THE HEADLINES:
- Supreme Court stays Allahabad High Court’s controversial order on rape, citing “lack of sensitivity”.
- BJP launches ‘Saugat-e-Modi’ campaign for underprivileged Muslims across the country ahead of Eid.
- Russia and Ukraine agree to naval ceasefire in Black Sea, says the United States.
- In South Korea, at least 18 people killed as wildfire continue to ravage the country.
- And, In IPL Cricket, Rajasthan Royals to face Kolkata Knight Riders in Guwahati, this evening.
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The Supreme Court has stayed the controversial order of the Allahabad High Court and said the judgment showed a “lack of sensitivity”. The controversial Order of Allahabad High Court observed that acts like grabbing breasts or breaking the string of pyjamas do not constitute an attempt to rape and the prosecution must go beyond this “stage of preparation” to prove its charges against a rape accused.
The apex court strongly criticised the remarks, calling them insensitive and reflecting an inhuman approach. The bench also issued a notice to the Centre, the Uttar Pradesh government, and others, seeking their responses in the suo motu proceedings initiated over the high court’s March 17 order.
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Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar today stressed that all the institutions in the country have to function in tandem and that there are checks and balances which are well meant. The Chairman made these remarks during the Zero Hour in the House, referring to a meeting held yesterday with the floor leaders of the Houses on the issue of recovery of cash from the residence of Delhi High Court Justice Yashwant Varma. Mr. Dhankhar termed the meeting fruitful, saying that the deliberations were consensual, reflecting cooperation and concerns.
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Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said that the Government has blocked one thousand 410 gaming sites under the IT intermediary rules after the reports of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C). Replying to supplementaries in the Lok Sabha today, Mr Vaishnaw said betting and gambling are part of the State list and the State government has the power to make a legislative framework for it.
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Food and Public Distribution Minister Pralhad Joshi has said that the government takes strict and prompt action against complaints of food adulteration. Replying to supplementaries in the Lok Sabha today, Mr Joshi said the government conducts inquiries as soon as it receives complaints of food adulteration and also carries out criminal proceedings if food items are not fit for human consumption.
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Over four thousand children were adopted in the country in the financial year 2023-24. This was stated by the Minister of State in the Women and Child Development Ministry, Savitri Thakur, in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today. She informed that a total of 307 special needs children were adopted in the same period. The Minister said that over 62 thousand 500 children, including four thousand 364 children, are living in the Child Care Institutions across the country. She added that these children are supported under the Mission Vatsalya Scheme. The Child Care Institutions established under the Mission Vatsalya scheme support age-appropriate education, access to vocational training, recreation, health care, and counselling.
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The BJP Minority Morcha has launched the Saugat-e-Modi campaign, aiming to distribute special kits to 32 lakh underprivileged Muslims across the country ahead of Eid. The initiative seeks to ensure that poor Muslim families can celebrate the festival without any hardship. Talking to Akashvani News, national president of the BJP Minority Morcha, Jamal Siddiqui, outlined the campaign’s broader vision, stating that during the holy month of Ramadan and upcoming occasions like Eid, Good Friday, Easter, Baisakhi, Nauruz and the Indian New Year, the Minority Front will reach out to those in need through the Saugat-e-Modi campaign.
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The Election Commission today commenced the first-ever training programme for over one lakh Booth Level Officers (BLOs) in New Delhi. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioner Dr. Vivek Joshi, inaugurated a training programme held at India International Institute of Democracy & Election Management in the National Capital. Talking to the media, CEC Gyanesh Kumar said that India’s election is the biggest in the world, and to conduct this election, the Election Commission makes 10 lakh fifty thousand booths.
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Reserve Bank of India Governor Sanjay Malhotra has emphasised that regulations should not create “unintended barriers” to deepening financial inclusion. Speaking at the curtain-raiser event of the Financial Action Task Force Private Sector Collaborative Forum in Mumbai, Mr Malhotra cautioned policymakers against being “overzealous” with their measures, highlighting that legitimate activities should not be stifled.
He Commended India’s significant strides in financial inclusion, with 94 percent of adults now holding bank accounts.
