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Front Page

- At 33.3°C, city suffers warmest night in 6 years

- Binsar fire: 3 senior officials face action

- Man loses life in bid to burn neighbour

- US court levies $194 m penal charges on TCS

- Telcos start trials to display caller names

- THE LAST GOODBYE

- Party that turned arrogant stopped at 240: RSS neta

- IIT-K student found dead in ’22 was shot, stabbed: HC-appointed expert

- Hyundai plans `25k cr IPO, India’s biggest

- Every fifth immigrant doc in US is an Indian

- IN THE COURTS

- Dera chief files plea in HC for 21-day furlough

- Pawan is Andhra dy CM, Naidu’s son given IT

- Informal sector recovered after Covid hit: Survey

- ‘Drunk’ soldier pees in train berth, wets woman below

- 5 pilgrims die in MP as tractor overturns

- NCLT admits BoM’s plea on Supernova

- No spl treatment for Darshan: Min

- HC to cops: No coercive action against BSY

- PM at G7: End monopoly on tech, all should get access

- Modi meets Biden, also has surprise chat with Trudeau

- Arundhati Roy can be prosecuted under UAPA: LG

- HDK questions US firm getting `3.2cr subsidy for every job it creates in Guj

- SC agrees to hear plea for CBI to investigate NEET ‘irregularities’

- Can’t trace bones purported to be Sheena’s: CBI to court

- Madras HC acquits 7 death row convicts

At 33.3°C, city suffers warmest night in 6 years

With no respite from heat any time of the day, the minimum temperature on Friday zoomed to 33.3 degrees Celsius, five above normal, making it the warmest night Delhiites have suffered in six years. Later in the day, heatwave conditions continued in parts of Delhi for the sixth consecutive day.

P7

Binsar fire: 3 senior officials face action

Three senior forest department officials faced action, a day after a wildfire incident in Binsar sanctuary claimed the lives of four foresters &left four with severe burns. Uttarakhand CM Dhami ordered strict action against the “negligent” officials.

P 15

Man loses life in bid to burn neighbour

A 70-year-old man was burnt to death as he allegedly doused his neighbour with petrol and set him on fire in Ghaziabad on Thursday night. Sitaram’s body was found on a farm while his neighbour, Nepal (55), who got serious burns, is in hospital.

P 14

US court levies $194 m penal charges on TCS

A US court has ruled that TCS is liable for misappropriation of trade secrets and levied penal charges of $194m on the IT major, a regulatory filing said. TCS, however, said it is taking steps to protect its interest through review or appeal.

P 25

Telcos start trials to display caller names

Seeking to check pesky calling, govt has instructed telecos to start trials where names of callers are displayed for unknown numbers or those that are not saved in your phone book. The move is being opposed by most telecos over privacy issue.

P15

THE LAST GOODBYE

It was a sombre scene at Kochi airport as a special IAF flight landed Friday with coffins carrying the bodies of Indians killed in the fire tragedy at a building housing migrant workers in Kuwait on June 12. Among the victims were Angad Gupta of UP’s Gorakhpur, father of three and the family’s sole breadwinner; Lokanadam Tamada of Andhra’s Srikakulam who had just returned from a holiday back home and was gearing up to marry; and Sreehari from Kerala’s Kottayam who followed in his father’s footsteps but did not live to collect his first salary. (Above) Cibin Abraham’s uncle, James, from Mallapally wrapped his arms around the casket and cried inconsolably. The bodies of 23 Keralites were escorted to hometowns, while seven bodies were sent to Tamil Nadu. Fourteen coffins were flown to Delhi from Kochi

P 15

Party that turned arrogant stopped at 240: RSS neta

Sangh Distances Itself From Remarks

Akhilesh Singh & Shoeb Khan

New Delhi/Jaipur: Senior RSS functionary Indresh Kumar on Thursday said BJP got stranded at the 240-mark and failed to get a majority in the Lok Sabha because of its arrogance even as he termed the opposition “anti-Ram”.

“See ‘vidhan’ (working) of Ram rajya in democracy. The party which did bhakti (of Lord Ram) but gradually turned arrogant was stopped at 240 but emerged as the biggest party,” Kumar said. “Those who had no faith in Ram, they together were stopped at 234,”

His remarks at the ‘Ramrath Ayodhya Yatra Darshan Poojan Samaroh’ at Kanota near Jaipur fanned speculation sparked by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s comment earlier in the week about the need for public servants to shed arrogance. The Sangh leadership distanced the organisation from Kumar’s observations. They also denied Bhagwat’s advice to “sevaks” to get rid of their ego was aimed at BJP.

 ‘Linking not fair’, P 23

‘Probe if graft-free image has been hit’

RSS journal ‘Organiser’ has attributed the BJP dip to “lack of a grand national narrative unlike 2014 and 2019”, urged it to assess whether embracing tainted netas harmed its graft-free image and called for scanning a “possible foreign hand” in the outcome.

P 23

IIT-K student found dead in ’22 was shot, stabbed: HC-appointed expert

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Kolkata: IIT Kharagpur student Faizan Ahmed was “shot in the neck, stabbed and hit in the chest with a heavy weapon”, an external forensics expert appointed by Calcutta high court told a special investigating team (SIT) probing the Assam boy’s death, strengthening his parents’ suspicion that their son didn’t die by suicide.

Faizan, a third-year mechanical engineering student, was found dead in a room at Lala Lajpat Rai Hostel on October 14, 2022. The room — C-205 — was not his.

The SIT probe into the student’s death is being monitored by Calcutta high court, which appointed forensics expert Ajoy Kumar Gupta to look at the case afresh. “I was provided (additional) video footage (of the body), based on which I came to a conclusion...As you might be aware, I had been asked by HC to provide a second opinion. I have already conveyed my opinion to SIT,” he told TOI Friday. K Jayaraman, head of the SIT probing the case, said, “we found no clue of homicide”.

 ‘No clue of homicide’, P 19

Hyundai plans `25k cr IPO, India’s biggest

Pankaj Doval & Partha Sinha

New Delhi/Mumbai: Korean car major Hyundai Motor is looking to sell around 17% stake in its Indian arm through an initial share sale, which may be India’s biggest issue so far, to raise as much as Rs 25,000 crore (around $3 billion), valuing the company at around $18 billion, or around Rs 1.5 lakh crore.

With this, Hyundai will join other auto players such as Maruti Suzuki, Mahindra & Mahindra and Tata Motors in tapping the capital markets for raising funds. Others such as Ola have also lined up an IPO, with the proposal cleared by market regulator Sebi recently.

The Indian arm of the Korean firm, which had been preparing for the IPO for the last one year or so, is likely to file the draft red herring prospectus with Sebi soon.

‘Offer for sale’, P 25

Every fifth immigrant doc in US is an Indian

Mumbai: India is the top source country when it comes to immigrant physicians and surgeons (doctors) working in the US and the second-largest source country for registered nurses. In terms of the total number of immigrant healthcare professionals working in the US, including home health aides and nursing assistants, India dropped to third place, after the Philippines and Mexico.

Of the 9.9 lakh doctors in the US, nearly 26.5%, or 2.6 lakh, are immigrants. More Indians have moved to the US to work as physicians than any other country. There are 59,000 Indian doctors in the US — one in five (or 22%) of all immigrant doctors are In- dians. In comparison, there are 16,000 doctors born in China and Hong Kong (6% of the immigrant doctor population) practising in the US. TNN

No. 2 among nurses, P 24

IN THE COURTS

➤ Madras HC wonders if Labrador Retriever breed can be classified as ‘ferocious’ and banned post a child attack case. ‘It (incident) is highly unusual,’ HC says

FLAP INSIDE

➤ Delhi court grants regular bail to Kashmiri separatist Shabir Ahmed Shah in a laundering case

FLAP INSIDE

➤ A Delhi court seeks reply from Tihar Jail head on CM Kejriwal’s plea to allow wife Sunita to join proceedings through VC when a medical board examines him

P 10

➤ Punjab & Haryana HC rejects plea by a Punjab cop’s son seeking a job on grounds that his dad had participated in anti-terrorist ops

FLAP INSIDE

Dera chief files plea in HC for 21-day furlough

The controversial head of the Dera Sacha Sauda, Gurmeet Ram Rahim, has approached the Punjab & Haryana HC seeking directions for Haryana to grant him 21 days’ furlough so that he can carry out “welfare activities”. He was released on 50 days’ parole on Jan 19 this year. He submitted that an application for furlough was made to the authorities but due to an HC stay order dated Feb 29 it was not considered.

P16

Pawan is Andhra dy CM, Naidu’s son given IT

As expected, Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday appointed Jana Sena chief and film star Pawan Kalyan as his deputy. While keeping general administration, law & order, public enterprises, and all portfolios not allocated to any minister with himself, Naidu gave panchayati raj, rural development & water supply, environment & forests, and S&T to Pawan. Naidu’s son, Nara Lokesh, has got IT and electronics.

P16

Informal sector recovered after Covid hit: Survey

The informal sector took a severe hit during the second wave of the Covid pandemic, but recovered gradually after July quarter of 2021, the findings of an official survey showed Friday. The number of establishments in the sector — such as barber shops and cycle repair units — rose from 5.8 crore in 2021-22 to 6.5 crore in 202223, a growth of nearly 5.9%, showed the annual survey of unincorporated sector enterprises (ASUSE). P25

P25

‘Drunk’ soldier pees in train berth, wets woman below

A woman travelling on the Gondwana Express from Delhi’s Hazrat Nizamuddin to Durg in Chhattisgarh has alleged that a drunk soldier urinated in his berth and it trickled down on her while she slept. The incident occurred when the train was about to reach Gwalior on Tuesday. The passenger reported her complaint to PMO after RPF allegedly failed to act. TNN

5 pilgrims die in MP as tractor overturns

Three girls and two women — including a woman and two daughters — were killed and 17 injured when a tractor-trolley carrying devotees overturned in Datia district of MP Friday. TNN

NCLT admits BoM’s plea on Supernova

NCLT has admitted an insolvency plea by Bank of Maharashtra to realise its investment in Supernova — Supertech’s luxury residential and commercial project off Noida eway.

P13

No spl treatment for Darshan: Min

Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara said Friday no special treatment was given to actor Darshan and said police should be allowed to investigate without interference.

P 16

HC to cops: No coercive action against BSY

Bengaluru: Karnataka HC restrained CID Friday from taking any coercive measure such as arrest against former chief minister BS Yediyurappa in a Pocso case linked to an alleged sexual assault on a 17-year-old girl, saying that the BJP veteran was “not a Tom, Dick or Harry” to flee the country.

Justice Krishna S Dixit directed Yediyurappa, against whom a non-bailable arrest warrant was issued Thursday by a fast-track court on a plea by CID, to keep his commitment to appear before police for questioning on June 17. TNN

Cong accused of..., P 16

PM at G7: End monopoly on tech, all should get access

Cites India’s Success In Digital Deliveries

US President Joe Biden & PM Narendra Modi at the G7 summit on Friday

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: Calling for efforts to ensure that the benefits of technology reach all sections of society, unleashing the potential of every individual and helping eliminate social inequalities, PM Narendra Modi said at the G7 summit that the global community must turn monopoly in technology into mass usage.

“This should not just be our desire, but our responsibility,” he said. For technology to be successful, it has to be underpinned by a human-centric approach, Modi said at the G7 outreach session on AI and energy as he cited India’s success in leveraging digital technology for public service delivery.

“We must make technology creative, not destructive. Only then will we be able to lay the foundation of an inclusive society,’’ he said and also referred to India’s AI Mission premised on “AI for All”.

 ‘Tech made polls transparent’, P 19

India, France to boost def ties, P 19

Modi, Zelensky talk peace, P 19

Modi meets Biden, also has surprise chat with Trudeau

PM Narendra Modi met the US President on the margins of the G7 summit in Italy, in what was their first encounter since the G20 summit in India last year. Modi also posted photos of him having a conservation and exchanging greetings with Joe Biden.

The talks were more in the nature of a ‘pull aside’ than a formal meeting. In what came as a surprise, Modi posted another photo of himself with Canadian PM Justin Trudeau. Official sources said the encounter was not scheduled and was the first meeting of the two since Trudeau alleged in his country’s Parliament in September last year that Indian govt agents killed a Khalistan separatist and Canadan national in the Vancouver area. TNN

 ‘Working jointly for global good’, P 19

Arundhati Roy can be prosecuted under UAPA: LG

Lieutenant governor VK Saxena has accorded sanction to prosecute writer Arundhati Roy and Sheikh Showkat Hussain, former professor of international law in Central University of Kashmir, under UAPA in a 2010 case related to provocative speeches at a public event.

P10

HDK questions US firm getting `3.2cr subsidy for every job it creates in Guj

Anil.Gejji@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru: Union steel and heavy industries minister H D Kumaraswamy of JD(S) wondered aloud Friday if India needed investments like US-headquartered semiconductor manufacturer Micron Technology setting up a $2.5 billion unit in Gujarat and potentially receiving Rs 3.2 crore in subsidies for every job it creates. After identifying the company in a televised live address to party workers in Karnataka, he hastened to clarify that he was “not authorised” to do so.

“The new manufacturing unit will generate about 5,000 jobs. For this, we are giving them $2 billion in subsidies... If you calculate, that’s 70% of the company’s total investment,” Kumaraswamy said on his return to Bengaluru after joining the third Modi govt. “I asked officials how justifiable it is to allocate such a significant amount of funds,” he said.

Job opportunities, P 24

SC agrees to hear plea for CBI to investigate NEET ‘irregularities’

New Delhi: Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear a plea for a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in the conduct of NEET-UG and issued notices to the Centre and the National Testing Agency (NTA), but refused to stall the counselling process. The court also agreed to hear on July 8 NTA's plea to transfer all cases on the NEET-UG row from high courts to itself.

Faced with fresh petitions filed by aggrieved students seeking an independent probe, a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta agreed to club pleas with earlier petitions seeking re-examination due to alleged question paper leak and posted all cases together for hearing on July 8. The court asked NTA to respond in two weeks to allegations levelled in the pleas. TNN

 SC junks fresh bid, P 20

Can’t trace bones purported to be Sheena’s: CBI to court

Mumbai: The Sheena Bora murder case is back in focus after the CBI’s special public prosecutor told the trial judge on Thursday that a set of remains examined by one forensic expert could not be traced. Police in Pen, Raigad, had found the alleged remains of Sheena Bora’s body in a forest in 2012, reports Swati Deshpande.

A site exhumation in 2015 had uncovered more bones and human parts, including teeth and hair. Judge S P Naik Nimbalkar is conducting the trial in the Sheena Bora murder case, where her alleged biological mother Indrani Mukerjea and Indrani’s former husbands, Peter Mukerjea and Sanjeev Khanna, are the accused. Peter and Indrani, out on bail, were present in court on Thursday.

 Intend to examine..., P 23

Madras HC acquits 7 death row convicts

Setting aside the trial court verdict of 2021, Madras high court on Friday acquitted all seven people sentenced to death and two others awarded life imprisonment by a Chennai sessions court for the murder of Dr Subbiah, a neurologist, in full public view on Sept 14, 2013, reports Sureshkumar K. The prosecution said dispute over a 2.4-acre plot in Kanyakumari led to the crime.

FLAP OPP

Times Nation

- What’s behind close call at Mumbai airport?

- Madras HC acquits 7 persons givendeath for murder of doctor in 2013

- U’khand govt suspends CCF, DFO for Binsar fire that killed 4

- El Nino’s reign ends, boost for Aug-Sept rains

- 33% of seniors without income, 65% financially insecure: Study

- Kuwait fire reduces to ashes many a dream

- On govt nudge, telcos start trials to display callers’ names

- Kota Story: Why It Remains A Magnet For Aspirants

- Ram Rahim moves HC seeking 21-day furlough for ‘welfare activities’

- Shah summons top officials on Sun to review J&K scene

- Pawan made Andhra dy CM, Lokesh gets IT, electronics

- K’taka actor not getting special treatment, says home minister

- Cong accused of stalling action against BSY with eye on polls

- Judge to CID counsel: Why do you want to arrest BSY? Do you think he’ll flee?

- Rajnath: Navy helping to ensure rules-based order, peace in IOR

- K’taka cops book Union mantri’s son for cheating

- Rural Indian spends `472/yr on Ayush care, urban Indian `574

- India, Italy seek to enhance ties in clean energy, AI and telecom

- PM: India, US to keep working together for global good

- Will do all within our means for peaceful solution: Modi to Zelensky

- Hasina set to visit India:

- PM meets Pope, invites him to India

- Modi, Macron agree to boost def ties, push ‘Make in India’

- Modi at G7: Tech made polls transparent, NDA govt’s return victory of democracy

- Found no clue of homicide: SIT head

- ‘Elephants use names for each other — this ability was only known in humans so far’

- Bhopal citizens protest tree cut for govt bungalows

- Head of calf found inside MP temple, 2 held

- SC junks fresh bid to stall NEET counselling process

- Pradhan: Won’t allow deficiency in holding tests

- Govt’s denial of NEET leak a cover-up: Kharge

- 2,000 tourists stranded in Sikkim wait for evacuation

- Intend to further examine forensic expert, says CBI

- RSS organ: Lack of nat’l narrative led to decline in BJP’s LS tally

- Residents of Guj society protest allocation of govt flat to Muslim woman

- ‘Reports linking Bhagwat’s remarks to BJP, govt not fair’

- To ease rush, railways plans to run ‘twins’ of popular trains

- At 6%, Indians No.2 among immigrant nurses in US: Data

- Naga body in Manipur slaps 7-yr ban on MP for poll fight

- Will focus on creating job opportunities for youth: HDK

TOI EXPLAINS

What’s behind close call at Mumbai airport?

As Authorities Probe Incident Involving Air India And IndiGo Flights, Busy Schedules And Ignored Norms Are As Much Under Focus As The Peculiar Runway Infrastructure

Manju.V@timesgroup.com

The incident of two planes coming within a whisker of each other on the Mumbai airport runway last week has raised serious questions: Has traffic density cut safety margins at the Mumbai airport? Is this kind of ‘bumper-to-bumper’ air traffic even normal? Had the aircraft taking off slowed down for some reason would the landing aircraft have crashed into it? Who was responsible for this dangerous situation — the pilots, Air Traffic Control (ATC) or a system that forces an infrastructure-constrained Mumbai airport to handle more and more flights?

The incident was reminiscent of the runway collision at Haneda airport in Tokyo on Jan 2 this year. A Japan Airlines A350 aircraft collided upon landing with a Japan coast guard turboprop aircraft that was on the same runway. It was found that the Japan Airlines flight was given landing clearance while the Coast Guard aircraft did not have permission to be on the same runway.

In Mumbai’s case, airlines operating the two flights have both said they had an all-clear from ATC — one to land and the other to take-off.

Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is probing the matter but it will be a while before the final report is out. Meanwhile, Airports Authority of India (AAI), the country’s air navigation provider, has already put in measures based on the preliminary findings.

India’s Busiest Airstrip

On June 8, an IndiGo aircraft touched down on runway 27 merely a second after an Air India aircraft took off. At that moment, the distance between the two aircraft was about 2,100 feet, sources said.

The norm is to wait for the aircraft taking off to lift off and fly past the runway end before the aircraft landing can be allowed to cross the beginning of the runway.

The 11,302ft long asphalt strip that is Mumbai airport’s runway 27 is arguably the priciest piece of real estate in the city, rented by the second to airlines that book time slots for takeoff and landing.

An A320 or B737 aircraft takes an average of 40 to 50 seconds on the runway for a take-off or landing. Between each aircraft movement, a buffer or safety margin of about 20 seconds is maintained in normal conditions.

‘Runway Occupancy Time’ or ROT, is thus a crucial parameter for flight operations at space-constrained Mumbai. Unlike most airports where distance is the criterion for maintaining a gap between two aircraft, Mumbai uses a time-based separation.

Called ‘TTT’, or ‘Time to Threshold’, the ATC allows a take-off if the landing aircraft is a minimum of 70 seconds away from the runway threshold. “Time-based separation allows for more aircraft movement. In 24 hours, we save about 30 minutes,” said a senior air traffic controller. But if an aircraft is slow to take-off or if a landing aircraft comes in too fast, quick remedial steps need be taken by ATC.

Too Close For Comfort

Two A320neo aircraft — AI flight AI-657 from Mumbai to Thiruvananthapuram and IndiGo flight 6E5053 from Indore to Mumbai — were involved in the inci- dent. “The domino was triggered by the AI aircraft,” air safety expert Capt. Amit Singh said on the basis of Flightradar24 data.

The incident unfolded in the 90 seconds after an Iraqi Airways flight took off and the AI aircraft entered the runway for take-off. “The AI aircraft was slow to take-off after getting line-up clearance. Of course, one is assuming it received immediate take-off clearance,” added Singh.

Per the norm, the AI pilot should have informed ATC about the delay in taking-off, which would have triggered a cancellation of his take-off clearance. But the AI pilots didn’t do that. They continued with the slow take-off. Meanwhile, the InidGo pilots were on an approach to land.

The AI aircraft had not lifted off when the IndiGo aircraft crossed the beginning of the runway (the runway threshold with piano key markings is further down the line).

Did the IndiGo pilots err too? It appears so. Once they spotted an aircraft on the runway, they should have aborted landing and initiated a goaround. The norms state that ATC clearance is immaterial if a pilot spots a danger. “If pilots perceive at any point that it is not safe to continue approach, they must initiate a go-around,” it says.

The incident occurred in clear weather. Pilots can hear each other communicate with the controller on the radio communications channel. Senior pilots pointed out that IndiGo pilots should not have continued with the landing after sighting the AI aircraft on the runway.

The ATC Question

DGCA has derostered the controller for investigations. Two days after the incident, AAI issued a circular stating that the preliminary investigation revealed violation of the standard operating procedure for ‘Time-Based Spacing’ between arrivals.

“If the controller observes a delay in aircraft commencing take-off run after issuance of take-off clearance, the take-off clearance will be cancelled and the aircraft shall be instructed to vacate the runway immediately,” the SOP states. Since the AI aircraft took longer to begin the take-off roll, the controller should have cancelled its take-off permission, while also asking the IndiGo aircraft to carry out a missed approach or go-around.

“The question is the degree of responsibility on each — the controller, the pilots and, most importantly, the runway infrastructure constraints at Mumbai airport that puts controllers and pilots in such situations,” said Singh.

Intersecting Runways

When the incident occurred, around 6.15 am, none of the airlines involved in the incident were scheduled to be on the runway. The delayed Iraqi Airways flight to Najaf took-off at 6.14 am though it was scheduled for a 5 am departure. The AI flight was scheduled to depart at 5.45 am, but was running over 20 minutes late. The IndiGo flight had a scheduled arrival at 6.40 am, but came in 20 minutes early.

The peak-hour declared capacity of main runway 27 is 46 aircraft movements (arrivals/ departures). But Mumbai ATC often ends up handling close to 55 flight movements in 60 minutes as flights that are delayed or arrive early encroach into other flights’ slots. But on the congested Mumbai runway, the effects of “time slot indiscipline” can create potentially dangerous situations.

Bunching up of flights during peak hours adds to the workload of both controllers and pilots. The major airports in the world and those in India, such as Delhi and Bengaluru are served by parallel runways, which allows for two runways to be used simultaneously. But Mumbai airport has a set of cross runways and so only one runway is in use at a time. More often than not, it is the workhorse runway 27.

Madras HC acquits 7 persons givendeath for murder of doctor in 2013

Sureshkumar.K@timesgroup.com

Chennai: Madras high court Friday acquitted all seven persons sentenced to death and two others awarded life imprisonment by a Chennai sessions court in the sensational Dr Subbiah murder case.

Setting aside the trial court verdict of Aug 2021, a division bench of Justices M S Ramesh and Sunder Mohan ordered immediate release of all the accused, if they are not wanted in any other case. The court also ordered that the fine amount, if paid by the accused, be returned.

The 58-year-old neurologist was stabbed in full public view on Sept 14, 2013, as he walked out of Chennai Billroth Hospital towards his parked car after work in the evening. Visuals of the murder, which were captured on a CCTV camera, went viral on social media.

According to the prosecution, a land dispute in Dr Subbiah’s family over a 2.4-acre plot in Kanyakumari district led to the crime.

While the sessions court convicted nine people, one accused, who turned approver and became a prosecution witness during the trial, was allowed to go free.

Ponnusamy, Basil, Boris, William, James Satish Kumar, Murugan and Selva Prakash were sentenced to double capital punishment for offences under Indian Penal Code sections 302 (murder) and 120B (criminal conspiracy). Meanwhile, the other two accused, Mary Pushpam and Yesurajan, were handed double life terms by the trial court.

HC: Is Labrador a ferocious breed?

Can the Labrador retriever be classified as ‘ferocious’ and banned since a child was attacked by a dog of this breed recently, Madras HC wondered on Friday. “It’s highly unusual,” Justice Anita Sumanth said, referring to the attack. “Identifying ferocious dog breeds should be a collective process. We have seen scores of news reports on dog bites recently. It should be contained,” the judge added.

HC made the observation while hearing a plea by Kennel Club of India against Centre’s recent notification banning import and breeding of certain dog breeds. Incidentally, Labrador retriever is not among the breeds banned. Centre had submitted in the court that a committee has been set up to consider commentsfrom all stakeholders to identify such breeds. HC directed Centre to ensure the process is transparent and closed the case.

TNN

Shabir Shah gets bail in PMLA case

A Delhi court has granted regular bail to Kashmiri separatist Shabir Ahmed Shah in a money laundering case, reports Vineet Upadhyay. The court of additional sessions judge Dheeraj Mor, while allowing Shah’s bail plea, said he has been in custody in the case for six years and 10 months which is more than half the total prescribed maximum punishment of seven years.

The court noted that even if Shah is granted bail in this case, he is not likely to be released from jail in the other offences before July 7, the date on which the maximum punishment of seven years in the present case expires for him as an undertrial prisoner.

The court stated that Shah is in custody in other cases which are “very serious in nature.” Its conditions for bail included personal bond and surety of Rs 1 lakh each and a bar on leaving the country.

Man’s service gives son no job claim: HC

Punjab and Haryana HC has rejected a plea by a Punjab Police personnel’s son seeking a job on grounds that his father had participated in antiterrorist operations, observing that if such pleas are accepted, every cop would claim a job for his children, reports Ajay Sura.

Justice Jagmohan Bansal dismissed the petition filed by Avtar Singh, a resident of Sangrur district, and his father, are tired cop, seeking directions to the state govt and police to appoint the petitioner (Avtar Singh) as a constable.

The petitioners contended that Avtar’s father, while serving in the police force, had suffered two bullet injuries fighting with terrorists in 1992 and that his valour and courage had been very well recognised by the state authorities. On account of the father’s contribution, the son should be appointed as a police constable, the petition stated.

U’khand govt suspends CCF, DFO for Binsar fire that killed 4

Kautilya.Singh@timesgroup.com

Dehradun: Three senior forest department officials faced the consequences — the chief conservator of forests (North) and divisional forest officer of Almora were suspended, while the chief conservator of forests of Kumaon was attached to headquarters — a day after a devastating wildfire in Binsar Sanctuary claimed the lives of four foresters and left four others with severe burns. On Thursday, CM Pushkar Singh Dhami ordered stringent action against “negligent” officials.

Kumaon CCF P K Patro has been reassigned to the office of principal chief conservator of forests in Dehradun. Until further orders, the director of Corbett Tiger Reserve will handle his responsibilities. Koko Rose, conservator of forests for North Kumaon Circle, has been suspended and reassigned to the PCCF office in Dehradun.

Dhruv Singh Martolia, divisional forest officer, has also been suspended and reassigned to PCCF office. Assistant conservator of forests, Nainital Division, Hem Chand Gehtodi, has been transferred to Almora and will take over the responsibilities. Chief minister Dhami expressed deep sorrow over the deaths, offering condolences to the bereaved families and wishing speedy recovery for the injured. He stated that the state govt has prioritised the best possible treatment for the wounded, arranging for their transfer to AIIMS in New Delhi via air ambulance.

“I have already given clear instructions that any negligence will not be tolerated in discharging one’s responsibilities.Action will be taken if any negligence has occurred in this regard,” Dhami added.

El Nino’s reign ends, boost for Aug-Sept rains

Amit.Bhattacharya@timesgroup.com

After dominating global weather for nearly a year, El Nino’s reign has finally ended, US weather agencies reported late Thursday. The update said the Pacific Ocean is likely to transition to La Nina in around two months’ time, which implies that conditions will generally favour good monsoon rainfall in India in the second half of the season (Aug-Sept).

The latest update from US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration gives a 65% probability of La Nina developing in JulySept period, a little later than what last month’s forecast suggested, but still in time to potentially impact the monsoon. Last month’s NOAA forecast had given nearly 50% probability of La Nina conditions developing in the June-Aug period, which has since dipped to around 40%.

This is largely in line with IMD’s forecast of an abovenormal monsoon in India during the four-month season at 106% of long period average, with increased probability of good rains in latter half.

“Latest US forecast is a good sign for the monsoon. Even if La Nina is declared around Aug, temperature anomalies that characterise the condition are already developing. The transition from neutral to La Nina during the monsoon season augurs well,” said M Rajeevan, veteran meteorologist and former secretary of Union earth sciences ministry.

La Nina is a meteorological condition recurring every three to seven years in which surface waters in central and east equatorial Pacific Ocean cool to below-normal levels, with associated changes in wind patterns impacting weather across large parts of the globe. El Nino is the opposite condition, characterised by abnormal heating up of ocean waters. El Nino/La Nina is the single largest natural source of year-to-year variations in seasonal climate.

While El Nino events generally lead to below-par monsoons in India, last year being an exception, La Nina usually aids good monsoon rains. The last El Nino developed around May 2023 and peaked in Dec-Jan as one of five strongest such events on record. NOAA said Thursday that conditions in the Pacific returned to ‘neutral’ last month, which meant that El Nino had dissipated.

Meanwhile, monsoon’s onset over India has so far been good — with all of south India & northeast, and most of Maharashtra covered — but the system has weakened and is likely to remain so for 7-10 days, experts say. Countrywide rainfall in June has been 12.2% below normal.

33% of seniors without income, 65% financially insecure: Study

Ambika.Pandit@timesgroup.com

New Delhi: One in every three elders reported not having any income in the past one year, 32% elderly or their spouses had an annual income of less than Rs 50,000 and only 29% elderly reported having access to social security schemes like old-age pension, contributory pension or provident fund. Nearly, 65% of elders reported that they were financially not secure with their current income and access to savings and investments.

These findings are part of a report released by voluntary organisation ‘HelpAge India’ on the eve of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day observed on June 15. On the health front, more than half the elderly (52%) reported facing at least one challenge related to activities of daily living and 54% suffered from two or more non-communicable diseases.

As many as 5,169 elders and 1,333 caregivers’ primary family members were surveyed across 20 Tier I and Tier II cities, in 10 states. The study captured the experiences of elderly from cities like Jaipur, Faridabad, Panipat, Kanpur, Indore, Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Solapur, Chennai and Bengaluru.

These findings are important in backdrop of significant demographic shift in India with population above 60 to double from 10.5% in 2022 to 20.8% by 2050. The report, ‘Ageing in India: Exploring Preparedness & Response to Care Challenges’, showed that only 31% elderly reported access to health insurance. Coverage was largely under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, along with ESI and CGHS.

Elder abuse continues to be a major concern, with 7% elderly admitting to being a victim of abuse with sons (42%) and daughters-in-law (28%) being primary perpetrators. “A higher percentage of elderly who faced abuse in past year were illiterate, and the abuse increased with decrease in income of elderly, as majority of the respondents (73%) who faced abuse reported an annual income of less than Rs 100,000,” the report said.

Kuwait fire reduces to ashes many a dream

Many Of Those Dead Were The Ones Who Put Food On Table Back Home, Or Were Clearing Family Debts

A man breaks down on the coffin of his son that arrived from Kuwait on Friday

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Some were there to put food on the table for loved ones back in India, some to clear piling family debts, while some others had just started earning and hoped to start a family. All those hopes and dreams met with a fiery, premature end in the Kuwait building inferno in which 46 Indians perished on June 12.

Fate struck Gorakhpur’s Rita Gupta with unnerving cruelty. Just last week, she had got a call from husband Angad (46) saying he had landed a new mall job. Days later, she got another call — about his death. “Since the job was new, Angad had told Rita that he would come only after a year. Now we are awaiting his body,” said Angad’s younger brother Pankaj. Angad, the only earning member of his family, leaves behind three children. The family plans to seek help from UP CM Yogi Adityanath, Pankaj said.

Lokanadham Tamada (31) had spent the past month with his family in Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam before returning to his life as a welder in Kuwait on June 11. Hours later, he was caught in the inferno. Lokanadham had come home to attend a festival and to find himself a bride. Although he did not find one, he had set himself a deadline of Jan 2025 to get married.

In Jharkhand’s Ranchi, the relatives of Mohammad Adil Hussain were struggling to make sense of it all. The 26-year-old commerce graduate had left for Kuwait just over a fortnight ago on May 27 after landing a job. Adil’s body is expected to reach Ranchi late Fri — three days before Bakri-Id.

“We had no clue he had bagged a job until he broke the news to us a week before his departure. We were against it and wanted him to finish studies. But he insisted he could prepare for his exams while working and come back to Ranchi to take tests,” Adil’s father Mubarak Hussain said. Adil had been preparing for an accountant course.

Sreehari from Kerala’s Kottayam had followed in the footsteps of his father. The 27-year-old joined on June 5 as a salesman in NBTC Group — one of Kuwait’s largest — where his father works. Sreehari perished before drawing his first salary. His father, an electrical supervisor who lived in a nearby apartment, identified Sreehari’s body.

Kerala’s Stephin Abraham Sabu, 29, an engineer with NBTC, was to arrive home next month on leave and the family had also planned his marriage during his vacation. He had left for Kuwait to rustle up money to complete the construction of his house.

Lukose Vadakottu Oonnunni (48) had told his family back home that he had purchased a mobile phone as a gift for his daughter who scored well in her recent Plus-two exams. He planned to come home to Kerala’s Kollam next month. That was not to be. A supervisor with NBTC for 18 years, Lukose is survived by wife Shiny, 42, two children, and aged parents.

Himmat Rai (63) from Hoshiarpur in Punjab was also his family’s sole breadwinner. “He has been working in Kuwait for around 25 years as a foreman,” wife Sarabjit Kaur said.

In Haryana’s Yamunanagar district, the family of Anil Giri had spoken to him two days before the fire. Anil left behind wife Priyanka along with their two children. “Anil was the sole breadwinner. The govt should help us,” Pooja, Anil’s younger sister, said.

31 bodies arrive in Kochi

The bodies of 31 Indians killed in the Kuwait building blaze arrived on a special IAF aircraft at Cochin airport in Kerala on Friday, reports Nijeesh Narayanan. Of the deceased, 23 were from Kerala, seven from Tamil Nadu and one from Karnataka. Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, junior external affairs minister Kirti Vardhan Singh and junior Union tourism minister Suresh Gopi paid their last respects.

Vijayan said expatriates were the lifeline of Kerala and termed the deaths of so many Indians a disaster. Kerala governor Arif Mohammed Khan stressed the need to examine “why so many men had to leave their homeland”. “We must give opportunities here,” he added.

NO TO PESKY CALLS

On govt nudge, telcos start trials to display callers’ names

Pankaj.Doval@timesgroup.com

New Delhi: Seeking check pesky calling and cyber frauds, govt has instructed telecom operators to start trials where names of callers are displayed for unknown numbers or those that are not saved in your phone book. The move, while being seen as consumer friendly, is being opposed by most telecos who are raising concerns over customer privacy as “technical challenges” to oppose an immediate nationwide rollout.

