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India will issue a commemorative coin of Rs 550 to mark the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev which will be celebrated this November.

One side of the coin shall bear the picture of Gurudwara Shri Ber Sahib, Sultanpur Lodhi in Punjab with the inscription '550th Prakash Utsav of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji' in Hindi and English.&nbsp;

The inscription will be on the top periphery as well as the lower periphery. The year 1496 and 2019 will also be inscribed. 1496 was the year when founder of Sikhism and first of the 10 gurus, Guru Nanak Dev Ji, was born.

The other side of the coin will bear Lion Capitol of the Ashoka Pillar in the centre with 'Satyameva Jayate' inscribed below. 'Bharat' will be inscribed in Devnagri while 'India' will be inscribed in English on the coin.Overall, the weight of the coin will be 35 gram.

As part of the commemoration of the 550th birth anniversary of Shri Guru Nanak Devji, the Indian cabinet in November 2018 announced the construction of Kartarpur corridor.

The corridor will be built from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district to the International Border and will facilitate pilgrims from India to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur on the banks of the Ravi river in Pakistan. Guru Nanak Devji spent eighteen years here.&nbsp;

Along the corridor, the railways will run a train passing through various holy places of Sikhism. Indian missions will organize special events, including the ones that will be set up at a university in UK and Canada ahead of the 550th birth anniversary.

India will issue a commemorative coin of Rs 550 to mark the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev which will be celebrated this November. One side of the coin shall bear the picture of Gurudwara Shri Ber Sahib, Sultanpur Lodhi in Punjab with the inscription '550th Prakash Utsav of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji' in Hindi and English.

India will issue a commemorative coin of Rs 550 to mark the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev which will be celebrated this November. One side of the coin shall bear the picture of Gurudwara Shri Ber Sahib, Sultanpur Lodhi in Punjab with the inscription '550th Prakash Utsav of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji' in Hindi and English. The inscription will be on the top periphery as well as the lower periphery. The year 1496 and 2019 will also be inscribed. 1496 was the year when founder of Sikhism and first of the 10 gurus, Guru Nanak Dev Ji, was born. The other side of the coin will bear Lion Capitol of the Ashoka Pillar in the centre with 'Satyameva Jayate' inscribed below. 'Bharat' will be inscribed in Devnagri while 'India' will be inscribed in English on the coin.Overall, the weight of the coin will be 35 gram. As part of the commemoration of the 550th birth anniversary of Shri Guru Nanak Devji, the Indian cabinet in November 2018 announced the construction of Kartarpur corridor. The corridor will be built from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district to the International Border and will facilitate pilgrims from India to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur on the banks of the Ravi river in Pakistan. Guru Nanak Devji spent eighteen years here. Along the corridor, the railways will run a train passing through various holy places of Sikhism. Indian missions will organize special events, including the ones that will be set up at a university in UK and Canada ahead of the 550th birth anniversary.

India to issue Rs 550 coin to mark 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev 

Home Minister Amit Shah and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar have been inducted into the Cabinet Committee on Security headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has reconstituted it after his massive victory in the recent elections.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman are the other two members of the CCS. They were earlier in the CCS in their capacities as Home and Defence Ministers respectively.

Shah and Jaishankar, who have made their entry into the Union Cabinet, take the place of Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj, who are no longer in the government after they chose not to contest elections on health grounds.

The CCS, which is headed by the prime minister, comprises the "elite four" ministers of the North and South Blocks on the Raisina Hill, consisting of Home, Defence, Finance and External Affairs.

Home Minister Amit Shah and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar have been inducted into the Cabinet Committee on Security headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has reconstituted it after his massive victory in the recent elections.

Home Minister Amit Shah and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar have been inducted into the Cabinet Committee on Security headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has reconstituted it after his massive victory in the recent elections. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman are the other two members of the CCS. They were earlier in the CCS in their capacities as Home and Defence Ministers respectively. Shah and Jaishankar, who have made their entry into the Union Cabinet, take the place of Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj, who are no longer in the government after they chose not to contest elections on health grounds. The CCS, which is headed by the prime minister, comprises the "elite four" ministers of the North and South Blocks on the Raisina Hill, consisting of Home, Defence, Finance and External Affairs.

Amit Shah, S Jaishankar enter Cabinet Committee on Security

There has been a sharp decline in the number of H1-B visas given last year, according to the latest report of US citizenship and immigration services. The H1-B or work visa is highly popular among skilled Indian IT professionals.

Critics attribute the lower rate of approvals to the Trump administration's aggressive policy to clamp down on the work visa programme, however, the new immigration policies have made it harder even for tech companies to bring highly skilled workers to the US.

The US immigration services approved a total of three lakhs thirty-five thousand H1-B visas, which included renewals. This was ten per cent less from nearly three lakhs seventy-four thousand approvals in 2017. The approval rate of H1-B has declined from 93 per cent in 2017 to 85 per cent in 2018.

According to previous reports of US Citizenship &amp; immigration services, Indians account for nearly seventy-four per cent of H1-B visa holders for two consecutive years in 2016 and 2017. The recent decline will sharply cut short the American dream of Indian techies.

The H1-B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows us companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. In 2017-18 70 per cent of H1-B visas were allocated to Indian applicants as per US authorities

For all the political attention it’s getting, it’s notable that the H1-B programme is actually very small. It's annual new and continuing approvals account for just 0.2 per cent of the total US workforce of one hundred and sixty million.

There has been a sharp decline in the number of H1-B visas given last year, according to the latest report of US citizenship and immigration services. The H1-B or work visa is highly popular among skilled Indian IT professionals.

There has been a sharp decline in the number of H1-B visas given last year, according to the latest report of US citizenship and immigration services. The H1-B or work visa is highly popular among skilled Indian IT professionals. Critics attribute the lower rate of approvals to the Trump administration's aggressive policy to clamp down on the work visa programme, however, the new immigration policies have made it harder even for tech companies to bring highly skilled workers to the US. The US immigration services approved a total of three lakhs thirty-five thousand H1-B visas, which included renewals. This was ten per cent less from nearly three lakhs seventy-four thousand approvals in 2017. The approval rate of H1-B has declined from 93 per cent in 2017 to 85 per cent in 2018. According to previous reports of US Citizenship & immigration services, Indians account for nearly seventy-four per cent of H1-B visa holders for two consecutive years in 2016 and 2017. The recent decline will sharply cut short the American dream of Indian techies. The H1-B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows us companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. In 2017-18 70 per cent of H1-B visas were allocated to Indian applicants as per US authorities For all the political attention it’s getting, it’s notable that the H1-B programme is actually very small. It's annual new and continuing approvals account for just 0.2 per cent of the total US workforce of one hundred and sixty million.

Trump administration's immigration rules hurting American dream of Indian techies: Report 

With the spectre of slowdown haunting the economy and rising unemployment, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday constituted two new Cabinet committees under his chairmanship to spur economic growth, investment and employment.

The five-member Cabinet Committee on Investment and Growth includes Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Road Transport and Highways and of MSME Minister Nitin Gadkari and Railway Minister Piyush Goyal.

Another 10-member Cabinet Committee on Employment and Skill Development has been formed which includes Shah, Sitharaman, Goyal, Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Narendra Singh Tomar, Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank', Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister Skill and Entrepreneurship Mahendra Nath Pandey and Ministers of State Santosh Kumar Gangwar (Labour) and Hardeep Singh Puri (Housing and Urban Affairs).

The economy has become a major cause of concern for the new government with GDP dropping to 5.8 per cent in the last quarter of the 2018-19, according to NSSO figures. Overall GDP for last financial year has been estimated at 6.8 per cent against a target of 7.2 per cent.

On the employment front, just after the elections were over the government released the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) - Annual Report (July 2017 - July 2018) which put the unemployment rate at 6.1 per cent, the highest in 45 years.&nbsp;

With the spectre of slowdown haunting the economy and rising unemployment, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday constituted two new Cabinet committees under his chairmanship to spur economic growth, investment and employment.

With the spectre of slowdown haunting the economy and rising unemployment, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday constituted two new Cabinet committees under his chairmanship to spur economic growth, investment and employment. The five-member Cabinet Committee on Investment and Growth includes Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Road Transport and Highways and of MSME Minister Nitin Gadkari and Railway Minister Piyush Goyal. Another 10-member Cabinet Committee on Employment and Skill Development has been formed which includes Shah, Sitharaman, Goyal, Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Narendra Singh Tomar, Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank', Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister Skill and Entrepreneurship Mahendra Nath Pandey and Ministers of State Santosh Kumar Gangwar (Labour) and Hardeep Singh Puri (Housing and Urban Affairs). The economy has become a major cause of concern for the new government with GDP dropping to 5.8 per cent in the last quarter of the 2018-19, according to NSSO figures. Overall GDP for last financial year has been estimated at 6.8 per cent against a target of 7.2 per cent. On the employment front, just after the elections were over the government released the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) - Annual Report (July 2017 - July 2018) which put the unemployment rate at 6.1 per cent, the highest in 45 years.

Two new cabinet committees formed to spur growth, employment

Authorities will likely take at least 10 days to recover the bodies of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bodies-of-8-mountaineers-who-went-missing-in-nanda-devi-spotted-223885">a group of climbers feared killed</a> in an avalanche high in the Himalayas, government and police officials said on Wednesday.

The eight climbers - four from Britain, two from the United States, and one each from Australia and India - were reported missing last Friday after they failed to return to their base camp near Nanda Devi, India`s second highest mountain.

An Indian Air Force helicopter on Monday spotted five bodies partially buried in snow high on a mountain slope.

The status of the other three climbers is not known, but officials have said the possibility of their survival is remote, and their bodies are likely to be near the five who had been spotted.

The recovery mission began early on Wednesday but was halted after encountering technical problems, officials said.

Another survey by air will be made this week to find a way to reach the bodies or a team will be sent on foot, but they will need time to acclimatise, officials said.

