourism-takes-spotlight-in-streets-of-rome-with-popular-buses-674154.html Sun, 17 May 2026 11:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/stop-politicising-cong-must-answer-for-own-disastrous-record-on-exam-scams-bjp-leader-pradeep-bhandari-674155.html New Delhi May 16 The Bharatiya Janata Party BJP has criticised the Congress accusing it of playing politics with the academic futures of twentytwo lakh students across the country Highlighting the ongoing controversy surrounding the National EligibilitycumEntrance Test NEET BJP National Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari on Saturday asked the Congress to stop politicising the actions of Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and instead focus on its own historical shortcomings regarding national examinationsTaking to his official X account Bhandari challenged the Congress to answer for its past record on major academic scamsHe pointed out numerous highprofile examination paper leaks and scandals that took place under previous Congress administrations specifically referencing the All India PreMedical Test leaks Staff Selection Commission scams and Central Board of Secondary Education paper leaksHe also noted that multiple recruitment scams had repeatedly occurred in states ruled by the CongressBhandari claimed that the people have not forgotten how the name of Rajasthan Congress President Govind Singh Dotasra was linked to past examination paper leak scandals accusing the current Congress leadership of continuing to provide patronage to those involvedIn stark contrast the BJP spokesperson defended the performance and integrity of the current BJP administrationHe emphasised that the Narendra Modiled Union government responded with swift accountability following the emergence of irregularities in the NEETUG 2026 examinationBhandari said that the NEET examination was cancelled quickly to protect honest students and an immediate reexamination was scheduled for June 21 without placing any additional financial burden on the aspirantsHe further credited the Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for publicly addressing the issue and accepting institutional responsibility while noting that the investigation was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation immediatelyDetailing the law enforcement action taken so far Bhandari listed the arrests of key individuals including alleged mastermind PV Kulkarni and Biology lecturer Manisha MandhareHe added that various operations have led to the apprehension of related operatives from multiple locations including Jaipur Gurugram and NashikBhandari also said that the Union government is neither executing a coverup nor maintaining silence but is rather taking decisive actionHe added that the Narendra Modi government stands firmly in support of honest students over political opportunists and exam mafias IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/stop-politicising-cong-must-answer-for-own-disastrous-record-on-exam-scams-bjp-leader-pradeep-bhandari-674155.html Sun, 17 May 2026 11:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/madhya-pradesh-mild-earthquake-sparks-panic-in-betul-pandhurna-674156.html BhopalBetul May 17 A series of sudden seismic disturbances accompanied by a mysterious loud sound sent waves of panic across multiple towns in Madhya Pradesh officials said According to initial reports from National Center for Seismology an earthquake measuring 391 on the Richter scale was felt across a widespread region including the Betul Pandhurna and Multai areas at around 930 pm 941 pm 943 pm and 1017 pm on SaturdayWhile the initial tremors put residents on alert a second more intense disruption later in the night triggered absolute chaos within the local communitiesThe situation escalated dramatically around 1124 pm when certain parts of the region experienced a sudden and intense tremorAccording to eyewitnesses the event began with an unsettling and incredibly loud boom that echoed through the night airImmediately after the sound the earth began to shake violentlyThe impact of the tremor was severe enough that the walls of houses vibrated and household items rattled on shelves for several consecutive seconds locals saidFearing an impending natural calamity or structural collapse terrified residents who were still awake as well as those jolted from their sleep immediately fled their homes to seek safety in open groundsThe suddenness of the tremors left the population visibly shakenAlmost instantly a massive flurry of phone calls ensued as anxious citizens reached out to family members friends and neighbours to check on one anothers safety and ascertain the extent of the damageResidents living in the central parts of the town reported that the sequence of events was identical with a thunderous noise preceding the physical shaking of the groundWithin minutes of the event news reports and personal accounts detailing the earthquake in Multai flooded various social media platforms with citizens sharing videos of households vibrating IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/madhya-pradesh-mild-earthquake-sparks-panic-in-betul-pandhurna-674156.html Sun, 17 May 2026 11:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/man-accused-of-sexually-assaulting-6-year-old-arrested-after-encounter-in-ups-etawah-674164.html Etawah UP May 17 An individual accused of sexually assaulting a sixyearold girl was injured in a police encounter in the Barhpura area of Uttar Pradeshs Etawah district officials said on Sunday According to the officials the incident occurred on Saturday afternoon when a sixyearold girl the daughter of a labourer went out to pluck mangoes near her home The accused lured her into the bushes and subjected her to sexual assault Upon receiving news of the incident the victims family members and villagers rushed to the scene apprehended the accused on the spot and handed him over to the police police saidAccording to Circle Officer CO of Jaswantnagar Ayushi Singh when the victim went to pluck mangoes near a brick kiln on Saturday and was lured by the accused another child playing nearby witnessed the incident and ran to inform the victims family members As the family and villagers rushed toward the bushes the accused identified as 22yearold Nitin a resident of Nagla Ajit attempted to flee The villagers surrounded and captured him After beating the accused they alerted the local police station Singh saidGiven the gravity of the incident Etawah Senior Superintendent of Police SSP Brajesh Kumar Srivastava directed Etawah Additional Superintendent of Police City Abhaynath Tripathi and Jaswantnagar CO Ayushi Singh to initiate immediate action A team led by Narendra Mishra the Station Incharge of Barhpura arrived at the scene to arrest the accused and commence an investigation The victim was immediately sent to a hospital for a medical examination and necessary medical and legal proceedings were initiatedAn FIR regarding the incident has been registered at the Barhpura police station based on a written complaint filed by the victims mother During police interrogation the accused confessed to committing the crime and revealed that he had concealed evidence related to the incident When the police team proceeded to the location indicated by the accused to recover the evidence he attacked the officers attempted to snatch SubInspector Kuldeep Singhs pistol and opened fire with the intent to kill CO Ayushi Singh saidActing in selfdefence the police returned fire The accused sustained a gunshot wound to his right leg and was injured He was arrested on the spot and immediately transported to a hospital for medical treatment During the subsequent interrogation and investigation the police recovered significant physical evidence and clothing related to the incident from the location identified by the accused she said Additionally the CO said that a service pistol and two spent cartridges 9mm were seized from the possession of the accusedAn investigation into the incident is underway Further details are awaited IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/man-accused-of-sexually-assaulting-6-year-old-arrested-after-encounter-in-ups-etawah-674164.html Sun, 17 May 2026 12:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/heavy-rain-alert-issued-for-five-tn-districts-as-southwest-monsoon-advances-674165.html Chennai May 17 The India Meteorological Department IMD has announced the onset of the southwest monsoon while the Regional Meteorological Centre RMC in Chennai has forecast heavy rainfall in parts of Tamil Nadu over the next few days due to prevailing weather systems over the Bay of Bengal After several parts of Tamil Nadu experienced welcome summer showers on Saturday bringing relief from intense heat conditions the weather department on Sunday issued a fresh advisory warning of heavy rainfall in five districts across the stateAccording to the Chennai Meteorological Department a lowpressure area persisting over the southwest Bay of Bengal is expected to influence weather conditions and sustain rainfall activity for at least three more daysAuthorities said the weather system is likely to trigger moderate to heavy showers in the interior and western regions of Tamil Nadu The districts of Theni Dindigul Madurai Coimbatore and the Nilgiris are likely to receive heavy rainfall on Sunday and Monday the weather department saidThe advisory also indicated that Karur Tiruchy and Sivaganga districts could witness heavy rainfall on MondayOfficials further warned that thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds reaching up to 40 kmph are likely during rainfall activity in isolated locations Residents in affected districts have been advised to remain cautious and follow weather updates issued by authoritiesChennai and its suburban areas are also expected to experience light rainfall during the day While the city may not receive widespread heavy showers cloudy skies and occasional rain spells are expected to bring some respite from rising temperaturesThe weather department has also issued a warning to fishermen against venturing into several sea regions due to rough weather conditionsStrong winds with speeds of up to 60 kmph are likely over the south Tamil Nadu coastal areas the Gulf of Mannar Kanyakumari Sea region Andaman Sea and parts of the south Bay of Bengal Authorities urged fishermen and coastal residents to remain alert and strictly follow safety advisories until weather conditions improve IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/heavy-rain-alert-issued-for-five-tn-districts-as-southwest-monsoon-advances-674165.html Sun, 17 May 2026 12:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bulldozer-drive-clears-illegal-encroachments-outside-howrah-railway-station-674173.html Kolkata May 17 The railway administration conducted a major antiencroachment drive outside Howrah Station in West Bengal using bulldozers to clear illegal shops and structures A notice had been issued earlier to clear the area As the illegal encroachment remained Railway Police used bulldozers to evict illegal shops from outside the Howrah station The action was carried out late Saturday nightThose who used to do small businesses on the streets and footpaths outside the station without permission have been evicted Many of the temporary shops have also been demolished and the entire station premises have been cleared by using bulldozersThe encroached areas adjacent to the station had been hindering pedestrian movement The Railway Police claimed the action was taken for the convenience of the common people saying that from now on there will be no more problems for the passengersOn Saturday night a huge crowd gathered outside Howrah station to watch the eviction drive However the police asked people to carry on with their work and not crowd around the eviction drive The police were heard saying on a loudspeaker Dont crowd here Passengers go to the station take the bus those who have come here to catch the bus There is no drama happening here You do your job Let the administration do its jobA large number of Railway Police Force RPF were involved in the eviction drive who were accompanied by the regular police force It is reported that more than 150 illegal shops were demolished with bulldozersAs the bulldozers entered the area in the presence of the police there was a commotion with the squatters initially resisting The footpath traders alleged that the Railways had given them a notice to vacate their premises a day earlier And then suddenly the Saturday night operation was carried out Many were able to move their stalls elsewhereThe railway authorities however said that the eviction drive was being carried out for the convenience of the passengersA large number of passengers and other onlookers who had gathered at the spot said that they were also happy about the action being takenEarlier illegal encroachments were cleared similarly from outside the Sealdah Station in KolkataIt may be noted that in a bulldozer drive recently an illegal factory in a residential building was demolished in the Topsia area of East Kolkata where a fire broke out killing two people and injuring three others IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bulldozer-drive-clears-illegal-encroachments-outside-howrah-railway-station-674173.html Sun, 17 May 2026 12:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/mp-devotees-throng-bhojshala-to-perform-puja-other-religious-rituals-674176.html BhopalDhar May 17 A historic transformation was seen at the medieval Bhojshala complex in Dhar Madhya Pradesh on Sunday as hundreds of Hindu devotees gathered to initiate daily religious rituals On Saturday the Archaeological Survey of India ASI issued a formal order allowing the Hindu community to perform puja following the Madhya Pradesh High Court orders which officially recognised the disputed Bhojshala Kamal Maula Mosque structure as an 11thcentury Sanskrit learning centre and a temple dedicated to Goddess Vagdevi SaraswatiIn its ruling the High Court quashed a longstanding 2003 arrangement by the Archaeological Survey of India that had restricted Hindu worship to Tuesdays and permitted Friday prayers for the Muslim communityActing on the judicial mandate the ASI issued a fresh directive granting unrestricted access to the Hindu community for daily learning and worship throughout the yearComplying with the new guidelines religious ceremonies commenced at 600 am on Sunday Vedic priests led the rituals with sacred fire offerings and elaborate prayers amid chanting of ancient mantrasThe entire monument built originally by King Bhoj of the Parmar dynasty echoed with passionate slogans celebrating the historical monarch and the deity Devotees entered the premises carrying a large symbolic image of Goddess Vagdevi marking an emotional culmination of a legal and spiritual struggle that spanned decadesThe morning rituals began with a grand prayer ceremony that drew extensive participation from the local populace and visitors alikeRepresentatives of the Bhoj Utsav Samiti hailed the event as a cultural renaissance for the Sanatan tradition its role in restoring historical heritageA massive turnout is also expected again during the evening prayer session at 530 pmMeanwhile the district administration and local police remained on high alert deploying tight security measures across Dhar to ensure peace and prevent the spread of misinformationWhile the Archaeological Survey of India maintains overall supervisory control for monument preservation the state government has been asked by the court to consider alternative land allocations for the Muslim community IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/mp-devotees-throng-bhojshala-to-perform-puja-other-religious-rituals-674176.html Sun, 17 May 2026 12:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bro-steps-in-to-restore-connectivity-begins-bailey-bridge-work-after-vikramshila-setu-collapse-in-bihar-674178.html Patna May 17 Days after a portion of the Vikramshila Setu in Bihars Bhagalpur district collapsed the Border Roads Organisation BRO has begun the construction of a temporary Bailey bridge over the damaged area The development comes as a major relief for the commuters as the collapse of the bridge disrupted connectivity and caused difficulties for the general publicAs of now a 49metrelong temporary Bailey bridge is being constructed to restore light vehicular trafficAhead of the construction on Saturday priests along with BRO personnel performed bhoomi pujan at the site The officials aim to complete the construction as soon as possible given the time constraint arising due to the problems being faced by commutersThe Bihar government has planned to resume the movement of small vehicles on the bridge soonThe incident had occurred in the wee hours of May 4 following which the Bihar government initiated administrative action and sought central assistance to fasttrack repairsAccording to an official following subsidence in the approach section on the Bhagalpur side a stretch of nearly 33 meters of the bridge gave way and fell into the Ganga RiverThe states Road Construction Department has suspended an Executive Engineer on charges of negligenceGiven the seriousness of the situation Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary held discussions with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and senior military leadership for the construction of the bridgeConnectivity across 16 districts including the Seemanchal region and Jharkhand was disrupted in the aftermath of the incident and the daily movement of nearly 1 lakh people has also been affectedThe bridge serves as a critical lifeline between north and south BiharThe incident has raised serious concerns especially as the bridge has undergone three rounds of repairs in the past decade with the latest maintenance completed in March 2026The recurrence of structural damage has triggered questions about construction quality and oversight IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bro-steps-in-to-restore-connectivity-begins-bailey-bridge-work-after-vikramshila-setu-collapse-in-bihar-674178.html Sun, 17 May 2026 12:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/tension-in-hyderabad-area-after-two-groups-clash-over-suspicion-of-cattle-transportation-674179.html Hyderabad May 17 Tension prevailed in the Asif Nagar area in Hyderabad after a clash between two groups over the alleged transportation of cattle Trouble began after a lorry was allegedly stopped by gau rakshaks in Guddimalkapur on suspicion of carrying cattle late Saturday night The cow vigilantes reportedly pelted stones at the vehicle leading to panic in the locality While gau rakshaks claimed that the lorry carried cattle the lorry driver maintained that it was transporting plywood As the group which stopped the lorry assaulted its driver a large number of local residents gathered there and raised an objectionA heated argument led to the confrontation between the two groups Police rushed to the spot and resorted to a lathi charge to disperse the clashing groupsAt least two policemen sustained injuries in the stone pelting while a few passersby were also hurt Several vehicles were damaged in the incident Local MLA Majid Hussain of All India MajliseIttehadul Muslimeen AIMIM visited the area He slammed cow vigilantes for creating chaos over a vehicle carrying plywood by falsely alleging that it was transporting cows The MLA himself boarded the lorry along with his supporters and travelled in the vehicle for some distance He questioned the alleged inaction by the policeHe alleged that the police failed to handle the situation He demanded stringent action including the opening of communal sheets against those involved in the attack on the lorryMajid Hussain alleged that gau rakshaks were trying to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere in the city by resorting to such attacks He demanded that the police act with an iron hand against the miscreants to prevent any lawandorder problemPolice deployed additional force in the area to maintain law and order Asif Nagar Police have registered a case and launched an investigationDirector General of Police CV Anand had said on May 13 that the police department was taking stringent measures to ensure peace public order and communal harmony during the forthcoming Bakrid festival across the stateHe directed that police officers had been instructed to strictly prevent the illegal transportation and trafficking of cattleThe DGP had advised members of Qureshi associations and cow protection groups not to resort to road blockades or create confrontational situations based on mere suspicion regarding cattle transportation He made it clear that criminal cases would be registered against violators and rowdysuspect sheets would also be opened wherever necessary IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/tension-in-hyderabad-area-after-two-groups-clash-over-suspicion-of-cattle-transportation-674179.html Sun, 17 May 2026 12:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/neet-paper-leak-case-manisha-mandhare-sent-to-14-days-cbi-custody-674181.html New Delhi May 17 A Delhi court on Sunday sent NEET paper leak accused Manisha Gurunath Mandhare to a 14day custody of the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI Manisha Gurunath Mandhare an NTAappointed senior Botany teacher from Pune is suspected to be the comastermind behind the leak of the Biology question paper Chemistry professor PV Kulkarini is being considered the kingpin of the paper leakDuring the proceedings in the Rouse Avenue Court the CBI told the bench that Manisha Mandhare was an expert in translating botany and zoology question papersManisha was in conspiracy with PV Kulkarni and Manisha Waghmare She gave the question paper to another accused Shubham Simultaneous investigations are going on across the country We need to take her to different parts of the country for the purpose of investigation the CBI said The investigative agency also mentioned that Mandhare had access to the question paper Meanwhile the defence stressed that the manner in which Mandhare was arrested is illegalShe was arrested after sundown and then was brought to Delhi at 1 am the defence counsel saidThe court directed the defence counsel to move an application regarding this Additionally the court allowed Mandhare to meet her counsel daily for 15 minutesAccording to the CBI statement released on Saturday Mandhare was involved in the NEETUG 2026 Examination process and appointed by the National Testing Agency NTA as an expert and had complete access to the Biology question paperIn April 2026 she had mobilised prospective NEET examination candidates through Pune consultant Manisha Wagmare arrested on May 14 and conducted special coaching classes for these students at her Pune residence the statement saidDuring these classes she explained and disclosed various questions from Biology and made the students note down the same in their notebooks and also mark these in their textbooks the statement saidA majority of these questions tallied with the actual question paper of the NEETUG 2026 examination held on May 3 and cancelled later the probe agency saidIn the last 24 hours the CBI conducted searches at six locations across the country and seized several incriminating documents laptops bank statements and mobile phones Detailed analysis of the seized items is going on an official saidIt may be recalled that CBI registered this case on May 12 based on the written complaint given by the Department of Higher Education Ministry of Education Government of India pertaining to the alleged paper leak of NEETUG 2026 ExaminationImmediately after registration of the case special teams were formed and searches were conducted at various locations across the country and several suspects were picked up and interrogatedSo far nine accused have been arrested in this case from Delhi Jaipur Gurugram Nasik Pune and Ahliyanagar Out of these five accused have already been produced before the court and taken into 7day police custody remand for detailed interrogationTwo other accused who were arrested on Friday were produced before a court in Pune and shifted to Delhi after taking transit remandInvestigation is continuing with the special teams and the investigation conducted so far has brought out the actual source of the leakage of Chemistry and Biology papers as well as the middlemen the CBI saidThe middlemen were involved in mobilising the students who paid lakhs of rupees to attend the special coaching classes where the questions which would come in the NEET UG2026 exam were dictated and discussed IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/neet-paper-leak-case-manisha-mandhare-sent-to-14-days-cbi-custody-674181.html Sun, 17 May 2026 12:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/put-in-hours-of-study-hopeful-of-good-results-aspirants-on-jee-advanced-2026-674182.html New Delhi May 17 Aspirants appearing for the Joint Entrance Examination JEE Advanced 2026 on Sunday were anxious as they waited to enter exam centres in various parts of the country However the students were hopeful of scoring well after grinding for hours to prepare for the nationallevel examination for admission to various engineering colleges Candidates have to first qualify the JEE Main examination to be eligible for the Advanced examIn Gujarats Ahmedabad a student who aimed for a seat at IIT Delhi said I have worked very hard for the past two years so I am feeling very nervous and anxious about how the exam will go But I am also confident that the hard work I have put in will definitely bring good resultsI want to take admission in Computer Science he told IANSAnother student who wants to pursue aeronautics engineering from IIT Bombay said I have also worked hard for this exam and am also hoping for a good score I used to come for my tuition classes at seven in the morning and leave at seven in the eveningJay a student waiting outside an exam centre in the states Rajkot district said I have scored well in JEE Mains and am hoping to score high in the Advanced too I want to pursue civil engineeringJay said that he studied for sixseven hours daily during his preparation for the examAnother civil engineering aspirant Priyanshi also highlighted her parents support behind her hard work and expressed confidence that her 10 hours of studying every day will bear fruitRajesh whose parents are farmers said that he prepared for eightnine hours in a day to fulfill his dream of becoming an engineerMy parents and teachers have supported me a lot in my studies he told IANSAnother student whose father runs a tuition centre said that it was his father who motivated him to take up the competitive exam I want to become a software engineer he mentionedA crowd of parents waited in anticipation outside several examination centres across the nationIn Punjabs Patiala Balbir Singh whose brothers granddaughter is appearing for the examination said that the seating and other arrangements related to the exam have improved from what it was beforeAnother parent emphasised that students preparing for such competitive examinations remain under immense pressureThe children study till 130 2 am and wake up early in the morning to resume their preparation Parents also remain worried seeing the hard work and stress their children go through he saidReferring to the alleged NEETUG 2026 paper leak he urged the government to take appropriate measures so that such instances are not repeated which also leads to student suicides as their years of hard work go in vain IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/put-in-hours-of-study-hopeful-of-good-results-aspirants-on-jee-advanced-2026-674182.html Sun, 17 May 2026 12:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/telangana-man-injured-in-mob-attack-after-slitting-womans-throat-dies-674183.html Hyderabad May 17 A man who slit a womanâs throat for rejecting his proposal succumbed to the injuries he sustained in the mob attack Teja 28 died while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Jadcherla town in Telanganas Mahabubnagar district on SundayHe had slit a womanâs throat in full public view in Jadcherla town on Saturday eveningY Vaishnavi 21 working as a receptionist at a private school in Jadcherla was attacked by the alleged jilted lover when she was walking on the road after getting down from a busThe woman was attacked hardly 100 metres away from her house when she was returning home from a school in Polepally Special Economic Zone SEZ where she was working as a receptionist According to police the attacker slit the womanâs throat resulting in grievous injury She was shifted to a hospital where she succumbed while undergoing treatmentPassersby caught hold of the assailant and assaulted him They tied his hands and attacked him with stones before police arrived on the scene and shifted him to Mahabubnagar Government Medical College HospitalTeja a resident of Hyderabad succumbed on Sunday morningA police officer said that after Teja attacked the woman the passersby chased him for some distance and caught hold of him They tied his hands and legs with a rope and assaulted him resulting in critical injuriesAccording to police the accused and the victim had become acquainted when she was working at a private school in Hyderabad She had rejected his advancesHowever after being thrashed by passersby Teja had told them that he had been in a relationship with Vaishnavi for the past couple of years and that she exploited him by taking money from him and cheating him in the name of loveHe told the onlookers that she not only refused to return his money but also started avoiding him IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/telangana-man-injured-in-mob-attack-after-slitting-womans-throat-dies-674183.html Sun, 17 May 2026 13:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bjp-leader-claims-kerala-cms-pick-under-iuml-pressure-calls-cong-islamic-national-caliphate-674190.html New Delhi May 17 Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Sunday claimed that Congress selected VD Satheesan as the Chief Minister of Kerala due to pressure from the Indian Union Muslim League IUML He also labelled the grand old party as the Islamic National Caliphate accusing it of being antiHindu Speaking to IANS Poonawalla said We had already said that VD Satheesan is not the Chief Minister of the Congress but was chosen as the first Chief Minister of the Muslim League because the choice of the Congress MLAs was someone elseHe alleged that the Congress High Command in Delhi picked Satheesans name due to pressure from the Muslim League and the JamaatThe Muslim league thinks that now since their government has come to power in Kerala they can do anything and want to make a Muslim Islamic Republic he further allegedHe added The Congress which has bowed down to the Muslim league now must change its name from Indian National Congress to Islamic National CaliphateResponding to the question regarding Congress stand on the Bhojshala verdict the BJP leader reiterated the partys antiHindu allegation against CongressPoonawalla said When the court delivered its verdict in favour of Hindus in the Bhojshala matter why is the Indian National Congress so upset The Congress party has become so antiHindu that even when Hindus secure their constitutional rights through the court the party still opposes itToday the Congress identity has become synonymous with insulting the Hindus he allegedNotably Congress leader Digvijaya Singh had accused the BJP of exploiting the Bhojshala issue to provoke a HinduMuslim divideLaunching an attack on Singh Poonawalla said When Muslims speak against Hindus and compare Bhagwa Saffron and Hindus to terror are these things not communal for Digvijaya Singh but when a court passes an order it amounts to communalism for himHe further termed the Congress leaders statement as a remark on the judiciaryHe alleged that Digvijaya Singh is representing the Congress partys antiHindu faceSeparately Shehzad Poonawalla accused Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee of provoking the public with his statementBanerjee had earlier accused the BJPled Centre of misusing Central agencies and administrative machinery against the Trinamool Congress TMCReacting to the same Poonawalla said He Banerjee himself is a lawyer but still doesnt have faith in the Supreme Court TMC is The Mazaak of Constitution who refused to accept defeat after the Assembly poll results IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bjp-leader-claims-kerala-cms-pick-under-iuml-pressure-calls-cong-islamic-national-caliphate-674190.html Sun, 17 May 2026 13:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/for-sumbli-mawas-festival-kashmiri-pandits-return-to-jampks-bandipora-after-36-years-674196.html Srinagar May 17 Displaced Kashmiri Pandits came to celebrate the Sumbli Mawas festival after 36 years in Jammu and Kashmirâs Bandipora district on Sunday Scores of migrant Kashmiri Pandits came to the historic Nand Kishore temple in the Sumbal area of Bandipora after decades to celebrate the threedaylong Sumbli Mawas festivalThe festival celebrated on the birth anniversary of Kashmiri Pandit Saint Maharaj Nand Kishore is being attended by migrant Pandits from different parts of the countryFor the migrant Pandits who originally belonged to the Sumbal area it is an opportunity to return to their roots As these Pandits met their old neighbours the barriers of religion and politics seemed to have vanished Both Muslims and Pandits wept together cursing destiny to have separated themMany wellknown Kashmiri Pandit families owned lands in the Sumbal area most of which was under apple orchards Over the years these huge pieces of land have been covered with houses and shops Most Kashmiri Pandit families made distress sales of their ancestral properties while in many cases such lands were encroached upon and illegally occupied during the peak periods of violence in the ValleyAuthorities have made elaborate security and administrative arrangements for the smooth conduct of the festivalDeputy Commissioner DC Bandipora Indu Kanwal Chib visited the shrine and participated in special prayers while the Senior Superintendent of Police Bandipora reviewed security arrangements ahead of the celebrationsScars of forced migration run deep in the hearts and minds of the Kashmiri Pandit community and the suffering and pain have been felt more by the elders in the early 1990s The community was forced to flee the valley when it was overshadowed by Pakistanbacked terrorism Lakhs of the minority community members leaving behind houses lands and other properties were forced to take refuge in Jammu and other parts of the country And most have not been able to returnSumbal in Bandipura is now witnessing a heartwarming moment as some community members gather for the special occasion IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/for-sumbli-mawas-festival-kashmiri-pandits-return-to-jampks-bandipora-after-36-years-674196.html Sun, 17 May 2026 15:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/couple-arrested-for-e-rickshaw-robbery-in-delhi-674198.html New Delhi May 17 Delhi Police arrested a couple in Moti Nagar area for robbing passengers travelling in erickshaws an official said on Sunday According to police officials a 60yearold man lodged a First Information Report FIR at Moti Nagar Police Station on May 14 The complainant mentioned that he was carrying a small bag containing cash amounting to Rs 100000 while travelling in an erickshaw the previous day and upon reaching his destination he found that his bag had been torn and the cash was missingPolice initiated an investigation into complaints of theft and launched hunt to trace down the suspectsThe officials analyzed several CCTV footages near the area During investigation the erickshaw that was used in the crime bearing registration number DL 4ERA 0760 was identifiedA sustained efforts and technical surveillance eventually led to the apprehension of the accused couple They were identified as 25yearold Suresh and his 22yearold wife Rajni alias AnjaliDuring their interrogation the accused have revealed that they used to target elderly passengers travelling in erickshaws and steal cash and valuables from their bags when they deboardedSubsequently stolen cash amounting to Rs 90000 along with the erickshaw used in commission of offence was recovered from their possessionOfficials mentioned that further investigation in the matter is in progress to ascertain involvement of the accused persons in other similar cases of theft targeting passengers and senior citizensEarlier Delhi Police on Saturday apprehended two active criminals and one receiver in connection with a theft case recovering a huge cache of stolen valuables including jewellery cash and melted silverAccording to police the accused were arrested by the crack team of Police Station Bindapur in Dwarka district The recovered items include a 2433 kg melted silver brick cash worth Rs 558054 gold ornaments silver jewellery and 198 old Indian and foreign coins IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/couple-arrested-for-e-rickshaw-robbery-in-delhi-674198.html Sun, 17 May 2026 15:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-police-cyber-cell-arrests-immigration-consultant-for-one-crore-visa-fraud-674200.html New Delhi May 17 The cyber cell of Delhi Police Crime Branch has made a significant breakthrough in visa fraud case by arresting an accused for allegedly cheating a woman of approximately Rs 183 crore on false pretext of securing immigration to Canada through a business investment programme officials said on Sunday According to the official statement after the first Covid19 wave the complainant intended to migrate to Canada for employment opportunities and came in contact with the accused who has been identified as Dharminder SharmaSharma introduced himself to the woman as Director Operations of an immigration consultancy firm Projecting himself as an expert in Canadian immigration and overseas investment programmes he induced the complainant to invest CAD 250000 in a purported business investment scheme and additionally obtained CAD 45000 as professional fees totaling CAD 295000The accused allegedly assured the complainant that the investment would secure Canadian immigration work permits and business ownership rightsFurther to gain the complainantâs confidence accused Sharma allegedly created documents showing that the complainant would become a Director or shareholder in a hospitality firm in Canada However investigation revealed that the complainant was never inducted as a shareholder or director of the company and the ownership remained with other peopleMoreover police said that after receiving the funds in foreign bank accounts Sharma allegedly siphoned off the money through cash withdrawals debit transactions and routing through multiple accounts instead of utilizing it for legitimate business purposesDespite repeated rejection of visa applications by Canadian authorities the accused allegedly continued to mislead the complainant by giving false assurances filing reconsideration requests and prolonging the process to avoid refund of the invested amountFurther investigation also found that the accused played an active role in structuring the entire transaction and misleading the complainant even after three visa rejections Officials revealed that the complainantâs name never appeared in the incorporation documents of the hospitality firm contrary to the representations made by the accusedA resident of Punjabs Dera Bassi the accused is an MBA and allegedly projected himself as a highly qualified immigration and overseas investment consultant dealing in Canadabased immigration programs One laptop used in the conduct of the offence has been recovered from Dharminder SharmaPolice suspect that the device contains crucial digital evidence including emails financial transaction records immigrationrelated documents Social Media chats and other incriminating material related to the case IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-police-cyber-cell-arrests-immigration-consultant-for-one-crore-visa-fraud-674200.html Sun, 17 May 2026 15:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/rahul-gandhi-reiterates-demand-to-sack-dharmendra-pradhan-over-neet-paper-leak-674203.html New Delhi May 17 IANS Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Sunday reiterated his demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEETUG 2026 exam paper leak accusing the BJPled Centre of not taking accountability for such repeated instancesnbspTaking to X LoP Gandhi referred to the alleged irregularities in the NEETUG 2024 examination and claimed that despite the CBIs investigation and formation of a committee the exam was not cancelled at that timeNEET 2024 Paper leaked Exam not cancelled Minister did not resign CBI set up an investigation A committee was formed he wroteSignificantly the Supreme Court had refused to cancel the 2024 NEETUG exam due to insufficient evidence of systemic leakGandhi drew similarities between the NEETUG 2026 cancellation and subsequent reexamination with the 2024 instanceNEET 2026 Paper leaked Exam cancelled Minister still did not resign CBI is investigating again Another committee will be formed he saidMoreover Gandhi questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi for maintaining silence on the issue and asked why the Education Minister is not tendering his resignation despite repeated paper leaksMr Modi the country is asking you some questions answer them Why arent you dismissing the Education Minister who keeps failing repeatedlyWhy are paper leaks happening repeatedly Why are you silent time and again on this exam paper discussion he asked furtherA day before Gandhi released a video statement in which he claimed that the NEET question paper had been circulated two days before the examinationTargeting the Education Minister LoP Gandhi had said The whole country knows that the paper was distributed two days before the exam Indias Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan says he has nothing to do with it You have damaged the very core idea of IndiaHe had alleged that there is a nexus involving the RSS BJP and individuals appointed in educational institutions claiming the system was being used for profiteering at the cost of students futuresThe Congress leader had further attacked the process of appointing ViceChancellors in universities claiming ideological affiliation had replaced merit and academic competenceThe reexamination of NEETUG 2026 is scheduled to be held on June 21IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/rahul-gandhi-reiterates-demand-to-sack-dharmendra-pradhan-over-neet-paper-leak-674203.html Sun, 17 May 2026 16:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/haryana-sees-significant-progress-in-census-100-pc-houselisting-done-in-several-districts-674204.html Chandigarh May 17 IANS Haryana has recorded significant progress in the ongoing Census 2027 Houselisting and Housing Census HLO exercise with houselisting activities already initiated in the vast majority of areas across the statenbspnbspChief Secretary Anurag Rastogi on Sunday held a comprehensive review meeting through video conference with Divisional Commissioners Deputy Commissioners Municipal Commissioners District Education Officers and other senior officials to assess the pace of implementation and preparedness for the timely completion of the nationwide exerciseAt the meeting the Chief Secretary directed all officers to accord top priority to the Census exercise and ensure that the work is carried out with full dedication accountability and efficiencyHe said the Census serves as a vital foundation for policy formulation development planning resource allocation and implementation of welfare schemes making its successful execution extremely important for governance and public administrationRastogi said any employee found neglecting or failing to cooperate in their census duty would face strict disciplinary actionDirector of Census Operations Dr Lalit Jain informed that work has commenced in more than 97 per cent of the total houselisting blocks HLBs across Haryana Several districts including Yamunanagar Kurukshetra Kaithal Karnal Fatehabad Hansi Charkhi Dadri and Faridabad have achieved 100 per cent commencement of houselisting activities demonstrating the efficiency and commitment of district administrations enumerators and supervisory staffCharkhi Dadri emerged as the leading district with more than 32 per cent work completed while Fatehabad Hansi Jind and Mahendragarh also recorded notable progressAmong Municipal Corporations Panipat recorded the highest percentage of completed work followed by Rohtak and Faridabad indicating steady progress in urban areas as wellFinancial Commissioner Sumita Misra stressed the importance of active cooperation from Municipal Committees sarpanches panches and resident welfare associations RWAs to ensure smooth and timely completion of the exercise at the grassroots levelShe called for actively involving gram sabhas in the Census process and creating awareness through IEC activitiesTo further strengthen implementation all district administrations were advised to suitably adjust the working hours of employees assigned census duties so that field operations can be completed within the stipulated timelineIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/haryana-sees-significant-progress-in-census-100-pc-houselisting-done-in-several-districts-674204.html Sun, 17 May 2026 16:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/gujarat-cm-launches-online-self-enumeration-process-for-census-2027-674205.html