With the department of telecom (DoT) being firm in its demand for beginning initial test-runs on Calling Name Presentation (CNAP), companies are understood to have begun “limited trials” in Mumbai and Haryana, with plans to add more cities over coming weeks, sources said.

“Trials are beginning on limited numbers as we try and assess feasibility of CNAP, where not only the number but even the name of caller will be displayed during incoming calls. We will be sharing the results of trials with DoT so that a practical and jus- tifiable view of the proposed service can be taken,” a senior executive in a top telco told TOI, requesting anonymity.

The issue of identifying the name of the calling per- son — sourced from the customer application form — was conceived by DoT . It had referred the issue to Trai.

However, telecom companies such as Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Jio have said that this should “not be a mandatory service, adding that “there will be many technical issues like increased load on signalling and possible impact on latency and interconnection related issues”.

Airtel said there are “like- ly to be techno-commercial challenges” involved in im-plementing the measure, and added that CNAP would need to adhere to the privacy laws. “Privacy is an important consideration, and the framework is going to have to address the genuine concerns of users who may not be keen to share their details.”

Voda Idea said CNAP should be introduced “as an optional service” and should not be mandated upon telecos.

Kota Story: Why It Remains A Magnet For Aspirants

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

A man Mahavar’s journey isn’t your typical, linear adversity-to-success story. He’s been a struggler all his life. After seven failed attempts to clear NEET until 2022, all he had was the consolation of going back to a job as a postman in Bikaner.

Then Kota happened to him. In true Bollywood style, luck by chance.

“I was working in a post office when I heard about Kota-based Motion Education’s scholarship lottery,” he recounts to TOI. “I filled out the online form and got selected. My grounded dream was back in motion.”

Aman, who worked as a newspaper vendor and in shops since his school days to supplement his mother’s income as a worker in a hospital ward, is now on his way to becoming a doctor.

In 2023, he cracked NEET on his eighth attempt and got a seat at GMC Medical College in Tamil Nadu’s Ramanathapuram. “It’s the best thing to have happened to me. I know the respect a doctor gets,” he says.

Aman isn’t the only one to have his outlook towards failure, success, risk and process questioned and transformed in the often scoffed-at coaching hub of Kota in Rajasthan.

Most students who get past JEE Mains, JEE Advanced or NEET – arguably the toughest cycle of entrance exams in the world for sheer scale and competition – credit their success to the innovative, structured and personalised teaching methods employed by coaching institutes in Kota.

Ved Sunil Kumar Shinde from Nagpur in Maharashtra, the all-India topper in NEET UG 2024 with 720/720, says studying at Allen Career Institute in Kota shaped his thought process in a manner that competitive exams didn’t appear as intimidating as he had imagined them to be.

“We were motivated to compete in a healthy manner. Preparing for NEET at Allen proved the turning point for me, also helping me in the board exams. I did well in both,” says Ved.

These institutes, some of which have spread their reach across India by setting up learning centres in cities and towns, operate on a model designed to train engineering and medical science aspirants to maximise their chances of making the cut rather than making them feel something is unachievable.

For underprivileged students like Aman, many of these institutes provide financial support to get through the journey. The rest are encouraged to aim for in-house scholarships of up to 90% of the annual fee in some cases.

Allen Institute runs a programme that offers free coaching to underprivileged students from government schools in predominantly Hindi-speaking states. These students are selected through a school-level examination. Those who qualify are brought to Kota, where the institute entirely covers their education, accommodation, and living expenses. This year, 126 students were selected.

In 2023, about 2.5 lakh students received coaching in Kota, with over 85,000 new admissions by May. The city has 4,200-odd hostels, 25,000 PG rooms, and scores of one-bedroom apartments, some of which are rented by parents and guardians.

Allen’s director, Rajesh Maheshwari, underscores the institute’s commitment to aiding students in need both academically and financially.

“We try to make sure every student who wants help with studies specifically for these entrance exams gets proper mentorship. Children whose parents died in the line of duty are given education free of cost, no questions asked,” says Maheshwari.

Aspirants who can’t attend classroom teaching for various reasons, including medical, have the option of recorded lectures.

Maulik Patel, a student at Allen Institute, was diagnosed with cancer in June 2022, but recorded lectures ensured his studies and exam preparation didn’t suffer as much during the duration of his treatment and recovery.

“After my first surgery, I was unable to attend coaching classes for a long time. Recorded lectures from Allen kept me in the preparation loop. My health improved after a second surgery last year, and I was able to take all major practice tests and rebuild my confidence,” he recalls.

Maulik scored 94.67% in the Maharashtra state board’s Class 12 exam and 715/720 in NEET UG.

In addition to recorded lectures, students at Kota institutes have access to equipped self-study rooms, immediate doubt-clearing sessions, online notes, and even professional counselling.

AI is the latest entrant into this unique teaching system, spawning models like a “homework machine”.

“At Motion, we have been using this AI-based homework machine built to give personalised questions for practice, based on the weaknesses and strengths of the student,” says Nitin Vijay, founder and CEO of Motion Education.

“When students practice or take tests through this app, we identify the concepts they are unable to grasp. They are more likely to skip a question based on a concept they haven’t understood. If they guess, chances are they will get it wrong.”

Institutes also focus on practicals to ensure comprehensive exam preparation. Resonance Eduventures Ltd, like the other large institutes, has fully-loaded labs for physics, chemistry and biology to improve students’ conceptual clarity.

Additionally, digital classrooms and extempore competitions help build students’ confidence, complementing their academic training.

Ram Rahim moves HC seeking 21-day furlough for ‘welfare activities’

Chandigarh: The controversial head of Sirsa-headquartered Dera Sacha Sauda, Gurmeet Ram Rahim, has approached Punjab and Haryana HC seeking directions for Haryana to grant him 21 days’ furlough so that he can carry out “welfare activities”.

The dera head submitted that an application for furlough was made to the authorities but due to a HC stay order dated Feb 29 this plea was not considered.

In his application filed be- fore HC, he asserted that he is the religious head of an institution where once in every two years “Sewadar Shradhanjali Bhandara” is organised in June to pay tribute to volunteers who spent their lives performing social service and then died and to provide every possible help to their families.

The dera chief sought directions to consider and decide his application in accordance with law under the Haryana Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release) Act, 2022, which allows eligible convicts to be granted parole for 70 days and furlough fo r 21 days every calendar year.

TNN

Shah summons top officials on Sun to review J&K scene

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: Home minister Amit Shah on Friday reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir with senior MHA officials in the wake of recent terrorist attacks in Doda, Kathua and Reasi districts in Jammu region and has called for a more broad-based review of the counter-strategies on Sunday with top officials of the J&K govt and the central security establishmen

t. Sunday’s review of the J&K security situation in North Block will be attended by J&K LG Manoj Sinha, national security adviser Ajit Doval and senior officers of J&K administration and police as well Army, intelligence and para-military brass. They are expected to share their respective assessment of the latest spate of terror attacks as well as preparedness for the Amarnath Yatra scheduled from June 29 to August 19.

Among the counter-strategies likely to be discussed are changes in deployment levels and pattern of the security forces such that there are more eyes watching the mountain tops in Jammu region, strengthening of village defence committees and launching of counter-actions against terrorists who are holed up in Jammu, taking advantage of its difficult and mountainous terrain.

Shah’s stock-taking on Friday came a day after PM NarendraModi’s review on the same lines with national security advisor Ajit Doval and other senior officers. During the meeting, Modi is said to have emphasised the importance of deploying the full spectrum of India’s counter-terror capabilities.

The PM was also given an overview of the situation by both Shah and J&K officials, including the counter-actions that are underway.

Acting on the PM’s direction to deploy all of India’s counter-terror capabilities to defeat terrorists who have infiltrated from Pakistan with a design to create unrest and communal flare-up in Jammu region, Shah on Friday sat with officials to discuss possible tweaks in the counter-strategies.

Pawan made Andhra dy CM, Lokesh gets IT, electronics

Vijayawada: As expected, Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday appointed Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan as his deputy even as he allocated the portfolios to his ministers, reports Srikanth Aluri.

While keeping general administration department (GAD), law & order, public enterprises and all other portfolios not allocated to any minister with himself, Naidu gave Pawan panchayati raj, rural development & rural water supply, environment & forests, and science & technology.

Naidu’s son Nara Lokeshretained IT besides getting electronics. Additionally, he will handle HRD and real time governance portfolios.

Two-time MLA Vangalapudi Anitha, 40, is the new home minister.

P Narayana will handle municipal administration and urban development. Payyavula Keshav and Nimmala Ramanaidu have been given finance and irrigation portfolios.

The other Jana Sena MLAs too got crucial ministries. While Nadendla Manohar got civil supplies and consumer affairs, Kandula Durgesh was given tourism, culture & cinematography. The only BJP member in the cabinet, Satya Kumar Yadav, has been given health, family welfare, and medical education portfolios.

K’taka actor not getting special treatment, says home minister

Bengaluru: Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara said on Friday no special treatment was given to actor Darshan and emphasised that police should be allowed to conduct their investigation without interference. Responding to allegations of preferential treatment for Darshan, Parameshwara clarified that the actor and his associate are being treated like any other accused.

2 more held in murder case: Two persons who kidnapped Renukaswamy, who was murdered allegedly by Darshan and his aides, were detained on Friday. Efforts have been intensified to track the lone elusive accused, Raju. The two detained — Jagadish alias Jagga, an autorickshaw driver, and Anu Kumar alias Anu — are residents of Chitradurga town, police said.

TNN

Cong accused of stalling action against BSY with eye on polls

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru: A slugfest erupted between BJP and Congress in Karnataka after a non-bailable warrant (NBW) was issued against B S Yediyurappa in a Pocso case, with BJP accusing the governing party of vendetta politics and the latter asking the former chief minister to join the probe.

Union minister Pralhad Joshi alleged in a social media post that the warrant was a “ploy” to divert attention from governance failures. He further claimed BJP’s “landslide” victory had left Congress “reeling”, prompting it to resort to “vindictive” tactics.

State home minister G Parameshwara said the warrant stemmed from a complaint filed against Yediyurappa, and that the legal proceedings were devoid of political influence.

Deputy chief minister and state Congress president D K Shivakumar, however, retorted it was BJP that engaged in vendetta politics.

While on one hand the state govt is facing criticism from BJP, on the other hand, it’s in the dock over the perceived delay in investigations, with critics suggesting govt deliberately delayed any action against Yediyurappa during the Lok Sabha elections.

Some Congress functionaries admitted that the party was mindful of the ramifications on its poll prospects if it acted against the former CM. It was particularly wary of angering the Lingayat community, a dominant socio-political group to which the BJP veteran belongs, they said.

Judge to CID counsel: Why do you want to arrest BSY? Do you think he’ll flee?

Continued from P1

The judge was hearing Yediyurappa’s petitions seeking anticipatory bail and quashing of the Pocso case. “Since the petitioner’s letter dated June 11 volunteering to appear on June 17 is brought to the notice of this court, we cannot immediately jump to the conclusion that a case is made out for the arrest or detention, or for custodial interrogation of the petitioner, who happens to be a former chief minister of the state in the evening of his life,” said Justice Dixit. He expressed surprise at the investigation agency seeking the 81-year-old’s arrest. “Why do you want to arrest him? Do you feel he will flee from this country?” the judge asked the CID counsel.

Senior advocate CV Nagesh alleged in his submission that the complainant in the case, the teenager’s now-deceased mother, had a habit of filing complaints and blackmail.

He said the woman, who accused Yediyurappa of targeting her teenage daughter when they visited him on Feb 2, had previously complained against her husband, son, politicians, bureaucrats and even police officers.

The Pocso case was registered at Bengaluru’s Sadashivanagar police station on March 14, almost one-and-a-half month after the alleged incident.

Rajnath: Navy helping to ensure rules-based order, peace in IOR

Defence minister Rajnath Singh interacts with Indian Navy personnel during his ‘Day at Sea’ in Visakhapatnam on Friday

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: The Indian Navy is ensuring that no nation “suppresses another” in Indo-Pacific or “endangers its strategic autonomy” on the basis of economic strength or military power, defence minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday, in a clear reference to China’s continuing attempts to expand its strategic footprint in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

“Securing free navigation, a rules-based world order, anti-piracy and peace and stability in the IOR are our biggest objectives. The Navy is playing a crucial role in fulfilling them. India, with its increasing power, is committed to making the region as well as the entire world peaceful and prosperous,” Singh said, reviewing naval operational readiness on the eastern seaboard during a ‘day at sea’ off Vizag.

Singh, who was accompanied by Navy chief Admiral Di- nesh K Tripathi and Eastern Naval Command chief Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, said govt’s focus was on bolstering security both along the land borders, including the northern one with China, as well as the maritime ones.

This focus on land borders and maritime security has a broader vision — to bind the northern and southern parts of the nation in one thread, he said.

With the country’s growing industrial infrastructure, including the capabilities of shipyards, govt will work to further strengthen maritime security and make the presence of India’s naval power in the IOR morerobust. “It is a matter of pride that our Navy is ensuring safe trade and promoting peace and prosperity in IOR,” he added.

K’taka cops book Union mantri’s son for cheating

Bengaluru: Karnataka Police have registered a criminal case against Arun BS, son of newly sworn-in Union minister of state for jalshakti and railways, V Somanna, accusing him of cheating a couple in a business and later threatening and manhandling them.

On a complaint by a 40- year-old-woman, Arun and his associates Jeevan Kumar and Pramod Rao have been booked for outraging the modesty of a woman, cheating, dishonestly inducing delivery of property, criminal intimidation and intentional insult, along with other provisions of IPC.

The complainant said Arun and her husband started a firm in Feb 2019. The couple paid Rs 81 lakh, but he was forcing them to pay Rs 65 lakh more, she alleged. When they expressed inability to give the money, he beat them up and their children, she said.

TNN

Rural Indian spends `472/yr on Ayush care, urban Indian `574

HEALTHCARE

New Delhi: About 95% of Indians aged 15 and above are aware of Ayush system of treatment, and on average, a rural Indian spends Rs 472 on alternative medicine in a year compared to their urban counterpart’s Rs 574, according to an NSSO survey, reports Durgesh Nandan Jha.

National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) conducted the survey from July 2022 to June 2023 to collect information on awareness about the traditional healthcare systems from about 1.8 lakh households — 1 lakh in rural areas and 77,103 in urban areas.

Researchers found about 95% of men and women aged 15 years and above were aware of Ayush (ayurveda, yoga, naturopathy, unani, siddha and homoeopathy) in rural areas in comparison to 96% in urban areas.

However, urban areas surpassed rural areas in terms of trust in Ayush for the prevention or treatment of ailments, with Himachal Pradesh ranking first among states and Goa at the bottom.

The survey also revealed that ayurveda is the preferred traditional medicine system in both rural and urban India, primarily used for rejuvenation or preventive purposes, followed by therapeutic use.

India, Italy seek to enhance ties in clean energy, AI and telecom

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

PM Narendra Modi’s bilateral meeting with his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni saw the two sides discussing defence and security cooperation, including enhancing defence industrial collaboration.

They welcomed the forthcoming visit of the Italian aircraft carrier ITS Cavour and training ship ITS Vespucci to India later this year. Modi thanked the Italian government for recognising the Indian Army’s contribution in Italian Campaign during WW-II and informed that India will be upgrading the Yashwant Ghadge Memorial at Montone in Italy.

The leaders noted with satisfaction the regular higher political dialogue and reviewed progress of the India-Italy strategic partnership. “While expressing happiness at growing trade and economic collaboration, they called for expanding commercial ties in clean energy, manufacturing, space, science & technology, telecom, AI and critical minerals to build resilient supply chains. In this context, they welcomed the recent signing of an MoU on Industrial Property Rights (IPR) which provides a framework for cooperation on patents, designs and trademarks,” said the government in a statement.

The leaders called for an early implementation of the Migration and Mobility Agreement, which would facilitate mobility of professionals, skilled and semi-skilled workers, students, and researchers.

Both leaders look forward to joint activities to be implemented under Indo-Pacific Ocean Initiative framework to fulfill their shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific. “They also discussed important regional and global issues and agreed to strengthen cooperation in global fora and multilateral initiatives, including the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor,” said an Indian readout.

PM: India, US to keep working together for global good

 Continued from P 1

It’s always a pleasure to meet @POTUS @JoeBiden. India and USA will keep working together to further global good,” said Modi in a post on X.

White House said on Thursday that there was an encounter likely between the leaders in Italy, and Biden was expecting to see Modi. There was no word from either side on the nature of the conversation between the leaders till late in the night. US NSA Jake Sullivan, who accompanied Biden to Italy, is expected to visit India on Monday but the visit has so far not been officially announced.

Trudeau’s office confirmed there was a brief interaction between him and Modi.

“The PM congratulated Modi on his re-election and the leaders had a brief discussion on the bilateral ties,” said Ann-Clara Vaillancourt, the director of media relations in Trudeau’s PMO, according to a report in Canadian media.

“Of course there are important issues between our two countries right now. You can appreciate that we won’t be making any further statements at this time,” she said.

Just before the summit, India had said its main issue with Ottawa remains the political space given to extremists by Canada. Both the US and Canada have been pressing India for action against Indian officials who allegedly worked to eliminate Khalistan separatists on US and Canadian soil.

Will do all within our means for peaceful solution: Modi to Zelensky

New Delhi: PM Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky on the margins of the G7 summit, reiterating support for peaceful resolution of the Russia-Ukraine conflict through dialogue and diplomacy. Zelensky thanked Modi for India’s participation in the Switzerland peace summit although Modi himself is giving it a miss and India will be represented only at the level of senior officials.

Modi told Zelensky India will continue to do all it can within its means to facilitate a peaceful solution. This was the second time in succession that Modi met Zelensky at G7. The leaders had last met on the sidelines of the 2023 G7 summit in Hiroshima.

Respecting Russian sensitivities, India had not invited Zelensky for the G20 summit in Delhi last year. Modi will also skip the Ukraine peace summit that Switzerland will host immediately after the G7 meeting and return to India. Zelensky had called Modi earlier to seek his support for the peace summit but efforts to keep out Russia, which has reservations about the initiative, meant India’s participation will be restricted to a secretary-level official. With China not participating at all, Zelensky thanked Modi for sending a “high-level” delegation. The Ukraine President said he discussed expansion of agriculture and trade cooperation with India, particularly in the context of the functioning of Black Sea shipping corridor.

Both leaders had a “productive” meeting in which they discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations. They also exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine and the summit in Switzerland. On the ongoing hostilities, Modi said in a post on X that he told Zelensky India believes in a human-centric approach.

According to a govt readout, Modi thanked Zelensky for his warm wishes on his assuming office for the third term. TNN

Hasina set to visit India:

Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina is likely to pay a two-day visit to India next week with an aim to further bolster ties between the two sides. Hasina is scheduled to begin her visit on June 21.

PTI

PM meets Pope, invites him to India

New Delhi: PM Narendra Modi met Pope Francis on the sidelines of the G7 Summit. He later said in a post on X he admires the Pope’s commitment to serve people and make the planet better.

Modi also invited him to visit India. The PM, in fact, had invited him to visit India in 2021 too when he met him during his visit to Italy for the G20 summit. The Pope had then received him in the Vatican for what was the first meeting between the leaders. According to Vatican News, Modi had then gifted the Pope a silver candlestick and a book on the commitment to the environment. The Pope had reciprocated with a bronze plaque.

Modi, Macron agree to boost def ties, push ‘Make in India’

PM, Sunak Express Satisfaction With FTA Talks Progress

PM Modi greets Pope Francis in Apulia on Friday as prime ministers of UK Rishi Sunak and Italy Giorgia Meloni look on

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: PM Narendra Modi’s hectic bilateral schedule in Italy also saw him holding bilateral meetings with his UK counterpart Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Modi had his first bilateral meeting of the day with Macron. The leaders focused on ‘Horizon 2047’ Roadmap, which they adopted last year to set the course for bilateral ties, and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific where France is a resident power.

According to the MEA, they discussed cooperation in defence, nuclear, space, education, climate action, digital public infrastructure, connectivity and cultural initiatives such as the National Museum partnership and enhancing peopleto-people ties. They agreed to further intensify strategic defence cooperation with increased focus on Make in India, an initiative France has backed with liberal transfer of technology and with focus on joint de- velopment of next generation equipment.

“They also agreed to expand cooperation in the realms of AI, critical and emerging technologies, energy and sports, while working closely in context of the forthcoming AI Summit and United Nations Oceans Conference, both to be hosted in France in 2025,’’ said an Indian govt readout, adding that a strong and trusted Strategic Partnership between India and France is crucial for a stable and prosperous global order..

In the meeting with Sunak, as the UK goes to polls next month, the leaders expressed satisfaction with the progress made in the Free Trade Agreement talks between the two countries, while discussing regional and multilateral issues.

Sunak congratulated Modi on securing a third term in the world’s largest democratic election and also thanked him for sending “high level’’ representatives to the Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland.

Sunak and Modi also discussed the implementation of the India-UK Roadmap 2030, which is about shared commitments on a range of issues, and expressed happiness on progress in all areas of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership including regular high level political consultations, defence and security, trade and economic collaboration, critical and high technology sectors and people-to-people ties. Modi extended his best wishes to the people of the UK for the elections next month.

Modi at G7: Tech made polls transparent, NDA govt’s return victory of democracy

PM Modi with his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni on Friday

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

PM Modi said at the G7 meet in Italy Friday that it was a matter of great satisfaction for him to be attending the summit after his re-election in the “largest democratic exercise in the history of humankind”.

As per official statement, Modi emphasised that AI technology should be aimed at fostering progress and well-being of all. With this in mind, India was fostering global collaboration as a founding member of Global Partnership for AI, Modi said while addressing the outreach session on Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Africa and the Mediterranean.

The PM also called for giving priority to the concerns of the Global South, in particular Africa. He recalled that it was a matter of honour for India that Afri- can Union was admitted as a permanent member of the G20 under its presidency.

On the elections in India, Modi said the entire process had been made fair and transparent by the ubiquitous use of technology, while calling the return of his govt a victory of democracy. “And, it is my good fortune that the people of India have given me the opportunity to serve them for the third consecutive time. This has happened for the first time in India in the last six decades. The blessings that the people of India have given in the form of this historic victory is the victory of democracy. It is the victory of the entire democratic world,’’ he said.

The PM said India’s approach in the energy sector was based on four principles — availability, accessibility, affordability and acceptability. India is the first country to fulfil all the commitments taken under COP before time, he said.

“PM elaborated on India’s energy transition pathway, noting that its approach was based on availability, accessibility, affordability and acceptability. He mentioned that India was working towards achieving the target of net zero by 2070. Alluding to India’s Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), he called upon the global community to join the tree plantation campaign launched by him on World Environment Day and make it a mass movement,’’ govt said.

Found no clue of homicide: SIT head

Continued from P1

Jayaraman, who is also director of the forensic science laboratory in Kolkata, did not respond to Gupta’s statement. “I can only say that we have submitted our report in court. We found no clue of homicide,” said the officer, who is of the rank of additional DGP.

Gupta’s assertion that Faizan was shot opens up the nearly two-year-long investigation. The case was to be heard by HC on Thursday, but the judge was reassigned to another legal matter. Justice Amrita Sinha is likely to hear the case on Monday.

The report submitted to the high court in June last year — after the second postmortem, supervised by Gupta — does not mention any gunshot injury. It only states that Faizan’s injuries were “antemortem” and “homicidal in nature”. The report also mentions death “due to profuse bleeding, causing haemorrhagic shock and combined effect infused over chest and overhead”.

Five IIT Kharagpur students and two professors against whom there are raggingrelated allegations are out on bail.

After Faizan’s death, his parents Salim and Rehana Ahmed moved high court, alleging that their son was murdered and that police — in collusion with IIT-Kharagpur authorities — were trying to pass it off as a suicide. On the court’s orders, Faizan’s body was exhumed in Assam and brought to Bengal for a second post-mortem.

TIMES evoke

‘Elephants use names for each other — this ability was only known in humans so far’

George Wittemyer is Professor of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology at Colorado State University. Speaking from East Africa to Srijana Mitra Das at Times Evoke, he explains his new findings on elephants, their naming patterns — and human beings:

Share your thoughts at: timesevoke@timesgroup.com Read Times Evoke online at: www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ india/times-evoke

Can you tell us about your recent research on elephants?

■ We’ve been studying African elephants in Samburu, northern Kenya, for decades. We know these elephants individually. As a species, elephants are highly social beings — they’re constantly interacting with their family members and herd. During these interactions, we observed they kept speaking to each other or vocalising. Sometimes, this vocalisation went back and forth — the matriarch would speak and the others would respond. Evidently, vocal communication is a very fundamental part of an elephant’s social organisation. A group moves along and a matriarch gives a rumble call, with a crescendo of responses from everyone. At other times, there’d be a call but only one individual would respond, walking upto the elephant who’d spoken, etc. In that event, one individual was communicating specifically to another. So, in this study, we asked if the elephants had some sort of vocal label they used to identify each other — like a name.

We collected many elephant calls in as many behavioural contexts as possible and used a machine learning approach to understand their structures and similarities — we found very good evidence then that the elephants were using names in their interactions. From our data, the two scenarios which emerged included a contact call, where one individual rumbles and specifically tries to contact another one. The other context was mother to calf — the mother rumbles to her child to direct or placate it and it responds to her. We also analysed greeting calls when elephants met each other — those too have vocal labels but they are used less here, just as when humans meet and talk, they don’t keep using each other’s names.

Can you tell us more features of these rumble calls?

■ The elephant rumble is quite complicated. Much of it is in the infrasonic range, so it’s sub-human hearing. We literally can’t pick this up, so we had to use specialised microphones to capture this information. Also, you must remain in close proximity to elephants to record all the information in their rumbles because the sound attenuates with distance. We therefore had a limited library — for comparison, ChatGPT, the AI-based computer language model, uses literally every digitally published item, which means drawing from billions of records.

So, we were working with some limitations and still need to figure out the syntax for these vocalisations. They go from infrasonic to sonic range and have a temporal part as well, where the rumble oscillates over time, like when we stress on parts of our speech. We look forward to teasing out the structural and syntax parts from such rich conversations among elephants.

Do other species also use names in this manner in their speech?

■ This is very rare in the animal kingdom. We find some evidence among dolphins and certain species in the parrot family — however, these imitate the vocalisation of another individual. Elephants are not doing that — they are given a name arbitrarily, like we are, and they use these to identify and direct each other. We think mothers name calves, creating and bestowing a name on a child, teaching it this name and telling everyone else too — the entire group then uses it. We have never seen this in any other creature, besides ourselves.

What does this tell us about the world of elephants?

■ This gives us a first understanding that elephants are able to conceptualise things abstractly — they can label objects and use that classification. This is a unique trait — it is the foundation of the very complex communication humans use which is integral to our success. Elephants have some of these characteristics too. We have now opened the door into seeing how their minds work.

What does this imply for the way humans treat elephants?

■ We’re always creating excuses for our bad behaviour towards non human species and some humans too. We’ve downplayed the intelligence of animals for millennia — we consider them below humanity and they don’t get regard or consideration because we feel they are less capable than us. However, many studies now point out how most animals are both very intelligent and complex in the way they perceive and understand the world — chips are breaking off the incorrect narrative humans created about animals being inferior to us.

Could Indian elephants use names too?

■ I’d be surprised if we didn’t find this in Indian elephants. We know they too are very intelligent, highly social and vocal beings. Some of the early research showing elephants are vocal learners and can learn and emulate sound with meaning, like human beings, actually started with Asian elephants. These skills evolved for a purpose — that is communication between individuals. I’m sure Asian elephants have very interesting things to say to one another.

LOTS IN A NAME: African elephants, famously social beings, travel huge distances in their herds seeking water — having names for each other helps keep the tribe together and also enables mothers to guide and protect children

MY NAME IS JOY! Matriarchs name their baby and tell others this title

THEIR JUMBO IQ: Indian elephants are highly intelligent vocal learners

READERS WRITE

Dear Times Evoke,

I’m in school and I love Times Evoke. I was so excited to read about space (8th June). Kevin Hainline on the new ancient galaxies found made me feel part of something so timeless and huge. The atoms in our body belong to stars and galaxies — I’m made of the matter that made dinosaurs! Thank you for bringing me this knowledge, TE.

— Agnisnato Sarbadhicari, Kolkata

Thanks for the awesome articles about space, TE! I was awestruck to read about the two ancient galaxies found by JWST. We’ve studied how all birds are diurnal except owls but I now learnt that nightingales sing for the moon too. Continue these amazing facts, TE! Thanks a universe!

— Aditi Rana, Lucknow

TE’s interview with Kevin Hainline was very informative. So far, I was reading articles on astronomy for curiosity only but this interview has changed my views. As Hainline explained, all life comes from space. So, life on Earth will be understood much better if we can understand space better. Thanks, TE!

— Gudiyawar Mahesh, Ichalkaranji, Maharashtra

I expect thrilling articles in TE and TE never disappoints! Kevin Hainline shone a light on JADESGS-z14-0. Such articles widen our minds. Thank you for such exciting reading, TE! I hope for more such exclusive articles.

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TE was marvellously aesthetic, stretching from JADES-GS-z14-0 to Earth and the solar maximum, discussed by Mark Miesch. As intelligent beings, we should preserve Earth better, the only known home in space for life.

— Kazi Tasneem Parvin, Burdwan

Bhopal citizens protest tree cut for govt bungalows

Bhopal: Hundreds of Bhopal citizens have banded together to protect 29,000 trees in the heart of the city that they fear would be felled to clear space for new bungalows for MLAs, ministers and senior bureaucrats, report Ashutosh Shukla & Ramendra Singh.

People from different walks of life gathered in large numbers near Nutan College in Shivaji Nagar on Friday to protest against the proposed project. Shivaji Nagar and Tulsi Nagar — the areas earmarked for the project — are some of the greenest regions of Bhopal. Long-time residents have seen saplings grow into trees.

Head of calf found inside MP temple, 2 held

Indore:Tension gripped Jaora town in MP’s Ratlam district Friday after the severed head of a calf was found dumped inside a temple there, reports Karishma Kotwal. Two persons have been arrested for the desecration. Hundreds of people protested by blocking roads and forcing businesses to shut down. Police had to fire teargas shells to disperse the protesters. There is heavy police deployment in the town, around 155km from Indore. Ratlam additional SP Rakesh Khakha said two persons — Salman Mewati, 23, and Shakir Qureshi, 19 — have been arrested. Following the arrests, the houses of the accused were demolished by the administration. Officials said the houses were “illegally constructed”.

Protests erupted in different parts of the town before converging outside Jaora police station. While officers were trying to control the protesters, a truck carrying 26 cattle overturned in Bhuteda village on the outskirts, killing 14 cows. Right-wing activists went to the site and set fire to the truck.

HEARING ON JULY 8

SC junks fresh bid to stall NEET counselling process

Continued from P 1

Though the petitioners made a fresh attempt to convince the court to stall the counselling process for admission for undergraduate courses in medical colleges which is likely to commence on July 6, the bench rebuffed the plea and said all the issues raised by them would be examined on July 8. The court had refused to stop the conselling process earlier too.

The Centre had told the court on Thursday that it had taken back its decision to award grace marks to the students who did not get the full allotted time for the test due to mismanagement and told the Supreme Court that a re-test would be conducted for the affected 1,563 candidates.

NEET-UG, which was taken by around 24 lakh students on May 5, has been marred by allegations of paper leak, mismanagement and awarding of grace marks. Some students had approached various high courts and the SC, while many others took to the streets to protest.

Pradhan: Won’t allow deficiency in holding tests

Accountability Of NTA Will Be Fixed If Lapses Found: Edu Min

Police stop SFI supporters from protesting alleged irregularities in NEET-UG exam, in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday

Manash.Gohain@timesgroup.com

New Delhi: Education minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday said the Centre would not tolerate any malpractice or irregularities in the conduct of exams, and accountability of the National Testing Agency (NTA) would be fixed if lapses were found.

Pradhan met several candidates who took the NEET-UG exam and their parents, and reaffirmed the govt’s commitment to protect students’ interests. “Concerns of students will be addressed with fairness and equity. The counselling process will be underway soon and it is of utmost importance to move ahead without any confusion,” he said.

Govt sources clarified that the FIR related to NEET in Patna concerned “solver gangs” rather than a paper leak as claimed by Congress. Also, sources in NTA said the average score of qualifiers in Bihar was lower than the national average, with only one topper from Patna this y ear. If there had been a leak, there would have been more than one topper from Patna and a higher number of high scorers, an NTA official said.

NTA has faced criticism amid allegations of irregularities and inflated marks in the medical entrance exam con- ducted on May 5, the results of which were declared on June 4. On Congress’s criticism of the lapses in NEET-UG, Pradhan said, “They have just lost the elections and are now looking for a new issue. We have the facts, and misleading students and the public based on lies is not right.” On Congress’s statement that the NEET issue would “reverberate inside Parliament as well”, Pradhan said, “I will reply with facts in Parliament.” Explaining the rise in toppers and cut-off marks this year, Pradhan said the NEET syllabus was reduced in line with NCERT’s syllabus rationalisation. This, combined with aligning questions to state board syllabi and increased competition due to more candidates, led to the higher number of top scorers, he added. Regarding reforms in how NTA conducts entrance exams, Pradhan said, “NTA is a competent agency. However, no institution is perfect, and we continuously work on bringing reforms.”

Govt’s denial of NEET leak a cover-up: Kharge

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: Slamming as a “cover up” the govt claim that there was no paper leak in NEET-UG exam, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge Friday said Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan should clarify how his claim squares up with the arrests of 13 persons in Bihar for “paper leak” and the busting of organised rackets in Patna and Godhra where police arrested culprits and alleged exchange of money for offering NEET question papers and cheating.

Kharge amplified the Congress attack on the Modi govt over the NEET row, which the party has already announced will be a key issue in the first session of new Parliament starting this month. AICC dubbed the NEET paper leak as a pattern under BJP regimes in UP, Gujarat and MP, and called the row “Vyapam 2”, a reference to the infamous alleged paper leaks and admission rigging scandal in MP.

Kharge said not only have 13 persons been arrested for “paper leaks”, but Patna Police has also busted an organised group which was involved in offering exam papers for a sum of Rs 30 lakh, and that Gujarat Police has also alleged an exchange of Rs 13 crore by a cheating racket in Godhra.

He said out of the one lakh available seats in medical colleges, 55,000 are reserved for SC/ST/OBC/EWS, and the “game of grace marks, paper leaks and rigging was played” to raise the cut-off for reserved seats to deny the eligible students entry in govt colleges at concessional rates.

Congress’ Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Jairam Ramesh and Pawan Khera also lashed out at the govt over NEET.

2,000 tourists stranded in Sikkim wait for evacuation

Siliguri/Kalimpong: Around 2,000 tourists stranded in Sikkim’s Lachung and Chungthang due to floods would be airlifted or evacuated by road once the weather improves, a senior official said on Friday, report Roshan Gupta & Nisha Chettri.

“There is no major destruction in Lachung, Lachen and Chungthang. We have sent a requisition to the Air Force for helicopters. Once the weather improves, we would evacuate the tourists,” Sikkim chief secretary Vijay Bhushan Pathak said.

Sikkim principal secretary of tourism and civil aviation, CS Rao, confirmed that the tourists were safe and had access to adequate food supply. There are around 1,200 domestic tourists along with 10 from Bangladesh, three from Nepal and two from Thailand.

