Wednesday, November 6

Author: thestateline

France Raises Terror Alert to Highest Level Following Moscow Attack

France Raises Terror Alert to Highest Level Following Moscow Attack

FOCUS, SOUTH ASIA, SPECIAL, TOP STORIES, WORLD
Paris: In response to the recent terrorist attack in Moscow, the French government has taken swift action to address potential threats within its borders. French President Emmanuel Macron chaired a defense and security meeting at the Elysee Palace on Sunday night, following the tragic events in the Russian capital. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, via his official X account, announced that the national security alert system, Vigipirate, will be elevated to its highest level. This decision comes in light of the alleged ISIS attack in Moscow and the perceived threat it poses to France. Attal emphasized, "In light of ISIS’s alleged attack and the threat to our country, we have decided to elevate the Vigipirate status to the highest level: attack emergency." The attack in Moscow, which t...
Janardhan Reddy Merges KRPP Party with BJP in Karnataka

Janardhan Reddy Merges KRPP Party with BJP in Karnataka

FOCUS, INDIA, SOUTH ASIA, SPECIAL, STATE'S, TOP STORIES
Bengaluru: In a significant political development, Gali Janardhana Reddy, the mining baron-turned-politician, announced the merger of his Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha (KRPP) party with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday. The declaration took place in the presence of former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, state President BY Vijayendra, and other prominent leaders in Bengaluru, ahead of the impending Lok Sabha elections. Welcoming Janardhana Reddy into the BJP fold, Vijayendra presented him with the BJP flag symbolizing the merger. Addressing the media post-merger, Reddy expressed, "I have decided to merge my KRPP party with the BJP. With the blessings of Yediyurappa and under the leadership of Vijayendra, I am now a part of the BJP." He further elaborated, "Union ...
Kerala LoP Appeals to Centre for Assistance in Rescuing Keralites Trapped in Ukraine

Kerala LoP Appeals to Centre for Assistance in Rescuing Keralites Trapped in Ukraine

FOCUS, INDIA, SPECIAL, STATE'S, TOP STORIES
Thiruvananthapuram: V.D. Satheesan, the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Kerala Assembly, has reached out to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, urging immediate intervention to repatriate three Kerala men currently stranded in Ukraine. These individuals were reportedly coerced into fighting for the Russian Army in the ongoing conflict. Satheesan also called for an investigation into the recruitment agencies involved in illegal trafficking. Expressing deep concern, Satheesan stated, "It is distressing to hear that three young men from Kerala are among those stuck in the war-torn region of Ukraine, having been deceived with the promise of lucrative employment in Russia, only to find themselves embroiled in the conflict." According to Satheesan, the relatives of the three men rev...
10,000 Congress Members Joining BJP in a Week

10,000 Congress Members Joining BJP in a Week

FOCUS, INDIA, SOUTH ASIA, SPECIAL, STATE'S, TOP STORIES
Guwahati: Pijush Hazarika, a minister in Assam, has highlighted a significant shift in the political landscape, stating that the Congress party in the state is facing dire straits. He revealed that numerous party leaders are defecting to the BJP. Speaking at a BJP joining event where Congress workers were welcomed into the BJP fold, Hazarika stated, "Every day, individuals from the Congress are reaching out to us, expressing their desire to join our party. Over the past week, during my travels across the state, I've participated in several political gatherings where approximately 10,000 Congress leaders and workers have joined the BJP." Hazarika further predicted an uncertain future for the Congress party after the conclusion of the Lok Sabha elections. "Once the Lok Sabha polls conc...
TN Class 10 Board Exams Set to Commence, Results Expected on May 10

TN Class 10 Board Exams Set to Commence, Results Expected on May 10

FOCUS, INDIA, SOUTH ASIA, SPECIAL, STATE'S, TOP STORIES
Chennai: The Tamil Nadu State Board is gearing up for the Class 10 board examinations, scheduled to kick off on Tuesday and conclude on April 8. Results are anticipated to be announced on May 10. A substantial cohort of 9.38 lakh students is expected to participate in the examinations. Among them, 9.10 lakh students hail from 12,616 schools, while 28,827 students are registered as individual candidates. Additionally, 235 students, including jail inmates, will also be taking the exams. The school education department has revealed that the examinations will be conducted across 4,107 examination centers, with 48,700 teachers serving as invigilators. To ensure the integrity of the exams, 4,591 flying squads will be deployed throughout the examination period. In an effort to curb malpr...
Fire Erupts in Ujjain’s Mahakal Temple, 13 Priests Injured During ‘Bhasma Aarti’

