Author: PTI

Major Smuggling Syndicate Busted at Chennai Airport The Customs department at Chennai airport recently cracked down on a major smuggling syndicate involved in trafficking 267 kg of gold worth Rs 167 crore from Sri Lanka in the past two months. The operation, triggered by an intelligence tip-off, resulted in the arrest of a shop-owner and his staff who were allegedly part of the crime. An employee of the Airhub shop located at the international terminal was caught with three bundles of gold hidden in his body. The investigation disclosed that the smugglers, hailing from Sri Lanka, had rented the shop…

Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that the BJP will contest the upcoming Haryana assembly elections independently under the leadership of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, expressing confidence in winning a third consecutive term with a majority. Shah emphasized that there will be no alliances with other parties in the state polls, citing the party’s self-sufficiency. He praised the leadership of Saini and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in driving the BJP’s governance agenda in Haryana. Highlighting the accomplishments of the Modi government, Shah commended the development initiatives in Haryana worth Rs 2,70,000 crore and lauded the party’s commitment to grassroots…

America is reeling after Joe Biden’s disastrous performance at the first presidential debate against Donald Trump. Major US media outlets are now calling for Biden to step down from the race to ensure the future of American democracy and prevent a second term for Trump. During the debate, Biden, seeking reelection, struggled to keep up with Trump, raising concerns among top Democrats about his ability to lead the country. Trump, on the other hand, clashed fiercely with Biden, providing fodder for editorials and social media memes. The New York Times and The Washington Post have both called for Biden to…

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced that the state will provide only wheat to beneficiaries under the “Ghar Ghar ration scheme”, as people prefer grain over flour. The decision was made during a state-level function commemorating Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s death anniversary in Sangrur. Mann emphasized that the government’s decisions are based on public feedback, stating, “The public says it wants wheat only. We will give it.” Around 1.54 crore beneficiaries will receive wheat under the scheme from July to October. In addition to the ration scheme, Mann revealed plans to recruit 10,000 new personnel for the Punjab Police and focus…

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal is optimistic about advancing talks on the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) with the UK once the new British government takes office after the upcoming general election on July 4. Goyal mentioned that regardless of the election outcome, progress is expected with the new government in place. He highlighted the UK government’s strong commitment to the FTA and noted discussions with representatives from the Labour Party showing a keen interest in expediting the agreement process. The FTA discussions between India and the UK, initiated in January 2022, cover various sectors such as goods, services,…

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan criticized the Congress for avoiding a discussion in Parliament on the NEET exam issue. This statement came after Rahul Gandhi called for a respectful debate on alleged irregularities in NEET. Pradhan accused Congress of creating chaos and hindering institutional functioning. He emphasized that the government is open to discussions but Congress is playing politics instead of addressing the issue. He highlighted the formation of a committee to reform the National Testing Agency and the CBI’s involvement in investigating NEET-UG irregularities. Despite Opposition disruptions, the government is committed to ensuring zero-error examinations. The Education Ministry’s decision…

Bengaluru is abuzz with discussions about potential changes in leadership in Karnataka, with demands for three more deputy chief ministers. State Congress President D K Shivakumar has urged party members to refrain from making public statements on the issue to avoid disciplinary action. There is a growing demand for deputy chief ministers from various communities, creating tension within the state cabinet. Seers have also entered the political fray, with conflicting statements about leadership changes. Shivakumar has emphasized that such decisions will be made by the party’s high command and warned against public comments by party members. The importance of discipline…

Mamata Banerjee Emphasizes the Need for an Unbiased Judiciary West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, at the East Zone II regional conference of the National Judicial Academy, highlighted the importance of a judiciary free from political bias. She stressed that the judiciary should be “absolutely pure, honest, and sacred” for the betterment of democracy, the Constitution, and people’s interests. Banerjee praised the judiciary as a significant pillar of India’s foundation and urged for equal opportunities to be given to people from the northeastern and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. She commended Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud for his efforts…

AAP Protests Near BJP Headquarters Demanding Kejriwal’s Release AAP leaders and workers staged a protest near the BJP’s headquarters on DDU Marg to demand the release of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is currently in CBI custody. Kejriwal was taken into custody by the CBI in connection with the Delhi government’s excise policy. He was later arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a money-laundering case related to the same policy. Protesters gathered outside the AAP office, raising slogans against the BJP and carrying placards denouncing the “misuse” of central agencies and calling for an end to “dictatorship”. Police deployed…

Chennai Translates New Criminal Laws into Tamil for Easier Implementation Official sources in Chennai have confirmed that the translation of new criminal laws into Tamil is currently underway and is expected to be completed soon. The necessary training has already been provided to police personnel for the enforcement of these laws starting from July 1, 2024. The translated Tamil version of the laws will be sent to the Union government for approval and certification to ensure its authenticity. Once certified, the Tamil version will be available for sale in the state. Additionally, Tamil versions of the three new criminal laws…