"It will take at least 10 days to remove the bodies," said Vijay Kumar Jogdande, the top government official in the remote mountain area.

"No bodies have so far been recovered from the three initial sorties this morning," he said earlier.

The climbers were attempting to scale an unnamed, previously unclimbed 6,477 metre (21,250 feet) peak near Nanda Devi when their route was hit by a "sizeable avalanche", the company that organised the expedition, Moran Mountain, said earlier.

Jogdande said the location of the bodies suggested that they may have changed course and taken a route they had not initially planned.

The paramilitary Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force is leading the mission to bring the bodies to the town of Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand state.

It has been one of the deadliest climbing seasons in the Himalayas for several years.

More than 20 people have been killed in the mountains, including 11 on Mount Everest, the world`s highest peak that has seen several fatalities in 2019 due to poor weather conditions, inexperienced climbers and overcrowding.

Nanda Devi, at 7,816 metres (25,643 feet), and its sister mountain, Nanda Devi East, are among the world`s most challenging peaks and only a handful of people have climbed them. 
&nbsp;

Authorities will likely take at least 10 days to recover the bodies of a group of climbers feared killed in an avalanche high in the Himalayas, government and police officials said on Wednesday.

Authorities will likely take at least 10 days to recover the bodies of a group of climbers feared killed in an avalanche high in the Himalayas, government and police officials said on Wednesday. The eight climbers - four from Britain, two from the United States, and one each from Australia and India - were reported missing last Friday after they failed to return to their base camp near Nanda Devi, India`s second highest mountain. An Indian Air Force helicopter on Monday spotted five bodies partially buried in snow high on a mountain slope. The status of the other three climbers is not known, but officials have said the possibility of their survival is remote, and their bodies are likely to be near the five who had been spotted. The recovery mission began early on Wednesday but was halted after encountering technical problems, officials said. Another survey by air will be made this week to find a way to reach the bodies or a team will be sent on foot, but they will need time to acclimatise, officials said. "It will take at least 10 days to remove the bodies," said Vijay Kumar Jogdande, the top government official in the remote mountain area. "No bodies have so far been recovered from the three initial sorties this morning," he said earlier. The climbers were attempting to scale an unnamed, previously unclimbed 6,477 metre (21,250 feet) peak near Nanda Devi when their route was hit by a "sizeable avalanche", the company that organised the expedition, Moran Mountain, said earlier. Jogdande said the location of the bodies suggested that they may have changed course and taken a route they had not initially planned. The paramilitary Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force is leading the mission to bring the bodies to the town of Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand state. It has been one of the deadliest climbing seasons in the Himalayas for several years. More than 20 people have been killed in the mountains, including 11 on Mount Everest, the world`s highest peak that has seen several fatalities in 2019 due to poor weather conditions, inexperienced climbers and overcrowding. Nanda Devi, at 7,816 metres (25,643 feet), and its sister mountain, Nanda Devi East, are among the world`s most challenging peaks and only a handful of people have climbed them.

Mission to recover climbers' bodies from Nanda Devi could take 10 days or more

Ahead of the fifth leg of the Yoga Day celebration this month, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modis-twitter-facebook-profile-updated-minutes-before-he-took-oath-222892">Prime Minister Narendra Modi</a> on Wednesday tweeted out an animated video on Trikonasana.&nbsp;

The video, which runs for over 2 minutes, features an animated avatar of the prime minister. A step-by-step guide to doing the pose is exhibited in the video which follows the numerous benefits the pose renders.&nbsp;

In his tweet, which carries the video, the prime minister urged everyone to make yoga part of their lifestyle.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
On 21st June, we will mark <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/YogaDay2019?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#YogaDay2019</a>. 
 
I urge you all to make Yoga an integral part of your life and also inspire others to do the same. 
 
The benefits of Yoga are tremendous. 
 
Here is a video on Trikonasana. <a href="https://t.co/YDB6T3rw1d">pic.twitter.com/YDB6T3rw1d</a>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1136109150134505472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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"I urge you all to make Yoga an integral part of your life and also inspire others to do the same. The benefits of Yoga are tremendous," his tweet read.&nbsp;

Trikonasana is one of the easiest poses that beginners could start with and incorporate in their daily routine. Apart from calming the body and working on the excess fat around the waistline, regular practice of the posture aids weight loss, enhances flexibility, alleviates lower back pain and strengthens muscles around the back as well as the thighs.&nbsp;

During his last term, PM Modi was seen propagating the benefits of Yoga. He took the age-old practice and placed it at the global pedestal by getting a day dedicated as the Yoga Day.

Every year, starting from the year 2015, Yoga Day is celebrated on June 21. People from across the world enthusiastically observe the day, taking part in mass yoga events.&nbsp;

Ahead of the fifth leg of the Yoga Day celebration this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday tweeted out an animated video on Trikonasana. The video, which runs for over 2 minutes, features an animated avatar of the prime minister.

Ahead of the fifth leg of the Yoga Day celebration this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday tweeted out an animated video on Trikonasana. The video, which runs for over 2 minutes, features an animated avatar of the prime minister. A step-by-step guide to doing the pose is exhibited in the video which follows the numerous benefits the pose renders. In his tweet, which carries the video, the prime minister urged everyone to make yoga part of their lifestyle. On 21st June, we will mark #YogaDay2019. I urge you all to make Yoga an integral part of your life and also inspire others to do the same. The benefits of Yoga are tremendous. Here is a video on Trikonasana. pic.twitter.com/YDB6T3rw1d — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 5, 2019 × "I urge you all to make Yoga an integral part of your life and also inspire others to do the same. The benefits of Yoga are tremendous," his tweet read. Trikonasana is one of the easiest poses that beginners could start with and incorporate in their daily routine. Apart from calming the body and working on the excess fat around the waistline, regular practice of the posture aids weight loss, enhances flexibility, alleviates lower back pain and strengthens muscles around the back as well as the thighs. During his last term, PM Modi was seen propagating the benefits of Yoga. He took the age-old practice and placed it at the global pedestal by getting a day dedicated as the Yoga Day. Every year, starting from the year 2015, Yoga Day is celebrated on June 21. People from across the world enthusiastically observe the day, taking part in mass yoga events.

Its benefits are temendous! Ahead of Yoga Day, PM Modi tweets out animated video on Trikonasana 

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistans-newly-appointed-foreign-secretary-sohail-mahmood-assumes-office-211195">Pakistan Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood</a> arrived in New Delhi&nbsp;on a three-day private visit on Tuesday night, diplomatic sources said. On Wednesday, he offered Eid prayers at historic Jama Masjid in New Delhi.

Mahmood was Pakistan's High Commissioner to India before he assumed charge of the top post in mid-April.

It is not immediately known whether he would meet any Indian officials or leaders during his stay here. Mahmood's children were studying here.

He is scheduled to return to Pakistan on Friday along with his family, sources said.

Before returning to Pakistan on April 14, Mahmood had told PTI that dialogue between India and Pakistan was the only option to understand mutual concerns and ensure peace, prosperity and security in the region.

He said Pakistan was hoping for "re-engagement" with India after the Lok Sabha polls.

"Sustained engagement and structured dialogue would enable the two countries to understand mutual concerns and differences, resolve outstanding disputes and build the edifice of durable peace, security and prosperity in the region," he said.

Tensions between the two countries worsened after the Pulwama terror attack and both the nations were almost on the brink of war after India's military planes struck a terrorist training camp in Pakistan's Balakot on February 26 and Pakistan carried out a counter-offensive the next day.

Breaking the ice in bilateral ties, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on May 26 spoke to Modi over the phone and expressed his desire to work together for peace and prosperity in the region.

Modi on his part called for creating trust and an environment free of violence and terrorism for fostering peace and prosperity in the region.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Pakistan Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood arrived in New Delhi on a three-day private visit on Tuesday night, diplomatic sources said. On Wednesday, he offered Eid prayers at historic Jama Masjid in New Delhi.

Pakistan Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood arrived in New Delhi on a three-day private visit on Tuesday night, diplomatic sources said. On Wednesday, he offered Eid prayers at historic Jama Masjid in New Delhi. Mahmood was Pakistan's High Commissioner to India before he assumed charge of the top post in mid-April. It is not immediately known whether he would meet any Indian officials or leaders during his stay here. Mahmood's children were studying here. He is scheduled to return to Pakistan on Friday along with his family, sources said. Before returning to Pakistan on April 14, Mahmood had told PTI that dialogue between India and Pakistan was the only option to understand mutual concerns and ensure peace, prosperity and security in the region. He said Pakistan was hoping for "re-engagement" with India after the Lok Sabha polls. "Sustained engagement and structured dialogue would enable the two countries to understand mutual concerns and differences, resolve outstanding disputes and build the edifice of durable peace, security and prosperity in the region," he said. Tensions between the two countries worsened after the Pulwama terror attack and both the nations were almost on the brink of war after India's military planes struck a terrorist training camp in Pakistan's Balakot on February 26 and Pakistan carried out a counter-offensive the next day. Breaking the ice in bilateral ties, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on May 26 spoke to Modi over the phone and expressed his desire to work together for peace and prosperity in the region. Modi on his part called for creating trust and an environment free of violence and terrorism for fostering peace and prosperity in the region.

Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood offers Eid prayers at Jama Masjid

India's tallest rubbish mountain in New Delhi is on course to rise higher than the Taj Mahal in the next year, becoming a fetid symbol for what the UN considers the world's most polluted capital.

Hawks and other birds of prey hover around the towering Ghazipur landfill on the eastern fringe of New Delhi, stray cows, dogs and rats wander at will over the huge expanse of smoking filth.

Taking up the area of more than 40 football pitches, Ghazipur rises by nearly 10 metres a year with no end in sight to its foul-smelling growth.

According to East Delhi's superintendent engineer Arun Kumar, it is already more than 65 metres (213 feet) high.&nbsp;

At its current rate of growth, it will be taller than the iconic Taj in Agra, some 73 metres high, in 2020.