Intend to further examine forensic expert, says CBI

SHEENA BORA CASE

 Continued from P 1

Disappearance of evidence was mentioned by special public prosecutor CJ Nandode. He is currently recording testimony of a forensic expert from JJ Hospital, Dr Zeba Khan. The witness was not present on Thursday; Nandode said despite a “diligent search the articles referred (bones)” which were examined by the expert “are not traced out to the office record”. Dr Khan was among the experts who examined various sets of bones and remains recovered by Pen police in 2012 and 2015.

CBI case is that Sheena, 24, was allegedly kidnapped and murdered on April 24, 2012 and her remains burnt in a forest in Pen in Raigad district. The alleged crime came to light in Aug 2015.

Court is currently recording deposition of forensic expert Dr Khan. Dr Khan was not present on Friday but CBI said it intends to proceed with further examination or deposition of Dr Khan without showing her the remains, as they remain untraced.

The court order said defence advocates, including Ranjeet Sangle for Indrani Mukerjea, Niranjan Mundargi for Sanjeev Khanna, and Amit Ghag and Manjula Rao for Peter Mukerjea, gave a ‘no-objection’ to further deposition and recording of Dr Khan’s testimony. The court adjourned the trial for further deposition to June 27.

The prosecution said Sheena is an alleged biological daughter of Indrani from her first partner. Indrani had claimed when still married to Peter, that Sheena was her sister. Indrani married Peter after her divorce from Khanna.

CBI’s case is that Indrani, along with her former husbands Khanna and Peter—who in 2015 was still married to her — and their driver Rai hatched a plan to abduct and murder Sheena and attempt to murder her son Mekhail Bora. CBI said Indrani, Khanna, and Rai abducted Sheena in a car, administered sedatives, strangled her, and disposed of her body in Raigad by burning it. The trial court had allowed Rai to turn approver in June 2016. As per an earlier deposition, a DNA test had concluded that Indrani was biological mother of the person whose left femur (thigh) bone and cervical vertebra were found in the remains.

RSS organ: Lack of nat’l narrative led to decline in BJP’s LS tally

Nagpur: RSS organ Organiser has attributed the dramatic dip in BJP’s Lok Sabha poll tally to “lack of a grand national narrative unlike in 2014 and 2019”, and urged it to assess whether embracing tainted politicians has harmed its corruption-free image and called for scanning a “possible foreign hand” in the outcome, reports Shishir Arya. In 2014 and 2019, the “need for a drastic change and national security held people’s pulse”, according to a recent editorial in the journal. This time, it says, BJP tried to build on PM Narendra Modi’s idea of Viksit Bharat as the grand agenda, but the polls revolved around local emotive issues.

The write-up titled ‘Verdict 2024 Historic but Introspective’ also terms NDA’s third consecutive electoral success as nothing short of a miracle.

On reports of discord between RSS and BJP, it says those trying to prop up the theory don’t understand the Sangh or its functioning. For RSS, elections are not about someone winning or losing. Barring post-Emergency (1977 polls), RSS did not openly come out in support of any political party and restoration of democracy was the national cause then, the editorial noted. “In 2014, call for change motivated party workers. Grand narrative of national security became mobilising factor in 2019,” it says.

Residents of Guj society protest allocation of govt flat to Muslim woman

Vadodara/Ahmedabad: Four years after representations against a Muslim woman being allotted a govt housing scheme apartment surfaced in Vadodara, residents have now demanded that the allocation be cancelled. Other residents who got homes under the scheme allege that the area was notified under Disturbed Areas Act and a property there could not be sold to a member of the minority community.

The woman was allotted the house in 2017 under Mukhyamantri Gruh Yojana of Gujarat govt in Motnath Residency after she applied for a house under LIG scheme. Her name figured in the draw of lots and sales deed of the apartment was executed in her name in 2018. But after she got possession of the house, other occupants made representations against her allotment.

Meanwhile, Gujarat HC on Friday refused to take suo motu cognisance of the issue saying “she can file petition. She is competent”.

TNN

9 students protest burqa ban in Mumbai college, approach HC

Nine students of N G Acharya and D K Marathe College, Chembur, have moved Bombay HC against its ‘dress code’ that bans wearing of burqa, hijab & naqab in classroom, reports Rosy Sequeira. College did not explain under which provision of law they imposed such restrictions/ban, they said.

‘Reports linking Bhagwat’s remarks to BJP, govt not fair’

 Continued from P 1

True devotees of Ram should be humble, while those who oppose Ram will be dealt with by the Lord himself... senior RSS functionary Indresh Kumar said.

“He (Kumar) spoke in his personal capacity and his statement does not represent the organisation’s viewpoint,” a senior Sangh source told TOI. His comments have generated controversies earlier also.

The source, one of the few authorised to articulate Sangh’s viewpoints, regretted the “distorted interpretation” of Bhagwat’s remarks. “RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat was addressing the Sangh at the graduation ceremony of full-time volunteers who had completed their training. It was a piece of advice to them to maintain humility while doing social service as many of them are now going to be in public life,” the source said, asserting that media reports linking the comments to BJP and govt were not fair.

The source also disputed the view that the concern expressed by Bhagwat over the continuing strife in Manipur was meant as a criticism of Centre. “There is no denying that Manipur is disturbed, and people of the country should be concerned about disturbance in any part of the country. Bhagwat was talking in context of development and he said it cannot happen without peace. He substantiated his point by citing the example of Manipur where everything has got stalled because violence erupted after a decade of peace,” the source said.

BJP refused to respond, in line with its consistent tight-lipped posture on anything remotely concerned with the Sangh. Statement of BJP chief J P Nadda purportedly saying BJP has grown into a force strong enough to do without assistance from Sangh, something which has caused heartburn in RSS circles, appears to have only turned the reticence into a “no comment” resolve.

Ram Janmabhoomi chief priest Acharya Satyendra Das countered Kumar by pointing to failure of his Muslim outreach. “Indresh Kumar worked for the unity of Hindus and Muslims so that Muslims vote for BJP. But he failed miserably and blamed BJP. There is no arrogance. RSS people like Indresh Kumar did not help the BJP campaign,” he said.

Kumar is no stranger to controversies. In 2007, he was sought to be probed for alleged links to blasts in Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad and Ajmer Dargah.

To ease rush, railways plans to run ‘twins’ of popular trains

New Delhi:Amid instances of huge rush of passengers and crowding in long distance trains, railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw directed officials to work on a plan to deploy special trains to the same destinations that can run 30-40 minutes before or after scheduled departure of popular trains which have high passenger demand. Work will start soon to chalk out ‘train path’ to operate around 1,000 such trips in a year, which will have more general & sleeper coaches, sources said, reports Dipak Dash.

“These won’t be replicas of popular trains since these will have not more than two AC3 coaches. The remaining will be general and sleeper coaches. This will cater to a large section of passengers,” said a source.

Officials said running these trains with the current line capacity won’t be an issue. Currently, the railways operate around 3,000 mail and express trains daily. Vaishnaw on Thursday held a review meeting with all members and senior officials of railway board along with general managers of zonal railways and divisional railway managers on issues, including overcrowding of trains, security, safety measures for operations and punctuality of trains.

At 6%, Indians No.2 among immigrant nurses in US: Data

Continued from P 1

Pakistan rounds off the top three with 13,000 immigrant doctors (constituting 5% to the immigrant doctor population). New Jersey, Florida and New York were the top destination American states for immigrant doctors.

Remitly, a US-based company that provides digital financial/remittance services, recently released its “Immigrant Healthcare Index” based on its analysis of data of the Migration Policy Institute (MPI) and US Bureau of Labour Statistics.

The data shows that of the 34.1 lakh actively employed registered nurses, 5.4 lakh, or nearly 16%, are immigrants. A significant number — 1.4 lakh Filipino registered nurses — are currently working in the US, meaning that 26% of immigrant registered nurses were born in the Philippines.

Indians (32,000, or 6%, of the immigrant registered nurse workforce) and Nigerians (24,000, or 5%, of the immigrant registered nurse workforce) ranked as the second and third most common immigrant nationalities in this profession.

California, Nevada and New Jersey were the top destination American states for immigrant registered nurses.

Immigrants with a workforce of nearly 2.7 crore constituted 18% of total US healthcare workers. Indians with a total of 1.8 lakh healthcare workers comprised 7% of the total immigrant healthcare professional population.

While India was a significant source country for doctors and registered nurses, it did not figure in the top five when it came to other occupations like nursing assistants, health aides, etc, resulting in an overall rank of three.

Filipinos, with a workforce of 3.5 lakh (or 13% of the total immigrant healthcare professional population), occupied the top slot, followed by Mexico which, with a work force of 2.7 lakh workers, constituted 10% to the total immigrant healthcare professional population.

Naga body in Manipur slaps 7-yr ban on MP for poll fight

Guwahati: United Naga Council (UNC), the apex body of Nagas in Manipur, imposed a seven-year ban on newly-elected Lok Sabha member from Outer Manipur constituency, Alfred K Arthur of Congress, and two others, for contesting in the recently concluded general elections in defiance of the council, reports Prabin Kalita.

The ban prevents the trio from participating in public platforms and holding any leadership roles within the Naga community.

UNC, while underscoring the necessity for a Naga representative in Lok Sabha, had called upon all Nagas in the state to rise above political affiliations, personal relationships, and sectarian interests and support a consensus Naga candidate, identified by Naga People’s Front (NPF), for Outer Manipur constituency.

Arthur defeated the candidate of NPF, Kachui Timothy Zimik, also a Naga. NPF is an NDA ally. The other two, who were served the ban, are S Kho John and Allyson Abonmai. Both contested as independents from the same constituency.

Will focus on creating job opportunities for youth: HDK

Continued from P 1

Kumaraswamy said, “Conversely, there are small-scale industries... In Peenya (an industrial estate in Bengaluru), there are small-scale industries. How many lakh jobs have they created? What benefits have we provided to them? I am contemplating these matters, such as how to safeguard the nation’s wealth.”

Thanking PM Modi for entrusting him with steel and heavy industries portfolios, he said he would focus on creating employment opportunities for youth of the country. “I can facilitate job opportunities outside the state as well. You must be willing to relocate,” he added. The ex-Karnataka CM, who is in his first stint as Union minister, said he would need “15 days to grasp governance”.

He criticised Congress’s guarantee schemes in state, saying he believed in fostering self-reliance by providing employment rather than making people dependent on handouts.

While affirming his commitment to BJP-led NDA, he urged people of the state to consider giving JD(S) an opportunity to govern independently. He also urged Congress govt in state to cooperate with him for Karnataka’s benefit.

Times City

- Backs To Wall In Nai Sadak As Old Woes Persist

- Over 120 shops destroyed, traders distraught

- Firemen’s nightmare: Dangling wires, congested streets

- Khandelwal vows to speed up relocation of electrical wires

- At 33.3°C, Delhi records warmest night since 2018

- 45-year-old found dead in south Delhi

- Street Vendors Caught In A Wave

- ‘You Should Be Able To Walk To Metro Within 500 Metres Anywhere In City’

- Unmanned: Magenta line metro drivers’ cabins to be removed by end of month

- 2 foreign traffickers held, cops bust int’l drug cartel

- Brakes on mishaps! Anti-drag system to ensure better safety of passengers

- 3 cops on patrol duty dig hole in adjacent structure to rescue 3 from fire on 3rd floor

- Thieves target vehicles of students at college

- Water Production Going Down For A Week: Atishi

- HC notice to ED on bail plea

- NDMC to run yoga camps from June 18

- Allow Wife To Join VC During Checkup: CM

- LG’s go-ahead to prosecution of Arundhati under UAPA

- Two arrested for duping people online

- HC seeks reply from police on bail petition of Kejriwal’s aide

- Bharadwaj alleges poll code violation, Bidhuri hits back

- Waste piles up on Ggn roads, but 12% of funds spent by civic body

- Gang issuing fake caste certificates busted, tehsildar among 4 held

- Anand disqualified from Delhi Assembly

- 5 biometric registration kiosks at IGI for int’l passengers arriving in India

- Traffic chokepoints: PWD seeks report

- Supernova lands in NCLT as Bank of Maharashtra files insolvency plea

- Man stabs colleague to death with scissors

- CINEMA OF THE WEEK

- AAP MLAs meet to discuss development work

- 70-year-old man burnt to death as he tries to set his neighbour on fire

Backs To Wall In Nai Sadak As Old Woes Persist

Main Blaze Doused After 11 Hrs, Small Fires Still On

At least eight fire tenders and nearly 50 firefighters were at work dousing the flare-ups on Friday

Abhay@timesgroup.com

New Delhi: It took nearly 11 hours to control the main blaze that consumed shops at Nai Sadak on Thursday. Small fires were still burning on Friday. While firefighters finally gained control of the primary fire around 4.30am on Friday using more than 45 fire tenders and 200 firefighters, small fires persisted due to the presence of combustible materials around. Fire officers said it could take another 24 hours to fully extinguish the flames.

At least eight fire tenders and nearly 50 firefighters are at work dousing the flare-ups as they occur.

Deputy commissioner of police (north) Manoj Meena said a case under sections 285 (negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter) and 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) of IPC had been registered and they an investigation was on. “One fireman suffered superficial burns during the ongoing firefighting operation,” he said. An officer said there are combustible materials lying around in the area that regularly caught fire and required the firefighters’ attention. In terms of the entire operation, the firefighters said that they had to connect numerous hoses spanning 250-300 ft to be able to reach the burning area.

“The fire tenders took over 100 rounds to replenish water and reach the affected locations. They drove to nearby fire stations and other water sources to fill their tanks,” the officer said. The main building from where the blaze started has a ground floor plus two above it. “On the ground floor, there was a shop while a family lived on the top floor. It also had a godown filled with clothing materials. The fire started due to a short circuit in an AC on the top floor.”

They also had to battle winds that changed the direction of the blaze. “It was one of the toughest challenges as the wind started changing the direction of the blaze, which led to more shops being gutted. We continuously started spraying water on the flames for 6-7 ho- urs from different sides so that the further spread could be controlled,” the official added.

The collapse of two buildings posed a significant obstacle to firemen because it blocked access to the roads, forcing the fire engines to take another route. “Turntable ladders were also employed in the extinguishing operations after the buildings collapsed and blocked the only accessible roads. We had also taken robots, but weren’t able to deploy them,” the officer revealed.

The fire service used 3-4 lakh litres of water to control the blaze. A team from the Forensic Science Laboratory visited the site on Friday. Atul Garg, director, DFS, who was present during the entire operation, said that smoke had posed a major challenge. This forced the firefighters to form at least four teams to douse the blaze from all four sides to control both the flames and the effects of smoke. “The flames were very intense and high, but the firefighters remained calm, which resulted in no injuries,” Garg said.

Over 120 shops destroyed, traders distraught

ASHOP OWNER SAYS Prominent people visit this place. After Thursday’s fire, political leaders came and gave us some assurances but the fact is the basic system was not functioning

Vibha.Sharma@timesgroup.com

New Delhi: Flames consumed over 120 shops and storehouses in the Anil Market complex and Bhagwati Complex on Nai Sadak in Chandni Chowk on Thursday. Since most of the establishments weren’t insured, the owners are uncertain about the future given their financial losses.

Jai Kishan, owner of Laxmi Saree Centre, lost his shop on the ground floor and storehouse on the second floor to the fire. “My son had gone upstairs to collect stock and found flames in the godown. Other people rushed up but before we could think of saving anything, the fire spread to the whole complex. I couldn't even retrieve my documents and cash, leaving the shop with a heavy heart just to save my life,” said Kishan, estimating his losses at Rs 30 lakh.

The businessmen are unsure of how to move forward. Sri Niwas Pandey, who was standing near Jai Kishan, struggled to speak. “This shop was my sole source of income for around 20 years but it wasn’t insured,” said the Shahdara resident in a choked voice. “I was in another shop and only left there around 9pm. Even after most of my sari stock was burnt down, I had hoped that I would be able to renovate my shop and carry on. But by 11pm, even that hope also shattered when the whole building collapsed.”

On Friday afternoon, TOI visited the market and saw firefighters still working to extinguish the flames that keep jumping up at various spots. Since Thursday evening, the electricity supply to the entire Nai Sadak area has been cut, mobile networks aren’t functioning properly, and grim-faced traders awaited the dousing operations to be completed.

The locals claim the market is biggest wholesale market for saris in old Delhi. Adjacent to Anil Market with its 50-60 shops and godowns are the New Marwadi Katra and Bhagwati Karta markets, all three sharing a common entry and exit point.

Hari Om, who runs a shop in New Marwadi Katra, said, “Prominent people visit this place. Lal Bahadur Shastri, the second PM of India, had come too. Customers come from all across north India. After Thursday’s fire, political leaders came and gave us some assurances but the fact is the basic system, such as fire hydrants at main Chandni Chowk market, was not functioning on Thursday. Water was arranged from Paschim Vihar.”

Area MLA Parlad Singh Sawhney, visiting the site, said he had asked the traders to prepare a plan for replacing the overhead wires, a project he would fund under the MLALAD scheme. As for the non-functional hydrants, he said the system couldn’t function if there wasn’t enough water in the tanks, alluding perhaps to the water crisis in the city. However, Atul Garg, director, Delhi Fire Service, claimed both fire engines and hydrants had been used in the operations.

Aggrieved traders complained that the authorities had failed to take corrective action even after frequent blazes, pointing out how the dangling electricity lines had never been removed. In May, five shops were gutted near Fatehpuri Masjid, a massive fire broke out at a building in Dariba Bazar in Feb and in Nov last year, over 100 shops were scorched in Chandni Chowk due to alleged short circuit in the wires hanging overhead.

Firemen’s nightmare: Dangling wires, congested streets

Abhay@timesgroup.com

New Delhi: In the heart of Chandni Chowk, amidst its bustling lanes and chaos, a silent menace is always lurking in the shadows. In the past 18 months, this historic market has suffered 61 fires. Delving into the specifics of this infernal ordeal, the fire service reveals the menacing reality: 42 distress calls in 2023 and 19 incidents till June 12 this year.

For firefighters, extinguishing flames in Chandni Chowk is a daunting task, a relentless battle against both fire and time. “The buildings here are very old and can collapse at any moment. When fighting blazes, we have to enter these buildings at the risk of life. Not only are the affected structures perilous, but also the nearby buildings we employ for firefighting,” a fire officer said.

Atul Garg, director, Delhi Fire Service, underlined the diverse nature of the locality, teeming with commercial buildings storing paper, textiles and plastic wares. These materials, inherently combustible, serve as catalysts during fires, accelerating the spread of fla- mes with alarming swiftness. “In addition, the area is densely populated, exacerbating our challenges when manoeuvring fire tenders during incidents,” said Garg.

The buildings often cram goods right up to the terrace, sometimes even encroaching upon electrical fittings. "This not only obstructs escape routes but also heightens the risk of spontaneo- us combustion,” Garg said. The maintenance of wiring also plays an important role and the fire chief said, “Regular maintenance reduces the risk of short circuits, but use of too many devices can lead to overloading and subsequent fires.”

Dangling power lines are a ubiquitous sight in Chandni Chowk, not only detracting from its aesthetic charm but also posing a fire hazard. “We have also found that the power meters are not placed correctly in shops, which is itself dangerous because this can cause short circuits,” Garg added.

In the past incidents, water has always proved limited in Chandni Chowk, forcing fire tenders to drive to nearby fire stations or collect water from Delhi metro stations. This is time-consuming. Garg said, “In a matter of a few minutes, a blaze can engulf the whole building. That is how obstruction to movement hinders rescue operations.”

Khandelwal vows to speed up relocation of electrical wires

New Delhi: Member of Parliament from Chandni Chowk Praveen Khandelwal said that there was an immediate need to solve the longstanding issue of hanging electric wires in Old Delhi. He said, “The electric wires hanging here have been like this for centuries...I will ensure that the hanging wires in the areas of Old Delhi are shifted underground...”

Khandelwal said that he would convene a meeting with all the officials concerned to discuss this.

The MP, accompanied by teams from various govt departments, visited the site of the fire in Chandni Chowk. Several goods have been reduced to ashes, resulting in significant losses for the traders, he said after meeting the affected businessmen.

Khandelwal also said that there was a need for establishing a permanent fire station in Chandni Chowk. He said that he would take up these matters with LG VK Saxena as well and ensure that there was a permanent solution to it.

Delhi food and civil supplies minister and Ballimaran MLA Imran Hussain also visited the area. The minister met the affected traders and directed the area SDM to provide adequate support to the victims. Hussain said that Delhi govt would explore all possible support in restoring the market. He also instructed the official to assess the damage caused by the fire and submit a report.

“Firefighters faced significant challenges in extinguishing the flames due to the interconnected nature of the shops within the narrow lanes of the Katra Marwadi market. Uninterrupted cooling operations are presently going on,” the minister said.

TNN

At 33.3°C, Delhi records warmest night since 2018

Priyangi.Agarwal@timesgroup.com

New Delhi: Delhiites experienced a warm night on Friday as the minimum temperature rose to 33.3 degrees Celsius, five degrees above normal, at Safdarjung, the city’s base station. It was the highest minimum temperature recorded in the past six years.

It was a double blow as heatwave conditions continued in some parts of Delhi on Friday for the sixth consecutive day. The difference in the maximum and minimum temperatures was just 10-12 degrees at most stations. A drizzle was experienced at some places on Friday afternoon.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) defines a ‘warm night’ when the maximum temperature is above normal and the minimum is 4.5 degrees and more above normal temperature. Some parts of Delhi saw ‘warm nights’ in the last week of May this year.

The IMD data shows that the last time Safdarjung saw a higher minimum temperature was on June 13, 2018, at 34 degrees Celsius. This year, the highest minimum temperature till now was 30.9 degrees Celsius on May 29.

Besides Safdarjung, ‘warm nights’ were witnessed at Pitampura (35.7 degrees Celsius), Pusa (35), Raj Ghat (34), SPS Mayur Vihar (33.2), Jafarpur (32.4), Ayanagar (32.2) and Najafgarh (31.9).

Although Safdarjung didn’t see any heatwave, some stations, such as Lodhi Road, Ridge, Jafarpur, Najafgarh and Pitampura, reeled under it. The heat index or feel-like temperature was 48 degrees Celsius.

The maximum temperature at Safdarjung was 44 degrees Celsius, four degrees above normal. It was 45.9 degrees Celsius at Pitampura, 45.8 at Jafarpur, 45.1 at Najafgarh, 44.8 at Ridge and Ayanagar, 44.4 at Palam and Lodhi Road, 44.1 at SPS Mayur Vihar, and 43.7 at Raj Ghat.

“Dry and warm westerly winds from Rajasthan and south Haryana, which are prevailing in the city, are causing high day temperatures. However, these warm winds are also blowing in the night,” said a Met official. “Besides, under the influence of a western disturbance, the city saw partly cloudy skies on Thursday, which did not let the night temperature to dip. Warm winds and cloudiness caused warm nights.”

The official added, “On Friday, the difference between day and night temperatures was only 10-12 degrees Celsius at most stations. Hence, the nights were also uncomfortable.”

When both days and nights are warmer, there is not much respite from blistering heat early during the day or evening. Met officials said due to warmer nights, days become hotter as the surface heats up more.

The heatwave spell is likely to continue for the next five days, with the maximum temperature hovering around 45 degrees Celsius. IMD has predicted a thunderstorm or lightning with drizzle at one or two places on Saturday afternoon or evening along with heatwave conditions at many places.

An ‘orange’ alert has been issued for June 14 to 16 for heatwave conditions at many places while a ‘yellow’ alert has been placed for June 17.

45-year-old found dead in south Delhi

New Delhi: A 45-year-old man was found dead in south Delhi’s Devli on Thursday. Police received information about a body being found in a dilapidated room situated on a vacant plot near Bank Colony on Devli Road, police said.

“The body was found lying on an old mattress, covered with a quilt. Subsequently, the deceased was identified as Hammid Khan by his family members. The body was transported to the mortuary for further autopsy proceedings. According to the family, Khan had a history of alcohol addiction and often remained absent from his home,” a police officer said.

TNN

Street Vendors Caught In A Wave

HEAT IS ON: Study Finds High Rate Of Irritability, Anxiety, Sleeplessness

NOWHERE TO HIDE AS WEATHER SCORCHES CITY

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: Extreme heatwaves impact street vendors’ health, productivity and livelihoods in the city, states a report by Greenpeace India and National Hawkers Federation. The study, based on a survey of 721 street vendors at 15 city markets, found high incidences of irritability, anxiety and sleeplessness among vendors during heatwaves.

Irritability was the most common, affecting 73.4% of the respondents, followed by headache (66.9%), dehydration (67.5%), sunburn (66.5%), fatigue (60.8%) and muscle cramps (57.4%).

According to the report, Havoc — investigating the impact on street vendors, 49.3% of the respondents experienced a loss of income during heatwaves, with 80.1% of them acknowledging a decline in customer numbers. At least 50.9% said they faced higher financial burdens due to additional household expenses, with an average extra expense of Rs 4,896.52 during extreme heat months. Around 82.7% of vendors lacked guidance on managing heatwaves and 71.1% struggled to access medical help during emergencies.

To address these issues, the study recommends prioritising vendors’ needs, such as installing drinking water and restroom facilities. “It urges the Delhi Heat Action Plan authority to consult with vendors and other outdoor workers extensively to address their vulnerabilities effectively,” said Manoranjan, the researcher involved with the study.

According to it, seven out of eight women street vendors reported experiencing high blood pressure while women in the middle age group raised concerns about delays in their menstrual cycles due to the extreme heat.

For understanding the heat, Greenpeace used thermal imaging to know the reflected temperature at three locations — Khan Market, Lajpat Nagar and Connaught Place — in April-end or early May. “The thermal images show that street vendors are working in up to 50 degrees Celsius temperature,” said the study.

Selomi Garnaik, campaigner at Greenpeace India, said, “Outdoor workers face serious health risks working under the scorching sun. Our report outlines a policy framework to support street vendors, suggesting that fossil fuel corporations, especially the global ones, that have historically contributed to climate damage must pay for adaptation policies.”

The study, Garnaik added, also recommends providing essentials like water, sanitation and cooling centres, and calls for a special fund to compensate vendors for income loss and extra expenses due to heatwaves, ensuring their safety and stability.

Sandeep Verma, convener of National Hawker Federation Delhi, said, “We demand immediate government intervention, including the establishment of heat shelters in markets with essential facilities. Recognise street vendors as green warriors for their near-zero carbon emissions, provide them with awareness and safety kits, and ensure institutional support for the most vulnerable.”

TOI INTERVIEW

‘You Should Be Able To Walk To Metro Within 500 Metres Anywhere In City’

Vikas Kumar took over as MD of DMRC in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. Ridership had declined and revenue was down. Through smart use of technology and customer care, DMRC has, under his stewardship, put the worst behind it. He spoke to Priyangi Agarwal on the recovery and other issues

According to MoU, our operational losses have to be covered by Centre and Delhi govt. At a later stage, we need to be supported by Delhi govt only. We lost about Rs 3,000 crore in two years. We have not received any amount so far though they have not said they won’t pay

Our major revenue comes from the network effect. There are some who use Red Line for reaching their destination but a higher number of people use it to go to other lines. The metro network has to be dense. There is a limit to which you can provide service on one line

Multimodal integration creates proper space for all modes of transport like buses, e-rickshaws or e-autos. However, there has to be enforcement and also counselling by other agencies of the people who run these buses, e-rickshaws, e-autos and cabs to avoid congestion

You took over as MD at a time when ridership was down because of the pandemic and the scenario was quite bleak for metro. What were your immediate concerns and to what extent has DMRC recovered?

■ Our immediate concern was to get back the ridership and, for this, we focused more on customer comfort. Like in Airport Express Line, we increased the speed to 120 kmph because our customer wants to reach his destination as early as possible. On other lines, we improved the timetable. Another aspect was customer care and we have various mechanisms for getting feedback. An indigenous software called ‘CARE’ was developed which sends complaints to relevant departments and gets remarks. This way, these complaints are processed very quickly. We also stepped up digitalisation to ensure ease of ticketing. We introduced One Delhi App, WhatsApp ticketing, PayTm and Sarthi Momentum 2.0. We replaced tokens with QR codes which is much easier to handle as you can have it on your mobile or even print it. We are also working on introducing dynamic QR tickets which will minimize the chances of fraud. We intend to have these for multiple journeys.

Can you tell us about the kind of grievances that are voiced by commuters?

■ The main grievances are things like escalators not working or some air-conditioner not being effective. Most of the complaints, however, are related to ticketing, like ‘we had purchased it online but we did not get the ticket’. We redress such complaints immediately.

Since traffic operations will never be the only source of revenue for public transport entities like DMRC, can you tell us how you are monetizing other sources like real estate advertisements, consultancies, etc.

■ Non-fare revenue had plummeted to an all-time low during the Covid period but has picked up now. Last year, it was more than Rs 500 crore in a year. We get a big chunk from advertisements and naming rights. The station box area – where you have property development like at Supreme Court and New Delhi metro stations – also yield good revenue. We are also trying to get permission for residential projects on our land that is designated for residential use. Janankpuri West and Jantar Mantar are examples.

But the total non-fare revenue amounts to only 15%.

Did Centre and Delhi government lend a helping hand in the aftermath of the pandemic?

■ According to the MoU we have signed, if we make an operational loss, we are to be supported by Centre and Delhi govt. At a later stage, we need to be supported by Delhi govt only. We are in touch with both governments. We lost about Rs 3,000 crore in two years. We have not received any amount so far though they have not said they won’t pay. We have to keep pursuing. We survived because we had set aside some money for replacement and renewals because the system has become quite old. That money had to be diverted. Meanwhile, SC’s reversal of the DAMEPL order was a most just decision. We deposited Rs 2,600 crore in banks and are now in the process of getting that amount back. We have approached the court.

How is Airport Express Line doing and how do you plan to enhance and exploit its potential?

■ The operating ratio for Airport Express Line is slightly above 100, which means that we are not making an operational profit right now. We had raised the speed to 120 kmph but realized that our electricity cost had increased exponentially. We had to rework our plan and run trains at 120 kmph only during peak periods now. During non-peak hours, the speed is 80-90 kmph so that our electricity bill does not go up. However, once we start getting more passengers, we will review this. Ridership for this line had come down during Covid but has now risen to about 60,000. People are using it for going to the airport since a lot of people work over there. After Vistara, Air India has opened check-in counters at New Delhi metro station. If this line is extended to Gurgaon, its full potential can be realised. For now, there are no such plans, but another line from Gurgaon may come to Aerocity. There are plans to connect it with rapid rail too.

DMRC is constructing 65 priority corridors in phase IV. Did you encounter any new challenges and when can commuters expect to use them?

■ The major challenge was getting land at certain places like the ridge area. We have still not got tree cutting permission in some patches near Azadpur, at Ghantaghar on the Janakpuri West-RK Ashram corridor and in some pockets of the Majlis ParkMaujpur corridor. Without that, we cannot start work. We also faced engineering challenges because of rock in soil. We found hard rocks in the Sadar area and the tunnel boring machine had to be operated cautiously because there are so many old buildings there.

The deadline for phase IV’s three priority corridors was extended due to Covid.

■ The sanction was received in 2019 and revised the next year followed by two years of Covid. We will try to open the first section from Janakpuri West to Krishna Park Extension -by the end of this July. The tentative completion date for Janakpuri West-RK Ashram and Aerocity Tughlakabad sections is March 2026 subject to all clearances, while Maujpur-Majlis Park has a completion target of March 2025.

The Lajpat Nagar-Saket G block and Inderlok-Indraprastha corridors are new additions that were recently approved. When do you expect to start construction?

■ The main alignments are being frozen and we will do the final location survey to see what all is required like tree-cutting permission. The tendering documents are also being prepared simultaneously. Time given to us is four to five years but we will try to complete the work early. The final approval for the third corridor --Rithala-Bawana-NarelaKundli -is yet to be received. In anticipation of this, we are doing a final survey and identifying land and impacted trees so that there is no delay.

When do you think an average Delhiite will be able to step out of his or her house and walk to the nearest metro station? Isn’t that how it should be to make the metro truly viable?

■ Yes, it should be like that. I would say if someone is airdropped at any point, he or she should be able to walk to the metro station. The distance should be 500 metres, and we are progressing towards that. The network needs more interchanges and alternative routes so that you are able to move from one place to another easily as in Tokyo and Paris.

Our major revenue comes from the network effect. We had analysed the traffic for Red Line. There are some who use only this line for reaching their destination but a higher number of people use it to go to other lines. The metro network has to be dense. There is a limit to which you can provide service on one line. We can increase the frequency but soon reach a limit when the need for parallel routes arises to create a proper network mesh.

Has metro been able to break habits? Have you done any assessment of whether some people have actually given up their personal vehicles to travel by metro?

■ From a survey carried out by The Energy and Research Institute (TERI), we can see that the latest figure for 2023 shows that around 597361 vehicles have gone off the roads daily in Delhi-NCR due to the metro. But the number of two-wheelers has increased after the pandemic.

The chaos around metro stations gives DMRC a bad name. Multimodal integration has not been quite successful. E-rickshaws and cabs around metro stations have become a nuisance. So many congestion points have emerged. Where do you think the problem lies and how can it be tackled?

■ Multimodal integration has to be planned so that there is proper space for all modes of transport like buses, e-rickshaws or e-autos. We are working on this, and out of 91 identified stations, we have implemented this at 61. However, there has to be enforcement and also counselling by other agencies of the people who run these buses, erickshaws, e-autos and cabs. For example, despite dedicated bus stops, some buses halt elsewhere as some passengers are waiting there which leads to congestion. This was happening near Dhaula Kuan metro station as people would gather on a pavement and not at the nearby bus stop. We fenced the area and the buses are now halting at the stop.

This is connected to last-mile connectivity. You had introduced feeder buses but the project was not suc- cessful and these were handed over to Delhi govt. What has been the feedback?

■ There was low ridership. The issue with these buses is that they do not get much revenue in a radius of 5 km to make their operation viable. Either the operation cost has to be subsidized or the area of operation has to be widened. There are safety issues with e-rickshaws, which are slow and lead to traffic congestion. Eautos are true feeders. Over 900 e-autos are currently available at 38 stations. These e-autos will be geo-fenced and passengers will be able to book them on an app.

With new lines coming up, is there anything else that you are thinking of doing to enhance passenger experience?

■ We are promoting mobility as a service. Our aim is to give eve- rything at the commuter’s doorstep, and for this, we are doing digitalisation. We are planning to use AI for our Momentum 2.0 app on which tickets can be purchased and which has a virtual mall and locker service. The service on this app will be enhanced on the basis of information about people’s choices. People will get targeted notifications or messages depending on that. As working people are short of time, they can place orders in the morning for groceries which can be delivered by evening at the station. We need a lot of data for that. We expect the number of users to increase after we get that information from AI.

The vision for future technology is also one of being barrier-free. There won’t be any gates -tickets will be read, people charged.

Unmanned: Magenta line metro drivers’ cabins to be removed by end of month

Priyangi.Agarwal@timesgroup.com

New Delhi: Drivers’ cabins are being removed from metro trains in the Magenta line to make space for passengers. The trains will become fully automated by June-end.

The driverless trains currently have a provision for train attendants, who will be removed to make them completely unmanned. After the Magenta line, this will be done on the Pink line too.

Delhi Metro's fully automated network is currently about 97km long and is available on Magenta and Pink lines. It is the only driverless train operation network in India.

Vikas Kumar, managing director of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, told TOI: “The Magenta line will be completely unmanned by June-end. We have removed driver cabins in 15-16 trains, and we are getting more space for passengers. We will remove attendants in phases. An attendant may be present between three-four trains.”

The driverless train operation was launched on the Magenta Line (Janakpuri West to Botanical Garden) in Dec 2020 and it was later introduced on the Pink Line (Majlis Park to Shiv Vihar) in Nov 2021. When driverless operations started, a train operator was present in a train to instil a sense of confidence and for assistance.

