News Postcard

PM Modi defends media stance, criticizes past leaders for compromising Election Commission's independence. Points to historical instances of Constitution tampering by Nehru, Indira, Rajiv Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi, highlighting media restrictions and court judgments overturned. http://dlvr.it/T70RNG

Bharat Biotech’s indigenously developed Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin was overall found to have “much lower” AEFI (adverse effects following immunisation) rates in adolescents with a favourable short-term safety profile as compared to those reported with mRNA vaccines but adolescent females and those with a history of allergy were at a 1.6 times and three times increased risk of AEFI after taking Covaxin. http://dlvr.it/T6zdFq

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Pakistani lawmaker Syed Mustafa Kamal drew a comparison between India's achievements and the precarious situation in Karachi, by mentioning India's moon landing mission. The Muttahida Quami Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) leader said that while India is landing on the moon, Karachi is making news of children being killed by falling in open gutters. He further highlighted the lack of fresh water in Karachi. The MQM-P leader also said citing a report that there are 70 lakh children in Karachi and over 2.6 crore children in Pakistan, who are not able to go to schools. http://dlvr.it/T6xyjx

A delegation of senior BJP functionaries, including S Jaishankar, Arjun Ram Meghwal, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, and Anil Baluni, approached the Election Commission to seek action against Rahul Gandhi for his divisive remarks on soldiers' categories created by the Modi govt. http://dlvr.it/T6xkQ0

The election commission has rejected the nomination of comedian Shyam Rangeela from Varanasi seat. According to the poll body website, out of 55 candidates, forms of 36 candidates were rejected while affidavits of 15 candidates. The comedian had earlier alleged that he was prevented from submitting his nomination papers. http://dlvr.it/T6ww7g

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Fake bomb threats persisted with emails received at Tihar Jail and hospitals, prompting police inspections. No suspicious items found in complexes, originating from a Cyprus-based mailing service. Suspected perpetrators from Pakistan targeted city schools previously. Intelligence agencies suspect involvement of Russian and Chinese intelligence. The emails threatened explosions inside buildings, but no devices were found. http://dlvr.it/T6v0kZ

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The SC bench consisting of Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah reserved its orders on the contempt notice issued to Patanjali Ayurved Ltd, Balkrishna, and Ramdev. The counsel representing the firm sought time to file an affidavit detailing the steps being taken to recall the advertisements of Patanjali products whose licenses have been suspended. The bench has granted three weeks for the submission of the affidavit. http://dlvr.it/T6rtLp

Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered prayers at the Dashashwamedh Ghat on the banks of the Ganga here on Tuesday before filing his nomination from the Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency. He also performed aarti at the ghat amid chanting of Vedic mantras. Several Union ministers, including Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh, chief ministers of BJP and NDA-ruled states and leaders of the party are likely to accompany Modi to the collectorate for his nomination filing. http://dlvr.it/T6rYDv

Amid Israel's military action in Gaza against Hamas, India has strongly condemned the civilian deaths in the ongoing conflict and said that the resulting humanitarian crisis in the region is "simply unacceptable." http://dlvr.it/T6rY5f

BJP candidate K Madhavi Latha was booked by election authorities for allegedly asking burqa-clad women voters to reveal their faces to compare with photo identity cards. The incident occurred during voting for the Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat against Asaduddin Owaisi. http://dlvr.it/T6rJWw

India and Iran on Monday signed a 10-year contract to develop and equip the strategic Chabahar port in Iran as India seeks to grow trade in west and central Asia. The agreement will give India 10-year access to use the port, located close to Iran's southeastern border with Pakistan, according to Iran's Ministry of Roads and Urban Development. http://dlvr.it/T6qTW6

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Pankaja Munde, daughter of late BJP MP Gopinath Munde, is the BJP's OBC face and candidate for the Beed Lok Sabha seat. The upcoming election on May 13 is a rematch between Munde-Sonawane and BJP-NCP, highlighting the OBC-Maratha divide in the constituency. http://dlvr.it/T6lp2F

EC said a copy of Form 17C has also been provided for every polling station in a constituency to candidates through their polling agents. “Actual data of Form 17 C shall prevail which is already shared with candidates. Final turnout will only be available post-counting with the counting of postal ballots and its addition to the total vote count,” said EC. http://dlvr.it/T6lcwf