Gandhinagar May 17 IANS Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Sunday formally launched the selfenumeration process for Census 2027 by completing his familys details online and appealed to citizens to actively participate in the first digital selfcensus exercise introduced in the countrynbspThe selfenumeration process has begun across Gujarat from May 17 and will continue till May 31 during which residents can independently submit their details online through the census web portal and mobilebased platformAfter completing his own selfenumeration on the official census platform Patel urged people across the state to participate in the national exercise and provide accurate information within the stipulated periodHe said citizens should actively participate in this nationally important exercise and contribute towards building a strong inclusive and developed IndiaAccording to the state government Census2027 is being conducted completely in digital mode for the first time with citizens able to submit their details through both the online portal and mobile devicesOfficials said the newly introduced selfenumeration system has been designed to provide a simple secure and convenient digital platform through which residents can upload their information from anywhereCitizens can complete the process through the official portal where guidance and instructions related to selfenumeration have also been made availableAuthorities have appealed to residents to complete the process within the designated 15day period and ensure the timely and accurate submission of informationOfficials said the selfenumeration method is being introduced in Census 2027In Gujarat residents will be able to provide their details online before the next phase of census operations beginsThereafter House Listing Operations HLO will be carried out across the state from June 1 to 30 by more than one lakh census workers as part of the nationwide census exerciseDuring the launch event State Census Operations Director Sujal Mayatra presented a memento to the chief minister and briefed him about the censusrelated activities and preparations being undertaken in the stateIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/gujarat-cm-launches-online-self-enumeration-process-for-census-2027-674205.html Sun, 17 May 2026 16:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/shreyas-iyer-becomes-fifth-player-to-complete-100-ipl-matches-as-captain-674206.html Dharamsala May 17 IANS Shreyas Iyer added another milestone to his growing leadership resume on Sunday as the Punjab Kings captain became only the fifth player in Indian Premier League history to lead a side in 100 matchesThe landmark came during PBKS IPL 2026 clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium on Sunday placing Iyer alongside some of the most decorated captains in the tournaments historyBefore Iyer only MS Dhoni Gautam Gambhir Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma had reached the threefigure mark as IPL captainsThe 31yearold has built his captaincy record across three franchises Delhi Capitals Kolkata Knight Riders and PBKS highlighting both his tactical reputation and consistent demand as a leader in the leagueIyer first took charge of Delhi Capitals in 2018 and led the franchise in 41 matches guiding them to their maiden IPL final in 2020 He later moved to KKR where he captained the side in 29 games between 2022 and 2024 and ended the franchises long wait for silverware by lifting the IPL title in 2024His latest chapter with PBKS has already produced another finals appearance making Iyer the only captain in IPL history to lead three different teams into the tournament finalAcross his first 99 matches as skipper before Sundays game Iyer had registered 56 victories including two Super Over wins while suffering 40 defeats Three games ended without a result His success rate across completed matches stands at 583 per cent level with Dhoni for the best win percentage among captains in IPL historyThe achievement further strengthens Iyers reputation as one of the most effective leaders of the modern IPL era particularly given the contrasting squads and transitions he has managed across franchisesPunjabs campaign this season has mirrored that inconsistency The team began IPL 2026 in stunning fashion putting together a sevenmatch unbeaten run that included six wins and a washedout fixture However momentum slipped dramatically midway through the season with five consecutive defeats leaving their playoff hopes hanging in the balanceEven so the occasion offered Iyer another reminder of how quickly his leadership journey has evolved in the IPL From rebuilding Delhi Capitals into contenders to restoring Kolkatas titlewinning pedigree and now attempting to revive PBKS fortunes the Mumbai batter continues to carve out a distinct legacy as one of the leagues standout captainsAt the top of the alltime list remains Dhoni who has captained in 235 IPL matches for Chennai Super Kings and Rising Pune Supergiant between 2008 and 2025IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/shreyas-iyer-becomes-fifth-player-to-complete-100-ipl-matches-as-captain-674206.html Sun, 17 May 2026 16:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/india-netherlands-ties-in-green-energy-to-boost-innovation-investment-joshi-674207.html New Delhi May 17 IANS Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi on Sunday said that cooperation between India and the Netherlands in renewable energy green hydrogen and energy transition will strengthen clean energy innovation attract investments create new economic opportunities and support Indias emergence as a global green hydrogen hubnbspIn a post on social media platform X the minister said that collaboration in renewable energy and green hydrogen would further reinforce Indias commitment towards sustainable growth energy security and a cleaner futureCooperation in renewable energy green hydrogen and energy transition will strengthen clean energy innovation boost investments create new economic opportunities and support Indias emergence as a global green hydrogen hub Joshi saidThese outcomes further reinforce Indias commitment towards sustainable growth energy security and a cleaner future he statedThe cooperation framework between India and the Netherlands includes the setting up of a Joint Working Group on Renewable Energy that will hold regular meetings to share best practices and experiences promote knowledge of each others industrial ecosystems and facilitate industrial partnerships in areas such as green hydrogen bioenergy biochemicals circular feedstocks renewables and battery storageBoth countries have also agreed to collaborate on drafting an action plan for joint activities in renewable hydrogen including the development of a green corridor between India and the NetherlandsThe proposed corridor is expected to strengthen clean energy trade links and support Indias ambitions of becoming a major exporter of green hydrogen to EuropeAs part of the broader climate partnership India and the Netherlands will explore stronger cooperation on environmental issues through another Joint Working Group focused on climate adaptation and mitigationThe initiative aims to encourage the exchange of best practices knowledge and technology in tackling climate challengesThe two nations will also deepen bilateral cooperation in biofuels circular economy and wastetoenergy projects through initiatives such as the Global Biofuels Alliance and the International Solar Alliance among othersIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/india-netherlands-ties-in-green-energy-to-boost-innovation-investment-joshi-674207.html Sun, 17 May 2026 16:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/assam-cm-sarma-reaffirms-commitment-to-reclaim-over-1250-sq-km-of-encroached-land-674209.html Guwahati May 17 IANS Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday reiterated the NDA governments commitment to reclaiming encroached land across the state stating that groundlevel operations have already begun as part of the administrations larger campaign against illegal occupation of landTaking to X the Chief Minister said the government remains determined to recover vast stretches of land that it claims have been illegally encroached uponNDA 30 is committed to reclaiming over 1250 sq km of encroached land in Assam We are already on the ground working towards realising this promise CM Sarma wroteAlong with the post the Chief Minister also shared a video showing yellow JCB backhoe loaders demolishing structures and clearing large heaps of debris including wooden planks and metal sheets in what appeared to be a rural hilly areaSarma has repeatedly asserted his governments resolve to intensify eviction and land recovery drives in AssamOn the eve of taking oath as Chief Minister for a second consecutive term Sarma on May 11 had declared that the land identity and future of Assam would remain nonnegotiable under his administrationHe had then pledged that the government would free nearly 5 lakh bighas of land from encroachment by significantly scaling up eviction drives during the NDA governments new term compared to operations carried out earlierThe Chief Minister had also used social media to announce what he described as a stronger and more aggressive campaign against illegal land occupation in the stateAssams land identity and future are nonnegotiable After freeing 15 lakh bighas of land from encroachment NDA 30 moves ahead with a firm resolve to reclaim 5 lakh more bighas for the people of Assam Because for us Jati Mati Bheti comes first he had posted on XThe slogan Jati Mati Bheti referring to community land and homeland has remained central to the BJPled governments political messaging in Assam particularly on issues linked to identity and land rightsMeanwhile CM Sarma has also reiterated the NDA governments commitment to implementing the Uniform Civil Code UCC in Assam stating that every assurance made in the partys election manifesto would be honouredSpeaking to reporters the Chief Minister said the government was fully committed to carrying forward all promises outlined during the election campaignUCC is a part of our election manifesto So every point in our election manifesto not only UCC all that we have mentioned in our election manifesto well try 100 per cent to implement Sarma saidHis remarks come amid renewed national discussions surrounding the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code in BJPruled statesThe proposed UCC seeks to replace religionbased personal laws governing issues such as marriage divorce inheritance and adoption with a uniform legal framework applicable equally to all citizens irrespective of religionIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/assam-cm-sarma-reaffirms-commitment-to-reclaim-over-1250-sq-km-of-encroached-land-674209.html Sun, 17 May 2026 16:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/vande-bharat-sleeper-service-between-bengaluru-and-mumbai-likely-to-start-soon-ashwini-vaishnaw-674210.html New Delhi May 17 IANS Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Sunday said the muchawaited Vande Bharat Sleeper service between Bengaluru and Mumbai is expected to commence soonnbspThe minister made the announcement while virtually flagging off a new express train between Bengaluru and Mumbai He said several longpending railway demands of South and North Karnataka are now being fulfilled through accelerated infrastructure development and enhanced funding supportLongpending demands of South ampamp North Karnataka are now being fulfilled Further the Vande Bharat Sleeper service between Bengaluru and Mumbai is expected to start soon Vaishnaw statednbspVaishnaw said railway funding for Karnataka has seen a sharp rise in recent years helping speed up the execution of key rail projects across the statenbspHe noted that under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme 61 railway stations in Karnataka are being redeveloped at a cost of Rs 2160 crore of which nine stations have already been completedAmong the major projects Bengaluru Cantonment railway station is being redeveloped at an estimated cost of Rs 485 crore while Yeshwantpur station is undergoing redevelopment worth Rs 367 crorenbspHighlighting network expansion the Railway Minister said around 1750 km of new railway lines have been constructed in Karnataka since 2014 He also said electrification work on the challenging HassanMangaluru railway section has been completed and testing is currently underwayOn the Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project Vaishnaw said work is progressing across all four corridors He stated that land acquisition has been completed for the BaiyappanahalliChikkabanavara and HeelaligeRajanukunte corridors where station construction work is currently in progressnbspHe added that the alignment for the KSR BengaluruDevanahalli corridor has received joint approval from the Karnataka government and the Railways while geotechnical surveys have already been completed The KengeriWhitefield corridor was recently approved and survey work is expected to begin shortlyAccording to the minister the suburban rail network will connect major hubs across Bengaluru including Kempegowda International Airport Electronic City Marathahalli and Hebbal significantly improving urban mobilitynbspVaishnaw further said Karnataka currently operates 12 pairs of Vande Bharat trains He added that testing on the BengaluruMangaluru route is in progress and is expected to improve rail connectivity along the coastal belt up to MadgaonIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/vande-bharat-sleeper-service-between-bengaluru-and-mumbai-likely-to-start-soon-ashwini-vaishnaw-674210.html Sun, 17 May 2026 16:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/3-arrested-in-grenade-hurling-incident-in-punjabs-gurdaspur--674211.html Chandigarh May 17 Three people have been arrested in connection with a grenadehurling incident in Punjabs Gurdaspur last month police said on SundaynbspThe arrests were made by Gurdaspur police in coordination with the Counter Intelligence wing Police also recovered a hand grenade from one of the accusednbspThe arrested accused have been identified as Amarjit Singh alias Billa of Jalandhar Karanjit Singh alias Karan and Satnam Singh of Amritsar police saidnbspAccording to police two unidentified persons hurled a hand grenade outside a shop near Geeta Bhawan Road in Gurdaspur on April 27 However it did not explode as the grenades pin remained intactDirector General of Police DGP Gaurav Yadav said the accused involved in hurling the hand grenade near the shop were identified following an extensive probenbspDuring the investigation another hand grenade was recovered from the residence of Amarjit he saidnbspYadav said preliminary investigation revealed that the accused were acting on the directions of a foreignbased handler and had received the two hand grenades from the handlerSharing operational details Gurdaspur Senior Superintendent of Police SSP Aditya said that acting swiftly after the incident multiple teams were constituted to work on the casenbspWith the help of CCTV footage human intelligence technical analysis and intensive search the three accused were arrested he saidnbspFurther investigation is underway to establish forward and backward linkages including foreign handlers and local support networks More arrests and recoveries are likely in the coming days Aditya saidA case was initially registered under the Explosive Substances Act at the City Gurdaspur police station Charges under relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act UAPA have been added police said Agencies https://dailyworld.in/national/3-arrested-in-grenade-hurling-incident-in-punjabs-gurdaspur--674211.html Sun, 17 May 2026 17:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/hm-shah-inaugurates-million-minds-tech-park-real-estate-management-institute-in-ahmedabad--674217.html Gandhinagar May 17 IANS Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the Million Minds Tech Park and the Ganesh Real Estate Management Institute in Ahmedabad on SundaynbspSpeaking on the occasion the Union Home Minister said that Gujarat will take lead in the field of technology just the way it has led the nation since IndependencenbspHe added that these two projects would give fresh momentum to Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision of transforming Gujarat from merely a manufacturing hub into a leading global centre for services and technologyExpressing his vision of placing Gujarat among the top three states in the service sector Home Minister Shah said that the state has consistently focused on economic activitiesnbspThrough the Million Minds Tech Park thousands of highly skilled employment opportunities will be created for the youth of the statenbspThe tech park will promote research innovation and technological development in advanced sectors such as Artificial Intelligence AI robotics and semiconductorsUnion Minister Amit Shah also said that the Ganesh Real Estate Management Institute would play an important role in bringing professionalism and modernisation to the real estate sectornbspThe institute will prepare skilled human resources through modern urban planning technologyoriented courses and training aligned with global standardsnbspThe Union Home Minister noted that Gujarat is today providing a new direction to the country in the fields of technology industry and modern infrastructure development and such specialised institutions and technologydriven projects would strengthen the states position in the global economyHe added that the tech city being developed over nearly 65 acres in the AhmedabadGIFT CityGandhinagar highgrowth corridor near Vaishnodevi Circle will include GradeA office spaces residential facilities retail and hospitality infrastructure The project is expected to generate more than 70000 highskilled jobsnbspGujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said that the state has achieved remarkable progress in manufacturing ports infrastructure green energy pharmaceuticals and investment transforming the politics of development into national ideologyThe state is now entering a new phase of development driven by IT innovation and a technologybased economy the Chief Minister notednbspHe also remarked that the Million Minds Tech Park would play a significant role in Gujarats technologydriven growth describing it as not merely a real estate development but also a centre that would generate highskilled employment and accelerate the digital economynbspHe also said that the dream of Gujarat 20 is becoming a reality through sectors such as the digital economy Artificial Intelligence semiconductors Global Capability Centres GCC and knowledgebased servicesDue to the state governments IT policy and GCC policy along with the encouraging policies of the Central Government Gujarats IT sector is poised for rapid growthnbspChief Minister Patel added that GIFT City is emerging as a global financial and technology ecosystem while the semiconductor ecosystem developing in Sanand and Dholera Special Investment Region will establish Gujarat as a semiconductor hubGIFT City and Dholera will become powerful engines of Gujarats economic growth in the coming years he assertednbspThe Chief Minister also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for approving the countrys first semihighspeed rail project between Ahmedabad and Dholera to be built at an estimated cost of Rs 20000 crorenbspHe said such modern infrastructure would play a crucial role in attracting investments from across India and abroadIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/hm-shah-inaugurates-million-minds-tech-park-real-estate-management-institute-in-ahmedabad--674217.html Sun, 17 May 2026 19:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/imd-issues-rain-storm-alert-across-15-states-heatwave-conditions-likely-in-delhi-ncr-674052.html New Delhi May 16 The India Meteorological Department IMD on Saturday issued an alert for heavy rain thunderstorms and strong winds across 15 states including Uttar Pradesh Bihar and Punjab The Meteorological Department warned that several parts of the country are likely to witness intense weather activity on May 16 and advised people to exercise extreme caution during the period Gusty winds with speeds ranging from 80 to 85 kmph are expected in many regions North Indian states may once again witness severe storms while hailstorm warnings have also been issued for several areasThe IMD has issued an alert for thunderstorms and rainfall in six districts of Punjab According to the Meteorological Centre in Chandigarh isolated incidents of severe thunderstorms accompanied by lightning are likely in Pathankot Gurdaspur Fazilka Amritsar Hoshiarpur and Muktsar Strong winds with speeds of 40 to 50 kmph are expected in these districtsAt the same time the weather department has issued a âYellow Alertâ for heatwave conditions across several parts of Punjab from May 16 to May 20Residents of Delhi woke up to a pleasant Friday morning with the minimum temperature settling at around 25 degrees Celsius a day after strong dust storms and gusty winds swept across parts of the national capital and northern IndiaHowever the IMD has forecast a sharp rise in temperatures across DelhiNCR over the next few days The maximum temperature in the national Capital is likely to cross the 40degree Celsius mark on SaturdayThe weather department had earlier predicted thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and light rainfall during the night hours Despite brief relief from the heat the IMDâs latest forecast suggests that hot and dry conditions are expected to return to the regionAccording to the forecast Delhi is likely to record a maximum temperature of 41 degrees Celsius and a minimum temperature of 24 degrees Celsius on May 16 under mainly clear skiesThe temperature may rise further to 42 degrees Celsius on May 17 with partly cloudy skies and the possibility of thunderstorms and lightning activity IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/imd-issues-rain-storm-alert-across-15-states-heatwave-conditions-likely-in-delhi-ncr-674052.html Sat, 16 May 2026 11:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/hm-shah-to-review-key-development-projects-in-gujarat-today-674053.html New Delhi May 16 Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah will be on a twoday visit to Gujarat starting Saturday where he will participate in a series of official programmes in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar During the visit the senior BJP leader is expected to review major development initiatives interact with newly elected civic representatives and inaugurate a new milk processing plant aimed at strengthening the dairy sector in the regionAs part of his engagements Amit Shah will meet the newly elected corporators of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation AMC He will also hold review meetings with senior municipal officials to assess the progress of ongoing development works in Ahmedabad and GandhinagarThe Union Minister will chair a highlevel review meeting at the AMC South West Zone office in Ahmedabad on Saturday The meeting will focus on development projects under the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency and is expected to include discussions on several important civic and infrastructure initiatives worth crores of rupeesKey issues likely to be discussed during the meeting include urban infrastructure development pond interlinking projects and preparations for the Mission 5 Million Trees campaign planned for the upcoming monsoon season Senior civic officials including the Municipal Commissioner and top administrative officers are expected to attend the review meetingThe visit is being seen as significant in terms of monitoring development activities and accelerating civic projects in the region Officials are also expected to brief the Union Minister on the implementation status of various public welfare and environmental initiativesOn May 17 Amit Shah will travel to Gandhinagar district to inaugurate a newly constructed milk processing plant of Madhur Dairy operated by the Gandhinagar District Milk Producersâ Cooperative SocietyThe new dairy plant has been set up near Dashela village close to Chiloda in Gandhinagar district The inauguration programme is scheduled to begin at 100 PM During the visit the Union Home Minister will inspect the modern milk processing facility and later address a public gathering at the venueThe newly inaugurated plant is expected to significantly enhance dairy processing capacity in the region and provide benefits to local milk producers associated with the cooperative network IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/hm-shah-to-review-key-development-projects-in-gujarat-today-674053.html Sat, 16 May 2026 11:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-shares-some-glimpses-from-warm-welcome-by-indian-diaspora-in-netherlands-674057.html New Delhi May 16 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday shared some glimpses from the remarkable welcome by the Indian community in the Netherlands PM Modi took to social media X and said Yesterdayâs welcome by the Indian diaspora in the Netherlands was remarkable The welcome included a dance performance covering Kathak Odissi Bharatanatyam Kuchipudi and Mohiniyattam It also included a Garba performanceIn another post PM Modi said Sharing some more glimpses from the welcome by the Indian community in the NetherlandsMeanwhile PM Modi will hold bilateral talks with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands Rob Jetten and will also meet King WillemAlexander and Queen Maxima on Saturday as part of his official visit to the countryThe Prime Minister is also expected to address the Indian community and interact with leading business leaders from the Netherlands during his stayPM Modi will remain in the Netherlands till May 17 This marks his second visit to the country with his previous visit taking place in 2017 The current visit comes at an important juncture in IndiaNetherlands bilateral relations and is expected to further strengthen strategic cooperation between the two nationsPM Modi arrived in the Netherlands on Friday evening as part of his multination diplomatic tour to enhance Indiaâs strategic economic and technological partnerships across EuropeAnnouncing the Prime Ministerâs arrival Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X stating âGoedeavond Nederland PM narendramodi has arrived in the Netherlands The visit will provide an opportunity to further strengthen the multifaceted IndiaâNetherlands partnership and to engage with the largest Indian diaspora on mainland EuropeâEarlier during a special briefing on the Prime Ministerâs visit Secretary West in the Ministry of External Affairs Sibi George said âOur partnership has considerably deepened over the last few years across traditional sectors of trade investment and priority sectors of WAH â water agriculture and health â as well as peopletopeople ties In recent years cooperation has further expanded into strategic areas such as technology innovation defence security semiconductors renewable energy education and the maritime domainâPeopletopeople ties continue to remain a significant pillar of the IndiaNetherlands bilateral relationship The Netherlands is home to more than 90000 NonResident Indians and Persons of Indian Origin as well as over 200000 members of the Suriname Hindustani community Additionally around 3500 Indian students are currently pursuing higher education at various universities across the countryThe visit carries a rich and substantive agenda and is expected to consolidate the new strategic dimensions of the partnership that have emerged through the sustained efforts of both countries IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-shares-some-glimpses-from-warm-welcome-by-indian-diaspora-in-netherlands-674057.html Sat, 16 May 2026 11:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/indian-diaspora-in-netherlands-calls-meeting-pm-modi-a-blessing-674062.html The Hague May 16 Members of the Indian diaspora in the Netherlands on Saturday described themselves as fortunate to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally calling the experience one of the greatest honours of their lives A member of the Indian diaspora told IANS âWe are fortunate to meet PM Modi personally I would like to say that PM Modi is not just an Indian leader but a world leader He has put in a lot of effort into making India a strong nationâAnother member of the diaspora expressed excitement over the interaction and said âIt was amazing It was the honour of our lives Meeting PM Modi in person was truly a blessingâA member of the Muslim community in the Indian diaspora also shared happiness after meeting the Prime Minister and said âI am very happy I have grown up in India and today I got an opportunity to meet PM ModiâArtistes from the Netherlands who performed during the event also expressed gratitude and excitement over the opportunity to present Indian culture before the Prime MinisterOne artiste said âWe presented a beautiful Ram bhajan We were very honoured to perform in front of PM Modi It was blissful to see the twinkle in his eyes and it was truly a blessing to perform for himâAnother artiste said âIt was beautiful to present our classical art forms here in the Netherlands in front of PM Modi It truly feels like a blessed momentâA third performer described the occasion as a âunique experienceâ and said it was a great honour to perform before âone of the world leadersâEarlier in the day PM Modi shared some glimpses from the remarkable welcome by the Indian community in the NetherlandsPM Modi took to social media X and said Yesterdayâs welcome by the Indian diaspora in the Netherlands was remarkable The welcome included a dance performance covering Kathak Odissi Bharatanatyam Kuchipudi and Mohiniyattam It also included a Garba performanceIn another post PM Modi said Sharing some more glimpses from the welcome by the Indian community in the NetherlandsMeanwhile PM Modi will hold bilateral talks with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands Rob Jetten and will also meet King WillemAlexander and Queen Maxima on Saturday as part of his official visit to the countryThe Prime Minister is also expected to address the Indian community and interact with leading business leaders from the Netherlands during his stayPM Modi will remain in the Netherlands till May 17 This marks his second visit to the country with his previous visit taking place in 2017 The current visit comes at an important juncture in IndiaNetherlands bilateral relations and is expected to further strengthen strategic cooperation between the two nationsPM Modi arrived in the Netherlands on Friday evening as part of his multination diplomatic tour to enhance Indiaâs strategic economic and technological partnerships across Europe IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/indian-diaspora-in-netherlands-calls-meeting-pm-modi-a-blessing-674062.html Sat, 16 May 2026 11:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ex-kerala-cm-vijayan-faces-heat-as-cpi-674074.html Thiruvananthapuram May 16 For nearly three decades Pinarayi Vijayan stood as the unquestioned strongman of the CPIM in Kerala Now the Assembly poll debacle has triggered a wave of dissent against Vijayan From the time he entered the EK Nayanar Cabinet in 1996 and later assumed charge as state secretary in 1998 Vijayan steadily consolidated his authority within the party with an iron grip that few dared to challengeHowever the political landscape within the CPIM appears to have dramatically shifted after the crushing Assembly election debacle of May 4 when the Left Front which once commanded 99 seats in the 140member Assembly was reduced to a mere 35 seatsThe electoral humiliation has triggered an unprecedented wave of dissent against Vijayan and state secretary MV GovindanWhat began as murmurs inside the Politburo soon spilled into the state committee meeting where Vijayan reportedly faced criticism unlike anything seen in his long political careerThat discontent has now spread to the district level with Pathanamthitta and Kannur district secretariat meetings openly questioning the leadership style and political decisions of both Vijayan and GovindanThe criticism from Pathanamthitta was particularly explosiveLeaders there openly challenged the decision to appoint Vijayan as Leader of the Opposition after the defeat arguing that the agelimit relaxation granted to him was meant to continue as Chief Minister and not to remain at the helm after a massive electoral rejectionThe meeting also attacked the functioning of the Chief Ministerâs Office alleging that grassroots party workers were alienated and denied access during the Left governmentâs decade long tenureKannur long considered Vijayanâs political fortress echoed similar concernsLeaders reportedly said the party leadership failed to read the public mood and that Vijayanâs style and public statements became liabilities during the campaignGovindan too finds himself under pressureUnlike Vijayan Govindan never fully connected either with the cadre or the broader publicNow allegations that he prioritised personal and family interests over organisational issues have further weakened his standing within the party It has doubled after his wife lost to a party rebelWith 12 more district committee meetings yet to take place party insiders do not expect the criticism to subsideAttention is now turning towards whether the CPIM leadership will convene a special plenum to seriously assess the collapseIronically after the disastrous 2024 Lok Sabha elections and again following the Leftâs worstever setback in the local body polls the leadership had promised a âreviewâThe same narrative is now being repeated once again But this time the crisis appears deeperThe CPIM is facing not just an electoral defeat but a crisis of leadership And for the first time in decades both Pinarayi Vijayan and Govindan appear politically vulnerable within their own party IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/ex-kerala-cm-vijayan-faces-heat-as-cpi-674074.html Sat, 16 May 2026 12:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/diesel-price-hike-to-deepen-financial-crisis-of-tamil-nadu-transport-corporations-674077.html Chennai May 16 Tamil Naduâs staterun transport corporations are staring at an additional annual financial burden of nearly Rs 17558 crore following the recent Rs 286 per litre hike in highspeed diesel prices announced by oil marketing companies The increase is expected to further strain the already lossmaking public transport sector in the state The eight state transport undertakings â Metropolitan Transport Corporation MTC State Express Transport Corporation SETC and the six divisions of Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation TNSTC â together operate around 19000 buses every day across more than 10120 routes These buses consume an average of 1682 lakh litres of diesel daily while covering nearly 81 lakh kilometres across Tamil NaduAccording to Transport Department Secretary Shunchonngam Jatak Chiru the transport corporations are already incurring a combined daily loss of nearly Rs 19 crore With the latest rise in diesel prices the daily operational loss is expected to rise further by around Rs 4811 lakhOfficials said the transport corporations spend nearly Rs 5200 crore annually on diesel purchases alone which accounts for around 26 per cent of the total expenditure involved in operating bus services The staterun buses continue to remain the backbone of Tamil Naduâs public transport network connecting nearly 98 per cent of villages with populations exceeding 1000Transport workersâ unions have blamed the worsening financial condition on the governmentâs continued reluctance to revise bus fares in proportion to rising fuel prices Government bus fares were last revised in January 2018 when diesel was priced at around Rs 65 per litre The price has now touched nearly Rs 95 per litreOfficial records show that the average daily loss of the transport corporations rose steadily from Rs 1683 crore in 202223 to Rs 177 crore in 202324 before reaching Rs 189 crore in 202425 Despite the mounting losses Tamil Nadu continues to register the highest public transport ridership in the countryAverage daily passenger usage increased from 155 crore commuters in 202122 to nearly 205 crore in 202526 This includes around 70 lakh women passengers travelling free of cost under the State governmentâs Vidiyal Payanam scheme operating on 7331 ordinary busesTamil Nadu also continues to maintain one of the cheapest bus fare structures in the country The fare for ordinary buses stands at 58 paise per kilometre while ultra deluxe buses charge Rs 1 per kilometreIn neighbouring states such as Karnataka and Kerala ordinary bus fares range between 75 paise and Rs 1 per kilometre while premium services charge between Rs 120 and Rs 168 per kilometre IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/diesel-price-hike-to-deepen-financial-crisis-of-tamil-nadu-transport-corporations-674077.html Sat, 16 May 2026 12:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/diesel-price-hike-to-deepen-financial-crisis-of-tamil-nadu-transport-corporations-674079.html Chennai May 16 Tamil Naduâs staterun transport corporations are staring at an additional annual financial burden of nearly Rs 17558 crore following the recent Rs 286 per litre hike in highspeed diesel prices announced by oil marketing companies The increase is expected to further strain the already lossmaking public transport sector in the state The eight state transport undertakings â Metropolitan Transport Corporation MTC State Express Transport Corporation SETC and the six divisions of Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation TNSTC â together operate around 19000 buses every day across more than 10120 routes These buses consume an average of 1682 lakh litres of diesel daily while covering nearly 81 lakh kilometres across Tamil NaduAccording to Transport Department Secretary Shunchonngam Jatak Chiru the transport corporations are already incurring a combined daily loss of nearly Rs 19 crore With the latest rise in diesel prices the daily operational loss is expected to rise further by around Rs 4811 lakhOfficials said the transport corporations spend nearly Rs 5200 crore annually on diesel purchases alone which accounts for around 26 per cent of the total expenditure involved in operating bus services The staterun buses continue to remain the backbone of Tamil Naduâs public transport network connecting nearly 98 per cent of villages with populations exceeding 1000Transport workersâ unions have blamed the worsening financial condition on the governmentâs continued reluctance to revise bus fares in proportion to rising fuel prices Government bus fares were last revised in January 2018 when diesel was priced at around Rs 65 per litre The price has now touched nearly Rs 95 per litreOfficial records show that the average daily loss of the transport corporations rose steadily from Rs 1683 crore in 202223 to Rs 177 crore in 202324 before reaching Rs 189 crore in 202425 Despite the mounting losses Tamil Nadu continues to register the highest public transport ridership in the countryAverage daily passenger usage increased from 155 crore commuters in 202122 to nearly 205 crore in 202526 This includes around 70 lakh women passengers travelling free of cost under the State governmentâs Vidiyal Payanam scheme operating on 7331 ordinary busesTamil Nadu also continues to maintain one of the cheapest bus fare structures in the country The fare for ordinary buses stands at 58 paise per kilometre while ultra deluxe buses charge Rs 1 per kilometreIn neighbouring states such as Karnataka and Kerala ordinary bus fares range between 75 paise and Rs 1 per kilometre while premium services charge between Rs 120 and Rs 168 per kilometre IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/diesel-price-hike-to-deepen-financial-crisis-of-tamil-nadu-transport-corporations-674079.html Sat, 16 May 2026 12:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ktaka-bjp-chief-vijayendra-takes-metro-backs-pm-modi-targets-congress-on-fuel-prices-674080.html Bengaluru May 16 Karnataka BJP State President BY Vijayendra on Saturday said Prime Minister Narendra Modiâs call for conservation of fuel must be followed by all citizens in view of global economic challenges and rising fuel prices Speaking in Bengaluru while travelling by public transport Metro rail to attend official engagements Vijayendra said the global warlike situation and its economic consequences had affected not only India but countries across the worldâOur Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a call for conservation At a time when the world is facing economic challenges every citizen in the country should think about thisâ he saidReferring to the Prime Minister reducing the number of convoy vehicles Vijayendra said the BJP national leadership was also following the same principleâThe Prime Minister has reduced the number of vehicles in his convoy Following his call even the BJP National President is practising this It is a good thought We need to minimise the use of vehiclesâ he saidVijayendra further said the Prime Minister had encouraged citizens to use buses and public transport wherever possible âHe has given a call to switch to buses and public transport He is a model for every citizen of the country As the State President of the party it is my duty to follow his appealâ he saidHe said he was travelling by Metro to attend a party event at Kumbalagodu on the outskirts of Bengaluru and would also visit the Art of Living Centre to seek the blessings of spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi ShankarâI am travelling by Metro to the venues and will also return by Metroâ he addedCommenting on the criticism over fuel price hikes Vijayendra questioned the opposition parties over their stand and accused the Congress government in Karnataka of repeatedly increasing taxes on fuelâDo opposition parties not know why fuel prices are being increased If they are demanding the resignation of the Prime Minister over petrol price hikes then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar should have resigned last year itselfâ he saidVijayendra alleged that the Karnataka government had increased fuel prices despite there being no comparable hike at the Centre or global level at that timeâWithout any corresponding price rise at the Centre or global level the Congress government in Karnataka increased fuel prices by imposing higher taxes They have done it multiple times How many times would Chief Minister Siddaramaiah have resigned then They should not speak merely for the sake of politicsâ he saidHe further stated that opposition parties should understand the present global economic situation and the reasons behind the Prime Ministerâs call for conservation of fuelAsked whether the Centre had delayed fuel price hikes until after state elections Vijayendra rejected the allegation and cited the Union governmentâs decision to increase the income tax exemption limitâFor the benefit of the middle class and to reduce the income tax burden there were demands to revise tax slabs If Congress were in power it would have announced it during the elections Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not do it during the elections The government took the decision two years before the Lok Sabha elections and increased the tax exemption limit up to Rs 12 lakhâ he saidHe asserted that the Central government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi never took decisions with elections in mind but acted in the interest of the people and the poor at an appropriate timeMeanwhile Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka also defended the Narendra Modiled Central government over fuel prices and accused the Congress government in Karnataka of burdening people with repeated price hikes on essential commodities and public servicesIn a statement Ashoka said the Central government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi had not imposed âeven a single paisa burdenâ on common citizens for 49 months despite global wars and international oil crisesâThe Narendra Modiled government maintained fuel price stability for a continuous period of four years despite immense pressure arising from wars and global oil market volatility This is a record in the history of independent Indiaâ he saidAshoka claimed that while fuel prices had increased sharply in several countries the rise in India remained comparatively lowâFuel prices increased by 897 per cent in Myanmar 549 per cent in Pakistan and 445 per cent in the United States whereas in India the increase was only 32 per cent This reflects the efficiency and strength of Modiâs governanceâ he statedAshoka further alleged that milk prices had been increased by Rs 9 electricity tariffs by 56 paise per unit and bus fares by 15 per cent during the Congress governmentâs tenure in KarnatakaâWater charges property tax and Metro fares have also gone upâ he saidAccusing the state government of misleading the public through its guarantee schemes Ashoka said âOn one hand they offer Rs 2000 guarantees but on the other hand they are taking away more than Rs 4000 every month from citizens through repeated price hikes What else should this be called if not daylight robberyâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/ktaka-bjp-chief-vijayendra-takes-metro-backs-pm-modi-targets-congress-on-fuel-prices-674080.html Sat, 16 May 2026 12:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pakistans-lashkar-iskp-gamble-backfires-against-resurgent-bla-ttp-674084.html New Delhi May 16 After having faced embarrassing losses at the hands of the Balochistan Liberation Army BLA the Pakistani security forces have been hit hard by the TehreekeTaliban Pakistan TTP Eighteen Pakistani security personnel were killed and scores of others were injured following a coordinated attack that targeted security camps and police posts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa KP While these sudden surges in strikes are a clear case of escalation it also signals clearly that the strategy adopted by the Pakistan establishment has failedAfter having faced huge losses in recent months the ISI and army roped in the LashkareTayiba and Islamic State Khorasan Province ISKP to join the security forces in their battle against the BLA and the TTP While a large number of these operatives were deployed against the TTP it appears that they are no match The TTP launched surprise attacks in the Bajaur district These attacks included gun battles and loud explosionsAn official said that the Pakistani security forces and their stooges within the LashkareTayiba and ISKP were clearly caught nappingThese audacious attacks show the dominance that the TTP has Moreover the ISKP and LashkareTayiba along with the Pakistani security forces are finding it hard to battle against the TTP The TTP has grown in strength but more importantly they have the support of the locals This has in fact helped them in mapping the territory and this means that they are much better in terms of logistical superiority the official saidThe problem is similar in Balochistan The security forces have faced losses in the region due to similar problems The BLA too has grown in strength and has also started deploying female fidayeens to fight against the Pakistani security forcesAnother official said that in Balochistan the locals are willingly joining the BLA despite the organisation not forcing them to do soThis shows that the people have shown a lot of resolve in battling against the Pakistani security forces as they feel oppressed due to the unfair policies of the establishment the official addedThe LashkareTayiba and ISKP operatives have not managed to crack both the TTP and the BLA It is the lack of local support that is hurting them The TTP and the BLA have mapped and studied KP and Balochistan thoroughly for several years They have supremacy on almost all counts and this has been an important factor in their battleAn Intelligence Bureau official said that while the ISKP has shown resolve to fight the case is not the same with the LashkareTayiba They have agreed to fight this battle reluctantly There are questions that are being asked within the ranks about the need to battle against their own people Many of them were not happy about joining Pakistan in their battle against the Afghan Taliban whom they view as one of their ownThe official added that it is the misadventure by Field Marshal Asim Munir which has dragged the establishment into this mess Since the embarrassment faced by Asim Munir during Operation Sindoor he has indulged in various stunts to save his faceBe it the battle against the Afghan Taliban or raising the tempo against the TTP and BLA all his adventures have failed or backfired the official saidMunir and the ISI have managed to convince the ISKP to fight their battle The ISKP bosses even agreed because they felt that a weakened Afghan Taliban would mean that they would get to control Afghanistan As of now the ISKP has gained nothing in Afghanistan as the Taliban is still in control Even the fight against the TTP and BLA has not gone as plannedAnother official said that with these battles not exactly going their way there would soon come a time when the fighters would lose heart This is exactly what is happening to the Pakistani security forces who are fighting against the BLA and TTPMany have withdrawn as they are unable to bear any more losses Those on the battle front appear to be an extremely demoralised lot and this explains why the battle is not going Pakistanâs way the official added IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pakistans-lashkar-iskp-gamble-backfires-against-resurgent-bla-ttp-674084.html Sat, 16 May 2026 13:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/neet-re-exam-likely-to-delay-engineering-arts-admissions-across-tamil-nadu-674087.html Chennai May 16 The decision to conduct a NEET reexamination on June 21 is set to disrupt the higher education admission schedule across Tamil Nadu with officials indicating that engineering counselling and admissions to arts and science colleges could face significant delays this year Traditionally engineering counselling in Tamil Nadu begins during the first week of July and continues for nearly a month However the counselling process is usually initiated only after the first round of medical admissions to avoid largescale seat vacancies in engineering colleges Many students who initially secure engineering seats later shift to MBBS programmes once medical counselling concludes particularly in toptier institutionsWith the NEET reexam now scheduled for June 21 authorities expect the publication of results and subsequent medical counselling to be pushed back by several weeks As a result engineering counselling is likely to commence only during the third or fourth week of July according to higher education department sourcesThe delay is also expected to affect admissions to arts and science colleges across the state A considerable number of students appearing for NEET simultaneously apply for engineering and undergraduate science degree programmes as alternative options in case they do not secure medical seats Since many students are expected to wait for the revised NEET results before confirming admissions elsewhere colleges may face uncertainty over actual enrolment figures during the initial stages of admissionOfficials said revising the engineering counselling calendar has become necessary to avoid confusion and prevent largescale seat withdrawals after counselling begins Similarly arts and science colleges are likely to postpone the release of merit lists and counselling schedules until there is greater clarity regarding the medical admission process Educational institutions are also concerned that prolonged uncertainty could compress the academic calendar for firstyear students and delay the commencement of classesPrivate colleges in particular fear fluctuations in enrolment patterns as students continue to keep multiple admission options open while awaiting NEET outcomesThe latest development highlights how changes in the schedule of a single nationallevel medical entrance examination can trigger a cascading impact across the entire higher education admission system in Tamil Nadu affecting lakhs of students seeking admission to professional and undergraduate courses IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/neet-re-exam-likely-to-delay-engineering-arts-admissions-across-tamil-nadu-674087.html Sat, 16 May 2026 13:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bjp-urges-citizens-to-remain-cautious-as-pm-modi-dismisses-foreign-travel-levy-report-674090.html Patna May 16 As Prime Minister Narendra Modi dismissed a sourcebased media report claiming that the government was considering imposing a levy on foreign travel the BJP on Saturday urged caution Speaking to IANS Dilip Kumar Jaiswal said âThe Prime Minister has already clarified the matter PM Modi has appealed to all citizens of the country regarding the ongoing concerns related to the dollar and gold markets urging them to remain alert and cautious in order to keep Indiaâs economy strongâSenior BJP leader Syed Shahnawaz Hussain also criticised the spread of misinformation and said there was no reason to misrepresent the governmentâs positionHe said âThere is no need for anyone to spread any kind of rumours The Prime Minister has already posted about this and clearly stated that there is no need to misrepresent things that the government has not doneâBihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary alleged that the Opposition was misleading the public for political reasonsHe said âWithout any basis the Opposition was claiming that the government is going to impose a tax on foreign travel just to mislead the citizens The Prime Minister himself has clarified the situation stating that the government has no such intention The real matter is that because they have been continuously out of power and have been repeatedly rejected by the public due to their own character the Opposition is in a state of despair and frustrationIn a rare rebuttal PM Modi has rubbished a media report which claimed the government is considering a cess or tax on foreign travelThe report by CNBCTV18 said a proposal to levy a cess tax or surcharge on foreign travel was being discussed at the highest levels of the governmentTaking to X on Friday PM Modi replied to the post by the media outlet and said there was not even an iota of truth to the reportThis is totally false Not an iota of truth in this There is no question of putting such restrictions on foreign travel We remain committed to improving Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Living for our people the Prime Minister wroteMinutes later CNBCTV18 issued an apology and said it was withdrawing the storyOur story on government considering taxcess on foreign travel is not accurate We withdraw the story and regret the error the outlet posted on XIn a graphic about the report that was shared on social media CNBCTV18 had said that the proposal on the tax was being discussed in the highest echelons of the government and was aimed at cushioning the fiscal impact from the US and Israels war against Iran The move it said would also mitigate higher crude and import costsThe report claimed the cess would go directly to the Centre and would be in place for a year It stated that the finance ministry had not responded to queries on the proposalOn Sunday PM Modi had urged citizens to help conserve petrol diesel and foreign exchange reserves by using public transport avoiding unnecessary foreign travel and refraining from nonessential gold purchases IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bjp-urges-citizens-to-remain-cautious-as-pm-modi-dismisses-foreign-travel-levy-report-674090.html Sat, 16 May 2026 14:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/from-myanmar-to-malabar-kerala-emerges-as-new-hub-in-indias-drug-war-674097.html New Delhi May 16 The Narendra Modi government has set a target of making India free from narcotics by 2047 Speaking at the annual R N Kao Memorial Lecture organised by the Research and Analysis Wing Union Home Minister Amit Shah reiterated the governmentâs commitment to achieving a DrugFree India by 2047Security and antinarcotics agencies say several international and domestic cartels are attempting to push drugs into India In Jammu and Kashmir Punjab and Maharashtra enforcement agencies have intensified operations to curb the growing menaceAn official said that the road ahead is going to be tough with these cartels chasing newer states to further the drug trade The modus operandi being used by the cartels in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir is established patterns and conventional methods In most cases the agencies have managed to get the better of cartelsHowever the main concern for the agencies is now Kerala Almost all cartels that target the Indian market are focusing heavily on Kerala An official said the smuggling patterns in Kerala differ from those seen in other states with traffickers constantly changing their methods Agencies have found that almost every major drug seizure in the state reveals a new modus operandi making enforcement operations more challenging and keeping investigators on constant alertIn Kerala the drugs earlier would make their way in from Afghanistan Pakistan and into India Once the contraband made it into Indian territory the narcotics would be taken to Kerala by road Officials now say the trafficking network has undergone a major shift with most drugs particularly heroin increasingly being sourced and smuggled in through MyanmarOfficials say heightened security along the IndiaPakistan border in Jammu and Kashmir Punjab and Rajasthan has made it increasingly difficult for narcotics cartels to use the traditional trafficking routes As a result smuggling networks have gradually shifted their operations with a growing volume of drugs now entering India through MyanmarThe Pakistani cartels have been coordinating with their counterparts in Myanmar These persons push the heroin into India through the Bangladesh border following which it makes its way to Kerala by road an official saidAnother official said that in addition to MDMA the drug that is smuggled in large quantities into Kerala is heroin âThis is not only because of the demand but the profit margins are very high A kilogram of heroin is valued at anything between Rs 2530 lakh The dealers purchase each gram at Rs 3000 and then sell it in the market at Rs 12000 a gramâ the official saidThese profit margins are huge and hence heroin is the preferred drug that makes its way into the Kerala marketFurther these smugglers have found various methods to conceal the drugs Heroin is concealed in soap boxes or in tiny bottles and smuggled into Kerala The idea is to smuggle more but in very small quantities per trip another official said This means those smuggling the drug from West Bengal or Assam come at regular frequencies The fact that it is being smuggled in very small quantities and concealed in tiny bottles has only made the challenge for law enforcement agencies even harderâThere are hits no doubt but the misses are quite large owing to this modus operandiâ officials saidThis modus operandi came to light following the arrest of three from Assam in Angamaly near Kochi in Kerala They were caught with 600 grams of heroin which was hidden in over 40 soap boxesAn official from the Intelligence Bureau said law enforcement agencies are closely monitoring the Malabar corridor in view of the sharp rise in drugrelated activities He said traffickers are increasingly targeting this region of Kerala for smuggling operations with Kozhikode emerging as a major area of concern The official added that large quantities of MDMA have been seized in the region as demand for the synthetic drug has now overtaken that of marijuanaOfficials say the region has also become a preferred destination for traffickers because of its proximity to the BengaluruMysuru corridor which functions as a major transit hub Kozhikode is additionally linked to several interstate road networks connecting Tamil Nadu Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh making the movement of contraband easierInvestigators have also noticed a changing pattern in the choice of carriers Officials say smuggling networks are increasingly using influential or highprofile individuals to transport narcotics There has also been a growing preference for women carriers as traffickers believe they attract less scrutiny during checks and surveillance operationsLast month the excise officials intercepted a car at Keralas Pantheerankavu toll plaza and seized 35 kilograms of MDMA worth Rs 3 crore Two people Fathima Nasreen a 20yearold social media influencer and a repeat offender PK Shafeeq were arrested They had reportedly sourced the drugs from Rajasthan and then driven all the way to KeralaIn another incident the agencies apprehended one Sheetal Shivdas 21 along with Firoz Musa The agencies recovered 1183 Kg of MDMA and 544 grams of cannabis from an apartment in Ulliyeri near the Malabar Medical College in KozhikodeLast year one Yasar Arfath and Rincy Mumtaz a YouTuber were nabbed in Kochi along with 22 grams of MDMA An official said that the changing patterns are making the battle against drugs harder in Kerala The official said the smugglersâ tactics resemble methods once employed by InterServices Intelligence to expand espionage networks in India with traffickers increasingly using women and social media influencers to widen their operations and move drugs discreetly IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/from-myanmar-to-malabar-kerala-emerges-as-new-hub-in-indias-drug-war-674097.html Sat, 16 May 2026 14:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-burglary-gang-busted-two-arrested-in-hari-nagar-theft-case-674098.html New Delhi May 16 Delhi Polices West District Special Staff has busted a gang of alleged burglars involved in a major house breakin case in the Hari Nagar area of the national capital by arresting two accused The police also recovered cash electronic items and the vehicle used in the crimeAccording to an official press release issued by the West District Police on Saturday the accused were identified as Sehjad aged 32 years a resident of Welcome Delhi and Salman aged 34 years a resident of Shahdara DelhiThe press release stated âTwo desperate burglars arrested by Special Staff West Districtâ adding that an âAscent car used in the commission of offenceâ had also been recovered Police further recovered âburgled cash amounting to Rs 29400 laptop and mobile phoneâ along with âclothes worn by the accused at the time of commission of offenceâAccording to police the burglary took place in the early hours of May 9 when a gang allegedly broke into the residence of an elderly couple in Ajay Enclave Hari Nagar and stole cash worth approximately Rs 45 lakh a laptop a mobile phone and important documentsConsidering the sensitivity of the case a dedicated investigation team was formed under the leadership of Inspector Rajesh Maurya InCharge of Special Staff West District under the supervision of ACP Operations Vijay Singh and overall supervision of DCP West District Darade Sharad BhaskarThe police said the team carried out extensive CCTV analysis and technical surveillance which revealed that the accused had used an Ascent car with a Uttar Pradesh registration number to reach and flee the crime sceneThe press release noted âThe team worked relentlessly and conducted extensive analysis of CCTV footage from the spot and surrounding areasâ Investigators later traced the vehicle through multiple ownership transfers and conducted raids at several locations across Delhi Ghaziabad Noida Bulandshahr Aligarh and TransYamuna areasFollowing sustained efforts police apprehended the two accused and recovered the stolen items During interrogation the accused allegedly disclosed the names of their associates identified as Kamal and Intazar Ahmad who are currently absconding Raids are underway to arrest themPolice further stated that the gang was also involved in a vehicle theft case registered at Police Station Sarai Rohilla on May 8 One of the arrested accused Sehjad was previously found to be involved in six cases related to burglary and theftâThe successful detection of the case reflects the professionalism dedication and relentless efforts of Special Staff West District in curbing organised property crimes and ensuring safety and security of citizensâ the press release addedFurther investigation into the case is currently underway IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-burglary-gang-busted-two-arrested-in-hari-nagar-theft-case-674098.html Sat, 16 May 2026 14:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/jampk-police-raids-15-locations-in-sopore-linked-to-uapa-cases-674099.html Srinagar May 16 Police in JampKâs Sopore subdivision on Saturday carried out searches at 15 locations in connection with the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act UAPA cases linked to the banned JamaateIslami organisation Police said that in Sopore subdivision searches were carried out at over 15 locations across Bomai Warpora Sopore and Tarzoo in connection with a UAPA case linked to the banned JamaateIslami networkThe ban on the JamaateIslami party was extended by the government of India for another five years starting from February 2024 declaring it an unlawful association under the UAPAThe organisation is accused of encouraging terrorism and secessionism in JampK Jamaat was first banned in 2019 and the ban was extended in February 2024 for another five years due to continued activities against national securityAuthorities are actively seizing properties and schools linked to the organisation Till April 2026 the JampK administration has taken over dozens of schools associated with the FalaheAam Trust which is linked to the banPolice continue to conduct raids and search operations against networks linked to the banned organisation under the UAPA including recent operations in North Kashmir areas this monthDespite the ban members affiliated with the group have shown interest in participating in democratic processes and some formerly associated members contested the 2024 Assembly elections under new banners creating a split within the group with some members exploring new political paths while others maintain the original stanceThe Ministry of Home Affairs states that the Jamaat is involved in fomenting militancy supporting antiIndia propaganda and aiming to disrupt the unity and integrity of the countryThe organisation was originally formed to encourage Islamic revival in the region but was banned due to its role in supporting violent activities and separatismThe terrorist outfit Hizbul Mujahideen was formed by youth and senior Jamaat activists as the armed wing of the JamaatThe socalled supreme commander of Hizbul Mujahideen Syed Yusuf Shah alias Syed Sallahuddin presently based in PakistanOccupiedKashmir PoK was a senior Jamaat leader and the party candidate in the 1987 Assembly electionsMost of the âeldersâ of the Hizbul Mujahideen were also senior cadre of the JamaateIslami IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/jampk-police-raids-15-locations-in-sopore-linked-to-uapa-cases-674099.html Sat, 16 May 2026 14:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/congress-moves-to-pacify-chennithala-as-talks-on-kerala-cabinet-heat-up-674110.html Thiruvananthapuram May 16 Even before the new Congressled government in Kerala formally takes oath the party leadership has begun hectic efforts to prevent the first signs of internal discontent from surfacing At the centre of the delicate balancing act is senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala who is understood to be deeply disappointed over being overlooked for the Chief Ministerâs post despite his long administrative and organisational experienceWith V D Satheesan emerging as the surprise consensus choice for the top post the Congress high command is now focused on ensuring that Chennithala remains firmly within the power structure of the new governmentParty insiders say Satheesan himself took the first major step in that direction by making a courtesy visit to Chennithala on Friday signalling the leadershipâs intention to avoid any public impression of factional bitternessThe outreach is expected to continue on Saturday when AICC general secretary K C Venugopal another senior leader who too reportedly missed out in the chief ministerial race is likely to hold detailed discussions with ChennithalaThe meeting is being closely watched within Congress circles as the party attempts to strike a careful political balance ahead of Mondayâs swearingin ceremonyFor the Congress leadership the stakes are highChennithala remains one of the partyâs most experienced faces in Kerala politics with considerable influence across organisational and community networksMany within the party believe sidelining him at this juncture could send out the wrong political message especially at a time when the Congress is attempting to project unity after returning to power with a massive mandateThe biggest question now revolves around the cabinet and portfolio allocationDuring the Oommen Chandy government Chennithala had successfully secured the powerful home portfolio after waiting in the wings for a whileWhether he will once again be able to flex his political muscles and reclaim the same prized department remains one of the most discussed subjects within the partyNegotiations over cabinet positions influential portfolios and powersharing arrangements are expected to continue through the weekendCongress insiders admit that if Chennithalaâs name does not figure prominently in Mondayâs swearingin list it could become the very first flashpoint of dissatisfaction for the Satheesan government even before it fully settles into officeFor Satheesan therefore managing governance may begin only after managing the Congress itselfState party president Sunny Joseph emerging from a meeting with Venugopal said everything is going smoothly and all issues would be addressed and the end will be a smooth affair IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/congress-moves-to-pacify-chennithala-as-talks-on-kerala-cabinet-heat-up-674110.html Sat, 16 May 2026 15:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-police-arrests-2-habitual-offenders-recovers-stolen-bicycle-674114.html New Delhi May 16 The East District Police of Delhi have solved a bicycle theft case by arresting two habitual offenders and recovering the stolen Tata Stryder bicycle officials said on Saturday According to the police Laxmi Nagar resident Ravi Dalmia had registered a First Information Report FIR on May 12 regarding theft of his bicycle by unknown personsInvestigation was immediately initiatedTo ensure early resolution of the case a dedicated police team comprising HC Rahish Kumar HC Arun Kumar Ct Devi Singh and HC Vasim Akram was constituted under the leadership of Laxmi Nagar Police Station SHO Inspector Ajeet Kumar Jha and under the supervision of ACP Preet Vihar Ashok KumarDuring the investigation the team conducted scrutiny of more than 100 CCTV footages to trace the route and movement of the accused persons Simultaneously extensive local enquiries informer inputs and field verification were carried out to gather actionable IntelligenceThrough persistent efforts technical surveillance and strong groundlevel policing the accused persons were identified tracked and successfully apprehendedUpon sustained interrogation one of the accused disclosed his identity as 26yearold Ashwani alias Vipin alias Bochi The second accused was identified as 23yearold Lalit alias Chuhiya Both of them are residents of Sarojini Naidu Park at Delhis Geeta Colony areaPolice have recovered the stolen Tata Stryder bicycle from their possession and further investigation is underwayOfficials noted that the accused are habitual offenders as one of them Ashwani was previously involved in more than 22 criminal cases while the other Lalit has 15 criminal cases against himMeanwhile the East District Police of Delhi have also solved a highprofile armed robbery case involving a goldsmith and arrested five accused including two main robbers and three accomplices officials said on FridayPolice recovered 21 robbed gold chains weighing around 250 gm and cash amounting to Rs 231 lakh from the accusedInvestigators said nearly 90 per cent of the robbed property has been recovered IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/delhi-police-arrests-2-habitual-offenders-recovers-stolen-bicycle-674114.html Sat, 16 May 2026 15:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/satheesan-signals-a-new-political-culture-in-kerala-sans-arrogance-vip-extravagance-674126.html Thiruvananthapuram May 16 As Kerala prepares to witness a change of guard after a decade Chief Minister designate VD Satheesan has already begun reshaping the tone and style of governance even before formally assuming office by opting for simplicity and mindful expenditure Through a series of bold administrative decisions and austerity measures announced within days of his elevation Satheesan has sent out a powerful message that the era of extravagance political arrogance and VIP excesses is coming to an endThe most striking among the early decisions is the scrapping of the massive VIP convoy culture that had long drawn public anger across the stateKeralaâs roads especially in Thiruvananthapuram would routinely come to a halt whenever Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan travelled with traffic signals switched off and ordinary commuters stranded for long periodsSatheesan has now decided that the Chief Minister will travel only with a pilot vehicle and a single escort car effectively dismantling the intimidating motorcade culture associated with powerThe move is being widely welcomed as a major relief for the publicOn Saturday morning Satheesan on his way to the capital city was seen stopping his vehicle and exchanging pleasantries with the man on the street leaving many with smiles on their faces as this was not what one saw in the past one decade when Pinarayi Vijayans convoy of cars used to speed along the roads raising dustIn another strong signal of financial discipline Satheesan has rejected the longstanding practice of purchasing brand new luxury vehicles for ministers whenever a new government assumes officeMinisters including the Chief Minister himself will continue using the vehicles allotted during the previous administrationAt a time when Kerala continues to grapple with an acute financial crisis the decision is being seen as an attempt to restore public confidence in governanceThe costly helicopter service hired by the previous government at a monthly expense running into lakhs will also be discontinued immediatelyThe helicopter is expected to be returned to the company saving the state exchequer crores annuallyEqually significant is the decision not to undertake expensive renovation works at Cliff House the Chief Ministerâs official residenceRenovations and lavish additions carried out during the previous regime had often triggered sharp criticism and public resentmentSatheesan has also reportedly directed authorities to dismantle the excessive security barricades and police outposts surrounding Cliff House a move that has brought relief to residents of Nanthancode who had lived under years of heavy restrictions and constant security inconvenienceA fivetime MLA from Paravur Satheesan rose steadily within the Congress through his sharp interventions in the Assembly meticulous preparation and aggressive attacks on the ruling front as Leader of the OppositionUnlike many leaders shaped by factional patronage his rise is widely viewed as being driven by political conviction consistency and hard workSatheesan took time from his busy schedule and met the leaders of the Asha Workers who were on a prolonged protest demanding a hike in salary Satheesan has promised that one of the first decisions when the Congressled UDF government assumes office will be a hike announcement in their salaryBy announcing sweeping corrective measures even before taking oath Satheesan has not merely promised a change in government but hinted at the emergence of an entirely new political culture in Kerala IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/satheesan-signals-a-new-political-culture-in-kerala-sans-arrogance-vip-extravagance-674126.html Sat, 16 May 2026 16:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/tn-vijay-to-meet-pm-modi-on-may-22-high-level-political-and-industrial-outreach-planned-674137.html Chennai May 16 Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay is expected to embark on a significant visit to New Delhi on May 22 with a series of highprofile meetings being lined up as part of what is likely to be his first major engagement with the national leadership after assuming office earlier this month According to sources Vijay is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the visit The meeting is expected to focus on issues concerning Tamil Nadu including financial allocations infrastructure projects development initiatives and matters related to the Stateâs administrative priorities under the new governmentApart from the meeting with the Prime Minister discussions are also underway to finalise appointments with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Finance Minister Nirmala SitharamanPolitical observers view these interactions as significant as they could set the tone for the relationship between the newly elected Tamil Nadu government and the Centre in the coming monthsAs part of established protocol Vijay is also expected to make courtesy calls on President Droupadi Murmu and VicePresident CP Radhakrishnan during his stay in the national capitalThe meetings are expected to be largely ceremonial but carry political significance given Vijayâs recent rise to the Stateâs top post following the Assembly election victorySources indicate that the Chief Ministerâs Delhi itinerary may extend beyond official government meetingsInteractions with leading industrialists diplomats legal experts and representatives from various sectors are also likely to be scheduledPolitical leaders from different parties are also expected to seek meetings with Vijay during his visitWith the Tamil Nadu political landscape undergoing major changes after the recent Assembly elections the Chief Ministerâs engagements in Delhi are being viewed as an opportunity to build broader political and institutional networksThe visit assumes importance as the Vijayled government begins settling into office and prepares for key administrative decisions and policy initiatives in the coming weeksOfficials indicate that the discussions held in Delhi could shape several developmental and financial proposals that the state government intends to pursue during its early months in office IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/tn-vijay-to-meet-pm-modi-on-may-22-high-level-political-and-industrial-outreach-planned-674137.html Sat, 16 May 2026 17:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/india-a-land-of-opportunities-powered-by-technology-and-humanity-pm-modi-674138.html The Hague May 16 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday described India as a land of opportunities that is driven by both technology and humanity Addressing the Indian community at an event in The Hague PM Modi said India is emerging as a key force in innovation economic growth and global cooperation at a time when the world is facing multiple challengesâIndia is a land of opportunities which is driven by both technology and humanityâ the Prime Minister statedâThis decade is becoming a decade of challenges for the worldâ the Prime Minister added referring to the Covid19 pandemic and ongoing global conflictsHe stressed the need for stronger international coordination and partnerships to address emerging geopolitical and economic uncertaintiesâIndia and the Netherlands are steadily expanding cooperation in critical sectors such as energy security and water securityâ PM Modi mentionedHe added that both countries can work together more closely in the global arena and collaborate on securing major international projectsHighlighting growing economic engagement between India and Europe PM Modi said the proposed IndiaEuropean Union Free Trade Agreement would further strengthen ties between the two sidesâThe Netherlands could become a natural gateway for Indian businesses looking to expand into Europeâ the Prime Minister statedHe also praised the role of the Indian diaspora in strengthening bilateral relations saying the community acts as a trusted bridge between the two nations and contributes significantly to enhancing peopletopeople ties and economic cooperationAddressing the enthusiastic gathering PM Modi said the warmth and affection shown by the Indian community made him feel as though he was attending a festival in IndiaâSeeing so much love and enthusiasm I forgot for a moment that I am in the Netherlandsâ he said adding that The Hague had become a living symbol of IndiaNetherlands friendship IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/india-a-land-of-opportunities-powered-by-technology-and-humanity-pm-modi-674138.html Sat, 16 May 2026 17:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/all-that-is-history-satheesan-venugopal-send-strong-cong-unity-signal-after-battle-for-cms-post-674140.html Thiruvananthapuram May 16 Barely days after one of the fiercest leadership contests the Congress in Kerala has witnessed in recent years newlychosen Chief Minister designate VD Satheesan and AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal on Saturday publicly buried all signs of rivalry projecting an image of unity and organisational discipline as the UDF prepares to formally assume office in Kerala The much watched meeting between the two leaders was held at Venugopalâs residence on Saturday afternoon and carried enormous political significanceIt was their first facetoface interaction after the dramatic climax to the Congress leadership race in which Venugopal who is widely believed to have enjoyed the backing of a majority of newlyelected legislators lost out at the final moment as the party high command threw its weight behind SatheesanDespite the intense undercurrents of the past few days both leaders appeared determined to signal that the power struggle was firmly behind themâWe see each other every day but this is the first meeting after the Chief Ministerâs name was cleared Whatever happened a few days back is all history nowâ Venugopal told reporters after the meetingStressing that the party was now fully focussed on governance Venugopal said âThe people of Kerala are looking forward to Satheesanâs administration and so are we We have been friends and colleagues for a long time The party is the thread that binds all of us togetherâSatheesan meanwhile used the opportunity to firmly dismiss speculation about internal divisions and mounting tensions over Cabinet formationHitting out at sections of the media he accused them of attempting to manufacture discord within the Congress campâA section of the media tried its best to drive a wedge between leaders But decisions in the Congress are taken only after elaborate discussions at every levelâ Satheesan said âThere is nothing in our party that cannot be resolved We are capable of finding solutions in a flashâThe Chief Ministerdesignate also made it clear that the final list of ministers would be approved only after clearance from the Congress high commandSeeking to calm growing anxiety among aspirants and their supporters he assured that the process was nearing completion and hinted at a swift swearinginâDid anyone expect the entire Cabinet to be sworn in so quickly By Sunday afternoon the final list will be submitted and on Monday the full Cabinet will take oath Has this happened in the CPIM beforeâ Satheesan remarked while also strongly defending Venugopalâs role in the processâKC Venugopal has always remained impartialâ he said urging the media not to become âtenseâ over the Cabinet compositionWith both the senior leaders now publicly closing ranks the Congress leadership hopes the focus will rapidly shift from internal power equations to the challenge of governance after its emphatic return to power in Kerala IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/all-that-is-history-satheesan-venugopal-send-strong-cong-unity-signal-after-battle-for-cms-post-674140.html Sat, 16 May 2026 17:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/v-p-radhakrishnan-to-attend-statehood-day-events-in-sikkim-today-674041.html New Delhi May 16 Vice President C P Radhakrishnan will undertake his first visit to Sikkim on Saturday after assuming office During his visit the Vice President will attend the Statehood Day Celebrations in Gangtok according to official statementEarlier Sikkim was in the spotlight when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Gangtok last month for a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of Sikkims statehoodHe also inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for multiple development projects worth around Rs 4000 crore and enjoyed a football session with youngsters in GangtokSharing photos of his football session on X PM Modi wrote Nothing like playing some football with my young friends in Sikkim on a lovely Gangtok morningIn another post he said Clearly an energising football session with these youngstersPrime Minister Modi also held a twokilometrelong cultural roadshow with enthusiastic residents lining both sides of the road to welcome him waving the tricolour and dressed in traditional attireHe also had an enriching interaction with Padma awardees and several distinguished personalities from different fieldsSharing details of the meeting in a post on X the Prime Minister said it was wonderful discussing a wide range of issues with the attendees highlighting the importance of engaging with individuals who have made notable contributions in diverse sectorsAccording to officials the interaction brought together Padma awardees social workers artists academicians sportspersons and other achievers who have earned recognition for their service and excellence in their respective domainsThe Prime Ministers engagement with awardees and achievers is seen as part of his broader outreach to acknowledge grassroots contributors innovators and individuals who have played a significant role in nationbuildingAccording to sources the discussions covered a range of subjects including development culture innovation education social welfare and opportunities for youth The participants also shared their experiences and suggestions with the Prime Minister IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/v-p-radhakrishnan-to-attend-statehood-day-events-in-sikkim-today-674041.html Sat, 16 May 2026 10:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/congress-to-hold-statewide-protest-over-neet-row-in-mp-today-674044.html Bhopal May 16 The Indian National Congress in Madhya Pradesh will hold a statewide protest on Saturday over irregularities in the National EligibilitycumEntrance Test NEET examination The announcement was made by Madhya Pradesh Congress President Jitu Patwari during a press conference at the state Congress office in Bhopal where Patwari strongly criticised the BJP over what he called repeated paper leaks and examination scams across the countryâThe Congress leader accused the BJPled Centre and state governments of failing to protect the future of nearly 24 lakh students who appeared for the testâDescribing the NEETUG 2026 controversy as an issue tied to the âfuture and soul of the nationâ Patwari said recurring irregularities in nationallevel competitive examinations have severely damaged the trust of students and parents in the systemââNearly 24 lakh students appeared for the National EligibilitycumEntrance Test examination but once again allegations of paper leaks and manipulation have destroyed the hard work and aspirations of students and their familiesâ Patwari saidâHe added that similar complaints have emerged in previous years as wellâPatwari alleged that examination systems in BJPruled states and at the national level are becoming increasingly prone to corruption and political interferenceâHe cited the Vyapam scam in Madhya Pradesh as an example saying frequent paper leaks and recruitment irregularities point to a deeper systemic failureââThe future of the youth is being compromised Parents spend years preparing their children for these examinations They take loans sell land and send them to coaching centres in Kota and other cities but one paper leak destroys years of sacrifice in a single dayâ he saidâThe Congress leader stated that when such scams surface accountability is fixed only on lowerlevel officials and employees while those with political connections escape actionâHe claimed that investigations into several examinationrelated scams have revealed the role of organised networks operating with political patronageâHe announced that the Congress will hold protests across Madhya Pradesh to take the issue to students and the publicâThe party will also hold another press conference on Saturday to present a detailed campaign on youth employment and educationââStudents have started losing faith in the examination system If the future of 24 lakh aspirants is not secure then the countryâs future is also not secureâ Patwari addedâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/congress-to-hold-statewide-protest-over-neet-row-in-mp-today-674044.html Sat, 16 May 2026 10:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-to-visit-uae-today-talks-to-focus-on-energy-strategic-ties-673942.html New Delhi May 15 Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay an official visit to the United Arab Emirates on Friday to advance the bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership During his visit PM Modi will meet the President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan exchange views on bilateral issues and energy cooperation and discuss ways to advance the bilateral relationsâThey will also discuss ways to advance the bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership underpinned by strong political cultural economic and peopletopeople linksâ the Ministry of External Affairs statedâThe visit will serve to promote the significant trade and investment linkages between the two countriesâ it addedEnergy security will be one of the key focus areas during PM Modiâs visit and two important MoUs in the areas of LPG and strategic petroleum reserves are likely to be concluded during it according to official sourcesAccording to MEA the UAE is Indiaâs thirdlargest trade partner and its seventhlargest source of investment cumulatively over the past 25 years With the UAE hosting a strong Indian