India's Supreme Court warned last year that red warning lights will soon have to be put on the dump to alert passing jets.

It was not meant to be that way.

Ghazipur was opened in 1984 and reached its capacity in 2002 when it should have been closed. But the city's detritus has kept on arriving each day in hundreds of trucks.

"About 2,000 tonnes of garbage is dumped at Ghazipur each day," a Delhi municipal official said on condition of anonymity.

In 2018, a section of the hill collapsed in heavy rains killing two people.&nbsp; 
Dumping was banned after the deaths, but the measure lasted only a few days because authorities could not find an alternative.

Garbage champions&nbsp;

Fires, sparked by methane gas coming from the dump, regularly break out and take days to extinguish.

Shambhavi Shukla, senior researcher at the Center for Science and Environment in New Delhi, said methane belching from the garbage can become even more deadly when mixed with atmosphere.

Leachate,&nbsp;a black toxic liquid, oozes from the dump into a local canal.

"It all needs to be stopped as the continuous&nbsp;dumping has severely polluted the air and ground water," said Chitra Mukherjee, head of Chintan, an environment advocacy group.

Residents say the dump often makes breathing virtually impossible.

"The poisonous smell has made our lives hell. People fall sick all the time," said 45-year-old local resident Puneet Sharma.

Protests do not work and now many people are leaving the district.

They say a plant that recycles waste into energy next to the dump increases their misery because the smoke it releases by burning trash is also poisonous.

Local doctor Kumud Gupta said she sees about 70 people, including babies, each day mostly suffering from respiratory and stomach ailments caused by polluted air.

A recent study said the dump was a health risk for people living within five kilometres (three miles), including for cancer.

Traffic clogged streets, heavy industry and annual burning of fields in regions around Delhi have already made the Indian capital notorious for its pollution.

A government survey conducted between 2013 and 2017 reported that Delhi saw 981 deaths from acute respiratory infection while more than 1.7 million residents suffered from infections.

And India's garbage mountains will only get bigger in coming years.&nbsp;

Indian cities are among the world's largest garbage producers, generating 62 million tonnes of waste annually. By 2030, that could rise to 165 million tonnes, according to government figures.

Chitra, of the Chintan group, said waste has become a huge challenge as India's growing wealth drives consumerism and the production of extra garbage that the country cannot dispose of properly.

When he took power in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Operation Clean India under which tens of thousands of public toilets have been built and new waste management rules were introduced in 2016.

But watchdogs, including the Supreme Court, have repeatedly accused Delhi's warring authorities -- the region is controlled by one party while Modi's right wing party runs the city authorities -- of not taking the waste crisis seriously.

India's tallest rubbish mountain in New Delhi is on course to rise higher than the Taj Mahal in the next year, becoming a fetid symbol for what the UN considers the world's most polluted capital.

India's tallest rubbish mountain in New Delhi is on course to rise higher than the Taj Mahal in the next year, becoming a fetid symbol for what the UN considers the world's most polluted capital. Hawks and other birds of prey hover around the towering Ghazipur landfill on the eastern fringe of New Delhi, stray cows, dogs and rats wander at will over the huge expanse of smoking filth. Taking up the area of more than 40 football pitches, Ghazipur rises by nearly 10 metres a year with no end in sight to its foul-smelling growth. According to East Delhi's superintendent engineer Arun Kumar, it is already more than 65 metres (213 feet) high. At its current rate of growth, it will be taller than the iconic Taj in Agra, some 73 metres high, in 2020. India's Supreme Court warned last year that red warning lights will soon have to be put on the dump to alert passing jets. It was not meant to be that way. Ghazipur was opened in 1984 and reached its capacity in 2002 when it should have been closed. But the city's detritus has kept on arriving each day in hundreds of trucks. "About 2,000 tonnes of garbage is dumped at Ghazipur each day," a Delhi municipal official said on condition of anonymity. In 2018, a section of the hill collapsed in heavy rains killing two people. Dumping was banned after the deaths, but the measure lasted only a few days because authorities could not find an alternative. Garbage champions Fires, sparked by methane gas coming from the dump, regularly break out and take days to extinguish. Shambhavi Shukla, senior researcher at the Center for Science and Environment in New Delhi, said methane belching from the garbage can become even more deadly when mixed with atmosphere. Leachate, a black toxic liquid, oozes from the dump into a local canal. "It all needs to be stopped as the continuous dumping has severely polluted the air and ground water," said Chitra Mukherjee, head of Chintan, an environment advocacy group. Residents say the dump often makes breathing virtually impossible. "The poisonous smell has made our lives hell. People fall sick all the time," said 45-year-old local resident Puneet Sharma. Protests do not work and now many people are leaving the district. They say a plant that recycles waste into energy next to the dump increases their misery because the smoke it releases by burning trash is also poisonous. Local doctor Kumud Gupta said she sees about 70 people, including babies, each day mostly suffering from respiratory and stomach ailments caused by polluted air. A recent study said the dump was a health risk for people living within five kilometres (three miles), including for cancer. Traffic clogged streets, heavy industry and annual burning of fields in regions around Delhi have already made the Indian capital notorious for its pollution. A government survey conducted between 2013 and 2017 reported that Delhi saw 981 deaths from acute respiratory infection while more than 1.7 million residents suffered from infections. And India's garbage mountains will only get bigger in coming years. Indian cities are among the world's largest garbage producers, generating 62 million tonnes of waste annually. By 2030, that could rise to 165 million tonnes, according to government figures. Chitra, of the Chintan group, said waste has become a huge challenge as India's growing wealth drives consumerism and the production of extra garbage that the country cannot dispose of properly. When he took power in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Operation Clean India under which tens of thousands of public toilets have been built and new waste management rules were introduced in 2016. But watchdogs, including the Supreme Court, have repeatedly accused Delhi's warring authorities -- the region is controlled by one party while Modi's right wing party runs the city authorities -- of not taking the waste crisis seriously.

Delhi's rubbish mountain to rise higher than Taj Mahal in 2020

Launched by IIT-Delhi alumni, Nanoclean Global Pvt Ltd is an Indian start-up, providing low-cost solutions to tackle air pollution. It had won the prestigious Startup National Award for their effort. #WorldEnvironmentDay #BeatAirPollution #IIT

World Environment Day: IIT-Delhi alumni's low-cost solution to beat air pollution

Search operations for the missing AN-32 aircraft enters third day today. Even two days after it is not possible to spot the wreckage of the AN-32 aircraft. Watch this video to know why the search operation is taking this long.

Missing AN-32: Why the search operation is taking this long

India on Wednesday announced that it successfully conducted the transfer of personnel from a submarine to Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV).

The DSRV, based in Visakhapatnam, undertook "live mating exercise" or the transfer of personnel on Sunday.

The personnel were transferred to submarine, using DSRV, from INS Sindhudhvaj submarine which was the 'Distressed&nbsp;Submarine" using DSRV.&nbsp;

A Navy statement said, "live mating exercise is a historic achievement towards DSRV integration into the Indian Navy and would pave the way for the Indian Navy to emerge as a Submarine Rescue Provider in the Indian Ocean region".

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndianNavy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndianNavy</a> Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) based at Visakhapatnam undertook live mating exercise 02Jun19 incl personnel transfer from bottomed s/m <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INSSindhudhvaj?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INSSindhudhvaj</a>, simulating as a Distress Submarine to surface using the DSRV. <a href="https://t.co/XQF7ZHIuHr">pic.twitter.com/XQF7ZHIuHr</a>
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) <a href="https://twitter.com/indiannavy/status/1136172111121096704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2019</a></blockquote>
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It further added, "the submarine hatches, on which the mating was carried out, have been certified by the IN Submarine Designer i.e. DND (SDG). This is also a skill that has been newly acquired by the Indian Navy."

India had inducted DSRV last year, it is a small submarine used for rescue missions. Indian DSRV has the capability to rescue personnel from distressed submarines up to a depth of 650 metres.

India plans to emerge as a centre of regional excellence for Submarine Rescue Services.

DSRV is already being used by the US, Australia, China, Japan, Singapore, UK, South Korea, Russia, France, Norway and Italy.

India on Wednesday announced that it successfully conducted the transfer of personnel from a submarine to Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV). The DSRV, based in Visakhapatnam, undertook "live mating exercise" or the transfer of personnel on Sunday.

India on Wednesday announced that it successfully conducted the transfer of personnel from a submarine to Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV). The DSRV, based in Visakhapatnam, undertook "live mating exercise" or the transfer of personnel on Sunday. The personnel were transferred to submarine, using DSRV, from INS Sindhudhvaj submarine which was the 'Distressed Submarine" using DSRV. A Navy statement said, "live mating exercise is a historic achievement towards DSRV integration into the Indian Navy and would pave the way for the Indian Navy to emerge as a Submarine Rescue Provider in the Indian Ocean region". #IndianNavy Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) based at Visakhapatnam undertook live mating exercise 02Jun19 incl personnel transfer from bottomed s/m #INSSindhudhvaj, simulating as a Distress Submarine to surface using the DSRV. pic.twitter.com/XQF7ZHIuHr — SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) June 5, 2019 × It further added, "the submarine hatches, on which the mating was carried out, have been certified by the IN Submarine Designer i.e. DND (SDG). This is also a skill that has been newly acquired by the Indian Navy." India had inducted DSRV last year, it is a small submarine used for rescue missions. Indian DSRV has the capability to rescue personnel from distressed submarines up to a depth of 650 metres. India plans to emerge as a centre of regional excellence for Submarine Rescue Services. DSRV is already being used by the US, Australia, China, Japan, Singapore, UK, South Korea, Russia, France, Norway and Italy.

In historic feat, India successfully transfers personnel using Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle 

Continuing its efforts to establish an environment-friendly network, the Delhi Metro has become the first ever project in the country to receive power generated from a waste-to-energy plant.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said it has started receiving 2 MW power from a 12 MW capacity waste-to-energy plant set up in Ghazipur.

