National

    Sierra Leone national arrested at Mumbai airport with cocaine worth Rs 20 crore

    The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) Monday arrested a woman from Sierra Leone, who was in possession of 1,979 grams of cocaine worth Rs 19.79 crore at the Mumbai international airport, an official said. The woman, who had landed in the maximum city from the Kenyan capital city of Nairobi, was taken into custody on Sunday on a tip-off, the official added. “We found the items she was carrying, like shoes, moisturiser bottle, shampoo bottle etc, were heavy and rigid. When we checked them, we found white powder concealed in these items,” the DRI official said. When the powder was tested using a field kit with the apprehending team, it was found to be cocaine, the statement said. “We seized 1,979 grams of cocaine worth Rs 19.79 crore from the illicit market. She was placed under arrest and has been remanded in judicial custody. Further probe into the smuggling network…
    International

    Israel’s war on Gaza live: Tanks ‘crushed bodies’ at al-Shifa Hospital

    Palestinians who fled the ongoing Israeli siege of al-Shifa Hospital say Israeli tanks and armoured bulldozers drove over at least four bodies and ambulances. Israeli forces have also surrounded al-Amal and Nasser hospitals in southern Gaza. Israel informed the UN it would no longer approve UNRWA food convoys to north Gaza, where 70 percent of people face an extreme level of food scarcity. Mediation efforts to end the bloodshed in Gaza appear to be struggling, with a Hamas official telling Al Jazeera that Israeli negotiators have rejected their latest proposals for a ceasefire. At least 32,226 Palestinians have been killed and 74,518 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7. The revised death toll in Israel from Hamas’s October 7 attack stands at 1,139, with dozens taken captive.
    Telangana

    Reach out to farmers hit by hailstorms: Harish Rao

    Hyderabad: BRS leader and MLA T Harish Rao on Tuesday demanded that State government immediately reach out to farmers who suffered extensive crop losses due to untimely rains in several districts in the State. Appealing to the government on ‘X’ to extend help to the affected farmers, he said hailstorms had wreaked havoc on paddy, maize and sorghum crops. Even horticultural crops, including papaya and mango, were also damaged in a big way in the districts of Adilabad, Nizamabad, Kamareddy, Karimnagar, Rajanna Sircilla, Medak, Siddipet and Rangareddy. He wanted the Congress government to rise to the occasion and stand by the farming community. The government should take up immediate enumeration of the crop losses and ensure payment of compensation of Rs.10,000 per acre. He wondered why the government did not respond to the situation even as the rains continued to damage the crops for the last two to three days. When untimely rains caused crop losses in a big way last year, the…
    International

    Russia-Ukraine war live: Border shelling intensifies after Putin reelected

    Russian President Vladimir Putin says his country will not be intimidated as he cements his grip on power in a landslide election victory. Allies such as China were quick to congratulate Putin but Western countries denounced what they called an illegal election. Ukraine says residents are being evacuated from border settlements in the northeastern region of Sumy due to increased Russian shelling. Russia claims downing eight Vampire, two Alder and one Grad multiple-launch rocket system shells over its Belgorod region.
    International

    Half-a-dozen people killed in Pakistan’s airstrikes in Afghanistan

    Kabul: Pakistani military aircraft carried out airstrikes in the Barmal district of Paktika province and the Afghan Dubai area of Sepera district in Khost province. Tragically, these strikes targeted civilian homes, resulting in the loss of six lives and destruction of property, a spokesperson for Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, Zabihullah Mujahid, said in a statement. Reports indicate that six individuals, including three women and three children, lost their lives in Paktika, while two women perished in Khost due to a collapsed house. “Last night at around 3 o’clock in the Barmal district of Paktika province and in Afghan Dubai area of Sepera district of Khost province, Pakistani planes bombed the houses of civilians, as a result, 6 people including 3 women and 3 children were martyred and a house destroyed in Paktika, as well as, two women were martyred due to the collapse of a house in Khost province,” the statement said. Notably, the purported…
    National

    EC orders removal of Home Secretaries in six states to ensure fair elections

    New Delhi: In a decisive move towards upholding the principles of free, fair and transparent elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued orders for the removal of Home Secretaries in six states namely Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Additionally, the Secretary of the General Administrative Department in Mizoram and Himachal Pradesh have also been removed. The commission has directed all the State Governments to transfer the officers connected with election-related work, who have completed three years or are in their home districts. Maharashtra had not complied with the directions in respect of few Municipal Commissioners and some Additional / Deputy Municipal Commissioners in Maharashtra. While conveying displeasure to the Chief Secretary, the Commission directed transfer of BMC and the additional / Deputy commissioners with the direction to report by 6pm today. The Chief Secretary was further directed to transfer all the similarly placed Municipal commissioners…
    Telangana

