PTC NEWS News-highlights

Weather Update: ਰਾਹਤ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਫਿਰ ਆਈ ਆਫ਼ਤ ! ਤਾਪਮਾਨ 'ਚ ਵਾਧਾ, ਹੀਟ ਵੇਵ ਦੀ ਚਿਤਾਵਨੀ, ਜਾਣੋ ਮੌਸਮ ਦਾ ਹਾਲ

Sun, 23 Jun 2024 08:41:58 +0530

Punjab Weather Update: ਕੁਝ ਦਿਨਾਂ ਦੀ ਰਾਹਤ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਸੂਬੇ ਭਰ 'ਚ ਇੱਕ ਵਾਰ ਫਿਰ ਤਾਪਮਾਨ ਵਧਦਾ ਜਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ। ਇੱਕ ਦਿਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਔਸਤਨ 3.2 ਡਿਗਰੀ ਦਾ ਵਾਧਾ ਹੋਇਆ ਹੈ। ਮੌਸਮ ਵਿਭਾਗ ਨੇ ਇੱਕ ਵਾਰ ਫਿਰ 24 ਅਤੇ 25 ਜੂਨ ਲਈ ਹੀਟਵੇਵ ਨੂੰ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਚਿਤਾਵਨੀ ਜਾਰੀ ਕੀਤੀ ਹੈ, ਪਰ 26 ਜੂਨ ਤੋਂ ਮਾਨਸੂਨ ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਦੀ ਰਾਹਤ ਵੀ ਮਿਲੇਗੀ।

ਤਾਪਮਾਨ 'ਚ ਵਾਧਾ

ਮੌਸਮ ਵਿਭਾਗ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਸਾਂਝੀ ਕੀਤੀ ਗਈ ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਅੱਜ ਵੀ ਤਾਪਮਾਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਮਾਮੂਲੀ ਵਾਧਾ ਦੇਖਣ ਨੂੰ ਮਿਲੇਗਾ। 24-25 ਜੂਨ ਨੂੰ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਜ਼ਿਆਦਾਤਰ ਸ਼ਹਿਰਾਂ ਦਾ ਤਾਪਮਾਨ 40 ਤੋਂ 45 ਡਿਗਰੀ ਦੇ ਵਿਚਕਾਰ ਦਰਜ ਕੀਤਾ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ। ਇਸ ਕਾਰਨ ਹੀਟਵੇਵ ਦਾ ਯੈਲੋ ਅਲਰਟ ਜਾਰੀ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ। ਗਰਮੀ ਦੀ ਲਹਿਰ ਦਾ ਅਸਰ ਸਿਰਫ਼ ਦੋ ਦਿਨ ਹੀ ਰਹੇਗਾ।

ਪ੍ਰੀ-ਮਾਨਸੂਨ 26 ਤੋਂ ਸਰਗਰਮ

ਪੰਜਾਬ ਵਿੱਚ 26 ਜੂਨ ਤੋਂ ਪ੍ਰੀ-ਮਾਨਸੂਨ ਦੇ ਸਰਗਰਮ ਹੋਣ ਦੀ ਸੰਭਾਵਨਾ ਹੈ। 26 ਅਤੇ 27 ਜੂਨ ਨੂੰ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਕੁਝ ਇਲਾਕਿਆਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਹਲਕੀ ਬਾਰਿਸ਼ ਹੋ ਸਕਦੀ ਹੈ। ਨਹੀਂ ਤਾਂ ਬੱਦਲ ਛਾਏ ਰਹਿਣਗੇ ਅਤੇ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਗਰਮੀ ਤੋਂ ਰਾਹਤ ਮਿਲੇਗੀ। ਪਰ 28 ਜੂਨ ਨੂੰ ਬਹੁਤੇ ਇਲਾਕਿਆਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਮੀਂਹ ਪੈਣ ਦੀ ਸੰਭਾਵਨਾ ਹੈ।

ਇਹਨਾਂ ਸੂਬਿਆਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਪਹੁੰਚ ਚੁੱਕਾ ਮਾਨਸੂਨ

