Month: June 2022

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami won the Champawat bypoll by a margin of over 55,000 votes. This was a much-needed victory for Dhami to continue to remain as the chief minister as he had lost the state Assembly polls held earlier this year despite the BJP’s landslide victory.

“BJP registers win in Champawat by-elections,” Dhami said in a tweet.
Dhami secured 58,258 votes against Congress candidate Nirmala Gahatodi who grabbed only 3,233 votes. Apart from Dhami and Congress’ Gahatodi, Manoj Kumar Bhatt from Samajwadi Party and Independent candidate Himanshu Gadkoti were also in the fray. The polling took place on May 31.

Uttarakhand BJP president Madan Kaushik congratulated Dhami on the win.

“Hearty congratulations and best wishes to the Honorable Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Dhami

ji on winning the Champawat by-election with huge votes,” he said.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who campaigned for Dhami ahead of the polling and held a roadshow with him in Tanakpur in the Champawat district, also congratulated Dhami for the “historic” victory.

Adityanath said that this victory is dedicated to the people’s welfare policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Dhami’s leadership and the hard work of BJP workers.

“Hearty congratulations to the successful Chief Minister of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand, Shri Pushkar Dhami ji for winning the historic victory in the Champawat Vidhan Sabha by-election. This victory is dedicated to the people’s welfare policies of the respected Prime Minister, your developmental leadership and the hard work of BJP workers,” said Adityanath, who also hails from Uttarakhand, in a tweet.

Dhami, who had lost the Khatima seat in the State Assembly polls, contested from Champawat to become an MLA. According to the Constitution, he needs to fulfil this requirement within six months of being sworn in to continue as the chief minister.

Dhami lost the Khatima constituency to candidate Bhuwan Chandra Kapri by a margin of 6,579 votes. Later, BJP MLA Kailash Gehtori resigned from the Champawat assembly seat to pave the way for Dhami to contest by-polls.

The Chief Minister visited a polling booth today in Banbasa and also offered prayers at a temple in Khatima. Earlier, he exuded confidence in winning the bypoll stating that it is not “even a party poll now” as the people will vote for him.

The BJP won the popular mandate for the second consecutive term in Uttarakhand, bagging 47 seats in the 70-member Assembly, crushing the Congress’ hopes of returning to power. (ANI)

Setting an example for self-love, a 24-year-old woman from Gujarat’s Vadodra is all set to marry herself on June 11.

Kshama Bindu, a young private firm employee, is all set to tie the knot with herself in what is called ‘Sologamy’ or ‘self-marriage’.
From the ‘pheras’ to ‘Sindoor’ to a Goa honeymoon, Bindu is going to get married with all rituals and customs of a Hindu wedding. However, the wedding will be missing a groom.

Bindu believes that it is necessary to have a love for each other in a marriage and said that she loves herself and that is why, she is marrying herself.

When she told her parents about her decision to enter into Sologamy, her parents were astonished at first but agreed later.

While talking to ANI, he said, “I had this idea in my mind for a long but didn’t think it’d be possible. Then I read about ‘sologamy’. That’s when I thought let’s marry myself.”

The news of her marriage gained mixed reactions from the Twitteratis, Some mocked her, while some supported self-acceptance.

Bindu has broken all the stereotypes of matrimony and has set an example for all the people tired of finding true love or a compatible partner.

Claiming her marriage to be the first case of ‘Sologamy’ in India, Bindu shared that she decided to come into this uncommon arrangement to set a trend in the country.

According to legal experts, the concept of self-marriage is not a binding or a legal affair in India.

As per the Hindu law, marriage is a religious sacrament in which a man and a woman are bound in a permanent relationship for the physical, social and spiritual needs for dharma, procreation and sexual pleasure. (ANI)

US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris met NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and discussed the implications of war between Russia and Ukraine for transatlantic security.

