The Times Patriot

Guwahati : A severe cloudburst in Sikkim's Mangan district on Wednesday night has resulted in the deaths of six people and left over 1,200 tourists stranded. The cloudburst, which unleashed more than 220.1 mm of rain, has caused significant damage to roads and infrastructure, making evacuation efforts challenging. According to the state's tourism department, the stranded tourists include 15 foreign nationals: 10 from Bangladesh, three from Nepal, and two from Thailand. These tourists are currently in Lachung village, approximately 50 km from Mangan town. Chief Secretary VB Pathak has stated that the state government is coordinating with the central government to potentially airlift the tourists, weather permitting. If airlifting is not feasible, road evacuation will be attempted, though it may take up to a week to restore road connectivity fully. "In the landslides in Mangan District, Pakshep and Ambhithang have been badly affected with six casualties and some injuries rep...

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu signed five significant files on his first day in office, fulfilling several election promises. Key decisions include: Mega DSC : Naidu approved the Mega DSC, aiming to create 16,347 jobs in the state. Pension Hike : The monthly pension has been increased from Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000. Beneficiaries will receive an additional Rs 7,000 on July 1, covering the last three months. Skill Census : Naidu initiated a comprehensive skill census to generate data for creating 20 lakh jobs, enhancing employment opportunities in the state. Anna Canteens : The Chief Minister resumed the 'Anna Canteens' for the needy, which were previously discontinued by the YSRCP government. Land Titling Act : Naidu abolished the Andhra Pradesh Land Titling Act of 2023, restoring full ownership rights to landowners. Naidu assumed office at the State Secretariat in Amaravati, with several Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leaders in attendance. Prior to taking charge, he of...

The Karnataka High Court has ruled that the "pay and recover" principle does not apply when a minor causes an accident. In such cases, the vehicle owner is solely responsible for compensating the claimants, not the insurance company. Justice Hanchate Sanjeev Kumar's single-judge bench allowed an appeal by The New India Assurance Co Ltd, overturning a tribunal's order from August 11, 2014, which had held the insurance company liable for compensation. The court emphasized that a minor under 16 cannot be considered qualified to hold a driving license. Therefore, if a minor drives a vehicle and causes an accident, the "pay and recover" principle does not apply, as outlined in Section 149(2)(ii) of the Motor Vehicles Act. Initially, the tribunal awarded Rs 2,56,000 to the claimants. However, the insurance company contended that the minor, who caused the accident, did not possess a valid driving license, thus exempting the insurer from liability. The claimants arg...

Nizhny Novgorod, Russia - In a gathering of BRICS Foreign Affairs ministers convened in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, discussions ranged from financial reform to bolstering intra-member trade. Emphasizing the use of local currencies, the ministers underscored the importance of revamping global financial structures. They also endorsed a comprehensive review of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and called for reforms within multilateral development banks to better support developing nations. Led by India's representative, the ministers urged the New Development Bank to align with member priorities and enhance its role as a premier multilateral development institution. Additionally, they pledged to advance energy cooperation and address ongoing conflicts in regions like Ukraine and the Middle East. The meeting, chaired by Russia, marks the first gathering since the group expanded in 2023 to include Egypt, Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia.

New York [US], June 11: Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East stemming from the prolonged conflict between Israel and Hamas, the United Nations Security Council unanimously approved a resolution endorsing a US-led initiative for a lasting ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza on Monday (local time). The resolution, drafted by the United States, urges Hamas to accept a ceasefire proposal put forward by President Joe Biden on May 31, which has already been agreed upon by Israel. With 14 votes in favor and one abstention from Russia, the resolution outlines a three-phase plan aimed at achieving a comprehensive ceasefire agreement. The first phase calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities, the release of hostages, and the exchange of Palestinian prisoners. It also emphasizes the need for Israeli troops to withdraw from populated areas in Gaza, allowing Palestinians to return to their homes and facilitating humanitarian aid distribution. Phase Two entails a p...

