LIVE: elhi reports 29 new Covid-19 cases, and one death in the last 24 hrs

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Delhi reports 29 new cases, 37 recoveries and one death in the last 24 hours. Currently, the active cases are 307 and the daily Positivity Rate 1.62 per cent. 

With the Indian economy being a key contributor for Asian economic growth outperformance, the broad based recovery in demand runs counter to the weakness seen outside Asia, said Morgan Stanley in a report. According to Morgan Stanley, India is benefitting from a combination of cyclical and structural tailwinds and is expected to contribute 16 per cent of the global gross domestic product (GDP) over 2023-24. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi distributes about 71,000 appointment letters to newly inducted recruits today via video conferencing. PM Modi also addressed these appointees. The Rozgar Mela will be held at 45 locations across the country.

Congress Karnataka president DK Shivakumar, one of the frontrunners for the post of Chief Minister of the southern State on Tuesday made it clear that he would not resort to "backstabbing or blackmail" regardless of the party's decision. In an exclusive interview with ANI, DK Shivakumar said, "If the party wants they can give me the responsibility....... Ours is a united house, our number is 135. I don't want to divide anyone here. Whether they like me or not, I am a responsible man. I will not backstab and I will not blackmail."


 

10:11 PM

Ex-UP minister Harishankar Tiwari is dead

Former Uttar Pradesh minister Harishankar Tiwari died on Tuesday evening here after prolonged illness. He was 90. His son Vinay Shankar Tiwari said his father had many health issues, including heart disease, and he was under medical treatment at their home in the Jatashankar area.

 

9:56 PM

MEA on US report on International Religious Freedom

"We are aware of the release of the US State Department 2022 Report on International Religious Freedom. Regrettably, such reports continue to be based on misinformation and flawed understanding. Motivated and biased commentary by some US officials only serves to undermine further the credibility of these reports. We value our partnership with the U.S. and will continue to have frank exchanges on issues of concern to us," said Arindam Bagchi

9:56 PM

MEA on US report on International Religious Freedom

"We are aware of the release of the US State Department 2022 Report on International Religious Freedom. Regrettably, such reports continue to be based on misinformation and flawed understanding. Motivated and biased commentary by some US officials only serves to undermine further the credibility of these reports. We value our partnership with the U.S. and will continue to have frank exchanges on issues of concern to us," said Arindam Bagchi

6:20 PM

PM greets people of Sikkim on their Statehood Day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has greeted the people of Sikkim on their Statehood Day. He also prayed for the continuous development of Sikkim. In a tweet, the Prime Minister sai, "Statehood Day wishes to my sisters and brothers of Sikkim. This is a wonderful state, blessed with exceptional natural beauty and hardworking people. The state has attained immense progress in various areas notably organic farming. I pray for the continuous development of Sikkim."

 

2:56 PM

Vacation benches to conduct hearing through hybrid mode, fresh matters will also be heard: CJI

Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud Tuesday said the vacation benches will conduct hearing through hybrid mode to enable lawyers to appear from various destinations.

The benches will be taking up fresh matters as well, he said.

The Supreme Court is closing for summer break from May 22 to July 2 and only vacation benches will conduct hearing to deal with urgent matters.

2:55 PM

Centre, state tax officers launch special drive to identify fake GST registration, curb evasion

With GST evasion crossing over Rs 1 lakh crore in 2022-23, Centre and state tax officers have initiated a two-month long special drive to identify fake GST registration and nab offenders.

The GST Policy Wing had earlier this month written to Principal Chief Commissioners of Central Tax highlighting that fake/ non-genuine registrations are being used to fraudulently pass on input tax credit to unscrupulous recipients by issuing invoices without any underlying supply of goods or services or both.

"This menace of fake registrations and issuance of bogus invoices for passing of fake ITC has become a serious problem, wherein fraudulent people engage in dubious and complex transactions, causing revenue loss to the government," the Central Board of Indirect Taxes (CBIC) had said.

2:42 PM

No heatwave for next 7 days, but temp to be higher up to 40°C: IMD official

Heatwave conditions in the first half of May were less severe due to Western disturbances that affected parts of northwest India. As the next western disturbance is approaching northwest India, for the next 7 days, we are not expecting heatwave conditions there. But the temperature will be higher, up to 40°C, said Kuldeep Srivastava, IMD, Delhi. 