ਭਾਰਤੀ ਮੌਸਮ ਵਿਭਾਗ (IMD) ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਮਾਨਸੂਨ ਮਹਾਰਾਸ਼ਟਰ, ਬਿਹਾਰ, ਝਾਰਖੰਡ, ਗੁਜਰਾਤ-ਮਹਾਰਾਸ਼ਟਰ ਦੇ ਕੁਝ ਹਿੱਸਿਆਂ, ਮੱਧ ਪ੍ਰਦੇਸ਼, ਛੱਤੀਸਗੜ੍ਹ, ਉੜੀਸਾ ਅਤੇ ਪੱਛਮੀ ਬੰਗਾਲ ਵਿੱਚ ਪਹੁੰਚ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ। ਅਗਲੇ 3-4 ਦਿਨਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਮਾਨਸੂਨ ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਸਾਰੇ ਰਾਜਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਪੂਰੀ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਵਰ ਕਰ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ। ਮੌਸਮ ਵਿਭਾਗ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ 27 ਜੂਨ ਤੱਕ ਮਾਨਸੂਨ ਦਿੱਲੀ, ਪੰਜਾਬ ਅਤੇ ਹਰਿਆਣਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਦਾਖਲ ਹੋ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ 3 ਜੁਲਾਈ ਤੱਕ ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਰਾਜਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਪੂਰੀ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਵਰ ਕਰ ਲਵੇਗਾ।

ਜੂਨ ਦੇ ਪਹਿਲੇ ਹਫ਼ਤੇ ਹੀ ਮਾਨਸੂਨ ਗੋਆ ਅਤੇ ਕਰਨਾਟਕ ਪਹੁੰਚ ਗਿਆ ਸੀ। ਫਿਲਹਾਲ ਇੱਥੇ ਭਾਰੀ ਬਾਰਿਸ਼ ਜਾਰੀ ਹੈ। ਆਈਐਮਡੀ ਨੇ ਅੱਜ ਤੋਂ ਚਾਰ ਦਿਨਾਂ ਲਈ ਗੋਆ ਅਤੇ ਕਰਨਾਟਕ ਵਿੱਚ ਅੱਜ ਅਤੇ ਕੱਲ੍ਹ ਲਈ ਭਾਰੀ ਮੀਂਹ ਦਾ ਅਲਰਟ ਜਾਰੀ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੈ।

ਇਹ ਵੀ ਪੜ੍ਹੋ: NEET-PG ਦਾਖਲਾ ਪ੍ਰੀਖਿਆ ਮੁਲਤਵੀ, ਅੱਜ ਹੋਣਾ ਸੀ ਪੇਪਰ, ਜਲਦ ਹੋਵੇਗਾ ਨਵੀਂ ਤਰੀਕ ਦਾ ਐਲਾਨ

31 dead in Tamil Nadu rain, Centre allocates Rs 900 crore: Finance Minister

Fri, 22 Dec 2023 16:41:21 +0530

Tamil Nadu rain fury: In the wake of severe rainfall wreaking havoc in Tamil Nadu, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman disclosed that the deluge had claimed the lives of 31 individuals across four districts. Sitharaman revealed that the Centre promptly allocated Rs 900 crore in two tranches for immediate utilisation in the ongoing financial year to aid the rain-battered state.

Addressing the press in New Delhi, Sitharaman highlighted the advanced forecasting capabilities of Chennai's Regional Meteorological Centre, which accurately predicted the heavy rainfall hitting Tenkasi, Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, and Tuticorin on December 17. Sitharaman dismissed claims by DMK Minister Mano Thangaraj suggesting delayed weather updates, emphasising the proactive forecasting measures undertaken.

Disputing criticism about the utilisation of prior aid, Sitharaman referenced the Rs 4,000 crore assistance provided after the 2015 extreme rainfall, indicating that better management could have mitigated the recent crisis. Responding to accusations by Chief Minister MK Stalin regarding insufficient relief funds from the central government, Sitharaman countered, highlighting the state government's independent relief efforts, citing financial aid of Rs 6,000 for severely affected areas and Rs 1,000 per family for those impacted in other districts.