In response to Apple's partnership announcement with OpenAI, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk criticized the move, labeling it as an "unacceptable security violation." Musk warned that unless the alleged "creepy spyware" aspect is addressed, all Apple devices would be prohibited within his companies. Musk's concerns stem from the potential integration of OpenAI at the operating system (OS) level by Apple. He emphasized that such integration would be deemed a significant security breach and warrant a ban on Apple devices within his organizations. On the other hand, Apple CEO Tim Cook introduced 'Apple Intelligence,' an AI system integrated into iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices. Cook highlighted its personalized, powerful, and private features deeply integrated into iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia. However, Musk remained skeptical about Apple's ability to ensure user security and privacy, especially with OpenAI's involvement. He que...

New Delhi [India], June 9: Former Karnataka Chief Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy was sworn in as a Union Cabinet Minister in the NDA government on Sunday. Kumaraswamy, one of the two JD(S) candidates who won in the recent Lok Sabha elections, secured the Mandya constituency. In this election cycle, the BJP and JD(S) joined forces, with the BJP contesting 25 of Karnataka's 28 seats and JD(S) contesting three. A two-time Chief Minister of Karnataka, Kumaraswamy held office from 2006-2007 and again from 2018-2019. He is currently the president of JD(S). On Friday, Kumaraswamy affirmed his party's support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the NDA, emphasizing the need for a stable government. He told ANI, "We are all with him (PM Modi), we are joining hands with only NDA. Not only me but the entire country has a lot of expectations from PM Modi regarding developments; several problems have to be solved." Narendra Modi took the oath ...

New Delhi [India], June 9: BJP leader Jagat Prakash Nadda took oath as a Union Cabinet Minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's NDA government at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday evening. Nadda, serving as BJP President since 2019, previously held the position of Union Health Minister from 2014-2019. Under his leadership, the party contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and several assembly polls. He is currently a Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat. Nadda's political journey began with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, becoming its National Secretary in 1989. In 1991, he was appointed President of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha. He became BJP's National General Secretary in 2010 and was first elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2012. In the recent Lok Sabha elections, the BJP-led NDA secured 293 seats, with BJP winning 240 seats independently. The 543-member Lok Sabha requires 272 seats for a majority. Today, PM Modi made history as the second Indian leader, after Jawahar...

New Delhi [India], June 9: Bharatiya Janata Party leader S Jaishankar took the oath as Union Cabinet Minister at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday. Jaishankar, who served as External Affairs Minister during PM Narendra Modi's second term (2019-2024), has been a BJP MP in Rajya Sabha from Gujarat since 2019. PM-designate hosted a high tea at his residence before the ceremony, interacting with MPs likely to join his Cabinet. Jaishankar was present. Renowned for his witty replies, Jaishankar has shaped India's foreign policy for a decade, serving as Foreign Secretary from 2015 to 2018. His tenure as EAM saw global challenges like the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Israel-Hamas war, and the Covid pandemic, all addressed with India's 'Nation First' approach. Jaishankar, a seasoned diplomat, previously served as India's envoy to the US and China, among other prominent postings. As he embarks on his second term as EAM, Jaishankar faces a complex geopolitical lands...

New Delhi [India], June 9: Nitin Gadkari, a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and MP from Nagpur, took the oath as Union Cabinet Minister at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday. Gadkari secured victory in the Lok Sabha elections from Nagpur, defeating his Congress rival by a margin of 1,37,603 votes. Despite a slight decrease in his winning margin compared to the 2019 elections, his electoral prowess remains formidable. Born on May 27, 1957, in Nagpur, Gadkari's journey into politics was catalyzed by the tumultuous period of the Emergency in 1975, during which he actively campaigned against government overreach as a student leader. Inspired by the ideals of RSS founder K. B. Hedgewar, he immersed himself in social work and organizational activities. Gadkari's political career burgeoned as he assumed leadership roles within the ABVP and later the BJP's youth wing, Janata Yuva Morcha. His tenure in Maharashtra's Legislative Council, including a stint ...