In the upcoming corridors of DMRC’s phase IV expansion, the train operations will also be driverless.

“After the Magenta line, this will be implemented on the Pink line. We will also try to implement this soon in phase IV with the experience we get from these two lines. For driverless operations in phase IV, we have taken some measures like a track monitoring system with cameras installed on the tracks,” Kumar said. He added that since drivers will not be visible, there are alarms for the Operation Control Centre.

A DMRC official had earlier said: “The driverless train brings more flexibility to operations, reduces human intervention and human error. It also helps in improving the availability of coaches for service. The driverless trains eliminate the manual process of checking before induction, subsequently reducing the burden on train operators. The parking on the stabling line in depots is also done automatically.”

DMRC to procure 312 metro coaches (52 trains) for driverless operations for phase IV’s priority corridors. “The DMRC has already started reaping benefits of driverless operations on its two lines in terms of increased availability of coaches for service. Reliability of the trains have increased manifold due to exhaustive self-tests done before induction in service every day, automatically eliminating all possibilities of human error,” an official had said earlier.

2 foreign traffickers held, cops bust int’l drug cartel

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: The Special Cell of Delhi Police claimed to have dismantled an international drug cartel with the arrest of two alleged traffickers and seizure of over 5.9 kilograms of methamphetamine.

The arrested suspects, identified as Marian Kone (29) from Ivory Coast and Kingsley Onyekachi (37) from Nigeria, are suspected of being major players in the cartel's operations within Delhi and surrounding areas, a senior police officer said.

The recovered drugs, estimated to have a street value exceeding Rs 20 crore in the international market, were concealed in baby food boxes to evade detection, said Amit Kaushik, deputy commissioner of police (Special Cell).

Following a tip-off, the Special Cell team laid a trap near a petrol pump in Mahi- palpur where they apprehended Kone with a backpack containing the drugs. Following her interrogation, police raided a house in west Delhi’s Nilothi Extension and arrested Onyekachi and seized more drugs, the DCP said.

The suspects distributed the drugs primarily in Janakpuri and Vikaspuri. During the interrogation, the duo further confessed to supplying drugs to clients in Bengaluru and Mumbai through carriers traveling by long-distance buses via Ahmedabad, the DCP said.

Kone and Onyekachi were found to be residing in India illegally. While Kone entered on a business visa in April 2024 but couldn't produce any documentation, Onyekachi lacked a passport and visa altogether. Consequently, they were additionally booked for violating the Foreigners Act, the DCP added.

Brakes on mishaps! Anti-drag system to ensure better safety of passengers

Priyangi.Agarwal@timesgroup.com

New Delhi: Since commuters’ clothes or bags get stuck in metro gates, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has decided to introduce an antidrag system to ensure passenger safety. If this system senses pressure between the gates, the emergency brakes will be automatically applied.

In Dec 2023, a 35-year-old woman died after her clothes got stuck in the metro door and the train dragged her for several metres. DMRC has floated a tender for installing this system in five trains on the Red Line as a pilot project.

The anti-drag system is designed to prevent passenger injuries or damage to their belongings if they get trapped between the closing doors and dragged along with the moving train. It helps identify hazardous situations (obstructions or objects like belts, clothes, saris and bag straps) when the door is already closed and subsequently prevents the train from moving.

The threshold of the doors to detect an obstruction between doors is usually 15mm, which was reduced to 7mm. However, at present, obstruction is not detected if anything less than this thickness gets stuck between the doors.

Vikas Kumar, managing director of DMRC, said: “Anti-drag is an advanced feature in trains. If it senses pressure between two gates, it applies an emergency brake. If someone or something is stuck between the gates, the emergen- cy brakes will be applied. An incident where a woman’s clothes were stuck was very unfortunate and such incidents can be avoided.”

However, this system available in mostly European countries is very costly. “We are trying to get a cheaper model. To begin with, we have called for tenders for five trains. We are hopeful we will get a solution which would be almost 20 times cheaper. When this feature is successful, we will do this in all trains,” Kumar said.

The anti-drag feature in the trains will be retrofitted only in old lines. “The issue of something getting stuck between metro doors is not there in the upcoming Phase IV’s corridors or existing Pink and Magenta lines as they have platform screen do- ors (PSDs),” Kumar said.

“In old lines, PSDs have been installed only on busy stations to control crowds. We have taken some other measures too on the old lines. For instance, at interchange stations, we have deployed additional staff on vigil to see and immediately raise an alarm if such a thing happens. We have installed railing at some places,” added Kumar.

DMRC has also been making announcements inside trains advising passengers to take care of their saris, dhotis, dupattas, bags etc. Besides, digital screens available at major stations and inside trains also play the awareness video to educate the commuters about precautions to be taken while boarding and alighting from the train.

3 cops on patrol duty dig hole in adjacent structure to rescue 3 from fire on 3rd floor

CONSTABLE SAYS I first pulled the two children to safety through the hole and then the young man

The video of the incident shows a cop pulling the kids from the hole

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: A fire erupted on the third floor of a building in south Delhi’s Malviya Nagar on Friday afternoon. Three police officers on patrol nearby sprang into action, swiftly going into an adjacent structure and creating a hole through the walls to liberate the people trapped inside the blazing floor.

At 2.29pm on Friday, an urgent caller rang the police control room, informing of the dire situation. A fire sparked by an air conditioner had engulfed the building and its occupants in Malviya Nagar M Block near Madan Mohan Malviya Hospital. Anand Mishra, DCP (PCR), said the nearby emergency response vehicle rushed to the spot and met the caller, Mayank Tomar, 23, who stated that an air conditioner had caught fire in a house on the third floor, trapping two children and one adult in the house.

Determined to save the trapped people, head constables Kapil Rathi and Narender, along with assistant sub-inspector Dharampal, were undaunted by flames blocking their entry into the building. "We went to the terrace of another building from where we could get to the terrace of the affected building. We could see a lot of smoke inside the flat," one of the rescuers said. The trio then proceeded to create a hole in the wall of the third floor of the burning building. "We broke open a hole around two to three feet wide," one of them said.

Rathi, who is deployed with PCR, partially entered the room through the hole and spoke to the trapped individuals who were standing near the balcony. "I instructed them to come to our side,” said the head constable. “I first pulled the two children to safety through the hole and then the young man." The father of the two kids was outside the building when the fire broke out and he tried gamely to douse the blaze by throwing water on it.

The trapped individuals were identified as Ditya, aged three years, Bhavyansh, aged 7, and Sagar, aged 23 years. DCP (South) Ankit Chauhan said that the presence of mind shown by the police personnel and their act of courage, three precious lives had been saved.

The video of the incident shows the policeman pulling the kids from the hole and handing them over to other people. The people can be heard telling the kids not to panic.

Thieves target vehicles of students at college

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: Thieves targeted vehicles of the students who had come to take an examination at a college in Rohini on Friday. They smashed the windows of several parked cars and brazenly stole a multitude of valuables, including iPhones, laptops, purses, iPods and a significant amount of cash, a senior police officer said.

The incident came to light when students came out the college around 1 pm after their exam was over. They observed that the windows of three cars were broken, and their phones, laptops, and other items were missing.

Bhupinder Singh, father of one of the victims who filed a police complaint, said that it was the fourth exam of the students at the college located in Rohini. "They parked their cars outside the college gate. The students had placed their phones, laptops, and other items in the three cars around 9.15 am and locked them properly," he added.

Singh said that as many as 16 iPhones, two other phones, and two laptops were stolen from the vehicles parked outside the college. The CCTV camera installed at the college gate was not directed towards the entrance, thus hindering any chances of capturing the perpetrators in the act, added Singh.

The complainant suspects that someone may have been doing a recce or passing information about the items kept in the cars. "Although there were several cars parked in the vicinity, it's intriguing that only the windows of three cars were broken," he voiced his suspicion.

Police said that the investigation started after the complaint was filed.

Water Production Going Down For A Week: Atishi

BJP: People Being Misled With ‘Cooked Up’ Figures

Atishi said water production was much below normal

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: AAP minister Atishi on Friday said the water production in the capital had been continuously going down for a week due to less water in the Yamuna. While the production was 1,002 million gallon per day on June 6, it was nearly 940MGD on June 13.

While AAP blamed Haryana for the water crisis in Delhi, BJP said the former was playing “dirty” politics.

Posting the data of nine treatment plants and collection of water through ranney wells, Atishi claimed the production was much below the normal. “Due to less water reaching the Yamuna, the water production in Delhi is continuously decreasing. Under normal circumstances, 1,005MGD water is produced in Delhi, but it has been continuously decreasing since last one week,” the water minister posted on X in Hindi.

“Due to the reduced production, there is water shortage in many parts of Delhi. Everyone is requested to use water very economically,” she added.

In a bulletin on X, Delhi Jal Board said the production on June 13 was 939.75MGD, around 15MGD below capacity. Officials said it was mainly because of the shortage of raw water at the Wazirabad treatment plant.

AAP Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh alleged that BJP govt in Haryana was stopping Delhi’s rightful water. “The people of Delhi have elected seven BJP MPs, now where are they,” he asked. “I appeal to them to urge Haryana govt and Centre to provide adequate water to Delhi.”

Delhi BJP MPs Yogendra Chandoliya and Bansuri Swaraj accused Singh of playing “dirty politics” . “We thought that after reprimand and instructions of Supreme Court, AAP will concentrate on stopping water leakages and theft. Instead, we find Sanjay Singh indulging in mud-slinging. We are forced to ask him and his two colleagues in Rajya Sabha — Swati Maliwal and ND Gupta — what are they doing?” they questioned.

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva accused Atishi of misleading people by issuing “cooked up” figures on social media. “Atishi has said that normal water production in Delhi is 1,005MGD. The data between June 6 and 13 shows the shortage is 0.5% to 7%. How come a large area of Delhi is parched with a small shortfall in water production?” he questioned.

“If Kejriwal govt had worked to check leakages and water theft, which account for 54% water loss, even at 939MGD, Delhi would have got proper water supply,” Sachdeva claimed.

HC notice to ED on bail plea

Delhi High Court on Friday issued a notice to Enforcement Directorate (ED) on a bail plea moved by Chanpreet Singh, an accused in the excise policy case. His bail plea was recently rejected by the trial court. The bench of Justice Amit Sharma fixed July 2 for a detailed hearing. Singh is said to be a key person involved in the transfer and use of the proceeds of crime generated by Delhi excise policy. The investigation of the petitioner is complete; further, as per the statement made by the probe agency, the final prosecution complaint will be filed on or before July 3.

ANI

NDMC to run yoga camps from June 18

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: New Delhi Municipal Council will conduct daily yoga camps from June 18 to June 20 as part of preparations for the upcoming International Yoga Day. These camps will be held from 6.30 am to 8.30 am at Nehru Park, Talkatora Garden and Lodhi Garden.

NDMC is collaborating with ministry of Ayush and renowned institutions, such as Art of Living, Patanjali Yoga Samiti and Gayatri Parivar, to organise these events.

“For successful organisation of the International Day of Yoga on June 21 on the theme ‘Yoga for Self and Society’ at eight locations in Lutyens’ Delhi, NDMC is organising yoga camps as a part of buildup programme where instructors from various institutes will be conducting yoga sessions as per the common yoga protocol,” said an official.

NDMC has designated its senior officers to take care of all logistics and make other arrangements. They will also coordinate with the yoga institutions for arrangement of yoga trainers and to motivate participants.

The eight locations where the event will be held include Nehru Park, Lodhi Garden, Talkatora Garden, Kartavya Path, New Moti Bagh IAS Residences area, Sanjay Jheel, Singapore Park and Central Park –Connaught Place.

“We are already spreading awareness in parks and appealing to all citizen and community groups, RWAs, or joggers for participating in the yoga build-up programme,” added the official.

Allow Wife To Join VC During Checkup: CM

Court Seeks Response From Tihar Superintendent

Sunita Kejriwal

Vineet.Upadhyay@timesgroup.com

New Delhi: A court on Friday sought a response from the Tihar Jail superintendent on chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s plea to allow his wife Sunita Kejriwal to join the proceedings through videoconference (VC) when a medical board examines him.

“Before passing any order, I deem it appropriate to call for a reply from the jail superintendent concerned. The application be kept for tomorrow (Saturday),” the court of vacation judge Mukesh Kumar said.

Meanwhile, Kejriwal’s bail petition in a money laundering case linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam has been scheduled for June 19.

Regarding the VC plea, Enforcement Directorate (ED) counsel Zoheb Hossain requested the court to adjourn the matter till June 25 as it needed time to file a reply. The court, however, told ED that it couldn’t object to Kejri- wal’s request related to his medical checkup in judicial custody (JC) at Tihar. “The accused is in judicial custody, and not in your (ED’s) custody. If he wants some convenience, you do not have any role in that. You have no role to play. He is in JC. I will consider his convenience, not yours,” it stated.

Kejriwal also requested to be allowed to provide his inputs regarding his health condition to the medical board, which has been constituted by AIIMS in April on the directions of a Delhi court to determine whether CM needs insu- lin to control his sugar levels.

The ED counsel then requested the court to call for a report from the jail so that the prison authorities could inform it about any issues in providing the VC access to Kejriwal’s wife. However, the court again said ED had no role in this request. “We will ask for a reply from the jail, but you have no role in this,” the judge said.

The agency said certain concerns were raised regarding Kejriwal’s diet inside the jail and the medical board had to be constituted. “Till now this request (for VC) was not made by them. So, heavens won’t fall if we are allowed to file a short reply. We are a vitally interested party in this because of proviso to Section 45 of Prevention of Money Laundering Act,” submitted Hossain, referring to the stringent conditions of bail in money laundering cases.

The court then proceeded to call for a report from the jail authorities and scheduled the matter for Saturday.

LG’s go-ahead to prosecution of Arundhati under UAPA

Arundhati Roy

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: Lieutenant governor VK Saxena has accorded sanction to prosecute writer Arundhati Roy and Sheikh Showkat Hussain, former professor of international law in Central University of Kashmir, under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in a 2010 case related to provocative speeches at a public event.

LG had in Oct last year sanctioned the prosecution of the two under Indian Penal Code sections 153A/153B and 505 dealing with endangering harmony.

According to officials, a social activist from Kashmir had filed a complaint on Oct 28, 2010 at Tilak Marg police station against various persons for allegedly delivering provocative speeches in public in a conference organised by a committee for the release of political prisoners under the banner of ‘Azadi — The Only Way’ on Oct 10, 2010 at Delhi’s LTG auditorium. The complainant alleged that the speakers had propagated the separation of Kashmir from India.

Two other accused, Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Delhi University lecturer Syed Abdul Rahman Geelani have died during the pendency of the case. The DU lecturer was acquitted by the Supreme Court in the Parliament attack case on technical grounds.

The statements of some of the speakers during the conference were mentioned by the complainant in his complaint. Officials said the transcripts of speeches given by Roy, SAR Geelani and SAS Geelani were also submitted by the complainant. Two exhibits, one CD and a DVD, were forwarded in Dec 2017 for forensic examination at the computer division of the central forensics science laboratory.

Two arrested for duping people online

New Delhi: Two persons have been arrested for allegedly duping people in the name of buying or selling furniture on online platforms. The accused have been identified as Kanhaiya Singh and Saurav.

Earlier, a woman alleged that after posting an advertisement to sell her bed on an online platform, the duo contacted her and duped her of Rs 75,000 under the guise of purchasing her furniture.

DCP (Southwest) Rohit Meena said that the cheated amount was credited to bank accounts based in Haridwar. “The address of the alleged bank account holder was verified, but no such person or address was found at the location. During further investigation, the call detail records of the alleged mobile numbers were analysed. It was discovered that the mobile numbers belonged to Singh and Saurav,” the officer added.

After conducting raids at his possible locations, police managed to nab Singh. Based on information provided by him, the cops apprehended Saurav too. Both the individuals were found to be involved in at least five cases of cheating using the same modus operandi.

TNN

HC seeks reply from police on bail petition of Kejriwal’s aide

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: Delhi High Court on Friday sought the police’s stand on the bail plea of chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s aide Bibhav Kumar in the case pertaining to the alleged assault on AAP Rajya Sabha member Swati Maliwal.

A vacation bench of Justice Amit Sharma issued notice on the bail plea.

Kumar’s counsel submitted that there was no reason to sustain his continued custody and urged the court to hear the matter next in June itself as it concerned his “personal liberty”. “I am in custody for a month in an offence like this where there are no injuries...What is it that they need to investigate in relation to a bodily offence? The case is simply this that she was assaulted when he went to the residence,” he argued.

Delhi Police’s counsel said the investigation into the matter was still going on.

“It is not as simple. FSL is pending with respect to the DVRs and mobile phones,” the court was informed after which it listed the matter for further hearing in the first week of July and asked police to indicate the status of the investigation.

The trial court had on June 7refused to grant bail to Kumar, saying he was facing “grave and serious” charges and that there was an apprehension that he could influence witnesses.

His first bail plea was dismissed on May 27 by another sessions court which said there appeared to be no “pre-meditation” by Maliwal in lodging the FIR and that her allegations could not be “swiped away”.

In his plea before the high court, Kumar has said that the trial court failed to consider that his further custody was not required as all the evidence has been collected by the investigating officer and statements of witnesses have also been recorded.

The petition further said the present instance was a “classic case” of abuse of criminal machinery as although both Kumar and Maliwal lodged complaints against each other, only her matter was being investigated.

Kumar’s petition challenging his arrest on the grounds of being “illegal and in gross violation of” the provisions of the law is also pending in the high court.

Bharadwaj alleges poll code violation, Bidhuri hits back

Saurabh Bharadwaj and Ramvir Singh Bidhuri in war of words

TIMESNEWSNETWORK

New Delhi: Urban development (UD) minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Friday wrote to central govt, alleging that meetings violating the election model code of conduct were chaired by chief secretary Naresh Kumar with residents welfare association (RWA) members in the presence of BJP’s Ramvir Singh Bidhuri.

Demanding action against Kumar, Bharadwaj alleged that the chief secretary was making the excuse of the model code for “not sending desilting reports on time”, but meetings were conducted with BJP’s then leader of opposition in the assembly and its South Delhi candidate in the Lok Sabha election around April 24.

Kumar did not respond to the allegations. Bidhuri, now the South Delhi MP, hit back, saying the code of conduct was enforced on March 16, but AAP govt ran the House till April 8. “You can call Vidhan Sabha, but the leader of opposition cannot meet the chief secretary. Did AAP functionaries and MLAs not meet offici- als when the House ran? Which law says that the leader of opposition cannot meet the chief secretary?” he asked.

“You have a govt, show that any work of Ramvir Singh Bidhuri was done during this time,” Bidhuri demanded. “They should show if any personal work of Bidhuri was done or any developmental work was done on my insistence,” he clarified.

Bharadwaj, in his letter to Ministry of Home Affairs, said he had directed Kumar on May 20 to provide the desilting status of various drains in seven days, but it did not come even after 15 days. Claiming that the language of Kumar’s response was “very offensive”, Bharadwaj accused him of giving excuses.

“Chief secretary Naresh Kumar is again trying to make a futile excuse of the model code of conduct, whereby it is well understood that there is no bar on asking for reports from departments even during the model code of conduct,” the minister wrote. “The undersigned has the knowledge of meetings held in April, while the model code of conduct was in force, by chief secretary Naresh Kumar with RWA members of colonies in South Delhi constituency in the presence of Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, who at that time was the leader of opposition as well as the declared candidate for South Delhi constituency,” he added.

Waste piles up on Ggn roads, but 12% of funds spent by civic body

Gurgaon: Grappling with a severe solid waste management crisis, Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon has failed to utilise allocated funds effectively. In the last fiscal, the MCG managed to spend a mere 33.3% of the budget earmarked for sanitation purposes. The situation deteriorated in the current fiscal year, with only 12.3% of the designated funds being utilised so far. The budget allocated for sanitation was also reduced by nearly 43% from last year to the current fiscal year.

Of a budget of Rs 570 crore allocated for sanitation purposes in fiscal year 2023-24, Rs 190 crore was utilised. In the current fiscal year, only Rs 40 crore has been utilised of the allocated Rs 325 crore.

“We have funds, however, we are cautious with utilising the public money. We already have one concessionaire for solid waste management. We cannot have another agency for the same until the concessionaire’s contract is terminated, for which we have already written to the urban local bodies (ULB) department. We can face legal action if we do so. We, however, have not received any approval from them yet,” said a senior MCG official.

TNN

Gang issuing fake caste certificates busted, tehsildar among 4 held

TIMESNEWSNETWORK

New Delhi: Delhi Police’s Crime Branch has arrested four people, including a tehsildar of Delhi govt, for allegedly issuing fake caste certificates.

The tehsildar, Narender Pal Singh, allegedly allowed his digital signature to be misused for approving fake certificates, cops have claimed. The other arrested individuals are Chetan Yadav, who worked as a contractor for a govt helpline; Waris Ali, the tehsildar’s driver; and Saurabh Gupta, who acted as a middleman.

The investigation began after a tipoff about a gang issuing SC/ST & OBC certificates to those not belonging to reserved categories. To verify the information, police sent decoy applicants who were able to obtain fake OBC certificates for a fee.

A team comprising inspector Sunil Kalkhande and others sent the first decoy on March 13. The decoy applicant, who belonged to the general category, was issued an OBC certificate by Delhi govt’s department of revenue for Rs 3,500. The certificate was even uploaded on the website of the department.

On March 20, another decoy applicant belonging to the general category was sent for getting an OBC certificate. He was also able to get a certificate after paying Rs 3,000. Both payments were made electronically, leaving a clear digital trail.

On May 9, police apprehended Gupta, a resident of Sangam Vihar. During verification of his mobile phone data, cops found chats between the decoy applicants and him. During interrogation, he broke down and admitted to having issued those OBC certificates. An FIR was registered and the accused arrested. Yadav, Ali and Singh were arrested on May 14, 22 and 27, respectively.

Explaining the nexus, a senior officer said that Gupta used to apply for the certificates online via the revenue department’s website. “He would upload forged documents, including fake residency proof and caste certificates of relatives, to support the applications. Gupta would then share the applicant’s details and application numbers with Yadav,” DCP Rakesh Paweriya said.

Yadav used to forward the information to Ali, who is accused of using the tehsildar’s digital signature to approve the applications and upload the fake certificates on the govt website. Ali was allegedly paying a share of the money to the tehsildar also.

Police have seized laptops, mobile phones, hard drives and hundreds of purported fake caste certificates from the accused. Investigation is under way to verify over a hundred certificates issued during a specific period.

Anand disqualified from Delhi Assembly

New Delhi: Former social welfare minister Raaj Kumar Anand has been disqualified from the membership of Delhi Assembly, speaker Ram Niwas Goel said on Friday.

Anand had resigned from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the post of minister in Delhi govt in April to join Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).

“He was given the date of June 10 for replying to the notice served to him but he did not reply. In the same notice, he was asked to be present physically on June 11 but he did not appear. He was given another chance to be physically present on June 14, but he did not come. His membership from Delhi assembly has been terminated,” Goel said.

PTI

5 biometric registration kiosks at IGI for int’l passengers arriving in India

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: Five biometric registration kiosks have been set up at the international arrival pier of Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) said on Friday.

“These kiosks are speci- fically designed for foreign nationals arriving in India with a visa where biometric information was not collected during the application process. The kiosks, established by DIAL, would be operated under direct supervision of the Bureau of Immigration,” said GMRled DIAL in a statement.

These kiosks would reduce processing and waiting time for such arriving international flyers by more than 50%, said DIAL, adding that this is first time that such kiosks have been installed at any airport in the country and five more will be set-up soon.

“After registering biometric at the kiosk, time ta- ken by immigration officer at the counter will be minimized by more than 50%. Previously, visa-holding passengers arriving in Delhi without biometric registration were required to utilise the designated immigration counters, resulting in an average wait time of 4-5 minutes per passenger,” said the airport operator.

"The introduction of these kiosks represents a step forward in expediting the immigration process and enhancing passenger convenience, particularly for those who were unable to submit their biometrics during the visa application process," said Videh Kumar Jaipuriar, CEO-DIAL.

Traffic chokepoints: PWD seeks report

New Delhi: Public Works Department has sought a report from the transport department and the traffic police on chokepoints in Delhi to see what interventions can be made to make them congestion-free, officials said on Friday.

The department has planned 10 new projects to decongest the city by building flyovers, elevated roads and underpasses at an estimated cost of Rs 4,000 crore, they added.

PWD officials are working with various stakeholders to see what interventions can be made to ease traffic congestion.

“PWD has been working on projects to ease the traffic situation and we have been communicating with the transport department and the traffic police over the matter. There have been multiple meetings,” an official said.

PTI

Supernova lands in NCLT as Bank of Maharashtra files insolvency plea

Aditya.Dev@timesgroup.com

Noida: The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has admitted an insolvency plea by Bank of Maharashtra to realise its investment in Supernova — Supertech’s luxury residential and commercial project off the Noida Expressway that now stands as a modern landmark to the east of Yamuna.

The NCLT initiated insolvency proceedings and appointed Anju Agarwal as interim resolution professional (IRP) after the bank claimed the developer had failed to pay a debt of Rs 168 crore.

Launched in 2012, Supernova is among the first luxury projects of the city. It has four towers — the 80-storey Spira, which is the tallest building in Delhi-NCR and one of the tallest in the country — Nova East and West and Astralis. The project involves around 2,000 homebuyers, of whom 1,000 have already taken possession.

In 2012, Supertech Realtors — a subsidiary of Supertech — sought financial assistance of Rs 735.6 crore to develop the project from a consortium of banks led by Union Bank of India. Bank of Maharashtra, which was part of the consortium, sanctioned a term loan of Rs 150 crore for the development of flats, office spaces, retail outlets and a luxury hotel within Supernova.

The total cost of the project — spread across 17 acres — was Rs 2,326 crore.

Supertech Realtors was supposed to pay back the Rs 150 crore loan in quarterly instalments over a period of 10 years and four months. The deadline was March 2023.

The developer, however, defaulted on payments. In April 2022, Bank of Maharashtra filed a corporate insolvency resolution process (CIRP) against the developer for failing to repay the debt.

Man stabs colleague to death with scissors

Gurgaon: A 45-year-old worker of a tailoring company in Bhorakalan was stabbed to death on the premises by a colleague during night shift on Wednesday.

Pradeep, police said, stabbed Motilal repeatedly in the chest and abdomen with a pair of scissors following an argument during work. The two were not on good terms and would often come to blows at the slightest nudge, workers at Bharat Tailors and Drapers said. Motilal was originally from Aligarh. His body was handed over to his family after an autopsy. TNN

CINEMA OF THE WEEK

Manihar (Drama) ★★½

Cast: Badrul Islam, Roshni Rastogi, Pankaj Berry, CP Bhatt

Direction: Sanjeev Kumar Rajput

Duration: 2 hours

Language: Hindi (UA)

Ballu, a bangle seller from a small village in Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh, is eagerly preparing for his wedding. However, life takes an unexpected turn when he begins to experience problems with his eyesight.

As the plot of Manihar unfolds in the first fifteen minutes, it gives the impression of being an adaptation of a short story by a vernacular literary giant. However, as the film progresses, all the positive expectations established early on begin to dissipate. Despite its simple yet intriguing premise, the film ultimately falls flat by the end of its runtime. The initial promise quickly fades, leaving viewers disappointed with its execution.

Manihar is a simple film that tells the story of Ballu (Badrul Islam), a poor bangle seller from a small village in Uttar Pradesh. Encouraged by matchmaker Sadi Ram (CP Bhatt), Ballu receives a proposal to marry Savitri (Roshni Rastogi). When the two families meet, they instantly like each other and quickly begin discussing wedding plans. However, Ballu’s life takes a turn when he develops eyesight issues, rendering him unable to see at night. On the wedding day, Savitri’s wrestler brother, Balwant (Sunny Thakur), discovers Ballu’s condition and decides to cancel the wedding. Furious, Ballu vows to take revenge by learning wrestling and defeating Balwant at his own game.

This comedy-drama could have been a much better film with more attention to the screenplay. The tension-filled moments are handled in an amateurish manner, making one wonder why the writer could not come up with a better version. Even the comedic scenes fail to elicit any laughter. The scene where a character decides to ruin the wedding solely because the barber didn’t do his job seems trivial and laughable. The film does a commendable job of capturing the rustic milieu, which looks genuine and authentic. Manihar is an extremely simple film with a linear plot, virtually no action sequences, and boats as the mode of commute, enhancing its rural appeal. However, despite its appealing exterior, the film lacks depth and soul.

Badrul Islam as Ballu and Roshni Rastogi as Savitri deliver average performances. Among the supporting cast, only CP Bhatt, as Sadi Ram, manages to engage the viewers. Sanjeev Rajput’s direction fails to make an impact. Manihar had the potential to excite viewers with its simplistic plot, but it appears the makers were unwilling to invest the necessary effort. Ultimately, it’s a soulless film that squanders a promising premise. — Abhishek Srivastava

To review any movie and check show timings visit etimes.in

Inside Out 2 (Animation, Adventure, Comedy) ★★★★

Cast: Amy Poehler, Maya Hawke, Kensington Tallman, Liza Lapira, Tony Hale, Lewis Black, Phyllis Smith, Ayo Edebiri

Direction: Kelsey Mann

Duration: 1 hour 36 minutes

Language: English (U)

When Riley (Kensington Tallman) hits puberty, a range of new emotions take over. But will she succumb to the pulls and pressures of adolescence or emerge stronger?

Growing up can be a tumultuous journey, especially for a young girl entering her freshman year at a highly competitive hockey summer skills camp. On the eve of the camp, Riley hits puberty, and suddenly, anxiety takes centre stage. This new emotion, Anxiety (voiced by Maya Hawke), dominates her mind, pushing aside Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Anger (Lewis Black), Fear (Tony Hale), and Disgust (Liza Lapira), disrupting her sense of self.

Riley’s mind becomes a vibrant battleground of emotions, illustrated with a burst of colours and spectacular special effects, making this Pixar sequel a visual feast. Each emotion is meticulously designed with distinctive colours and unique styles, showcasing their individual personalities and quirks. From Joy’s vibrant yellow to Anger’s intense red, each character is thoughtfully designed with unique colours and styles, adding both depth and a sense of goofiness to the story.

The concept of personified emotions offers a brilliant narrative foundation, building on the success of the 2015 blockbuster prequel. While Pixar’s Turning Red also explored puberty, Inside Out 2 delves deeper into the emotional chaos within a young girl’s mind, a journey that resonates with both children and adults. However, the plot confines itself to a three-day event and neglects deeper emotional themes like first love or teenage crushes, entirely.

Director Kelsey Mann, along with writers Meg LeFauve and Dave Holstein, craft a universally relatable story. They capture the essence of Riley’s emotional upheaval of trying to fit in to make new cooler friends, while distancing herself from her old friends. However, it hints at a larger, more intricate emotional landscape yet to be explored, potentially in future installments.

Maya Hawke and Amy Poehler deliver standout performances, portraying Anxiety and Joy, respectively with a compelling contrast that drives the narrative. Their characters’ interplay underscores the struggle between these emotions, making it clear they cannot coexist harmoniously. The supporting voice cast brings each emotion to life with perfect nuance, adding depth and charm to Riley’s internal world. Ironically, it’s Kensington Tallman who doesn’t get much to do, as Riley is all but a puppet in the hands of her emotions. But then again, aren’t we all? It underscores the theme that our emotions often control our actions. There are no songs but a subtle background score complements the screenplay effectively.

The film’s strength lies in its simplicity, presenting a profound exploration of emotions through the lens of a teenager facing her inner demons. Inside Out 2 is an emotional rollercoaster, vividly depicting the turmoil of puberty. And while it is a milestone we all hit and experience new emotions, the conflict that’s depicted in Riley’s mind, pretty much continues to define the rest of our lives. Overall, Inside Out 2 is a masterful blend of heartfelt storytelling and captivating visuals that leave a lasting emotional impact. — Ronak Kotecha

The Watchers (Fantasy, Horror, Mystery) ★★½

Cast: Dakota Fanning, Georgina Campbell, Olwen Fouéré

Direction: Ishana Shyamalan

Duration: 1 hour 44 minutes

Language: English (A)

After getting stranded in a vast, pristine forest, a young artist finds shelter only to get trapped with three strangers, stalked by mysterious creatures each night.

Based on A.M. Shine’s novel, The Watchers marks the directorial debut of Ishana Night Shyamalan, daughter of renowned filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan. It attempts to weave horror and suspense with a metaphorical depth reminiscent of her father’s work. A troubled young woman, Mina (Dakota Fanning), becomes trapped in a supernatural ordeal after her car breaks down in a dense, eerie forest. Seeking refuge in a bunker, Mina joins three other captives— Madeleine (Olwen Fouéré), Ciara (Georgina Campbell), and Daniel (Oliver Finnegan). Together, they must adhere to strict rules to survive the nightly visits of the mysterious “watchers”.

One of the film’s strengths lies in its cast. Dakota Fanning delivers a compelling performance as Mina, effectively portraying her character’s trauma and resilience. Olwen Fouéré stands out as Madeleine, adding a layer of creepiness and depth to her role. Though limited in dialogue, Georgina Campbell captivates with her presence, and Oliver Finnegan provides solid support. Visually, the film captures the haunting beauty of the Irish woods, creating an atmosphere of isolation and dread. The design of the forest creatures, particularly in the darkness, generates tension and unease. Using a single DVD set of a reality TV show as the captives’ only form of entertainment is a clever device, adding a layer of commentary on reality TV culture. The watchers’ fascination with human behaviour and their attempt to mimic it is compelling.

Despite the promising setup, The Watchers struggles to maintain momentum. The pacing is uneven, with a third act that drags and an anticlimactic ending. This is a significant letdown, considering the intriguing premise and initial buildup. Moreover, the film’s reliance on exposition-heavy dialogue hampers its storytelling. Characters frequently engage in lengthy monologues that disrupt the narrative flow, offering clunky explanations rather than allowing the plot to unfold organically. This over-reliance on verbal exposition detracts from the film’s ability to build genuine suspense and engagement. While The Watchers showcases Ishana Night Shyamalan’s potential as a filmmaker, it also highlights her inexperience. The film is ambitious but falters in execution, resulting in an uneven and unsatisfying horror experience. Nevertheless, it is a debut that suggests promise for Shyamalan’s future in the genre, provided she refines her storytelling craft. — Neil Soans

RATING SCALE

TRASH ★ | BELOW AVERAGE ★★ | AVERAGE ★★½ | ABOVE AVERAGE ★★★ | GOOD ★★★½ | VERY GOOD ★★★★ | OUTSTANDING ★★★★½ | MASTERPIECE ★★★★★

AAP MLAs meet to discuss development work

Atishi, Gopal Rai, Saurabh Bharadwaj and others during a party meeting

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: With a small window of six months available before elections to the Delhi assembly are announced, AAP govt has decided to speed up development work in the capital.

Delhi urban development minister Saurabh Bharadwaj and finance minister Atishi met some of party MLAs to discuss various development projects that can be initiated on priority to improve civic conditions and provide better amenities to people.

This was the first such meeting among the ministers and legislators after the lifting of the model code of conduct following the completion of the Lok Sabha election early this month.

Govt in a statement said that on the directions of chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, the two ministers would conduct a series of meetings with MLAs and would address pressing issues specific to each constituency, signalling a focused effort to tackle local challenges. MLAs of Rithala, Timarpur, Wazirpur, Kirari, Sadar Bazar and Model Town attended the first meeting.

“As per the instructions of chief minister Arvind Kej- riwal, govt will soon gather detailed information from all MLAs regarding the necessa- ry work in their respective areas. Development projects will be prioritised based on this input,” govt said in a statement, adding that most issues raised by the MLAs on Friday were related to water supply, sewer cleaning, street and road construction, monsoon preparations and local facilities for residents.