community of over 45 million the visit will also be an opportunity to discuss their welfareBriefing the media Secretary West in the Ministry of External Affairs Sibi George stated that the Prime Minister will embark on a sixday visit to the UAE the Netherlands Sweden Norway and Italy For the second leg of his visit the Prime Minister will visit the Netherlands This will be the Prime Ministerâs second visit to the Netherlands since 2017 During the visit he will call on King WillemAlexander and Queen MÃxima and hold talks with Prime Minister Rob Jetten George saidFor the third leg of the visit PM Modi will travel to Swedens Gothenburg and hold bilateral talks with his Swedish counterpart Ulf Kristersson to review the entire gamut of bilateral relations and explore new avenues of cooperation to enhance bilateral tradeThe two Prime Ministers will also address the European Round Table for Industry a leading panEuropean business leadersâ forum along with the President of the European Commission Ursula von der LeyenGeorge further stated that during the fourth leg of his visit the Prime Minister will reach Norway on Monday for the 3rd IndiaNordic Summit and bilateral engagementsIn the final leg of his visit the Prime Minister will be in Italy on Tuesday During the visit PM Modi will call on the President Sergio Mattarella and hold talks with Prime Minister Georgia Meloni IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-to-visit-uae-today-talks-to-focus-on-energy-strategic-ties-673942.html Fri, 15 May 2026 09:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/dewas-firecracker-factory-blast-toll-rises-to-5-cm-mohan-yadav-visits-hospitals-673949.html DewasIndore May 15 The death toll in the firecracker factory explosion in Madhya Pradeshâs Dewas district has risen to five after two more severely injured workers died during treatment officials said on Friday The two victims succumbed to their injuries late on Thursday nightChief Minister Mohan Yadav travelled directly from New Delhi to Indore late Thursday night and visited hospitals to meet the injured He first reached Choithram Hospital where he interacted with victims of the Dewas accident and issued necessary instructions to doctors attending to themHe later visited MY Hospital to inquire about the health and wellbeing of other injured patients âThe state government is committed to providing every possible assistance to those affected by this tragedyâ CM Yadav said while speaking to the victims and their familiesThe Chief Minister directed medical officials to ensure all the injured receive appropriate and comprehensive medical care Demonstrating urgency CM Yadav had cancelled his other scheduled engagements in Delhi after receiving information about the incidentThe factory has been sealed and action under the National Security Act NSA has been invoked against owner Anil Malviya who has been arrested Police said cases are also being prepared against four persons including three contractors associated with the factory for alleged violations of safety conditions under the Explosives RulesUjjain Divisional Commissioner Ashish Singh has ordered a magisterial inquiry to examine the exact cause of the explosion verify compliance with the Explosives Rules and the National Building Code2016 and check the licences issued for operating the factoryOn Thursday Deputy Chief Minister and district incharge Minister Jagdish Devda visited the blast site and reviewed the relief measures with officialsâ He later met the injured workers admitted to Dewas District Hospital and Amaltas Hospitalâ âThe state government stands firmly with the affected families in this difficult time Every possible assistance and medical support will be provided to the injuredâ Devda saidâHe added that strict action would be taken against anyone found responsible for negligence during the investigationâThe incident has raised fresh concerns over safety practices and the monitoring of firecracker manufacturing units in Madhya Pradesh The district administration has directed departments to intensify inspections and verify licences and safety norms at all explosive manufacturing units operating in the region IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/dewas-firecracker-factory-blast-toll-rises-to-5-cm-mohan-yadav-visits-hospitals-673949.html Fri, 15 May 2026 09:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/after-stone-pelting-incidents-security-tightened-in-bhopal-areas-mp-police-warn-against-rumours-673959.html Bhopal May 15 Security has been tightened across all sensitive areas of the Old City in Bhopal ahead of Friday prayers as police moved to prevent any disturbance following communal tension over the assault on a Muslim youth earlier this week Authorities deployed additional police personnel in crowded localities and continued prohibitory measures under Section 144Strict vigil has been maintained around major mosques with separate security arrangements established at every gate of TajulMasajid Jama Masjid and Moti Masjid Personnel were also deployed outside Peer Gate Mosque Kulsum Biya Mosque in Budhwara and some other parts of the cityFriday prayers are scheduled between 1240 pm and 245 pm Bhopal Police Commissioner Sanjay Kumar said police forces had been put on high alert âPolice will take strict action if crowds gather Police will initiate stern measures against anyone disturbing the peaceâ he saidKumar urged residents not to assemble unnecessarily and added that additional forces would be deployed alongside the district police The police will also be keeping a close watch on social mediaHe appealed to all residents of Bhopal to maintain peace and not place trust in information circulating on social mediaThe heightened security follows protests and incidents of stonepelting reported in parts of the Old City after the assault on Arif Khan on May 10 According to police Khan was allegedly assaulted by activists linked to a Hindu organisation at a hotel in BhopalHe was beaten stripped seminaked and had ink and cow dung smeared on his face before being handed over to police personnel The incident triggered anger among members of the Muslim community leading to protests in several areas of the Old City since TuesdayAll seven persons named in the FIR including the main accused Vijendra Prajapati were arrested on Thursday and sent to judicial remand The accused Vijendra Prajapati Rohit Singh Jeetu Kushwah Ranjit Suryavanshi Lala Ram Meena Prateek and Ramesh have been booked under Sections 299 and 291 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for outraging religious sentiments and riotingBhopal City Qazi Syed Mushtaq Ali Nadvi also appealed for maintaining peace within the city The City Qazi stated that in accordance with community demands the police have arrested all the accused individuals and sent them to jailâDo not take any wrongful steps under the influence of provocation or misinformationâ he said Police said all the accused persons involved in this case have already been arrested and the investigation is underway IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/after-stone-pelting-incidents-security-tightened-in-bhopal-areas-mp-police-warn-against-rumours-673959.html Fri, 15 May 2026 09:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/remembering-the-legend-armed-forces-pay-tribute-to-field-marshal-km-cariappa-on-his-death-anniversary-673965.html New Delhi May 15 The Indian Armed Forces on Friday paid rich tributes to Field Marshal Kodandera M Cariappa on his death anniversary remembering his exemplary leadership discipline and foundational role in shaping a modern Indian Army The Indian Army posted on X âRemembering the LegendField Marshal KM Cariappa OBE the 1st Indian CommanderinChief of the Indian Army one of Indiaâs most distinguished military leadersâUnion Minister Nitin Gadkari also paid tribute posting on X âRemembering first Indian commanderinchief of Indian Army Field Marshal Gen K M Cariappa ji on his death anniversaryâThe Indian Air Force also honoured the former Army chief stating on X âRemembering Field Marshal KM Cariappa the first Indian CommanderinChief of the Indian Army On his Death Anniversary the Indian Air Force pays tribute to one of Indiaâs finest military leaders whose vision leadership and devotion to the nation continue to inspire the Armed ForcesâUttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya also paid homage writing âOn the death anniversary of Field Marshal K M Cariappa Ji the first CommanderinChief of the Indian Army and an embodiment of courage valor and heroism we pay humble tribute to him Through his disciplined leadership and visionary thinking he gave the Indian Army a new direction and a strong identityâField Marshal Cariappa remains one of the most respected figures in Indiaâs military history He was the first Indian CommanderinChief of the Army after independence taking charge in January 1949 succeeding British General Sir Roy Bucher and played a key role in transforming the colonialera force into a national institutionBorn on January 28 1899 in Shanivarsanthe in Kodagu district of presentday Karnataka Cariappa rose through the ranks to become one of Indiaâs most distinguished military leaders Following independence he was appointed the first Indian CommanderinChief of the Indian Army in 1949During his tenure he was instrumental in modernising the force and building its institutional identity He established key formations such as the Brigade of the Guards in 1949 and the Parachute Regiment in 1952 both notable for their inclusive recruitment across castes and classesIn recognition of his service and leadership he was awarded the US Legion of Merit by President Harry S Truman in 1949 IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/remembering-the-legend-armed-forces-pay-tribute-to-field-marshal-km-cariappa-on-his-death-anniversary-673965.html Fri, 15 May 2026 10:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/satheesan-to-take-oath-in-grand-ceremony-on-monday-rahul-priyanka-to-attend-673966.html Thiruvananthapuram May 15 After ten days of intense uncertainty backroom negotiations and dramatic twists in Delhi and Kerala the Congress high command finally cleared the way for VD Satheesan to take oath as Keralaâs next Chief Minister on Monday marking the Congress partyâs return to the top post in the state after a long gap The last Congress Chief Minister to assume office in Kerala was Oommen Chandy in 2011The swearingin ceremony is being planned as a massive political show of strength at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram where nearly one lakh people are expected to gatherSenior Congress leaders including Rahul Gandhi Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Mallikarjuna Kharge are expected to attend the event along with the Chief Ministers of Karnataka and TelanganaThe entire cabinet is expected to be sworn in alongside SatheesanThe first session of the new Assembly is scheduled for Thursday when newly elected MLAs will take the oathIncluding Satheesan 21 MLAs will be sworn in to take over the state for the next five yearsThe United Democratic Front leadership is meeting here to finalise the composition of the cabinet with regard to the number of Ministers from each of the alliesThe decision in favour of Satheesan came only after hectic consultations at the highest level of the Congress leadershipThe crucial round of talks began early Thursday morning when KC Venugopal was called to Rahul Gandhiâs residence in DelhiDuring discussions that reportedly lasted nearly three hours Rahul Gandhi informed Venugopal that the leadership had decided to back Satheesan for the top postPriyanka Gandhi also joined efforts to ensure consensus within the partyRahul Gandhi later spoke to Ramesh Chennithala who is learnt to have expressed strong displeasure over the decisionMeanwhile senior leaders including Mukul Wasnik Ajay Maken Jairam Ramesh and Deepa Dasmunsi gathered at Khargeâs residence as the final contours of the announcement were worked outOnce Venugopal publicly declared his acceptance of the decision the remaining resistance before the high command melted away paving the way for Satheesanâs elevation to the stateâs highest office IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/satheesan-to-take-oath-in-grand-ceremony-on-monday-rahul-priyanka-to-attend-673966.html Fri, 15 May 2026 10:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/narrow-escape-for-36-passengers-as-bus-catches-fire-in-andhras-prakasam-673970.html Amaravati May 15 As many as 36 passengers of a private travel bus had a narrow escape as the vehicle caught fire in Andhra Pradeshâs Prakasam district early Friday The accident occurred at Bheemavaram Adda Road in Ulavapadu mandal There were no casualties police saidThe bus belonging to Kaveri Travels was on its way to Tirupati from Hyderabad The driver noticed smoke emanating from the engine Showing presence of mind he immediately stopped the bus and alerted passengers All the passengers managed to get down from the bus before the fire engulfed the vehicle Everyone heaved a sigh of relief as all passengers deboarded Firefighting personnel rushed to the spot and doused the fire The bus was completely guttedThe cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained Police registered a case and took up an investigationAndhra Pradesh and Telangana have seen a series of bus fire incidents in recent monthsOn April 27 a private travel bus was gutted in a fire in Telanganaâs Medak district There were no passengers in the bus at the time of the mishap The driver and another person who were in the bus immediately got off after noticing the fire At least 14 people were burnt alive and 15 others were injured as a private travel bus caught fire after colliding with a tipper truck in Andhra Pradeshâs Markapuram district on March 26 The accident occurred near Rayavaram when the bus collided with a tipper truck near a stone quarry Both vehicles were completely gutted in the fireNineteen people were burnt to death when a private bus caught fire after running over a motorbike lying on the road following an accident near Kurnool town of Andhra Pradesh on October 24 2025 The bus belonging to a private tour operator and carrying 46 people was on its way to Bengaluru from Hyderabad when the ghastly accident happened near Chinnatekur village on the outskirts of KurnoolOn November 3 2025 a bustruck collision in the Rangareddy district of Telangana claimed 19 lives and left 24 others injured The tipper truck laden with gravel rammed into the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation TGSRTC bus coming from the opposite direction IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/narrow-escape-for-36-passengers-as-bus-catches-fire-in-andhras-prakasam-673970.html Fri, 15 May 2026 11:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/satheesans-first-major-political-test-managing-veteran-chennithala-673978.html Thiruvananthapuram May 15 Even before formally taking oath as Keralaâs Chief Minister VD Satheesan faces perhaps his toughest political assignment pacifying veteran Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala a towering figure in Kerala politics whose long career has been marked more by resilience and success than by setbacks For Satheesan the challenge is not merely administrative or organisationalIt is deeply political and emotional within the Congress ecosystemChennithala who turns 70 later this month has spent over four decades at the centre of Kerala politics after first becoming a state minister four decades agoSince then he has held almost every major political position available to a Congress leader in the state Youth Congress leader state Congress president Opposition leader state Home Minister and senior strategist within the partyIn a career stretching across generations of Congress politics defeats have rarely come Chennithalaâs wayIn fact the lone major electoral setback he suffered was during the 2004 Lok Sabha election a rare blemish in an otherwise formidable political journeyThat long experience and organisational grip make him a leader impossible to ignore even for a newly anointed Chief Minister backed strongly by the high commandThe prolonged uncertainty over the Chief Ministerâs post had already exposed sharp undercurrents within the Congressled frontThough the high command finally settled on Satheesan after days of consultations and dramatic negotiations in Delhi it is no secret that sections within the party had rallied behind ChennithalaHis reported unhappiness over the final decision has therefore become the first major political hurdle before the incoming Chief MinisterHe missed the first meeting of the newly elected legislators held here on Thursday nightHe had left the state capital by noon and was spotted in the early hours on Friday at the famed Sree Krishna temple at GuruvayurâThe decision on who all should be in the cabinet is the prerogative of the CM I wish him all the best and thank the party high commandâ said ChennithalaOn Friday morning he returned home here and said he had nothing more to add to what he said in GuruvayurMeanwhile Satheesan is expected to arrive at Chennithalaâs residence and will invite him to take up a key portfolioDuring Oommen Chandyâs tenure 201116 he later joined as Home Minister after Chandy decided to hand it to himSatheesanâs immediate priority will now be to ensure that the transition does not leave behind bitterness capable of weakening the government before it even begins functioningMore than cabinet formation or portfolio allocation the real balancing act lies in keeping Chennithala politically engaged respected and visibly accommodated within the new power structureFor the Congress leadership the message is equally clear winning the election was only the first battle Preserving unity among ambitious senior leaders may prove to be the harder task in the days ahead IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/satheesans-first-major-political-test-managing-veteran-chennithala-673978.html Fri, 15 May 2026 11:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/no-panic-or-fear-our-economy-based-on-strong-fundamentals-gourav-vallabh--673986.html New Delhi May 15 Prof Gourav Vallabh a member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister EACPM on Friday criticised opposition leaders for trying to sow confusion about the Prime Ministers appeal for fuel conservation saying the measures must be seen in the context of ongoing global economic disruptions and geopolitical tensions Speaking to IANS Vallabh said âThere are three major geopolitical conflicts going on all over the world The first is the West Asia conflict The second is the RussiaUkraine war which has left a negative impact on European economies And the third is the commodity price conflict between the US and China Because of this the supply chain of goods across the world has been disrupted This disruption is affecting every country in the world The Prime Minister has called for postponing the purchase of gold for a year This is not a ban You can buy it but if possible postpone itâHe further said that shifting consumption patterns could strengthen the domestic economyâIf smart substitution of forexsensitive consumption is done through domestic production then there is no problem I am thinking 510 per cent if it becomes 1520 per cent then there is no problem at all So no panic no fear no misleading information No one should be misled by the misleading information given by some opposition leaders The economy is based on strong fundamentalsâ he saidHighlighting Indiaâs resilience in global trade Vallabh added âIndiaâs foreign policy and the strength of the âTirangaâ were evident when ships across the world were halted in the Strait of Hormuz but ships carrying the Indian flag continued transporting gas and crude oil to Indian ports Indiaâs economy is resilient and there is no issue of any kindâOn the Prime Ministerâs reported downsizing of his convoy Vallabh said PM Modi leads by example âWhatever the Prime Minister says he first applies it to himself First he applied the âsmart substitution of importsensitive consumptionâ to the things he uses If the Prime Minister can travel with two cars it becomes a benchmarkâ he saidHe also urged citizens and political leaders to adopt similar practices âI urge the opposition leader to travel in only one car Why go to Oman or Muscat when you can visit Jaisalmer or Barmer Why travel to Switzerland or Italy when you can go to Shillong or KeralamHe further stated âSome opposition leaders are trying to spread confusion For two months they have been claiming thereâs a shortage of petrol and diesel Did you face any inconvenience even once regarding petrol or diesel Did you face any inconvenience with LPG cylindersâOn PMâs call for workfromhome and public transport use Vallabh said âIf we all take a pledge to use public transport once a week work from home once a week and hold virtual meetings once a week we will not only strongly face the challenges brought upon the Indian economy due to these geopolitical conflicts but we will defeat them completely The Indian economy will not be affected by even one per centâCalling it a national interest issue he added âI believe this is not a political issue it is an issue of national interest It involves 140 crore people I urge all political parties Rahul Gandhi Asaduddin Owaisi and Akhilesh Yadav to lead by example Use public transport use the metroâEarlier Prime Minister Narendra Modi had appealed to citizens to conserve fuel use public transport revive work from home avoid nonessential goods purchases and postpone overseas vacations to save foreign exchange amid global uncertainty triggered by conflicts in West AsiaAddressing a public meeting organised by the BJP at Parade Grounds in Secunderabad the Prime Minister had called for collective participation to help India navigate global economic disruptions supply chain challenges and rising prices caused by international conflictsHe had emphasised that patriotism also means responsible consumption during difficult times stating that saving fuel directly helps conserve foreign exchange spent on imports of petrol and diesel reinforcing the need for collective national effort IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/no-panic-or-fear-our-economy-based-on-strong-fundamentals-gourav-vallabh--673986.html Fri, 15 May 2026 12:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/high-court-stays-felling-of-trees-for-flyover-in-chandigarh-673988.html Chandigarh May 15 The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday stayed the felling of trees for the Tribune Chowk flyover halting the proposed project A Division Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjeev Berry said the matter had already been heard and likely to be decided at an early dateAs such it would be appropriate that the Chandigarh Administration and other respondents be restrained from felling any mango tree or any other tree in the vicinity of Tribune Chowk the Bench observedHowever the Bench which on Wednesday reserved its judgment observed that âthe interim direction shall remain subject to the final outcome in the petitionâPetitioners comprising Jagwant Bath have raised environmental concerns and challenged the axing of trees They also termed Chandigarhâs move against the cityâs heritage characterThe petitioners have argued that Chandigarh Master Plan of 2031 notified under the Capital of Punjab Act 1952 and the Punjab New Capital Periphery Control Act 1952 is a statutory document and it does not recommend the construction of flyovers within the city and mandates that alternative traffic management measures be exploredThe petitioners also claim the Department of Urban Planning was initially opposed to the project and was of the view that the Master Plan does not allow itChandigarh has got the nod to construct the flyover from the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways MoRTH The flyover proposed to ease traffic congestion at Tribune Chowk has faced repeated procedural delays since it was first conceived causing its cost to spike up from Rs 137 crore in 2019 to Rs 200 crore now a 45 per cent increase in seven yearsThe project conceived in 2016 is to decongest the Tribune roundabout as most of the traffic coming to the city passes through itThe proposed 16km flyover will start after the Government Medical College and Hospital in Sector 32 roundabout and land ahead of the railway overbridge on Dakshin Marg IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/high-court-stays-felling-of-trees-for-flyover-in-chandigarh-673988.html Fri, 15 May 2026 12:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/neet-exams-to-be-computer-based-from-next-year-dharmendra-pradhan-673994.html New Delhi May 15 Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday said that the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test NEET will shift to a computerbased examination model from next year Addressing a press conference in the capital Pradhan said there was an urgent need to conduct the examinations online indicating that the Centre has made up its mind to move from the paperbased format to the computerbased examination modelPradhanâs presser comes in the backdrop of NEET paper leaks and subsequent exam cancellation leaving lakhs of students anxious angry and disappointed over the state of affairs in the way NTA is conducting competitive examinations The Education Minister informed the press that the recommendations of the Radhakrishnan Committee had been implemented but admitted that a breakdown had happened somewhere in the chain of command He also assured that corrective steps are being undertaken to strengthen the systemHe also called it a âlong and sustained fightâ against the education mafia in the countryHe said the Central Bureau of Investigation has already launched a detailed probe at multiple levels into the breach and will soon find out how the miscreants and mafia managed to break into the âfoolproofâ systemFurther assuring students and allaying their apprehensions he said âThe entire government machinery will ensure no malpractices happen this timeâHe further informed that the National Testing Agency NTA will hold the NEET reexaminations on June 21 nearly a month after the original exams He said that all the candidates and NEET aspirants will receive their admit card by June 14âAspirants will get an opportunity to choose their choice of city for appearing in reexaminations A window of one week will be given to aspirantsâ he statedHe also said that 15 minutes of extra time will be given to students for filling in the details in OMR sheetHe also said that the NTA has taken two decisions on the NEET Exam cancellation day ie the candidates will be refunded the fees of the examinations and no extra fees will be charged for the reexamination IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/neet-exams-to-be-computer-based-from-next-year-dharmendra-pradhan-673994.html Fri, 15 May 2026 12:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/fuel-price-rise-in-raj-petrol-up-over-rs-3-sri-ganganagar-tops-at-rs-10946-diesel-nears-rs-95-per-litre-673998.html Jaipur May 15 Petrol and diesel prices have been sharply increased by oil companies with the revised rates coming into effect from Friday night Following the hike petrol in Jaipur is now being sold at Rs 10797 per litre Meanwhile Sri Ganganagar has recorded the highest petrol price in Rajasthan with rates reaching Rs 10946 per litre Diesel prices in the district have also climbed to Rs 9474 per litre The increase is being linked to the continued rise in crude oil prices in the international market In Jaipur petrol prices have risen by nearly Rs 325 per litre while diesel has become costlier by Rs 302 per litreThe sudden spike has triggered concern among consumers transporters and businesses dependent on fuelFuel prices have risen sharply across Rajasthan with petrol becoming costlier by more than Rs 3 per litre in several districtsIn Ajmer petrol prices increased from Rs 10436 to Rs 10761 per litre while in Kota rates climbed from Rs 10426 to Rs 10751Chittorgarh witnessed a rise from Rs 10438 to Rs 10762 per litre Sri Ganganagar recorded the highest petrol price in the state jumping from Rs 10621 to Rs 10946 per litre In Udaipur petrol prices increased from Rs 10554 to Rs 10879 while Jaipur saw rates rise from Rs 10472 to Rs 10797 per litre Diesel prices have also registered a significant increase across the stateIn Ajmer diesel rates rose from Rs 8988 to Rs 9290 per litre while Kota witnessed an increase from Rs 8979 to Rs 9281 In Chittorgarh diesel prices climbed from Rs 8992 to Rs 9293 per litre Sri Ganganagar again recorded the highest diesel rate with prices rising from Rs 9172 to Rs 9474 per litreUdaipur saw diesel rates increase from Rs 9096 to Rs 9398 while in Jaipur prices went up from Rs 9021 to Rs 9323 per litreExperts believe that if tensions in West Asia continue fuel prices may witness further hikes in the coming daysPetrol and diesel prices across the country had remained unchanged since March 2024 Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections the government had reduced fuel prices by Rs 2 per litre offering relief to consumersMeanwhile the Rajasthan Petrol and Diesel Dealers Association has also raised objections over alleged pressure from petroleum companies regarding supply limitsThe Association claims that dealers are being instructed through messages and verbal directions to provide petrol and diesel to consumers only in restricted quantitiesRegarding the sale of petrol and diesel in Rajasthan the Pump Dealers Association has written a letter to Manoj Gupta the Executive Director and StateLevel Coordinator of Indian Oil Corporation The Association has stated that oil companies are supplying fuel to petrol pumps in limited quantities Dealers are being instructedâvia mobile messages and verbal directives to dispense petrol and diesel to consumers only in limited amounts IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/fuel-price-rise-in-raj-petrol-up-over-rs-3-sri-ganganagar-tops-at-rs-10946-diesel-nears-rs-95-per-litre-673998.html Fri, 15 May 2026 12:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/global-oil-shock-petrol-and-diesel-prices-up-by-rs-3-per-litre-cng-gets-costlier-by-rs-2-674002.html New Delhi May 15 IANS As oil marketing companies OMCs face mounting losses amid the ongoing West Asia crisis they raised petrol and diesel prices by Rs 3 per litre each on FridaynbspThe revised rates came into effect immediately across the countrynbspIn Delhi petrol prices rose by Rs 314 per litre to Rs 9777 while diesel became costlier by Rs 311 per litreMeanwhile amid the Middle East crisis oil companies have also raised CNG prices Effective Friday the price of CNG has increased by Rs 2 per kilogram The new CNG rate in Delhi is Rs 7909 per kilogramThe OMCs continue to face mounting financial losses from keeping retail fuel prices unchanged despite surge in crude oil pricesnbspThe combined underrecovery on petrol diesel and LPG has reached nearly Rs 30000 crore every month according to Sujata Sharma Joint Secretary in the Union Petroleum MinistryOur OMCs are buying crude oil at higher rates but are not selling at corresponding rates to protect our consumers This impacts their finances said SharmanbspShe further said the Centre had already cut excise duties on petrol and diesel sacrificing nearly Rs 14000 crore in monthly revenue but underrecoveries continue to widen she informedIndias staterun oil marketing companies OMCs are staring at the possibility of their entire FY26 profits being wiped out if crude oil prices remain elevated Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri warned amid escalating tensions in the Middle EastSpeaking at the CII Annual Business Summit 2026 this week Puri said the ongoing energy crisis triggered by the conflict in the Middle East has sharply increased pressure on Indian fuel retailers with oil marketing companies currently losing nearly Rs 1000 crore every dayHe estimated that their combined quarterly losses could touch around Rs 1 lakh crore if current trends continueThe warning comes at a time when global crude oil prices have surged past the psychologically important 100 per barrel mark due to fears of prolonged supply disruptions linked to the USIran conflictThe financial stress on staterun fuel retailers has become so severe that a single quarter of losses at prevailing crude price levels could potentially erase their entire profit after tax for FY26 the minister statedThe three major public sector oil retailers Indian Oil Corporation Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum are projected to report combined losses of nearly Rs 12 lakh crore in the first quarter of FY27 alone according to industry estimates cited during the discussionIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/global-oil-shock-petrol-and-diesel-prices-up-by-rs-3-per-litre-cng-gets-costlier-by-rs-2-674002.html Fri, 15 May 2026 13:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-emplanes-for-uae-to-hold-talks-with-president-sheikh-mohamed-bin-zayed-674004.html New Delhi May 15 IANS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday emplaned for Abu Dhabi beginning his official visit to the United Arab Emirates aimed at further strengthening the bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countriesnbspDuring the visit PM Modi will hold talks with the President of the UAE Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on key areas of cooperation including trade investment energy security and peopletopeople ties The visit is expected to further deepen strategic and economic engagement between India and the UAE one of Indias key partners in the Gulf regionThe visit will serve to promote the significant trade and investment linkages between the two countries the Ministry of External Affairs statedEnergy security will be one of the key focus areas during PM Modis visit and two important MoUs in the areas of LPG and strategic petroleum reserves are likely to be concluded during it according to official sourcesAccording to MEA the UAE is Indias thirdlargest trade partner and its seventhlargest source of investment cumulatively over the past 25 years With the UAE hosting a strong Indian community of over 45 million the visit will also be an opportunity to discuss their welfareBriefing the media Secretary West in the Ministry of External Affairs Sibi George earlier stated that in the second leg of his visit the Prime Minister will visit the Netherlands This will be the Prime Ministers second visit to the Netherlands since 2017 During the visit he will call on King WillemAlexander and Queen Máxima and hold talks with Prime Minister Rob Jetten George saidFor the third leg of the visit PM Modi will travel to Swedens Gothenburg and hold bilateral talks with his Swedish counterpart Ulf Kristersson to review the entire gamut of bilateral relations and explore new avenues of cooperation to enhance bilateral tradeThe two Prime Ministers will also address the European Round Table for Industry a leading panEuropean business leaders forum along with the President of the European Commission Ursula von der LeyenGeorge further stated that during the fourth leg of his visit the Prime Minister will reach Norway on Monday for the 3rd IndiaNordic Summit and bilateral engagementsIn the final leg of his visit the Prime Minister will be in Italy on Tuesday During the visit PM Modi will call on the President Sergio Mattarella and hold talks with Prime Minister Georgia MeloniIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/pm-modi-emplanes-for-uae-to-hold-talks-with-president-sheikh-mohamed-bin-zayed-674004.html Fri, 15 May 2026 13:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sharia-over-azadi-faridabad-module-used-al-qaeda-banner-as-mask-674008.html New Delhi May 15 When the Faridabad module was busted initially it was being linked to the JaisheMohammad JeM However the probe by the National Investigation Agency NIA found that the module operated under the banner of the AlQaeda affiliated Ansar GhazwatulHind AGuH which is a lesser known terror outfit in India when compared to the JeM According to the NIA the module led by Umar Un Nabi a doctor by profession had used the name of the Jaish briefly to attract the youth This was because the name JeM resonates better with the youth when compared to the AlQaeda affiliated AGuH the NIA probe learntIt appeared at first that the module operated independently Although it largely did so the ISI had initially managed to get some of its cronies in Jammu and Kashmir to guide the moduleWhat is interesting is that the module operated under the banner of the AGuH which is a lesser known terror outfit in India when compared to the JeMThe AGuH primarily operated in Jammu and Kashmir but had not managed to make a massive impact What is key here is that the AGuH is affiliated to the AlQaeda and not the JaisheMohammad or LashkareTayibaThis according to officials was a deliberate ploy to maintain plausible deniability The LashkareTayiba or JaisheMohammad connection immediately brings out the Pakistan link and the ISI wanted to avoid thisThe AlQaeda on the other hand is considered to be a global terror organisation and the Pakistan linkages are limited when compared to the other two terror groups an official saidAlthough the Faridabad module which executed the Delhi Red Fort blast appeared to be independent in reality it was not There were handlers on the payrolls of the ISI from Jammu and Kashmir who helped manage the modulesDr Shaheen Shahid an important member of the module was in touch with Jammu and Kashmirbased Mufti Irfan Ahmad Wagay Their interactions were key to the functioning of the module Not only were the logistics arranged for but the radicalisation drive which got members into the module was largely handled by the duoAnother important aspect that the agencies learnt while investigation this module is that their intention was not to seek âAzadiâ or freedom for Jammu and Kashmir This was a much more radicalised structure that felt that it would be better to seek Sharia law rather than AzadiThe probe found that the ultimate goal was the implementation of Sharia law in Jammu and Kashmir This according to the members of the module would help in liberating the Union TerritoryHaving the people live under the Sharia law would lead to an extremely radicalised society and hence the push for such a law was being madeAccording to investigations the aim was not to just focus on Jammu and Kashmir blasts were being planned in Delhi and several other locationsThe long term plan was to create panic and fear and get the people to agitate against the Indian governmentAn Intelligence Bureau official said that the findings indicate that the Faridabad module wanted to move away from the Azadi call This meant that the battle in Kashmir cannot be political as there would be no traction going forwardThe shift that was being made was towards religious propaganda They felt that this would gain more traction among the people when compared to making a political call for freedomThe official explained that the module appeared to be acting more on the lines of the AlQaeda or Islamic State which has primarily focussed on religion and the implementation of the Sharia lawFor the Islamic State this has worked well in many places and such a push has led to a wave of radicalisation across the worldUmar Nabi was attempting something similar officials said In addition to attempting a series of bomb blasts the Faridabad module also focussed heavily on messaging to lure the youthThe messaging channels had been opened to push radical ideology so that the youth understand the importance of implementing the Sharia law an official also said IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/sharia-over-azadi-faridabad-module-used-al-qaeda-banner-as-mask-674008.html Fri, 15 May 2026 13:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/fuel-price-hike-triggers-political-row-rohini-acharya-attacks-centre-674009.html Patna May 15 A fresh round of fuel price hikes has triggered a political row with RJD leader Rohini Acharya the daughter of Lalu Prasad attacking the Centre over the rising cost of living Taking to X Rohini Acharya criticised the government stating that the issue goes beyond the Rs 3 hike and reflects the broader pressure of sustained inflationIn her post she remarked that for the common people rising fuel prices have turned financial strain into a daily reality The question is not just about a 3rupee hike its about the burden of relentlessly rising inflation she said in the postShe further alleged that the burden of inflation falls disproportionately on daily wage earners and ordinary citizens while the government remains unresponsive to their hardshipsAcharya also targeted the governmentâs longstanding slogan of âAchhe Dinâ arguing that while public expenses continue to rise meaningful relief or explanations from the government remain absentWhen petrol and diesel prices rise the heaviest burden falls on those who earn and eat daily on the common people but the government which works at the behest of wealthy tycoons couldnt care less about the hardships of the common folk she added The rising inflation has delivered a multipronged blow to the general public across India triggering widespread concern over increasing household expenses Prices of several essential commodities have gone up in quick succession intensifying anxiety among citizensThe price surge began with an increase in import duties on gold and silver following an appeal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi which led to a spike in bullion pricesThis was followed by a rise in milk prices and CNG rates Now fuel prices have also been increasedEffective Friday May 15 petrol and diesel prices across the country have gone up by more than Rs 3 per litre IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/fuel-price-hike-triggers-political-row-rohini-acharya-attacks-centre-674009.html Fri, 15 May 2026 13:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/neet-paper-leak-case-key-accuseds-mbbs-daughter-goes-missing-as-cbi-closes-in-674011.html Jaipur May 15 IANS The NEET paper leak scandal in Rajasthan is beginning to resemble a fullblown crime thriller with every new revelation exposing another layer of an alleged education mafia that may have penetrated deep into the countrys medical admission systemnbspNow the investigation has reached the corridors of Pandit Nawal Kishore Sharma Government Medical College in Dausa and at the centre of the latest twist is a young MBBS student who has suddenly vanished from campus Pragati Biwal a firstyear MBBS student and daughter of arrested NEET paper leak accused Mangilal Biwal has reportedly gone missing from the college soon after the CBI intensified its crackdown on the familyAccording to sources Pragati quietly submitted a leave application and left the campus immediately after the arrests of her father and uncle Dinesh Biwal both considered key figures in the growing paper leak scandal For the past two days Pragati has not attended classes and her sudden disappearance has sparked intense speculation within academic circles and among investigatorsWhile family members insist she secured admission through merit and hard work the timing of her exit has raised uncomfortable questions What has particularly caught the attention of investigators is the extraordinary number of medical admissions within the same familyThe CBI is now reportedly scrutinising the academic records and admission history of multiple members of the Biwal family to determine whether the alleged NEET paper leak network was used to secure seats in prestigious medical collegesThe list is striking Pragati Biwal is studying MBBS in Dausa Her brother Vikas is enrolled at Sawai Madhopur Medical College Her cousin Saniya studies at SMS Medical College Jaipur Another cousin Palak is pursuing medical education in Mumbai Gunjan another family member is studying medicine in BanarasInvestigators are now trying to determine whether this concentration of medical admissions in one family is merely exceptional academic success or evidence of something far more sinisterMeanwhile the CBI has intensified searches at the familys properties in Jamwaramgarh JaipurOn Thursday teams conducted raids at the residence of the accused brothers Mangilal and Dinesh Biwal in Khatik Mohalla Sources say no male family members were present during the operation prompting investigators to question the women of the household including the accuseds mother and wives for several hoursThe agency also searched a nearby farmhouse examined luxury vehicles parked at the premises and seized several important documents believed to be linked to the racketThe investigation has now spread beyond Rajasthan with arrests already made in MaharashtraSo far seven people have been arrested in connection with the NEET paper leak case while five accused including Dinesh Biwal Mangilal Biwal and Vikas have been sent to sevenday CBI custodyThe CBI is also searching for Dinesh Biwals son Rishi a NEET aspirant this year who is reportedly abscondingAs the probe widens investigators suspect the scandal may be much larger than initially believed potentially involving a wellorganised network manipulating one of Indias most competitive entrance examinationsWith an MBBS student mysteriously disappearing from her college campus just as the investigation closes in on her family the NEET paper leak case has taken yet another dramatic turn one that could expose what may become Rajasthans biggest education scam in recent memoryIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/neet-paper-leak-case-key-accuseds-mbbs-daughter-goes-missing-as-cbi-closes-in-674011.html Fri, 15 May 2026 13:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/india-africa-bilateral-trade-reaches-9369-billion-in-202526-674015.html New Delhi May 15 IANS Bilateral trade between India and Africa reached 9369 billion in 202526 registering a growth of 1439 per cent over the previous year according to the governmentnbspIndias exports to Africa stood at 4542 billion while imports reached 4827 billion during the same periodAccording to Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal India and Africa together can shape a more inclusive resilient and innovationdriven future for the Global SouthAddressing a curtainraiser event for the forthcoming IndiaAfrica Business Dialogue IABD and Exhibition the minister emphasised the need to build upon existing trade ties and preferential trade frameworks by aligning standards customs procedures and business practices to facilitate faster and smarter growth for businesses on both sidesnbspHighlighting the immense economic potential of collaboration between India and Africa he noted that the African Continental Free Trade Area AfCFTA valued at nearly 34 trillion together with Indias rapidly expanding 4 trillion economy presents immense opportunities to create resilient partnerships diversify supply chains and move beyond raw material trade towards highervalue manufacturing and integrated value chainsHe further underlined the importance of technology transfer and youthdriven growth in shaping the future of IndiaAfrica cooperationnbspStressing that nearly twothirds of the population of India and Africa was below the age of 35 he called for greater focus on skilling startups innovation ecosystems and talent development to prepare the workforce for industries of the futurenbspGoyal underlined that the next phase of IndiaAfrica partnership must move beyond traditional raw material trade towards highervalue products integrated supply chains local manufacturing and technologydriven cooperationnbspHe identified agriculture and food processing digital public infrastructure healthcare and pharmaceuticals renewable energy critical minerals electric mobility manufacturing defence production and emerging technologies as key sectors for future collaborationThe IABD and Exhibition is envisioned as a premier platform to deepen economic and strategic engagement between India and African nations through enhanced trade investment technology partnerships and peopletopeople collaborationIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/india-africa-bilateral-trade-reaches-9369-billion-in-202526-674015.html Fri, 15 May 2026 13:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/banners-proclaiming-shivakumar-as-next-karnataka-cm-surface-on-his-64th-birthday-674020.html Bengaluru May 15 Amid the leadership tussle in Karnataka banners declaring Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President DK Shivakumar as the next Chief Minister surfaced in Belagavi and other places on Friday in the state during celebrations marking his 64th birthday The hoarding installed at Channamma Circle in Belagavi city in North Karnataka also conveyed birthday wishes to ShivakumarIt was reportedly put up by Congress leader and Minister for Women and Child Welfare Lakshmi Hebbalkarâs son Mrinal HebbalkarIt can be noted that Shivakumar is regarded as the godfather of Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar It can also be noted that Hebbalkars brother Channaraj Hattiholi is a Congress MLCThe banner prominently projected Shivakumar as the future Chief Minister of Karnataka despite the Deputy Chief Minister having earlier appealed to party workers and supporters not to put up banners or posters for his birthday celebrationsEven after his public warning and appeals by Shivakumar himself against such displays the âNext CMâ banner was installed triggering fresh political discussion and attracting public attention in the regionMeanwhile Vedic scholars and priests met DK Shivakumar at his Sadashivanagar residence in Bengaluru on Friday morning and extended birthday greetings by chanting Vedic hymnsMinister for Medical Education amp Skill Development Entrepreneurship and Livelihood Department Sharan Prakash Patil also met Shivakumar at his residence and extended birthday greetings to himSpeaking to the media in Bengaluru while commenting on his birthday celebrations Shivakumar said âCelebrations continued throughout the night My friends and supporters were waiting to see me What can I do Their love confidence and blessings are such I had instructed all my supporters not to erect banners on the occasion The authorities have already removed about 50 per cent of the bannersââHowever many people have put up banners out of affection I have instructed the civic agencies to remove those banners as well The Opposition BJP has also put up banners and those too should be removed This is not good and hygiene and cleanliness should be maintained in Bengaluru city The government has taken several measures to help the people of Bengaluru with property ownershiprelated documentsâ Shivakumar saidâAll these years such reforms had not been introducedâ he addedResponding to criticism from Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy and the BJP Shivakumar said âCriticism is natural They need to oppose our good work Even 20 years from now the people of Bengaluru will remember the good work I have doneâWhen asked whether he was expecting any good news from the party high command as the elections in five states were over Shivakumar declined to respond IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/banners-proclaiming-shivakumar-as-next-karnataka-cm-surface-on-his-64th-birthday-674020.html Fri, 15 May 2026 14:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/uttarakhand-more-than-12-lakh-pilgrims-undertake-char-dham-yatra-in-less-than-a-month-674022.html Dehradun May 15 The Char Dham Yatra one of the most sacred pilgrimages for Hindus is witnessing a record surge in the number of devotees visiting the four holy shrines Badrinath Kedarnath Gangotri and Yamunotri Devotees are arriving in droves with as many as 80000 in a single day The pilgrimage committee has pegged the total number of pilgrims visiting the Char Dham at 1262 lakh till May 14 Notably the portals of Gangotri and Yamunotri temples were opened on April 19 amid the chanting of Vedic hymns while those of Kedarnath and Badrinath shrines opened on April 22 and April 23According to available estimates more than 1262 lakh pilgrims have undertaken the Char Dham Yatra with daily footfall hovering around 70000 to 80000An entry of over 121 lakh vehicles was also recorded indicating the number of pilgrims arriving in their private carsOn May 13 more than 13000 devotees offered prayers at Yamunotri and Gangotri Dham each over 32000 at Kedarnath and over 21000 at Badrinath Dham The figure cumulatively accounted for 80405 pilgrimsOut of 1262 lakh in total over two lakh devotees visited Yamunotri and Gangotri each while more than five lakh reached Kedarnath and over three lakh paid obeisance at Badrinath DhamA total of 40 pilgrim deaths have been reported so far the reasons being attributed to healthrelated causes The breakup of fatalities stood at 22 at Kedarnath followed by seven at Badrinath six at Yamunotri and five at GangotriNo deaths resulting from any other causes or natural disasters have been reportedFor the first time restrictions have been imposed on the entry of nonHindus to three shrines Badrinath Kedarnath and Gangotri The Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee in a sort of relaxation stated that nonHindus must submit an affidavit affirming faith in Sanatan Dharma for entryLast year more than 50 lakh pilgrims had visited the Char Dham IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/uttarakhand-more-than-12-lakh-pilgrims-undertake-char-dham-yatra-in-less-than-a-month-674022.html Fri, 15 May 2026 14:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/diplomatic-outreach-satheesan-calls-on-vijayan-chats-over-a-cup-of-tea-674023.html Thiruvananthapuram May 15 In one of the most politically symbolic moments in recent Kerala politics Chief Minister designate VD Satheesan on Friday drove to the residence of his predecessor and long time political adversary Pinarayi Vijayan marking a dramatic reversal of roles in the stateâs power corridors For nearly a decade Vijayan occupied the stateâs top office while Satheesan led the Opposition Benches through some of the fiercest political battles in the AssemblyNow with the Congressled UDF returning to power the equations have turned with Satheesan preparing to take charge as Chief Minister while Vijayan moves into the post of Leader of Opposition for the first time in his political careerThe meeting at Vijayanâs now rented residence naturally became the most watched political event of the daySatheesan was received by Vijayan his wife Kamala daughter Veena and family membersAfter exchanging pleasantries the two leaders sat down for a cup of green tea in what observers described as a relaxed and cordial interaction despite years of bitter political rivalryEmerging after the meeting Satheesan made it clear that the visit was both personal and politicalâI came to see him as he is the senior most Kerala politician and was Chief Minister for a decade and led his party for long years I came to seek support as we have to go together for developing Kerala Governments are a continuing affair and hence everything will be done seeking cooperation I also invited him for our swearinginâ Satheesan told reportersVijayan known for his guarded public demeanour did not elaborate before the mediaSmiling faintly he merely responded with an âokay okayâ while seeing the incoming Chief Minister offThe visit to Vijayans house formed the centerpiece of Satheesanâs packed day of political courtesy calls and outreach efforts ahead of the new government assuming officeEarlier he visited veteran Kerala Congress leader PJ Joseph who recently stepped aside to pave the way for his sonâs electoral entry from ThodupuzhaSatheesan also met the family of late Congress stalwart G Karthikeyan and held discussions with his wife and son a twotime former legislator KS Sabarinathan at their residenceHe later called on Congress MP and UDF convenor Adoor Prakash before heading to Vijayanâs houseThe day concluded with a visit to senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala another aspirant for the Chief Ministerâs post in a move seen as an effort to carry every faction along as the new administration prepares to take office on Monday IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/diplomatic-outreach-satheesan-calls-on-vijayan-chats-over-a-cup-of-tea-674023.html Fri, 15 May 2026 14:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/andhra-pradesh-chief-secretary-sai-prasad-gets-six-month-extension-674025.html Amaravati May 15 The Central Government has extended the tenure of Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary G Sai Prasad for another six months According to an official announcement on Friday his tenure has been extended from June 1 to November 30 2026The Central Government granted this approval in response to a request made by the State GovernmentRajesh Kumar Yadav Under Secretary to the Union Ministry of Personnel Public Grievances and Pensions Department of Personnel and TrainingâDoPT informed the Principal Secretary of the State Governments General Administration Department Political via a letter regarding the sixmonth extension of Chief Secretary Sai Prasads tenure in accordance with Rule 161 of the All India Services DeathcumRetirement Benefits Rules 1958Although Sai Prasad was originally scheduled to retire at the end of this month the State Government submitted proposals to the Centre seeking an extension of his tenure with the objective of continuing to utilise his services for an extended periodActing upon this request the Central Government issued orders extending Sai Prasads tenure by six months effective from June 1 to November 30Sai Prasad assumed office as the Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh on February 28 2026 He took charge from K Vijayanand who retired from service The State government on November 29 2025 issued orders extending the term of Vijayanand for another three months till February 28 2026 and appointed Sai Prasad as his successorSai Prasad was serving as Special Chief Secretary Water Resources when he was appointed as Chief Secretary of Andhra PradeshA 1991 batch IAS officer of Andhra Pradesh Cadre Sai Prasad first worked as Assistant Collector of Warangal in the combined Andhra Pradesh from June 1992 to May 1993Sai Prasad who holds an MTech degree served in different positions including the Chief Commissioner of Land Administration CCLA IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/andhra-pradesh-chief-secretary-sai-prasad-gets-six-month-extension-674025.html Fri, 15 May 2026 15:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-sets-aside-delhi-hc-order-suspending-sengars-sentence-in-unnao-rape-case-674026.html New Delhi May 15 The Supreme Court on Friday set aside the Delhi High Court order suspending the life sentence of expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case A Bench of Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi partly allowed the special leave petition SLP filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI against the Delhi High Court order granting conditional bail to Sengar during the pendency of his appeal against convictionThe apex court requested the Delhi High Court to make an endeavour to decide Sengarâs criminal appeal as expeditiously as possible preferably within three months âIn case the High Court finds that the appeal is not likely to be decided early it may pass a fresh order on the prayer for suspension of sentence after hearing all parties including counsel for the complainantâ the CJI Kantled Bench ordered clarifying that it was not expressing any opinion on the merits of the matter at this stageDuring the hearing Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for the CBI submitted that the Delhi High Court had erred in adopting a narrow interpretation while considering whether an MLA would qualify as a âpublic servantâ under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences POCSO ActJustice Bagchi orally remarked that the apex court was ânot endorsing the hypertechnical approach taken by the High Courtâ SG Mehta argued that a legislator occupied a dominant position and could not be excluded from the ambit of aggravated penetrative sexual assault provisions under the POCSO Act merely on technical groundsSenior advocate N Hariharan appearing for Sengar contended that there was material to show that the prosecutrix was not a minor at the time of the incident and argued that the POCSO Act itself may not be attractedHariharan further submitted that Sengar had already spent more than 10 years in custody and said that the issue regarding whether an MLA could be treated as a public servant would also require considerationThe CJI Kantled Bench was hearing the CBIâs plea challenging the December 2025 order of the Delhi High Court which had suspended Sengarâs life sentence and granted him conditional bail during the pendency of his appeal However in December last year itself the Supreme Court had stayed the operation of the Delhi High Courtâs order and clarified that Sengar would not be released pursuant to the impugned judgmentIn December 2019 a Delhi trial court had convicted Sengar of kidnapping and raping a minor girl and sentenced him to imprisonment for the remainder of his natural life along with a fine of Rs 25 lakhThe Supreme Court had earlier transferred all cases related to the Unnao incident from Uttar Pradesh to Delhi and directed that the trial be conducted on a daytoday basisSeparately in February this year the Supreme Court had declined to interfere with the Delhi High Courtâs refusal to suspend Sengarâs sentence in the custodial death case of the rape survivorâs fatherSengar was convicted by a Delhi court in March 2020 for conspiring in the custodial death of the survivorâs father and was sentenced to 10 yearsâ rigorous imprisonment IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-sets-aside-delhi-hc-order-suspending-sengars-sentence-in-unnao-rape-case-674026.html Fri, 15 May 2026 15:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/two-bike-borne-men-snatch-gold-chain-of-rjd-mlas-brother-in-patna-674027.html Patna May 15 The brother of Rashtriya Janata Dal RJD MLA Rahul Kumar became a victim of a chain snatching in the Bihar capital on Friday when two bikeborne assailants attacked him The incident occurred near Sai Mandir under the jurisdiction of Kankarbagh police station triggering panic among local residentsAccording to an official Rohit Kumar brother of MLA Rahul Kumar was targeted by two unidentified criminals The victim was passing near the temple when the accused riding on the bike approached him snatched the gold chain from his neck and fled the spot within secondsThe entire incident was captured on nearby CCTV cameras Footage clearly shows two bikers arriving on a motorcycle executing the snatching and escaping swiftly leaving bystanders shockedSoon after the incident a crowd gathered at the spot heightening tension in the areaUpon receiving information a team of Kankarbagh police reached the scene and initiated an investigationStation House Officer SHO Abhay Kumar stated that prima facie it appears to be a case of chain snatching involving two criminalsPolice teams are currently scanning CCTV footage from nearby locations and relying on human intelligence to identify the accusedâIt appears to be a case of chain snatching carried out by two criminals Police are examining CCTV footage from surrounding areas and the accused will be identified and arrested soonâ said Abhay KumarAt present Kankarbagh police are pursuing the case through both technical surveillance and groundlevel intelligence with officials expressing confidence that the accused will be apprehended soonIn recent months incidents of chain snatching and street robbery have been reported frequently across PatnaEarlier a similar case was reported in the Shastri Nagar area where a couple was targeted however police had managed to arrest the accused promptly in that instanceNotably criminals riding motorcycles are increasingly targeting pedestrians and women particularly during evening hours creating an atmosphere of fear in several localities IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/two-bike-borne-men-snatch-gold-chain-of-rjd-mlas-brother-in-patna-674027.html Fri, 15 May 2026 15:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-announces-virtual-hearings-car-pooling-partial-wfh-for-registry-staff-674033.html New Delhi May 15 IANS The Supreme Court on Friday announced a series of fuel conservation measures including virtual hearings on miscellaneous days carpooling by judges and Work From Home WFH arrangements for registry staff in line with the Centres broader push to cut fuel consumption amid the ongoing West Asia crisisnbspnbspIn a circular issued by Secretary General Bharat Parashar the apex court said that matters listed on miscellaneous days Mondays Fridays or such other days declared as miscellaneous as well as matters taken up during partial working days will now be heard only through videoconferencing until further ordersThe Registry shall ensure that links for the videoconferencing are sent in a timely manner maintain stable videoconferencing facilities and extend timely technical assistance so as to avoid any inconvenience to the Honble Court the circular statedThe Supreme Court also said that its judges have unanimously resolved to encourage carpooling arrangements among themselves to ensure optimum utilisation of fuelIn another significant step the apex court permitted up to 50 per cent staff in each branch or section of the registry to work from home for up to two days a weekThe circular clarified that the remaining staff would continue to remain physically present in office to ensure uninterrupted functioning of the court administrationThe Registrar concerned shall ensure that a weekly roster is prepared before the commencement of the week the circular saidIt further directed that officials permitted to work from home must remain available on telephone and be prepared to attend office whenever requiredThe circular also empowered concerned Registrars to restrict or modify the WFH arrangement in branches where the nature of work requires physical presence or where remote functioning is found ineffectiveThe measures come days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to citizens and institutions to reduce fuel consumption and avoid unnecessary expenditure in view of the economic pressures arising from the prolonged conflict in West AsiaSeveral state governments and organisations including the Delhi government have since announced fuelsaving steps such as WFH arrangements promotion of public transport and curbs on official travelIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-announces-virtual-hearings-car-pooling-partial-wfh-for-registry-staff-674033.html Fri, 15 May 2026 17:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/eam-jaishankar-holds-series-of-key-bilateral-meetings-on-sidelines-of-brics-meet-673792.html New Delhi May 14 External Affairs Minister EAM S Jaishankar on Thursday held a meeting with Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono and reviewed progress on the IndiaIndonesia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and ASEAN cooperation In a post on X EAM Jaishankar said Glad to welcome FM Sugiono of Indonesia Reviewed the progress of our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and our cooperation with ASEANThis meeting was held on the sidelines of the BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting being held in Delhi EAM Jaishankar will chair the meeting on ThursdayEarlier on Wednesday the EAM also held a bilateral meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov and discussed the cooperation between the two countries across various sectors This evening had a productive exchange of views with FM Sergey Lavrov of Russia here in Delhi Our conversation touched upon several aspects of the Special amp Privileged Strategic Partnership including trade amp investment energy amp connectivity science amp technology as well as facilitating mobility of skills amp talent Other global and multilateral issues of mutual interest were also discussed EAM Jaishankar posted on XHe also met Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira and exchanged views on bilateral regional and global issuesDuring his bilateral discussion with Maldivian Foreign Minister Iruthisham Adam EAM Jaishankar highlighted Indias Neighbourhood First policy and reviewed the bilateral cooperation between the two nations He also reiterated Indias commitment to the Maldives progress and development These meetings come on the sidelines of the BRICS meet during which the Foreign Ministers of BRICS member countries will exchange views on global and regional issues of mutual interestAccording to the MEA BRICS Foreign Ministers and heads of delegations from member and partner countries will participate in the meeting and also call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/eam-jaishankar-holds-series-of-key-bilateral-meetings-on-sidelines-of-brics-meet-673792.html Thu, 14 May 2026 10:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/three-killed-in-truck-auto-collision-on-nh-531-in-bihars-saran-673808.html Patna May 14 A tragic road accident claimed three lives after a headon collision between a speeding truck and an autorickshaw on NH531 within the jurisdiction of Daudpur Police Station in Bihars Saran district on Thursday The accident occurred near Purab Sonia Bridge at around 500 am As of now the identities of the deceased have not been confirmedAccording to the initial investigation three individuals including the autorickshaw driver were travelling from Chhapra towards Ekma when a truck coming at high speed from the direction of Siwan rammed into the vehicleThe collision was so intense that the autorickshaw was completely mangled leaving the occupants critically injuredPolice personnel rushed to the spot and shifted the injured to the Community Health Centre in EkmaOne of the victims died on the way to the hospitalDue to their critical condition the other two victims were referred to the Sadar Hospital in Chhapra where both later succumbed to their injuriesPolice have seized both the truck and the damaged autorickshaw and initiated an investigation into the incidentLocal residents reported finding musical instruments inside the autorickshaw leading to speculation that the victims may have been associated with a cultural or musical troupeHowever authorities are verifying all aspects before confirming any detailsDespite the autorickshaw being CNGpowered it did not catch fire or explode a factor that may have prevented an even more catastrophic outcomeAn FIR has been registered under the relevant sections of rash and negligent driving against the errant truck driver in Daudpur police station and raids are on to nab him He is absconding soon after the fatal accidentThe district police kept the bodies in the mortuary and are making efforts to identify them and inform their family members about the tragic accidentThis accident has once again raised concerns about how unsafe roads are in Bihar especially when driving at night or in the early morning hours IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/three-killed-in-truck-auto-collision-on-nh-531-in-bihars-saran-673808.html Thu, 14 May 2026 11:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/growing-expectation-for-brics-to-play-constructive-stabilising-role-amid-global-uncertainty-says-eam-jaishankar--673811.html New Delhi May 14 External Affairs Minister EAM S Jaishankar on Thursday said there is a growing expectation among emerging markets and developing countries that BRICS will play a âconstructive and stabilising roleâ amid global uncertainty conflicts and economic challenges He made the remarks while delivering his opening address at the BRICS Foreign Ministersâ Meeting being held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi under Indiaâs 2026 chairship of the expanded groupingForeign ministers and senior diplomats from BRICS member and partner nations arrived in the national capital earlier in the day to participate in the highlevel meeting EAM Jaishankar personally welcomed the visiting leaders and dignitaries at the venue before the start of the discussionsAddressing the gathering EAM Jaishankar said âIndiaâs chairship appreciates your support which has contributed to the steady progress of our workâHighlighting the current global situation he said the meeting was taking place at a time of significant changes and instability in international relationsâWe meet at a time of considerable flux in international relations ongoing conflicts economic uncertainties and challenges in trade technology and climate are shaping the global landscapeâ he saidEmphasising the significance of the BRICS grouping the EAM stated âThere is a growing expectation particularly from emerging markets and developing countries that BRICS will play a constructive and stabilising roleâReferring to the importance of the ongoing deliberations he said the discussions offered an opportunity to reflect on major global and regional developments and explore practical methods to strengthen cooperation among member nationsâIn this background our discussions today are an opportunity to reflect on global and regional developments and to consider practical ways to strengthen our cooperationâ he saidThe External Affairs Minister stressed that developmentrelated concerns continue to remain central to the BRICS agendaâMany countries face challenges in energy food fertiliser and health security as well as access to finance BRICS can help them respond more effectively Economic resilience is also key Reliable supply chains and diversified markets are its essential components We must focus on bothâ EAM Jaishankar saidAddressing climaterelated concerns the EAM said climate change continues to remain an urgent global issue requiring collective attentionâClimate change remains a pressing concern Our discussions must advance sustainable development while advancing principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilitiesâ he statedHe also underlined the growing impact of technological advancements on the global order and said these developments should be used to promote good governance and inclusive growthThe External Affairs Minister further stressed that issues related to peace and security remain central to the global order and highlighted the need for dialogue and diplomacy amid continuing conflicts across regionsâPeace and security issues remain central to the global order Recent conflicts only underline the importance of dialogue and diplomacyâ he said while also calling for stronger cooperation against terrorismEAM Jaishankar also thanked all participating delegations for their continued support towards strengthening cooperation within the BRICS frameworkâAs Chair I thank each delegation for its presence and for its continued commitment to strengthening cooperation within the BRICS framework All of us remain in close and regular contact through bilateral and multilateral engagements Gathering today for the BRICS meeting is a special occasion It allows us to exchange perspectives and encourages us to develop convergences In this complicated and uncertain world that is of evergreater importanceâ the External Affairs Minister saidAs the Chair of the meeting EAM Jaishankar said India would facilitate an âopen and constructive exchangeâ during the deliberations and encouraged participating delegations to present their perspectives freelyâYour inputs will help guide our discussions and contribute to meaningful outcomes I once again welcome you all and look forward to a productive discussionâ he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/growing-expectation-for-brics-to-play-constructive-stabilising-role-amid-global-uncertainty-says-eam-jaishankar--673811.html Thu, 14 May 2026 12:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/neet-paper-leak-case-medical-students-relatives-in-rajasthans-sikar-under-cbi-scanner-673827.html Jaipur May 14 IANS Rajasthans coaching hub Sikar has emerged as the alleged nerve centre of the NEETUG 2026 paper leak network with the CBI now probing possible links of coaching institutes middlemen students and relatives of the accusednbspInvestigators believe the networks coordination began in Sikar where accused Yash Yadav and Vikas reportedly studied together at a coaching instituteThe agency is now examining how the alleged paper leak racket spread through coaching circles and student networks The investigation has also widened to include family members of the accused who recently cleared NEET and secured admissions in various medical colleges raising fresh questions over the extent of the alleged network and its reach into medical educationMeanwhile the Central Bureau of Investigation has intensified its probe into the NEETUG 2026 paper leak case and the CBI has now arrested four key accused from Jaipur Mangilal Biwal Dinesh Biwal Haryana resident Yash Yadav and Mangilals son Vikas All four were produced before a magistrate on Wednesday following which they were taken on transit remand and shifted to Delhi for further interrogationAccording to sources linked to the investigation key accused individuals were allegedly informed around the Diwali period itself that the NEET paper would be made available this year indicating that the leak network had been activated months before the examination Investigators believe that Rajasthans coaching hub Sikar acted as the operational base of the alleged paper leak racketAccording to the probe accused Yash Yadav and Vikas had studied together at a coaching institute in Sikar where investigators suspect the network and coordination first developed The CBI is now examining possible links between coaching circles middlemen and students connected to the accused The investigation has also widened to include relatives of the accused who recently cleared NEET and secured admission to medical colleges Sources said Sonia niece of the accused Dinesh Biwal is currently studying at a medical college in MumbaiAnother niece Palak is also under scrutiny Investigators are additionally examining the cases of Prakriti daughter of Mangilal Biwal and a student at Dausa Medical College and Vikas who was allotted a seat at Sawai Madhopur Medical College The agency is probing whether these admissions may have been influenced through access to leaked examination materialAccording to investigative agencies the leaked paper allegedly originated from Dhananjay a resident of Ahilyabai Nagar in Maharashtra The paper was then allegedly passed on to Shubham Khairnar from Nashik who subsequently shared it with Yash Yadav in Haryana From Haryana the material allegedly reached Mangilal and Dinesh Biwal in Rajasthan where it was circulated among contacts in Sikar and JaipurMeanwhile Dinesh Biwals son Rishi remains absconding The CBI is also continuing intense questioning of accused Rakesh Mandwariya from Sikar and another accused identified as Prajapat from Jaipur A CBI team has now camped in Sikar and is examining people linked to the network Several students and parents earlier detained by the Rajasthan SOG have been questionedWhile some have been released they have reportedly been instructed not to leave the city without permission Officials believe the interrogations in Delhi could expose influential individuals allegedly linked to the networkThe developments have once again raised serious concerns over the security and integrity of Indias largest medical entrance examination and the possibility of organised interstate networks operating behind paper leaksIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/neet-paper-leak-case-medical-students-relatives-in-rajasthans-sikar-under-cbi-scanner-673827.html Thu, 14 May 2026 13:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/congress-finally-decides-for-kerala-vd-satheesan-to-be-the-new-cm-673828.html New DelhiThiruvananthapuram May 14 After days of suspense endless speculation and highvoltage lobbying stretching from Thiruvananthapuram to Delhi the Congress high command finally picked VD Satheesan as Keralaâs 13th Chief Minister marking what many within the party describe as the formal arrival of a new generation at the helm of Kerala politics The announcement was made in Delhi by Congress top leaders Deepadas Munshi Mukul Wasnik and Ajay MakenThe decision delayed till the very edge of political exhaustion was conveyed with characteristic Congress dramaCongress General Secretary KC Venugopal who was in Delhi through the final rounds of consultations was summoned for a meeting with Rahul Gandhi before being informed of the leadership decisionSenior leader Ramesh Chennithala meanwhile received the message through a closeddoor telephone call from Rahul that the race was over and Satheesan had got the nodFor Satheesan the elevation caps a remarkable political rise that mirrors the Congress partyâs attempt to reinvent itself in Kerala after years of factional fatigue and electoral setbacksBorn in Kochi district and turning 62 later this month Satheesan built his political identity not through backroom factional arithmetic but through relentless Assembly performances and organisational workA lawyer by profession he entered the Assembly from Paravur in 2001 and soon earned a reputation as one of the Congress partyâs sharpest debatersArmed with statistics sarcasm and theatrical timing Satheesan became a familiar tormentor of the Left benches Ironically his biggest breakthrough came after one of the Congress partyâs darkest momentsFollowing the UDFâs crushing defeat in the 2021 Assembly elections Satheesan was unexpectedly chosen as Leader of the Opposition initially viewed by many as a compromise candidate amid bitter internal rivalriesInstead he transformed the role into a political launch padWhether it was the gold smuggling controversy the AI camera allegations or repeated attacks on the Vijayan government over law and order Satheesan steadily positioned himself as the most visible and aggressive face of antiLeft politics in KeralaUnlike many Congress veterans Satheesan was never seen as fully belonging to either the old âAâ or âIâ faction camps that dominated Congress politics in Kerala for decadesThat relative independence helped him attract younger legislators and grassroots workers hungry for generational changeHis critics within the party often accuse him of centralising decisionmaking and moving with political impatience Yet even detractors concede that among the Congress leadership Satheesan currently enjoys perhaps the strongest public connectSatheesan in the morning along with his immediate family members hit the road to the state capital and reached his official residence of the past five years as Leader of OppositionHe reached minutes before the AICC made the announcement and without saying a word he waded through the huge crowd that had gathered at his official residenceNow as he prepares to move from the Opposition benches to the Chief Ministerâs chair Satheesan carries expectations far larger than merely running a governmentHis ascent signals the Congress partyâs attempt to hand Keralaâs political steering wheel to a younger more combative and mediasavvy generation ready to take on the formidable legacy of outgoing Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/congress-finally-decides-for-kerala-vd-satheesan-to-be-the-new-cm-673828.html Thu, 14 May 2026 13:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/s-jaishankar-brics-expected-to-be-stabilising-force-amid-global-uncertainty-673834.html New Delhi May 14 IANS External Affairs Minister EAM S Jaishankar on Thursday said there is a growing expectation among emerging markets and developing countries that BRICS will play a constructive and stabilising role amid global uncertainty conflicts and economic challengesnbspHe made the remarks while delivering his opening address at the BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting being held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi under Indias 2026 chairship of the expanded groupingForeign ministers and senior diplomats from BRICS member and partner nations arrived in the national capital earlier in the day to participate in the highlevel meeting EAM Jaishankar personally welcomed the visiting leaders and dignitaries at the venue before the start of the discussionsAddressing the gathering EAM Jaishankar said Indias chairship appreciates your support which has contributed to the steady progress of our workHighlighting the current global situation he said the meeting was taking place at a time of significant changes and instability in international relationsWe meet at a time of considerable flux in international relations ongoing conflicts economic uncertainties and challenges in trade technology and climate are shaping the global landscape he saidEmphasising the significance of the BRICS grouping the EAM stated There is a growing expectation particularly from emerging markets and developing countries that BRICS will play a constructive and stabilising roleReferring to the importance of the ongoing deliberations he said the discussions offered an opportunity to reflect on major global and regional developments and explore practical methods to strengthen cooperation among member nationsIn this background our discussions today are an opportunity to reflect on global and regional developments and to consider practical ways to strengthen our cooperation he saidThe External Affairs Minister stressed that developmentrelated concerns continue to remain central to the BRICS agendaMany countries face challenges in energy food fertiliser and health security as well as access to finance BRICS can help them respond more effectively Economic resilience is also key Reliable supply chains and diversified markets are its essential components We must focus on both EAM Jaishankar saidAddressing climaterelated concerns the EAM said climate change continues to remain an urgent global issue requiring collective attentionClimate change remains a pressing concern Our discussions must advance sustainable development while advancing principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities he statedHe also underlined the growing impact of technological advancements on the global order and said these developments should be used to promote good governance and inclusive growthThe External Affairs Minister further stressed that issues related to peace and security remain central to the global order and highlighted the need for dialogue and diplomacy amid continuing conflicts across regionsPeace and security issues remain central to the global order Recent conflicts only underline the importance of dialogue and diplomacy he said while also calling for stronger cooperation against terrorismEAM Jaishankar also thanked all participating delegations for their continued support towards strengthening cooperation within the BRICS frameworkAs Chair I thank each delegation for its presence and for its continued commitment to strengthening cooperation within the BRICS framework All of us remain in close and regular contact through bilateral and multilateral engagements Gathering today for the BRICS meeting is a special occasion It allows us to exchange perspectives and encourages us to develop convergences In this complicated and uncertain world that is of evergreater importance the External Affairs Minister saidAs the Chair of the meeting EAM Jaishankar said India would facilitate an open and constructive exchange during the deliberations and encouraged participating delegations to present their perspectives freelyYour inputs will help guide our discussions and contribute to meaningful outcomes I once again welcome you all and look forward to a productive discussion he addedIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/s-jaishankar-brics-expected-to-be-stabilising-force-amid-global-uncertainty-673834.html Thu, 14 May 2026 13:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/tribal-artisans-earn-over-rs-531-lakh-at-vibrant-gujarat-exhibition-in-surat-673835.html Surat May 14 More than Rs 531 lakh worth of tribal handicrafts herbal products and traditional goods were sold within five days at the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Exhibition2026â in Surat with the earnings going directly to tribal artisans without any deductions or operational costs officials said on Thursday The exhibition organised from May 1 to 5 alongside the âVibrant Gujarat Regional Conferenceâ VGRC on the occasion of Gujarat Foundation Day featured 25 stalls dedicated to tribal heritage and traditional products from across the stateThe initiative was aimed at showcasing the social economic and cultural diversity of tribal communities while also providing artisans with wider market exposureThe tribal heritage section of the exhibition was inaugurated by Chief Minister Bhupendra PatelThe stalls displayed bamboo handicrafts wooden artefacts traditional jewellery handloom garments forestbased herbal products and natural food items prepared by artisans from different tribal districtsHerbal products and bamboo artefacts emerged as major attractions during the eventThe Gujarat Tribal Development Department organised the stalls under the leadership of Tribal Development Minister Naresh PatelOfficials said the exhibition sought to preserve and promote tribal art craftsmanship lifestyle and cultural traditions while also encouraging artisans to explore entrepreneurship opportunitiesA total of 38 tribal artisans participated in the exhibition The state government covered their travel accommodation and food expenses to enable them to take part in the event without a financial burdenSeveral senior leaders and delegates visited the tribal exhibition area during the fiveday eventAmong them were Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi and State Minister Jayram Gamit Delegates from various countries also interacted with artisans and viewed the displaysDuring a panel discussion at the VGRC Gujarat Tribal Research and Training Society Executive Director Dr CC Chaudhary spoke on promoting tourism in tribal and rural regionsHe discussed opportunities for linking tribal culture local crafts and rural tourism to create sustainable livelihoods in tribal areasThe exhibition formed part of the wider Vibrant Gujarat initiative which this year also focussed on cultural heritage and communitybased economic development alongside industrial growth IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/tribal-artisans-earn-over-rs-531-lakh-at-vibrant-gujarat-exhibition-in-surat-673835.html Thu, 14 May 2026 13:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/dangerous-obsession-man-shoots-sister-in-law-kills-self-in-ups-kushinagar-673837.html Kushinagar UP May 14 A shocking case of murder and suicide in Uttar Pradeshâs Kushinagar left the entire region stunned after villagers heard three successive gunshots coming from a locked room and later discovered an 18yearold girl and her brotherinlaw lying in a pool of blood The incident occurred in Basdila Buzurg village under the Tamkuhi Raj police station area on Wednesday morningPolice