She criticised Stalin for being in Delhi during the disaster, suggesting a lack of immediate response. Meanwhile, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) assisted in Thoothukudi, one of the severely affected districts, while Tenkasi and Kanyakumari also grappled with heavy rainfall-induced floods on December 17 and 18.

ਈਸ਼ਾਨ ਕਿਸ਼ਨ ਨੇ ਬੰਗਲਾਦੇਸ਼ ਖ਼ਿਲਾਫ਼ ਠੋਕਿਆ ਦੋਹਰਾ ਸੈਂਕੜਾ, ਭਾਰਤ ਦੀ ਸਥਿਤੀ ਮਜ਼ਬੂਤ

Sat, 10 Dec 2022 15:13:56 +0530

India vs Bangladesh cricket one day series : ਜ਼ਖਮੀ ਕਪਤਾਨ ਰੋਹਿਤ ਸ਼ਰਮਾ ਦੀ ਜਗ੍ਹਾ ਤੀਜੇ ਇਕ ਰੋਜ਼ਾ ਲੜੀ 'ਚ ਪਲੇਇੰਗ-11 ਦਾ ਹਿੱਸਾ ਬਣੇ ਈਸ਼ਾਨ ਕਿਸ਼ਨ ਨੇ ਅੰਤਰਰਾਸ਼ਟਰੀ ਕ੍ਰਿਕਟ 'ਚ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਤੇਜ਼ ਦੋਹਰਾ ਸੈਂਕੜਾ ਲਗਾ ਕੇ ਵਿਸ਼ਵ ਰਿਕਾਰਡ ਆਪਣੇ ਨਾਮ ਕਰ ਲਿਆ ਹੈ। ਉਸ ਨੇ ਇਹ ਰਿਕਾਰਡ 126 ਗੇਂਦਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਬਣਾਇਆ ਹੈ। 24 ਸਾਲਾ ਕਿਸ਼ਨ ਨੇ ਕ੍ਰਿਸ ਗੇਲ (138 ਗੇਂਦਾਂ 'ਤੇ) ਨੂੰ ਪਿੱਛੇ ਛੱਡ ਦਿੱਤਾ।

ਗੇਲ ਨੇ ਇਹ ਕਾਰਨਾਮਾ 2014 'ਚ ਜ਼ਿੰਬਾਬਵੇ ਖਿਲਾਫ਼ ਕੀਤਾ ਸੀ। ਸਾਬਕਾ ਕਪਤਾਨ ਵਿਰਾਟ ਕੋਹਲੀ ਨੇ ਆਪਣਾ 44ਵਾਂ ਵਨਡੇ ਸੈਂਕੜਾ ਪੂਰਾ ਕਰ ਲਿਆ ਹੈ। ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੋ ਪਾਰੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਦਮ 'ਤੇ ਭਾਰਤ ਨੇ 38.1 ਓਵਰਾਂ 'ਚ 3 ਵਿਕਟਾਂ ਗੁਆ ਕੇ 320 ਦੌੜਾਂ ਬਣਾ ਚੁੱਕਾ ਹੈ। ਵਿਰਾਟ 100 ਦੌੜਾਂ ਬਣਾ ਕੇ ਕ੍ਰੀਜ਼ 'ਤੇ ਡਟੇ ਹੋਏ ਹਨ। ਜਦਕਿ ਸ਼ਿਖਰ ਧਵਨ (3), ਈਸ਼ਾਨ ਕਿਸ਼ਨ (210) ਅਤੇ ਸ਼੍ਰੇਅਸ ਅਈਅਰ (3) ਆਊਟ ਹੋ ਚੁੱਕੇ ਹਨ। ਬੰਗਲਾਦੇਸ਼ ਦੀ ਟੀਮ ਪਹਿਲੇ ਦੋ ਵਨਡੇ ਜਿੱਤ ਕੇ ਸੀਰੀਜ਼ 'ਤੇ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਹੀ ਕਬਜ਼ਾ ਕਰ ਚੁੱਕੀ ਹੈ। ਭਾਰਤ ਇਸ ਮੈਚ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਲੀਨ ਸਵੀਪ ਤੋਂ ਬਚਣ ਦੀ ਕੋਸ਼ਿਸ਼ ਕਰ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ।

