Month: June 2022

Arrested Punjab Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer Sanjay Popli’s son died of gunshot injuries on Saturday. While the police said Kartik Popli, died by suicide, his family, however, has claimed he was murdered.

“They tortured my child and killed him. They tortured my domestic help for evidence. The entire vigilance bureau and the DSP are under the pressure from the chief minister. This is the way they are killing people,” the distraught mother of Kartik Popli said.
The incident comes days after the Punjab Vigilance Bureau arrested IAS officer Popli and his accomplice on corruption charges.

Anu Preet Kular, a relative of Sanjay Popli alleged that the “Vigilance people murdered him”.

“Vigilance team asked Sanjay Popli to sign on something otherwise it won’t be good for his son. They locked him in a room and took his son upstairs. We were standing downstairs and after some time we heard the sound of gunshots. The Vigilance people murdered him.”

SSP Kuldeep Chahal said that the boy allegedly shot himself in the head with his father’s licensed pistol.

“The vigilance team had arrived (at IAS Sanjay Popli’s house) for an enquiry and heard a gunshot. After verification, they realized that his son had shot himself with his licensed gun. He was taken to a hospital,” SSP Chahal said.

Popli and one more person were arrested by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau last week under allegations of corruption.

He was sent to a four-day police remand. As his remand was ending today, the vigilance team had landed up at his residence today for another inquiry.

Officials said that several gold and silver coins, cash, mobile phones and other electronic devices were recovered from the residence of arrested IAS officer today. (ANI)

US President Joe Biden on Saturday signed into law a bipartisan gun safety bill in order to prevent the access of firearms to dangerous people and to invest in new mental health across the country.

“God willing, it’s going to save a lot of lives,” Biden said at the White House as he finished signing the bill, CNN reported.
In his address during the signing of the bill, Biden announced to host the members of Congress who supported the landmark gun safety legislation at a White House event on July 11.

“When we return from Europe, Jill and I will be hosting an event in the White House on July 11 to mark this historic achievement,” CNN quoted Biden as saying.

The US President further said, “While this bill doesn’t do everything I want, it does include actions I’ve long called for that are going to save lives.”

“Today, we say more than ‘enough.’ We say more than enough. This time, when it seems impossible to get anything done in Washington, we are doing something consequential,” CNN quoted Biden as saying.

“If we can reach compromise on guns, we ought to be able to reach a compromise on other critical issues, from veterans’ health care to cutting edge American innovation and so much more. I know there’s much more work to do, and I’m never going to give up, but this is a monumental day,” Biden added.

Biden signed the bill after it cleared the House and two days after it passed the Senate on Thursday night, where a group of US lawmakers reached the much-awaited deal on the law. The legislation came together in the aftermath of the recent mass shooting incidents in Uvalde, Buffalo and Texas, that struck a nerve in the country.

The bill — titled the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act — was released by Republican Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Democratic Sens. Chris Murphy of Connecticut and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, CNN reported.

The final vote was 65 to 33 with 15 Republicans joining Democrats in support of the measure, marking a significant bipartisan breakthrough on one of the most contentious policy issues in the US.

The bill represents a rare moment of bipartisan agreement on a hyperpolarized issue, The Hill reported.

The bill does not ban assault-style rifles or significantly expand background-check requirements for gun purchases but aims to take firearms away from dangerous people.

It comes with a USD 13.2 billion price tag and it includes millions of dollars for mental health, school safety, crisis intervention programs and incentives for states to include juvenile records in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.

This move comes after the May 24 massacre at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, that killed 19 children and two teachers.

It was the bloodiest mass shooting in the United States this year, which occurred only 10 days after another shooting that killed 10 people at a supermarket in Buffalo. (ANI)

An encounter broke out in the Shirmal area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian on Saturday, the police said.

#Encounter has started at Shirmal area of #Shopian. Police and security forces are on the job. Further details shall follow. @JmuKmrPolice,” Kashmir Zone Police tweeted.
Further details awaited.

On June 15, one out of the two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists killed in the Shopian encounter had been involved in the killing of Vijay Kumar (bank manager) from the Kulgam district, informed the police.

The banker, Vijay Kumar, was a resident of Hanumangarh in Rajasthan and was working in Kulgam. The banker was shot dead by terrorists in daylight.

On June 20, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir Vijay Kumar said that seven terrorists including three Pakistanis were killed in encounters with security forces in the Valley.

Speaking to ANI, the IGP said, “An encounter began in Kupwara on Sunday. Two LeT terrorists from Pakistan were killed yesterday itself. Another Pakistani terrorist was gunned down early morning today. A local terrorist from Shopian, Showkat was gunned down along with him.” (ANI)

Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has issued instructions to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to make all its services that require a public interface to be IT-enabled and made online by 31 July, an official statement informed on Saturday.