suspect the incident is linked to an alleged romantic relationship and obsessive behaviour Preliminary investigation indicates that the man allegedly shot his sisterinlaw before turning the weapon on himselfThe deceased man has been identified as 25yearold Jitendra Prajapati a resident of the Uchkagaon police station area in Biharâs Gopalganj district The deceased girl was identified as Naina his sisterinlawAccording to police officials Jitendra had married Nainaâs elder sister Baby nearly a year ago Following the marriage he frequently visited his inlawsâ house in Basdila Buzurg village During this period he reportedly developed a close relationship with Naina and allegedly became deeply attached to herFamily members told investigators that Jitendra had become obsessed with Naina and had allegedly been pressuring the family over his desire to marry herPolice said Jitendra had arrived at his inlawsâ residence on Tuesday evening and stayed there overnight On Wednesday morning around 9 AM Naina reportedly went to his room to serve breakfast Investigators said that soon after she entered Jitendra locked the room from insideA heated argument allegedly broke out between the two shortly afterwards Hearing loud voices and commotion from inside the room family members rushed towards the door and began asking them to open it Moments later a gunshot was heard Within a short span two more gunshots rang out triggering panic across the villageVillagers gathered outside the house while local police from the Tamkuhi Raj police station rushed to the scene after receiving information about the incidentPolice personnel broke open the locked door and found both Jitendra and Naina lying inside the room with severe gunshot injuries A 312 bore countrymade pistol was also recovered from the spotOfficials said Naina had sustained bullet injuries to her forehead and chest while Jitendra was found with a gunshot wound to his templeThe police immediately secured the area and sent both bodies for postmortem examination A forensic team was also called to the spot to collect evidence and assist in the investigationAccording to family members and villagers Naina was a bright student pursuing her high school education She also taught children at a private school as a tutor and was known in the area for her academic abilitiesThe incident has left the family devastated and created an atmosphere of shock and grief in the villagePolice said the mobile phones of both the deceased have been seized and are being examined as part of the investigation Officials added that the case is being probed from every possible angle to establish the complete sequence of events leading to the deaths IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/dangerous-obsession-man-shoots-sister-in-law-kills-self-in-ups-kushinagar-673837.html Thu, 14 May 2026 13:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/eam-jaishankar-flags-fragile-west-asia-situation-says-safe-waterways-vital-for-global-economic-well-being-673838.html New Delhi May 14 Highlighting the fragile security environment in West Asia External Affairs Minister EAM S Jaishankar on Thursday said that persistent tensions in the region along with threats to shipping routes and energy infrastructure remain a matter of global concern Delivering the national statement at the BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting in New Delhi under Indias 2026 chairship the EAM said The conflict in West Asia merits particular attention Continuing tensions risks to maritime traffic and disruptions to energy infrastructure highlight the fragility of the situation Safe and unimpeded maritime flows through international waterways including the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea remain vital for global economic wellbeingHe also reaffirmed Indias strong commitment to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity must remain the foundation of international relations Dialogue and diplomacy are the only sustainable means of resolving conflicts the EAM saidEAM Jaishankar further said that even as the challenges mount in the times of global uncertainties the multilateral system unfortunately weakens He said that the state of the United Nations which is at its core is particularly worrisome With each passing day the case for reformed multilateralism only gets stronger This includes the reform of the UN Security Council in both the permanent and nonpermanent categories Continued delay comes at a high cost he addedMeanwhile speaking at the opening address of the meeting EAM Jaishankar stressed the need for enhanced cooperation among BRICS member nations amid growing geopolitical and economic uncertaintiesWe meet at a time of considerable flux in international relations Ongoing conflicts economic uncertainties and challenges in trade technology and climate are shaping the global landscape There is a growing expectation particularly from emerging markets and developing countries that BRICS will play a constructive and stabilising role EAM statedIn this background our discussions today are an opportunity to reflect on global and regional developments and to consider practical ways to strengthen our cooperation he addedSeveral foreign ministers including Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono and senior representatives from BRICS nations and partner countries are attending the meetingMarking Tehrans first highlevel diplomatic outreach since the conflict in West Asia began Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday for a threeday official visitAraghchi is expected to hold wideranging bilateral talks with EAM Jaishankar with discussions likely to focus on deepening the crisis arising from the conflictAraghchi arrived aboard an aircraft named Minab168 a symbolic reference to the 168 schoolgirls killed in a missile strike on a school in the Iranian city of Minab after the outbreak of the conflict in West AsiaFollowing the worsening conflict in West Asia Iran called on India the current BRICS chair to play an independent role to bring an end to USIsrael hostilities against IranEarlier Irans Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi who is currently in New Delhi to participate in the BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting said that Tehran views its active participation in mechanisms such as BRICS as a strategic step towards strengthening genuine multilateralism and promoting a more balanced and just international orderGharibabadi made the remarks while highlighting the significance of the BRICS platform amid ongoing discussions among member nations on global governance reforms economic cooperation and the role of the Global South in shaping international affairsIn a post shared on X the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister said the BRICS meeting presents an important opportunity for dialogue on the future direction of cooperation among developing nationsGharibabadi further said Irans participation in BRICS aligns with its broader strategic vision of enhancing equitable cooperation and contributing to a more inclusive international frameworkAccording to him Iran possesses significant geopolitical energy scientific transit and human capacities that can contribute meaningfully to the BRICS agendaIran with its geopolitical energy transit scientific and human capacities can play an effective role in the BRICS agenda for balanced development economic security regional connectivity and amplifying the voice of independent countries he saidThe Iranian minister also stressed the importance of opposing unilateral coercive measures and sanctions particularly those imposed by the United States describing them as harmful to economic justice and developmentIn this path opposition to Americas unilateral coercive measures and their illegal and antidevelopment effects is an inseparable part of defending economic justice and the rights of nations to development Gharibabadi addedThe escalating tensions in West Asia have also rattled global energy markets with oil and gas prices surging after Iran effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz the strategic shipping corridor between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman that carries nearly 20 per cent of the worlds oil and LNG liquefied natural gas supplies IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/eam-jaishankar-flags-fragile-west-asia-situation-says-safe-waterways-vital-for-global-economic-well-being-673838.html Thu, 14 May 2026 13:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/up-several-schoolchildren-injured-after-bus-falls-into-ditch-in-aligarh-673839.html Aligarh May 14 Several schoolchildren were injured after a school bus lost control and overturned into a roadside ditch in the Gangiri police station area on the AligarhHathras border on Thursday police said The accident created panic among the children and nearby residents Local villagers rushed to the spot immediately after the incident and broke the bus window panes to rescue the trapped studentsSome children sustained minor injuries and were taken to a nearby medical centre for treatment while one seriously injured child was referred to a hospital in AligarhAccording to police officials the bus was carrying children to school when the driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle causing it to overturn into a roadside ditchProviding details about the incident SP Rural Manish Kumar Mishra said that around seven to eight children were injured in the accident He added that one child suffered facial injuries and was admitted to a hospital in Aligarh for further treatmentâWhen the incident occurred the police immediately reached the spot Around seven to eight children were injured One child sustained injuries on the face and has been admitted to a hospital in Aligarh We are investigating the matterâ Mishra saidPolice officials stated that all the other injured children are out of danger Authorities have launched a detailed investigation into the incident including an enquiry into the fitness and condition of the school busThe incident has once again raised concerns over the safety standards of school vehicles in Uttar PradeshEarlier on March 2 a sixyearold girl died in a tragic accident in Kasganj district after she fell through the broken floor of a moving school bus and was crushed under its rear wheel The deceased child identified as Ananya Kumari was a UKG student of Mount Dev International School in AligarhAccording to police Ananya was returning home from school when the incident took place near the AligarhKasganj border The bus driver reportedly stopped the vehicle only after other students and passersby alerted him about the accident IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/up-several-schoolchildren-injured-after-bus-falls-into-ditch-in-aligarh-673839.html Thu, 14 May 2026 13:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-allows-ripl-board-meet-bars-director-and-bank-signatory-changes-in-rk-family-trust-case-673843.html New Delhi May 14 IANS The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to stall a proposed board meeting of Raghuvanshi Investment Private Limited RIPL in the highprofile RK Family Trust dispute involving Rani Kapur and Priya Sachdev Kapur but restrained the company from taking up agenda items relating to the appointment of independent directors and changes in authorised bank signatories during the meetingnbspnbspA Bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and Ujjal Bhuyan passed the direction while hearing a fresh plea moved by 80yearold Rani Kapur mother of late businessman Sunjay Kapur who had sought a stay on the board meeting scheduled for May 18nbspAt the outset the apex court observed that since the dispute had already been referred to mediation the parties should refrain from taking any steps which may directly impact the mediation proceedings We have already requested the mediator to start with the mediation proceedings For the present we request the opponents not to do anything which may directly affect mediation Time and again we have said it will be in the interest of all parties to put an end to this dispute else it will be a long drawn battle the Justice Pardiwalaled Bench observednbspAppearing on behalf of Rani Kapur senior advocate Navin Pahwa argued that the proposed board meeting was intended to ensure that she is completely drowned out from the affairs of the familycontrolled entitiesnbspReferring to the dispute over the family estate it was argued that Rani Kapurs majority shareholding in the group companies had allegedly been transferred into a trust without her consentnbspMy shareholding was transferred into the trust behind my back I was holding the majority shares in all the companies My daughterinlaw transferred my shareholding into a trust the senior counsel submitted on behalf of Rani KapurnbspOn the other hand senior advocate Kapil Sibal appearing for the respondents including Priya Sachdev Kapur and RIPL submitted that the appointment of independent directors was being undertaken pursuant to directions issued by the Reserve Bank of India RBI following an inspectionnbspSibal argued that the proposed board meeting was convened primarily to comply with statutory and regulatory obligations and not with an intention to alter the status quo during the mediation processnbspTaking note of the submissions the apex court clarified that while the board meeting itself may proceed agenda items concerning the appointment of independent directors and the change in authorised signatories for certain bank accounts need not be acted upon for nownbspIt repeatedly urged the parties to sincerely attempt an amicable settlement and cautioned against converting the family dispute into prolonged litigation She is an 80yearold woman We all came with empty hands and we have to go with empty hands All we carry is our souls There has to be a will to settle the matter Dont go before the mediator with a heavy heart just because the court has pushed you Each one of you try the Justice Pardiwalaled Bench observed during the hearingnbspThe latest plea arose from a notice dated May 8 issued by RIPL convening a board meeting on May 18 Rani Kapur had described the meeting as a fraudulent attempt to bypass courtordered mediation and sought directions restraining the company from proceeding with the meeting till the mediation proceedings concludenbspShe had also sought directions restraining Priya Sachdev Kapur and other respondents from interfering in the functioning of the alleged RK Family Trust during the pendency of the mediation proceedings The disputed agenda items included the appointment of two independent directors and changes in authorised signatories for certain bank accountsnbspEarlier on May 7 the Supreme Court had appointed former Chief Justice of India CJI DY Chandrachud as mediator to resolve the ongoing family dispute between Rani Kapur and Priya Sachdev Kapur over the alleged RK Family TrustnbspA Bench of Justices Pardiwala and Bhuyan had passed the order after all parties agreed to explore a settlement through mediationnbspObserving that the controversy was a family affair the apex court had requested the parties not to make public statements or social media posts concerning the dispute Its a family dispute let it be confined among the family only It should not be a source of entertainment the Justice Pardiwalaled Bench had orally remarkednbspThe apex court had said that it would await a preliminary report from the mediator before taking up the matter further and posted the case for hearing in AugustnbspThe dispute pertains to the creation and control of the alleged RK Family TrustRani Kapur Family Trust which has been challenged by Rani Kapur as fraudulent and illegalnbspAccording to the plea Rani Kapur is the sole beneficiary of the estate of her late husband industrialist Dr Surinder Kapur who allegedly bequeathed all movable and immovable properties to her through a will probated by the Bombay High Court in 2016nbspRani Kapur has alleged that despite this the family estate was clandestinely transferred into a newly created trust without her informed consent and that control over key group companies was assumed without her knowledge following the death of her son Sunjay KapurnbspIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-allows-ripl-board-meet-bars-director-and-bank-signatory-changes-in-rk-family-trust-case-673843.html Thu, 14 May 2026 13:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/party-above-all-says-venugopal-after-congress-names-satheesan-as-kerala-cm-673847.html New Delhi May 14 In a display of calculated restraint after one of the fiercest leadership contests the Congress party in Kerala has witnessed in recent years party General Secretary KC Venugopal on Thursday publicly accepted the high commandâs decision to appoint VD Satheesan as Keralaâs next Chief Minister even as more than 50 newly elected Congress MLAs were widely believed to have backed his candidature for the top post Speaking to reporters in Delhi shortly after the announcement Venugopal struck a tone that was part statesman part loyal organisational soldier and carefully avoided any trace of bitterness despite missing out in a race many insiders believed had gone down to the wireâSatheesan has been appointed as Chief Minister The CLP will meet and accept it It was a stunning victory for the Congressled UDF with 102 seatsâ he said congratulating Satheesan and stressing that the partyâs collective mandate remained bigger than individual ambitionsâAll along I was saying the decision of the high command will prevail and it is my responsibility to see that the high commandâs decision is respected and implementedâ Venugopal declared effectively drawing a line under days of feverish lobbying and speculationThe remark carried significance because Venugopal was not merely another aspirant Backed by a powerful organisational network and strong support among legislators he was seen by many as one of the most formidable contenders in the raceHis supporters had openly projected him as the natural administrative face of the new government Yet even in disappointment Venugopal remained firmly within the Congress culture of highcommand supremacyâParty is ultimate for me I will be pained if my party is painedâ he said while dismissing questions over cyber attacks and criticism from rival campsâI have been in politics for over 45 years Let the attacks continue My decision is very clear party leadership is the final wordâ he saidRejecting BJP allegations that the Congress leadership had succumbed to pressure from the IUML Venugopal termed the charge âbaselessâAnd when asked whether he would attend Satheesanâs swearingin ceremony the veteran leader responded âWhat a questionâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/party-above-all-says-venugopal-after-congress-names-satheesan-as-kerala-cm-673847.html Thu, 14 May 2026 14:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/meghalaya-cm-flags-off-new-fleet-of-police-vehicles-to-boost-operational-capabilities-673849.html Shillong May 14 Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Thursday flagged off a new fleet of police vehicles in Shillong aimed at strengthening the operational preparedness mobility and emergency response capabilities of the state police force The programme was held at the Police Officersâ Mess at Golflink in the presence of Director General of Police Idashisha Nongrang senior government officials and police personnelOfficials informed that a total of 95 vehicles have been procured for the Meghalaya Police including 79 vehicles acquired through funds provided by the Central Assistance to State Police Scheme of the Government of IndiaThe newlyinducted fleet includes 20 Maruti Jimny vehicles 19 Tata truck troop carriers five Mahindra mini trucks 19 buses with a seating capacity of 20 personnel 10 buses with a capacity of 24 personnel eight buses capable of carrying 36 personnel and eight Tata Yodha vehicles for the CID wingThe procurement estimated at nearly Rs 30 crore is expected to significantly enhance police mobility operational efficiency and emergency response across the stateAddressing the gathering Sangma said maintenance of law and order remains one of the most critical responsibilities of any government and reiterated his administrationâs commitment to strengthening the police force through sustained reforms and investmentsHe said the government has prioritised police modernisation and introduced measures such as the Police Reserve Fund to improve infrastructure and administrative efficiency at the grassroots levelâThrough these reforms infrastructure that was once in a dilapidated condition is now being renovated and upgraded Authority and responsibility have also been delegated to Superintendents of Police and unit commanders for faster executionâ the Chief Minister saidSangma also highlighted the recruitment of over 3000 personnel into longvacant posts describing it as a major step towards improving manpower strength in the forceReferring to recent tensions in Lapangap in West Jaintia Hills the Chief Minister praised the Meghalaya Police for maintaining peace and stability while the government continued dialogue with Assam over the interstate boundary issueHe also lauded DGP Nongrang and the police force for their dedication and professionalism in maintaining law and order across the state IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/meghalaya-cm-flags-off-new-fleet-of-police-vehicles-to-boost-operational-capabilities-673849.html Thu, 14 May 2026 14:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/god-given-responsibility-cm-designate-satheesan-seeks-support-to-build-new-kerala-673850.html Thiruvananthapuram May 14 Kerala Chief Ministerdesignate VD Satheesan on Thursday struck a careful balance between gratitude humility and political messaging in his first reaction after being chosen by the Congress high command as the 13th Chief Minister of the state declaring that the massive UDF victory belonged not to an individual leader but to âTeam UDFâ and lakhs of party workers Hours after the Congress leadership formally ended days of suspense over the top post Satheesan addressed the media and sought to immediately project unity within the party after the bruising internal contest that had kept Kerala politics on edgeâThe Congress has given me a huge responsibility and I am deeply thankful to Congress President Mallikarjuna Kharge and Rahul Gandhiâ Satheesan saidIn a significant political gesture aimed at calming internal nerves Satheesan openly credited the partys General Secretary KC Venugopal and campaign committee chairman Ramesh Chennithala for the UDFâs landslide victory describing Chennithala as âmy leaderââThe main persons behind this victory are KC Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala I will work together with them and also with state Congress President Sunny Josephâ he said signalling that the incoming administration would attempt to carry along all major power centres within the CongressSatheesan repeatedly emphasised collective leadership and public participation asserting that âone person alone can do nothingâ and promising to build a broadbased team to govern KeralaâWe are facing huge challenges To build a new Kerala I want the help and support of the people We all will work towards itâ he said while promising that every major assurance given by the UDF during the election campaign would be implementedIn perhaps his most striking remark Satheesan declared that his government would ârewrite the new order in public lifeâ describing the Chief Ministerâs post as a âGodgiven responsibilityâSeeking to blunt criticism over the prolonged delay in announcing the Chief Ministerdesignate Satheesan insisted there was ânothing shamefulâ in the process pointing out that consultations were held with every legislator and senior leader before the final decision was madeOn the swearingin date and cabinet members Satheesan said cabinet composition decisions would be taken by the party leadership in consultation with allies and the swearingin with the Governor IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/god-given-responsibility-cm-designate-satheesan-seeks-support-to-build-new-kerala-673850.html Thu, 14 May 2026 14:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/rajasthan-neet-leak-accused-celebrated-5-mbbs-selections-under-sog-scanner-673851.html Jaipur May 14 The alleged masterminds behind the Rajasthan NEET2026 paper leak Mangilal and Dinesh Binwal belong to a family that had recently drawn attention for producing five medical students Even as the Special Operations Group investigates their alleged wealth political connections and financial dealings relatives maintain that the brothers are innocent and have been involved only in the real estate business not in any examination racketIn a social media post dated November 6 2025 Dinesh Binwal described it as âa matter of prideâ that five children from the family had secured admission to Government Medical Colleges through NEET Family members said two daughters of Dineshâs late elder brother Ghanshyam Khatik had qualified through NEET2024 while another daughter from the same family and Dinesh Binwalâs son reportedly cleared NEET in 2025However family members refused to disclose the identity of the fifth candidate referred to in the social media post Investigators suspect that Mangilalâs son who appeared for NEET2026 this year may also have gained access to the leaked question paper The Rajasthan NEET2026 paper leak probe has now placed alleged masterminds Mangilal Binwal and Dinesh Binwal under scrutiny with investigators accusing the brothers of distributing the leaked paper across the stateAccording to sources in the Rajasthan Special Operations Group SOG the brothers allegedly obtained the paper from Gurugram on April 26 nearly a week before the examination after paying an advance of Rs 30 lakh Investigators believe the leaked paper may have been circulated among more than 1000 candidates across RajasthanThe SOG is now examining the financial background political connections and business activities of the accused brothers Mangilal Binwal and Dinesh Binwal belong to Jamwa Ramgarh tehsil about 30 km from Jaipur where they live with their extended family in a sprawling farmhouse built over nearly 2000 square yards The SOG arrested the two on May 9 following intelligence inputs linked to the NEET paper leak case Their farmhouse is located barely a kilometre from the Jamwa Ramgarh police station and locals describe the brothers as known for their lavish lifestyleThe property is said to have several modern amenities with multiple luxury vehicles parked on the premises Dinesh Binwal is also believed to be politically active with his social media accounts carrying photographs alongside prominent politicians including sitting ministers former ministers and MLAs Investigators suspect the brothers had established links with a Gurugrambased âpaper mafiaâ nearly eight months before the examination The alleged deal for the NEET paper was reportedly struck at Rs 45 lakh of which Rs 30 lakh was paid in advance Despite the allegations family members continue to insist that the brothers are innocent and are engaged only in the business of buying and selling real estateThe accused brothers have reportedly claimed that influential individuals are being shielded in the investigation Investigators allege that Mangilal and Dinesh Binwal procured the leaked NEET paper from Gurugram and distributed it to hundreds of candidates across RajasthanMangilalâs wife Sonu denied any involvement of her husband in the paper leak racket âMy husband works in the property business He does not buy leaked exam papersâ she said adding that she had little information about the ongoing investigationThe brothersâ mother Prabhu Devi described the case as a conspiracy against her sons âPeople are jealous of our children because they are intelligent and successfulâ she said âIf we were involved in such activities would we still be living with these difficultiesâWhen asked who she believed was targeting the family she did not name anyone directly but repeated that others were envious of the familyâs successAccording to sources the SOG conducted raids across Jaipur Jaipur Rural Sikar and Jhunjhunu after receiving intelligence inputs about the alleged paper leak During questioning investigators reportedly identified a NEET candidate accused of circulating the leaked paper among several other aspirants The candidate is said to have named his father Mangilal and uncle Dinesh which eventually led to the brothersâ arrestA team from the Delhi CBI also visited the Jaipur SOG office earlier this week to question the accused Investigators claim that Dinesh Binwal admitted to selling the leaked paper to nearly ten students and allegedly accepted payment in cash During interrogation he reportedly told officials that he had received the âguess paperâ from a man identified as Yash a Rajasthan native currently based in GurugramThe SOG is now examining the brothersâ mobile phones digital records and bank accounts in an attempt to trace the money trail and identify other beneficiaries and accused linked to the racket Meanwhile the brothers currently in CBI custody have allegedly claimed that influential figures are being protected in the case Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully has questioned who these âbigwigsâ are that the accused say are being shielded IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/rajasthan-neet-leak-accused-celebrated-5-mbbs-selections-under-sog-scanner-673851.html Thu, 14 May 2026 14:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/rk-family-trust-dispute-sc-allows-ripl-board-meeting-but-bars-discussion-on-directors-bank-signatories-673862.html New Delhi May 14 The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to stall a proposed board meeting of Raghuvanshi Investment Private Limited RIPL in the highprofile RK Family Trust dispute involving Rani Kapur and Priya Sachdev Kapur but restrained the company from taking up agenda items relating to the appointment of independent directors and changes in authorised bank signatories during the meeting A Bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and Ujjal Bhuyan passed the direction while hearing a fresh plea moved by 80yearold Rani Kapur mother of late businessman Sunjay Kapur who had sought a stay on the board meeting scheduled for May 18 At the outset the apex court observed that since the dispute had already been referred to mediation the parties should refrain from taking any steps which may directly impact the mediation proceedings âWe have already requested the mediator to start with the mediation proceedings For the present we request the opponents not to do anything which may directly affect mediation Time and again we have said it will be in the interest of all parties to put an end to this dispute else it will be a long drawn battleâ the Justice Pardiwalaled Bench observed Appearing on behalf of Rani Kapur senior advocate Navin Pahwa argued that the proposed board meeting was intended to ensure that she is âcompletely drowned outâ from the affairs of the familycontrolled entities Referring to the dispute over the family estate it was argued that Rani Kapurâs majority shareholding in the group companies had allegedly been transferred into a trust without her consent âMy shareholding was transferred into the trust behind my back I was holding the majority shares in all the companies My daughterinlaw transferred my shareholding into a trustâ the senior counsel submitted on behalf of Rani Kapur On the other hand senior advocate Kapil Sibal appearing for the respondents including Priya Sachdev Kapur and RIPL submitted that the appointment of independent directors was being undertaken pursuant to directions issued by the Reserve Bank of India RBI following an inspection Sibal argued that the proposed board meeting was convened primarily to comply with statutory and regulatory obligations and not with an intention to alter the status quo during the mediation process Taking note of the submissions the apex court clarified that while the board meeting itself may proceed agenda items concerning the appointment of independent directors and the change in authorised signatories for certain bank accounts need not be acted upon for now It repeatedly urged the parties to sincerely attempt an amicable settlement and cautioned against converting the family dispute into prolonged litigation âShe is an 80yearold woman We all came with empty hands and we have to go with empty hands All we carry is our souls There has to be a will to settle the matter Donât go before the mediator with a heavy heart just because the court has pushed you Each one of you tryâ the Justice Pardiwalaled Bench observed during the hearing The latest plea arose from a notice dated May 8 issued by RIPL convening a board meeting on May 18 Rani Kapur had described the meeting as a âfraudulent attempt to bypass courtordered mediationâ and sought directions restraining the company from proceeding with the meeting till the mediation proceedings conclude She had also sought directions restraining Priya Sachdev Kapur and other respondents from interfering in the functioning of the alleged RK Family Trust during the pendency of the mediation proceedings The disputed agenda items included the appointment of two independent directors and changes in authorised signatories for certain bank accounts Earlier on May 7 the Supreme Court had appointed former Chief Justice of India CJI DY Chandrachud as mediator to resolve the ongoing family dispute between Rani Kapur and Priya Sachdev Kapur over the alleged RK Family Trust A Bench of Justices Pardiwala and Bhuyan had passed the order after all parties agreed to explore a settlement through mediation Observing that the controversy was a âfamily affairâ the apex court had requested the parties not to make public statements or social media posts concerning the dispute âItâs a family dispute let it be confined among the family only It should not be a source of entertainmentâ the Justice Pardiwalaled Bench had orally remarked The apex court had said that it would await a preliminary report from the mediator before taking up the matter further and posted the case for hearing in August The dispute pertains to the creation and control of the alleged RK Family TrustRani Kapur Family Trust which has been challenged by Rani Kapur as fraudulent and illegal According to the plea Rani Kapur is the sole beneficiary of the estate of her late husband industrialist Dr Surinder Kapur who allegedly bequeathed all movable and immovable properties to her through a will probated by the Bombay High Court in 2016 Rani Kapur has alleged that despite this the family estate was clandestinely transferred into a newly created trust without her informed consent and that control over key group companies was assumed without her knowledge following the death of her son Sunjay Kapur IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/rk-family-trust-dispute-sc-allows-ripl-board-meeting-but-bars-discussion-on-directors-bank-signatories-673862.html Thu, 14 May 2026 14:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/electric-bus-penetration-in-india-to-rise-from-7-pc-to-3540-pc-of-annual-bus-sales-by-fy35-673864.html New Delhi May 14 The electric bus penetration in India is expected to rise from around 7 per cent currently to 35â40 per cent of annual bus sales by FY35 with public transport EV penetration projected to exceed 85 per cent over the same period a new report showed on Thursday Indiaâs bus market historically stable at 35000â50000 units annually is entering a new phase of transition as electrification government procurement programmes and infrastructure investments reshape the sectorâs growth trajectoryWith buses accounting for nearly 57 per cent of passengerkilometres travelled in India electrification of the segment is expected to play a key role in the countryâs clean mobility and decarbonization ambitions according to the KPMG in India reportâIndiaâs electric bus transition is moving beyond a policyled initiative to becoming a structural transformation opportunity for the broader mobility ecosystem Public transport electrification has already created strong momentum supported by government procurement programmes improving cost economics and increasing infrastructure investmentsâ said Rohan Rao Partner Automotive and Lead Electric Mobility KPMG IndiaGoing forward the focus will increasingly shift towards building a scalable ecosystem that combines domestic manufacturing financing innovation charging infrastructure expansion and operational efficiency to support sustainable longterm growth across both public and private transport segments he mentionedAmid rising urbanisation increasing mobility demand sustainability commitments and governmentled clean mobility initiatives the report indicates that Indiaâs bus industry is entering a significant phase of structural transformation This is supported by accelerating electric vehicle EV adoption infrastructure development and evolving operating models across public and private transport networksIndiaâs ebus ecosystem is entering a critical phase where scale localization and execution capabilities will become key differentiators While public transport undertakings continue to lead adoption the next phase of growth is expected to emerge from private intercity mobility airport transport platformbased mobility solutions and corporate fleets explained Raghavan Viswanathan Partner Deal Advisory KPMG in India According to the report electric buses can deliver up to 70 per cent higher energy efficiency and significantly lower lifetime emissions compared to diesel buses PMeBus Sewa tenders for around 6600 buses could potentially save 12 million tonnes of carbon dioxide and 2â3 billion in oil imports over the concession periodNearly 62000 ebus tenders have been issued in India with approximately 46000 buses awarded under various government schemes Around 16300 electric buses were operational on Indian roads as of March 2026 reflecting both strong momentum and continuing deployment challenges said the reportMore than 90 per cent of Indiaâs current ebus deployments have been driven by governmentled tenders and public transport undertakings India is expected to tender nearly 40000 additional electric buses by FY30 through central and stateled initiatives it added IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/electric-bus-penetration-in-india-to-rise-from-7-pc-to-3540-pc-of-annual-bus-sales-by-fy35-673864.html Thu, 14 May 2026 14:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/isi-plans-countrywide-expansion-of-khalistan-style-gangster-terror-module-673865.html New Delhi May 14 The experiment that the ISI conducted with the Khalistan modules is now being replicated across other networks as well The idea of bringing gangsters and terrorists together to further operations in India is increasingly becoming a new norm investigations have revealed An official said that the ISI does not want terror groups and gangsters to operate separately The Pakistan spy agency realises that it would be best to get the two together so that the resources are common Shared resources and cooperation between criminals have always yielded results and this is what the ISI has been cashing in on the official addedWhat began as an experiment in Punjab is now spreading across to Maharashtra Gujarat and the Northeastern states as wellIn Punjab the ISI got together various gangsters working both within India and abroad to liaison with terror networks The gangster network which is better aware of the logistics aids terror groups which in turn carry out attacksThe gangster network also helps in the supply and circulation of narcotics and the funds generated are used to finance terror groups The gangster networks also help a great deal in recruitments and these persons are used to carry out small time attacksRaids in various states such as Punjab and now Maharashtra have revealed that the ISI wants both networks to operate as one entityAs compared to recruitment into terror groups roping in youth into gangster networks is relatively easier Terror groups come under much higher scrutiny when compared to the gangs It is this aspect that the ISI has been using of late to synchronise the two networks an official addedAn Intelligence Bureau official said when it comes to Punjab and the Khalistan movement the ISI has found a great deal of success in uniting the two networks From Punjab it has now moved on to other states and Maharashtra is the next laboratory for this experiment the official addedIn Maharashtra the Anti Terrorism Squad ATS has managed to unearth a massive gangsterterror network Raids were conducted across the state with the focus largely on Mumbai Pune Jalgaon Nagpur Nashik Nanded Mira Road and NalasoparaThe ISI backed elements had been using social media extensively to rope in the youth The idea is to get them to supply drugs and raise funds for terror networks The raids and subsequent investigations revealed that there is a welloiled mechanism in place to facilitate the sale of drugs The operations which were being overlooked by the Shahzad Bhatti network was being facilitated by the Dogar GangBhatti is originally from Lahore and has been on the payrolls of the ISI for several years now He operates largely from Dubai and PakistanAnother official said that the big plan of the ISI is to get gangs and terrorists together across the country They would be given a designated area to operate from For instance the gangsters who are aligned to the Khalistan terror network would not be used for operations in Maharashtra or the other states Similar would be the case when it comes to Delhi or Uttar PradeshThe official added that this modus operandi is becoming a headache for the security agencies What the coming together of both these networks does is create confusion for the agenciesTerror groups and gangster networks operate differently The gangsters are more cash driven but for terror groups it is largely ideology that mattersHowever for the ISI the primary focus is to unleash terror in India It could be in the form of blasts fidayeen strikes narcotics supply and financial terrorism The official explained that when it comes to terror in India the ISI follows no ideology The destruction of India or bleeding the nation by a thousand cuts is all that matters to PakistanOfficials say that the gangsterterror network is becoming a major headache The fact that the ISI plans to replicate a similar modus operandi across the country is something that the agencies would have to deal withThis would require cooperation between the central and state agencies Minoring the social media is very important as it has been found in all similar investigations that this medium is being used the most to run this network while also carrying out the recruitment process the official further added IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/isi-plans-countrywide-expansion-of-khalistan-style-gangster-terror-module-673865.html Thu, 14 May 2026 14:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/i-dedicate-my-chief-ministership-to-the-people-of-kerala-vd-satheesan-673869.html Thiruvananthapuram May 14 After the Congress high command finally picked VD Satheesan as Keralaâs 13th Chief Minister he spoke exclusively to IANS and said he was dedicating his Chief Ministership to the people of the state Speaking to IANS Chief Ministerdesignate Satheesan said âI am very grateful to the AICC leaders for entrusting me with this big responsibility I dedicate my Chief Ministership to the people of Kerala We will build a strong team that will work for the future of KeralaâResponding to questions about the time taken by the Congress leadership to finalise the decision Satheesan said the process involved extensive consultations and should not be seen as a delayâI cannot say that this was a delay This is a process Earlier there was no such intense media and social media scrutiny Sometimes even fake news spreads The leadership discussed the matter with former PCC presidents working committee members MLAs and MPs before arriving at a decisionâ he saidSatheesan also highlighted the economic challenges facing the stateHe said We are going through a very vulnerable period because the fiscal situation in Kerala is very poor We have to make many changes We have studied a lot prepared documents and discussed with experts This is the first opposition in the history of India that two years before the election started our preparationEarlier in the day the announcement was made in Delhi by Congress top leaders Deepadas Munshi Mukul Wasnik and Ajay MakenThe decision delayed till the very edge of political exhaustion was conveyed with characteristic Congress dramaCongress General Secretary KC Venugopal who was in Delhi through the final rounds of consultations was summoned for a meeting with Rahul Gandhi before being informed of the leadership decision Senior leader Ramesh Chennithala meanwhile received the message through a closeddoor telephone call from Rahul Gandhi that the race was over and Satheesan had got the nodFor Satheesan the elevation caps a remarkable political rise that mirrors the Congress partyâs attempt to reinvent itself in Kerala after years of factional fatigue and electoral setbacksBorn in Kochi district and turning 62 later this month Satheesan built his political identity not through backroom factional arithmetic but through relentless Assembly performances and organisational workA lawyer by profession he entered the Assembly from Paravur in 