“The leaders discussed the implications of Russia’s war on Ukraine for Transatlantic security and the importance of strengthening NATO’s deterrence and defense, in addition to ensuring NATO is properly resourced to address a wide range of challenges, from cyber to climate change,” a White House said in a statement on Thursady (local time).
Biden and Kamala Harris met with North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) chief to prepare for the June 29-30 NATO Summit in Madrid.

“They also welcomed the applications by Finland and Sweden for NATO membership, and President Biden conveyed his strong support for efforts by Secretary General Stoltenberg to facilitate a rapid accession process that addresses the security concerns of all Allies,” the statement read further.

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met separately with Secretary General Stoltenberg, it added.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has the summit between NATO leaders in June will assess the military alliance’s future relationship with Russia, which has soured since the start of “military operation” in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the US Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued a notice today in which it published the names of 71 newly blacklisted Russian entities, including aircraft and shipbuilding companies.

“In response to the Russian Federation’s (Russia’s) further invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the Department of Commerce is amending the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) by adding 71 entities… to the Entity List. These entities have been determined by the US government to be acting contrary to the national security interests or foreign policy of the United States,” the BIS notice said.

The sanctioned entities include the Chkalov Novosibirsk Aviation Plant, Irkutsk Aviation Plant, St. Petersburg Shipbuilding Institution Krylov 45, Far Eastern Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Center and the All Russian Research Institute of Experimental Physics, among others, as per reports. (ANI)

After nearly three months, the daily tally of COVID-19 cases in India crossed the 4,000-mark, as the country logged 4,041 infections in the last 24 hours on Friday.

India had recorded as many as 4,194 COVID-19 cases on March 11.
Yesterday, the country witnessed a jump of nearly 1,000 COVID-19 cases in a single day, recording 3,712 fresh infections.

The daily positivity rate of 0.95 per cent was observed in the last 24 hours, while the weekly positivity rate was recorded to be 0.73 per cent, the health ministry informed today.

With the addition of fresh infections, the country’s COVID-19 active cumulative caseload stood at 21,177.

With 2,363 recoveries in the last 24 hours hence, the total recoveries now reached 4,26,22,757. India’s Recovery Rate is currently at 98.74 per cent.

As per the health ministry, India conducted 4,25,379 COVID-19 tests in the last 24 hours. The country has so far conducted 85.17 crore total tests, as per the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) data.

The country has administered more than 193.83 crore vaccine doses so far under the Nationwide Vaccination Drive. (ANI)

India on Thursday emphasised that its approach to Russian oil imports is guided by energy security requirements and many regions and countries have taken policy decisions recently with a similar perspective.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said at a regular media briefing that the import of Russian oil is “not an India-related issue at all”.

“We have consistently maintained that our approach is guided by our energy security requirements. You would note that many regions and countries have taken policy decisions recently with a similar perspective. We would like to reiterate that this is not an India-related issue at all,” Bagchi said.

He was answering a query on increase in the import of Russian crude oil.

In 2020-21, India imported 85 per cent of its crude oil requirements and 54 per cent of its natural gas requirement.

Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had said earlier that crude oil imports from Russia were a minuscule part of total such imports and the government was open to buying it if the terms were right.

The Union Minister had also referred to the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on fuel prices.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had also said in April that India’s total purchases of Russian oil for one month were less than what Europe does in one afternoon. (ANI)

Pakistan government has announced another hike in the prices of all petroleum products by another Rs 30 — barely a week after making a similar increase in petrol prices. The hike comes into effect from June 3.

In the new scheme of things, petrol in Pakistan will be priced at Rs209.86, diesel Rs204.15, kerosene oil Rs181.94 and light diesel at Rs178.31. Only kerosene oil’s price was hiked by less than Rs30, according to a report publised in Pakistan English daily The Dawn.

“The government is still facing a loss of around Rs9 in petrol despite a hike of Rs30 as we are not collecting any tax on the fuel,” Finance Minister Miftah Ismail said. He added that the government was holding talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on a daily basis, and although Pakistan “cannot accept all their demands but there are certain points that we have to agree to.”