ਕਿਸ਼ਨ (210) ਨੇ ਬੰਗਲਾਦੇਸ਼ ਦੀ ਪਿੱਚ 'ਤੇ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਡੀ ਪਾਰੀ ਖੇਡੀ ਹੈ। ਉਸ ਨੇ ਆਸਟ੍ਰੇਲੀਆ ਦੇ ਆਲਰਾਊਂਡਰ ਸ਼ੇਨ ਵਾਟਸਨ (185*) ਦੇ ਰਿਕਾਰਡ ਨੂੰ ਪਿੱਛੇ ਛੱਡ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਹੈ। ਬੰਗਲਾਦੇਸ਼ 'ਚ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਜ਼ਿਆਦਾ ਦੌੜਾਂ ਬਣਾਉਣ ਦੇ ਮਾਮਲੇ 'ਚ ਵਿਰਾਟ ਕੋਹਲੀ (183) ਤੀਜੇ ਨੰਬਰ 'ਤੇ ਹੈ। ਸ਼ਿਖਰ ਧਵਨ ਦੇ 15 ਦੌੜਾਂ 'ਤੇ ਆਊਟ ਹੋਣ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਈਸ਼ਾਨ ਕਿਸ਼ਨ ਅਤੇ ਵਿਰਾਟ ਕੋਹਲੀ ਨੇ ਕਮਾਨ ਸੰਭਾਲੀ। ਦੋਵਾਂ ਨੇ ਦੂਜੀ ਵਿਕਟ ਲਈ 290 ਦੌੜਾਂ ਜੋੜੀਆਂ।

ਇਹ ਵੀ ਪੜ੍ਹੋ : ਪਾਕਿਸਤਾਨ ਨੇ ਰਚੀ ਸਰਹਾਲੀ ਪੁਲਿਸ ਸਟੇਸ਼ਨ 'ਤੇ RPG ਹਮਲੇ ਦੀ ਸਾਜ਼ਿਸ਼ : ਡੀਜੀਪੀ

ਈਸ਼ਾਨ ਕਿਸ਼ਨ ਨੇ 5 ਮੈਚਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਵਨਡੇ ਟੀਮ 'ਚ ਵਾਪਸੀ ਕੀਤੀ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਸੈਂਕੜਾ ਲਗਾਇਆ ਹੈ। ਇਹ ਉਸ ਦਾ ਪਹਿਲਾ ਅੰਤਰਰਾਸ਼ਟਰੀ ਸੈਂਕੜਾ ਵੀ ਹੈ। ਈਸ਼ਾਨ ਨੇ 85 ਗੇਂਦਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਆਪਣਾ ਸੈਂਕੜਾ ਪੂਰਾ ਕੀਤਾ। ਈਸ਼ਾਨ ਨੇ ਆਖਰੀ ਵਨਡੇ 22 ਅਕਤੂਬਰ 2022 ਨੂੰ ਦੱਖਣੀ ਅਫਰੀਕਾ ਖਿਲਾਫ਼ ਦਿੱਲੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਖੇਡਿਆ ਸੀ। ਉਹ ਬੰਗਲਾਦੇਸ਼ ਵਿੱਚ ਸੈਂਕੜਾ ਲਗਾਉਣ ਵਾਲਾ 5ਵਾਂ ਭਾਰਤੀ ਸਲਾਮੀ ਬੱਲੇਬਾਜ਼ ਬਣਿਆ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਸਚਿਨ ਤੇਂਦੁਲਕਰ, ਸੌਰਵ ਗਾਂਗੁਲੀ, ਵੀਰੇਂਦਰ ਸਹਿਵਾਗ ਅਤੇ ਗੌਤਮ ਗੰਭੀਰ ਇਹ ਕਾਰਨਾਮਾ ਕਰ ਚੁੱਕੇ ਹਨ।