2001 and soon earned a reputation as one of the Congress partyâs sharpest debatersArmed with statistics sarcasm and theatrical timing Satheesan became a familiar tormentor of the Left benches Ironically his biggest breakthrough came after one of the Congress partyâs darkest momentsFollowing the UDFâs crushing defeat in the 2021 Assembly elections Satheesan was unexpectedly chosen as Leader of Opposition initially viewed by many as a compromise candidate amid bitter internal rivalriesInstead he transformed the role into a political launch padWhether it was the gold smuggling controversy the AI camera allegations or repeated attacks on the Vijayan government over law and order Satheesan steadily positioned himself as the most visible and aggressive face of antiLeft politics in Kerala Unlike many Congress veterans Satheesan was never seen as fully belonging to any faction in the party IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/i-dedicate-my-chief-ministership-to-the-people-of-kerala-vd-satheesan-673869.html Thu, 14 May 2026 15:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/adani-airport-holdings-ihg-hotels-amp-resorts-sign-5-hotel-deal-to-boost-indias-travel-economic-growth-673872.html Mumbai May 14 In a significant boost to Indias travel and economic growth Adani Airport Holdings Limited AAHL and IHG Hotels amp Resorts have signed a landmark managed hotel portfolio agreement to develop five hotels across key airportlinked and highgrowth urban destinations The agreement will add close to 1500 keys across multiple brands and locations in line with IHGâs growth plans for India and aligning with rising travel demand and the rapid expansion of Indiaâs aviation tourism and airportled urban infrastructure sectorsâAs the Adani Group expands its presence across hospitality and airportled urban infrastructure our vision is to create worldclass destinations that seamlessly integrate travel stay and urban experiences around Indiaâs rapidly growing aviation ecosystem We are building this platform in partnership with leading international hotel brands that bring global standards operational excellence and scaleâ said Pranav Adani Director Adani Enterprises Limited AELâOur collaboration with IHG Hotels amp Resorts and the development of five hotels across key gateway destinations marks an important step in strengthening highquality hospitality infrastructure aligned with Indiaâs longterm travel and economic growthâ Pranav Adani maintainedThe portfolio includes a Kimpton hotel in Jaipur as well as Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express hotels within upcoming hospitalityled mixeduse developments as part of the Adani Airport cities These hotels are planned across Navi Mumbai Mangaluru and ThiruvananthapuramIndiaâs largest private airport operator is also in advanced discussions with IHG to further deepen and expand this partnershipThe partnership also marks the debut of Kimpton Hotels amp Restaurants in India Known globally for its designled hotels chefdriven dining experiences and boutique luxury positioning Kimptonâs entry reflects the growing demand for premium lifestyle hospitality experiences in IndiaâThe partnership with Adani Airport Holdings reflects the scale of opportunity we continue to see in Indiaâs hospitality sector particularly across gateway cities and airportled developments that are witnessing strong demand from business leisure and transit travellers alikeâ said Sudeep Jain Managing Director South West Asia IHG Hotels amp ResortsAdani Airport City is focused on the development of integrated hospitalityled airport city destinations across India Managing eight airports that serve nearly 90 million passengers annually Adani Airport Holdings Limiteds network is being developed as integrated airport cities that blend aviation with retail hospitality and convention centresSpanning over 650 acres across key cities including Mumbai Navi Mumbai Ahmedabad Lucknow Jaipur and Guwahati Adani Airport City Limitedâs first phase will deliver 22 million sq ft of mixeduse developments comprising branded hotels experiential retail worldclass dining convention centres Grade A office spaces entertainment zones and arena districts IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/adani-airport-holdings-ihg-hotels-amp-resorts-sign-5-hotel-deal-to-boost-indias-travel-economic-growth-673872.html Thu, 14 May 2026 15:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/eci-to-roll-out-special-intensive-revision-in-phased-manner-across-16-states-3-uts-673873.html New Delhi May 14 The Election Commission of India ECI on Thursday announced the launch of the Special Intensive Revision SIR of electoral rolls in a phased manner across 16 States and three Union Territories It said this is going to be a major nationwide exercise aimed at strengthening the accuracy and transparency of voter lists According to the Commission the PhaseIII schedule of the SIR has been finalised while keeping in view the availability of the common field machinery currently engaged in the ongoing census houselisting operationsWith the commencement of Phase III the SIR exercise will effectively cover the entire country except for Himachal Pradesh Jammu amp Kashmir and LadakhThe Commission said the schedule for these three regions will be announced at a later stage after taking into account the completion of PhaseII of the census exercise as well as weatherrelated challenges in upper reaches and snowbound areasAs part of the largescale revision drive more than 394 lakh Booth Level Officers BLOs will conduct doortodoor verification of approximately 3673 crore electors during the Enumeration Phase The BLOs will be assisted by around 342 lakh Booth Level Agents BLAs nominated by various political partiesThe ECI described the SIR as a âparticipative and transparent exerciseâ involving electors political parties and election officials at multiple levelsStressing the importance of political participation the Commission urged all recognised political parties to appoint Booth Level Agents for every polling booth to ensure transparency inclusiveness and effective scrutiny during the revision processâI appeal to all electors to enthusiastically participate in Phase III of Special Intensive Revision SIR and fill their Enumeration Forms SIR is being conducted with the objective to ensure that Only Eligible voters to be included in the Electoral Roll and No Ineligible names to be includedâ said CEC Gyanesh Kumar on the launch of SIR Phase III in 16 States and 3 UTsThe Commission further said that the first two phases of the SIR exercise conducted across 13 States and Union Territories covered nearly 59 crore electors as on the date of issuance of the respective SIR ordersMore than 63 lakh BLOs and 92 lakh BLAs were engaged in various stages of the process during these phases it saidOfficials said the intensive revision exercise is aimed at ensuring errorfree electoral rolls by identifying duplicate shifted deceased or ineligible entries while facilitating the inclusion of all eligible voters IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/eci-to-roll-out-special-intensive-revision-in-phased-manner-across-16-states-3-uts-673873.html Thu, 14 May 2026 15:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/annamalai-criticises-dmk-tvk-over-remarks-on-sanatana-dharma-673874.html Chennai May 14 BJP leader K Annamalai on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the DMK and the TVK over remarks made against Sanatana Dharma accusing both parties of harbouring hatred towards Hindu beliefs and traditions The BJP leaderâs criticism after DMK MLA Udhayanidhi Stalin reiterated his controversial remarks on âSanathanamâ on the floor of the Tamil Nadu Legislative AssemblyTVK MLA VMS Mustafa later backed Udhayanidhiâs comments triggering a fresh political controversy in the stateIn a stronglyworded post on social media platform X Annamalai said the remarks made by leaders of the DMK and TVK reflected their âhatredâ towards Sanatana DharmaâDMK and TVK in their very short history have proven to the people that they are two sides of the same coinâ Annamalai saidHe further alleged that both parties had concealed their ideological stand during the election campaign and only revealed their âtrue intentionsâ after securing votesâIf either DMK or TVK had the courage of conviction they should have openly declared during their election campaigns that targeting Sanatana Dharma would be central to their politicsâ he claimedAnnamalai accused the two parties of âhiding behind secularism and theatricsâ during the polls and later insulting the faith of millions of people The BJP leader also warned that people would not remain silent over repeated attacks on Hindu beliefsâSanatana Dharma is not your punching bagâ he said adding that he hoped the remarks would not go âunpunished by the peopleâThe controversy surrounding Udhayanidhi Stalinâs comments on Sanatan Dharma has remained a major political flashpoint in Tamil Nadu over the past two years with the BJP repeatedly accusing the DMK of hurting Hindu sentimentsThe latest intervention by TVK MLA Mustafa has further intensified the debate with the BJP attempting to portray both the ruling DMK and Vijayled TVK as parties sharing a common ideological stand against Hindu traditionsThe DMK however has maintained that its criticism is directed at caste discrimination and social inequality associated with certain interpretations of Sanatan practices and not against individual religious beliefs IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/annamalai-criticises-dmk-tvk-over-remarks-on-sanatana-dharma-673874.html Thu, 14 May 2026 15:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sunil-mittal-plans-to-hand-over-airtel-reins-to-next-generation-in-next-10-years-673879.html New Delhi May 14 Airtel Chairman and Managing Director Sunil Bharti Mittal on Thursday said that he plans to hand over the reins of the telecom major to the next generation in the next ten years I wish to hand over the reins to the next generation in the next 10 years Mittal said in the companys concallMittal was reappointed as Chairman of Bharti Airtel for another fiveyear term on Wednesday with effect from October 1 2026 The companys board also approved the reappointment of Nisaba Godrej as an Independent Director for a second term of five years effective August 4 this yearThe Airtel CMD said that he was not happy with the Q4 financial results of Airtel and would be working to step up the Average Revenue Per User ARPU of the telecom majorAirtels mobile services segment in India contributed 28831 crore to the total revenue in Q4 FY2026 with growth of 83 per cent during the JanMarch quarter The growth came on the back of a rising customer base along with about 5 per cent growth in ARPU to Rs 257 from Rs 245 earlier the company has stated in a regulatory filingBharti Airtel posted a 335 per cent decline in consolidated net profit to Rs 7325 crore for the March 2026 quarter mainly due to onetime provisions related to statutory and tax liabilitiesThe companys annual revenue crossed Rs 2 lakh crore for the first timeAirtelâs consolidated revenue from operations rose 156 per cent to Rs 553832 crore in Q4 FY26 from Rs 478762 crore annually driven by a 40 per cent jump in the Africa businessShares of Bharti Airtel rose over 3 per cent on Thursday a day after the company announced its JanuaryMarch quarter results Despite reporting a lowerthanexpected net profit in the March quarter owing to a onetime charge investors remain largely upbeat on the stock on the back of the companys strong fundamentals In March 2026 the company crossed a milestone of 65 crore customers as part of its expanding business IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/sunil-mittal-plans-to-hand-over-airtel-reins-to-next-generation-in-next-10-years-673879.html Thu, 14 May 2026 15:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/vijay-govt-announces-2-pc-da-hike-for-employees-pensioners-673890.html Chennai May 14 Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Thursday announced a two per cent increase in Dearness Allowance DA for state government employees teachers pensioners and family pensioners raising it from 58 per cent to 60 per cent with retrospective effect from January 1 2026 The announcement was made through an official government press release issued by the Department of Information and Public RelationsThe move is expected to benefit nearly 16 lakh government employees teachers pensioners and family pensioners across the stateAccording to the statement the decision was taken after the Union government enhanced the Dearness Allowance for Central government employees from 58 per cent to 60 per cent with effect from January 1 2026The Tamil Nadu government has now extended the same benefit to state government staff and pensionersThe state government said the hike reflects its commitment towards the welfare of its employees and teachers who play a crucial role in implementing welfare schemes and public service initiatives across the stateThe press release noted that the administration led by Chief Minister Vijay has been focused on introducing and effectively implementing several peoplecentric welfare measuresOfficials said the increase in DA would result in an additional annual expenditure of approximately Rs 1230 crore for the state exchequer Despite the financial burden the government has decided to allocate the necessary additional funds keeping in mind the welfare of employees teachers pensioners and family pensionersThe announcement comes at a time when the newly elected Tamil Nadu government is rolling out a series of administrative and welfarerelated measures following the 2026 Assembly electionsEmployee unions and pensionersâ associations have welcomed the move stating that the hike would provide relief amid rising living costs and inflationary pressuresThe revised Dearness Allowance will be implemented retrospectively from January 1 2026 and the government is expected to issue detailed orders regarding disbursement and arrears soon IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/vijay-govt-announces-2-pc-da-hike-for-employees-pensioners-673890.html Thu, 14 May 2026 16:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/kerala-leadership-decision-after-the-call-from-delhi-chennithala-retreats-into-silence-673891.html Thiruvananthapuram May 14 As celebrations erupted in Congress circles following the announcement of V D Satheesan as Keralaâs next Chief Minister an air of silence and disappointment descended over the residence of veteran party leader Ramesh Chennithala where hopes had remained very much alive until the very last moment For Chennithala one of the seniormost leaders in the Congress and among the principal contenders for the top post Thursdayâs decision was perhaps the closing of a political chapter he had long hoped would end at Cliff House the official residence of Kerala Chief MinisterA loyal organisational soldier for decades Chennithala had risen through the ranks of the Congress at a remarkably young age becoming a minister at just 27 in the cabinet led by then Chief Minister K KarunakaranEven at 70 party insiders say he believed seniority experience and years of service to the Congress might finally tilt the balance in his favourTill Thursday morning optimism reportedly lingered within his campBut around 10 am according to sources close to the leader a crucial telephone call came from senior party leader Rahul Gandhi in DelhiSoon after receiving the message Chennithala quietly withdrew to his bedroomFor nearly half an hour the veteran leader remained inside even as close associates and legislators waited outside anxiouslyWhen he finally emerged it had become clear that the Congress high command had settled on SatheesanWhat followed was a political disappearance of sortsThree of Chennithalaâs closest confidants all newly elected MLAs were closeted with him briefly before the veteran leader quietly slipped out through the rear entrance of the residence avoiding the growing media presence outside his homeAs television crews and reporters waited for a reaction after Satheesanâs formal announcement aides simply maintained that âChennithala is not at homeâSources later indicated that the senior Congress leader had begun travelling towards his hometown Haripad in Alappuzha district and was expected to proceed from there to the famed Guruvayur Temple for the earlymorning darshan on FridayHis absence is likely to be politically noticed because it means Chennithala may skip the customary Congress Legislative Party meeting later in the day where Satheesan will formally be elected CLP leader a moment that will officially seal the Congressâ generational transition IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/kerala-leadership-decision-after-the-call-from-delhi-chennithala-retreats-into-silence-673891.html Thu, 14 May 2026 16:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/india-included-in-revised-eu-draft-list-for-continued-aquaculture-product-exports-673896.html New Delhi May 14 The government on Thursday said India has been included in the revised draft list published by the European Union for continued export of aquaculture products to the EU market Indiaâs proposed inclusion is a major positive development for the countryâs seafood export sector and reflects the European Unionâs confidence in Indiaâs regulatory systems residue monitoring mechanisms and food safety standards âOnce formally adopted by the European Commission the revised regulation is expected to ensure uninterrupted export of Indian aquaculture products to the EU market beyond September 2026â said Commerce Ministry in a statementThe revied draft addresses concerns arising from the earlier omission in Implementing Regulation EU issued on October 4 2024 The earlier regulation had not included India among third countries authorised to export products of animal origin intended for human consumption to the EU from September 2026The European Union is one of the key destinations for Indian seafood exports During 2025â26 the EU emerged as the thirdlargest market for Indian seafood exports accounting for 1894 per cent of total export value worth 1593 billion Exports to the EU recorded significant growth over 2024â25 with export value rising by 4145 per cent and quantity by 3829 per cent Farmed shrimp continued to constitute the major share of exports to the regionThe development also recognises sustained efforts undertaken by the Department of Commerce through organisations such as the Marine Products Export Development Authority MPEDA and the Export Inspection Council EIC to strengthen regulatory compliance and promote responsible aquaculture practicesAccording to the statement India has consistently enhanced its systems relating to veterinary medicinal products antimicrobial residues traceability and quality assurance in aquaculture production and seafood processing The proposed inclusion is viewed as a positive outcome of continued technical engagement and regulatory cooperation between India and the European Union and is expected to support export growth employment generation and foreign exchange earnings from the seafood sector IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/india-included-in-revised-eu-draft-list-for-continued-aquaculture-product-exports-673896.html Thu, 14 May 2026 16:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/kolkata-police-deputy-commissioner-biswas-finally-appears-before-ed-in-criminal-linked-syndicate-case-673897.html Kolkata May 14 Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner Shantanu Sinha Biswas appeared at the Enforcement Directorate ED office here on Thursday for questioning in a criminallinked syndicate case The development comes two days after the ED wrote a letter to the Directorate of Security asking to know the status of Biswas and whether he was serving any duty This was done to make the police officer who had skipped multiple summons of the agency appear before the ED officersThe central investigation agency had summoned him several times before including on April 28 the day before the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly election However Biswas did not turn up Fearing that Biswas might leave the country the ED finally issued a lookout notice against himThe Deputy Commissioner of Kolkata Police was asked to appear at the CGO Complex as part of the EDs investigation into a money laundering case against an alleged criminallinked syndicate run by Sona Pappu alias Biswajit PoddarSona Pappu a resident of Ballygunge in south Kolkata faces various charges including land grabbing and extortion There is also a case against him under the Arms Act The ED has started an investigation in the wake of several such allegations and has already arrested businessman Joy Kamdar in that caseBased on the information in this case the ED raided Biswass house on Fern Road last month and the official was not seen in public subsequently The day after the search the ED summoned Biswas and his two sons Sayantan and Manish to the CGO complex in the Sona Pappu case However none of them went to the ED office that dayEarlier the ED had summoned Biswas who is also a former OfficerinCharge of Kalighat police station in Bhabanipur for the investigation into the sand smuggling case However he did not appear before the ED officers Instead his lawyer went to the ED office According to sources Biwas sought time from the central investigation agency due to his busy schedule The ED is investigating allegations of financial misappropriation in a case related to sand smuggling and its officials wanted to question him in connection with that case also IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/kolkata-police-deputy-commissioner-biswas-finally-appears-before-ed-in-criminal-linked-syndicate-case-673897.html Thu, 14 May 2026 16:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/shikohpur-land-deal-case-robert-vadra-fails-to-get-immediate-relief-from-delhi-hc-673898.html New Delhi May 14 Businessman Robert Vadra on Thursday failed to secure immediate relief from the Delhi High Court in a money laundering case linked to a 2008 land deal in Gurugramâs Shikohpur village A singlejudge Bench of Justice Manoj Jain was hearing Robert Vadraâs plea challenging a Rouse Avenue Court order taking cognisance of an ED complaint under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act PMLA and issuing summons to him and eight othersDuring the hearing senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for Vadra argued that some of the offences invoked in the predicate case under the Indian Penal Code IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act were added to the schedule of the PMLA after the alleged commission of the offence between 2008 and 2012He contended that the issue relating to jurisdiction and retrospective application of the provisions had been raised before the trial court but was not dealt withOpposing the plea ED counsel Zoheb Hossain submitted that Vadra had made âfalse and incorrect statementsâ in his petition âThis needs to go with costs I have done an exercise of pulling out all the bare acts Complete false submissions Section 467 IPC was there in its original inception in the PMLA schedule Ex facie false and incorrect statements are madeâ Hossain submittedThe Delhi High Court after hearing submissions on behalf of Robert Vadra and the ED which opposed the plea on maintainability grounds adjourned the matter for further hearing on May 18âMr Singhvi please come prepared on this aspect on Monday because that is your central plank We will hear you on Mondayâ Justice Jain saidEarlier on April 15 the Rouse Avenue Court had issued a summons to Vadra and eight others after taking cognisance of the EDâs prosecution complaint The Special Court had directed Vadra husband of Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi and the other accused to appear before it on May 16Accordingly Robert Vadra will have to appear before the trial court on the date fixed in compliance with the summons issued to himThe ED has alleged that Vadraâs company Skylight Hospitality Private Limited acquired around 35 acres of land in Haryanaâs Shikohpur village in February 2008 for Rs 750 crore from Omkareshwar Properties Private Limited despite having limited capitalAccording to the probe agency no actual payment was made and the sale deed contained false declarations including reference to a cheque that was allegedly never issued or encashedThe ED has further claimed that the land was undervalued in the sale deed resulting in evasion of stamp duty and constituting an offence under Section 423 of the IPCIn its prosecution complaint the ED has identified Rs 58 crore as proceeds of crime and provisionally attached 43 immovable properties worth Rs 3869 crore allegedly linked to Vadra his proprietary concern Artex Skylight Hospitality Private Limited and associated entitiesThe federal antimoney laundering agency has sought a maximum punishment of seven yearsâ rigorous imprisonment under Section 4 of the PMLA along with confiscation of the attached propertiesIn October 2012 senior IAS officer Ashok Khemka had cancelled the Shikohpur land deal citing procedural irregularities Though an inhouse government panel later gave a clean chit to Vadra and DLF an FIR was subsequently registered after the BJP government came to power in Haryana IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/shikohpur-land-deal-case-robert-vadra-fails-to-get-immediate-relief-from-delhi-hc-673898.html Thu, 14 May 2026 16:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/right-choice-digvijaya-singh-endorses-satheesan-as-kerala-legislative-party-leader-673899.html New Delhi May 14 Senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Digvijaya Singh has extended his warm congratulations to VD Satheesan following his appointment as the leader of the Congress Legislature Party and the next Chief Minister of Kerala Singh shared his thoughts and a photograph of Shatheesan with Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on his X handleIn his message Singh emphasised that the selection of Satheesan marks a significant and positive step for the party leadershipSingh described Satheesan as a grassroots leader highlighting his deep connection with the fundamental levels of the political organisation and the general publicSingh said Satheesan possesses a strong base of support among specific demographics particularly noting that he enjoys the confidence and backing of the weaker sections of society and minority communitiesHe is a grassroot leader who enjoys the support of the Weaker Sections and Minorities Thank you âkhargeâ ji and Rahul ji for the Right Choice Singh wrote on X After days of speculations and highvoltage lobbying from Thiruvananthapuram to Delhi the Congress high command finally picked VD Satheesan as Keralaâs 13th Chief Minister on Thursday The announcement was made in Delhi by Congress top leaders Deepadas Munshi Mukul Wasnik and Ajay MakenBorn in Kochi district and turning 62 later this month Satheesan built his political identity not through backroom factional arithmetic but through relentless Assembly performances and organisational workA lawyer by profession he entered the Assembly from Paravur in 2001 and soon earned a reputation as one of the Congress partyâs sharpest debatersSatheesan after he was chosen for the top job in Kerala addressed the media and sought to project unity within the party âThe Congress has given me a huge responsibility and I am deeply thankful to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhiâ Satheesan said IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/right-choice-digvijaya-singh-endorses-satheesan-as-kerala-legislative-party-leader-673899.html Thu, 14 May 2026 16:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/responding-to-pm-modis-call-residents-of-jammu-border-village-bring-back-traditional-stoves-673907.html Jammu May 14 Declaring their support for Prime Minister Narendra Modis appeal to save fuel around 40 families from a border village in Jammu pledged to cook food on traditional stoves The women made chapattis and vegetables on stoves using wood and cow dung PM Modis appeal to save petrol diesel LPG and oil and not to buy jewellery for a year came in view of the ongoing West Asia conflict and the resultant global hike in crude oil pricesSpeaking to IANS a woman from Gajansu village located near the International Border in Jammu appealed to people across the nation to follow the same practiceShe said Now is the time to rise when the country is facing difficulties Everybody should shift to stoves to cook food to save cooking gas and oilReferring to the lockdown during the Covid pandemic she said At that time too people had followed PM Modis directiveAnother woman added Given the current situation we should go back to earlier times when we used to cook food on stoves using wood and cow dungThere are 40 to 50 families in our village Even during Covid all of us followed the lockdown guidelines this time too we are adhering to his appeal she mentionedFurther she described the advantages of cooking food on stovesShe said Food that is cooked on traditional stoves is better than what is cooked on gas This food is good for health Even the ash which is left after cooking on the stove is useful for washing utensils Also one can sit comfortably and cook on the stove rather than standing for an extended period while cooking on gas she addedMoreover the women highlighted that consuming food cooked on stoves can contribute towards a healthy lifestyle since one can avoid using oilAshwani who is also a resident of the village asserted that during the Covid pandemic other countries learned from India about how PM Modi runs the countryHe said Even during Operation Sindoor the majority of residents in border areas did not leave their houses despite shelling from Pakistan and stood by the nationPraising PM Modis appeal he urged citizens to follow the directiveAll the 40 families here have turned to stoves to save LPG I hope this initiative will inspire others too to save fuel he mentionedMoreover Ashwani urged people to carpool to save petrol and diesel There is nothing to be scared of our country is independent enough he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/responding-to-pm-modis-call-residents-of-jammu-border-village-bring-back-traditional-stoves-673907.html Thu, 14 May 2026 17:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/dri-seizes-diamonds-worth-over-rs-57-crore-at-mumbai-airport-two-arrested-673908.html Mumbai May 14 The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence DRI Mumbai has seized diamonds worth over Rs 57 crore at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International CSMI Airport and arrested two persons for allegedly attempting to smuggle them to Bangkok According to the DRI the accused were intercepted at the Mumbai airport based on specific Intelligence inputs During examination and questioning both passengers admitted that they had concealed two capsules each inside their bodiesThe capsules were later purged by the passengers leading to the recovery of 1624 carats of diamonds including natural diamonds as well as labgrown ones The total value of the seized diamonds has been estimated at approximately Rs 570 croreOfficials said the diamonds had been deliberately concealed for the purpose of illegal exportThe recovered diamonds were seized under the relevant provisions of the Customs Act 1962 and both accused persons were arrestedThe DRI stated that further investigation is underway to dismantle the syndicate allegedly involved in the smuggling operation which appears to have links to international money laundering activitiesEarlier on April 20 the DRI Mumbai had arrested an importer for smuggling âWatermelon Seedsâ and âGreen Peasâ worth Rs 139 crore from Tanzania Sudan and CanadaThe illegal consignment was seized at Nhava Sheva Port and the proprietor of the importing firm â a key person behind this organised smuggling â was arrested on Sunday said a statement issued by the DRIâActing on specific Intelligence officers intercepted 132 containers containing approximately 3029 metric tonnes of goods misdeclared as âToor DalPigeon Peasâ The seized consignments are valued at around Rs 139 croreâDetailed examination revealed blatant misdeclaration with recovery of 2710 MT of watermelon seeds originating from Tanzania and Sudan and 319 MT of green peas from Canada instead of the declared goods âToor DalPigeon PeasââThe government had imposed strict import restrictions on these commodities to safeguard domestic farmers from lowpriced importsâImport of melon seeds has been restrictedprohibited post June 2024 DGFT Notification No 052023 dated April 5 2024 while imports of green peas are restricted under DGFT Notification No 372015â20 dated December 18 2019 subject to a Minimum Import Price Rs 200kg CIF and restricted import through Kolkata port onlyâThe DRI continues to intensify Intelligencedriven operations against the smuggling of restrictedprohibited goods reaffirming its commitment to protecting the nations economic interests ensuring a level playing field for domestic producers and enforcing compliance with import regulations the statement saidâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/dri-seizes-diamonds-worth-over-rs-57-crore-at-mumbai-airport-two-arrested-673908.html Thu, 14 May 2026 17:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/severe-heatwave-grips-madhya-pradesh-khajuraho-sizzles-at-454-degrees-celsius-673910.html Bhopal May 14 Madhya Pradesh continued to reel under severe heatwave conditions on Thursday with the India Meteorological Department IMD centre in Bhopal issuing a detailed weather bulletin highlighting a sharp rise in temperatures across several parts of the state According to observations recorded on May 14 2026 the state is witnessing extreme weather conditions marked by intense heatwaves warm nights and isolated incidents of rainfall storms and hailKhajuraho in Chhatarpur district recorded the highest maximum temperature in the state at 454 degrees CelsiusOther cities witnessing scorching conditions included Ratlam at 452 degrees Celsius and Dhar at 45 degrees CelsiusIn contrast Pachmarhi recorded the lowest minimum temperature at 194 degrees CelsiusThe meteorological summary stated that maximum temperatures remained largely stable during the past 24 hours but were appreciably above normal in the Indore and Ujjain divisionsHeatwave conditions have already been recorded in districts such as Dhar Ratlam and Khajuraho while residents in Indore and Ujjain experienced uncomfortable warm nightsLooking ahead the IMD has issued warnings for continued heatwave conditions across several districts including Guna Rajgarh and GwaliorResidents in Bhopal and adjoining areas are likely to witness partly cloudy skies with temperatures expected to hover around 43 degrees CelsiusDespite the prevailing heat some regions received brief spells of moistureIsolated rainfall was reported from the Jabalpur and Shahdol divisions with Khairlanji receiving 112 mm rainfallSome areas including Seoni also reported hailstorms while Satna witnessed a dust stormStrong gusty winds were recorded in several places reaching speeds of up to 52 kmph in ChitrakootAuthorities have advised people to remain hydrated and avoid exposure to direct sunlight between noon and 3 pmFarmers have also been advised to undertake frequent irrigation and use mulching techniques to protect crops from rising temperaturesWith temperatures expected to rise by another two to three degrees Celsius over the next three days the state administration remains on alert over worsening summer conditions IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/severe-heatwave-grips-madhya-pradesh-khajuraho-sizzles-at-454-degrees-celsius-673910.html Thu, 14 May 2026 17:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/searches-at-7-locations-in-mumbai-gurugram-bengaluru-in-reliance-ada-group-cases-cbi-673915.html New Delhi May 14 The Central Bureau of Investigation CBI on Thursday said it has conducted searches at seven premises in connection with a case registered against Reliance Communications Ltd one of the Reliance ADA Group companies These premises were spread across Mumbai Gurugram and Bengaluru the Bureau said in a statementâThe searches were conducted at the residential premises of the then CEO CFO and Directors of the company who served during the period 2015â2017 The searches were conducted on the strength of Search Warrants dated 14052026 issued by the Special Judge for CBI Cases Mumbai The searches resulted in seizure of incriminating documents and further investigation is continuingâ said the CBIThe CBI during the last few months has registered seven cases against the Anil Ambaniled Reliance Group on the complaints lodged by various Public Sector Banks PSBs and LIC in connection with alleged frauds involving thousands of crores of rupeesThe total quantum of alleged loss in these cases is Rs 27337 croreCBI earlier conducted searches at 31 locations in the last few months after registration of these casesTwo senior executives of RCom D Vishwanath Joint President of Reliance Communications who was overall incharge of banking operations of the Group and Anil Kalya Vice President who had actively supported D Vishwanath in managing banking operations and paymentsutilisation of funds were arrested on April 20Both the accused persons are presently in judicial custody The investigation into the cases relating to the Anil Ambaniled Reliance Group is being monitored by the Supreme Court said the CBILast Saturday the CBI conducted searches at 17 premises in Mumbai in connection with three cases registered against Anil Ambaniled Reliance ADA Group companies Reliance Telecom Ltd Reliance Commercial Finance Ltd Reliance Home Finance Ltd and their Directors IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/searches-at-7-locations-in-mumbai-gurugram-bengaluru-in-reliance-ada-group-cases-cbi-673915.html Thu, 14 May 2026 18:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bihar-tejashwi-yadav-granted-bail-in-covid-period-case--673919.html Patna May 14 Leader of the Opposition in Bihar Tejashwi Yadav was granted bail on Thursday in a sixyearold case dating back to the COVID19 periodâ He appeared before the MPMLA Court in Patna and surrendered before the court of Praveen Kumar Malviya following which his bail plea was acceptedâThe case pertains to protests and sitins organised during the COVID19 pandemicâAccording to Tejashwi Yadav the FIR was registered by the administration in a forced manner in response to demonstrations he led to highlight public grievances during the crisisâSpeaking to the media after securing bail he said âDuring the COVID period a case was forcibly registered against me by the administration As a public representative I organised protests to raise issues affecting the publicââTejashwi Yadav recalled the hardships faced by migrant workers during the pandemic when thousands were forced to walk back to their homes due to a lack of transport facilitiesâHe alleged that the government did not make adequate arrangements at the timeâHe stated that the Opposition had a responsibility to raise these concerns and ensure that the voices of affected people reached the governmentâTargeting the administration the RJD leader said that taking action against leaders for raising public issues goes against democratic principlesâHe asserted that the Opposition would continue to speak up for the rights and welfare of the peopleâThe case is among several filed during the pandemic period when protests over lockdown measures and migrant worker issues led to FIRs under various sections for alleged violations of guidelinesâTejashwi Yadav also targeted the Centre following Prime Minister Narendra Modiâs appeal to citizens to conserve energy reduce the use of petroleum products and adopt public transportationâReacting to the appeal Tejashwi Yadav said that such a message reflects the failure of the governmentâs policiesâHe remarked that a similar appeal had been made during the demonetization period and questioned its outcomeââThe Prime Ministerâs appeal to the nation is actually a sign of policy failure A similar appeal was made during demonetizationâwhat came of it The decisions taken by the Prime Minister in the past have not been in the interest of the common peopleâ he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bihar-tejashwi-yadav-granted-bail-in-covid-period-case--673919.html Thu, 14 May 2026 18:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/maha-begins-voter-roll-revision-986-crore-voters-to-be-verified-673921.html Mumbai May 14 In a massive effort to ensure the accuracy of electoral rolls the Election Commission of India has announced the third phase of the âSpecial Intensive Revisionâ campaign across 16 states and three Union Territories from June 30 to July 29 The final electoral roll will be released on October 7â Maharashtra is a key participant in this phase with the electoral machinery set to verify the records of approximately 986 crore voters through doortodoor visitsâBooth Level Officers will personally visit every household to verify the details of 98644413 registered voters in the state To maintain transparency the Election Commission of India has encouraged political parties to appoint Booth Level Agents to assist and supervise the process alongside the Booth Level Officers the government release saidâThe schedule has been strategically aligned with ongoing Census activities to optimise the use of field machinery and personnel The revision process is slated to begin in June and will conclude with the publication of the final list in October 2026ââThe schedule for the third phase has been fixed keeping in mind ongoing Census work involving field staff In Maharashtra the drive will begin in June 2026 and conclude in October 2026ââFrom June 20 to 29 2026 training and preparation for Booth Level Officers will take place from June 30 to July 29 2026 doortodoor visits to voters will be conducted on August 5 2026 the draft electoral roll will be published from August 5 to September 4 2026 there will be a window for filing claims and objections and on October 7 2026 the final electoral roll will be publishedâ said the releaseâThe primary goal of this intensive drive is to create a âzeroerrorâ voter listâBy visiting households officials aim to identify and remove voters registered in multiple constituencies strike the names of individuals who have passed away from the register to prevent fraudulent voting and ensure that every eligible citizen who has recently turned 18 or changed residence is includedâThe Election Commission has issued a special appeal to all political parties to ensure their agents are present at every polling station emphasising that their cooperation is vital for a fair and democratic revision processâTypically voter list updates are âsummary revisionsâ where the onus is often on citizens to file forms for changes However an Intensive Revision as the one announced for 2026 involves the administration proactively reaching out to every citizenâThis move is particularly significant in Maharashtra a state with high internal migration and rapid urbanisation which often leads to discrepancies in residential addresses and voter dataâBy syncing this with the Census infrastructure the government aims to achieve a level of data integrity that annual updates cannot provide according to government sources IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/maha-begins-voter-roll-revision-986-crore-voters-to-be-verified-673921.html Thu, 14 May 2026 19:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/rjd-wins-bhojpurbuxar-mlc-bypoll-nda-faces-first-electoral-setback-under-cm-choudhary--673922.html Patna May 14 In a significant political development in Bihar the NDA has suffered its first electoral defeat since Samrat Choudhary assumed office as Chief Minister The Rashtriya Janata Dal RJDbacked Mahagathbandhan candidate Sonu Kumar Rai won the Legislative Council byeelection for the BhojpurâBuxar Local Authorities constituency defeating Janata Dal United nominee Kanhaiya Prasad by 340 votesVoting for the byeelection was held on May 12 with counting beginning at 800 AM on ThursdayOut of a total of 5956 votes cast Sonu Kumar Rai secured 2486 votes while Kanhaiya Prasad received 2146 votes Manoj Upadhyay got 636 votes and as many as 621 votes were declared invalidThe counting process was conducted across 13 tables in two roundsSonu Kumar Rai maintained a consistent lead from the initial rounds of countingAs the trend became clear enthusiasm grew among RJD workers and supportersFollowing the official declaration of results celebrations erupted with party workers distributing sweetsThe victory is being seen as a major boost for the Mahagathbandhan and a morale setback for the NDA government in the stateThe seat had fallen vacant after Radhacharan Seth resigned upon being elected as an MLASonu Kumar Rai son of former MLC Laldas Rai has long been associated with the RJD and its leadership under Tejashwi YadavRJD Chief Spokesperson Shakti Singh Yadav hailed the victory stating âWherever elections are conducted through ballot papers we will winâHe further alleged irregularities in elections conducted via Electronic Voting Machines EVMs a claim often raised in political debates though denied by the Election Commission of IndiaEjaz Ahmed spokesperson for the Bihar State RJD stated that this victory serves as a clear affirmation â stamped by the people of Bhojpur and Buxar â of the publics enduring trust and support for the RJDKanhaiya