How Aluva is emerging as a hub for narcotics traffic in Kerala
Aluva, a town to the north of Kochi in Kerala, located on the banks of the Periyar river, is in the news almost every other day for its unenviable profile as an emerging hub for narcotics traffic and use. Easy availability of drugs, peer patronage, mobile phone-aided access to dope networks, and lack of care from family or society are egging on the trade. The users are mostly students who are barely out of school and college.
Iran says it seized British oil tanker in Strait of Hormuz
Iran said on Friday it seized a British oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, a fresh escalation in the strategic waterway that has become a flashpoint in tensions between Tehran and the West.
The tanker Stena Impero was taken to an Iranian port because it was not complying with “international maritime laws and regulations,” Iran’s Revolutionary Guard declared.
Dawood Ibrahim's nephew Ahmedraza Wadhariya operating hawala network for 'D Gang': police
Ahmedraza Wadhariya, arrested by the Mumbai police Crime Branch with the nephew of wanted terrorist Dawood Ibrahim, is a hawala operator for the ‘D Gang’ with a network stretching across Mumbai, Gujarat and Dubai, investigating officers said on Friday.
Wadhariya, Rizwan Kaskar (son of Dawood’s brother Iqbal Kaskar) and Ashfaq Towelwala were arrested earlier this week by the Anti-Extortion Cell for allegedly threatening a city-based businessman.
Women in CRPF will soon get specially designed body gear
In a first, women personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) who have to face riotous mobs will soon get a body gear that fits them.
Since Independence, the women personnel had to compromise with bulky, oversized body protectors designed for men. Around 300 women CRPF personnel posted in Srinagar to control the stone-pelting incidents are to benefit from these gears, a CRPF official said.
Maharaja Hari Singh’s birthday to be holiday in J&K
In a rare move, the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) has passed a resolution to declare the birth anniversary of Dogra monarch Maharaja Hari Singh on September 23 as State holiday, days after the State paid tributes to people killed during his rule in 1931 in the Valley.
Jammu-based BJP corporator Narotam Sharma moved the resolution on Thursday.
Dissent in Congress over search for party chief
A clutch of Congress leaders are planning to raise questions about the legitimacy of an informal process under way for selecting a successor to Rahul Gandhi, who resigned as party president in May . The MPs are likely to begin a public battle demanding that the Congress Working Committee be disbanded, and fresh elections be held to put a new committee in place.
“If the president has resigned, the CWC has to be automatically disbanded and there should be elections... If we can get elected under such adverse circumstances, why should nominated members decide the future of the Congress,” a Lok Sabha member said.
Relentless rain in Kerala claims two lives, inflicts heavy damage
Heavy rain that lashed the State on Friday claimed two lives, and, combined with coastal erosion, caused widespread damage to property forcing the administrations of several districts to relocate scores of families to relief camps.
A 55-year-old man died at Anjalumoodu, Kollam, after a coconut tree, uprooted by heavy winds, fell on him.
Editorial| Inclusion over exclusion: on Assam NRC
With the Supreme Court-led process of updating the National Register of Citizens in Assam nearing its deadline of July 31 , the complexities involved in the gargantuan exercise have dawned upon the executive. Both the Central and State governments have sought an extension. But it remains to be seen whether the Court, which has insisted on sticking to the timelines, would relent when it hears the matter on July 23 .
RTI Bill introduced amid Opposition flak
Amid protests by the Opposition parties, a Bill to amend the Right to Information (RTI) Act and give the Union government the power to set the service conditions and salaries of Information Commissioners was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Friday.
The Bill was eventually introduced after the Treasury benches won a vote with 224 MPs supporting it and nine opposing.
We should have playoffs like in the IPL: Bharat Arun
Bharat Arun has been a quiet achiever as India’s bowling coach, putting together an aggressive wicket-minded attack that can sting.
Despite India’s shock exit in the ICC World Cup semifinal, chiefly caused by a batting collapse in the first 10 overs, Arun, in a conversation with The Hindu , felt there were many positives for Virat Kohli’s men from the competition.