Ex-Pak Diplomat Supports Action Against Terrorists For Steering Talks With India

Wed, 12 Jun 2019 11:11:17 +0530

Supporting India's determination that "talks and terror" cannot go together, a former top Pakistani diplomat has said another high-level meeting between the two countries would be fruitless unless Islamabad ensures the terrorist infrastructure on its territory or territories under its occupation is dismantled. Pakistan's recent initiatives for talks with India must be seen in the context of the economic and international pressures on it, former Pakistani ambassador to the United States Husain Haqqani told reporters in Washington on Tuesday. His remarks have come just ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation or SCO Summit in Kyrgyzstan on June 13-14. India and Pakistan are part of the regional security grouping and leaders of both countries are set to attend the meeting in Bishkek. In a letter written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week, Pakistan's prime minister Imran Khan had requested resumption of talks between the two countries to resolve all differences. But no official meeting has been planned between them on the sidelines of the SCO summit. Mr Haqqani's remarks also came on a day the government in Islamabad presented its national budget amid an austerity drive to wriggle the country out of the financial mess it is in. Earlier this month Imran Khan had said there will be no increase in the defence budget because of Pakistan's "critical financial situation". Pakistan's defence budget presented on Tuesday reflected that sentiment with no increase proposed in expenditure compared to last fiscal. Weeks ago, Imran Khan's government negotiated a USD 6 billion bailout package with the International Monetary Fund or IMF to overcome the financial crisis. Mr Haqqani said another high-level meeting between India and Pakistan would be meaningless unless it is accompanied with dismantling of terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and giving up the notion of the two countries being "permanent enemies".

Trump Says India's 50% Tariff On US Motorcycles Unacceptable

Tue, 11 Jun 2019 11:31:44 +0530

US President Donald Trump said that even though India has reduced its import tariff on American motorcycles from 100 percent to 50 percent, it is still too high and not acceptable to him. Trump said the United States, under his leadership, is a country that can no longer be fooled. "We're not the foolish country that does so badly. You look at India, very good friend of mine, Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi, you take a look at what they've done, 100 percent tax on a motorcycle. We charge them nothing," Trump told CBS news in an interview on Monday. Trump was referring to the import tariff on the Harley Davidson motorcycles, an issue that has been close to his heart and wants India to reduce it to zero. "So, when Harley sends over there, they have 100 percent tax. When they (India) send in - they make a tremendous number of motorcycles - when they send them in, no tax. I called him. I said it's unacceptable," Trump said, referring to his conversation with PM Modi. "He (PM Modi) reduced it by 50 percent with one phone call. I said it's still unacceptable because it's 50 percent versus nothing. It's still unacceptable. And they're working on it," he said, indicating that the two countries are still in talks to resolve the issue of import tariffs on American motorcycles.

PM Modi Calls Congress Leadership Crisis “Their Weakness”

Mon, 10 Jun 2019 11:51:54 +0530

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday took a veiled dig at Congress President Rahul Gandhi, saying the top opposition leader could not still come out of the impact of election results which showed "weakness." The Prime Minister asserted that his party-led government would further accelerate work for the betterment of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu people though the BJP could not win Lok Sabha polls in these two States. "Given the huge mandate we got, some people think expectations and aspirations (on the government) have increased," the Prime Minister said. "They also wonder what can Modi do. We should see it as India's fortune and a great opportunity. I see it as a guarantee for a brighter India," he said. PM Modi addressed a thanksgiving public meeting organized by the Andhra Pradesh BJP at Renigunta near Tirupati. Apparently taking potshots at Rahul Gandhi over his recent comments in Wayanad that PM Modi's election campaign was filled with "lies, poison and hatred", the Prime Minister remarked that some people could not still come out of the impact of election results. "That is their weakness. For us the chapter of elections has ended. A new chapter of serving the 130 crore people of the country has opened for us," PM Modi said.

12 Of 18 Telangana Congress Lawmakers Join KCR

Fri, 07 Jun 2019 13:51:13 +0530

12 of Congress 18 Telangana legislators have joined Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao's party, the TRS. State leaders of the Congress - the handful that are keen to remain with it - said that the Chief Minister a.k.a. KCR, is "buying" Congress lawmakers. But the Congress rebels said they're inspired by nothing more than KCR's vision. "All the 12 members support the leadership of Chief Minister KCR and requested to work with him. We gave a representation to the Speaker and urged him to merge us with the TRS party," said Gandra Venkata Ramana Reddy. The Congress has been lurching from one crisis to another since its disastrous performance in the general election which saw it collating just 52 seats across the country. The cause of at least part of that epic fail - infighting - has exponentially increased in states like Punjab and Rajasthan. In Telangana, however, the party won three of 17 Lok Sabha seats, which was seen as a "revival" of its fortunes in the southern state given that just months ago, it fared abysmally in the state election which KCR won easily.