Reviewing the IT initiatives being undertaken by the MCD in a meeting, Saxena emphasized that all citizen-centric services like registration of birth and death, property tax, e-mutation, building plan sanction, layout approval, licenses, conversion and parking charges, advertisement and hoarding fees collection, cremation and burials and tracking of garbage vehicles etc. that were hitherto being planned to be computerized in a piece-meal manner, be brought online on a common simply accessible platform and made fully IT-enabled by July 31.

Insisting that the aim should be to ensure minimum human interface in the delivery of its services, the LG said that this will while ensuring effective and timely delivery also cut red tape, minimize inconvenience and harassment of common people and curtail inefficiency and corruption at all levels.

He asked for linkage of this database to the government departments that provided services like food security, pensions, maternity benefits and other welfare schemes so that automatic updating or deletion of names could happen upon birth or death.

This he said will ensure plugging leakages and put a stop to instances of ghost beneficiaries. Upon being informed about the high figure of 26 per cent of births being registered to have happened at home and not in a hospital/nursing home, he instructed officials to randomly check a ward with the highest at-home births and find out the reasons behind it.

Directing officials to achieve full automation in property tax filing, collection, assessment and recovery, Saxena advised that all properties within the city limits, commercial as well as residential be brought under the tax net so that MCD’s incomes increase and it is able to provide better services.

Expressing concern over the fact that properties, commercial establishments and people in as much as 65 per cent of the geographical area of Delhi did not pay any property tax, LG said that it was unfortunate, unfair and unviable situation.

Since the entire city and not only the 35 per cent of residents of 11 lakhs houses living in authorized colonies were availing of the amenities and services offered by the Municipal Corporation, it would only be fair and justified that all pay property tax at differential rates as per their respective self-assessed financial status.

For this purpose, he instructed officials to simplify the forms for property tax registration and ensure its Aadhar linkage.

In this regard, the LG asked officials to take the people and RWAs on board and address their concerns.

Such partnership with the people, he said will not only facilitate honest self-assessment on part of the assesses but also increase tax collection and transparency and ensure better services to the people. (ANI)

Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan on Saturday spoke about his experience of working with Salman Khan and the bond they share.

The ‘My Name is Khan’ actor spoke about Salman during a rare #AskSRK interactive session which was hosted on Instagram by him to celebrate 30 years of his Bollywood journey.
Among the fans, who were present during this live session, was one who asked the superstar about his work experience with Salman. “With Salman Khan, there is no working experience. There is only love experience, happy experiences, friendly experiences and brotherly experiences. So, it is amazing whenever I get to work with him,” he said.

Shah Rukh continued, “We haven’t done a full-fledged film together apart from Karan Arjun, which also was not full-fledged as we were not together in it for too long. So, we get to work four-five days in a year sometimes. Last two years have been fantastic as I got to be in one of his films. I had a couple of days role with Kabir Khan. And he came in Zero and did a song with me.”

He also touched upon his and Salman’s forthcoming much-awaited projects. “Now, in Pathaan. I don’t know if this is a secret but inshallah, I will try to in Tiger 3 also. So, it is great fun working with him.”

The news regarding Shah Rukh and Salman’s cameo in each other’s films had been confirmed last year by the latter during his birthday bash. “We will both be seen in ‘Tiger 3’ as well as in ‘Pathan’. Tiger will release by December next year. ‘Pathan’ may release before it, aur phir dono shayad saath aayenge,” Salman said, at the time.

During today’s live #AskSRK session, the 56-year-old actor had shared that the team of ‘Pathaan’ might release the trailer in November or December. Earlier today Shah Rukh had unveiled the first motion poster of his forthcoming film ‘Pathaan’, which left his fans excited.

Apart from ‘Pathaan’, Shah Rukh has several projects in the pipeline including ‘Jawan’ and ‘Dunki’ among others. (ANI)

‘Bigg Boss’ fame Shehnaaz Gill posted a video of herself enjoying the sunset on a yacht on social media.

Taking to her Instagram handle on Saturday, she dropped a video where she can be seen enjoying the breeze and the sunset and dancing with a help of a pole on a yacht. She wore a black polka dress with dewy earrings and left her hair open.

Sharing the post, she wrote, “Riveting sunsets #shehnaazgill.” As soon as she dropped the video on the photo-sharing app, fans filled the comment section with heart and fire emoticons.

A fan wrote, “looking gorgeous” while another fan commented, “Sunset Is Looking More Beautiful Because You Are There…”

Recently, Shehnaaz made a ramp debut in bridal attire where she was looking extremely pretty.

Shehnaaz was last seen in the Punjabi film, ‘Honsla Rakh’ opposite Diljit Dosanjh. She is reported to make her Bollywood debut very soon. Due to Shehnaaz’s close proximity to Actor Salman Khan, fans have been speculating that she will be seen in his next film ‘Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali’. (ANI)

Two Taiwanese officials were indicted for their alleged involvement in developing a spying network for China, according to media reports.