"DMRC is receiving the power since the beginning of this month from this facility which is being utilised at the Vinod Nagar Receiving Sub-station (RSS) for meeting the operational requirements of Pink Line of Delhi Metro," said a press statement issued on Tuesday.

"DMRC will take approximately 17.5 million units per annum from this plant. However, the energy offtake will depend upon the actual generation of the plant," it said.

The waste-to-energy plant set up by East Delhi Waste Processing Company Limited (EDWPCL) is based on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) involving the Delhi government and East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC), besides the EDWPCL.

"The state of the art facility is set up to process above 1,500 tonnes per day (TPD) of waste and generate 12 MW of green power. The plant is India's first Euro norms compliant waste-to-energy facility," the DMRC said.

The plant will mitigate over 8 million tons of Greenhouse Gases (GHG) over the life of the project, thus combating global warming.

The Delhi Metro has been working continuously towards the conservation of the environment since the inception of the organisation. It is the first ever rail based organisation in the world to claim carbon credits.

The DMRC has also commissioned a facility at Rohini on PPP model with IL&amp;FS Environmental Infrastructure &amp; Services Ltd (IEISL) for recycling of Construction and Demolition (C&amp;D) waste with a capacity of 150 tons per day.

Currently, DMRC is producing 28 MW of solar power from the various rooftop solar power plants, which have been set up in its stations, depots and residential premises.

The mass transit operator has also started to receive solar power from the off-site solar power plant at Rewa in Madhya Pradesh.

In construction also, DMRC plants 10 trees for each tree that is cut. Close to 4 lakh vehicles are being removed from the streets because of the Delhi Metro.&nbsp;

Continuing its efforts to establish an environment-friendly network, the Delhi Metro has become the first ever project in the country to receive power generated from a waste-to-energy plant.

Continuing its efforts to establish an environment-friendly network, the Delhi Metro has become the first ever project in the country to receive power generated from a waste-to-energy plant. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said it has started receiving 2 MW power from a 12 MW capacity waste-to-energy plant set up in Ghazipur. "DMRC is receiving the power since the beginning of this month from this facility which is being utilised at the Vinod Nagar Receiving Sub-station (RSS) for meeting the operational requirements of Pink Line of Delhi Metro," said a press statement issued on Tuesday. "DMRC will take approximately 17.5 million units per annum from this plant. However, the energy offtake will depend upon the actual generation of the plant," it said. The waste-to-energy plant set up by East Delhi Waste Processing Company Limited (EDWPCL) is based on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) involving the Delhi government and East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC), besides the EDWPCL. "The state of the art facility is set up to process above 1,500 tonnes per day (TPD) of waste and generate 12 MW of green power. The plant is India's first Euro norms compliant waste-to-energy facility," the DMRC said. The plant will mitigate over 8 million tons of Greenhouse Gases (GHG) over the life of the project, thus combating global warming. The Delhi Metro has been working continuously towards the conservation of the environment since the inception of the organisation. It is the first ever rail based organisation in the world to claim carbon credits. The DMRC has also commissioned a facility at Rohini on PPP model with IL&FS Environmental Infrastructure & Services Ltd (IEISL) for recycling of Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste with a capacity of 150 tons per day. Currently, DMRC is producing 28 MW of solar power from the various rooftop solar power plants, which have been set up in its stations, depots and residential premises. The mass transit operator has also started to receive solar power from the off-site solar power plant at Rewa in Madhya Pradesh. In construction also, DMRC plants 10 trees for each tree that is cut. Close to 4 lakh vehicles are being removed from the streets because of the Delhi Metro.

Delhi Metro becomes India's first project to receive power from waste-to-energy plant

India is projected to grow at 7.5 per cent in the next three years supported by robust investment and private consumption, the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/world-bank-slashes-global-growth-forecast-amid-deepening-us-china-trade-conflict-224398">World Bank</a> has said.

The Bank in its Global Economic Prospects released Tuesday said that India is estimated to have grown 7.2 per cent in fiscal year 2018/19, which ended March 31. A slowdown in government consumption was offset by solid investment, which benefitted from public infrastructure spending.&nbsp;

As against a growth rate of 6.6 per cent in 2018, China's growth rate in 2019 is projected to be dropped to 6.2 per cent and then subsequently to 6.1 per cent in 2020 and 6 per cent in 2021, the bank said.&nbsp;

With this India will continue to retain the position of being the fastest growing emerging economy. And by 2021, its growth rate is projected to be 1.5 per cent more than China's 6 per cent.

According to the World Bank, growth in India is projected at 7.5 per cent in Fiscal Year 2019/20 (April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020), unchanged from the previous forecast, and to stay at this pace through the next two fiscal years.

"Private consumption and investment will benefit from strengthening credit growth amid more accommodative monetary policy, with inflation having fallen below the Reserve Bank of India's target,"&nbsp;it said.&nbsp;

Support from delays in planned fiscal consolidation at the central level should partially offset the effects of political uncertainty around elections in FY2018/19, it said.

The World Bank said that India's urban consumption was supported by a pickup in credit growth, whereas rural consumption was hindered by soft agricultural prices.

On the production side, robust growth was broad-based, with a slight moderation in services and agricultural activity accompanied by an acceleration in the industrial sector. Weakening agricultural production reflected subdued harvest in major crops on the back of less rainfalls, it said.

Services activity softened mainly due to slowing trade, hotel, transport, and communication activity. The industrial sector benefited from strong manufacturing and construction with solid demand for capital goods. The slowing momentum in economic activity in late 2018 carried into the first quarter of 2019, as suggested by softening services and manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Indexes, the report said.

Observing that the new Goods and Services Tax regime is still in the process of being fully established, creating some uncertainty about the projections of government revenues, the report said fiscal deficits continue to exceed official targets in some countries -- India, Pakistan.

Pakistan's growth, on the other hand, is expected to slow further to 2.7 per cent in FY2019/20, which begins July 16, as domestic demand remains depressed and as current account and fiscal deficits diminish only gradually.&nbsp;

India is projected to grow at 7.5 per cent in the next three years supported by robust investment and private consumption, the World Bank has said. The Bank in its Global Economic Prospects released Tuesday said that India is estimated to have grown 7.

India is projected to grow at 7.5 per cent in the next three years supported by robust investment and private consumption, the World Bank has said. The Bank in its Global Economic Prospects released Tuesday said that India is estimated to have grown 7.2 per cent in fiscal year 2018/19, which ended March 31. A slowdown in government consumption was offset by solid investment, which benefitted from public infrastructure spending. As against a growth rate of 6.6 per cent in 2018, China's growth rate in 2019 is projected to be dropped to 6.2 per cent and then subsequently to 6.1 per cent in 2020 and 6 per cent in 2021, the bank said. With this India will continue to retain the position of being the fastest growing emerging economy. And by 2021, its growth rate is projected to be 1.5 per cent more than China's 6 per cent. According to the World Bank, growth in India is projected at 7.5 per cent in Fiscal Year 2019/20 (April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020), unchanged from the previous forecast, and to stay at this pace through the next two fiscal years. "Private consumption and investment will benefit from strengthening credit growth amid more accommodative monetary policy, with inflation having fallen below the Reserve Bank of India's target," it said. Support from delays in planned fiscal consolidation at the central level should partially offset the effects of political uncertainty around elections in FY2018/19, it said. The World Bank said that India's urban consumption was supported by a pickup in credit growth, whereas rural consumption was hindered by soft agricultural prices. On the production side, robust growth was broad-based, with a slight moderation in services and agricultural activity accompanied by an acceleration in the industrial sector. Weakening agricultural production reflected subdued harvest in major crops on the back of less rainfalls, it said. Services activity softened mainly due to slowing trade, hotel, transport, and communication activity. The industrial sector benefited from strong manufacturing and construction with solid demand for capital goods. The slowing momentum in economic activity in late 2018 carried into the first quarter of 2019, as suggested by softening services and manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Indexes, the report said. Observing that the new Goods and Services Tax regime is still in the process of being fully established, creating some uncertainty about the projections of government revenues, the report said fiscal deficits continue to exceed official targets in some countries -- India, Pakistan. Pakistan's growth, on the other hand, is expected to slow further to 2.7 per cent in FY2019/20, which begins July 16, as domestic demand remains depressed and as current account and fiscal deficits diminish only gradually.

World Bank pegs India's growth at 7.5% for next three years; China to grow slowly

In the midst of a controversy over<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/in-first-united-nations-launches-hindi-website-190301"> Hindi </a>being part of a three-language formula, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to include Tamil as an optional language in curriculum across India.

"Request Honourable PM Narendra Modiji to include Tamil as an optional language for study in other states. This will be a great service to one of the most ancient languages of the world," he tweeted.

The tweet has come at a time when the Centre was forced to revise the new Draft National Education Policy, which had recommended Hindi learning mandatory in schools of non-Hindi speaking states, and suggested a three-language formula without naming <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/hindi-not-our-mother-tongue-dont-enforce-it-on-us-raj-thackerays-mns-party-on-centres-draft-education-plan-223741">Hindi</a>.

In the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/amid-uproar-over-hindi-imposition-centre-alters-draft-education-policy-223801">draft National Education Policy 2019</a>, a three-language formula has recommended the inclusion of English and Hindi besides mother tongue in non-Hindi speaking states, while Hindi-speaking states were to include English and an Indian language from other parts of the country.

Also read: Hindi included as third official court language in Abu Dhabi

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Many leaders from non-Hindi states, especially Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, had opposed the policy.

In Tamil Nadu, leaders cutting across party lines have said the state would not tolerate any imposition of the third language.

Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has said that the Centre cannot force any language.

The Centre has, however, maintained that the policy was just a draft subject to changes and ensured that no language will be pressed upon.

It is important to know that the Tamil language is the official language of Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry and the Andaman Islands, and was also the second official language of Haryana till 2010.

One of the oldest surviving languages still spoken by crores of people, Tamil is an accepted minority language in Canada, USA, South Africa and other countries.&nbsp;

In the midst of a controversy over Hindi being part of a three-language formula, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to include Tamil as an optional language in curriculum across India.