Prasad son of Radhacharan Seth was fielded by the JDU with backing from the NDADespite the partyâs efforts he fell short in the closelycontested election IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/rjd-wins-bhojpurbuxar-mlc-bypoll-nda-faces-first-electoral-setback-under-cm-choudhary--673922.html Thu, 14 May 2026 19:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/education-key-to-nation-building-in-ai-era-delhi-l-g-ts-sandhu-673932.html New Delhi May 14 Delhi Lieutenant Governor LG TS Sandhu said on Thursday that education remains the strongest foundation for nationbuilding in this era of rapid transformation driven by artificial intelligence and technology Addressing the graduating students at the Convocation of BR Ambedkar University LG Sandhu encouraged the youth to move beyond college degrees and embrace continuous learning innovation and leadershipFor the graduating students present here today this occasion is therefore not merely the conclusion of your academic journey It is the beginning of a larger responsibility The knowledge and values you have acquired here must ultimately contribute to society and to the nation in meaningful ways he saidI would also urge you to remain deeply connected to the society around you Education acquires its true meaning when it uplifts not only individual lives but also the communities and institutions around us the LG addedWhether you choose careers in public policy academia law media entrepreneurship social work or the arts carry with you a strong sense of integrity empathy and public purpose he saidLG Sandhu said that Delhi itself stands as a powerful reminder of this shared responsibility This city represents both history and aspiration the LG addedIt is shaped by diversity strength and ambition Its future will depend significantly on the contributions of young people like you individuals capable of combining professional excellence with social awareness and national commitment he saidUrging students to contribute meaningfully toward building a futureready city the LG added It is heartening to see the University emerge as a preferred institution through Common University Entrance Test CUET rooted in the values of inclusion academic excellence and critical thinkingIn a message on social media platform X LG Sandhu said I encouraged the graduates to move beyond college degrees and embrace continuous learning innovation and leadership As they step into the professional world I urged them to uphold the values of integrity and public purpose and contribute meaningfully toward building a futureready ViksitDilli and ViksitBharat IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/education-key-to-nation-building-in-ai-era-delhi-l-g-ts-sandhu-673932.html Thu, 14 May 2026 20:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/political-parties-welcome-bengal-govts-move-on-compulsory-vande-mataram-in-schools-673933.html Kolkata May 14 Political parties in West Bengal welcomed the state governmentâs decision to make the singing of âVande Mataramâ compulsory in staterun schools At the same time Opposition parties in the state said that the national anthem âJana Gana Manaâ must not be compromised in any wayâ Speaking to IANS Bharatiya Janata Party leader Shatorupa said that singing Vande Mataram in schools would instil a sense of national pride and patriotism among studentsââThe entire country has been singing Vande Mataram The previous Trinamool Congress government had stopped it in West Bengal Now the Bharatiya Janata Party government has implemented it once more We welcome the decision This will help instil a sense of patriotism among studentsâ said the Bharatiya Janata Party leaderâThe Trinamool Congress on the other hand said that it had no issue with the song being sung in schools as it was penned by a BengaliââThe song was written by a Bengali It helps take Bengalâs traditions and cultural values forward We have no objection to it But it must be ensured that the message of secularism brotherhood and amity is not overshadowed by thisâ said Trinamool Congress spokesperson Arup ChakrabortyâThe Congress also welcomed the state governmentâs moveâSpeaking to IANS Congress leader Ashutosh Chatterjee said âNo one should have any objection or reservation to this We welcome the decision to sing Vande Mataram in schools But we must not oppose Rabindranath Tagore and his songs in any wayââThe Communist Party of India Marxist also echoed the same sentimentâSpeaking to IANS party leader Kaustav Chatterjee said âThere is no objection to singing Vande Mataram But the national anthem must not be compromised We have to protect the Constitution and secularism That aspect must not be overlookedââThe West Bengal government on Tuesday instructed all staterun and aided schools to make the singing of Vande Mataram compulsory during morning assemblies with immediate effectâThe directive states that every student must sing the national song at the start of the school day Heads of institutions have been instructed to ensure strict complianceââThe singing of Vande Mataram during morning assembly prayers prior to the start of classes should be made mandatory so that Vande Mataram is sung by all students in all schools in the state with immediate effectâ the Director of Education specified in a communication to staterun and stateaided school heads on May 13âThe move comes shortly after the Union government initiated steps to strengthen provisions related to respect for national symbols including a proposed amendment to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act 1971 that would make obstruction to the singing of Vande Mataram a punishable offenceâEarlier schools in the state traditionally sang only the national anthem Jana Gana Mana composed by Rabindranath TagoreâIn recent years the previous Trinamool Congress government had introduced âBanglar Mati Banglar Jolâ also penned by Tagore in 1905 during protests against the partition of Bengal as the state songâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/political-parties-welcome-bengal-govts-move-on-compulsory-vande-mataram-in-schools-673933.html Thu, 14 May 2026 20:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/ayushman-bharat-resulting-in-transformative-impact-health-secy-673935.html Puducherry May 14 Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava addressed the 12th Convocation of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences courses at the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research JIPMER highlighting the transformative impact of Ayushman Bharat and the 118 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs an official said on Thursday Conferring college degrees on 320 students across Nursing and Allied Health Sciences courses at JIPMER Srivastava elaborated on the four foundational pillars of Ayushman Bharat which represent a paradigm shift from a primary focus on reproductive and child health to a broader emphasis on screening early detection and management of noncommunicable diseases NCDsEmphasising quality in healthcare delivery she spoke about the importance of Indian Public Health Standards IPHS and the National Quality Assurance Standards NQAS an official statement saidShe noted that more than two lakh public health facilities including Ayushman Arogya Mandirs Community Health Centres and District Hospitals are being assessed for infrastructure and service gapsShe told that about 64000 public health facilities have already achieved NQAS certification and encouraged the graduates to actively contribute towards quality improvement in the institutions they joinShe outlined the remaining pillars of Ayushman Bharat including Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana AB PMJAY which provides financial protection and health assurance to beneficiaries the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission ABDM which enables creation of ABHA accounts for seamless digital health records and datadriven healthcare and the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission PMABHIM which is strengthening health infrastructure through initiatives such as critical care blocks and expansion of the Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratories VRDL networkThe Union Health Secretary described the convocation as a defining milestone in the lives of the graduating students She urged the graduating students to dedicate their professional journey to service compassion and nationbuilding noting that their contributions would significantly shape the future of the countrys healthcare systemShe emphasised that as graduates of the prestigious JIPMER they carry forward a legacy of commitment competence and ethical service which must be upheld in their professional livesSrivastava said that nursing and allied healthcare professionals form the backbone of Indias healthcare system playing a crucial role in both public health and clinical care deliveryShe highlighted key legislative reforms including the enactment of the National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Act and the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act aimed at strengthening education regulation and professional standards in these sectorsSrivastava also pointed to significant capacitybuilding initiatives including the establishment of 157 nursing colleges colocated with medical colleges and the Union governments commitment to nurture one lakh healthcare professionals over the next five years IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/ayushman-bharat-resulting-in-transformative-impact-health-secy-673935.html Thu, 14 May 2026 20:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/punjab-fully-prepared-for-statewide-electoral-roll-revision-exercise-ceo-mitra-673936.html DW Bureau Chandigarh May142026nbspnbspPunjab Chief Electoral Officer CEO Mrs Anindita Mitra on Thursday said the Election Commission of India ECI will undertake a Special Intensive Revision SIR of electoral rolls across Punjab to ensure that the voter database remains accurate inclusive and free from discrepanciesnbspAddressing a press conference at the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer here Mrs Mitra said the largescale revision exercise will commence across the state from June 15 2026 As part of the programme Booth Level Officers BLOs will carry out extensive doortodoor verification to identify newly eligible voters shifted voters absent electors and duplicate entries in the electoral rollsShe said the primary objective of the exercise is to include every eligible citizen in the voter list while removing ineligible or duplicate entries in accordance with the provisions of the Representation of the People Act and guidelines issued by the Election Commission of IndianbspMrs Mitra informed that Punjab has completed most preparatory arrangements for the smooth implementation of the revision process Around 24453 BLOs 2476 Supervisors 117 Electoral Registration Officers EROs and 234 Assistant Electoral Registration Officers AEROs will be deployed across the state for the exerciseShe said each BLO has been assigned approximately 300 households and nearly 1200 voters to ensure effective fieldlevel verification and timely completion of the process Training programmes for BLOs and supervisory staff will be conducted from June 15 to June 24 2026The CEO said voter verification forms will be collected during the housetohouse campaign and BLOs will make up to three visits to households to ensure maximum voter coverage and retrieval of formsnbspMrs Mitra informed that under the PreSIR mapping exercise conducted by the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer Punjab mapping of over 179 crore voters has already been completed out of the total electorate of 214 crore voters in the state accounting for nearly 8369 percent coverage Rural areas have recorded around 8958 percent mapping while urban areas have achieved nearly 73 percent coverage so farShe further informed that the draft electoral rolls will be prepared and published on July 31 2026 after completion of rationalisation of polling stations by July 24 Following publication of the draft rolls citizens will be able to file claims and objections regarding inclusion deletion correction or shifting of voter details from July 31 to August 30 2026During the revision period Electoral Registration Officers EROs will issue notices conduct hearings and pass speaking orders on all claims and objections received The disposal process will continue till September 28 2026 while the final electoral rolls will be published on October 1 2026nbspProviding details about voterrelated forms Mrs Mitra said Form 6 will be used for inclusion of names in the electoral rolls while Form 8 can be used for correction updating and transfer of voter details Objections regarding duplicate or incorrect entries will also be entertained during the prescribed claims and objections periodnbspThe CEO clarified that Aadhaar Card will be accepted only as a means of identification and not as proof of citizenship during the revision exercise However in cases where voter details are successfully matched with previous electoral roll records additional supporting documents may not be requiredIn cases involving discrepancies or mismatch of records voters may be asked to provide supporting documents such as Aadhaar Card PAN Card Birth Certificate Passport educational certificates or other residence and identityrelated documents for verification purposesnbspMrs Mitra appealed to voters across Punjab to cooperate fully with BLOs during the housetohouse verification drive and ensure that their electoral details are accurate and updated She also urged political parties to appoint Booth Level Agents BLAs for smooth conduct and greater transparency in the revision processnbspShe added that the Election Commission is committed to conducting the Special Intensive Revision in a fully transparent participative and errorfree manner to strengthen the integrity of the electoral process in Punjab https://dailyworld.in/national/punjab-fully-prepared-for-statewide-electoral-roll-revision-exercise-ceo-mitra-673936.html Thu, 14 May 2026 20:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/us-authorities-likely-to-drop-case-against-adani-group-chief-soon-673937.html New Delhi May 14 IANS The US authorities are moving to resolve the allegations of fraud against Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani and bring to an end the case which has been lingering for more than a year according to sourcesnbspThe US Justice Department may announce the dropping of charges as early as this week Besides the Securities and Exchange Commission SEC is also moving to settle a parallel civil fraud case it brought against the billionaire industrialist and others in November 2024 according to people in the know of the matterWhile the Justice Department could effectively move to drop the charges with the defendants out of the country a resolution to the SEC would likely involve a monetary penalty sources saidThe case brought by the SEC alongside a criminal complaint by the Department of Justice alleges that the Adanis sought to pay over 250 million in bribes to Indian officials to secure solar energy contracts and concealed the scheme from US investors and banks when they raised fundsThe counsel for Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar Adani stated in court that there was no credible evidence supporting the alleged bribery scheme They pointed out that the SEC lacked necessary jurisdiction over the two men and that the alleged misstatements underpinning the case werent actionableThe Adani Group has denied all allegations stating that none of its entities or executives has been charged under the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and that Adani Green Energy the renewable energy arm that raised the funds is not a party to the proceedingsLast month a US judge granted a request from Gautam Adani to schedule a hearing to dismiss the US SEC case of alleged fraud The plea states that the case represents an impermissible extraterritorial application of US law and that the SEC has failed to establish actionable claims under US securities lawsIn filings Adanis legal team has argued that the case lacks a sufficient jurisdictional basis and fails to establish actionable claims under US securities lawsThe plea also argues that the SECs claims over a 2021 bond sale by the Groups renewable energy arm Adani Green Energy are legally flawed on multiple groundsThe 750million bond sale was conducted outside the United States under Rule 144A and Regulation S exemptions with securities sold to nonUS underwriters and only later resold in part to qualified institutional buyers they saidThe Adanis argued that the SEC lacked personal jurisdiction saying neither of them had sufficient contacts with the US or direct involvement in the bond offeringThe plea filed by the lawyers added that the complaint does not allege that Gautam Adani approved the issuance attended key meetings or directed any activity at US investorsThe plea also highlights that the SEC does not allege that there were any investor losses and there were none The bonds have matured and Adani Green repaid all principal and interest in full to investors in 2024 it addedThe filing also contends the SECs case is impermissibly extraterritorial noting the securities were not listed in the United States the issuer is Indian and the alleged misconduct occurred entirely in IndiaIANS https://dailyworld.in/national/us-authorities-likely-to-drop-case-against-adani-group-chief-soon-673937.html Thu, 14 May 2026 23:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/amit-shah-nitin-gadkari-pay-tributes-to-sambhaji-maharaj-call-him-symbol-of-valour-673764.html New Delhi May 14 Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday paid homage to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj on his birth anniversary praising the Maratha ruler for freeing strategic areas from Mughal control and defeating their armies in numerous battles In a post on X both in Hindi and Marathi Shah hailed Sambhajis early embrace of patriotism and dharma his lifelong opposition to religious conversions and his ultimate sacrifice for swadharma swabhasha and swarajHaving imbibed the values ââof patriotism the defence of Dharma and the ideals of Hindavi Swaraj since his very childhood Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj liberated numerous strategic territories from Mughal occupation and defeated the Mughal army in countless battles the Home Minister said Resolute throughout his life in his commitment to preventing religious conversions Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj never allowed the torch of swadharma swabhasha and swaraj to be extinguished ultimately sacrificing his very life for these noble causes he added offering his countless salutations to the valiant defender of Dharma Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari also took to social media and paid tributes to the Maratha ruler Symbol of valour and bravery On the birth anniversary of Swarajya Rakshak Dharmaveer Chhatrapati Shri Sambhaji Maharaj offering respectful salutations to him Gadkari posted on XSambhaji Maharaj the eldest son of Shivaji Maharaj continued and adapted his fathers military legacy while facing intense multifront pressures from the Mughal Empire under Aurangzeb the Siddis of Janjira the Portuguese and other regional powers Sambhaji born on May 14 1657 ruled from 1681 to 1689 as the second king of the Maratha Empire IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/amit-shah-nitin-gadkari-pay-tributes-to-sambhaji-maharaj-call-him-symbol-of-valour-673764.html Thu, 14 May 2026 08:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/after-10-day-suspense-congress-to-announce-new-kerala-cm-today-673767.html Thiruvananthapuram May 14 Ten days after the results of the Assembly elections were announced Congress is set to announce the new Chief Minister of Kerala on Thursday The Congress high command on Wednesday night finally signalled that the wait for the southern stateâs next Chief Minister was nearing an endThe breakthrough indication came when Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh stepped out of Congress President Mallikarjuna Khargeâs residence in Delhi and announced that discussions authorised by the Congress Legislative Party had been completed and the new Chief Minister of Kerala would be declared on ThursdayThe statement though brief immediately sent waves across Kerala where political uncertainty has steadily snowballed ever since the Congressled UDF registered its emphatic victory by overthrowing the decadeold Left government led by Pinarayi VijayanBehind the scenes Wednesday witnessed hectic consultations involving Rahul Gandhi Kharge and veteran Congress strategist A K Antony as the leadership weighed the claims of the three principal contenders V D Satheesan Ramesh Chennithala and K C VenugopalAs Delhi deliberated Kerala simmeredThe most politically charged location in the state on Wednesday was Satheesanâs residence at Aluva where hundreds of supporters gathered from early morning and remained camped outside through the day closely following every development from the national capitalTelevision crews sloganshouting workers and constant speculation transformed the otherwise calm neighbourhood into a highvoltage political nerve centreAt Chennithalaâs residence in the state capital too supporters anxiously waited for the final word convinced that the veteran leaderâs experience and organisational acceptability still kept him firmly in contentionYet perhaps the most intriguing silence through the day surrounded VenugopalThe Congress General Secretary Organisation whose sudden emergence as a serious contender dramatically altered Keralaâs political equations and significantly prolonged the decisionmaking process was conspicuously absent from the highprofile consultations involving Rahul Gandhi and KhargeWhile the rival camps remained visibly active Venugopal stayed put at his Delhi residence fuelling intense speculation over quiet backchannel discussionsMeanwhile another lateevening political development triggered fresh curiosity in Kerala Senior Lok Sabha MP Kodikunnil Suresh was spotted visiting Antonyâs residence in Thiruvananthapuram setting off another round of whispers over possible lastminute interventionsNow after ten days of extraordinary suspense Kerala waits for the Congress high command to finally unveil the man who will become the stateâs 13th Chief Minister IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/after-10-day-suspense-congress-to-announce-new-kerala-cm-today-673767.html Thu, 14 May 2026 08:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/mk-stalin-expresses-gratitude-to-dmk-partners-but-omits-cong-pledges-secular-fronts-battle-for-tn-673782.html Chennai May 14 Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President MK Stalin expressed gratitude to all alliance partners party workers and leaders of the Secular Progressive Alliance SPA asserting that the coalition would continue its ideological and political journey despite failing to secure power in the 2026 Assembly elections In a detailed statement Stalin said the alliance remained committed to protecting Tamil Naduâs rights and welfare and would continue to stand united against attempts to weaken the stateâs federal powers and social justice frameworkThanking leaders and cadres of the DMKled alliance Stalin said the coalition had collectively faced several electoral battles since 2019 including two Lok Sabha elections two Assembly elections local body polls and multiple byelections He noted that several new parties had joined the alliance during the 2026 Assembly election campaign strengthening what he described as a broad secular and democratic platform in Tamil NaduStalin said he would never forget the trust reposed in him by alliance partners and political movements that stood with the DMK during the election campaignHe thanked Tamil Nadu Congress Committee President K Selvaperunthagai MDMK General Secretary Vaiko DMDK leader Premalatha Vijayakanth and VCK President Thol Thirumavalavan CPI state secretary M Veerapandian CPIM leader P Shanmugam IUML leader KM Kader Mohideen Manithaneya Makkal Katchi president MH Jawahirullah Kongunadu Makkal Desia Katchi leader ER Eswaran and several other alliance leaders for their cooperation during the campaignThe DMK president also acknowledged the support extended by leaders and organisations that were not directly part of electoral politics but campaigned for the allianceHe made special mention of Dravidar Kazhagam president K Veeramani who campaigned extensively across Tamil Nadu despite being 93 years old and actorpolitician Kamal Haasan who had publicly stated that defeating ideological opponents was more important than seeking constituencies for electoral gainStalin said that as leader of the alliance he took full responsibility for all decisions related to seatsharing talks campaign coordination and political negotiations He also expressed regret if any alliance leaders or cadres had faced inconvenience during the electoral process because of his political decisionsReferring to the election outcome Stalin said the alliance may not have achieved a complete victory but securing over 154 crore votes and winning 72 Assembly seats reflected the enduring faith that the people of Tamil Nadu continued to place in the DMKled frontHe further stated that several alliance partners had already declared that they would continue their association with the DMK even after the election results which according to him demonstrated the ideological strength and unity of the coalitionâAs principled political parties we will remain united and continue our journey for the welfare of the people and the rights of Tamil Nadu We possess the strength and fighting spirit to protect Tamil Naduâ Stalin said IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/mk-stalin-expresses-gratitude-to-dmk-partners-but-omits-cong-pledges-secular-fronts-battle-for-tn-673782.html Thu, 14 May 2026 09:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/mp-two-minor-girls-die-after-lightning-strike-in-tikamgarh-673610.html Bhopal May 13 Tragedy struck Tikamgarh district in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday as two eightyearold girls identified as Nibiya and Tanvi Sahu lost their lives when lightning struck a tree under which they had taken shelterâ According to police the incident occurred between 7 pm and 730 pm during a sudden onset of thunderstorms and gusty winds in Baidora villageâThe fatal strike came amid extreme weather volatility in Madhya Pradesh where northern districts are battling severe storms while western and central regions are enduring a blistering heatwaveâReports indicate that the weather took a violent turn in the Niwari tehsil of Tikamgarh district where several villages were hit by hailstorms and intense windsâWhile these localised storms brought destruction and grief to the north the rest of the state remained gripped by relentless heatâRatlam emerged as the hottest spot in the state recording a maximum temperature of 445 degrees CelsiusâOther regions also faced highvelocity winds with Balaghat reporting wind speeds reaching up to 60 kilometres per hourâThe Weather Centre in Bhopal has issued an urgent forecast for the night hours predicting that the atmospheric instability will continueâResidents in Morena and Bhind have been warned of moderate thunderstorms with lightning and possible hail with wind speeds expected to reach 60 kilometres per hourâAdditionally light thunderstorms with lightning are likely to persist over Tikamgarh north Gwalior Sagar Damoh and north Chhatarpur including the tourist destination of KhajurahoâData from the meteorological department shows that several cities are currently exceeding 40 degreesâWhile Ratlam led the heat chart Gwalior recorded 431 degrees Celsius and Jabalpur recorded 416 degrees CelsiusâConversely Pachmarhi offered the only respite with a high of 358 degrees CelsiusâExperts suggest that the state is currently experiencing temperature fluctuations between dry heat from the west and moistureladen winds leading to localised convective activityâAuthorities have urged citizens to stay indoors during thunderstorms and avoid taking shelter under trees or near metal structures as the current weather patterns remain unpredictable and potentially lifethreateningâThe administration remains on high alert in the stormaffected northern belt to manage any further emergenciesâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/mp-two-minor-girls-die-after-lightning-strike-in-tikamgarh-673610.html Wed, 13 May 2026 07:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-to-hear-plea-against-madras-hc-order-barring-tvk-mla-from-floor-test-proceedings-today-673616.html New Delhi May 13 The Supreme Court is slated to hear on Wednesday a plea filed by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam TVK MLA R Seenivasa Sethupathi challenging the Madras High Courtâs interim order restraining him from participating in any floor test proceedings in the Tamil Nadu Assembly amid a dispute over his onevote victory from the Tiruppattur Assembly constituency According to the details available on the official website of the apex court a Special Leave Petition SLP filed by Sethupathi was registered earlier on Tuesday and is listed before a bench of Justices Vikram Nath Sandeep Mehta and Vijay Bishnoi for hearing on WednesdayThe plea was mentioned for urgent hearing before Chief Justice of India CJI Surya Kant by senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi earlier on Tuesday following which the apex court agreed to list the matter for hearing on WednesdaySethupathi has moved the top court challenging the interim order passed by a vacation Bench of the Madras High Court restraining him from voting or otherwise taking part in any floor test including confidence motion noconfidence motion trust vote or any voting proceeding in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly where the numerical strength of the House is tested until further ordersA bench of Justices L Victoria Gowri and N Senthilkumar had passed the interim direction while hearing a writ petition filed by former Tamil Nadu Minister and DMK leader KR Periakaruppan who lost the Tiruppattur Assembly seat in Sivaganga district by a margin of just one voteAccording to the official results declared by the Election Commission of India ECI Sethupathi secured 83365 votes while Periakaruppan polled 83364 votesPeriakaruppan had alleged serious irregularities in the counting process and claimed that a postal ballot meant for Tiruppattur Assembly constituency No185 in Sivaganga district was mistakenly sent to Tiruppattur Assembly constituency No50 in Tiruppattur district near Vellore and was rejected there instead of being transmitted back to the correct constituencyIn its order the Madras High Court observed that the case disclosed a peculiar constitutional anomaly where a postal ballot admittedly relatable to a live and concluded election in one constituency was allegedly diverted to another constituency bearing a similar nomenclature and came to be rejected thereThe order said the controversy was not a routine election dispute involving recounting or rejection of votes simpliciter but arose from an antecedent administrative failure in preserving the integrity of the electoral chain itselfIt further observed that in an election decided by a margin of one vote every vote is not merely relevant it is potentially determinativeReferring to the alleged discrepancy of 18 EVM votes between two official sources and the disputed postal ballot the Madras High Court held that the issues could not be brushed aside at the threshold particularly in view of the razorthin margin of victoryIt had also directed election authorities to preserve all records connected with the counting process including postal ballot records rejected postal ballot covers EVM vote account records videographic footage of counting and all related materialsAt the same time the Madras High Court clarified that its interim order should not be construed as setting aside Sethupathiâs election or conferring any right upon the petitioner to be declared electedDuring the hearing before the High Court the Election Commission of India ECI had opposed the writ petition and contended that once election results are declared any dispute can only be adjudicated through an election petition under the Representation of the People Act 1951 IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/sc-to-hear-plea-against-madras-hc-order-barring-tvk-mla-from-floor-test-proceedings-today-673616.html Wed, 13 May 2026 07:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/1998-pokhran-tests-demonstrated-indias-unwavering-resolve-to-world-pm-modi-673638.html New Delhi May 13 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that the Pokhran nuclear tests of 1998 demonstrated Indias unwavering resolve to the world and showcased that no power can bend the nation In a post on X PM Modi said On this very day in 1998 the nuclear tests conducted by India demonstrated to the world just how unwavering our nations resolve is After the May 11 tests the entire world brought pressure to bear on India but we demonstrated that no power can bend IndiaPokhranII or Operation Shakti was a series of five underground nuclear tests conducted by India in May 1998 at the Indian Armys Pokhran Test Range in Rajasthan The tests occurred over two days May 11 three tests and May 13 two testsPrime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee authorised the tests with key scientific leadership from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam and the Atomic Energy Commission These tests established India as a nucleararmed state officially declared on May 11 now celebrated annually as National Technology Day Earlier on May 11 during the Somnath Amrut Mahotsav celebrations PM Modi recalled the nuclear tests conducted in Pokhran on May 11 1998 highlighting Indias firm and resolute resolve to take forward its nuclear ambitions despite immense pressure from world powersHe said that India conducted two nuclear tests in 1998 first on May 11 and then on May 13 and asserted that no power in the world could make the country and its citizens bow before external forcesinvoked the 1998 nuclear tests one of the defining moments in the countrys history to highlight Indias rise as a global power under the leadership of former Prime Minister late Atal Bihari VajpayeeOn May 11 India conducted three nuclear tests in Pokhran Our scientists showcased the countrys might and prowess before the world This sent shockwaves across the world he said addressing the gathering after Kumbhabhishek at the Somnath templeHe stated that the global powers took a grim view of our nuclear prowess and imposed a lot of economic sanctions and restraintsAnybody would have been shaken by this when global powers gang up against you But we are made of different soil After May 11 the world powers stepped up their vigil but our scientists had done the job Again on May 13 two more nuclear tests were conducted That day the world will come to know the atal resolute will of Indias political leadership PM Modi saidHe said that there was immense pressure on the country but under the leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee the BJP government had shown that the national interests reign supreme for us and no power in the world could force us to bow downThe Prime Minister also elucidated on the naming of the nuclear mission as Operation Shakti stating that it marked Indias growing selfbelief and strategic positioning despite hurdles IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/1998-pokhran-tests-demonstrated-indias-unwavering-resolve-to-world-pm-modi-673638.html Wed, 13 May 2026 09:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/cm-vijay-seeks-trust-vote-in-tn-assembly-congress-left-vck-extend-support-673662.html Chennai May 13 Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Wednesday moved the confidence motion in the state Assembly seeking to prove the majority of his newly formed Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam TVKled government amid dramatic political developments and growing divisions within the AIADMK Soon after the motion was introduced on the floor of the House MLAs belonging to the Congress Legislature Party and the CPI CPIM formally extended their support to the Vijayled administration strengthening the ruling allianceâs position during the crucial floor test Members of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi VCK also backed the confidence motion indicating broad support for the new government from its alliance partnersIn a significant political development a section of rebel AIADMK legislators led by senior leaders CVe Shanmugham and SP Velumani also extended support to the Vijay government during the trust vote proceedings The move further deepened the internal crisis within the AIADMK which has been witnessing an intense leadership tussle following the Assembly election defeatThe confidence vote assumes significance as the TVK emerged as the single largest party in the recently concluded Assembly elections but fell short of the majority mark in the 234member Assembly The party subsequently formed the government with the backing of Congress CPIM CPI and VCKParticipating in the debate on the confidence motion VCK MLA Vanni Arasu raised several policy demands and urged the new administration to adopt progressive reforms and continue welfareoriented governanceAddressing the Assembly Arasu called for the enactment of a stringent law against superstitious practices including astrology arguing that scientific temper and rational thinking should be promoted across society His remarks drew attention in the House as the issue has long remained part of Tamil Naduâs rationalist political discourseThe VCK legislator also urged the government to take immediate diplomatic and administrative steps to resolve the recurring issue of Tamil Nadu fishermen being arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy while fishing near the International Maritime Boundary Line He stressed that protecting the livelihoods and safety of fishermen from coastal districts must remain a priority for the new administrationIn addition Arasu appealed to the Vijay government to continue key welfare initiatives introduced by the previous DMK administration including the Breakfast Scheme for school studentsThe Assembly proceedings continued amid intense political interest with the ruling alliance appearing comfortably placed to secure the numbers required to win the trust vote IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/cm-vijay-seeks-trust-vote-in-tn-assembly-congress-left-vck-extend-support-673662.html Wed, 13 May 2026 11:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/major-bureaucratic-reshuffle-in-gujarat-72-ias-officers-transferred-673668.html Gandhinagar May 13 In a major administrative exercise the Gujarat government on Wednesday effected a largescale reshuffle involving 72 IAS officers transferring and reassigning senior officials across district administrations municipal corporations and key state departments The reshuffle includes changes at collectorates across several districts such as Ahmedabad Surat Bharuch Navsari Morbi Dahod Junagadh Valsad KutchBhuj Arvalli Botad Tapi Narmada and Kheda alongside postings in Gandhinagar and multiple urban development bodiesAmong the prominent changes Ahmedabad Collector Sujeet Kumar has been appointed Special Commissioner of State Tax Bhavya Verma previously Collector of Valsad has been named the new Collector of AhmedabadSurat Collector Dr Sourabh Pardhi has been transferred as Director of Civil Supplies in Gandhinagar while Tejas Parmar earlier Municipal Commissioner of Junagadh has been appointed Collector of SuratIn other key movements DN Modi has been posted as Development Commissioner in Gandhinagar after serving in the Jamnagar Municipal CorporationAnand Patel formerly Collector of KutchBhuj has been appointed Commissioner of Schools in Gandhinagar and will also hold additional responsibilities relating to PMPOSHAN and the Gujarat Council of Educational Research and TrainingAjay Prakash has been moved from Gujarat Energy Development Agency to Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation Limited as Managing Director while Gaurang Makwana has been transferred from Bharuch Collectorate to the Climate Change Department with additional charge of state power sector entities including Gujarat Power Corporation Limited and Uttar Gujarat Vij Company LimitedAt the district and municipal level several officers have been interchanged between collectorates and civic bodiesTransfers include postings involving Junagadh Morbi Navsari Vapi Mehsana Surendranagar and Gandhidham with multiple municipal commissioners shifted into district administration roles and vice versaIn Gandhinagar a significant administrative reshuffle has been carried out across departments including industries urban development tribal development civil supplies and energyOfficers have also been assigned additional charges in institutions such as Gujarat Informatics Limited Gujarat Livelihood Promotion Company Limited Gujarat Urban Development authorities and Swachh Bharat Mission UrbanThe notification further includes extensive reshuffling of district development officers and assistant collectors many of whom have been posted as project administrators in Tribal Area Sub Plan regions or reassigned to urban local bodies including the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation Vadodara Municipal Corporation and other civic agenciesOfficials said the 72post reshuffle covers a wide spectrum of governance functions spanning revenue administration infrastructure development urban management and welfare delivery marking one of the most extensive administrative reallocations in the state in recent times IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/major-bureaucratic-reshuffle-in-gujarat-72-ias-officers-transferred-673668.html Wed, 13 May 2026 11:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/national/bomb-threat-at-jaipurs-sms-hospital-triggers-panic-probe-underway-673670.html Jaipur May 13 Jaipurâs Sawai Man Singh SMS Hospital received a bomb threat on Wednesday triggering panic among patients staff and visitors Acting swiftly police teams bomb disposal squads dog squads and Civil Defence personnel rushed to the site and launched an extensive search operation across the hospital campus Officials said that panic gripped SMS Hospital after the hospital received a bomb threat message demanding Rs 40 croreThe threatening message was reportedly received at the Abhay Command Centre warning that the hospital would be blown up if the money was not paidFollowing the alert police and multiple investigative agencies immediately launched a largescale security operation at the hospital premises Teams from the police fire brigade and dog squad rushed to the spot and an intensive search operation is currently underway across the hospital campus All suspicious objects and areas are being thoroughly checked by security personnel Authorities are investigating the source of the threat message while maintaining heightened security at the hospital After a thorough inspection authorities did not find any suspicious objectsHowever the incident once again exposed the growing challenge posed by repeated hoax threats across the state Dr Mrinal Joshi Superintendent SMS Hospital Jaipur said A threat to bomb the hospital was received at the Police Control Room Following this the police and other teams conducted a search of the hospital premises however no suspicious objects were found The police are investigating the matterRajasthan authorities have remained on heightened alert in recent months due to a series of bomb threats targeting key public institutions and landmarks Earlier similar threats were issued against the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly the Rajasthan High Court schools airports and courtcollectorate complexesAlthough investigations into previous cases did not uncover any explosives officials continue to treat every threat with utmost seriousness as per standard security protocols Jaipur has recorded the highest number of bomb threat incidents in the state Official data showed that over 20 such cases were reported in the capital in 2024 while the number rose to 34 in 2025 Jodhpur recorded the secondhighest number of incidents with 10 cases in 2024 and nine in 2025 Other cities also witnessed a sharp rise in such threats including Kota Ajmer Udaipur Alwar and Sri GanganagarPolice sources said Rajasthan has received nearly 40 bomb threat alerts since January this year alone In comparison the state recorded around 40 cases in 2024 and 55 cases in 2025Investigators noted that schools airports and courtcollectorate complexes have emerged as the primary targets of these threats Officials acknowledged that threats sent through emails and social media platforms have created significant technical and cyberinvestigation challenges for law enforcement agenciesDespite multiple investigations authorities have so far failed to identify or apprehend those responsible for issuing the threats Most alerts eventually turn out to be hoaxes but agencies remain compelled to respond to each incident with fullscale security measures to ensure public safety IANS https://dailyworld.in/national/bomb-threat-at-jaipurs-sms-hospital-triggers-panic-probe-underway-673670.html Wed, 13 May 2026 11:30:00 +0530