Delhi govt had in Dec last year increased the MLA local area development (MLALAD) fund from Rs 4 crore to Rs 7 crore.

According to govt press release, Bharadwaj told the MLAs that departments concerned will soon be issued directions to initiate development work as sought by the legislators.

70-year-old man burnt to death as he tries to set his neighbour on fire

Avishek.Kumar@timesgroup.com

Ghaziabad:A 70-year-old man was burnt to death as he allegedly doused his neighbour with petrol and set him on fire on Thursday night, police said.

Sitaram’s body was found on a farm about 300 metres from his home at Niwari village around 5am on Friday, while his neighbour, Nepal (55), who sustained serious burns, is being treated at a private hospital in Meerut. Cops have sent the body for autopsy.

The attack was apparently the fallout of a bitter dispute between the two men that flared up two months ago after Nepal’s horse was injured when the assailant’s wife set fire to its tail accidentally while burning some old clothes.

Nepal provides horse rental services in NCR and his business took a hit after the animal was injured. Neighbours told police that the two men fought frequently and finally a panchayat was called to settle the matter.

DCP (rural) Vivek Yadav said Nepal (55) and his neighbour Kallu were sleeping outside their houses around 11.15pm on Thursday when Sitaram approached the two men with a can of petrol. “It seems while Sitaram was throwing petrol on Nepal, some of the liquid fell on him. When Sitaram lit a matchstick, both the men caught fire,” the officer said.

After a complaint was submitted by Nepal’s family, Sitaram was booked for an attempt to murder under IPC Section 307.

Times Global

- US sub pulls into Guantanamo Bay after Russian warships in Cuba

- Ramaphosa seems set for 2nd term as SA prez after key party says it will back him

- G7 tackles migration, economy & more, but differs on abortion

- In a pontiff’s 1st speech at G7, Francis raises alarm about AI

- AROUND THE WORLD

- Clash between Pak judiciary and military establishment intensifies

- US Supreme Court rejects ban on gun ‘bump stocks’

- Truce if Kyiv exits occupied areas, drops Nato bid: Putin

- Kate says she’s doing good, set to make a public appearance today

- 43 US Congress members call on Biden admin to protect documented dreamers

- ‘You’re the naan that I want’: How ‘bad’ TikToks boosted a curry house

US sub pulls into Guantanamo Bay after Russian warships in Cuba

Washington: A US navy submarine has arrived in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in a show of force as a fleet of Russian warships gather for planned military exercises in the Caribbean. US Southern Command said the USS Helena, a nuclear-powered fast attack submarine, pulled into the waters near the US base in Cuba on Thursday, just a day after a Russian frigate, a nuclear-powered submarine, an oil tanker and a rescue tug crossed into Havana Bay after drills in the Atlantic Ocean.

The stop is part of a “routine port visit” as the submarine travels through Southern Command’s region, it said in a social media post. Other US ships also have been tracking and monitoring the Russian drills, which Pentagon officials say do not represent a threat to the US. “We’ve seen them do these type of port calls before,” Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh

The exercises, however, come less than two weeks after Prez Biden authorised Ukraine to use US-provided weapons to strike inside Russia to protect Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city. Russian Prez Putin then suggested his military could respond with “asymmetrical steps” elsewhere in the world.

Singh said it wouldn’t be a surprise to see more Russian activity around the US. The drills are in international waters, and US officials expect the Russian ships to remain in the region through the summer and possibly also stop in Venezuela, which is also a Russian ally. AP

Ramaphosa seems set for 2nd term as SA prez after key party says it will back him

Cape Town: The leader of South Africa’s second biggest party said Friday it will back Cyril Ramaphosa for prez, almost guaranteeing he will be re-elected in parliament for a second term. Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen said his party had now formally signed a coalition agreement with African National Congress, and part of the agreement is Ramaphosa will be president.

Lawmakers are due to elect a president later on Friday and the ANC and DA together have a majority of lawmakers that would see Ramaphosa return for a second term. If Ramaphosa is the only candidate nominated, he would be elected automatically without the need for a vote.

Steenhuisen said the DA was now preparing to co-govern alongside the ANC. AP

G7 tackles migration, economy & more, but differs on abortion

Spat Breaks Out Between Meloni, Macron Over Women’s Reproductive Rights

G7 showcased a shifting global landscape by sharing the stage with India and other non-Western countries. (Clockwise from top) World Bank prez Ajay Banga with Canada PM Trudeau, US Prez Biden with Pope Francis & Turkiye Prez Erdogan

Bari (Italy): Leaders of the G7 nations turned their attention to artificial intelligence, economic security and migration on the second and final day of their summit Friday, as their delegations worked on a comprehensive joint communique touching on many of the world’s major geopolitical and social challenges.

The gathering in a luxury resort in Italy’s southern Puglia region also discussed other major topics, such as financial support for Ukraine, the war in Gaza, climate change, Iran, the situation in the Red Sea, gender equality as well as China’s industrial policy. The second day opened with a session on migration, a key issue to host Italy, which lies on one of the major routes into the EU for people fleeing war and poverty in Africa, West Asia and Asia.

Some divisions emerged, notably over the wording of the summit’s final declaration, with disagreement over the lack of a reference to abortion. The statement after last year’s summit in Hiroshima, Japan, expressed a commitment to provide access to safe and legal abortion, and pledged to defend gender equality and the rights of members of the LGBTQ+ community. The word “abortion” was not in the draft of this year’s final communique seen by the AP, although a reference to promoting sexual and reproductive health rights was.

The issue sparked a diplomatic spat between right-wing Italian PM Giorgia Meloni and liberal French Prez Emmanuel Macron. Asked about the issue at a G7 presser Thursday, Macron noted the French parliament’s vote earlier this year to enshrine the right of abortion in France’s constitution. “These are not the same sensitivities that there are in your country today... I regret that but I respect it, because it was the sovereign choice of your people,” he said. Meloni, who campaigned on a “God, Family, Father- land” motto in Italy, hit back by noting Macron was facing upcoming legislative polls, saying it was “profoundly wrong” to use a G7 summit for “campaigning”. The Meloni-Macron spat made front pages in Italy on Friday, threatening to overs- hadow the substance of the summit, which was focused on support for Ukraine. Her office was also forced to deny a report that a reference to LGBTQ rights had also been removed from the final statement, saying that it was “baseless”.

The White House also weighed in on behalf of Prez Biden. “The prez felt very strongly that we needed to have at the very least the language that references what we did in Hiroshima on women’s reproductive rights,” an official said. AGENCIES

G7 warns China on ‘unfair biz practices’

Leaders of G7 vowed on Friday to tackle what they called unfair business practices by China that were undermining their workers and industries, according to a draft statement on the final day of their annual summit. The G7 also warned of action against Chinese financial institutions that helped Russia obtain weaponry for its war against Ukraine. The G7 leaders were on Friday discussing concerns surrounding China’s excess industrial capacity, that Western govts say is distorting local markets. The draft statement, seen by Reuters, stressed the G7 was not trying to harm China or thwart its economic development but would “continue to take actions to protect our businesses from unfair practices, to level the playing field and remedy ongoing harm”. The US this week imposed fresh sanctions on China-based firms supplying semiconductors to Russia amid worries over Beijing’s increasingly aggressive stance against Taiwan and run-ins with the Philippines over rival maritime claims. “China is not supplying weapons (to Russia) but the ability to produce those weapons and the technology available to do it, so it is in fact helping Russia,” US Prez Biden told reporters at the summit Thursday. REUTERS

G7 urges Iran to stop N-escalation

The G7 warned Iran against advancing its nuclear enrichment programme and said they would be ready to enforce new measures if Tehran were to transfer ballistic missiles to Russia, according to a draft communique. “We urge Tehran to cease and reverse nuclear escalations, and stop the continuing uranium enrichment activities that have no credible civilian justifications,” the statement said. Iran has rapidly installed extra uranium-enriching centrifuges at its Fordow site, a UN report said. REUTERS

In a pontiff’s 1st speech at G7, Francis raises alarm about AI

It’s okay to make fun of God as long as the joke is not offensive, the Pope said Friday as he met about 100 comedians, actors and writers from around the world. Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon and Whoopi Goldberg (above) were among them

Pope Francis challenged leaders of the world’s wealthy democracies Friday to keep human dignity foremost in developing and using artificial intelligence, warning that such powerful technology risks turning human relations themselves into mere algorithms. Francis brought his moral authority to bear on the G7, invited by host Italy to address a special session on the perils and promises of AI. In doing so, he became the first pope to attend the G7. “The benefits and the damages it causes will depend on the way it is used,” he declared, warning of the risks of AI’s uncontrolled development. He called for lethal autonomous weapons, which are unmanned and uncontrolled by a human hand, to be banned. “No machine should ever decide whether to take the life of a human being away.”

Francis called for an international treaty to ensure AI is developed and used ethically. He himself has been a victim of AI when manipulated images of him clad in a white puffer jacket and a jewel-encrusted crucifix went viral last year.

The pope’s appearance was the emotional highlight of the day. Italy PM Giorgia Meloni guided the pope, in a wheelchair, around a circular table to meet the leaders, he was greeted by a visibly moved Prez Biden and got an enthusiastic hug from Argentina’s flamboyant prez Javier Milei. AP & NYT

AROUND THE WORLD

TRUMP TURNS 78: A packed room of Republicans sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to Trump (with Senator John Barrasso above) at GOP HQ across the street from the US Capitol. Lawmakers gave him a baseball and bat from the annual congressional game, and senators later presented a US flag cake with ‘45’ candles — and then ‘47’ — referring to next presidency. Trump, who turned 78, bragged that even his phone rallies for lawmakers could draw bigger crowds than Taylor Swift

US top court rejects bid to trademark ‘Trump too small’

The US Supreme Court on Thursday rejected an attempt by a California man to trademark the suggestive phrase “Trump too small”. The court, in a unanimous opinion, ruled that the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) had correctly turned down the request to trademark the slogan about Republican prez candidate Donald Trump. Steve Elster, who wanted to print T-shirts with the phrase, had claimed before the court that the PTO’s rejection of his trademark application was a violation of his First Amendment free speech rights. The SC rebuffed the argument, noting that the Lanham Act prohibits registration of a trademark that includes the name of a living person without their written consent. The phrase “Trump too small” arose from a 2016 Republican presidential primary debate during which Florida Senator Marco Rubio said Trump had “small hands”. “And you know what they say about guys with small hands,” Rubio added in a sexually suggestive joke. Trump, who frequently referred to Rubio during the campaign as “Little Marco”, responded by saying “I guarantee you there is no problem”

Journo who promoted MeToo in China gets 5 years in prison

Supporters say a a Chinese journalist who promoted women’s rights as part of the country’s nascent #MeToo movement has been sentenced to five years in prison on charges of incitement to subvert state authority, almost three years after she and an activist were detained. China’s #MeToo movement flourished briefly before being snuffed out by the govt. China often silences activists by holding them incommunicado for a long time and then sentencing them to prison. Working as an freelance journalist, Huang Xueqin helped spark China’s first #MeToo case in 2018 when she publicised allegations of sexual harassment made by a student against her PhD supervisor.

Clash between Pak judiciary and military establishment intensifies

Judges have started questioning the conduct of army and ISI officers over interference in judicial matters

Omer Farooq Khan TNN

Islamabad: The clash between Pakistan’s judiciary and the military establishment has intensified as judges have started questioning the conduct of army and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) officers over blatant interference in judicial matters.

Several high court and lower court judges have complained that since May 9, 2023, Pakistan’s “powerful” authorities (i.e. army, ISI) have tried to pressure them using intimidatory tactics such as secret surveillance, and even abduction and torture of their family members, to secure favourable outcomes in political cases related to PTI party and its incarcerated founder, Imran Khan.

At an event in Rawalpindi Friday, Lahore high court chief justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad claimed he has got complaints — many verbally — and letters regarding interference in judicial matters by “institutions” (a reference to the army and ISI). “To get rid of the (military) establishment’s interference, we’ve to face it with bravery, courage, and without any fear, and with the belief that this interference will end soon. Temporary worries do come but you have to face them eye to eye and not be a target of any of their blackmailing. Do not be hesitant to make any kind of sacrifice. ”Justice Ahmad said Pakistan was currently “going through one of the longest periods of a civil govt”, adding that the 2007 lawyers’ movement “closed the doors for martial law forever”.

On Wednesday, the Lahore HC had summoned Punjab police chief Usman Anwar and other officials on a complaint from a presiding judge of an anti-terrorism court alleging harassment by intelligence and law enforcement agencies.

Earlier, in March, six of the eight Islamabad HC judges had penned a startling letter to Supreme Court judges about attempts by the ISI to pressure them through the abduction and torture of their relatives as well as secret surveillance inside their homes. Following the letter, judges from other HCs also acknowledged interference by spy agencies in judicial functions. It led the apex court to take suo motu notice of the matter, with high courts submitting their responses and recommendations as proceedings continued.

US Supreme Court rejects ban on gun ‘bump stocks’

Device Enables Semiautomatic Rifles To Fire Like Machine Guns; Rule Was Imposed After Use In Las Vegas Shooting That Killed 58

The Supreme Court justices, in a 6-3 ruling, said that the ‘case asks whether a bump stock converts the rifle into a machine gun. We hold that it does not and therefore affirm the lower court’s ruling’

The US Supreme Court on Friday declared unlawful a federal ban on “bump stock” devices that enable semiautomatic weapons to fire rapidly like machine guns, rejecting yet another firearms restriction.

The justices, in a 6-3 ruling authored by conservative Justice Clarence Thomas, upheld a lower court’s decision siding with Michael Cargill, a gun shop owner and gun rights advocate from Texas, who challenged the ban by claiming that a US agency improperly interpreted a federal law banning machine guns as extending to bump stocks. The conservative justices were in the majority, with the liberal justices dissenting.

The rule was imposed in 2019 by Trump’s administration after the devices were used during a 2017 mass shooting that killed 58 people at a Las Vegas country music festival. The policy was defended in court by Democratic Prez Biden’s administration.

“This case asks whether a bump stock — an accessory for a semiautomatic rifle that allows the shooter to rapidly reengage the trigger (and therefore achieve a high rate of fire) — converts the rifle into a ‘machinegun’. We hold that it does not and therefore affirm the lower court’s ruling,” Thomas wrote.

Federal officials have said the rule was needed to protect public safety in the US, a nation facing persistent firearms violence. Bump stocks use a semiautomatic’s recoil to allow it to slide back and forth while “bumping” the shooter’s trigger finger, resulting in rapid fire.

Thomas wrote: “We conclude that semiautomatic rifle equipped with a bump stock is not a ‘machinegun’ because it does not fire more than one shot ‘by a single function of the trigger’.”

In a dissent, liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote, “Today, the court puts bump stocks back in civilian hands. To do so, it casts aside Congress’s definition of ‘machinegun’ and seizes upon one that is inconsistent with the ordinary meaning of the statutory text and unsupported by context or purpose. When I see a bird that walks like a duck, swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, I call that bird a duck. A bump-stock-equipped semiautomatic rifle fires ‘automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger.’ Because I, like Congress, call that a machinegun, I respectfully dissent.” Federal law prohibits the sale or possession of machine guns, punishable by up to 10 years’ jail. REUTERS

Truce if Kyiv exits occupied areas, drops Nato bid: Putin

Russian Prez Vladimir Putinpromised Friday to “immediately” order a ceasefire in Ukraine and begin negotiations if Kyiv started withdrawing troops from the four regions annexed by Moscow in 2022 and renounced plans to join Nato.

Putin’s remarks came as Switzerland prepared to host scores of world heads of state — but not from Moscow — this weekend to try to map out first steps toward peace in Ukraine. They also coincided with a meeting of G7 nations in Italy and after the US and Ukraine this week signed a 10-year security agreement that Russian offici- als, including Putin, denounced as “null and void”. Putin blasted the Switzerland conference as “just another ploy to divert everyone’s attention. He also denounced the freezing of Russian assets as “theft” and vowed it “will not go unpunished.” AP

Zelensky rejects ‘Hitler-like ultimatum’

Volodymyr Zelensky rejected Russia’s demands to withdraw from four regions of Ukraine Friday, calling them ultimatums and comparing Prez Putin to Adolf Hitler. “These messages are messages of ultimatum... it’s the same thing Hitler did,” he said. “Nazism has already arrived and now has this face of Putin.” AFP

Kate says she’s doing good, set to make a public appearance today

London: The Princess of Wales says she is “making good progress” in her cancer treatment and will attend Saturday’s royal Trooping the Colour ceremony, Kate’s first public appearance since her diagnosis. The 42-year-old wife of Prince William has not made any public appearances this year. She announced in March that she was undergoing chemotherapy for an unspecified form of cancer.

“I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days,” Kate said in a statement, adding that she faces “a few more months” of treatment. “I’m looking forward to attending The King’s Birthday Parade,” she said. AP

43 US Congress members call on Biden admin to protect documented dreamers

There are over 2.5 lakh documented dreamers, of which over a lakh are estimated to be children from Indian families

Lubna.Kably@timesgroup.com

A bipartisan group of 43 members of the US Congress have called upon the Biden administration to take administrative action to protect documented dreamers. Pending legislative change, this group in a detailed letter have suggested measures like deferred action and parole to protect over 2.5 lakh documented dreamers, of which more than a lakh are estimated to be children from Indian families.

Once children of parents on non-immigrant visas (such as those holding H-1B visas) turn 21, they can no longer continue with their H-4 visa, which is meant for dependents. On aging out (attaining the age of 21), these children who are referred to as documented dreamers have no option but to obtain an F-1 visa meant for international students, or self deport to India or another country. Over the past few years, immigration reform bills, which included lifting the country caps for employment-linked green cards have not fructified.

The group is led by Senator Alex Padilla and Representative Deborah Ross, who had spearheaded the America’s Child- ren Bill. “While we continue to pursue legislative solutions to permanently protect these individuals, we urge you to take administrative action to protect the thousands of children who may be forced to self-deport each year,” the letter said. The measures suggested include use of deferred action on a case-by-case basis, for children of long-term visa holders who age-out; expanding eligibility for employment authorisation to child dependents of visa holders and those with approved 1-140 (green card) applications; and lastly create a process for aged-out children to seek parole on a case-by-case basis, if warranted for urgent humanitarian reasons or to advance a significant public benefit.

‘You’re the naan that I want’: How ‘bad’ TikToks boosted a curry house

Urban Tandoor, an Indian restaurant in southwest England, is using terrible music video parodies made by its staff to bring in new and younger guests

The tables were filling up at Urban Tandoor, a British curry house wholesome enough for a family meal and elegant enough for a low-key first date. Painted flowers twist up its entrance and lights adorn the colourful walls inside, a homage to Bristol’s artistic reputation. The local haunt in southwest England promises an array of crowd-pleasers, from jalfrezi to moilee. But it wasn’t only the food that had brought diners to Urban Tandoor on a recent evening. “Their TikToks,” said Jake Smith, 22, who was celebrating his birthday. “I think they’re hilarious.”

Staff members at this local institution have charmed an au- dience online with their versions of pop songs, anthems and trends. By most judges of talent, the covers are, well, bad. @urbantandoorbristol There is “Bhaji Girl”, in which two employees wear blond wigs a la Barbie and Ken and sing about chutney. There’s a “Grease”-inspired “You’re the Naan That I Want”, featuring the group in leather and lipstick. In “Mr. Riceside,” the popular Killers anthem becomes a tale of a diner whose eyes are bigger than his stomach. You might, kindly, describe the dancing as “fervent.”

The singing, reminiscent of a bevy of uncles at a karaoke night, is possibly worse. But production value is beside the po- int. And their “so-bad-it’s-good” marketing campaign is working, said Sujith D’almeida, the restaurant’s owner. Online commenters from as far away as Texas vow to visit Bristol one day to eat a meal at Ur- ban Tandoor. D’Almeida said the restaurant had seen a noticeable boost in diners under the age of 30. “There is no talent involved,” he said. “There is no practice. Somebody just puts on the wig. We just get on with it.”

Grown men dancing in costumes may seem silly, but D’almeida is serious about his business, which he started in 2013 after a career in five-star hotels and on cruise ships. He enlisted Nonsensical Agency, a marketing company, in 2021 to help further the restaurant’s reach on TikTok. But he also just wants Urban Tandoor to cheer people up. Some patrons have confided that the videos had entertained them through periods of ill health and depression, he said. “Happiness is something that is lacking in the world at the moment. It is a sad place,” he said. “We just give them 60 seconds of enjoyment.”

D’almeida said the videos had helped the restaurant stay afloat. Curry houses, which hold a special place in Britains’s culinary landscape, have faced challenges in recent years, from labour shortages, changing palates and Covid lockdowns. “We were very worried,” D’almeida said. But he also said he never wanted Urban Tandoor to just focus on food. He wanted it to be a place of entertainment or escape. “I wanted to share much more of the Indian culture. I wanted to blend Bristol with Bombay.” The TikToks, he said, had given a “new dimension” to their brand. “It is matter of one song going viral,” he said, “and then we get clients from all around the world”. NYT

Editorial

- Kerala To Kuwait

- Baloney About Meloni

- The Secret Sauce Of Stardom

- A Chapati On Democracy’s Tawa

- Civility In Politics? It’s Really Up To Us, Voters

- Langar Fosters Empathy And Community Solidarity

- A thought for today

- Sacred space

Kerala To Kuwait

A deadly fire says Indians also exploit Indian migrants

Community networks are a crucial enabling factor for Indians to find work across the country and indeed the world. But the Kuwait fire that took 45 Indian lives is a reminder that such networks can also have a dark side.

Trust and betrayal | News that the building in which the deaths took place was a fire hazard waiting to explode – from cardboard and plastic being used to partition workers into cramped rooms to doors to the rooftop being locked – was painful enough. A subsequent revelation that an Indian managed the building and also employed most of those who died, somehow felt ‘worse’. It’s obvious why. Because this now becomes a case where not only was workplace safety not provided in a foreign country, an Indian employer also thought Indians didn’t deserve better. Separately, there is the vexed issue of illegal migration, where trusted stories and agents play an even more fraught role. Indians btw have become the third largest unauthorised immigrant population in US.

Home and abroad | Networks on which Keralites, Gujaratis, Punjabis and others have relied to make legal homes across the world, are an invaluable social and economic resource for India. The Kuwait fire reminds us that even these are not without tales of desertion, betrayal, fraud. Or milder letdowns. Say, students who are happy to have Indian student associations helping them with the commute, housing etc upon landing on foreign campuses, then find these to be oppressively parochial. A public policy that tries to even out all the dingy kinks of human nature will be pointless. Still, GOI should increase its efforts to ensure safe working conditions for migrant Indian workers, whose numbers are bound to keep going up. Experts suggest a national-level migration database will be useful in this direction.

Baloney About Meloni

Behind the male obsession with how women netas look

As Italy hosts G7 summit, we’ve been flooded with Giorgia Meloni jokes and memes. The most powerful politician in EU right now, she has been reduced to a blonde stereotype, wink-wink nudge-nudge. Like other women in high offices, Meloni is being seen through a male prism – hot or not? A few years ago, at talks between Theresa May and Nicola Sturgeon, the tabloids compared the bodies of the two politicians, asking: ‘Never mind Brexit, who won legs-it?’ No matter how influential she is, no matter what she knows or becomes, a woman can always be subjected to such demeaning framing. Her power is almost a red rag, an invitation to take her down.

Our images of public authority are inevitably male and larger than life. In our power structures, man is the norm and women are seen as aberrations who ‘broke barriers’ to get there. Because men see women as either sexual objects or nurturers, women who aspire to high office have to actively live down these ideas, or exploit them, by playing the parts to their own benefit. Ignoring these stereotypes is not easy, nor is pretending to be a man. Hillary Clinton was cast as a scary emasculator for being openly ambitious. Angela Merkel, who led Germany for 16 years, was as no-nonsense as it gets, but was boxed into a matronly ‘mutti’ image anyway. Finland’s former PM Sanna Marin was criticised for her youth. New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern and Brazil’s Dilma Rousseff faced their own witch-hunts. In recent years, there has been public pushback against this kind of gendered scrutiny. We have seen many prominent politicians take these templates head-on, and lead in their own ways. But as the Meloni discourse shows, old-fashioned misogyny dies hard.

mind field SHORT TAKES ON BIG IDEAS

The Secret Sauce Of Stardom

Fame depends on network effects and groupthink

How did Taylor Swift become Taylor Swift? Or Steve Jobs, or Leonardo da Vinci? How To Become Famous: Lost Einsteins, Forgotten Superstars and How the Beatles Came to Beby Cass Sunstein is an exploration of how some people achieve iconic status. Extraordinary as they are, their fate has as much to do with chance and serendipity. How does that serendipity work, and how can it be engineered?

Fame is often seen as a bubble that pops. But long-term fame is not a matter of caprice or infatuation: something causes Mozart or Jane Austen to endure, rather than their peers Salieri or Mary Brunton.

Success stories often focus on random narratives: the dropout or the highly educated, Bill Gates or Jeff Bezos, whose example works? It’s hard to identify the exact qualities that make for success– especially since those traits may be equally found in those who are unsuccessful. Of course, hard labour and resilience are required.

Random encounters matter too. If young Cassius Clay had not had his bike stolen, reported it to a police chief who advised him to learn boxing, would Muhammad Ali, the superlative star, come to be? Meanwhile, why does Bob Dylan define an era, while an equally original, poetic and deep singer like Connie Converse, who went viral on Spotify, was forgotten for decades?

Influencers have always been crucial: if prominent people in your group like something, it catches on. And this appeal grows exponentially: the more well-known someone is, the more their reputation snowballs. These are reputational cascades. Quite apart from the merits of a book or show or statesman, we want to talk to others about them. Taylor Swift’s explosive popularity is an example of these network effects. Keats found like-minded acquaintances talking up his work on a small scale, a collective chatter that became the buzz of fame. The Beatles had their manager to thank, for his relentless belief and effort that drove their early success.

Sometimes, reputations are created posthumously, as with the cult of Jane Austen. Her work hit the right spot, family and publishers championed her tirelessly like celebrity endorsers and commercial efforts might do today. Keats wasn’t necessarily better than his peer Leigh Hunt; it’s not just about literary worth, but also extraneous factors and accidental advantages that make lionised writers.

Why did Star Wars become such a phenomenon? Nobody saw it coming, certainly not the studio executives. Sure, audience reception was rapturous and reviewers declared it amazing to start with. But again, word of mouth in the sci-fi communities, reputational cascades and network effects played a huge role – even now, you watch it to be part of the group. It’s the same with the Marvel universe.

Social scientists speak of the lost Einsteins and Shakespeares and Teslas, who may be disadvantaged by poverty, gender or race, lacking role models and exposure. But there are other reasons that innovators fail to make it. Maybe the zeitgeist wasn’t on their side, there was no wave for them to catch. They might not have been born into the right families, found the right networks, enemies, champions or inspirations.

Fame is a matter of lucky breaks, the book reminds us – and that also means there are countless stars and talents existing among us, right now. All they need is attention and opportunity.

A Chapati On Democracy’s Tawa

● Around half of India’s electorate are floating voters ● They change their choices every election ● Measuring the swing vote is tough ● All of this is true for both LS & assembly polls

This time, an MP from a different party, in comparison to 2019, has been elected on around 209 of the 543 seats, or a whopping 38.4% of the total

Atanu Biswas

Democracy is like a chapation a tawa, it is said. Electorates must keep flipping it constantly to prevent burning. Does that mean, though, that voters should elect a new govt every five years? Not really. But we notice a ‘flip’ every time a govt is changed or its strength significantly curtailed, or enhanced, through the electoral process. Even if the party in office and its strength don’t really alter, some sort of ‘flipping’ is a constant in a democracy.

Number of seats BJP has in 2024 is 63 fewer than its 2019 tally, while the number Congress holds has increased by 47. Is that, however, the whole story? This time, in fact, an MP from a different party, in comparison to 2019, has been elected on around 209 of the 543 seats, or a whopping 38.4% of the total.

Keep flipping | If four out of 10 MPs are elected from a different party than in the last election, isn’t that poriborton (change)? But this occurs in practically every election. For example, BJP gained only 21 seats in 2019 compared to 2014, and Congress only 8. Yet, it’s significant to note that compared to 2014, in 2019, as many as 187 constituencies, or a staggering 34.4% of LS, elected an MP from a different party.

To use a recent assembly election as an example, the number of seats held by incumbent TMC in Bengal in 2021 stayed largely unchanged from the previous election, as Left and Congress were entirely replaced by BJP as opposition in the state. The real poriborton, however, was beyond that. A total 129 out of 292, or 44%, of the constituencies had winners from a different party than in 2016.

Also, when DMK-led alliance returned to office in Tamil Nadu in 2021, of assembly’s 234 seats, 111 (or 47.4%) had winners from parties other than the 2016 winner.

Maintain the count | Measuring the proportion of people who changed their voting choices is difficult. BJP’s vote percentage fell by just 0.8% in 2024, while Congress’s climbed by a meagre 1.8% overall. Vote share of SP increased by 2 percentage points. Perhaps a fraction of a percentage point moved in either direction in the vote shares of the majority of the other parties. Apparently, adding them up would mean that, at most, 10-12% of the country’s electorate had a change of voting choice. However, that would be gross underestimation in actuality.

Reading the fine print | A larger proportion of shifting votes will be obtained if you add the percentage of vote changes for each political party in each state. If you redo the process for each constituency instead, the number will rise further. Additionally, if data from all of the country’s EVMs is combined with results from past elections, one might obtain a lower bound on the percentage of votes that have changed.

However, it will only be a ‘lower bound’ because there are countless instances in which voter 1 switched from party A to party B, voter 2 switched from party B to party C, and voter 3 switched from party C to party A, maintaining the total count. Additionally, some old voters exit and some new voters enter the democratic exercise. Thus, the dynamics are also impacted.

Keep rolling | The percentage of floating voters should be rather significant, or else how could the BJP’s vote share double from less than 19% in 2009 to about 38% in 2019? Also, how could Congress’s vote share decrease from 28.5% in 2009 to about 19% in 2014?

In this respect, Bengal serves as a prime example. Left Front amassed an incredible 37% of the vote in 2006 and continued to hold a formidable 30% share even when Mamata Banerjee routed them in 2011. But, by 2021, Left’s percentage dropped to less than 5%, and it is 5.67% in 2024.

Therefore, a guesstimate is that well over 50% – possibly even 60% – of all the electorate are floating voters, meaning they’re open to changing their voting preferences. In fact, a 2014 CSDS study also concluded that 43% of Indian voters go with the ‘hawa’.

Global dough | What about other countries? According to Linda Killian’s 2012 book The Swing Vote: The Untapped Power of Independents, 40% of American voters, their largest voting bloc, are independent. These voters occupy a wide range of political and ideological space and have influenced the results of every election since World War II.

And their number keeps increasing. The British electorate is also “volatile”, per British Election Study. In three elections between 2010 and 2017, 49% of UK voters didn’t vote for the same party, while 43% of voters changed parties between 2010 and 2015. It, however, makes sense that the real percentage of floating voters would be higher because a volatile voter would necessarily not have supported a different party.

Political parties are fully aware of this – if not, who do they target in their election campaigns? So, democracy’s chapatimust be constantly flipped. Higher the flame, more frequent the flip – all to prevent burning. The hawa may be felt, or it may even be sublime. But poribortanis always blowing in the wind of democracy.

The writer is a professor at Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata

Civility In Politics? It’s Really Up To Us, Voters

Once we get what uncivil political practice means, we’ll understand we need more than just nice netas

Saubhik.Chakrabarti@timesgroup.com

Can civility return to India’s politics? It’s an urgent question. A frequently asked question. And, for all its good intentions, a misleading question.

When we say or even write about ‘civility’, we usually mean one or more of the following: politeness, being respectful, being nice, speaking softly, not being overly argumentative. But ‘civility’ – Latin root ‘cives’ – asks much more of us than a namaste and a smile. ‘Cives’ is Latin for city or public space. As an analysis hosted by the Hannah Arendt Centre points out, “the practice of civility is the practice of being a citizen.” To be “civil”, is to go beyond your private self and be a “public person” – a person with rights.

Civility is, therefore, deeply entwined with politics. It’s a “political virtue that upholds the political ideal that amidst our differences and plurality, we can still engage with each other as citizens”. So, politics is uncivil when we, including our politicians, can’t engage with each other, just because we can’t agree on important stuff.

If politicians greet each other politely in Parliament’s Central Hall, but in public space, they want to annihilate each other’s organisations, or they dismiss every point their competitors make, politics is uncivil. Even if the annihilation or the dismissal is wrapped in courteousness.

This is a crucial distinction, and it played out in these elections. Many in India’s chattering classes were – rightly – put off by shrill campaign rhetoric and vitriolic personal attacks. In contrast, many in India’s voting, poorer classes were more alarmed by the possibility that their constitutional rights – specifically, reservations – were under alleged threat.

Poorer Indians intuitively understood what uncivil politics means – politics that can potentially threaten citizens’ rights. Politics that says, ‘If we win big, we don’t have to listen to anyone, engage with anyone, least of all those who don’t agree with us.’

So, when we, meaning the better off classes, ask whether civility can return to politics, what we should be really asking for is not so much polite, witty speeches and drawing room decorum on the hustings (‘on the stump’, for readers who prefer the American version). We should be asking for politics that doesn’t see engagement with rival politicians as a weakness. That doesn’t see the existence of rival politicians as an affront. That internalises the true concept of citizenship– to belong to the same place, we don’t have to be alike.

When RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat recently said the opposition is not an adversary, he was speaking for civility in politics in its real sense. Of course, many ‘liberals’ asked what truly informed Bhagwat’s remarks – he also spoke against ‘arrogance’. But that’s all right – so long as ‘liberals’ don’t dismiss Bhagwat because he’s RSS.

Liberals, and their sometimes-close, sometimes-distant cousins, the Left, can be uncivil in their politics. Just as the Right can be. True, the Right is more frequently uncivil, across democracies. But the Left-liberal is no babe in the woods.

Politics for a ‘Hindu nation’, even if practised with unfaultable politeness, is uncivil in a religiously plural democracy. So is courteously practised politics that doesn’t engage with those who claim to speak for the majority. Politics that says Israel can do any damn thing in Gaza and Rafah – because Hamas started it – is uncivil. So is politics that says Israel, a rare democracy in West Asia, be condemned as a nation, and Israelis, many of whom are fierce critics of Netanyahu, be tarred as a people.

Once we understand what civility in politics means, the answer to the question we asked at the beginning – can civility return to Indian politics – is much more complex. It involves a reboot: politics is first about responsibility (to the people) and recognition (of differences), and then about winning and losing.

Can such a change happen organically? Will politicians admit, OMG, we have been terribly uncivil, that’s not done. If you think that, your optimism is the stuff of Page 1. More likely, politicians in a democracy will respond to the one thing they think about all the time – the vote.

If election results show enough voters dislike uncivil politics, or more realistically speaking, dislike exceptionally uncivil politics, politicians may get the message, or some version of it. Slice and dice 2024 elections any which way, there’s no getting away from this conclusion: the results were a voter’s shot across the uncivil politician’s bow.

If politicians choose to accept the true meaning of this verdict, a reboot is possible. Not in a perfect way, of course. Never expect that in politics. But a demonstrable change, nonetheless.

But politicians may also choose not to accept it. Partly perhaps because they can’t abide such a thought. And partly perhaps because power induces selective amnesia. The grandness of political office can wipeout memories of those moments when a narrative, built on assumptions of ever-lasting electoral infallibility, came apart.