In the midst of a controversy over Hindi being part of a three-language formula, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to include Tamil as an optional language in curriculum across India. "Request Honourable PM Narendra Modiji to include Tamil as an optional language for study in other states. This will be a great service to one of the most ancient languages of the world," he tweeted. The tweet has come at a time when the Centre was forced to revise the new Draft National Education Policy, which had recommended Hindi learning mandatory in schools of non-Hindi speaking states, and suggested a three-language formula without naming Hindi. In the draft National Education Policy 2019, a three-language formula has recommended the inclusion of English and Hindi besides mother tongue in non-Hindi speaking states, while Hindi-speaking states were to include English and an Indian language from other parts of the country. Also read: Hindi included as third official court language in Abu Dhabi × Many leaders from non-Hindi states, especially Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, had opposed the policy. In Tamil Nadu, leaders cutting across party lines have said the state would not tolerate any imposition of the third language. Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has said that the Centre cannot force any language. The Centre has, however, maintained that the policy was just a draft subject to changes and ensured that no language will be pressed upon. It is important to know that the Tamil language is the official language of Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry and the Andaman Islands, and was also the second official language of Haryana till 2010. One of the oldest surviving languages still spoken by crores of people, Tamil is an accepted minority language in Canada, USA, South Africa and other countries.

Palaniswami requests PM to make Tamil an optional language in states across India

The police in Assam have used Twitter humour to inform about a drug consignment it caught recently. It has even gone forward asking the owner of the consignment to "get in touch".

"Anyone lost a huge (590 kgs) amount of Cannabis/Ganja and a truck in and around Chagolia Checkpoint last night?" Assam Police said in the tweet posted on Tuesday. "Don't panic, we found it. Please get in touch with @Dhubri_Police. They will help you out, for sure," the police further said in the tweet ending the sentence with a wink smiley.

It also congratulated the police team in Dhubri for seizing the drugs.

The photo in the tweet has a stack of bags which contains cannabis. The seizure happened after swift action of the Assam Police on drug peddlers.

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Anyone lost a huge (590 kgs) amount of Cannabis/Ganja and a truck in and around Chagolia Checkpoint last night? 
 
Don't panic, we found it. 
 
Please get in touch with <a href="https://twitter.com/Dhubri_Police?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Dhubri_Police</a>. They will help you out, for sure ;) 
 
Great job Team Dhubri. <a href="https://t.co/fNoMjbGSKX">pic.twitter.com/fNoMjbGSKX</a>
— Assam Police (@assampolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/assampolice/status/1135929651757428736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 4, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Many Twitter users including badminton player Jwala Gutta were in splits by the tweet.

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Lol...
— Gutta Jwala (@Guttajwala) <a href="https://twitter.com/Guttajwala/status/1136143896885415938?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Loved the way its announced...
— BHUPI (@cv19910) <a href="https://twitter.com/cv19910/status/1135935599041323008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 4, 2019</a></blockquote>
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100 kilo sense of humor was found as well 
:)
— ಕಾರ್ತಿಕ್🇮🇳 (@kart2k17) <a href="https://twitter.com/kart2k17/status/1135959505135476737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 4, 2019</a></blockquote>
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It has also posted a tweet on World Environment Day calling for collective endeavour and accountability before it's too late.

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We can see our glaciers melting, global temperature and sea levels rising. 
 
Our melting, shifting, liquid world calls for a collective endeavour and accountability. 
 
It may not be too late. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldEnvironmentDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldEnvironmentDay</a> <a href="https://t.co/tSIH56Uou6">pic.twitter.com/tSIH56Uou6</a>
— Assam Police (@assampolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/assampolice/status/1136109474224021504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Other police organisations like the Mumbai Police have been using Twitter to connect with people. "You do not need to 'process so much stupid'! Just send this to all the #FakeNews mongers #TheBigFactTheory," said a tweet from Mumbai Police on June 1.

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You do not need to ‘process so much stupid’! Just send this to all the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FakeNews?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FakeNews</a> mongers <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheBigFactTheory?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheBigFactTheory</a> <a href="https://t.co/rXbosRiNoM">pic.twitter.com/rXbosRiNoM</a>
— Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/MumbaiPolice/status/1135064264710823936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 2, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Social media, especially Twitter, has become a tool for the police and law enforcement agencies to communicate with the people and post latest, relevant and authentic updates about an ongoing operation.

The police in Assam have used Twitter humour to inform about a drug consignment it caught recently. It has even gone forward asking the owner of the consignment to "get in touch".

The police in Assam have used Twitter humour to inform about a drug consignment it caught recently. It has even gone forward asking the owner of the consignment to "get in touch". "Anyone lost a huge (590 kgs) amount of Cannabis/Ganja and a truck in and around Chagolia Checkpoint last night?" Assam Police said in the tweet posted on Tuesday. "Don't panic, we found it. Please get in touch with @Dhubri_Police. They will help you out, for sure," the police further said in the tweet ending the sentence with a wink smiley. It also congratulated the police team in Dhubri for seizing the drugs. The photo in the tweet has a stack of bags which contains cannabis. The seizure happened after swift action of the Assam Police on drug peddlers. Anyone lost a huge (590 kgs) amount of Cannabis/Ganja and a truck in and around Chagolia Checkpoint last night? Don't panic, we found it. Please get in touch with @Dhubri_Police. They will help you out, for sure ;) Great job Team Dhubri. pic.twitter.com/fNoMjbGSKX — Assam Police (@assampolice) June 4, 2019 × Many Twitter users including badminton player Jwala Gutta were in splits by the tweet. Lol... — Gutta Jwala (@Guttajwala) June 5, 2019 × Loved the way its announced... — BHUPI (@cv19910) June 4, 2019 × 100 kilo sense of humor was found as well :) — ಕಾರ್ತಿಕ್🇮🇳 (@kart2k17) June 4, 2019 × It has also posted a tweet on World Environment Day calling for collective endeavour and accountability before it's too late. We can see our glaciers melting, global temperature and sea levels rising. Our melting, shifting, liquid world calls for a collective endeavour and accountability. It may not be too late. #WorldEnvironmentDay pic.twitter.com/tSIH56Uou6 — Assam Police (@assampolice) June 5, 2019 × Other police organisations like the Mumbai Police have been using Twitter to connect with people. "You do not need to 'process so much stupid'! Just send this to all the #FakeNews mongers #TheBigFactTheory," said a tweet from Mumbai Police on June 1. You do not need to ‘process so much stupid’! Just send this to all the #FakeNews mongers #TheBigFactTheory pic.twitter.com/rXbosRiNoM — Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) June 2, 2019 × Social media, especially Twitter, has become a tool for the police and law enforcement agencies to communicate with the people and post latest, relevant and authentic updates about an ongoing operation.

'Anyone lost 590 kg of cannabis?' Assam Police leave twitterati in splits

A girl was shot dead by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's&nbsp;Pulwama village in early hours of Wednesday, police said.

The deceased has been identified as Nigeena, a resident of Narbal Kakapora.

A youth was also shot at by ultras, police said.

Soon, after the incident both were shifted to a hospital, however, the girl was declared brought dead, while the condition of the boy is said to be critical.

&nbsp;

A girl was shot dead by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama village in early hours of Wednesday, police said. The deceased has been identified as Nigeena, a resident of Narbal Kakapora.

A girl was shot dead by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama village in early hours of Wednesday, police said. The deceased has been identified as Nigeena, a resident of Narbal Kakapora. A youth was also shot at by ultras, police said. Soon, after the incident both were shifted to a hospital, however, the girl was declared brought dead, while the condition of the boy is said to be critical.

Jammu and Kashmir: Terrorists shot at two civilians in Pulwama, 1 dead

Terming the SP-BSP alliance as a `scientific experiment` which did not succeed, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/samajwadi-party-to-go-solo-in-uttar-pradesh-assembly-bypolls-if-bsp-tie-ends-akhilesh-yadav-224248">SP chief Akhilesh Yadav </a>on Wednesday said that his respect for BSP supremo Mayawati remained intact even after they have parted ways.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/now-rld-announces-it-will-fight-up-assembly-bypolls-alone-224447">Now RLD announces it will fight UP assembly bypolls alone</a>

"I studied engineering in Mysore. As a science student, I know that all experiments do not always succeed. But still we give it a trial and learn what is lacking," said Akhilesh while talking to reporters here.

Akhilesh on Tuesday announced that his party would contest all 11 Assembly by-elections in the state after BSP chief Mayawati announced that her party has decided to contest these elections on its own following the poor performance of SP-BSP alliance in the recently held Lok Sabha elections.

Samajwadi Party had got 5 seats in the state, while BSP got 10 taking the `mahagathbandhan` tally to a dismal 15, far behind the BJP`s 62 Lok Sabha seats in the state.

Maintaining that his respect for Mayawati remains intact, Akhilesh said: "In the very first press conference, I had said that my respect is Mayawati ji`s respect and even today I stand by that statement.

"To the possibility of his party joining hands with the BSP again in the UP assembly elections which are due in 2022, Akhilesh said, "We are fighting by-elections on our own. After consultation with senior party leaders, we will finalise the strategy for 2022."

"We can have different paths and different working styles and I would extend my best wishes to everybody," he added.

Extending his wishes to the whole nation on the auspicious occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, Akhilesh said, "We all should commit to preserving Ganga-Jamuni culture and the beauty of the nation where people of all castes and religion live in harmony."

Taking on the state BJP government in the wake of the killing of his party functionary in Ghazipur, Akhilesh said, "In Amethi, a BJP leader was killed by the BJP people only and immediate action was taken by police. But in the case of SP worker who was killed in Ghazipur, no action has been taken."

"A girl was burnt alive while another girl was picked by goons in Lucknow. The whole state is reeling under lawlessness," he said.