Chien Yao-tung, a former Air Force Major General and Wei Hsien-yi, a former Lieutenant colonel were charged with contravening the National Security Act, the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office said on Friday, according to Focus Taiwan.
According to prosecutors, Chien and Wei provided introductions for Tse, a Hong Kong man surnamed Tse, to at least five high-ranking former officers — including Chang Che-ping, who served as deputy defence minister in 2019.

Prosecutors said Tse, posing as a businessman, was actually working for a front organization set up by the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Military Commission to gather intelligence about Taiwan’s military and politics and conduct counterespionage, according to local media.

Chien and Wei continued to arrange banquets and accept gifts from Tse to arrange meetings with retired officers, until Tse, fearing his cover had been blown, abruptly ceased his visits to Taiwan in 2019, according to prosecutors, Focus Taiwan reported. (ANI)

The Philippines has terminated talks with China for a joint energy project in the South China Sea after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered an end to negotiations, according to a media report.

According to Teodoro Locsin, the foreign secretary of the Philippines, Manila has terminated talks with Beijing over joint oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea, NHK World reported.
During a speech in Manila on Thursday, Teodoro Locsin said that outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte had ordered the complete termination of the discussions.

The Philippines and China have conflicting territorial claims in the South China Sea. But in 2018 Duterte signed a memorandum with Chinese President Xi Jinping on joint resource exploration.

China later proposed a joint project in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. One condition set by Beijing was to put aside an international arbitration ruling that rejected China’s claim over most of the South China Sea.

The two countries had been discussing how to realize the plan.

“Three years on and we had not achieved our objective of developing oil and gas resources so critical for the Philippines but not at the price of sovereignty. Not even a particle of it,” Locsin has said, as per NHK World.

He also called on the incoming Philippine administration to protect the country’s sovereignty.

President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr is set to take office on June 30.

For decades, China has been in disputes with several countries in the Asia-Pacific region over the territorial belonging of a number of islands in the South China Sea, on the shelf of which significant reserves of hydrocarbons have been discovered.

The situation in the region is often complicated by the passage of US warships here, which, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, violate international law and undermine China’s sovereignty and security. Despite protests from Beijing, Washington has repeatedly said that the United States will float wherever international law permits. (ANI)

A fire broke out at a commercial complex near Parimal Garden in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad on Saturday evening, said fire department officials.

The fire started on the third floor of the complex which also has a hospital on the fourth floor,

According to fire officer Jayesh Khadia, more than 50 persons including 10 children were rescued from the hospital.

At least 27 fire tenders were rushed to the fire site to take control of the situation.

Further details are awaited.

Earlier on June 3, an explosion and a fire occurred at a chemical company in Gujarat’s Vadodara, but no casualty was reported. (ANI)

Actor Ranveer Singh never fails to gather all the eyeballs with his unusual dressing sense, and now the actor has again come into the limelight after a video of his has gone viral where was ‘showing off’ his Versace undergarments at an award function.

At the recently Pinkvilla Style Icon Awards, the ‘Padmavat’ actor stood up to the stage and shared a hilarious incident that happened between him and his close friend and ‘Gunday’ co-actor Arjun Kapoor regarding ‘sasti chaddi’ (cheap undergarments) at a mall in Dubai.
The 36-year-old actor stated that Arjun Kapoor plays a very big role in his style evolution. “He was the first person to tell me that I could actually buy expensive clothes. 3 years into the show business and he sat me down in a mall in Dubai and said, ‘baba you can afford to buy this underwear. Tu sasti chadiya kyu pehen raha hai? Movie star hai tu movie star’. Today Arjun Kapoor will be very proud that I am head-to-toe in Versace.” Ranveer stated in his speech.

Later on, the ‘Gully Boy’ actor was seen flaunting his Versace undergarment on stage which made everyone laugh.

This video of Ranveer’s hilarious speech has gone viral on social media and fans flooded the comment section with laughter emoticons, meanwhile many netizens even slammed the ‘Jayeshbhai Jordaar’ actor for his on-stage behaviour.

“Being hero doesn’t mean u speak shit come on man show some decency” a user commented on the video.

Another user wrote, “kuch b Sharam ati h bollywood me aisi harkatein dekh k…(Ashamed to see these kind of behaviour in Bollywood)

Ranveer and Arjun share a very strong bond and fans often see their love for each other on social media.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Ranveer Singh was recently seen in ‘Jayeshbhai Jordaar’ and now he has Rohit Shetty’s ‘Cirkus’ and Karan Johar’s ‘Rocky Aur Rani ki prem kahaani’ with Alia Bhatt in his kitty. (ANI)