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India and France are set to conduct the 7th edition of the Joint Military Exercise 'Shakti' from May 13-26 in Meghalaya's Umroi region. The exercise aims to enhance joint military capacity for Multi-Domain Operations in a Sub Conventional scenario. It will also promote interoperability and camaraderie between the armed forces of both nations. The previous edition of the exercise was held in France in 2021. This upcoming exercise highlights the strengthening defence ties between India and France. http://dlvr.it/T6k6JD

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A woman has filed a complaint accusing Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna of repeated rape, with allegations supported by a video implicating the MP in sleazy activities. The case involves multiple charges under Indian Penal Code and IT Act. This is the second rape case against Prajwal Revanna, who has left the country. http://dlvr.it/T6jkNv

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Amit Shah criticises Trinamool Congress for appeasement, mafia, corruption in Ranaghat and Birbhum. Promises to punish Sandeshkhali culprits. Accuses Mamata Banerjee of misleading on CAA, remaining silent on Sandeshkhali issue. http://dlvr.it/T6j8CL

​The downpour threw normal life out of gear in the Someshwar area of Almora district, too, where debris entered several houses. The Almora-Kausani highway that connects Almora with Bageshwar district also got blocked due to the accumulation of slush brought by sudden rainfall. Significantly, the Met centre has issued a yellow alert of rain, thunderstorm and lightning activities across the state till May 13. http://dlvr.it/T6gBCk

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The video of the woman between 5.33pm and 6.41pm on May 2 shows her approaching a police outpost within the compound and then leaving in a car. But it does not show anything to either corroborate or disprove the allegations. Speaking about "contemplating suicide", the complainant decried the fact that her and her family's reputation was shattered because of the governor. " http://dlvr.it/T6fwCK

NHAI requires approval for engineers joining private builders/consultants post-retirement to avoid conflicts. Guidelines cover various aspects like organization details, qualifications, and commitment to avoid conflicts, with provision for withdrawal upon government objection. http://dlvr.it/T6fb7n

Actress Vyjayanthimala Bali, Telugu star Konidela Chiranjeevi, and M Fathima Beevi were honored with Padma awards alongside other notable individuals at the Rashtrapati Bhavan ceremony by President Droupadi Murmu. http://dlvr.it/T6fZgS

Days after three Indian men were arrested in Canada for the killing of Khalistan separatist and Canadian national Hardeep Singh Nijjar, foreign minister Melanie Joly backed the police action saying Canada stood by its allegations that Indian agents murdered Nijjar, an India-designated terrorist. Speaking later on Tuesday, Indian high commissioner Sanjay Verma accused foreign Sikh groups of crossing the "big red line" by casting an evil eye on the territorial integrity of India. http://dlvr.it/T6cffl

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Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also shared details of his arrival on X saying. "Warm welcome to FM @MoosaZameer of Maldives on his official visit to India. Discussions on bilateral & regional issues and seeking ways to provide impetus to our multifaceted relationship lie ahead." http://dlvr.it/T6cNzv

Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticises Congress for divisive mindset, The Prime Minister alleged that if voted to power, the Congress would reinstate Article 370, cancel the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), halt free ration schemes for the poor and free medical treatment, and reverse the Supreme Court's verdict on the Ram Mandir. Questions if CMs will accept accusations. http://dlvr.it/T6c3cM

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It sentenced main accused Jahanzaib Sami to 20 years for raising, receiving, & providing funds through cryptocurrency to propagate IS ideology. He had pleaded guilty. NIA alleged that the accused incited the minority community by promoting seditious slogans and creating graffiti in public places, sharing it on social and international media platforms. NIA also said the accused were instigating youths to participate in anti-CAA protests. http://dlvr.it/T6Z209

Lal was arrested on Tuesday and his help was taken in custody at 2 am when both "refused to cooperate" in disclosing the source of the huge cash recovered from their premises during searches on Monday. ED's submissions were made in its remand note against the accused before a special court in Ranchi when the two were produced Tuesday. http://dlvr.it/T6YmLt

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau and his defence minister Harjit Singh Sajjan were not allowed to land in Amritsar in Feb 2018 until they had agreed to meet the then Punjab CM, Capt Amarinder Singh, according to a report in Globe and Mail, a Canadian newspaper, on Tuesday. The newspaper's report comes within days of the arrest of three Punjabi youths in connection with the murder of pro-Khalistan separatist and chief of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) Hardeep Singh Nijjar (45), designated a terrorist by India. http://dlvr.it/T6Ym93

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Supreme Court criticizes IMA President's remarks on Patanjali ads. Asokan expresses displeasure over court's criticism of the association and private doctors' practices, leading to a confrontational exchange during the court proceedings. http://dlvr.it/T6YQY1

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