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The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is conducting searches at 60 locations across Chhattisgarh, Bhopal, Kolkata, and Delhi in connection with the Mahadev Book online betting scam case. The searches are being conducted on premises, including those linked to politicians, senior bureaucrats, police officers, key functionaries of Mahadev Book, and other private individuals suspected of involvement in the case.
The CBI, in its statement, said that the case pertains to the illegal operations of Mahadev Book, an online betting platform promoted by Ravi Uppal and Saurabh Chandrakar, both of whom are currently based in Dubai.
The CBI, in its investigation, found, the promoters allegedly paid substantial amounts as protection money to public servants for the smooth and uninterrupted functioning of their illegal betting network.
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Nine Maoists, including six women, surrendered today in the Sukma district of Chhattisgarh. A collective reward of 26 lakh rupees had been announced for their capture. These individuals were reportedly involved in several major incidents.
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In Bihar, RJD President Lalu Prasad and other leaders of the like-minded parties have given support to the protest of the All India Muslim Personnel Law (AIMPLB) Board held at Patna over the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024.
Several Muslim organisations led by AIMPLB are staging protests at Patna over the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024. Lok Sabha member and Chief of Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) Chandrashekhar Azad reached Patna, rallying support for the AIMPLB protest.
The protest started this morning at Gardanibagh in Patna. The AIMPLB has appealed to like-minded parties to support the cause and other organisations, except the BJP.
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The US Senate confirmed the appointment of Indian-origin scientist Jay Bhattacharya as the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). According to the official website of the US Senate, he was confirmed by a 53-47 vote, yesterday. US President Donald Trump nominated Bhattacharya as the 18th NIH Director in November last year.
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The United States said that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a naval ceasefire in the Black Sea following three days of talks in Saudi Arabia. In its remarks, the White House said that both nations had agreed to ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea. As per the new deal, the White House said it would help restore access to the world market for Russian agricultural and fertiliser exports. U.S. President Donald Trump said the US is making a lot of progress in restoring peace between the two nations.
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At least 18 people have been killed and 19 injured as wildfires continue to ravage South Korea’s southeastern region. According to the latest figures from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, more than 23,000 people have been evacuated, and hundreds of structures have been damaged, with strong winds fueling the blaze. Approximately 17,000 hectares of forest have also been destroyed, making these fires among the largest in South Korea’s history in terms of the area affected.
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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast light to moderate rainfall over Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh during the next two days. IMD also predicted heavy rainfall over Arunachal Pradesh on Friday and Saturday. More from our correspondent:
IMD has predicted light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorms and lightning over Gilgit, Baltistan, Muzaffarabad and Uttarakhand till Friday. The same rainfall has been estimated for Himachal Pradesh and Punjab till tomorrow. The Weather agency predicted hot and humid weather conditions to prevail in isolated areas of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam during the next three days. According to IMD, a gradual rise in maximum temperatures by two to three degrees Celsius over the plains of Northwest India during the next two days and fall by three to five degrees celsius thereafter. Akshit Vedyan Akashvani News Delhi.
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In the IPL T20 Cricket today, Rajasthan Royals will lock horns with Kolkata Knight Riders at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. The match will begin at 7:30 PM.
Yesterday, Punjab Kings defeated the Gujarat Titans by 11 runs at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
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On the seventh day of the Khelo India Para Games in Delhi, powerlifters and table tennis players delivered intense performances by competing fiercely against each other.
In the Para Powerlifting event, Dinesh Bagade clinched gold medal in the elite 107 kg category, while Divyesh Ladani secured the silver, and Joginder Singh won the bronze. In the elite 86 kg category, Arunmoli Arunagiri claimed gold, Prabhaben Shiyal earned silver, and Samimben Vohra took home the bronze.
Meanwhile, in para table tennis, Kajal Makhwana advanced to the semifinals. Speaking to Akashvani News, she shared that competition in the Khelo India Para Games is becoming more intense.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:
- Supreme Court stays Allahabad High Court’s controversial order on rape, citing “lack of sensitivity”.
- BJP launches ‘Saugat-e-Modi’ campaign for underprivileged Muslims across the country ahead of Eid.
- Russia and Ukraine agree to naval ceasefire in Black Sea, says the United States.
- In South Korea, at least 18 people killed as wildfire continue to ravage the country.
- And, In IPL Cricket, Rajasthan Royals to face Kolkata Knight Riders in Guwahati, this evening.
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