To a query of whether he would like to extend birthday wishes to UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Akhilesh quipped: "I don`t generally wish people on their birthdays. I believe we should not feel happy on our birthdays as we grow one year older."&nbsp;

Terming the SP-BSP alliance as a `scientific experiment` which did not succeed, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday said that his respect for BSP supremo Mayawati remained intact even after they have parted ways.

Terming the SP-BSP alliance as a `scientific experiment` which did not succeed, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday said that his respect for BSP supremo Mayawati remained intact even after they have parted ways. Also read: Now RLD announces it will fight UP assembly bypolls alone "I studied engineering in Mysore. As a science student, I know that all experiments do not always succeed. But still we give it a trial and learn what is lacking," said Akhilesh while talking to reporters here. Akhilesh on Tuesday announced that his party would contest all 11 Assembly by-elections in the state after BSP chief Mayawati announced that her party has decided to contest these elections on its own following the poor performance of SP-BSP alliance in the recently held Lok Sabha elections. Samajwadi Party had got 5 seats in the state, while BSP got 10 taking the `mahagathbandhan` tally to a dismal 15, far behind the BJP`s 62 Lok Sabha seats in the state. Maintaining that his respect for Mayawati remains intact, Akhilesh said: "In the very first press conference, I had said that my respect is Mayawati ji`s respect and even today I stand by that statement. "To the possibility of his party joining hands with the BSP again in the UP assembly elections which are due in 2022, Akhilesh said, "We are fighting by-elections on our own. After consultation with senior party leaders, we will finalise the strategy for 2022." "We can have different paths and different working styles and I would extend my best wishes to everybody," he added. Extending his wishes to the whole nation on the auspicious occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, Akhilesh said, "We all should commit to preserving Ganga-Jamuni culture and the beauty of the nation where people of all castes and religion live in harmony." Taking on the state BJP government in the wake of the killing of his party functionary in Ghazipur, Akhilesh said, "In Amethi, a BJP leader was killed by the BJP people only and immediate action was taken by police. But in the case of SP worker who was killed in Ghazipur, no action has been taken." "A girl was burnt alive while another girl was picked by goons in Lucknow. The whole state is reeling under lawlessness," he said. To a query of whether he would like to extend birthday wishes to UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Akhilesh quipped: "I don`t generally wish people on their birthdays. I believe we should not feel happy on our birthdays as we grow one year older."

We are fighting by-elections on our own, will finalise the strategy for 2022: Akhilesh Yadav

President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday extended their greetings and best wishes to Indian citizens and the Muslim community around the world on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.

Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated by Muslims around the globe to mark the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramzan.

President Kovind said that the festival of Idu`l Fitr strengthens people`s belief in charity, fraternity and compassion.

"Eid Mubarak to all fellow citizens, especially to our Muslim brothers and sisters in India and abroad. The festival of Idu`l Fitr strengthens our belief in charity, fraternity and compassion. May this happy occasion bring joy and prosperity to everyone`s lives," he wrote on his Twitter handle.

On the other hand, Prime Minister Modi wished happiness for everyone, saying this special day may ignite the spirit of harmony, compassion and peace in our society.

Union Minister of Textiles and Women and Child Development Smriti Irani also extended wishes to the Muslim community.

"May the festival of Eid-ul-Fitr deepen the spirit of brotherhood and bring happiness and peace to all. #EidMubarak," she tweeted.

Meanwhile, BJP leader and former finance minister Arun Jaitley too took to Twitter and sent heartfelt greetings to all. "Eid greetings. EidMubarak," he wrote.

The festival is celebrated by sharing a delightful dish Seviyan (Vermicelli) that comes under different varieties like Hath Ka Seviyan, Nammak Ka Seviyan, Chakle Ka Seviyan and Laddu Seviyan. All these variants can be used in the dish called Sheerkurma, which is also made on Eid and distributed among friends and relatives.

President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday extended their greetings and best wishes to Indian citizens and the Muslim community around the world on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.

President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday extended their greetings and best wishes to Indian citizens and the Muslim community around the world on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated by Muslims around the globe to mark the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramzan. President Kovind said that the festival of Idu`l Fitr strengthens people`s belief in charity, fraternity and compassion. "Eid Mubarak to all fellow citizens, especially to our Muslim brothers and sisters in India and abroad. The festival of Idu`l Fitr strengthens our belief in charity, fraternity and compassion. May this happy occasion bring joy and prosperity to everyone`s lives," he wrote on his Twitter handle. On the other hand, Prime Minister Modi wished happiness for everyone, saying this special day may ignite the spirit of harmony, compassion and peace in our society. Union Minister of Textiles and Women and Child Development Smriti Irani also extended wishes to the Muslim community. "May the festival of Eid-ul-Fitr deepen the spirit of brotherhood and bring happiness and peace to all. #EidMubarak," she tweeted. Meanwhile, BJP leader and former finance minister Arun Jaitley too took to Twitter and sent heartfelt greetings to all. "Eid greetings. EidMubarak," he wrote. The festival is celebrated by sharing a delightful dish Seviyan (Vermicelli) that comes under different varieties like Hath Ka Seviyan, Nammak Ka Seviyan, Chakle Ka Seviyan and Laddu Seviyan. All these variants can be used in the dish called Sheerkurma, which is also made on Eid and distributed among friends and relatives.

Eid-ul-Fitr 2019: President Kovind, PM Modi extend greetings to nation

Home Minister Amit Shah Holds Meeting With Officials Over Delimitation Exercise In Jammu & Kashmir.

Gravitas: Government Mulls Delimitation In J&K: Home Minister Meets Officials

India Gets Serious About Its Defence Exports. New Delhi Wants To Speed Up Its Arms Sales To Friendly Nations.

Gravitas: India To Speed Up Sale Of Defence Equipment To Friendly Nations

The new government at the Centre will retain the autonomy of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/prasar-bharati-ceo-dismisses-reports-on-stand-off-with-ib-ministry-34666">Prasar Bharati</a>, Information and Broadcasting Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/we-take-elections-seriously-not-rahul-gandhi-prakash-javadekar-to-wion-210848">Prakash Javadekar</a> said on Monday.

It was established through an act which safeguards its autonomy, he said after launching state-of-the-art high-definition DSNG vans at Doordarshan Bhawan here.

"Autonomy of the Prasar Bharati is important. We will retain it, we want Prasar Bharati to work smoothly and bring new programmes and find new dimensions," Javadekar said.

The minister lauded public broadcasters DD and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/all-india-radio-to-air-baloch-news-bulletin-5797">All India Radio (AIR)</a> for their credible programmes and coverage and asked officials to promote channels like DD Bharati.

He said the new vans will help DD in the collection of high-quality visuals from the outdoor spots.

DD News has acquired 17 high definition DSNG vans which are capable of transmitting signal in HD and multi-camera production.

Prasar Bharati Chairman Suryaprakash said the public broadcaster is moving ahead in the direction of "Sabka Vishwas" policy propounded by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/narendra-modis-second-term-spells-foreign-policy-continuity-224063">Prime Minister Narendra Modi.</a>

Information and Broadcasting Secretary Amit Khare said a three-year plan has been prepared to develop infrastructure of Prasar Bharati with Rs 10,054 crore expenditure.

"There are many channels in the country which claim to be the fastest but DD and AIR command the highest credibility," he said.

The DD and AIR&nbsp;have the highest numbers of viewers and listeners in the country, he added.

The new government at the Centre will retain the autonomy of Prasar Bharati, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said on Monday. It was established through an act which safeguards its autonomy, he said after launching state-of-the-art high-definition DSNG vans at Doordarshan Bhawan here.

The new government at the Centre will retain the autonomy of Prasar Bharati, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said on Monday. It was established through an act which safeguards its autonomy, he said after launching state-of-the-art high-definition DSNG vans at Doordarshan Bhawan here. "Autonomy of the Prasar Bharati is important. We will retain it, we want Prasar Bharati to work smoothly and bring new programmes and find new dimensions," Javadekar said. The minister lauded public broadcasters DD and All India Radio (AIR) for their credible programmes and coverage and asked officials to promote channels like DD Bharati. He said the new vans will help DD in the collection of high-quality visuals from the outdoor spots. DD News has acquired 17 high definition DSNG vans which are capable of transmitting signal in HD and multi-camera production. Prasar Bharati Chairman Suryaprakash said the public broadcaster is moving ahead in the direction of "Sabka Vishwas" policy propounded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Information and Broadcasting Secretary Amit Khare said a three-year plan has been prepared to develop infrastructure of Prasar Bharati with Rs 10,054 crore expenditure. "There are many channels in the country which claim to be the fastest but DD and AIR command the highest credibility," he said. The DD and AIR have the highest numbers of viewers and listeners in the country, he added.

New government to retain autonomy of Prasar Bharati: Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar

A 23-year-old man in Ernakulam district of Kerala has tested positive for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bats-not-ruled-out-as-primary-source-of-nipah-outbreak-health-ministry-142908">Nipah virus infection</a>, state Health and Family Welfare Minister K K Shailaja said in Kochi on Tuesday.

A blood sample of the man was sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune which confirmed the infection, she told in a press conference.

He is undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Ernakulam and his condition is said to be stable. He is&nbsp;not put under any support system like a ventilator as well,&nbsp;Shailaja informed

"The government is fully equipped to deal with the situation. All decisions are being made based on our experience of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/with-relatives-staying-away-kerala-doctor-performs-last-rites-of-nipah-virus-victims-142596">Nipah outbreak in Kozhikode</a> in May last year," Shailaja had said.

"Good care is being given to the patient. The patient sometimes becomes restless due to fever...We expect a good result," she added.

A special isolation ward has been set up at the Ernakulam Medical College to treat any suspected case.

Watch: 23-year-old Kerala man tested positive for Nipah

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Ernakulam district collector K Mohammed Y Safirulla has said that hospitals in the district have been given instructions on the procedure to be followed if patients with similar symptoms approach them.

"Hospitals have been asked to arrange a special ward for such cases and get special ambulances readied," Safirulla said.

