Government to hold spectrum auctions this year: Prasad
The government plans to hold auctions for spectrum, including for 5G services, in the current calendar year, Union Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Monday.
Mr. Prasad, who took over from Manoj Sinha, added that the government intends to begin 5G trials in the next 100 days.
The decision is significant as spectrum auctions are a major source of revenue — the 2016-17 auctions yielded ₹65,789 crore.
Future of SP-BSP alliance turns uncertain in Uttar Pradesh
The future of the SP-BSP alliance in Uttar Pradesh turned uncertain on Monday after the BSP indicated that it was in the mood to contest on its own in the coming Assembly byelections to 11 seats.
Since BSP leader Mayawati is the first and last word in the party, her official silence added to the speculation.
Will fulfil your requirements, Rajnath tells jawans in Siachen
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday arrived in Kashmir to assess the situation on the borders and hinterland in J&K and also visited a forward post at the highest military installation at Siachen glacier, located at a height of 5,400 m, in Ladakh.
It was Mr. Singh’s first visit to J&K as Defence Minister. Describing Siachen as the world’s most inhospitable location, the Minister said the government would fulfil all the requirements for jawans posted at the glacier.
Iftar parties spice up Bihar politics
A day after the ruling NDA alliance partners in Bihar — Janata Dal (U) and Bharatiya Janata Party — skipped each other’s Iftar parties in Patna, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday travelled an extra mile to attend arch-rival and Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) leader Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Iftar party at his residence.
The meeting in the backdrop of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)’s offer to Mr. Kumar to join the mahagathbandhan , has fuelled speculation of new political equations in the State. Assembly elections are due in the State next year.
Opinion | Crisis defused: on Hindi imposition
The Centre has moved quickly to defuse a potentially volatile controversy over the charge of Hindi imposition. It is quite apparent that the Narendra Modi government did not want the language issue to acquire disproportionate importance at a time when it is embarking on its second innings with a huge mandate. Further, given the impression that the ruling party does not have much of a presence in South India, barring Karnataka, it did not want to be seen as being insensitive to the concerns of southern States, especially Tamil Nadu.
After insulting London Mayor, Trump meets Queen Elizabeth
U.S. President Donald Trump met Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace on Monday after he kicked off his state visit to Britain by branding the London Mayor a “loser” and weighing in on the Brexit debate.
With the sound of a 41-gun royal salute ringing across the lawn from nearby Green Park, the Queen welcomed Mr. Trump and his wife Melania before they were treated to a military guard of honour.
13 killed as Sudan military breaks up sit-in
Sudan’s military rulers forcefully broke up a weeks-long sit-in outside Khartoum’s Army headquarters on Monday leaving at least 13 dead, a doctors’ committee said as gunfire echoed from the site.
Heavily armed security forces in pick-up trucks mounted with machine guns were deployed in large numbers all around the capital.
RBI sets banks’ group exposure limit at 25% of capital base
The Reserve Bank of India has decided to reduce banks’ exposure to a group of connected parties to 25% of its capital base, while the exposure to a single party has been capped at 20%. However, bank boards can allow an additional 5% exposure in ‘exceptional cases.’
Till now, a bank’s exposure to a single borrower and a borrower group was restricted to 15% and 40% of capital funds respectively.
When stressed doctors seek better care for themselves
Demanding regulated working hours, and standardised working and living conditions, resident doctors across India have joined hands to start a unique campaign called - “I am overworked.”
The campaign is aimed at “highlighting the issues of unregulated duty hours, poor working and living conditions and increasing number of depression and suicides among resident doctors in the country,” noted the group of doctors.
2019 Cricket World Cup | PAK vs ENG: Pakistan’s roar silences England
Pakistan beat England by 14 runs at Trent Bridge on Monday as the World Cup’s first centuries from Joe Root and Jos Buttler were not enough to help the host overhaul a daunting target of 349.
England had put Pakistan in to bat, banking on fast bowlers Chris Woakes and Jofra Archer for early wickets and hoping to recreate the way West Indies skittled the Asian side out for 105.
Instead, the visitors put that woeful performance behind them and racked up 348 for eight, delighting fans in the stands with 29 fours and six sixes.