Dust-raising winds are prevailing over Haryana, South Haryana, Delhi NCR, Western Uttar Pradesh, and North-East Rajasthan. The main reason behind this is that a western disturbance has passed away and strong winds are prevailing. Apart from that, the temperature was quite high for the last week, mostly 40°C or above, he added. 

"The atmosphere is dry, and the soil has become loose because of the hot atmosphere. That's why winds that are blowing at 40–45 kmph are raising the dust from the surface and spreading it in the atmosphere, and mainly these are spreading up to a height of 1-2 km," Srivastava said

2:38 PM

Karnataka: Supporters of G Parameshwara staged a protest demanding CM post for him

2:36 PM

Manoj Soni takes oath as UPSC chairman

Eminent educationist Manoj Soni on Tuesday took oath as the chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

Soni, who joined the Commission as member on June 28, 2017, has been performing the duties of the UPSC chairman since April 5, 2022.

He was administered the oath of office and secrecy as chairman, UPSC by Smita Nagaraj, senior most member in the Commission, a statement issued by the Personnel Ministry said.

2:32 PM

Shed extra kilos till November or accept VRS, says Assam DGP

Assam police personnel, who are overweight, have time up to November this year to shed extra kilos, else they will have to accept the Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS), said DGP G.P. Singh on Tuesday.

Earlier, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had announced that persons with obesity cannot continue working in the state police department. Such police personnel will be offered VRS following the government procedure.

Singh said, "It has been decided to go in for professional recording of Body Mass Index (BMI) of all Assam Police personnel including IPS and APS officers, battalions and other staff of the police department."

1:38 PM

Rahul reaches Kharge's residence amid deliberations over new K'taka CM

As Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge is holding parlays of meeting to decide next Karnataka chief minister, former party chief Rahul Gandhi arrived at his residence on Tuesday.

Rahul Gandhi arrived at Kharge's residence on Tuesday afternoon, where party general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal and other senior leaders were already present.

On Monday night, party sources of IANS had said that the Congress chief will decide on the next CM of Karnataka after discussing the result of the secret ballot voting with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

1:30 PM

Rahul Gandhi to visit USA on May 31 for 10 days

Congress leader and former Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi will visit the USA on May 31 for a 10-days, said ANI report citing sources on Tuesday.

On June 4, Rahul Gandhi will hold a rally of about 5,000 NRIs in New York's Madison Square Garden, added the ANI sources.

Apart from this, he will go to Washington and California for a panel discussion and speech at Stanford University.

1:29 PM

Jharkhand HC reserves order on defamation case against Rahul Gandhi

Jharkhand HC reserves the order on the defamation case against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Today, arguments were concluded in the court of Justice Ambujnath. The court has also instructed both sides to file the synopsis of the arguments by tomorrow.

The defamation case was filed by a local BJP leader after Rahul Gandhi allegedly made objectionable remarks against BJP leader and the then BJP's National president Amit Shah at a Congress party gathering in Chaibasa in 2018.

1:02 PM

Patna police may impose fine on Baba Bageshwar, Manoj Tiwari for traffic violation

Patna police are likely to impose a fine on Bageshwar Dham chief and self-styled godman Dhirendra Shastri and MP Manoj Tiwari for violation of traffic rules, an official said.

Shastri arrived in Patna on May 13 and Tiwari drove his SUV from Patna airport to Panash hotel where he is staying. During the journey, they did not wear seat belt and reached the hotel.

Keeping this in view, Puran Kumar Jha, the traffic SP of Patna constituted a team headed by traffic DSP of Patna to investigate the incident.

12:55 PM

Delhi Excise scam: CBI alleges irregularities in GoM meetings

In its second supplementary charge sheet filed in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy scam, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has alleged irregularities in the Group of Ministers (GoM) meetings, saying no records were maintained and that the Excise Commissioner was never invited.

Before Arava Gopi Krishna took charge as the Excise Commissioner in March 2021, there were eight to 10 GoM meetings that were conducted the previous month, according to a CBI source.

But the CBI has alleged that there are no records or minutes of those meetings.