Fire Erupts in Ujjain’s Mahakal Temple, 13 Priests Injured During ‘Bhasma Aarti’

FOCUS, INDIA, SPECIAL, STATE'S, TOP STORIES
Bhopal,: A fire incident occurred within the sanctum sanctorum of Ujjain's Mahakal Temple on Monday, resulting in injuries to 13 priests, according to officials. The incident transpired during the 'bhasma aarti,' a daily morning ritual observed at the temple. Following preliminary investigations, officials confirmed that more than a dozen individuals sustained injuries, although no fatalities have been reported thus far. Ujjain Collector Neeraj Kumar Singh informed the media that the blaze erupted in the 'garba griha' (sanctum sanctorum) of the temple. The thirteen injured priests are currently receiving treatment at the district hospital. Additionally, an official disclosed that a magisterial probe has been initiated to ascertain the cause of the fire and the circumstances sur...
Karnataka BJP President Slams CM’s Writ Petition as Cover-up

Karnataka BJP President Slams CM’s Writ Petition as Cover-up

FOCUS, INDIA, SPECIAL, STATE'S, TOP STORIES
Bengaluru: B.Y. Vijayendra, the president of Karnataka's BJP unit, criticized Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's recent writ petition against the Central government regarding drought relief, labeling it as a mere spectacle to divert attention from his own shortcomings. Addressing reporters after partaking in special prayers at the Horanadu Annapoorneshwari pilgrimage center, Vijayendra asserted that filing a writ petition would not enhance Siddaramaiah's standing. He suggested that instead of resorting to legal maneuvers, the state government should acknowledge its inability to effectively manage the financial affairs and seek assistance from the Central government. Vijayendra emphasized the importance of strengthening Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership by securing maximum seats...
BJP President J.P. Nadda’s Wife’s SUV Stolen in Delhi

BJP President J.P. Nadda’s Wife’s SUV Stolen in Delhi

FOCUS, INDIA, SPECIAL, STATE'S, TOP STORIES
New Delhi: In a concerning development, an SUV registered under the name of BJP President J.P. Nadda's wife was reported stolen from south Delhi, according to police sources on Sunday. The incident occurred on March 19 when the vehicle, a white Toyota Fortuner, was left at a service center in Govindpuri by its driver, identified as Joginder. Upon returning home briefly, Joginder discovered the vehicle missing upon his return. Subsequently, an FIR was lodged, initiating an investigation into the matter. "Police teams scrutinizing CCTV footage have determined that the vehicle was last spotted heading towards Gurugram," stated a police official.
AAP Protests Arrest of Chief Minister; Alleges Assault on Democracy

AAP Protests Arrest of Chief Minister; Alleges Assault on Democracy

FOCUS, INDIA, SPECIAL, TOP STORIES
New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) organized demonstrations and candlelight marches in the national capital on Sunday in response to the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the excise policy case. Delhi Minister Atishi led a candle march in Kalkaji, while Kuldeep Kumar, the INDIA bloc candidate from the East Delhi Lok Sabha seat, and AAP MLA Sanjeev Jha held similar marches in East Delhi and Burari, respectively. At the protest, Atishi criticized the unprecedented arrest of a national party's leader immediately after the announcement of elections. She highlighted the freezing of the bank account of a major national party and the barricading of roads leading to the AAP's national office for the past two days, labeling...
EC Moves Up Vote Counting for Arunachal Pradesh & Sikkim Assembly Polls to June 2

EC Moves Up Vote Counting for Arunachal Pradesh & Sikkim Assembly Polls to June 2

FOCUS, INDIA, SPECIAL, TOP STORIES
New Delhi: In a notable adjustment, the Election Commission has rescheduled the vote counting date for the Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim Assembly polls from June 4 to June 2. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar had initially unveiled the election schedule for these northeastern states, along with Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, aligning the counting date for all on June 4. However, recognizing that the terms of the Assemblies in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim conclude on June 2, the Election Commission decided to advance the date, as outlined in a press release. The rescheduling applies solely to the Assembly polls; there will be no alterations to the timetable for Parliamentary constituencies in both states. The elections for the 60-member Arunachal Pradesh Assembly and the 32-mem...