So, what then? Simple. It’s up to us, voters. We must send the message again, and again, to whichever party is guilty of uncivil politics – till the message hits home.

THE SPEAKING TREE

Langar Fosters Empathy And Community Solidarity

Stuti Malhotra

Throughout the current week, numerous locations have hosted instances of chabeel. This traditional Sikh practice involves serving the public a refreshing, sweetened drink, typically made with water, sugar, and sometimes flavoured with rose essence or other ingredients, during the hot summer months. The practice is particularly associated with commemorating the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the fifth Sikh guru. Offering chabeel is a symbolic act of kindness and solidarity, honouring the guru’s teachings.

In Sikhism, langar is not just a communal duty but a transformative spiritual institution. It’s a place where mundane tasks such as preparing, serving, and cleansing dishes are elevated to acts of devotion. In this unique establishment, principles of human parity, honour of labour, communal well-being, and reverence for the Divine converge, creating a sense of unity and equality that extends far beyond the dining table and inspiring all to engage in acts of selflessness.

While individual acts of charity can sometimes be seen as fostering self centredness, engaging in selfless service and devotion is a powerful tool for eliminating the ego that separates a person from God and their inner self. Those who hold a deep affection for the Divine willingly assist all individuals as an expression of their devotion to the Lord. This act of service imparts valuable life teachings like putting others before oneself, embracing modesty, and nurturing empathy.

Guru Nanak Dev initiated this movement to challenge the dominance of the wealthy over the less privileged. Alongside this sacred endeavour, the guru actively endorsed the practice of langar, which soon became a prevalent tradition. The communal kitchen symbolised the bedrock of equal treatment and camaraderie among the guru’s disciples.

Guru Angad Dev played a pivotal role in expanding the renowned institution of langar (free kitchen), which was established by Guru Nanak. This served the needy and amplified the reach of Guru Nanak’s mission. It marked the Sikhs’ first lesson in contributing to a communal fund, Dasvand tradition, of giving one-tenth of one’s earnings or resources to support community and those in need. Mata Khivi, Guru Angad Dev’s wife, dedicated herself to tending to pilgrims and visitors.

Guru Amardas directed all members of the Sikh community to partake in the langar or free kitchen meal before meeting him. He expressed this principle through the saying: ‘Pahlay Pangat, Peechhay Sangat’ – first visit the langar, then go to the guru. Subsequently, this practice became a fundamental component of the gurdwara, firmly ingrained in its ethos.

The gurus demonstrated through their own lives how the concept of universal kinship should be practised, and a community kitchen serves as the most vivid illustration of this principle. The langar extends beyond mere dining; it holds a doctrinal significance encompassing social engagement, collective involvement, and communal obligation to provide sustenance to the hungry, assist the less fortunate, and foster selfless acts of societal assistance.

A thought for today

Both poverty and prosperity can lead to emigration

CHINMAY TUMBE

Sacred space

If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, suffering follows him as the wheel follows the hoof of the beast that draws the wagon…If a man speaks or acts with a good thought, happiness follows him like a shadow.

Gautam Buddha

Times Business

- RBI slaps fine on Central Bk, B’desh bank on violations

- Furniture co Stanley eyes `537cr from IPO

- No plans to charge users for phone nos: Trai

- Informal sector hit by Covid 2nd wave recovered: Survey

- Trade secrets: US court fines TCS $194mn

- Goods exports increase 9%, imports 8% in May

- Wholesale inflation rises to 15-mth high of 2.6% in May

- Clean, no-nasties segment shines in beauty biz

- Trai asks fin cos to use new prefix for service calls

- Life insurers’ stocks rally on ‘low impact’ of new norms

- Hyundai’s IPO to be ‘offer for sale’, bullish mkt a draw

- Forex reserves surge by $4bn to $655.8bn, a record high

- Retail investors should avoid F&O trading: NSE chief

- TCS blames skill gap for 80k vacancies

RBI slaps fine on Central Bk, B’desh bank on violations

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mumbai: RBI has imposed penalties of Rs 1.5 crore and Rs 9.4 lakh on Central Bank of India and Bangladesh’s Sonali Bank, respectively.

The penalty on Centrl Bank is for its failure to comply with RBI directives on loans and advances and customer protection in electronic transactions. Sonali Bank has been fined for charges included failures to implement periodic risk categorisation reviews, use robust software for transaction alerts inconsistent with risk categorisation, comply with Swift-related operational controls, and become a member of all credit information company within stipulated timelines.

RBI’s decision followed an inspection of the two bank’s financial position as of March 31, 2022. During this exercise, several instances of non-compliance were unearthed, prompting RBI to issue a show-cause notice. The charges on Central Bank included the sanctioning of a working capital demand loan to a corporation against subsidies receivable from govt, as well as failure to credit amounts involved in unauthorised etransactions to customers’ accounts promptly.

Furniture co Stanley eyes `537cr from IPO

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mumbai: Luxury furniture maker Stanley Lifestyles is looking to raise up to Rs 537 crore through an IPO, which opens on June 21. The shares are being offered in a price band of Rs 351-369 apiece. The issue will close on June 25 while bidding for anchor investors will open on June 20.

The issue comprises fresh issue of shares aggregating Rs 200 crore and over 91 lakh shares through an offer for sale from promoters and existing investors. The proceeds from the fresh issue of shares will be used for renovating and expanding retail outlets and for purchasing new machinery.

Promoters Sunil Suresh and Shubha Sunil will offer 11.8 lakh shares each. In addition, existing investors Oman India Joint Investment Fund II, Kiran Vuppalapati and Sridevi Vuppalapati will sell 55.4 lakh, 10 lakh and 22.5 lakh shares, respectively. In FY23, the company registered revenue from operations of Rs 419 crore up 43% from the previous year while profits rose 50% to Rs 35 crore.

No plans to charge users for phone nos: Trai

New Delhi: Telecom regulator Trai on Friday said it does not intend to impose charges on customers for holding multiple SIMs and numbering resources. Trai had floated the idea in a consultation paper regarding numbering resources in the telecom sector, but said there are no plans for any charge. “The speculation that Trai intends to impose charges on customers for holding multiple SIMs/ numbering resources is unequivocally false,” it said. TNN

Informal sector hit by Covid 2nd wave recovered: Survey

Avg Earnings For Informal Workers Rise 4% To `1.1L In FY23

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: The second wave of the pandemic severely hit the informal sector, reducing the number of units and workers, but the segment recovered gradually after July quarter of 2021, the findings of an official survey showed on Friday.

Results of the annual survey of unincorporated sector enterprises (ASUSE) showed resilience of the informal sector — small entities like barber shops, cycle repair units — after the shock of the pandemic. Total number of establishments in the sector increased from 5.8 crore in 2021-22 to 6.5 crore in 2022-23, a growth of nearly 5.9%.

The survey period of ASUSE 2021-22, particularly April-June, was severely impacted by the second wave of the pandemic and the overall annual aggregate estimates were affected, according to the statistics office, which re- leased a factsheet.

Among the sectors, the number of establishments in the other services sector grew by 15.1%, indicating a robust sectoral expansion, while the number of manufacturing entities rose by 2.2%, reflecting a gradual opening-up of the sector after the pandemic, the survey results showed.

“The survey reveals that average annual earnings for informal workers have increased between 2021-22 and 2022-23, indicating improved wage conditions in the sector, highlighting that effective economic policies to counter the impact of the pandemic had helped in recovery,” said Rajesh Shukla, MD & CEO of People Research on India’s Consumer Economy (PRI- CE), an economic think tank.

The gross value added (GVA), a key indicator of economic performance, saw annual growth of 9.8%, largely led by manufacturing and other service sectors. While manufacturing GVA increased by 19.1%, for other services, it rose by 18.9%. The unincorporated non-agricultural sector employed about 11 crore workers from Oct 2022 to Sept 2023, up from 9.8 crore in 2021-22, an increase of 7.8%, highlighting strength in labour market growth.

The maximum annual growth in employment during the period was in other services sector category at 13.4%, followed by the manufacturing sector at 6.3%. Majority of the workers in the non-agricultural unincorporated sector are informal workers and the survey showed that average annual earnings for these workers rose 4.3% to Rs 1,10,982 in 2022-23 from Rs 1,06,381 in 2021-22.

Trade secrets: US court fines TCS $194mn

New Delhi: A US court has ruled that TCS is liable for misappropriation of trade secrets and levied penal charges of around $ 194 million on the IT major, a regulatory filing said on Friday.

TCS, however, said it has strong arguments against the judgment and is taking necessary steps to protect its interest through review or appeal.

The order has been passed against the company in a case filed by Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) — now merged with DXC Technology Company (DXC) — alleging misappropriation of its trade secrets before the court

The court also passed certain injunctions and other reliefs against TCS, it added. “The company believes that the judgment has no major adverse impact on its financials and operations,” the filing said. AGENCIES

Goods exports increase 9%, imports 8% in May

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: Goods exports rose 9% to $38 billion in May, while imports were 7.7% higher at nearly $62 billion, pushing up India’s trade deficit to $23.8 billion, highest in seven months.

Exports growth has been uneven and the latest numbers pegged the growth at the highest in three months, with govt hopeful of the trend continuing. “I feel that this positive trend will continue. Things are looking better and optimistic for the trade sector,” commerce secretary Sunil Barthwal told reporters. He said that inflation in advanced economies is slowing and it would help further push purchasing power that will raise demand for imports.

Asked about the higher trade deficit, he said: “I do not consider trade deficit per se as bad as long as you have FDI flowing in, foreign exchange coming in and if you are balancing it through other means. Second, we should also look at the growing services exports...then we should not unnecessarily be worried about the trade deficit in merchandise.”

Petroleum products, elec- tronics, largely mobile phones, pharmaceuticals and plastics were among sectors that saw the highest growth. On the import front, pulses imports surged 2.8 times to $371 million in May as the govt shipped large quantities of dal to cool down domestic prices and rein in inflation

Wholesale inflation rises to 15-mth high of 2.6% in May

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: Wholesale price inflation jumped to a 15-month high in May, led by an increase in prices of food and manufactured products and adverse base effect.

Data released by the commerce and industry ministry on Friday showed inflation, as measured by the Wholesale Price Index (WPI), rose an annual 2.6% in May, higher than the 1.3% in April and above the contraction of 3.6% in May last year. The official statement said the positive rate of inflation in May, 2024 is primarily due to increase in prices of food articles, manufactured food products, crude petroleum & natural gas, mineral oils, other manufacturing products.

Food inflation jumped to 9.8%, led by an increase in prices of vegetables, pulses, eggs, fruit, meat and fish. Vegetable inflation shot up 32.4%, while onion’s was up by 58.1% and potato’s by 64.1%. Vegetable supplies have been hit hard by the heatwave sweeping across some parts of the country.

Clean, no-nasties segment shines in beauty biz

Rupali.Mukherjee@timesgroup.com

New Delhi: Clean, no-nasties and diligent are the terms now being used in the context of beauty and are shaping the trajectory of a booming and dynamic sector.

Diligent beauty shoppers, particularly millennials and centennials, are increasingly preferring natural beauty and personal care (BPC) products, those which are cruelty-free, devoid of parabens, silicones and harmful dyes, encompassing organic ingredients. All embodying mostly the essence of ‘clean and no nasties’.

Over 47% of consumers in India choose natural ingredients as the key feature in facial skincare products, according to research exclusively shared with TOI by market intelligence agency Mintel.

The shift is reshaping the FMCG industry, prompting brands to reformulate pro- ducts, prioritise transparency and adopt sustainable packaging. The numbers of consumers who prefer no nasties may still be small, indust- ry experts say, but growth and launches in this segment mirror the shift. Clean label is the future as consumers will embrace brands that believe in transparency, trust, and genuineness, they feel.

Says Abhishek Jugran, executive VP marketing, Dabur India: “Clean beauty is a growing trend across the beauty industry in India. While the numbers may still be small, we are seeing this shift in consumer behaviour with the younger audience embracing brands, retail environments and ecosystems that talk about responsibility, sustainability, social improvement and transparency. ’’

Among Indian consumers, plant-based is the most popular clean beauty claim as they greatly value natural aspects. Hence, botanical/ herbal claims continue to dominate the category, according to Mintel .

“Clean beauty is a fast-growing segment . In line with this, we have introduced product ranges catering to varied consumer demand spaces with digital-first brands,” according to an executive at HUL. Meanwhile, 30% of consumers claim that they are reading ingredients more now before making the purchase than they did six months ago, indicating a steady growth of engagement, the Mintel research adds. “There has been a notable rise in product launches featuring claims associated with clean beauty,’’ said Mintel’s Tanya Rajani, principal analyst, beauty and personal care, India.

Trai asks fin cos to use new prefix for service calls

Spam, Fraud Control | Irdai Bans Use Of Mobile Nos By Insurers

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mumbai:To check the menace of impersonation frauds, telecom regulator Trai on Friday met financial sector regulators, 25 banks and financial institutions, and other industry representatives to ensure that official calls are made from numbers prefixed with a dedicated number series that can be identified by the receiver.

Trai suggested allocating the 160 series prefix exclusively for transactional and service voice calls. Initially, it will be for entities regulated by RBI, Sebi, Irdai, and PFRDA, making it easier to identify callers and prevent fraud. The meeting discussed how to effectively use this series, migrate the 140 series (for sales) to a new platform, and implement digital consent scrubbing to reduce spam calls.

The telecom service providers and members of the Association of National Exchange Members were also present in the meeting.

The Digital Consent Facility, which allows banks and other entities to send promotional messages, was also discussed. The meeting emphasized the obligations of senders under Trai regulations and agreed to whitelist URLs, use minimum headers and content templates, and take immediate action against misuse. While prefixing the series to numbers will help to identify genuine calls from institutions, whitelisting of headers can help check fraud messages.

Meanwhile Irdai, in a circular, became the first to bar companies from using 10-digit mobile numbers to make calls to existing or prospective customers and use the 140/160 series allotted by the telecom regulator. Irdai’s circular to all regulated entities follows the telecom regulator’s new guidelines aimed at curbing unsolicited voice calls or messages.

Most of the frauds that are undertaken by criminals impersonating bankers, insurance or other government officials is being perpetuated through private mobile numbers. Insurance companies have also been asked to take steps to spread awareness among customers, in local language as well, about the remedial actions/ steps to be taken in various scenarios such as ONO Registration, Registration of Complaints.

Life insurers’ stocks rally on ‘low impact’ of new norms

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mumbai: Shares of life insurance companies rallied after the regulator announced new norms requiring them to provide higher surrender value than what they have been paying out. The relief rally was triggered by realization that the impact on margins would be far less than estimated because insurers front-end most of their costs into the first year which has been excluded from surrender value norms.

Shares of HDFC Life, SBI Life, ICICI Pru Life, Max Financial and Life Insurance Corporation have all rallied in the last two days after the new norms.

The shares of life insurance companies have been under pressure since December 2023, when the insurance regulator first proposed increasing surrender charges. The product regulations in March 2024, however, did not alter the guaranteed surrender values. The situation changed again on May 30, when the regulator introduced a fresh draft that included the regulation of special surrender value. This new development was perceived to have an impact on new business margins of up to 3-4%.

On June 12, the regulations were officially announced by Irdai. The first year was excluded from SSV norms, a move that could have hurt margins. Additionally, insurers were granted the flexibility to discount returns at a higher rate of 50 basis points over the government securities yield, as opposed to the previous benchmark of the 10-year G-sec yield. According to a report by JM Financial, insurers can mitigate the pressure on margins by passing on the potential loss to intermediaries or the customer.

Hyundai’s IPO to be ‘offer for sale’, bullish mkt a draw

 From P 1

Hyundai India’s IPO will be an offer for sale by the existing shareholder, with no fresh issue of shares planned. The timing is, however, yet to be finalised. “Sebi’s process may stretch for a few months. The stock markets are at record highs and look buoyant. Hyundai will want to see an early clearance to take benefit from the current positive sentiments,” a source said.

“The company is also in a rush as the car market appears to be veering towards a slowdown, after witnessing strong growth over the past two years. It wants to go to the market as early as possible,” the source added.

Hyundai has indicated an aggressive expansion plan ahead of the IPO, saying it will increase its annual production in the country to one million units by 2025, with a major focus on affordable electrics that it plans to locally produce.

The company has lined up Rs 32,000 crore for investments in India, which includes funds needed to add the Maharashtra factory — acquired from GM last year — to its India production footprint. The work will be completed by the middle of next year and bring in a fresh 2 lakh units to its current capacity of 8.2 lakh units.

Ioniq 5 faces recall

New Delhi: Hyundai India is recalling 1,744 units of its electric model Ioniq 5, due to an issue with the integrated charging control unit, according to the information available with Siam. TNN

Forex reserves surge by $4bn to $655.8bn, a record high

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mumbai: The country’s foreign exchange reserves surged to a record high of $655.8 billion on June 7, 2024, marking an increase of $4.3 billion over the week.

The increase in reserve was largely because of the rise in foreign currency assets which rose by $3.8 billion to $576.3 billion. The value of Reserve Bank of India’s gold holdings rose by $481 million during the week to $57 billion. Dealers believe that the central bank will keep adding to the reserves if there are significant inflows this month when the inclusion of Indian bonds into the JP Morgan emerging markets index becomes effective.

This week, however, the central bank has been selling dollars in the market as the rupee came under pressure and touched a new low of 83.57 against the greenback. Meanwhile, among other data released by RBI, the credit deposit ratio improved marginally during the weak with the addition of deposits outpacing bank credit. Bank deposits have grown 3% during FY25 to Rs 210.87 lakh crore, while bank credit has grown 2.1% to Rs 167.81 lakh crore.

Retail investors should avoid F&O trading: NSE chief

New Delhi: NSE chief Ashishkumar Chauhan on Friday cautioned retail investors against trading in derivatives and suggested them to invest in equities through mutual fund route.

He emphasised that trading in futures & options (F&O) derivatives should be limited to informed investors who can manage risk and comprehend the market. Recently, FM Nirmala Sitharaman and chief economic adviser V Anantha Nageswaran flagged the growing risk of F&O trading for retail investors. In Nov 2023, Sebi chief Madhabi Puri Buch also cautioned investors against heavy bets on F&O.

“Retail investors should not participate in F&O trading. They should invest in equities through mutual fund route,” Chauhan, MD & CEO of NSE, said at an event here. He cautioned that while derivatives have their utility, it should only be traded by those who fully understand the risks and have the capacity to manage them. Those lacking this understanding or risk appetite should av- oid derivatives trading.

Despite this, F&O trading continues to grow in popularity, driven by the potential for profit and the rising trading volumes. The segment’s popularity is evident from its massive growth, with the monthly turnover in the F&O segment reaching Rs 8,740 lakh crore in March 2024, compared to Rs 217 lakh crore in March 2019. At the same time, the average daily turnover in the equity cash segment was Rs 1 lakh crore, while the F&O segment saw an average daily turnover of about Rs 330 lakh crore.

F&O trading involves contracts that derive their value from an underlying asset, such as stocks or commodities. Futures contracts obligate the buyer and seller to transact at a predetermined future date and price, while options give the holder the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell the asset at a set price within a specific period. A Sebi study showed that 89% of individual traders in the equity F&O segment suffered losses, with average losses of Rs 1.1 lakh in FY22. AGENCIES

TCS blames skill gap for 80k vacancies

Veena.Mani@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru: In a recent town hall, Amar Shetye, the global operations head of TCS’s resource management group (RMG), revealed that the company has 80,000 open positions and they’re yet to fill those roles due to a yawning skills gap.

Shetye mentioned that there is a mismatch between the skills possessed by employees and the roles in demand. RMG is responsible for allocating resources to projects, and in the event of a shortfall, they fill those requirement through contractors.

An employee who attended the townhall anonymously shared with TOI that, “We were told that either skillsets or employee aspirations are not matching project requirements.” TCS did not respond to TOI’s email seeking comment till the time of going to press.

Times Sport

- Italy launch title defence

- Not here for vacation: Swiss

- IN THE NETHERLANDS, A STREET IN THE HAGUE GOES ALL ORANGE

- HAPPY TO DANCE WITH LUKA

- Me Tartan, you join: Scottish fans swing by, create a storm

- EURO TOURISM SET TO BRING $1B TO GERMANY

- ‘MORE SLEEP, LESS PLAYSTATION’

- RELIEVED MBAPPE DIDN’T CALL ME GRANDPA: GIROUD

- PORTUGAL MUST PROVE THEY ARE A GREAT TEAM: VITINHA

- LEWA ‘PROBABLY’ FIT FOR POLAND’S SECOND MATCH

- AIN’T NO SUNSHINE

- US create history, reach Super 8; Pak knocked out

- India get a feel of Yankees fielding drills

- England thrash minnows Oman to revive campaign

- AFGHANS WIN, DASH NZ’S SUPER 8 HOPES

- England eye dominant show to stay in contention

- ‘Hazlewood’s run-rate comment was a joke’

- In early 20th century, a Parsi cricketer from Surat was a star in Los Angeles

- TRAINING ABROAD FOR PARIS GAMES

- Dortmund pick Sahin as coach

- Nagal enters Perugia semis

- ACTION TODAY

- Rory surrenders share of lead

- India women archers lose in final Oly qualifier

Italy launch title defence

NUTS AND BOLTS: Italy players attend a training session in Iserlohn on Friday

Wuppertal: Italy kick off their European Championship title defence against Albania on Saturday as a new-look team tries to rebuild the reputation of one of the world’s most important football nations.

Luciano Spalletti’s Italy take on Albania in Dortmund in the first of three clashes in a fiendishly difficult Group B which also contains Spain and Croatia.

A win over Albania would give Italy a great chance of going through. Italy come into the tournament in quietly confident mood, with delegation chief Gianluigi Buffon insisting that the Azzurri are “an underrated team” despite being holders and four-time World Cup winners.

Buffon was one of the stars of the show when Italy won the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Since then the national team has been going through something of an identity crisis, unsure of its position in the global game and no longer feared as in decades past.

Italy might be reigning champions but after winning the last Euros three years ago they missed out on qualification for a second straight World Cup. And qualification for this summer’s Euros, which begins on Friday, was complicated by Spalletti’s predeces- sor Roberto Mancini jumping ship to Saudi Arabia in August last year.

Spalletti has been entrusted to guide his nation out of another bout of deep soul searching. “I can see that we have players in the squad who will become future greats. They have the quality,” Federico Chiesa said on Thursday in an interview with UEFA.

Juventus forward Chiesa is one of the few graduates of the victory in 2021 still assured of a starting place, alongside Nicolo Barella, who is set to start.

Albania meanwhile are taking part in just their second Euros and the Eagles will be swept along by the enthusiasm of their supporters. Armand Duka, the head of Albania’s football federation, claimed in an interview with Sky that “more than half” of the Westfalenstadion will be taken up by his countrymen.

AGENCIES

Not here for vacation: Swiss

Dusseldorf: Switzerland’s maverick midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri has dismissed doubts about his match fitness ahead of his country’s opening match of Euro 2024 against Hungary on Saturday.

Coach Murat Yakin has expressed doubts about 32-year-old Shaqiri’s ability to play back-to-back games and the subject was raised at media conference on Thursday.

“I’m here with the national team because I want to help the team and play as much as possible. I didn’t travel to the European Championships to take a vacation.” Switzerland endured a modest qualifying campaign. They finished second behind Romania in their group, winning only four of their 10 games.

AFP

IN THE NETHERLANDS, A STREET IN THE HAGUE GOES ALL ORANGE

The Hague (Netherlands): The fluttering of 64 kilometres (40 miles) of orange bunting and a hammer driving a nail into a wall to hold up orange tarps are the sounds of a Dutch summer in a normally drab street in The Hague.

The Marktweg is one of several streets in the Netherlands that get an all orange facelift during Euros and World Cups when their team — the Oranje — are looking to add to the Euro won 36 years ago.

For two months, a dedicated team of up to 10 volunteers has been decorating their street, creating not just an orange overload, but also a sense of community. Houses are plastered with orange tarps, street lights and trees are wrapped in orange, while litter bins are red, white and blue, the colours of the Dutch flag.

AGENCIES

HAPPY TO DANCE WITH LUKA

Spain’s Opener Will See Young Pedri Go Up Against Croatia’s Luka Modric For The Tenth Time, After Eight Clasicos And One Euro Tie. Despite The Familiarity, The 21-Year-Old Remains In Awe Of The Great Croat

Berlin: Spain’s Euro 2024 hopes have been bolstered by Pedri Gonzalez’s return to form and the Barcelona playmaker could prove crucial in their stern opening battle against Luka Modric’s dangerous Croatia.

The Real Madrid midfielder, 38, is still the standard-bearer for his country and his midfield duel with Pedri lends a Clasico feel to the heavyweight clash in Berlin on Saturday.

Spain, Croatia, Italy and Albania comprise Group B, the tournament’s toughest quartet, but a resurgent Pedri could give La Roja the edge they crave. Pedri was vital as Spain reached the Euro 2020 semi-finals but repeated hamstring injuries have set his career back in the years since.

In the final weeks of the season and in Spain’s warm-up friendlies Pedri has shown strong signs of returning to his best. The midfielder struck twice last week playing in an advanced role as Spain thrashed Northern Ireland 5-1 in their final warm-up friendly.

It opened debate in Spain over Pedri’s best position, as he sometimes operates deeper in midfield, but coach Luis de la Fuente says he needs the Canary Islander to make the difference in the final third. “We want him to play closer to the area, between the lines, taking advantage of the final ball. I think we can get a great deal from him,” said De la Fuente, grateful for Pedri’s grit in his fitness battle.

“I thank Pedri, he’s an example of overcoming, effort, a school of values (in himself), he’s important for everyone.” The coach has been a strong supporter of Pedri and the midfielder revealed with every injury setback, De la Fuente would call to offer support.

The coach says he does not know where Pedri’s ceiling is and encouraged the midfielder to keep improving. “Pedri had to find himself, we don’t know what his best version is because he’s so good, he is infinite,” added De la Fuente, “We coaches can give confidence to players, but it is the player who has to take the step forward.”

Up against an elite midfield trio in Modric, Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic, Pedri will be thrown in at the deep end.

In the World Cup Croatia reached the 2018 final and 2022 semi-finals, while Spain beat them in extra-time in the last 16 in Euro 2020.

Pedri scored a bizarre own goal from nearly 50 yards away after a mistake by Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon, the one minor blot on his copybook in a superb tournament.

Spain defeated Croatia on penalties in the Nations League final in June 2023 to win their first trophy since Euro 2012. The goalless draw over 120 minutes exemplified how evenly matched the teams are, although Spain were without Pedri because of his fitness state at the time.

If he can get the better of Modric and Croatia in Berlin’s Olympiastadion, three-time winners Spain will begin to believe they have what it takes to make it back there a month later for the final on July 14.

AGENCIES

Me Tartan, you join: Scottish fans swing by, create a storm

Nearly 60,000 Scots Descend On Munich Ahead Of Opener

KILT TRIP: Scottish fans have a ball in the Munich city centre

Munich: Wearing kilts and filling the air with the strains of bagpipes, Scotland’s “Tartan Army” descended on Munich for Friday’s opening game where their side face a tough clash against hosts Germany.

With chants of “no Scotland, no party”, tens of thousands of fans flocked to the southern German city to enjoy the atmosphere — and a beer or two — ahead of the match.

“Couldn’t miss it, no chance of that,” said Stuart Webster, 48, who made the 13,500-km (8,500-mile) trip from Rockingham, Western Australia for the game.

“We don’t make every tournament, so we had to go to this one,” said Webster, who travelled with his two sons, one of whom was wrapped in a Scottish flag.

There is a quiet hope that Scotland can get a good enough result against Germany to help them qualify for the knockout rounds -a feat the team has never achieved at a major tournament.

“I’m a bit of a veteran, so I know how it normally goes but fingers crossed,” said Webster.

Many of the fans headed to the historic Marienplatz square in cen- tral Munich, where they belted out tunes in praise of star player John McGinn and kicked a ball around.

Some of the fans probably won’t “remember an awful lot about Munich, but they’ll know they’ve enjoyed themselves,” supporter Stuart Ogg said. All in all, some 60,000 Scottish fans are expected in Munich around the opening fixture of the tournament, according to local officials.

“There was one of the pubs ran out of beer yesterday,” said Ogg, 63, who made the journey from Perth in Scotland with his sons.

The reaction from locals has been somewhere between bemusement and delight, he said.

Most of the fans making the long journey to Munich are doing so without a ticket for the game.

Not having a way into Munich’s Allianz Arena for the match did not put off Mareth Wilson and her family, who also travelled from Perth. The 44-year-old council worker braved an overnight ferry to the Netherlands, before completing her journey by train.

They plan to watch the game on a big screen in the fan zone which is by the water’s edge and designed to accomodate up to 25,000 fans.

Despite the influx of tartan-clad Scots, a few German supporters were still to be found in Munich.

For the Germans, like their opponents, the chance to attend the opening game of the tournament makes the long journey worth it.

AFP

BEER CAP IMPOSED FOR ENG-SERBIA

Berlin: Supporters of England and Serbia attending the game in Gelsenkirchen will only be able to purchase reduced-strength beer, police said Friday. A 2.5-percent “light beer” would be served in the stadium, with fans limited to two drinks at a time, a spokeswoman for the city police said.

The decision had been taken for “security reasons”, the spokeswoman said. The choice to sell lower strength beer, instead of pints with the usual volume of between four and five percent, was also made because “the British are used to it”, she said.

German authorities have been preparing to deal with potential hooligans at the tournament.

The British government has said that more than 1,600 English and Welsh supporters who are hit with stadium bans because of previous violent behaviour will be prohibited from travelling to Germany.

EURO TOURISM SET TO BRING $1B TO GERMANY

Berlin: Euro hosts Germany can expect a 1 billion euro ($1.07 billion) boost to its economy thanks to foreign tourists travelling to the country, the economic research institute, Ifo institute said on Friday. This corresponds to about 0.1% of economic output in the second quarter of the year, with Germany’s hospitality and food retail sectors set to benefit the most from the games. “However, the effect is only short-lived, so that exports of services due to returning tourists are likely to fall again after the end of the European Championship in the third quarter and remain the same on balance,” Ifo said.

More than an additional 600,000 foreign tourists and 1.5 million additional overnight stays are expected during the event, according to the institute’s calculations based on the numbers from the FIFA World Cup hosted by Germany in 2006. Experts agree that the overall effect of the Euro 2024 on Europe’s largest economy also depends on how the German national team performs in the tournament.

‘MORE SLEEP, LESS PLAYSTATION’

Dortmund: Turns out Luciano Spalletti isn’t such a killjoy, after all.

The Italy coach has been portrayed as quite the disciplinarian for urging his players to turn off the video games and get more sleep. Indeed, striker Gianluca Scamacca was reportedly dropped from the squad in March because of an obsession with his PlayStation.

Spalletti wants to put the record straight. “I have nothing against any sort of game. We have created a games room where there are two cutting-edge PlayStations. I have even had a go on it myself!”

What Spalletti really takes issue with, however, is his players playing video games late into the night. “I don’t think it’s acceptable they are awake until 3 or 4 am. They say, ‘But, we are used to it, we’ll sleep in the morning.’ No, we need to sleep at night.”

RELIEVED MBAPPE DIDN’T CALL ME GRANDPA: GIROUD

Paderborn: Olivier Giroud has embraced the role of father of the France team. With 57 goals in 133 caps, the 37-yearold striker will call an end on his international career after the Euros, and move to Los Angeles FC in the MLS, but wants to make up for France’s 2016 final loss to Portugal before that.

“I am filled with excitement, with nostalgia, with desire. The objective is to have the best competition possible,” Giroud said on Friday, “The loss in the final in 2016 remains in the back of my mind. This is the competition I dream of winning.”

Teammate Kylian Mbappe recently termed Giroud the father of the France team. “At least he didn’t say grandpa,” quipped Giroud. “It’s true that I have a bit of a big brother role with the younger ones.

“But I don’t feel that out of step with them. In my head, I am younger than my age. I tend to laugh with them, appreciate their music choice even if we don’t necessarily have the same tastes. I try to put them at ease,” he explained.

PORTUGAL MUST PROVE THEY ARE A GREAT TEAM: VITINHA

WORD’S WORTH: Cristiano Ronaldo speaks with the media in Harsewinkel

Harsewinkel: Portugal midfielder Vitinha said Friday his country’s star-studded squad must prove they are a “great” team. The 2016 champions face the Czech Republic on Tuesday, having qualified with a 100 percent record. However Portugal fell to a friendly defeat by Croatia last week and question marks remain over whether they can cope in the biggest games.

Led by superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, playmaker Bruno Fernandes and other leading stars including Joao Felix and Bernardo Silva, expectations are high. “We have a great team, with great players playing for great clubs... but great teams prove themselves on the pitch, not in theory,” Vitinha said.

“That’s what we have to do at this championship, to reinforce the idea that we’re a great team. We have great players and we have to show that on the pitch. That’s the only way we’ll become what everyone says we are,” he said.

LEWA ‘PROBABLY’ FIT FOR POLAND’S SECOND MATCH

Potsdam: Robert Lewandowski will “probably” be fit to play in Poland’s second group game against Austria, coach Michal Probierz said. The Barcelona striker suffered a thigh injury in Monday’s 2-1 friendly win over Turkey and will miss Poland’s opening Group D game against the Netherlands in Hamburg on Sunday. But Probierz is hopeful Lewandowski, Poland’s all-time record goalscorer, will be back to face Austria on June 21. “Robert will probably join the team for the match against Austria,” said Probierz, “I’m surprised when I read comments that it’s impossible when a muscle is torn. There are different degrees of such an injury.

“There is progress in his treatment, the medical staff are doing everything to get him back on his feet.

“Robert is going for individual training today, but you should ask the physiotherapists for details.

“I don’t ask them about such things because I fully trust them. Just like I don’t tell a bus driver which way to go.”

Verona forward Karol Swiderski sustained an ankle injury while celebrating the opening goal against Turkey, but Probierz said he was already back in team training.

AIN’T NO SUNSHINE

DRY RUN: Ravindra Jadeja is one of the few players yet to make a mark in the tournament

TIMES IN THE US

Heavy Rain May Mar India’s Game Against Canada Today, Offering Rohit Sharma’s Men A Chance To Put Their Feet Up Before The Super 8 Begin In The Caribbean

Dwaipayan.Datta@timesgroup.com

Miami: The Fort Lauderdale beach near Miami beach looks beautiful from a few hundred feet above. But when the pilot gets a round of applause for landing the flight through strong winds and rain, you know immediately that the prospect of any cricket being played here over the next few days is bleak.

The rains haven’t left Florida in the last 72 hours, although its intensity has been a bit up and down. And that’s good enough for a washout of most of the matches at Broward Park, which includes India’s game against Canada on Saturday.

The sun, though, kept playing hide and seek throughout Friday as the curators worked hard to get the outfield ready. But there were showers predicted later in the afternoon and any more rain in the next 24 hours would allow Rohit Sharma’s boys the chance to put their feet up and relax for a couple of days before they head to the West Indies for the real deal, the Super 8 stage.

Most of the Indian players have been playing continuous cricket. Two months of the IPL have been followed by a difficult New York leg of the T20 World Cup, and this break might not be exactly unwanted. But in an ideal world, the team management would have wanted a practice session and a bit of game time on a decent pitch against a notso-threatening opposition.

Even though India have won three out of three so far, it hasn’t exactly been a cruise. The issue that’s going to be a sense of bother for the team management has been the form of Virat Kohli, who is India’s opener for the tournament. Skipper Rohit Sharma has said that he, along with Kohli, will keep opening, but scores of 1,4 and 0 by the master batter isn’t exactly the best build-up for the business end.