    Telangana Governor Tamilsai Soundararajan resigns; might contest Lok Sabha

    Hyderabad: Tamilisai Soundarajan has tendered her resignation as Governor of Telangana and Puducherry on Monday and the same has been sent to President Draupadi Murmu’s office. Her resignation came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Hyderabad. She is likely to visit Chennai later in the evening today. Soundararajan would have completed five year’s in office as Telangana governor in September this year and the decision to submit resignation has triggered speculations about her political aspirations, especially contesting the Lok Sabha elections. Political circles are abuzz with speculations that she might contest from Central Chennai or Puducherry. In December last, the Governor had categorically denied any plans to contest the elections. She had said there were no such plans and stated that no request either was made to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership.
    National

    Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Take a look at state-wise schedule of the 7-phase polls

    Hyderabad: The Election Commission of India announced the schedule for Lok Sabha Elections 2024 on Saturday. In a press conference, the ECI has stated that the polls will be held in seven phases, with the first phase being held on April 19 and the seventh phase on June 1. Counting of the votes has been announced to take place on June 4. Following the press conference, the ECI has shared a map depicting 7 phases of the Lok Sabha elections.
    Telangana

    Telangana: ENT surgeon supplying drugs to addict in Hyderabad nabbed

    Hyderabad: An ENT surgeon who runs a hospital in Jagtial town was arrested on charges of supplying narcotic and psychotropic drugs to an alleged addict using courier services, a press release from the Drugs Control Administration (DCA) said here on Saturday. Officials of different wings involved in combating drug menace raided a place in Sainkpuri and seized huge stocks of drugs stored in a house. The DCA in association with local police units, TS Anti-Narcotics Bureau (TSNAB) raided different places in Hyderabad and Jagitial to expose what was being described as most clandestinely run drug racket involving Dr Madanmohan, the ENT surgeon who operated Mamatha ENT Hospital in Jagitial. The official teams initially raided a residential building in Sri Saibaba Officers Colony in Sainikpuri where they found huge stocks of narcotic drugs, which included different brands of Morphine injections and tablets in addition to psychotropic drugs in the form of injections and tablets.…
    National

    Is India part of Apple’s Vision Pro global roll out plan? Find out

    Apple is may soon make its Vision Pro available in more regions outside America. The tech giant is planning to introduce 12 new languages to the virtual keyboard ahead of the launch, according to a report on MacRumors. While the virtual keyboard currently supports only English (US) and Emoji, limiting it to the United States now, the addition of more languages suggests the expansion of the Vision Pro’s reach to other countries. Will India be a part of the expansion plan? The list of 12 languages that may be supported by the Vision Pro are Cantonese, Simplified Chinese, French, French for Canada, German, Japanese, Korean and English variants UK, Canada, Australia, Singapore and Japan. Going by the speculated list of language options being made available on the device, an Indian launch does not seem to be a part of the scheme at this point of time. That said, Apple may launch their…

    POLITICS

    • Apr- 2023 -
      21 April

      Assam and Arunachal Pradesh Ends Longest Running Border Dispute, Pact Signed in Amit Shah’s Presence

      Assam and Arunachal Pradesh governments on Thursday signed a boundary agreement here in the national capital in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah ending 51-year border disputes along the boundaries of both northeast states. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu at the North Block office of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Assam shares an 804 km long boundary with Arunachal Pradesh. “Since 1972 to till date the border dispute between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh could not be resolved. Nearly 800 km boundary dispute has been ended today,” Amit Shah said after the MoU was signed between the two states. Speaking to ANI…

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    • 21 April

      Eid Al Fitr 2023 in UAE, Saudi announced; Shawwal crescent moon spotted

      The crescent Moon that signals the end of the holy month of Ramadan was spotted in the UAE on Thursday evening. The first day of Eid Al Fitr 2023, therefore, is on Friday, April 21. This date also marks the first day of Islamic calendar month Shawwal. This means UAE residents will get a 4-day break to celebrate the Islamic festival that is marked after a month of fasting. The first long weekend of the year began on Thursday, and offices and schools will resume on Monday, April 24. The moon-sighting committee had invited all Muslims in the UAE to try and sight the moon on the evening of Ramadan 29 (Thursday). Islamic months last for 29 or 30 days, depending on…

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    • 21 April

      Delhi Covid-19 Update: 1,603 New Cases, Three Deaths, Active Caseload At 6,120

      Delhi logged 1,603 COVID-19 cases with a positivity rate of 26.75 per cent along with three fatalities in the last 24 hours, according to data shared by the health department on Thursday. With the fresh deaths, the national capital’s pandemic death toll has risen to 26,581. According to the data, 390 of the 7,976 Covid beds are occupied. The city reported six deaths and 1,757 new cases on Wednesday, with a positivity rate of 28.63%. On Tuesday, the national capital recorded 1,537 COVID-19 cases, with a positivity rate of 26.54 percent. Delhi reports 1,603 fresh #COVID19 cases and 1,526 recoveries in the last 24 hours. Active cases 6,120Today’s Covid Positivity 26.75% pic.twitter.com/zi8QzOK1hy— ANI (@ANI) April 20, 2023 Medical experts have said…