Jagan Reddy Gets 5 Deputy Chief Ministers

Fri, 07 Jun 2019 13:41:57 +0530

Jagan Mohan Reddy, who took power in Andhra Pradesh last week, will have a record five Deputy Chief Ministers. The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister will have a full 25-member cabinet with five deputies, he announced at a meeting of his lawmakers this morning. The new ministers will be sworn in on Saturday. The deputy Chief Ministers will represent Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Classes, minorities and the Kapu communities, said leaders of Jagan Reddy's YSR Congress. Jagan Reddy reportedly also told his legislators that the cabinet would predominantly comprise members from the weaker sections, "contrary to expectations that the Reddy community would get a lion's share". He said the cabinet would be reconstituted after a mid-term review of the government's performance. In the previous government headed by N Chandrababu Naidu, there were two deputy Chief Ministers, one each from the Kapu and backward classes communities. 46-year-old Jagan Reddy led his party to a huge victory in the recent state and national elections in Andhra Pradesh. The YSR Congress won 151 of the 175 seats in the state assembly, wiping out N Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam Party. The party also won 22 of the 25 Lok Sabha seats. Chandrababu Naidu was the first chief minister of Andhra Pradesh after its bifurcation to carve out Telangana five years ago.

Bangladeshi actress Anju Ghosh joins BJP

Thu, 06 Jun 2019 12:51:37 +0530

Anju Ghosh, a Bangladeshi film actress joined the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) in presence of the party’s state president Dilip Ghosh here on Wednesday. During the event, Ghosh was handed over a BJP flag. When asked by the media about her present citizenship status, she refused to speak. In 1989, her film ‘Beder Meye Josna’ made a record of being the highest grossing film in Bangladesh film history.

Nitish Kumar Gets An Invite To Join Mahagathbandhan

Tue, 04 Jun 2019 12:05:10 +0530

BJP's decision to allot only one ministerial berth to each ally after its massive victory in the Lok Sabha elections has seeningly upset Nitish Kumar. Sensing the situation, Lalu Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal has sent a tentative invitation to Mr Kumar to return to the Mahagathbandhan - the Grand Alliance he ended in 2017. Rashtriya Janata Dal failed to open account in the state in the recent Lok Sabha elections. The formal offer came from the party Vice President Raghuvansh Prasad Singh in Patna on Monday. Mr Singh told media being with BJP will only "humiliate and insult" Nitish Kumar in the days to come. The party later said the appeal was not just for Nitish Kumar but all non-BJP parties to come together. The BJP's move to allot only one ministerial berth to each ally after its massive victory in the Lok Sabha elections, is seen to have upset Nitish Kumar. The Chief Minister had refused to accept it and said his party will not be part of the government. Mr Kumar's party had not been invited to be part of the government in the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's last government either when he broke away from the alliance with Lalu Yadav and the Congress and teamed up with the BJP in July 2017. There were expectations that he would be rewarded this time, especially in view of the party's good showing in the Lok Sabha elections. Of the 17 seats it contested, the JDU won 16. However, Nitish Kumar pushed for a "proportional representation" for allies in the ministry, it was turned down by the BJP, which achieved majority on its own, with a higher tally than in 2014. After returning to Patna after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's oath ceremony, Nitish Kumar had said, "No one should have any confusion that the victory which was registered by NDA in Bihar - it's the victory of the people of Bihar. If somebody is claiming that this is his personal victory, then they are delusional."