The minister said the Pakistan government would ensure stability in prices of sugar and wheat at Rs70 per kg and Rs40 per kg respectively at utility stores countrywide and insisted the subsidy on petroleum products announced by ex-premier Imran Khan had to be withdrawn to avert financial losses.

“Irrespective of what the IMF says, the government cannot sell petrol and diesel at a loss,” he said, adding that the government was “willing” to import oil [from Russia], provided “it does not come with sanctions”.

The price hikes come after the government and the IMF failed to reach an agreement on an economic bailout mainly because of the former’s indecision on fuel and electricity subsidies and the resultant next year’s budget uncertainties.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government on Thursday gave approval to a caste-based census, informed Bihar Chief Secretary Amir Subhani.

The government has allocated a budget of Rs 500 crore for the survey. The exercise will be completed by February next year.

At the state level, the survey will be carried out by the General Administration Department, and on the district level, DM will be the nodal officer. Both of these will be incharge of the panchayat level and block level.

The decision was taken during a cabinet meeting chaired by Kumar earlier in the day.

Leaders of all nine political parties were present in the meeting and gave some important suggestions to the Chief Minister.

While talking to the mediapersons, Subhani said, “Caste-based survey approved, to be carried out by the state. At the state level, it will be carried out by the General Administration department on the district level, DM will be the nodal officer. Both of these will be incharge of panchayat level and block level.”

“During this, efforts would be made to take surveys on an economic basis. Rs 500 crores will be given for the survey. An aim to complete it by 2023 has been set,” he added.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said, “In the all-party meeting, we unanimously decided that a caste-based census will be conducted in a set time frame. Soon a cabinet decision will be taken and it will be available in the public domain.”

The Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav had declared the announcement as a “win” and said, “It’s a caste-based survey, not a census. It’s our win. Today we suggested (in the all-party meeting) that social anthropologists should be included in this and the Central government should also support it financially.”

“This survey is in the interest of the people of Bihar,” Yadav had added.

“We have said to bring the bill in the next cabinet meeting and start it in November, as the people who reside outside Bihar will also come to the state during Chhath puja and by then we too will complete preparations for it,” he had said further.

Highlighting the importance of the caste-based census, CM Kumar on May 25 had said that it would enable the government to work for the development of various sections of the society. (ANI)

The Pakistani masses who are under the burden of rising inflation and a deteriorating economy were shocked by the rise in basic electricity tariff by Rs 7.9 per unit.

Pakistan’s National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) on Thursday raised the electricity tariff for the next fiscal year 2022-23, reported Geo News.

NEPRA cited an increase in fuel prices, capacity cost, and the impact of the devaluation of the Pakistani rupee as reasons behind the increase in electricity tariff.

The decision has been taken in line with the International Monetary Fund’s demands and the power distribution companies’ requests. Currently, the basic power tariff is Rs 16.91 per unit and with an increase of Rs 7.9078 per unit, it will be more than Rs 24 per unit, reported Geo News. (ANI)

Actor Tiger Shroff recently shared a video on social media in Abu Dhabi with him all prepped up to attend the 22nd edition of the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards, to be held at Yas Island, in the UAE.

The action star recently took to his Instagram handle to share a classy video. He also attached a few of his still pictures at the end of the video.

“IIFA here we go” he captioned the post.

In the video, Tiger can be seen wearing an aqua coloured linen jacket with linen trousers of the same colour. The ‘Baaghi’ actor decided to sport a simple white-hued shirt inside and matched the attire with shiny, gold-rimmed, sea-green sunglasses. The minimalistic golden-tinged neckpiece alongside Tiger’s rugged look added to the charm of the actor.

Tiger did not forget to add some still pictures, adorning the IIFA special outfit, striking some chic poses.

Tiger Shroff had left for Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. He was spotted at the airport wearing casuals.

On the work front, Tiger has wrapped up the shoot of his new film ‘Ganpath’. After an arduous schedule in Ladakh, the actor will now begin preparations for his next film, titled ‘Rambo’, followed by ‘Bade Miyan Chote Miyan’ alongside Akshay Kumar.

