Modi files nomination from Varanasi in bid for hat trick
PM Modi filed his nomination papers from Varanasi on Tuesday . He was accompanied by NDA chief ministers and other leaders .
The four proposers of the Modi nominations were Pandit Ganeshwar Shastri Dravid , who decided the Muhurta for the consecration of Mandir , Baijnath Patel a RSS functionary , Lalchand Sonkar and Sanjay Kushwaha .
“ My relationship with Kashi is inseparable and incompatible …..all I can say that it is incompatible in words !” Mr Modi said on X .
Turnout shows it was right to revoke Article 370 : Shah
The rise in voting percentage in Srinagar from 14 % in the past to 37% in the fourth phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections on Tuesday was the “ greatest testament to the righteousness of the decision “ to revoke Article 370 .
Mr Shah also said that for the first time more than 40% of displaced Kashmiri Pandits cast their votes .
In an interview with The Hindu Mr Shah also explained the party’s decision not to field any candidate in the valley seats of Srinagar , Baramulla and Anantnag Rajauri . He said that wanted to build up organisation on the ground
Sri Lanka’s Tamils face arrest over war memorial
Srilankan Tamils are facing arrests for commemorating anniversary of deaths in civil war . Several Srilankan Tamils were among the LTTE forces that fogith civil war with Srilankan army .
The police said that the arrest were made to manage “ public health “ .
New Chabahar pact ‘ not exempt ‘ from Iran sanctions : US
The US state department has said that the new 10 year agreement plan for Chabahar port carries the “ potential risk “ of sanctions .
Recently India signed a deal with an Iranian company to operate Chabahar port for 10 year.
The deal entails investment of 120 million dollar for equipment of port and 250 million dollar credit line for port functioning .
According to sanctions , the companies dealing with Iran will be barred from trading or investin in US .
The US’s carve out clause however has two exception: humanitarian assistance to Iran. and assistance for Iranian people .
AAP to be made accused in excise policy case, ED says
The Enforcement Directorate ( ED ) on Tuesday said in Delhi High court that it will make the Aam Aadmi Party ( AAP ) an accused in a money laundering case stemming from the Delhi Excise Policy case .
“ The conspiracy was to see that the AAP makes wrongful gains in bribes . “ And in the process to ensure additional benefits to the persons who gave bribes .” The AAP counsel said in Delhi High court .
The court was seeking bail for Mr Sisodia .
SC reserves judgement in Patanjali case of contempt
The Supreme Court on Tuesday reserved its judgement in contempt proceedings against Yoga guru Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna and Patanjali Ayurved Ltd .
The Court directed Patanjali to file an affidavit in three weeks , detailing steps taken to recall the stock from its retailers and agencies .
Pine – Needle power projects to check forest fire inadequate
Project by Uttarakhand Renewable Energy Development Agency ( UREDA ) , to use quantities of flammable pine needles for generating electricity have been “ unsuccessful . Authorities has said that appropriate technology does not exist to use them .
Uttarakhand has 16.36 % of total forest area covered with chir pine forest .
As per the estimates , over 15 lakh tonnes of pine leaves are annually generated . The pine needles are one of the propagators of forest fires .
state authorities has tried to address pine needles and agriculture residues
World
Fierce battle rages across Gaza strip as US calls for truce , post war plan
Israeli troops fought Hamas militants in Multiple battles across the Gaza strip , forcing new waves of Palestinian mass displacement .
About 4,50,000 civilians have been displaced to safe zones from Rafah.
The United States has repeatedly urged a Gaza ceasefire and called on its ally Israel to devise “ a strategic endgame “ and post war plan , white House NSA Jale Sullivan said .
This would help Israel avoid “ getting mired in a counterinsurgency campaign that never ends and ultimately saps Israel’s strength and vitality ,” Mr Sullivan said .
A Qatari mediator said talks on hostage release deal has stalled with the Rafah attack being one of the reasons behind this .
Biden to increase tariffs on Chinese EVs , Solar cells steel , aluminium in poll year
The Biden administration announced plans to slap new tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles , advanced batteries , solar cells, steel aluminium and medical equipment . Increasing the tariffs will make Chinese goods to be sold in the US market costlier and will reduce the Chinese market in the US .
This comes amid a time when Joe Biden and Donald Trump are vying to show who is tougher with China .
The Chinese foreign ministry in a statement said that the tariffs “ will seriously affect the atmosphere of bilateral cooperation .”
China can respond by increasing tarriffs on US products .
Purkayastha arrested under UAPA invalid , says SC
The Supreme Court on Wednesday said that it felt “ no
hesitation to declare the arrest and remand of NEWSCLICK founder Prabir Purkyastha as “ invalid in the eyes of law
“ .
A bench of Justices B.R. Gavai and Sandeep Mehta said
neither Mr. Purkayastha nor his counsel was provided the grounds of hisbarrest
in writing .