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    • 21 April

      SpaceX launch: Elon Musk’s Starship blows up after blast off

      Although the rocket stages failed to separate the launch will be considered a win for SpaceX, heralding a new age of heavy space flight. Mr Musk previously suggested the mission risked ending in a fireball, but said the launch would go down as a success if the Starship rocket managed to get off the launch pad. The 390ft rocket, which has been picked by NASA for its return to the lunar surface, took off shortly after 2.33pm.  Starship was supposed to blast 150 miles into the atmosphere, before cruising for around an hour and splashing down in the Pacific Ocean.  However, the mission ended early after the separation of the first and second stages of the rocket appeared to fail.…

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    • 20 April

      South Asia has world’s highest number of child brides, says UN

      There are 290 million child brides in the region, accounting for 45 percent of the global total, UNICEF says. UNICEF says families were pushed by financial strains during the pandemic to marry their daughters young [File: Prakash Hatvalne] South Asia is home to the highest number of child brides in the world as increased financial pressures and school closures due to COVID-19 forced families to marry off their young daughters, according to new estimates released by UNICEF. There were 290 million child brides in the region, accounting for 45 percent of the global total, the children’s agency of the United Nations said on Wednesday, calling for more efforts to end the practice. “The fact that South Asia has the highest…

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    • 20 April

      Sudan health system overwhelmed as fighting rages on

      Nearly 50 health facilities have closed in the capital and surrounding areas since the conflict broke out. Satellite image shows a damaged hospital in Khartoum in this handout image. [Courtesy of Maxar Technologies/Handout ] The humanitarian situation is becoming increasingly dire in Sudan with healthcare facilities paralysed after dozens of hospitals were knocked out by the five days of intense fighting. Nearly 50 health facilities have been forced to close in the capital Khartoum and surrounding areas since the fighting broke out between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Saturday, correspondent Hiba Morgan reported on Thursday. The Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors (CCSD) also painted a grim picture of the medical situation in the country, saying 39…

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    • 20 April

      Assam, Arunachal to sign MoU on border dispute in presence of Amit Shah

      Union Home Minister Amit Shah Guwahati (Assam): A memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh government will be signed on Thursday (April 20) to resolve the long pending border dispute between both states in New Delhi in presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The Assam cabinet on Wednesday approved the recommendations given by 12 Regional Committees formed by the state government to resolve the decades-long border dispute issue with Arunachal Pradesh. The decision was taken during the state cabinet meeting held in Guwahati under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma. Announcing the cabinet decisions, Assam Minister Ashok Singhal said that the long pending border dispute issue between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh is going to…

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    • 20 April

      Second G20 Digital Economy working group meeting ends

      As many as 81 foreign delegates from eight guest countries, five international organisations and one regional organisation took part in the event. Hyderabad: The second three-day G20 Digital Economy working group meeting concluded on Wednesday, with the next edition scheduled to be held in June in Pune. As many as 81 foreign delegates from eight guest countries, five international organisations and one regional organisation took part in the event. The foreign delegates, during the three days, visited the Indian Institute of Technology to gain a first-hand experience of India’s expertise in emerging digital telecom technology and cases about citizens’ welfare. A workshop on multi-stakeholder consultation for mutual recognition of digital skills was held on the second day. Three panel discussions on…

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    • 20 April

      Congress means commission, corruption and criminalisation: Nadda

      Bommai files nomination papers for upcoming Assembly polls in Karnataka Bommai files his nomination in the presence of JP Nadda, Sudeep, Minister Govind Karjo Haveri: BJP President JP Nadda launched a scathing attack on the Congress party during a speech in Shiggaon on Wednesday, urging voters to choose BJP for peace and development in the state. He addressed the people before Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai filed his nomination at Shiggavi. “Congress means Commission, Congress means corruption and Congress means Criminalization. The Congress leader is like a person who handles ATMs. ATM means Automatic Transfer of Money. If they win, the money which comes from the Modi government to the state will be transferred to Delhi. Do you need such a…

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    • 20 April

      Google to let users turn off video feeds from other participants in Meet

      This feature will only have an effect on users’ experiences; other participants will not be notified, and their experiences will not alter. San Francisco: Google has rolled out the ability to switch off individual feeds in Meet. “You can now turn off the video feed from other participants during a Google Meet call. This can be helpful in situations where you want to focus your meeting view to just the presenter or hide participants with distracting video feeds,” Google said in a blogpost. This feature will only have an effect on users’ experiences; other participants will not be notified, and their experiences will not alter. The feature will be available on Google Meet on the web and mobile devices. In addition to this…

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