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 -
      14 April

      Kejriwal is Natwarlal, Pinocchio of Indian Politics, says Shehzad Poonawalla

      “Now the family of Lalu Prasad family which is seeped in corruption is embraced by him. Democracy is an excuse for them all they care about is how to save their names from corruption,” he added. He further asked series of questions to Arvind Kejriwal on why he is supporting Lalu Yadav. New Delhi: BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Thursday said that Arvind Kejriwal is the Pinocchio of Indian Politics and further mentioned that followers of Anna Hazare are now following RJD President Lalu Yadav. While addressing the press conference, he said, “It is strange to see the political conversion and U-Turn of India’s political Natwar lal and Pinnocio named Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal. This party was born…

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    • 14 April

      Ukrainian President, entourage embezzled USD 400 mn from fuel purchases aid: Report

      On his website, Hersh, citing sources, claimed, “The Ukrainian president and many in his entourage have been skimming untold millions from the American dollars earmarked for diesel fuel payments. One estimate by analysts from the Central Intelligence Agency put the embezzled funds at USD 400 million last year, at least.” The level of corruption in Kyiv is “approaching that of the Afghan war, although there will be no professional audit reports emerging from Ukraine,” according to Hersh’s sources. Washington: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his entourage have embezzled at least USD 400 million, which was sent to the country for the purchase of diesel fuel, reported Russian news agency TASS citing US Journalist Seymour Hersh’s website. On his website, Hersh,…

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    • 14 April

      India records 11,109 new COVID-19 cases, three deaths

      New Delhi: India recorded 11,109 new coronavirus infections, the highest in 236 days, while the active cases increased to 49,622, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday. The death toll climbed to 5,31,064 with 29 deaths. While three deaths each were reported from Delhi and Rajasthan, two each were from Chhattisgarh and […] India Records 11,109 New Covid 19 Cases, Three Deaths New Delhi: India recorded 11,109 new coronavirus infections, the highest in 236 days, while the active cases increased to 49,622, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday. The death toll climbed to 5,31,064 with 29 deaths. While three deaths each were reported from Delhi and Rajasthan, two each were from Chhattisgarh and Punjab…

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    • 14 April

      Sitharaman lists progress on key G20 issues during India’s presidency

      “The discussion on debt servicing on Wednesday was “absolutely positive” with all stakeholders, including China, “positively engaged,” said  Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday Washington: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday expressed satisfaction with the progress on multiple subjects that were discussed at the second meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bankers that took place here under the presidency of India, including the vexatious issue of sovereign debt servicing. Sitharaman said that at a roundtable discussion on debt servicing on Wednesday was “absolutely positive” with all stakeholders, including China, “positively engaged”. The first meeting of the G20 finance ministers and central bankers had taken place in Bengaluru in February and because of the lack of unanimity among the members over the Russian invasion…

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    • 14 April

      Will continue to cooperate fully: BBC on ED probe

      Enforcement Directorate probe is reportedly looking at purported foreign direct investment (FDI) violations by BBC in India London: The BBC will cooperate fully with the Indian authorities, the UK-headquartered media organisation said on Thursday in response to reports from India of a new investigation launched by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into alleged foreign exchange violations by the British public broadcaster. A spokesperson for the British taxpayer-funded licence fee-backed media corporation told PTI that the BBC would comply with its obligations for operating in India. The statement came in response to a query about reports that the ED has reportedly called for documents and statements of some company executives under provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). “We will continue to cooperate fully with the…

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    • 14 April

      References to Maulana Azad removed from NCERT’s new class 11 political science textbook

       References to India’s first education minister Maulana Abul Kalam Azad have been removed from the new class 11 political science textbook New Delhi: References to freedom fighter and India’s first education minister Maulana Abul Kalam Azad have been removed from the new class 11 political science textbook by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). As part of its “syllabus rationalisation” exercise last year, the NCERT, citing “overlapping” and “irrelevant” as reasons, dropped certain portions from the course including lessons on Gujarat riots, Mughal courts, Emergency, Cold War, Naxalite movement, among others from its textbooks.The rationalisation note had no mention of any changes in class 11 political science textbook. The NCERT has, however, claimed that no curriculum trimming has taken place…

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    • 14 April

      Seven pilgrims killed, ten injured after being run over by truck in Punjab

      The accident took place near Charan Choh Ganga Shri Guru Ravidass Maharaj, Sri Khuralgarh Sahib, about 55 km from here, police said Hoshiarpur: Seven pilgrims, including five women, on their way to celebrate Baisakhi at Khuralgarh Sahib in Punjab were killed while ten were injured after being run over by a truck near here early Thursday, police said. The accident took place near Charan Choh Ganga Shri Guru Ravidass Maharaj, Sri Khuralgarh Sahib, about 55 km from here, police said. Garhshankar Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Daljit Singh Khakh said the deceased were mostly residents of Mastan Khera in the Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh. The area where the accident occurred is a sub-mountainous region, police said, adding that while navigating a slope…

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    • 14 April

      Modi talks against ‘Pariwarvad’, Karnataka BJP talks different tone

      PM Modi, who has repeatedly been attacking opposition parties over dynasty politics and nepotism, now stands exposed with the release of the first list of BJP candidates for the Karnataka Assembly polls Hyderabad: The Bharatiya Janata Party’s ticket list released for the May 10 assembly elections in Karnataka has exposed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s lies and hypocrisy, especially on his claims of dynasty politics or ‘pariwarvad’ in other parties. The Prime Minister, who has repeatedly been attacking opposition parties over dynasty politics and nepotism, now stands exposed with the release of the first list of BJP candidates for the Karnataka Assembly polls. Out of the 189 candidates whose names were announced in the first list, over 30 were relatives of political leaders or elected…

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    • 14 April

      TMC raises questions to Shah before his visit to Bengal

      A day before Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to West Bengal, TMC leaders Mahua Moitra and Partha Bhowmick raising few questions said that they on behalf of the people of Bengal would like to raise the same to Shah. Addressing a press conference at Trinamool Bhavan in Kolkata, both the leaders questioned the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) despite claiming that the saffron camp does not endorse corruption, how can they keep allegedly a corrupt Leader of Opposition. “Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi claimed that ‘No corrupt person should be spared, no matter the position or the power they hold.’ But on the other hand, Leader of Opposition in Bengal from BJP Suvendu Adhikari  is an accused in an ongoing CBI investigation. When this person was in Trinamool, he was attacked by the BJP and…

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    • 14 April

      Christian man in Gaza brings dates and water to Muslims stuck in Ramadan rush hour

      In the hour before sunset during Ramadan, Gaza’s roads become choked with cars as people dash home in time to break their fast with their families. For those unlucky enough to miss breaking the fast altogether as they stand in solid traffic, Ehab Ayyad is a welcome sight. The Christian man from Gaza offers dates and water to Muslims held up in traffic or late home to break their fast, in keeping with the Prophet’s tradition. Five years ago, Ayyad began by offering neighbours dates and water, the first thing Muslims normally eat when they end their fast at sunset, and decided to make the offer general. “As a Christian, I offer my Muslim brothers dates and water as a…

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