The minister further said a list of 86 people who have interacted with the student has been prepared and they were under medical observation.

Out of the 86, two are suffering from fever and one has been shifted to the isolation ward set up at the Kalamassery Medical College Hospital here, she added.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/nipah-virus-controlled-within-12-hours-no-need-to-panic-union-minister-for-health-142403">Minister urged people not to panic</a> and take precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the disease.

"We have confidence that we can face it. We have faced it in Kozhikode last year and contained it," she said trying to instil confidence among people.

In the wake of the latest reports on Nipah virus, minister of health and family welfare, Dr Harsh Vardhan called a review meeting at his residence. He said that a team of six senior officers and scientists have been dispatched to Kerala. He also spoke to the health minister of Kerala.

He also gave&nbsp;an assurance that an anti-NiV drug developed in Australia would be provided to the state to deal with the disease.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/nipah-virus-scare-saudi-arabia-bans-import-of-fruits-vegetables-from-kerala-142399">Fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family </a>are the natural host of the Nipah virus.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Nipah virus can be transmitted to humans from animals (such as bats or pigs), or contaminated foods and can also be transmitted directly from human-to-human.

A control room has been opened in Ernakulam district headquarters.

Health authorities in Thrissur had said the student, who was suffering from fever, had sought medical assistance at two private hospitals in that city when he had come to Kochi for a training programme recently as part of his course.

The infected student from Ernakulam district is studying in Thodupuzha in Idukki district.

Officials said the family and neighbours of the young man were also under observation.

On May 19, 2018, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/nipah-virus-scare-hunt-for-origin-of-mysterious-brain-damaging-virus-stepped-up-140813">Nipah virus disease</a> (NiV) outbreak was reported from Kozhikode in Malappuram district

As per state government figures, the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/nipah-virus-death-toll-mounts-to-16-as-one-more-dies-in-calicut--141380"> Nipah virus had claimed 17 lives</a> -- 14 in Kozhikode and three in neighbouring Malappuram in May last year

According to the WHO, Nipah virus is a newly emerging disease that can be transmitted from its reservoir (natural wildlife host), the flying foxes (fruit bats), to both animals and humans.

It takes its name from Sungai Nipah, a village in Malaysia where it was first identified.

Symptoms range from asymptomatic infection, acute respiratory infection (mild, severe), and fatal encephalitis. Infected people initially develop influenza-like symptoms of fever, headache, myalgia, vomiting and sore throat.

This can be followed by dizziness, drowsiness, altered consciousness, and neurological signs that indicate acute encephalitis.

Some people can also experience atypical pneumonia and severe respiratory problems, including acute respiratory distress. Encephalitis and seizures occur in severe cases, progressing to coma within 24 to 48 hours.&nbsp;

A 23-year-old man in Ernakulam district of Kerala has tested positive for Nipah virus infection, state Health and Family Welfare Minister K K Shailaja said in Kochi on Tuesday.

A 23-year-old man in Ernakulam district of Kerala has tested positive for Nipah virus infection, state Health and Family Welfare Minister K K Shailaja said in Kochi on Tuesday. A blood sample of the man was sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune which confirmed the infection, she told in a press conference. He is undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Ernakulam and his condition is said to be stable. He is not put under any support system like a ventilator as well, Shailaja informed "The government is fully equipped to deal with the situation. All decisions are being made based on our experience of the Nipah outbreak in Kozhikode in May last year," Shailaja had said. "Good care is being given to the patient. The patient sometimes becomes restless due to fever...We expect a good result," she added. A special isolation ward has been set up at the Ernakulam Medical College to treat any suspected case. Watch: 23-year-old Kerala man tested positive for Nipah × Ernakulam district collector K Mohammed Y Safirulla has said that hospitals in the district have been given instructions on the procedure to be followed if patients with similar symptoms approach them. "Hospitals have been asked to arrange a special ward for such cases and get special ambulances readied," Safirulla said. The minister further said a list of 86 people who have interacted with the student has been prepared and they were under medical observation. Out of the 86, two are suffering from fever and one has been shifted to the isolation ward set up at the Kalamassery Medical College Hospital here, she added. The Minister urged people not to panic and take precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the disease. "We have confidence that we can face it. We have faced it in Kozhikode last year and contained it," she said trying to instil confidence among people. In the wake of the latest reports on Nipah virus, minister of health and family welfare, Dr Harsh Vardhan called a review meeting at his residence. He said that a team of six senior officers and scientists have been dispatched to Kerala. He also spoke to the health minister of Kerala. He also gave an assurance that an anti-NiV drug developed in Australia would be provided to the state to deal with the disease. Fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family are the natural host of the Nipah virus. Nipah virus can be transmitted to humans from animals (such as bats or pigs), or contaminated foods and can also be transmitted directly from human-to-human. A control room has been opened in Ernakulam district headquarters. Health authorities in Thrissur had said the student, who was suffering from fever, had sought medical assistance at two private hospitals in that city when he had come to Kochi for a training programme recently as part of his course. The infected student from Ernakulam district is studying in Thodupuzha in Idukki district. Officials said the family and neighbours of the young man were also under observation. On May 19, 2018, Nipah virus disease (NiV) outbreak was reported from Kozhikode in Malappuram district As per state government figures, the Nipah virus had claimed 17 lives -- 14 in Kozhikode and three in neighbouring Malappuram in May last year According to the WHO, Nipah virus is a newly emerging disease that can be transmitted from its reservoir (natural wildlife host), the flying foxes (fruit bats), to both animals and humans. It takes its name from Sungai Nipah, a village in Malaysia where it was first identified. Symptoms range from asymptomatic infection, acute respiratory infection (mild, severe), and fatal encephalitis. Infected people initially develop influenza-like symptoms of fever, headache, myalgia, vomiting and sore throat. This can be followed by dizziness, drowsiness, altered consciousness, and neurological signs that indicate acute encephalitis. Some people can also experience atypical pneumonia and severe respiratory problems, including acute respiratory distress. Encephalitis and seizures occur in severe cases, progressing to coma within 24 to 48 hours.

Kerala: Man tests positive for Nipah virus infection, health minister Harshvardhan assures 'all help needed'

Claiming that the Samajwadi Party's vote base did not support the alliance in the Lok Sabha elections, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/mayawati-prime-ministerial-aspirations-on-hold-221064">Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati</a> on Tuesday announced that she will fight the by-polls to 11 assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh alone, but said this is not a "permanent break" from her alliance with the Samajwadi Party.

"Its not a permanent break. If we feel in future that SP Chief succeeds in his political work, we'll again work together. But if he doesn't succeed, it'll be good for us to work separately. So we've decided to fight the by-elections alone," the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister told ANI.

"We can't ignore political compulsions. In the results of Lok Sabha elections in UP, base vote of Samajwadi Party, the Yadav community, didn't support the party. Even strong contenders of SP were defeated," she asserted.

The statement from the BSP supremo came after reports surfaced that she had asked her party cadre to get ready to contest the upcoming assembly by-polls on their own after her party fared poorly in Lok Sabha polls, despite being in alliance with Samajwadi Party and RLD.

Mayawati, however, also praised Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and said that their relationship will continue in the future.

"Ever since the SP-BSP coalition took place, SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav and his wife Dimple Yadav have given me a lot of respect. I also forgot all our differences in the interest of the nation and gave them respect. Our relation is not only for politics, it will continue forever," she added.

Mayawati had also reportedly asked her MLAs and the newly-elected MPs to<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/dont-depend-on-alliances-to-win-votes-mayawati-tells-bsp-leaders-223930"> not depend on allies to win votes</a> and work towards improving the party's organisation.

Eleven Assembly constituencies have fallen vacant after sitting MLAs post winning Lok Sabha elections. Nine of them are from the BJP and one each from the BSP and the SP.

While holding a review meeting with top party leaders of the BSP, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister is said to have claimed that the recent election drubbing was due to the poor performance of the alliance with the Samajwadi Party led by Akhilesh Yadav.

In the Lok Sabha polls, Akhilesh Yadav's wife Dimple lost by over 12,000 votes in Kannauj constituency, his two cousins Akshay Yadav and Dharmendra Yadav lost from Ferozabad and Badaun constituencies.

The BSP and SP contested from 38 parliamentary seats each and gave four seats to the RLD.

However, the alliance could only manage to win only 15 seats--10 by BSP and five by SP-- while the RLD drew a blank.

BJP swept the state by bagging 62 out of the total 80 seats.

On Monday, Hariom Yadav, an SP MLA had said that it was only Mayawati who benefited from the tie-up.

"If the coalition had not happened, Mayawati would have been at 0 and SP would have won 25 seats," Yadav had said.

"The Yadav community voted for her but (Mayawati) vote share went to BJP," he added.

Claiming that the Samajwadi Party's vote base did not support the alliance in the Lok Sabha elections, Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Tuesday announced that she will fight the by-polls to 11 assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh alone, but said this is not a "permanent break" from her alliance with the Samajwadi Party.