Nipah VIrus Outbreak Confirmed In Kerala

Tue, 04 Jun 2019 11:50:09 +0530

A 23-year-old man who was admitted in a private hospital in Kerala's Ernakulam has been tested positive for the deadly Nipah virus. The man who has been infected studied in a college in Thodupuzha in Idukki and had stayed in Thrissur recently. Thrissur district medical officer has said that the student was in Thrissur only for four days and had been suffering from fever. Health officials have started inspecting all the areas where the student visited over the last few days. Four more people, including two nurses have also contracted fever. Two of them had come in contact with the 23-year-old man. Over 80 people, among them 22 students, have been put under surveillance. Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said he is in touch with Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja. "The centre will send monoclonal antibody (medicines) to Kerala. Everything that needs to be done in a scientific manner has been initiated. Nothing to panic” said the union minister. He said the wildlife department has been told to catch bats to test presence of the virus. The medicine, sourced from Australia after the Nipah outbreak last year, is available only with the National Institute of Virology. It was used as a preventive medicine for people who were exposed to the Hendra virus in Australia, which mainly infects large fruit bats and can be passed on to livestock and people.

Mamata Told Not To Block Central Government Initiatives

Sat, 01 Jun 2019 13:43:31 +0530

Minister Debashree Chowdhury has asked Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee not to block central government projects. She said that the West Bengal Chief Minister will face a severe backlash if her government tries to prevent central initiatives from reaching people in her state. She was quoted as saying "I want to work on the basis of mutual understanding with the state government, and expect no hindrance from the Bengal government when it comes to implementing central projects in line with the rest of the country. If the state government tries to hamper our flow of work, the people of the state will remove those impediments." Ms Chowdhury was elected to the Lok Sabha from Bengal's Raiganj in the just-concluded Lok Sabha elections. The BJP leader was appointed as the Union Minister of State for Women and Child Development in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's new cabinet. She said "Women empowerment is a flagship project of the new government. The previous NDA government had also focused on development of women. Our aim will be to achieve our targets in terms of women development in the next five years."

American trade privileges for India to end on June 5

Sat, 01 Jun 2019 11:36:12 +0530

On Friday the United States terminated India’s eligibility for a duty-free import scheme for developing countries. It has stated that the country has not given assurances it “will provide equitable and reasonable access to its markets” to US companies as required under relevant American trade laws. The US has said that it is time for the two countries to move on, and try to resolve other trade irritants. The US official has left open the possibility of restoring these benefits on the condition that India complied with American demands for greater market access to it dairy products and medical devices sectors. Donald Trump said, “I have determined that India has not assured the United States that India will provide equitable and reasonable access to its markets. Accordingly, it is appropriate to terminate India’s designation as a beneficiary developing country effective June 5, 2019.” President Trump had conveyed his intention to terminate India’s eligibility for the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) programme to the US congress on March 4. The formal termination became due on May 4, after the mandatory 60-day notice period.

Rahul Firm On Quitting Party Chief Post

Fri, 31 May 2019 13:47:14 +0530

According to sources Rahul Gandhi has told Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy that he would not continue as Congress president after the latter urged him to reconsider his decision of quitting the party chief post. Sources said that Kumaraswamy who met with the Congress chief before attending Prime Minister Narendra Modi's oath ceremony, urged him to not to quit but Rahul Gandhi remained firm. Rahul is reported to have said that Congress should pick a new president but he would stay to assist him/her. Rahul Gandhi has been adamant on resigning since Saturday. The party has called a meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party on Saturday to take a decision on who will lead it in parliament. In the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections the Congress has won just 52 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha. It didn’t open an account in 18 states and union territories in the national elections. Since the results the party is facing threats to its governments in Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka, where it has very slim majority and the BJP may cause a few defections taking over.

Jagan Mohan Reddy Takes Oath As Andhra Chief Minister

Thu, 30 May 2019 13:03:50 +0530

On Thursday Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy took oath as the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh. The YSR Congress party chief was sworn-in at the packed Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium in Vijayawada. The party made headway to power after winning 151 seats in the 175-member Assembly. Jagan Reddy’s mother Vijayalakshmi, his wife Bharati, sister Sharmila and daughters Harsha Reddy and Varsha Reddy were among the 20,000 people who attended the swearing-in ceremony. Others who attended the ceremony include Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik, DMK chief M K Stalin and Pondicherry minister Malladi Krishna Rao. Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N Chandrababu Naidu had turned down Jagan’s invite.