The game in Miami would have been the perfect platform for Kohli to get back into rhythm, but that’s on hold for now. He will have to hit the nets in Barbados from June 17 and sort out the slight problems that have been affecting his batting till now.

Ravindra Jadeja is another crucial, big-match player who hasn’t got going so far in the World Cup. The CSK allrounder is an automatic starter in every game and Rohit will stick with him with the knowledge that Jadeja has the ability to win matches on his own. But he, too, needs a bit of confidence and form, having lacked both at the back-end of the IPL and the first leg of the World Cup.

India bowling coach Paras Mhambrey, though, refused to read too much into it. “It’s a team game and you really don’t expect all of them to come into form. I think for someone like Jadeja, who’s so vastly experienced, he just needs a game out there to just get his feel around. And we know that with the skills that he has and the experience, he’s going to go ahead and he’s going to win you games,” Mhambrey said.

It’s up to the weather gods to relent and allow the players and the travelling fans a bit of match-practice before the bandwagon moves to the West Indies.

GILL, AVESH SET TO BE RELEASED AFTER LEAGUE STAGE

Fort Lauderhill: Reserve opener Shubman Gill and speedster Avesh Khan are all set to be released from the Indian set-up after the team’s final T20 World Cup group league game against Canada here on Saturday. Designated finisher Rinku Singh and left-arm fast medium Khaleel Ahmed will accompany the team during the Caribbean leg of the tourney. PTI

US create history, reach Super 8; Pak knocked out

USA’s Aaron Jones inspects the field in Lauderhill on Friday

Dwaipayan.Datta@timesgroup.com

Miami: By definition, this is truly the American dream. The US national team, cobbled up with a group of semi-professional cricketers, who have a day job and play cricket as a pastime, made the Super 8 of the T20 World Cup on Friday.

It meant that Pakistan, a former champion and one of the prime contenders in the tournament, got knocked out after USA’s group game against Ireland was washed out following numerous delays.

The clouds were threatening and when the skies finally opened up in the afternoon, there was euphoria in the USA camp as a few Pakistani fans in the Broward Park here cut a sorry figure. But the day was all about the hard work of a USA team, that believed in itself and beat Pakistan in the Super Over last week.

Despite this magnificent achievement, ask most of the locals, and they haven’t woken up to it. Go to the bars or the restaurants, they have an obscure idea that there’s something called a “cricket World Cup” happening in their backyard. There’s still a serious lack of awareness about the US team, that will now travel to West Indies. “Oh really? There’s a US team playing? And they are doing well?” that’s the general response when you ask them about an Aaron Jones or a Saurabh Netravalkar, the chief architects of the nation’s progress in the tournament so far.

But that was pretty much the case with football as well, a game that they call “soccer” now and are getting ready to host three top events — Copa America, Fifa Club World Cup and the World Cup — over the next three years.

US player Steven Taylor, who is one of the home-grown talents of the US cricket team, cited the “soccer example” on the eve of their crunch game against Ireland, that kept continuously getting delayed due to poor outfield conditions. “Well, it’s similar to soccer. When it just came to America, it took time to grow. So, I think the more the USA national team does well, the more it will be out there for people to see and like,” Taylor said.

USA hosted the 1994 soccer World Cup and managed to go to the round of 16, where they lost to eventual champions Brazil. That created an interest, even though it was the women who seriously took the sport up and Megan Rapinoe’s team ruled for more than a decade.

Taylor feels that cricket, too, can go the same way after this World Cup and there will be interest beyond the subcontinental diaspora across small pockets of the country.

“There are Americans born and raised who are Irish, playing in in New Jersey and DC area. So, yes, it’s growing,” Taylor said.

India get a feel of Yankees fielding drills

Dwaipayan.Datta@timesgroup.com

Miami: The Indian batters haven’t had the best practice while the conditions have been helpful for the bowlers. The worst affected have been the fielding unit, who couldn’t put in any serious practice in New York due to the bumpy nature of the Cantiague Park surface, the training venue in New York.

But that didn’t stop the Indian team to take some fielding tips from baseball experts in New York, something that fielding coach T Dilip feels will be crucial for the team getting better on the field.

“We went for a Yankees game in New York and I thought it will be a nice opportunity to exchange some notes with their coaches. There are a lot of similarities between baseball and cricket fielding,” Dilip said on a sultry Miami afternoon, as the Indian practice session got cancelled due to bad outfield conditions following incessant rains.

Dilip feels that “baseball and cricket are not completely same” but there’s a lot to learn from their experts, especially regarding techniques in running back, taking catches and push in the flat throws from the deep. “I have worked with a baseball coach earlier. This session too was helpful and I’ll try to incorporate some of the techniques.”

The fielding coach also informed that the football drills that the team does everyday is not just about getting loose. “If you see in football, there’s something called dummy run when a footballer starts running when the ball is not with him and he meets it at the last moment, completely unnoticed by defence. In cricket too, it is important that fielders grow this sense of anticipation when somebody else is throwing. It’s actually all interconnected,” Dilip said.

While learning new techniques is an add-on, bowlers fielding in “hotspots” is also a crucial addition to India’s fielding. It can mean that somebody like a Jasprit Bumrah can field inside the ring while a Virat Kohli or a Ravindra Jadeja, who has a superb throwing arm, can man the boundaries in the closing stages.

“It lends a lot of flexibility to the captain as to where he can keep his key men. This has happened because the bowlers themselves have taken it on themselves to become better fielders. “The bowlers come in for fielding drills after bowling long spell in the nets. It’s heartening and something that we’ve been looking to develop,” Dilip said.

While the fielding conditions haven’t been the best here, the coach insisted that they have tried to adapt as a unit and deal with the situation. “The ball being slow on the outfield (as has been the case in the US) can be an added advantage for the fielders. You can actually attack the ball because you know that it won’t reach the fence easily.

“We have been trying to do that as a group and it has worked well till now,” Dilip said.

England thrash minnows Oman to revive campaign

ADIL RASHID

North Sound (Antigua): England hammered Oman by eight wickets as the reigning champions revived their T20 World Cup campaign with a record-breaking win in Antigua on Thursday.

Needing a heavy victory to bolster their net run-rate as they attempt to overhaul Scotland in the race to qualify for the second round, England routed Oman for just 47.

England then made 50-2 in a mere 3.1 overs, captain Jos Buttler 24 not out and Jonny Bairstow, who hit the winning boundary, unbeaten on eight.

This overwhelming Group B victory meant England recorded the largest win in T20 World Cup history in terms of balls remaining.

Oman had no answer to England’s attack, leg-spinner Adil Rashid taking 4-11, while express quicks Jofra Archer and Mark Wood both had figures of 3-12 in an innings that ended with nearly seven overs to spare.

No. 7 Shoaib Khan (11) was the only Oman batsman to reach double figures after Buttler won the toss.

England’s net run-rate climbed to 3.081, better than Scotland’s 2.16, although they stayed third on three points, behind the Scots’ five.

BRIEF SCORES: Oman 47 in 13.2 overs (S Khan 11; Rashid 4-11, Wood 3-12, Archer 3-12) vs England 50-2 in 3.1 overs (J Buttler 24*; Kaleemullah 1-10). AGENCIES

AFGHANS WIN, DASH NZ’S SUPER 8 HOPES

Georgetown: Afghanistan beat Papua New Guinea by seven wickets in Trinidad on Thursday to reach the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup and end New Zealand’s slim hopes of progressing.

The Afghans had already effectively eliminated New Zealand after defeating them by 84 runs in Georgetown, and on Thursday they confirmed that they pose a threat to any opponent with another accomplished all-round display.

Spearheaded by Fazalhaq Farooqi, the Afghan bowlers kept opponents under 100 runs for the third time in their three matches in the tournament, dismissing the Papuans for 95. Penetrating bowling on a lively surface ensured the run chase was not straightforward but Gulbadin Naib’s 49 steered the Afghans safely to their target at 101-3 inside 16 overs.

BRIEF SCORES: PNG 95 in 19.5 overs (Farooqi 3-16, Naveen 2-4) vs Afghanistan 101-3 in 15.1 overs (G Naib 49*). AGENCIES

England eye dominant show to stay in contention

Jofra Archer (second from left) will be key to England’s chances

PREVIEWS

Ousted Kiwis Search For Elusive Win

North Sound (Antigua): Defending champions England will be eager to brush aside Namibia ruthlessly here on Saturday and stay relevant in the race to the T20 World Cup Super 8 stage.

After bundling out Oman for 47, England raced past the target in just 3.1 overs, a record margin of 101 balls to spare.

The result has also done wonders to England’s net run-rate (NRR), the crucial separating factor between them and Scotland in Group B. The Three Lions’ NRR leapt from -1.8 to +3.08, going past Scotland’s +2.16.

However, Scotland have five points to England’s three. Hence, the former two-time champions will need to defeat Namibia to go equal with Scotland and then hope that the latter will lose to Australia, who have already qualified for Super 8.

In that scenario, England will enter Super Eight with better NRR, but an upset win over Australia by Scotland or a washout at Gros Islet will eliminate Stokes and his wards. The pitch at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium here has offered steep bounce and turn.

England bowlers such as leg-spinner Adil Rashid (4/11) and the pace duo of Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, who claimed identical figures of 3/12, exploited it to their advantage while bowling out Oman for their lowest over T20I total of 47 -the overall fourth lowest in the T20 World Cup.

NZ TAKE ON UGANDA

New Zealand will take on Uganda at the pace-friendly Tarouba in what will be first of their two dead rubbers of this T20 World Cup. Afghanistan pushed the Kiwis out of the Super Eight race from Group C following their win over Papua New Guinea here. It meant that the Black Caps have failed to advance from the group stage in a World Cup for the first time in a decade, across ODI and T20 formats.

The Kiwis will hope that they will head back home with their heads held high securing PREVIEWS wins over newcomers Uganda and PNG. Their ageing batters have looked woefully out of sorts and desperately in need of a revival, even as bowlers had their moments.

SOUTH AFRICA FACE NEPAL

Having already stormed into the Super Eight, South Africa will take on Nepal in a clash between Group D tabletoppers and wooden spooners at Kingstown. Anrich Nortje, who is the joint second leading wicket-taker with eight scalps, has been in splendid form, and he will look to make life tough for Nepal batters.

The Proteas would also hope that their top-order in Quinton De Kock, Reeza Hendricks, skipper Aiden Markram and Tristan Stubbs to get back their mojo ahead of the Super 8. AGENCIES

‘Hazlewood’s run-rate comment was a joke’

PAT CUMMINS

Gros Islet: Australia’s Pat Cummins said they never considered going easy on Scotland in their final group match to eliminate England from the T20 World Cup and that comments by Josh Hazlewood suggesting they may bottle up the run-rate were made in jest. Australia have already claimed one of Group B’s two slots in the Super 8 stage, while Scotland looked primed to join them courtesy a superior net run-rate. That was until Thursday, when England revived their title defence in spectacular fashion.

Hazlewood had said that Australia would be happy to eliminate England in the group phase to avoid meeting them later in the tournament. “I was speaking to Joshy, who had a bit of a joke about it the other day, and think it got taken a little bit out of context,” Cummins said. “We’ll go there and just try and play Scotland, who have had a really good tournament so far and will be tough. It’s (net run-rate) something you kind of discuss as one of the quirks of the set-up but in terms of does it change the way we play? Absolutely not.

“I’ve never stepped into the field without the mindset of trying to take the game on and be aggressive, like the guys have so far.” REUTERS

In early 20th century, a Parsi cricketer from Surat was a star in Los Angeles

Maneckji Jamsetji Bhumgara

Avijit.Ghosh@timesgroup.com

New Delhi: USA cricketers with an India connection have enjoyed a terrific run in the ongoing T20 World Cup. But not many know that in the early years of the 20th century, a Parsi cricketer from Surat was one of the most lethal spin bowlers in southern California. He was MJ Bhumgara, a rich businessman who became a star for the Los Angeles Cricket Club. The city’s premier newspaper, The Los Angeles Times, wrote a glowing profile of the cricketer in its Sept 22, 1907 edition. Describing him as a proficient “twirler,” the article said that the “East Indian” also played in New York, St Louis, Portland and San Francisco. He was described as “popular and enthusiastic,” and “a personal friend of Ranjitsinghi (sic).”

Twirler is the word used for a spinner. Ranjitsinghi is a misspelt version of KS Ranjitsinhji, the alltime batting great who later became the ruler of the princely state of Nawanagar. The LA Times article statistically underlined Maneckji Jamsetji Bhumgara’s – that’s how LA Times spelt his name, elsewhere it is Jamshedji -effectiveness as a bowler. “In the first series of interleague matches, he captured 20 wickets at a cost of only 5.2 runs each. In the test (sic) matches against the strong Santa Monica eleven, this summer, his average works out at 5.5 runs for 11 wickets, both noteworthy performances.”

In a detailed account of the cricketer in online magazine Scroll in 2017, writer Anu Kumar said, “His recurring five-wicket hauls made him a match-winner, and he was, on occasion, handy with the bat as well.”

In his book, A Corner of a Foreign Field, which maps the social history of Indian cricket, Ramachandra Guha writes that the first Indians to play cricket were the Parsis of Bombay. About the year 1848, he writes, the Parsis founded their first club, the Oriental Cricket Club. At least 30 such clubs were founded by the community in the 1850s and 1860s.

Maneckji honed his game in Bombay’s Elphinstone Club and turned out for the Parsees and Fort High School teams. He was the grandson of Framjee Pestonjee Bhumgara, who ran a prosperous trading company. The website of V&A, the London-based museum, describes the company as traders in silverware, jewellery and ‘oriental’ products who displayed their wares in various European cities. It also says that Framjee managed to meet Queen Victoria at Windsor and was appointed as “a jeweler” to her court.

The Times of India reported on Oct 1, 1889, when British Prime Minister William Gladstone visited the department of French India at the Paris Exhibition, Framjee “presented Mr Gladstone with an address enclosed in an aristocratically chased silver casket, and begged Mrs Gladstone’s acceptance of a piece of richly-embroidered silk.” Ads published in The Times of India editions of the time show that his company also exported carpet and condiments to London.

Framjee also expanded his business to America, opening a New York Branch in 1894. Part of his grandfather’s operations, Maneckji would mix business with pleasure. “When Bhumgara & Co displayed their goods in exhibitions in American cities, such as at the St Louis World Fair in 1904, he would set up base as an art dealer – but also play cricket for the local clubs,” the website says.

Kumar also wrote, “(MJ) Bhumgara died in 1944, in Paris, aged 66.”

TRAINING ABROAD FOR PARIS GAMES

Several of India’s prominent athletes who have qualified for Paris Olympics are training abroad. Given the burden of expectations back home, these elite athletes, in the lead-up to the Olympics, have preferred to prepare in countries like the USA, Germany, France, Spain and Italy. The training conditions abroad are comparatively better than at several national camps in India. The govt has been trying to ensure that these athletes remain fully prepared for Paris. The Mission Olympic Cell (MOC), through its flagship Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), has been spending crores to provide the athletes best foreign exposure. TOI has exclusive information detailing the training journey of athletes, camps abroad, expenses incurred and days spent at different locations.

Dortmund pick Sahin as coach

Dortmund: Borussia Dortmund said Friday they had appointed Nuri Sahin as head coach, following the shock departure of Edin Terzic just weeks after guiding the German team to a European final.

“It is a great honour for me to be head coach of Borussia Dortmund,” Sahin said in a statement.

AFP

Nagal enters Perugia semis

Perugia: Sumit Nagal continued his splendid form by entering the semi-final of the ongoing Perugia Challenger here on Friday. The sixth-seeded Indian overcame the challenge from the unseeded Maks Kasnikowski of Poland in the quarterfinal, winning in straight sets 6-4, 7-5. This is his eighth successive win since the start of Heilbronn Challenger.

PTI

ACTION TODAY

CRICKET: ICC T20 WC, SA vs Nepal, 5 am; NZ vs Uganda, 8.30 am; India vs Canada, 8 pm; Nam vs Eng, 11.30 pm (Star Sports);

FOOTBALL: Euro 2024, Hungary vs Switzerland, 6.30 pm; Spain vs Croatia, 9.30 pm; Italy vs Albania, 12.30 am Sunday (Sony Sports)

US OPEN

Rory surrenders share of lead

THE BIG DRAW: Rory McIlroy plays a shot from the 16th tee in Pinehurst on Friday

Pinehurst: Rory McIlroy, seeking an elusive fifth major title, relinquished his share of the overnight lead in early second-round US Open action on Friday in North Carolina where the notoriously tricky Pinehurst No. 2 layout bared its teeth.

McIlroy, who began the day level with Patrick Cantlay after opening with a fiveunder-par 65 that left them one shot clear of Swede Ludvig Aberg, went out in the fifth group from the 10th tee and covered the back nine in two-over-par 37.

Cantlay, competing in his 30th major and seeking his first triumph at one of golf’s blue-riband events, was alone in front and scheduled to tee off at 1:25 p.m. ET (1725 GMT).

Masters runner-up Aberg, who hit every fairway at Pinehurst No. 2 in the opening round, will be a further group behind. World No. 3 McIlroy, who was one of two players to go bogey-free in an opening round where only 15 players managed to break par, saw that clean streak end quickly on Friday.

The Northern Irishman dropped his first shot at the par-four 11th where his approach shot rolled off the green and between two bunkers. He chipped back on and then watched as his par putt from just inside six feet rolled over the right edge.

He then bogeyed the par-three 15th where he failed to get up and down after his tee shot rolled off the false front that protects an otherwise accessible green.

McIlroy looked certain to slip further back at the par-three 17th after his long-range birdie putt rolled off the green but he managed to save par with a brilliant chip from 39 feet that produced a wild roar from the surrounding fans.

He made par at the 18th and began the homeward nine two shots behind Cantlay.

Belgian Thomas Detry, three under through his first four holes, was a shot off the lead while Englishman Tyrrell Hatton, one under through eight, was a further shot back.

Bryson DeChambeau, the 2020 U.S. Open champion and one of 12 LIV Golf players in the 156-player field, began his day two shots behind the leaders and covered his first eight holes in one over.

Among the other late starters is Frenchman Matthieu Pavon, who also finished the opening round two shots behind the co-leaders and is looking to become the first U.S. Open champion to win in his debut since Francis Ouimet in 1913.

Pre-tournament favourite Scottie Scheffler, who began the day in a share of 34th place, was playing with McIlroy and was two over on a day during which he threw his putter in frustration after a missed birdie putt at the 15th.

Tiger Woods, competing in only his fourth event of the year, is at risk of missing the cut after struggling to an opening-round 74 and will tee off at 1:14 p.m.

The top 60 players and ties will make the cut.

REUTERS

India women archers lose in final Oly qualifier

Antalya: The Indian women’s recurve team of Deepika Kumari, Bhajan Kaur and Ankita Bhakat squandered their lead to suffer a shock 3-5 loss to lower-ranked Ukraine in the pre-quarterfinals of the final Olympic Qualifier here on Friday.

Having qualified as fifth seed, India got a bye into the pre-quarters and needed two wins in the elimination round to seal the Paris Olympic team quota place.

The four semifinalists in the women’s recurve section get team quotas.

But the world No. 8 India, who are 10 notches above Ukraine in the global rankings, put up an atrocious display to blow away a 3-1 lead and went down 3-5 (51-51, 55-52, 53-54, 52-54).

PTI

Delhi Times

- Pop culture scenes with queer themes that struck a chord

- Being a cool dad is about understanding your child and being flexible: Cheteshwar

- ‘CINE DADS ARE NOW MORE ACCEPTING OF KIDS’ LIFE CHOICES’

- UNAUTHORISED, OFFENSIVE, HURTFUL: THREE FILMS STAYED

- At 85, I’ve returned to exercise and find pilates the best: Helen

- It’s important to stay in the present, when you are with your kid: Pujara

- HOW TO: Plan a painting date with your child

- Felt like I had a hole in my chest: Shakira on breakup with Pique

- Hunter Schafer joins Blade Runner 2099

- Exhibition offers season suitable fabrics in Delhi

- FURRY FRIENDS

- DID YOU KNOW?

- IN A RARE OCCURRENCE, COURTS STAY THREE FILM RELEASES IN ONE DAY

- It was Kareena who recommended me for Dev, says Fardeen Khan

- REELERS TAKE OVER CP!

- ‘Want Kashmiri crafts to be on the global map’

- Hotels witness packed weekends as demand for staycation rises

- SALSA, PANCAKE: MAXIMISE YOUR SUMMER FRUITS

- Gifts for your foodie dad

- Gifts for your car and bike enthusiast dad

- Goal is to be in music in any format, says Joy

- Sairam I deliver the kind of content my audience wants from me: Dhvani

- Cryptoterrestrials might be living among us, claims a Harvard study

- Dragon boat racers make a splash in Hong Kong

- Smart gadgets, apps: Here’s how to improve your cycling experience

- No French fries, foie gras to be served at Olympics 2024

- DID YOU KNOW?

- Keerthy stuns in a sari at her cousin’s shaadi

SUBTLE, SMART, EFFECTIVE

Pop culture scenes with queer themes that struck a chord

Pretzel to his friends: When my guinea pig ran away, my mums told me he might come back, but he didn’t.

Nandini Ganguly

Pop culture has had ample references to the LGBTQIA+ community, but there are some scenes that have stood out for the way they handled confusion about gender identities, coming out and same-sex couples. This Pride Month, let’s take a look at some such scenes that have struck a chord.

‘I like the wine, not the label’

SCHITT’S CREEK

Schitt’s Creek showcased a world sans prejudice towards the LGBTQIA+ community. A much-loved scene from the series takes place between David Rose, played by Dann Levy, and Stevie Budd (Emily Hampshire) at a supermarket while picking a bottle of wine. Here, wine is used as a smart metaphor to describe David’s unapologetic, pansexual character.

‘My mums told me...’

BLUEY

This animated Australian series for children follows the journey of Bluey, a dog. In one of the episodes, there’s a subtle hint towards a same-sex family that Pretzel, one of Bluey’s friends, is part of. The blink-and-miss-it moment of inclusivity was aimed at normalising same-sex couples in the children’s content space. Besides this, in 2022, Peppa Pig had introduced two lesbian polar bears, while in 2023 Paw Patrol introduced a non-binary character called River.

‘Feels like home’

KIM’S CONVENIENCE

This comedy series about a KoreanCanadian family that runs a convenience store, had a heartwarming scene involving Kim, aka Appa, and Therese, a drag queen. After being accused of homophobia, Appa creates a gay discount during Pride Month in the episode titled Gay Discount and meets a drag queen in his store. Unable to understand how to address Therese, Appa asks her ‘what kind are you’ and this leads to an awkward, almost offensive but ultimately beautiful conversation between the two.

Gender identities

Kim: You is what kind? Transgender?

Therese: I’m a drag queen.

Kim: Oh, you is a man who dress like girl?

Therese: A woman. Yeah, why?

Kim: Why you do like this?

Therese: I don’t know. It feels like me. Feels like home. Always has.

(Mr Kim understands and nods)

Pansexuality

Stevie: I only drink red wine, and up until last night I was under the impression that you too only drank red wine, but I guess I was wrong.

David: I see where you’re going Pansexuality with this. I do drink red wine, but I also drink white wine and I’ve been known to sample the occasional rose and a couple summers back I tried a merlot that used to be a chardonnay which got a bit complicated. Stevie: Yeah so, you are just open to all wines

David: I like the wine and not just the label. Does that make sense?

Modern Family

The entire series deserves a mention for showcasing a gay couple – Cameron and Mitchell – with their adopted child Lilly, without being in your face, dark or preachy. They were loving, nagging, just like any other heterosexual couple in a long-term, committed relationship. Topics within the LGBTQIA+ community were highlighted without the couple’s sexuality being the focus of their storyline.

‘I like girls, but I like boys too’

HEARTSTOPPER

One of the highlights of this British coming-ofage comedy drama series was the conversation between Nick Nelson (played by Kit Connor) and his mother Sarah Nelson (Olivia Colman) where Nick comes out as bisexual. Besides being an emotional mother-son moment, this scene also stands out for the no-judgement and easy conversation that follows.

Bisexuality

Nick: Charlie is my boyfriend. I still like girls, but I like boys too. And me and Charlie are going out. And I just wanted you to know.

Sarah: Thank you for telling me. I’m sorry if I ever made you feel like you could never tell me that.

Sarah: You don’t have to say you like girls if you don’t.

Nick: No, it’s definitely not just guys. It’s called bisexuality, if you’ve ever heard of that.

Sarah: I’ve heard that. I wasn’t born in the 18th century. (Both laugh) Bisexuality

Being a cool dad is about understanding your child and being flexible: Cheteshwar

Soumitra Das

Cheteshwar Pujara, the architect of some of Team India’s most memorable wins in test cricket, shares a very special bond with Aditi, his six-year-old daughter. When asked about the qualities that make a cool dad, Cheteshwar says, “Parenting is very different these days and unlike earlier, when fathers would scold their kids frequently, the focus needs to be on understanding your child and being flexible.”

CONTINUED ON 2

‘It’s important to travel extensively with your kid’

Cheteshwar, who makes it a point to travel to different destinations with his family whenever he can, says that “it’s important to travel extensively with your kid.” He adds, “While academics is important, kids also need to travel. I have been to many places with Aditi. Whenever we travel, she observes closely and learns new things.”

‘CINE DADS ARE NOW MORE ACCEPTING OF KIDS’ LIFE CHOICES’

In Bareilly Ki Barfi, While Bitti’s mother is forever worried about her marriage, her father (played by Pankaj Tripathi) is more like a buddy, with whom she can be open. Despite being from a small town, he is shown to be progressive and doesn’t stop Bitti from making her own choices

Niharika Lal

In Indian cinema, the portrayal of fathers has evolved dramatically over the decades. From the stern and authoritative characters of the past, on-screen dads have evolved into supportive and understanding companions who embrace their children’s aspirations and lifestyle choices. Whether it’s sharing a drink, having heartfelt conversations, or simply being there for their kids, modern-day cool dads are redefining fatherhood. They not only accept but celebrate their kids’ life choices.

‘The generational conflict will remain’

“Every child’s first skirmish happens with their parents. Parents reflect the society at large and kids reflect how the society is evolving. Children learn to make their place in society through this conflict. Hence, this generational conflict will always remain,” says Hitesh Kewalya, Joint Secretary, Screenwriter’s Association of India. Talking about the coolest father-son moments, he says, ”The day Amrish Puri’s character said Ja Simran Ja was the day the cool father was born in our cinematic history. In recent times I would remember my own film Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan. Jawan is the most recent example of a cool badass father – the line ‘bete se baat karne se pehle, baap se baat kar’ is timeless.”

‘Fathers in films now are less judgemental’

“In older films, a cool dad was supportive of their child’s life partners, like doting dad Ashok Kumar in Mili or Anupam Kher in Dil Hai ki Maanta Nahi. But today, cool dads are those who are accepting of their children’s life choices in all aspects. They are less judgmental about topics that would have been taboo earlier – whether it is Anil Kapoor sharing a drink with his son in Jugjugg Jeeyo and narrating his marital woes, Pankaj Tripathi sharing a cigarette with his daughter in Bareilly Ki Barfi or Amitabh Bachchan talking about his daughter’s sex life in Piku,” says screenwriter Vibha Singh, who co-wrote The Test Case. She adds, “Another significant change is that fathers in films now have their own lives. They also allow themselves to show their vulnerability to their kids.”

‘Instead of bottling up feelings, fathers have conversations with their children now’

Film historian Gautam Chintamani says, “I don’t think films bring about that huge change in society, but yes, popular culture does have an impact somewhere. I’m sure (Amrish) Puri saheb’s convincing portrayal in DDLJ would have inspired a lot of parents to see the reason in love and allow their children to live their life.”

“Not just Amrish Puri, but the Anupam Kher-SRK equation in DDLJ was a fresh approach to the father- children dynamic in the 90s. Fathers are now more expressive — in real life as in films. Instead of bottling up feelings, they have conversations with their children, which is really cool compared to dads in the 70s and 80s, who would only talk when spoken to. Jab baatein hone lagti hain, chahe baap-beti mein ya baap-bete mein, toh woh coolness quotient toh aa hi jata hai,” says Chandan Kumar, the writer of Panchayat.

In Jugjugg Jeeyo, the father, played by Anil Kapoor, is shown as a flawed person. In one scene, he shares a drink with his son and talks about his own marital problems

In Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan, Shankar Tripathi (played by Gajraj Rao) vehemently opposes his son’s same-sex relationship, but comes around in the end. He tells him, “I don’t understand your way of life, but my lack of understanding should not stop you from living your life fully”

Thappad

In Thappad, when Amrita decides to leave her husband for slapping her, she asks her father (played by Kumud Mishra) if she is making the right decision. Unlike every other person in her life who tries to convince her otherwise, her father asks her ‘dil ke andhar se aawaz aa rahi hai?’ He is shown as a sensitive father, who never asks his daughter to compromise to keep the peace and instead supports her decisions

In DDLJ, Anupam Kher-SRK equation was a fresh approach to the father-child dynamic, as compared to Amrish Puri and Kajol’s

UNAUTHORISED, OFFENSIVE, HURTFUL: THREE FILMS STAYED

Litigation seeking to stop the release of a film or a series is frequent in India, but a court actually granting last-minute stay is a rare occurrence. This week has probably been one of its kind: On Thursday, the Supreme Court, the Bombay HC and the Gujarat HC each stayed the release of a film that was to release on Friday. The grounds: derogatory content, hurt sentiments & personality rights violations

Court temporarily restrained the release of Maharaj, which is based on the Maharaj Libel Case of 1862, in response to a plea filed on behalf of followers of the Pustimargi sect. The plea argued that the film is scandalous and could disrupt public order

What the court said

“If the relief is not granted, petitioners are likely to suffer irreparable injury for, the reputation of the Pustimargi sect, would be affected. Also, the release of the movie, would hurt the religious sentiments and is likely to cause public unrest, adversely impacting the public order”

What the court said

“We have seen the movie trailer in the morning and all the offensive dialogues continue in the trailer... we are convinced that the CBFC, which is the statutory body entrusted under the Act, has failed to do its job”

What the court said

“The film makes a direct reference to Johar and is an unauthorised use of his name. The use of the name makes it evident that the defendants have used Johar’s personality. The defendants are thus creating confusion that the film is associated with Johar, as the name is solely associated with him”

FOR MORE DETAILS, SEE PAGE 8

The Supreme Court stayed the release of Hamare Baarah, taking note of a petition that alleged that the film was derogatory to the Islamic faith and married Muslim women. The SC also slammed the CBFC, saying ‘it has failed to do its job’

The Bombay High Court stayed the release of the film Shaadi Ke Director Karan Aur Johar based on Karan Johar’s plea as the film violates his personality rightsThe Gujarat High

At 85, I’ve returned to exercise and find pilates the best: Helen

Natasha Coutinho

A video of Helen that shows the 85-yearold actress doing pilates has gone viral. Speaking to us about what motivated her, Helen says, “I have exercised all my life – be it my years of dancing, going to health clubs, or practising yoga. In my 80s, without exercise, I found that my balance wasn’t always right, and I started using a walking stick. Now, at 85, I’ve returned to exercising and find pilates the best. I work out for an hour, five days a week. Initially, my trainer ensured that the exercises were based on flexibility, but then progressed to add a bit of strength-building exercises.”

The actress says she now recommends pilates to friends and family. “It is good for people of all ages, especially senior citizens. The controlled, gentle exercises worked wonders for my muscles, balance, core, flexibility, and strength. I’m generally happy after the workout,” says the actress.

It’s important to stay in the present, when you are with your kid: Pujara

These days, kids are usually glued to mobile phones and gadgets. Puja and I have made sure that Aditi doesn’t spend too much time on mobile. Instead, we encourage her to play with innovative toys and do activities that require her to think

About inculcating the right values in Aditi, Cheteshwar Pujara says, “Puja (his wife) and I emphasise a lot on honesty and even if Aditi does something that we don’t like, she has learnt to be honest about it”

CONTINUED FROM FRONT FLAP

He adds, “Today, kids have more exposure and know a lot of things at a young age. It’s important to teach them the right things and while there will be times when they will do things that you may not like, you need to be patient. They need all the love and support at that age.”

‘IT’S IMPORTANT TO ENSURE THAT KIDS GROW UP WITH THE RIGHT VALUES’

Cheteshwar says that it’s important to teach kids the right things. He shares, “Kids are curious, and you have to ensure that you teach them the right things, so that they grow up with the right values. Puja and I emphasise a lot on honesty and even if Aditi does something that we don’t like, she has learnt to be honest about it. Also, while pampering them is important, one needs to strike a balance.”

‘I WISH I COULD SPEND MORE TIME WITH ADITI’

Cheteshwar, who has to travel frequently for matches, which includes his county stint in England, says, “I have to travel all the time and I wish I could spend more time with Aditi. But we make the most of whatever time we get to spend together. She is learn- ing how to swim and we love spending time in the swimming pool while travelling. We also love playing games together. When you are with your kid, it’s important to stay in the present and play with them the way they want. You have to be like a child while playing with them. I often joke with Puja (his wife) that while Aditi is closer to her because of my frequent travels, it will be the other way round when I won’t have to travel this much (smiles).” He adds, “Puja had tested positive for COVID in 2021. Thankfully, I was at home and right from feeding to bathing Aditi, I enjoyed doing everything. When I am away, we talk over video calls. During summer breaks, Puja and Aditi visit me in England and during the evenings, I usually take Aditi to a park. Whenever I am around, I am a hands-on dad, but Puja deserves all the credit for bringing up our daughter so beautifully.”

HOW TO: Plan a painting date with your child

SELECT A LOCATION

If indoors, set up a space with tables, chairs, and easels. If outdoors, you could consider a park or a scenic spot.

CHOOSE A THEME OR SUBJECT

It could be landscapes, animals, flowers, or abstract art. Gather supplies like canvases or paper, paintbrushes, and paints.

SET UP INSPIRING REFERENCES

Gather reference like photos, drawings, or even real-life objects like flowers or fruits.

Felt like I had a hole in my chest: Shakira on breakup with Pique

(Right) A file pic of Shakira with her Spanish soccer player Gerard Pique. The singer announced her split from Pique in 2022 after 11 years together. E! News reported that despite plans to resume her career after Pique’s retirement, their breakup prompted her to reclaim control over her life and career

Shakira has opened up on the profound emotional turmoil she endured following her breakup with long-time partner, Spanish soccer star Gerard Pique. Comparing the pain of their separation to a physical sensation akin to being "stabbed in the chest," Shakira shared the raw intensity of her heartbreak, in a recent interview with Rolling Stone. Describing the depth of her suffering, Shakira confessed, "It felt like someone had stabbed a hole in my chest. And the sensation was so real, almost physical. I physically felt like I had a hole in my chest and that people could see through me."

Amidst rumours of infidelity surrounding Pique and a tumultuous tax fraud case, Shakira found herself grappling with a myriad of challenges, including caring for her father after a serious fall. Reflecting on this tumultuous time, she remarked, "When it rains, it pours. It was crazy how many things I had to deal with at that time," in the interview obtained by E! News.

Agencies

Hunter Schafer joins Blade Runner 2099

Hunter Schafer is the latest addition to Blade Runner 2099. She will star opposite Michelle Yeoh in the series, which is a follow up to the 2017 movie Blade Runner 2049. Details regarding Schafer's role have not been disclosed yet.