Claiming that the Samajwadi Party's vote base did not support the alliance in the Lok Sabha elections, Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Tuesday announced that she will fight the by-polls to 11 assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh alone, but said this is not a "permanent break" from her alliance with the Samajwadi Party. "Its not a permanent break. If we feel in future that SP Chief succeeds in his political work, we'll again work together. But if he doesn't succeed, it'll be good for us to work separately. So we've decided to fight the by-elections alone," the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister told ANI. "We can't ignore political compulsions. In the results of Lok Sabha elections in UP, base vote of Samajwadi Party, the Yadav community, didn't support the party. Even strong contenders of SP were defeated," she asserted. The statement from the BSP supremo came after reports surfaced that she had asked her party cadre to get ready to contest the upcoming assembly by-polls on their own after her party fared poorly in Lok Sabha polls, despite being in alliance with Samajwadi Party and RLD. Mayawati, however, also praised Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and said that their relationship will continue in the future. "Ever since the SP-BSP coalition took place, SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav and his wife Dimple Yadav have given me a lot of respect. I also forgot all our differences in the interest of the nation and gave them respect. Our relation is not only for politics, it will continue forever," she added. Mayawati had also reportedly asked her MLAs and the newly-elected MPs to not depend on allies to win votes and work towards improving the party's organisation. Eleven Assembly constituencies have fallen vacant after sitting MLAs post winning Lok Sabha elections. Nine of them are from the BJP and one each from the BSP and the SP. While holding a review meeting with top party leaders of the BSP, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister is said to have claimed that the recent election drubbing was due to the poor performance of the alliance with the Samajwadi Party led by Akhilesh Yadav. In the Lok Sabha polls, Akhilesh Yadav's wife Dimple lost by over 12,000 votes in Kannauj constituency, his two cousins Akshay Yadav and Dharmendra Yadav lost from Ferozabad and Badaun constituencies. The BSP and SP contested from 38 parliamentary seats each and gave four seats to the RLD. However, the alliance could only manage to win only 15 seats--10 by BSP and five by SP-- while the RLD drew a blank. BJP swept the state by bagging 62 out of the total 80 seats. On Monday, Hariom Yadav, an SP MLA had said that it was only Mayawati who benefited from the tie-up. "If the coalition had not happened, Mayawati would have been at 0 and SP would have won 25 seats," Yadav had said. "The Yadav community voted for her but (Mayawati) vote share went to BJP," he added.

Will contest by-polls alone, but not permanent break from Samajwadi Party: Mayawati

A 23-year-old man admitted in a private hospital in Kerala's Ernakulam has been tested positive for the deadly Nipah virus. Watch full video to know more. #NipahVirus #Nipah

23-year-old Kerala man tested positive for Nipah

Group captain and Indian Air Force's spokesperson Anupam Banerjee on Tuesday said that while the Navy and the Army personnel are using "all means" to conduct the search operation for the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/satellites-spy-planes-roped-in-to-locate-indian-air-forces-missing-an-32-aircraft-224202">missing AN-32 aircraft</a>, the mission remains a difficult one because of the terrain.&nbsp;

"Today P-8I aircraft of Navy also joined in search op. Army personnel are doing the ground search and joined in with ALH Helicopter. Navy joined at P-8I. Local police and admin are helping the Air Force to locate the aircraft," Banerjee said.&nbsp;

He added that the thick vegetation at the spot is also making the search operation a difficult one. &nbsp;

"It's a little difficult terrain to carry out search op because there's thick vegetation. It is a difficult op however we are using all our means, the electronic means, the electro-optical means. After analysing this we will do the visual lookout," he stated.

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Group Captain Anupam Banerjee: ISRO satellites are also being used for photographing this area which will be analysed &amp; used for further search operation. Next of kin of all the missing personnel have been informed about the search effort. We are in constant touch with them. <a href="https://t.co/K2HJaHD3ag">pic.twitter.com/K2HJaHD3ag</a>
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Banerjee said that the team is in constant touch with "next of kin" of the missing personnel and have informed them about the search operation. &nbsp;

Earlier in the day, ISRO's CARTOSAT AND RISAT satellites, along with Naval P-8I spy planes, pressed into service to locate the wreckage of the missing AN-32 aircraft which went missing on Monday afternoon with 13 IAF personnel on board.

Both the satellites are taking images of the area where the plane went missing. RISAT or Radar Imaging Satellites are all-weather surveillance satellites that can take images of the areas and since they rely on optical sensors, cloud cover doesn't hamper the reconnaissance work they do.

The Indian Air Force on Monday clarified that no wreckage of its missing AN-32 aircraft has been sighted.

The IAF has said that while some reports of possible location of the crash site were received, no wreckage has been sighted so far, news agency ANI reported.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Indian Air Force’s AN-32 aircraft with 13 onboard goes missing

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indian-air-forces-an-32-aircraft-with-13-onboard-goes-missing-223891/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

IAF's AN-32 aircraft took off from Assam's Jorhat airbase at 12:25 pm today and went missing after 1 pm.&nbsp;

The aircraft, which had 13 crew members aboard, was headed to Arunachal Pradesh's Mechuka airfield near the China border.

Group captain and Indian Air Force's spokesperson Anupam Banerjee on Tuesday said that while the Navy and the Army personnel are using "all means" to conduct the search operation for the missing AN-32 aircraft, the mission remains a difficult one because of the terrain.

Group captain and Indian Air Force's spokesperson Anupam Banerjee on Tuesday said that while the Navy and the Army personnel are using "all means" to conduct the search operation for the missing AN-32 aircraft, the mission remains a difficult one because of the terrain. "Today P-8I aircraft of Navy also joined in search op. Army personnel are doing the ground search and joined in with ALH Helicopter. Navy joined at P-8I. Local police and admin are helping the Air Force to locate the aircraft," Banerjee said. He added that the thick vegetation at the spot is also making the search operation a difficult one. "It's a little difficult terrain to carry out search op because there's thick vegetation. It is a difficult op however we are using all our means, the electronic means, the electro-optical means. After analysing this we will do the visual lookout," he stated. Group Captain Anupam Banerjee: ISRO satellites are also being used for photographing this area which will be analysed & used for further search operation. Next of kin of all the missing personnel have been informed about the search effort. We are in constant touch with them. pic.twitter.com/K2HJaHD3ag — ANI (@ANI) June 4, 2019 × Banerjee said that the team is in constant touch with "next of kin" of the missing personnel and have informed them about the search operation. Earlier in the day, ISRO's CARTOSAT AND RISAT satellites, along with Naval P-8I spy planes, pressed into service to locate the wreckage of the missing AN-32 aircraft which went missing on Monday afternoon with 13 IAF personnel on board. Both the satellites are taking images of the area where the plane went missing. RISAT or Radar Imaging Satellites are all-weather surveillance satellites that can take images of the areas and since they rely on optical sensors, cloud cover doesn't hamper the reconnaissance work they do. The Indian Air Force on Monday clarified that no wreckage of its missing AN-32 aircraft has been sighted. The IAF has said that while some reports of possible location of the crash site were received, no wreckage has been sighted so far, news agency ANI reported. Watch: Indian Air Force’s AN-32 aircraft with 13 onboard goes missing IAF's AN-32 aircraft took off from Assam's Jorhat airbase at 12:25 pm today and went missing after 1 pm. The aircraft, which had 13 crew members aboard, was headed to Arunachal Pradesh's Mechuka airfield near the China border.

Search operation is getting affected due to difficult terrain, using all our means: IAF on missing AN-32 aircraft

Mozambique's President Filipe Nyusi has thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for India's help in the aftermath of <a href="http://wionews.com/world/cyclone-idais-death-toll-rises-to-707-hundreds-of-thousands-displaced-206700">cyclone Idai that hit Africa's east coast in March</a> this year.&nbsp;

Cyclone Idai, a category-4 tropical cyclone caused massive damage in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi, killing more than a 1,000 people.

President Nyusi thanked PM Modi during a phone call on Tuesday and congratulated him on his re-election. The read out from the Ministry of External Affairs said, "President Nyusi thanked the Prime Minister for the timely assistance extended by the Indian Navy at the time".&nbsp;

Prime Minister Modi conveyed his condolences to President Nyusi on the loss of life and property in the aftermath of the cyclone and said, "India will always stand with Mozambique in solidarity and partnership." PM Modi had visited the country in July 2016.

India, as one of the first responders, had dispatched four of its naval ships- INS Sujatha, INS Shardul, INS Sarathi and INS Magar - to the port city of Beira to provide Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) to people impacted by the cyclone.

Indian Naval Ships (INS) provided relief material in the form of food, clothes and medicine to the affected people. More than 200 people were rescued by Indian naval crew and medical assistance was provided to more than 1,300 people. Indian Navy's helicopters evacuated several people and also dropped food and water packets in cyclone-affected areas.&nbsp;

India has been extending humanitarian assistance to Mozambique and had provided 10 million dollars for food grains in 2017 after it suffered a food shortage as a result of natural calamities.

Assistance was also being sent to Zimbabwe and Malawi, two other countries hit by the deadly cyclone. The cyclone has been ranked the third deadliest on record in the southern hemisphere after the 1892 Mauritius cyclone and the 1973 Flores cyclone. 
&nbsp;

Mozambique's President Filipe Nyusi has thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for India's help in the aftermath of cyclone Idai that hit Africa's east coast in March this year.

Mozambique's President Filipe Nyusi has thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for India's help in the aftermath of cyclone Idai that hit Africa's east coast in March this year. Cyclone Idai, a category-4 tropical cyclone caused massive damage in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi, killing more than a 1,000 people. President Nyusi thanked PM Modi during a phone call on Tuesday and congratulated him on his re-election. The read out from the Ministry of External Affairs said, "President Nyusi thanked the Prime Minister for the timely assistance extended by the Indian Navy at the time". Prime Minister Modi conveyed his condolences to President Nyusi on the loss of life and property in the aftermath of the cyclone and said, "India will always stand with Mozambique in solidarity and partnership." PM Modi had visited the country in July 2016. India, as one of the first responders, had dispatched four of its naval ships- INS Sujatha, INS Shardul, INS Sarathi and INS Magar - to the port city of Beira to provide Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) to people impacted by the cyclone. Indian Naval Ships (INS) provided relief material in the form of food, clothes and medicine to the affected people. More than 200 people were rescued by Indian naval crew and medical assistance was provided to more than 1,300 people. Indian Navy's helicopters evacuated several people and also dropped food and water packets in cyclone-affected areas. India has been extending humanitarian assistance to Mozambique and had provided 10 million dollars for food grains in 2017 after it suffered a food shortage as a result of natural calamities. Assistance was also being sent to Zimbabwe and Malawi, two other countries hit by the deadly cyclone. The cyclone has been ranked the third deadliest on record in the southern hemisphere after the 1892 Mauritius cyclone and the 1973 Flores cyclone.

Cyclone Idai: Mozambique's President thanks PM Modi for India's help

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