“ The right to be informed about the ground of arrest flows
from Article 22(1) of the constitution and any infringement of this fundamental
right would vitiate the process of arrest and remand “
Article 22(1) – An arrested person shall be informed about
of the ground of arrest and allowed to consult a lawyer of his or her choice .
The key observation of the court were :
●
The entire exercise was done in a clandestine manner
and was a blatant attempt to circumvent due process of law .
●
It deprived him of the opportunity to avail him of the
services of a legal practitioner of his choice .
●
As in the case of arrests , the ground of arrest should
be communicated in writing to the detainee .
The court however said nothing on the merit of the case .
The additional solicitor general S.V. Raju had argued that
Mr Purkyastha was “ orally “ informed about the ground of the arrest .
Delhi Police had
arrested Prabir Purkyastha and some other from NewsClick under UAPA
. Mr Purkyastha was
charged with taking money from China and publishing anti-India content .
Naville Roy Sinham, a
US based businessman and having ties with the Chinese govt was said to be
transferring money for this .
Mr Purkyastha was
arrested on October 3 2023 .
Purkyastha released from Tihar after getting bail ; he
must not contact witness
After SC declared the arrest of Mr Purkyastha ‘invalid ‘ , a
Delhi court granted him bail .
The court set the condition that he shall not contact
witnesses and approve associated with the case .
The court also directed not to talk about the merits of the
case or travel abroad without the court’s permission.
Slovakia PM shot multiple times , suffer life threatening
wounds
Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot multiple
times in an assassination attempt .
The police have detailed the attackers .
He is currently undergoing treatment , hospital authorities
have not released any statement about his condition.
Mr Fico has been elected as PM for the fourth term in September
2023 . He is said to be close to Russia . In his election campaign he
had pledged that he would not provide a * single bullet “ to Kyiv .
Over 300 get Indian citizenship under CAA
The Indian government on Wednesday granted citizenship
certificates to more than 300 people who applied under the citizenship (
Amendment ) Act .
The certificates were distributed by senior authorities in
Delhi .
The government sources said that most of the applications
were Pakistani Hindus .
Army set to receive next batch of shoulder fired Igla – S
air defence system
The Army is set to begin receiving another set of Russian
Igla – S very short range air defense systems ( VSHORAD ) by the end of next
month .
The Igla – S system was contracted last year under the
fourth tranche of Emergency Procurement ( EP ) , and are being assembled at
Adani Defense Systems and Technological Limited ( ADSTL ) ;
The contract for 48 Igla S was given last year .
The VSHORD is the soldier’s last line of defence against
enemy combat aircraft , helicopters and UAVs in a multi-layered defence network
.
India records highest no of internet shutdown in 2023
According to a report released on Wednesday , India witnessed the highest number of
Internet outages in the world in 2023 ,
a record it has held for the last six years .
The Internet was snapped 116 times in the country last year
. Manipur violence , Manhunt of Amritpal Singh were some of the major cases in
which internet services was snapped .
Myanmar recorded the second highest number of Internet
shutdowns , followed by Iran ( 34 ) and
Palestine ( 16 ) and Ukraine ( 8 ) .
World
End Rafah military action , EU tells Israel
The European Union on Wednesday urged Israel to end military
operations in Rafah “ immediately “ , warning that failure to do so will
undermine ties with the bloc .
“ Should Israel continue its military operation in Rafah ,
it would inevitably put a heavy strain on EU’s relationship with Israel “ EU’s
foreign minister Joseph Borell said .
The EU cited disruption in humanitarian aid leading to
famine-like situation in Rafah.
The EU is the main donor to Israel and biggest trading
partner with Israel .
Israel PM presses
Bill to draft ultra orthodox bill into the army
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has put forward a
new conscription , which has pressed for the resolution of the stalemate over
the exemption from military service of ultra orthodox Jews .
Ultra Orthodox news makes up 13 % of the Israeli population
. They are exempted from permanent military services .
Earlier Israeli Supreme Court had said May 16 to be the last
date to be
Kyiv forces pulls out of some areas ; Zelensky postpones
foreign trips
Ukrainian forces have pulled from some part of Northeast
Ukraine .
Looking at the seriousness President Zelensky has called of
his foreign visits .
Russia has gained major victories in Kharkiv , capturing
many major villages . It has captured two major areas , Lukyanti and Vivchansk
.
Moscow is also building on the victory of the major region
of Donetsk .
Palestinian statehood key to post war Gaza rebuilding
plans of Arab nations
As Israel keeps up its campaign against Hamas , Arab leaders are mapping to support Gaza , placing
one major condition on their involvement : passing a pathway to Palestinian statehood .
Arab Quitnent of UAE, Saudi Arabia , Qatar , Jordan and
Egypt all have put that financial and economical cost at Gaza will come only
when a Palestinian state is fully formed .
Israel till now is against a two state solution .
Two state solution means , Israel and Palestine to be based
on boundaries of 1967 .