Blade Runner 2099 marks the latest expansion of the sci-fi franchise based on Philip K Dick's seminal novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, which kicked off with Ridley Scott's classic 1982 film, Blade Runner. Denis Villeneuve released a sequel to Scott's title in 2017 starring Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford titled Blade Runner 2045, the most recent title in the franchise for the big screen. Agencies

Ryan Gosling in a still from Blade Runner 2045; (right) Hunter Schafer

Exhibition offers season suitable fabrics in Delhi

If you want to dress ethnic attire this season then consider visiting Umang Silk Expo. The exhibition offers a wide collection of dress materials. The organisers says, “You can add a little bit of design to your closet with real zari work paithani sari from Maharashtra, maheshwari and chanderi, from Madhya Pradesh, as well as Bangalore and Mysore silk crepe. In addition to these, here you will get choices to make between block and Sanganeri print from Rajasthan along with gathjoda, and bandhinis from Gujarat.” The sale also showcases some classy silks, ideal for parties.

The expo also offers a collection of Kashmir wool. They add, “If you have an affinity for softer wool, the expo from Kashmir has brought a pleasing collection of famous kani and raffle shawls. One can also check out original pashmina shawls and stoles here.”

Address: Aga Khan, near Supreme Court;

Date: June 11 to 16;

Time: 11am to 9pm

FURRY FRIENDS

”A self professed dog person, but there is also a bit of a cat lady in me (sic),” says ZEENAT AMAN as she shares a lovely picture with her son Azaan’s cats

DID YOU KNOW?

The glass slippers in Cinderella weren’t in the original story

The glass slippers in Cinderella were not in the original story. Instead, her shoes were made of fur. The story was changed in the 1600s to include the nowfamous glass slippers. This change was made by Charles Perrault, who was the author of the definitive version of Cinderella in 1697. Perrault was also responsible for outfitting Louis XIV’s palaces and creating the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles.

IN A RARE OCCURRENCE, COURTS STAY THREE FILM RELEASES IN ONE DAY

Hamare Baarah

TEASER IS OFFENSIVE, CBFC FAILED TO DO ITS JOB: SUPREME COURT

WHAT HAPPENED

On Thursday, the Supreme Court stayed the release of the film Hamare Baarah, taking note of a petition that alleged the film is derogatory towards the Islamic faith and married Muslim women in India. “Until disposal of the petition before the (Bombay) High Court, screening of the movie in question shall remain suspended,” the SC bench ordered, disposing of the petition.

During the hearing, the judges said that they watched the teaser of the movie and found it to be offensive. “Today morning we have seen the teaser. It is as such with all those objectionable materials. The teaser is available on YouTube. The teaser is so offensive that the High Court granted an interim order... We’re convinced that the CBFC, which is the statutory body entrusted under the Act, has failed to do its job,” said the vacation bench of Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice Vikram Nath.

Background

A writ petition was filed before the Bombay High Court against the CBFC, seeking to revoke the certification given to the film. The petitioner said, “the trailer portrayed married Muslim women as having no independent rights as individuals in society.”

The CBFC argued in the HC that the certification for the film was granted after following all procedures and claimed that the objectionable scenes and dialogues were deleted and that the trailers of the film (referred to by the petitioner) were not certified trailers. The Bombay HC restrained the makers from releasing the film until June 14. The HC also directed a three-member review committee to watch the film and comment. As the committee asked for time for a detailed response, the HC allowed the release of the film. Following which, the petitioner moved the Supreme Court.

UNLAWFUL USE OF KARAN JOHAR’S NAME: BOMBAY HC

WHAT HAPPENED

On Thursday, the Bombay High Court restrained the release of the film Shaadi Ke Director Karan Aur Johar based on Karan Johar’s plea. Karan filed the suit seeking a permanent injunction against the filmmakers to stop them from using his name in the title.

The court said, “The use of the word ‘director’ with ‘Karan Johar’, prima facie makes it evident that the makers are using the personality of Karan Johar. They are thus creating confusion in the minds of the public at large that the subject film is associated with Karan Johar.” Noting that courts have protected the personality rights of celebrities, the court added, “The makers by making an unauthorized/unlawful use of Karan Johar’s name and personal attributes have in my prima facie view violated the personality rights, right to publicity and right to privacy.”

Background

Senior advocate Zal Andhyarujina appeared for Karan and argued that there is a violation of the personality rights of a celebrity. He cited the personality rights cases of Rajinikanth and Anil Kapoor, stating that as the title of the film directly made reference to Karan’s name, it violates his personality rights, as well as his rights to publicity and privacy. He also argued that by using Karan’s ‘brand name’ in an unauthorised manner, the makers were riding on his goodwill and reputation.

Parag Khandhar, of DSK Legal, representing Karan Johar, said, “The makers were served notices by email, WhatsApp, Facebook, and even hand-delivered, but they did not respond or appear before the court.” The court noted, “It is obvious from the conduct of the makers that they have not bothered to contest the claim of Karan Johar or appear before this court.”

MOVIE WOULD HURT RELIGIOUS SENTIMENTS, LIKELY TO CAUSE UNREST: GUJ HC

WHAT HAPPENED

On Thursday, the Gujarat HC stayed the release of Maharaj, starring Jaideep Ahlawat and Junaid Khan. The film, directed by Malhotra P. Siddharth, was scheduled to be released on June 14, but a day before the release, the Gujarat HC temporarily restrained it.

The decision came in response to a plea filed on behalf of followers of the Pustimargi sect, who argued that the film could disrupt public order and incite violence. The petitioners have raised objections on the grounds that excerpts of the movie has “scandalous and defamatory language, which affects the Pustimargi sect as a whole.” The court has also issued notices to YRF, Netflix, and Aamir Khan’s son Junaid Khan, who is making his debut with the film.

The court said, “Considering the reach of OTT platforms and immediate wide distribution throughout the world, it would be rather impossible to rectify the damage caused by the release of the movie Maharaj. If the relief is not granted, petitioners are likely to suffer irreparable injury for, the reputation of the Pustimargi sect, would be affected. Also, the release of the movie, would hurt the religious sentiments and is likely to cause public unrest, adversely impacting the public order.”

Background

The movie is based on the Maharaj Libel Case of 1862, rendered by British judges. The libel case was filed by religious leader Jadunathji Brijratanji Maharaj against social reformer and journalist Karsandas Mulji for writing an article that accused the Maharaj of sexual misconduct. The libel case stirred unprecedented interest in the public and the judgment was in favour of Mulji.

Shaadi Ke Director Karan Aur Johar

Maharaj

It was Kareena who recommended me for Dev, says Fardeen Khan

Being signed by Govind Nihalani for a film with legends like Amitabh Bachchan and Om Puri was a huge endorsement for any actor

Fardeen Khan took a trip down memory lane as his film Dev completed 20 years recently and also reminisced the memories from the sets. Directed by Govind Nihalani, the film also featured Amitabh Bachchan and Kareena Kapoor Khan.

The No Entry actor took to Instagram to share a clip featuring scenes from the film and wrote, “20 years of Dev. It was my third film with Kareena (the two also worked together in Fida and Khushi) and it was she who recommended me for the role, and I will always be grateful to her for that. Being signed by Govind Nihalani for a film with legends like Amitabh Bachchan and Om Puri was a huge endorsement for any actor. Govindji was highly respected and was known for his careful direction and powerful storytelling.”

He added, “This role gave me the chance to work on a film that was relevant and meaningful, which was rare at the time. But the greatest take away for me from Dev was getting to share the screen with Amitji, an actor I idolise. His life and most amazing career have had a profound influence on Indian cinema and has left an indelible mark on not just me, but on every Indian. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, a true honour and an absolute privilege to work with him, making it one of the highlights of my career (sic).” Agencies

Fardeen Khan; (inset) with Kareena Kapoor Khan in a still from Dev

WHAT'S VIHE

REELERS TAKE OVER CP!

Dance aur music reel banane wale kaafi dikhte hain. Chalte phirte hue hi banate rehte hain video. Inn video banane walon ne yahan ka mahaul kharab kiya hua hai – Prem Pal, a street vendor

Arre naa jane kitne log aate hain video banane. CP mein unko security bhi milti hai, saaf environment aur sundar mahaul milta hai – Mansa Ram, an ice cream vendor

People here are nice. Hum yahan bahut prank videos shoot karte hain, koi kuch nahi kehta, sab mazak samajhte hain – Abrar Ujju, content creator

Connaught Place remains my favourite to shoot reels. Not only me, it is a favourite for many reel makers. Ved Van in Noida, Lodhi Garden and Deer Park in Hauz Khas are also nice places to shoot reaction videos – Sanjay Jatav, a reel creator

The location here is amazing, aur humari CP videos humesha trend karti hain – Amit KKC, content creator

What makes Connaught Place a reeler’s favourite spot? Let’s find out!

It’s not unusual for the average Delhiite to encounter reel makers in Connaught Place. With its iconic white walls, popular landmarks, and Instagram-worthy sites, CP provides aspiring content creators with a space to experiment. While some create vox pop content, others capture reactions from passersby. Content created in Central Park, Palika Bazar, Janpath, and Inner Circle always finds high traction among social media users. “CP is a favourite for many reel makers,” says Sanjay Jatav. The area remains a hub for content creators of all genres, most of whom fall into the 20-30 age group.

Popular sites for creators

Central Park

Palika Bazar

Janpath

Inner Circle

Graffitis near N Block

— Unnati Joshi and Shivika Manchanda

‘Want Kashmiri crafts to be on the global map’

Modernising designs and reviving traditional techniques of the karigars can help in the revival of crafts, say Kashmiri fashion students

Shivika Manchanda

A top a plateau in Pattan lies Kashmir’s first and only fashion school. Recently, fashion design students from the institute made their runway debut at Times Lifestyle Week in Gurgaon. Insha S Qazi, CEO and Director of the institute said, “When we started the school in 2016, it was very difficult to make parents understand what is fashion. That mindset changed gradually.” Manal Mir, a fashion student, says, “I had to fight with my family to get into design studies as they thought it meant tailoring. But now, they are proud of me.” Arwa, who dropped out of medical college to pursue fashion, says, “Fashion makes me happy. Abhi mujhe bahut aage jaana hai, I am going with the flow.” Arwa and Manal were also part of the costume design team of Article 370.

‘Wish more people engage to revive crafts’

Armaan, a design student and stylist, says, “I want to bring traditional craft with a modern touch in my fashion. I wish more people in the valley engage with fashion today to revive our dying crafts. Pashmina, ari, sozni, tilla – these crafts can be easily incorporated in contemporary designs in couture and put Kashmir’s exquisiteness on the global fashion map.”

Meaningful debut on the runway

Insha says, “We are so happy to have made our debut at Times Lifestyle Week. Students turned trash into trendy outfits using scrap materials. It was a big opportunity to showcase performance art to send out a message on sustainability and destruction caused by fast fashion.”

Arwa, Insha S Qazi, Armaan and Manal with showstopper Anupriya Goenka at TLW

TRAVEL DIARIES

Hotels witness packed weekends as demand for staycation rises

Divya Kaushik

With demand for summer travel surging and most accommodations at popular locations fully booked for weeks to come, there is a rush for staycations at luxury properties. There has been a significant rise in staycation bookings at premium hotels in major cities and their neighbouring locations.

‘A 15% increase in demand for staycations since last month’

“We have seen a 15% increase in staycation bookings over the past month. From couples to families and business travellers, all look to unwind over the weekend without leaving the city,” shares Varun Panday, Director of sales and marketing, Courtyard by Marriott Gurugram. “We’ve observed an uptick of 12% in staycation bookings compared to the previous month. Many young professionals are seeking short, refreshing breaks from their busy routines. They appreciate the convenience and affordability of staycations,” adds Saeed Shervani, Managing Director, Star Hotels Pvt Ltd.

‘Easy-drive destinations also have high demand’

Easy-drive destinations from major metros are also seeing an uptick in demand for staycations. From NCR, these destinations are Agra, Corbett, Dharamshala. “Millennials and particularly DINKS (Double Income No Kids) are the ones who prefer such staycations round the year,” says Rajesh Chakraborty, GM, Taj Hotel & Convention Centre, Agra. Amit Kumar, Area Manager Welcomhotels North and General Manager Sheraton New Delhi, adds, “Properties in scenic locales such as Manali, Solan, Jim Corbett, Mussoorie, Chail, Shimla, Pahalgam, and Katra, are witnessing heightened interest.”

‘Travellers look for wellness packages’

“Cook-along and mixology sessions, and guided sunrise and sunset treks are popular for weekend staycations,” says Faisal Nafees, GM, Radisson Resort & Spa Lonavala. “Guests are particularly drawn to packages that blend relaxation with unique experiences, such as spa retreats and gourmet dining options,” adds Vishwajeet Singh, Director of sales & marketing, Le Meridien Gurgaon, Delhi NCR.

'We’ve seen a remarkable 75% increase in weekend bookings compared to the previous months. This is fuelled by summer vacations, desire for quick getaways and a change of scenery in summers, along with the convenience of a short travel time

– Faisal Nafees

TIMES FOODIE

SALSA, PANCAKE: MAXIMISE YOUR SUMMER FRUITS

Fresh fruits have maximum nutrients and flavours. Whether you’re preparing a mint strawberry mojito or a mocktail, summer fruits can elevate your drinks menu – Rahul Kamath, Beverage Head at a luxury restaurant in Mumbai

MANGO: You can use mangoes in many ways. Aamras ke kebab, curry with mango, mango raita and more can be made.

BENEFIT : Strengthens immunity

Shikha Shah

From melons to berries, summer fruits help you stay energised. “Summer offers a variety of great produce, especially fruits. Consuming watermelon, muskmelon, and mangoes in this season is recommended,” says chef Abhishek Pednekar. Culinary consultant Reetu Uday Kugaji adds, “Seasonal foods are not only nutritious and fresh but also pocket-friendly.”

What’s trending

 Mango can be used for fermentation without yeast by incorporating ginger skin

 Try lacto-fermentation of fruits like mango, apple and cherries. This method involves fermenting fruits with lactic acid bacteria to improve gut health

 Make fruit leather out of the skin

 Combine whey protein with citrus fruits. This pairing has refreshing flavours and nutrients – Chef Sarfaraz Ahmed and Beverage Expert Chef Rahul Kamath

TIP: Tadgola is a highly perishable fruit. Consume it fresh. Overripe ice apples can you a stomach ache

LITCHI: Try sago and litchi pudding, litchi phirni or kulfi, litchi and cucumber salsa, litchi vinaigrette, litchi ceviche and more.

BENEFIT : Good for heart, liver, and brain

POMEGRANATE: Pomegranate molasses is made by reducing pomegranate juice to a syrup. The molasses adds a tangy zing to dressings and marinades

BENEFIT : Has antiin flammatory properties

WATERMELON: Use watermelon in halwa, chhilke ki sabzi, gazpacho and prosciutto-wrapped watermelon

BENEFIT : Prevents dehydration and helps manage weight if consumed in place of a sweet snack made of refined, artificial sugar

KOKUM FRUIT: Think kokum sharbat, popsicles, sorbet and more. Sol kadhi can be consumed as an appetizer. It is prepared with kokum fruit and thick coconut milk

BENEFIT : Aids digestion

PHALSA: Try phalsa (Indian sharbat berry) dip, chutney, pancakes, pickles, popsicles, etc. BENEFIT : Immunity booster

CHERRIES: Prepare a cherry Waldorf salad, marmalades, pies, chutney, etc. Cherry & oat crumble tastes well with vanilla ice cream

BENEFIT : Lowers cholesterol Inputs by chef Reetu Uday Kugaji

ICE APPLE: Try kulfi, ice creams, parfait, etc. A drink prepared with pureed ice apples, coconut milk and rose syrup can be soothing. Make a salad with ice apple, mangoes and lemon juice dressing

BENEFIT : Prevents heat stroke

Gifts for your foodie dad

Cheese board

Curate a cheese board with your father’s favourite cheese, fruits, crackers and dips. While you can always order a customised board, doing it yourself will make your father feel extra special. Pair the right cheese with the right fruit or crackers for maximum taste. Add an Indian touch with a savoury small bite.

Does your father love to cook, or, is it a source of stress-busting for him? No matter what the reason, if your father and food go hand in hand, here are some gift ideas for him.

Culinary workshop

If your father loves to cook and is inquisitive about learning different cuisines, sign him up for an in-person or virtual cooking workshop. These provide everything one needs during cooking, all your father needs to do is show up and have fun.

Kitchen knives

A set of chef’s knives can be handy if your dad keeps rustling dishes up at home. Whether he loves to do no-fuss barbecues, or host friends over for dinner parties. The brand and material are important, so choose carefully before buying.

Gourmet popcorn subscription

Make the most of at-home family movie nights by gifting him a popcorn subscription. You can choose from various flavours and can select anything from a three-month subscription to a yearly subscription.

Smart cooking appliances

Smart cookware can be a good gift for your father if he likes cooking and is tech-savvy at the same time. Choose smart air fryers, portable AIenabled ice cream makers, cookware that is robotic-mechanism enabled, and more.

Gifts for your car and bike enthusiast dad

Does your father love to go on road trips? Does your father love to go on road trips? Is he a motorhead at heart? Here’s a list of Is he a motorhead at heart? Here’s a list of gifts to fuel his passion for the roadgifts to fuel his passion for the road

Mini car fridge

For all those times when a cooler isn’t sufficient, a mini, portable fridge can be a good alternative for road trips. Gift this to your dad and help him keep his meals, and beverages fresh. These refrigerators can function using the car’s power outlet.

Dashboard camera

Added safety and caution are great on the road. An extra set of eyes in the form of a dashboard camera or dash cam, will ensure that everything is recorded. Be it a dispute your father unfortunately finds himself in, or an accident. This will provide peace of mind and practicality.

Key finder

A wireless, Bluetooth, or GPS-enabled key tracker that won’t just help your father find his car keys in case he misplaces them, but also track his wallet. This could come in handy if your dad is someone who goes on frequent trips.

Electric diffuser for car

These don’t just help cars smell great but come with features like ionisers and filters to remove pollutants and dust particles. They usually fit in the cup holder, and can be refilled and recharged too.

Portable tyre inflator

Flat tyres on a long journey could be a major dampener. A functional and helpful, portable tyre inflator can come in handy, especially in a case of emergency. There are wireless inflator options, as well as digital inflators that are available online.

Goal is to be in music in any format, says Joy

Joy Sengupta

Mantha Surabhi

Musician Joy Sengupta talks to us about being a part of the Raghu Dixit band, his dream to be a composer and more.

‘I EXITED THE BAND TO MOVE TO MUMBAI AND ENTER BOLLYWOOD’

I stayed with my cousin Sathish Ragunathan, who is a music composer in Chennai. Eventually, I got into fingerstyle guitar, it was very rare at the time and even now. Once, I was at a competition for fingerstyle guitarists in Bengaluru. The next day, I got a call from Raghu Dixit’s manager asking me to come in as he wanted to meet me. On the same day, I worked with him on a project and that’s how it all started. Later, I left the band to go to Mumbai and enter Bollywood. I also got into music composition and production. My goal is to be in music in any format, keeping all avenues of opportunity open. When it comes to an indie perspective, it’s an open playground; you are free to wear multiple hats at once.

‘MY DREAM IS TO BE A MUSIC COMPOSER’

I have a series of seven to eight songs coming out this year featuring artistes like Madhubanti Bagchi, who has worked on shows like Heeramandi. I recently sang in a Hindi series called Love Storiyan. Now, I am working on a Bollywood feature film as a composer and on the background score for National Award winner Teenaa Kaur’s documentary film.

Joy performing with Raghu Dixit and his band

JUKEBOX

Sairam I deliver the kind of content my audience wants from me: Dhvani

Dhvani Bhanushali

Devika V Menon

After a recent concert in Bengaluru, Dhvani Bhanushali had her firstever fan meet-and-greet. “I’ve always known I wanted to be a pop star and to see it all come true has been extremely rewarding,” says the Thank You God hit singer. In a chat with us, she discusses the “oomph” factor in her music that resonates with her fans, how she deals with online trolls and more.

‘SOCIAL MEDIA ALLOWS YOU TO TOUCH EVERY CORNER OF THE WORLD’

We discover a lot via social media, including songs from every corner of the world. I know that catchy hooks, a strong visual presence, and captivating music are a winning combination for social media. I bring the whole package – a different vibe that makes me stand out.

‘AUDIENCES CONNECT WITH THE ‘OOMPH’ I BRING IN MY MUSIC’

I got into the process of making music videos about five years ago, and my journey so far has been incredibly organic. There’s a certain oomph to my music, a natural energy that resonates with people. I do a sad number here and there, but audiences seem to connect with the upbeat vibe I bring.

‘I’VE LEARNED WHAT MY AUDIENCE CRAVES, AND I DELIVER IT TO THEM’

I now know what kind of content my audience wants from me, and I deliver it. But does that confine me to a box? Not at all. Every artist cultivates a unique sound or style their signature. They stick to it because it’s what resonates with their fans and brings in the views.

‘STALKING IS A VERY REAL THREAT’

Dealing with stalkers is thankfully not something everyone experiences in their careers. However, it is a very real threat, and I’m taking steps to ensure my safety. It can be scary, but I’m committed to not letting it control me. ‘NOT BOTHERED ABOUT ONLINE TROLLS’ Busy people don’t have the time to spread hate and leave nasty comments under someone’s post. The ones who appreciate my music will connect with it regardless. The rest don’t matter.

‘YOU JUST CANNOT MATCH THE ENERGY OF A COLLEGE CROWD’

If you ask me the difference between performing in front of a live audience as compared to a college crowd, I would pick the latter. Most of the work is already done there, their energy is simply unparalleled. They can get absolutely crazy and that gives you a massive boost.

‘I’ve been training to become an actor’

I want to act; and to be honest I think I am cut out for it. I’ve been training and upskilling myself through theatre and taking workshops. Being an actor is a full body exercise, and it’s a different ball game altogether. Also, I’m not supposed to reveal much, but there is a rom-com in the pipeline.

Dhvani at a recent performance

Cryptoterrestrials might be living among us, claims a Harvard study

Researchers have delved into the concept of ‘cryptoterrestrials,’ beings possibly disguising themselves as humans

A recent study from Harvard University’s Human Flourishing program suggests that extraterrestrial beings might inhabit underground locations or a lunar base. The research also considers the possibility that UFOs, now termed as unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), could represent spacecraft visiting Earth from these extraterrestrial communities. The study explores the concept of ‘cryptoterrestrials’– entities potentially disguised as humans, originat- ing from Earth’s future, or evolving from intelligent dinosaurs. It aims to offer an alternative perspective on UAP sightings, suggesting “the possibility that UAP may involve forms of non-human intelligence (NHI) that are already present in Earth’s environment in some sense” and exist “covertly alongside us.”

The paper underscores the hypothesis that UAP activities could be attributed to NHIs concealed within Earth.

Agencies

GALLERY

Dragon boat racers make a splash in Hong Kong

The Tuen Ng Festival, also known as the Dragon Boat Festival, is a traditional holiday that was recently celebrated in Hong Kong. The festivities include dragon boat races, savoring rice dumplings, and enjoying cultural performances

Smart gadgets, apps: Here’s how to improve your cycling experience

Yvonne Jacob

If cycling is your go-to for meeting fitness goals, or simply an excuse to explore the outdoors, maximising its benefits and enhancing your experience only makes sense. From using smart tech gadgets and apps, to community engagement, here’s how you can do it.

Cycle maintenance apps to your rescue

Apps that offer step-by-step guides to help you repair your cycle, and keep inventory of all your spare parts, can come handy when planning long trips. They also help you track the wear and tear of your cycle parts, reducing the risk of breakdowns.

Cycling communities for that extra push

Local cycling clubs, or online platforms and apps can connect you with fellow cycling enthusiasts. This s good way to get introduced to new routes, and motivation and camaraderie.

Be safe with smart helmets

Equipped with LED lights, built-in Bluetooth speakers to answer calls, and sensors to detect accidents and send alerts to emergency contacts. Smart helmets are a great investment for safety and convenience.

Functional fitness trackers

Wearable fitness trackers are a game changer when it comes to monitoring your personal records and health. With this smart device, you can record your speed, distance travelled, and heart rate.

Navigation devices for hassle-free rides

GPS-enabled devices make navigation easy and allow you to plan your route. You can download maps if you are heading to areas with poor connectivity.

Hydration made easy with hydration packs

Staying hydrated on rides is a nobrainer. With the help of hydration packs, or water bottle holders with straws, you can stay hydrated without having to stop too often.

No French fries, foie gras to be served at Olympics 2024

La Coupole brasserie in Paris, which is hosting the Summer Olympics

There will be no French fries for the 15,000 athletes at the Olympic Games that open in France next month. In what is being called the biggest restaurant in the world – a 700-foot-long former electrical power plant at the heart of the Olympic Village – there will be no foie gras, either, but vegetarian hot dogs and quinoa muesli will abound.

Nearly 45,000 meals a day will be served throughout the Olympics and Paralympics. Stéphane Chicheri and Charles Guilloy, the chefs in charge, sang praises of vegetarian shawarma, za’atar-spiced sweet potatoes with hummus, cabbage pickles, beetroot falafel and grilled eggplant with smoked paprika.

“French fries are too risky because of fire-hazard concerns over deep-fat fryers,” Guilloy explained. “No to foie gras because animal well-being is on everyone’s mind, and no to avocados because they are imported from a distance and consume a lot of water.”

“Don’t worry; we’ll have French cheeses, blanquette of veal but with a lightened sauce, and of course baguettes,” Chicheri said. “Athletes will even be able to learn to make bread with a master baker.”

The New York Times

The chefs in charge of the Olympics 2024 menu, Charles Guilloy (L) and Stéphane Chicheri; (left) Samples of the bread that will be served

DID YOU KNOW?

Rainforests might disappear by 2100

If your bucket list includes a trip to a rainforest, you better plan one soon. As per NASA’s projections, the world’s rainforests will disappear by 2100. The ‘lungs of the planet’ are reportedly being destroyed at the rate of 100 acres per minute.

Keerthy stuns in a sari at her cousin’s shaadi

Keerthy Suresh

Kalki 2898 AD and Dasara star Keerthy Suresh attended her cousin's wedding as the maid of honour and shared photos on Instagram. She captioned the post: “The maid of honour #bridesmaids #sistersquad #wedding (sic).” The actress channelled elegance in a pale pink silk sari.

Table of Contents

TOI Print Edition Jun 15, 2024

Front Page

At 33.3°C, city suffers warmest night in 6 years

Binsar fire: 3 senior officials face action

Man loses life in bid to burn neighbour

US court levies $194 m penal charges on TCS

Telcos start trials to display caller names

THE LAST GOODBYE

Party that turned arrogant stopped at 240: RSS neta

IIT-K student found dead in ’22 was shot, stabbed: HC-appointed expert

Hyundai plans `25k cr IPO, India’s biggest

Every fifth immigrant doc in US is an Indian

IN THE COURTS

Dera chief files plea in HC for 21-day furlough

Pawan is Andhra dy CM, Naidu’s son given IT

Informal sector recovered after Covid hit: Survey

‘Drunk’ soldier pees in train berth, wets woman below

5 pilgrims die in MP as tractor overturns

NCLT admits BoM’s plea on Supernova

No spl treatment for Darshan: Min

HC to cops: No coercive action against BSY

PM at G7: End monopoly on tech, all should get access

Modi meets Biden, also has surprise chat with Trudeau

Arundhati Roy can be prosecuted under UAPA: LG

HDK questions US firm getting `3.2cr subsidy for every job it creates in Guj

SC agrees to hear plea for CBI to investigate NEET ‘irregularities’

Can’t trace bones purported to be Sheena’s: CBI to court

Madras HC acquits 7 death row convicts

Times Nation

What’s behind close call at Mumbai airport?

Madras HC acquits 7 persons givendeath for murder of doctor in 2013

U’khand govt suspends CCF, DFO for Binsar fire that killed 4

El Nino’s reign ends, boost for Aug-Sept rains

33% of seniors without income, 65% financially insecure: Study

Kuwait fire reduces to ashes many a dream

On govt nudge, telcos start trials to display callers’ names

Kota Story: Why It Remains A Magnet For Aspirants

Ram Rahim moves HC seeking 21-day furlough for ‘welfare activities’

Shah summons top officials on Sun to review J&K scene

Pawan made Andhra dy CM, Lokesh gets IT, electronics

K’taka actor not getting special treatment, says home minister

Cong accused of stalling action against BSY with eye on polls

Judge to CID counsel: Why do you want to arrest BSY? Do you think he’ll flee?

Rajnath: Navy helping to ensure rules-based order, peace in IOR

K’taka cops book Union mantri’s son for cheating

Rural Indian spends `472/yr on Ayush care, urban Indian `574

India, Italy seek to enhance ties in clean energy, AI and telecom

PM: India, US to keep working together for global good

Will do all within our means for peaceful solution: Modi to Zelensky

Hasina set to visit India:

PM meets Pope, invites him to India

Modi, Macron agree to boost def ties, push ‘Make in India’

Modi at G7: Tech made polls transparent, NDA govt’s return victory of democracy

Found no clue of homicide: SIT head

‘Elephants use names for each other — this ability was only known in humans so far’

Bhopal citizens protest tree cut for govt bungalows

Head of calf found inside MP temple, 2 held

SC junks fresh bid to stall NEET counselling process

Pradhan: Won’t allow deficiency in holding tests

Govt’s denial of NEET leak a cover-up: Kharge

2,000 tourists stranded in Sikkim wait for evacuation

Intend to further examine forensic expert, says CBI

RSS organ: Lack of nat’l narrative led to decline in BJP’s LS tally

Residents of Guj society protest allocation of govt flat to Muslim woman

‘Reports linking Bhagwat’s remarks to BJP, govt not fair’

To ease rush, railways plans to run ‘twins’ of popular trains

At 6%, Indians No.2 among immigrant nurses in US: Data

Naga body in Manipur slaps 7-yr ban on MP for poll fight

Will focus on creating job opportunities for youth: HDK

Times City

Backs To Wall In Nai Sadak As Old Woes Persist

Over 120 shops destroyed, traders distraught

Firemen’s nightmare: Dangling wires, congested streets

Khandelwal vows to speed up relocation of electrical wires

At 33.3°C, Delhi records warmest night since 2018

45-year-old found dead in south Delhi

Street Vendors Caught In A Wave

‘You Should Be Able To Walk To Metro Within 500 Metres Anywhere In City’

Unmanned: Magenta line metro drivers’ cabins to be removed by end of month

2 foreign traffickers held, cops bust int’l drug cartel

Brakes on mishaps! Anti-drag system to ensure better safety of passengers

3 cops on patrol duty dig hole in adjacent structure to rescue 3 from fire on 3rd floor

Thieves target vehicles of students at college

Water Production Going Down For A Week: Atishi

HC notice to ED on bail plea

NDMC to run yoga camps from June 18

Allow Wife To Join VC During Checkup: CM

LG’s go-ahead to prosecution of Arundhati under UAPA

Two arrested for duping people online

HC seeks reply from police on bail petition of Kejriwal’s aide

Bharadwaj alleges poll code violation, Bidhuri hits back

Waste piles up on Ggn roads, but 12% of funds spent by civic body

Gang issuing fake caste certificates busted, tehsildar among 4 held

Anand disqualified from Delhi Assembly

5 biometric registration kiosks at IGI for int’l passengers arriving in India

Traffic chokepoints: PWD seeks report

Supernova lands in NCLT as Bank of Maharashtra files insolvency plea

Man stabs colleague to death with scissors

CINEMA OF THE WEEK

AAP MLAs meet to discuss development work

70-year-old man burnt to death as he tries to set his neighbour on fire

Times Global

US sub pulls into Guantanamo Bay after Russian warships in Cuba

Ramaphosa seems set for 2<sup>nd</sup> term as SA prez after key party says it will back him

G7 tackles migration, economy & more, but differs on abortion

In a pontiff’s 1<sup>st</sup> speech at G7, Francis raises alarm about AI

AROUND THE WORLD

Clash between Pak judiciary and military establishment intensifies

US Supreme Court rejects ban on gun ‘bump stocks’

Truce if Kyiv exits occupied areas, drops Nato bid: Putin

Kate says she’s doing good, set to make a public appearance today

43 US Congress members call on Biden admin to protect documented dreamers

‘You’re the naan that I want’: How ‘bad’ TikToks boosted a curry house

Editorial

Kerala To Kuwait

Baloney About Meloni

The Secret Sauce Of Stardom

A Chapati On Democracy’s Tawa

Civility In Politics? It’s Really Up To Us, Voters

Langar Fosters Empathy And Community Solidarity

A thought for today

Sacred space

Times Business

RBI slaps fine on Central Bk, B’desh bank on violations

Furniture co Stanley eyes `537cr from IPO

No plans to charge users for phone nos: Trai

Informal sector hit by Covid 2nd wave recovered: Survey

Trade secrets: US court fines TCS $194mn

Goods exports increase 9%, imports 8% in May

Wholesale inflation rises to 15-mth high of 2.6% in May

Clean, no-nasties segment shines in beauty biz

Trai asks fin cos to use new prefix for service calls

Life insurers’ stocks rally on ‘low impact’ of new norms

Hyundai’s IPO to be ‘offer for sale’, bullish mkt a draw

Forex reserves surge by $4bn to $655.8bn, a record high

Retail investors should avoid F&O trading: NSE chief

TCS blames skill gap for 80k vacancies

Times Sport

Italy launch title defence

Not here for vacation: Swiss

IN THE NETHERLANDS, A STREET IN THE HAGUE GOES ALL ORANGE

HAPPY TO DANCE WITH LUKA

Me Tartan, you join: Scottish fans swing by, create a storm

EURO TOURISM SET TO BRING $1B TO GERMANY

‘MORE SLEEP, LESS PLAYSTATION’

RELIEVED MBAPPE DIDN’T CALL ME GRANDPA: GIROUD

PORTUGAL MUST PROVE THEY ARE A GREAT TEAM: VITINHA

LEWA ‘PROBABLY’ FIT FOR POLAND’S SECOND MATCH

AIN’T NO SUNSHINE

US create history, reach Super 8; Pak knocked out

India get a feel of Yankees fielding drills

England thrash minnows Oman to revive campaign

AFGHANS WIN, DASH NZ’S SUPER 8 HOPES

England eye dominant show to stay in contention

‘Hazlewood’s run-rate comment was a joke’

In early 20th century, a Parsi cricketer from Surat was a star in Los Angeles

TRAINING ABROAD FOR PARIS GAMES

Dortmund pick Sahin as coach

Nagal enters Perugia semis

ACTION TODAY

Rory surrenders share of lead

India women archers lose in final Oly qualifier

Delhi Times

Pop culture scenes with queer themes that struck a chord

Being a cool dad is about understanding your child and being flexible: Cheteshwar

‘CINE DADS ARE NOW MORE ACCEPTING OF KIDS’ LIFE CHOICES’

UNAUTHORISED, OFFENSIVE, HURTFUL: THREE FILMS STAYED

At 85, I’ve returned to exercise and find pilates the best: Helen

It’s important to stay in the present, when you are with your kid: Pujara

HOW TO: Plan a painting date with your child

Felt like I had a hole in my chest: Shakira on breakup with Pique

Hunter Schafer joins Blade Runner 2099

Exhibition offers season suitable fabrics in Delhi

FURRY FRIENDS

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IN A RARE OCCURRENCE, COURTS STAY THREE FILM RELEASES IN ONE DAY

It was Kareena who recommended me for Dev, says Fardeen Khan

REELERS TAKE OVER CP!

‘Want Kashmiri crafts to be on the global map’

Hotels witness packed weekends as demand for staycation rises

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Goal is to be in music in any format, says Joy

Sairam I deliver the kind of content my audience wants from me: Dhvani

Cryptoterrestrials might be living among us, claims a Harvard study

Dragon boat racers make a splash in Hong Kong

Smart gadgets, apps: Here’s how to improve your cycling experience

No French fries, foie gras to be served at Olympics 2024

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Keerthy stuns in a sari at her cousin’s shaadi