‘Ganpath’ will be hit the theatres on December 23, 2022.

The 22nd edition of the International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) will have some big stars from Bollywood walk the red carpet and entertain the audience.

Apart from Tiger Shroff, celebrities like Shahid Kapoor, Kartik Aryan, Sara Ali Khan, Ananya Pandey, Divya Khosla Kumar, and Nora Fatehi, are expected to set the stage on fire with their performances on June 4 during the main awards evening.

IIFA Rocks 2022 will be hosted by filmmaker Farah Khan Kunder and actor Aparshakti Khurana on June 3. Salman Khan, Riteish Deshmukh, and Maniesh Paul will serve as hosts for the main night on June 4. (ANI)

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday said the Central government has been in the process to establish “PM Shri schools” which aim to prepare students for the future and will be a laboratory for new National Education Policy (NEP).

The Union Minister addressed the inaugural session on the second day of the National School Education Ministers’ Conference in Gujarat.
The Minister informed, “The Government is in the process of establishing PM Shri schools which will be fully equipped to prepare students for the future. These state-of-the-art schools will be the laboratory of NEP 2020.”

He solicited suggestions and feedback from all our states/UTs and the entire education ecosystem for creating a futuristic benchmark model in the form of PM Shri schools.

Speaking on the occasion, Pradhan said that school education is the foundation of a knowledge-based society and NEP is a knowledge document that aims to promote all-around development and make education accessible to everyone.

The Minister said, “We are in the age of Amrit Kaal. The next 25 years are crucial to establishing India as a knowledge economy that is committed to global welfare.”

“We are a civilisation which beliefs in Vasudhaiv Kutumbukam and we must realise that we have not only responsibilities of our nation but also that of the world,” he added.

The Minister urged that as “We prepare for the opportunities and challenges of the 21st century, we must leverage technology to strengthen our education and skilling ecosystem.”

On Tuesday, during the visit to various education and skilling institutions, a glimpse of various dimensions of 21st-century futuristic education systems was presented, he added.

The Minister highlighted the 5+3+3+4 approach of NEP covering pre-school to secondary, emphasis on ECCE, teacher training and adult education, integration of skill development with school education and prioritising learning in mother tongue which are steps for preparing global citizens of the 21st century.

The Minister stressed that experience and knowledge sharing from all state education ministers in structured and outcome-based discussions at the conference today will lead one step further towards transforming the learning landscape, in line with the NEP 2020.

He expressed confidence that the deliberations taking place at this conference will go a long way in strengthening the education system across the country.

Addressing a conference Chief Minister of Gujarat Bhupendra Patel clearly stated that, realizing the need to constantly redefine and redesign the teaching and learning process, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has changed the 34-year-old education policy and has given the new national education policy to the country considering knowledge as the best treasure as per our culture.

The entire nation is joining hands under the leadership of the Prime Minister to realize the goal of the National Education Policy to provide equal and high-quality education to all, he said.

The Chief Minister stated that education, health and security are key factors in the development of any nation, state or society.

Providing inclusive and equitable education in place of stereotyped and outdated education is the need of the hour, he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given this New Education Policy with the commitment to provide such timely education to the children and future generations of the nation.

During the eight-year tenure of PM Modi, many new initiatives have been taken in the country; New Education Policy is one of them.

As a result of this policy, the youth of the nation will also get higher education in their regional language. Expenditure on education in the country has almost been doubled, at the same time, enough emphasis has been placed on skill development and the skills of 1.34 crore youth of the country have been enhanced.

Chief Minister of Gujarat, Bhupendrabhai Patel; Chief Minister of Goa Pramod Sawant; Union Ministers of State for Education and Skill Development, Education Ministers of State Governments Chairperson of Steering committee for developing a new National Curriculum Framework, K Kasturirangan and senior officials from Ministry of Education and State Governments attended the conference. (ANI)