Shiv Sena Picks Arvind Sawant To Be Cabinet Minister

Thu, 30 May 2019 11:28:33 +0530

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut has announced that the party has picked its leader Arvind Sawant to be a part of the new Narendra Modi cabinet as it takes oath later in the evening. He said “It is decided that there will be one minister from each ally. Arvind Sawant is Shiv Sena’s pick for minister post in PM Modi’s government”. The oath taking ceremony will witness attendance of thousands including foreign dignitaries, allies and adversaries. Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has also confirmed his participation. The ceremony will also be attended by United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi, her son and Congress president Rahul Gandhi and former prime minister Manmohan Singh. The ceremony will be held at 7pm on the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan, where Modi and his cabinet colleagues will be administered the oaths of office and secrecy by President Ram Nath Kovind.

Congress Leaders Not To Join TV Debates For A Month

Thu, 30 May 2019 11:18:27 +0530

On Thursday the Congress party said that going forward for one month it will not send its spokesperson for debates on television news channels. The decision comes amid a crisis over the decision of its president Rahul Gandhi to quit after a dismal electoral performance. The announcement was made by the party’s chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala on his Twitter account. “.@INCIndia has decided to not send spokespersons on television debates for a month. All media channels/editors are requested to not place Congress representatives on their shows,” Randeep Singh Surjewala tweeted. Rahul Gandhi has been firm about quitting as party president despite several Congress leaders’ requests to take back his decision. On Wednesday, Congress workers in several cities across the country held demonstrations urging him keep working as party president. It is reported that the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) will meet at Parliament Annexe on Saturday morning and that it will be presided over by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. It will be attended by all Congress MPs, including Rahul Gandhi.

Dikshit To Persuade Rahul Not To Quit President Post

Wed, 29 May 2019 17:36:42 +0530

Senior Congress leader Sheila Dikshit will lead a group of Congress workers to Rahul Gandhi’s residence to persuade him to not quit the position of Congress President. Rahul has been adamant on quitting the post following a major electoral defeat in recently concluded Lok Sabha elections. Last Saturday Rahul Gandhi said at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting that he had decided to step down as party president. Several party leaders have urged Gandhi not to quit but he has stayed firm on his decision to leave the post. The party won only 52 Lok Sabha seats and its governments in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan face an uncertain future. Shiela Dikshit has said that she is going to be near the residence of Rahul Gandhi and will demonstrate there and to convey that he should not resign. She was quoted as saying, “The party will suffer a very heavy loss which we don’t want. We are going there to plead with him to not do this”.

Mamata Declines Invitation to Modi’s Swearing In Ceremony

Wed, 29 May 2019 15:47:58 +0530

After accepting the invitation to attend PM Modi’s swearing in ceremony west Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee took a U-turn on Wednesday asking to be excused from the ceremony. DIdi was reacting to the allegation that 54 of BJP workers had been killed in political violence in Bengal and called it completely untrue. She wrote "The ceremony is an august occasion to celebrate democracy, not one that should be devalued by any political party that uses it as an opportunity to score political points." After a meeting between Amit Shah and PM Modi the BJP has invited the families of workers allegedly killed in Bengal over the last six years. With the invitation the party has conveyed to its cadre in Bengal that the party stands by them against "violence by Trinamool Congress workers". Mamata reacted sharply to the media reports and stated "Congratulations, new Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji. It was my plan to accept the 'constitutional invitation' and attend the oath-taking ceremony. However, in the last one hour, I am seeing media reports that the BJP are claiming 54 people have been murdered in political violence in Bengal. This is completely untrue. There have been no political murders in Bengal," said the Chief Minister. She added that the deaths may have taken place due to personal enmity, family quarrels and other disputes not related to politics. She said that due to all the reasons mentioned she will not attend Modi’s swearing in ceremony.

India Proposes Meeting With Chinese Leadership

Wed, 29 May 2019 12:11:26 +0530

According to reports India has proposed that the next informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping be held on October 11 in Varanasi. The Chinese side has said that they considering the proposal. The first informal summit between the two leaders had taken place in Wuhan in Hubei province in China on April 27-28, 2018. The two leaders had held discussions for almost 10 hours. According to reports Prime Minister is looking to reciprocate the hospitality extended to him during the informal summit in Wuhan. A possible meeting with Xi in Varanasi will be the third between the two leaders this year.