In this issue

June 07, 2023

DAM(N)! BLOWN UP

Ukraine blames Russia, says thousands are being evacuated; flooding could endanger N-plant

2 mins

Major LSD haul, Dark Web nexus

In one of the largest LSD drug hauls in India in recent times, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has seized 14,961 blots of the drug. A total of six active members of the drug syndicate were arrested in simultaneous raids all over India, at locations in Maharashtra, Delhi, the NCR, Rajasthan, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, who are believed to have links to source countries including the USA, Netherlands, Poland etc.

2 mins

WFI CHIEF'S AIDES ARE QUIZZED

The Delhi Police has finally got cracking and recorded the statements of WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan’s associates and those working at his residence in Gonda, as part of investigations into sexual harassment allegations against him, officials said on Tuesday.

1 min

Blending the virtual with the real world

It has been years in the making, and finally Apple has made its long-awaited debut into virtual reality, reports Daily Mail.

1 min

PILOT IS AT IT AGAIN?

Former Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot, who has been involved in a long-drawn battle with Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, is preparing to split the Congress and form a regional party on June 11, the death anniversary of his father Rajesh Pilot, according to sources.

2 mins

FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE

A San Francisco-bound Air India flight from Delhi was diverted to Magadan in Russia on Tuesday following a glitch in an engine, the Tata Group-owned carrier said.

1 min

WIZARD OF OZ VERSUS HITMAN & COMPANY

Which is the world's best five-day side: the battle for the honour begins today at 3 pm. All set for a blockbuster encounter

2 mins

TEEN RAPED & KILLED IN STATE-RUN HOSTEL

In a most shocking incident, an 18-year-old girl was allegedly raped and murdered by a security guard, Om Prakash Kanojiya (33), at the State government-run Savitribai Phule Women's Hostel, not far from the Police Gymkhana, on Marine Drive late on Monday night.

1 min

MoUs to generate 13,050MW power through green tech

While National Hydro Power Corporation will generate 7,350MW, Torrent Power will produce another 5,700MW

1 min

Over 90% of those who received extra payouts yet to return money

Less than 10% of people who received additional ex gratia payments during Covid-19 have returned the extra amount to the state government, according to data provided by Disaster Management Department.

2 mins

On Shivaji anniv, state announces war museum on legendary king

The state will demolish illegal structures at Gorai and build a war museum dedicated to Chhatrapati Shivaji, Tourism Minister Mangalprabhat Lodha has said.

1 min

BMC backs company linked with Bihar bridge collapse

Says can’t scrap contract based on news reports; design for the GMLR project IIT-verified while consultant is also keeping an eye on the works

1 min

Thorough probe ordered in Wonders Park accident

Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) chief Rajesh Narvekar has ordered a thorough investigation into the accident involving the ‘sky swinger cradle ride’ at Wonders Park in Nerul. Six of a family from Darave in Nerul were injured while enjoying the ride on June 3 night.

1 min

Court won't cancel bail to Bharti, Harsh

A special court has refused to cancel bail granted to comedian Bharti Singh and her husband Harsh Limbachiya by a magistrate in 2020 in a drugs case. The court held that the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) was at fault in not opposing their bail pleas or keeping the prosecutor or investigating officer present before the court.

1 min

2,800 CCTV cameras at crime hotspots to aid Pune police

Director General of Police of Maharashtra, Rajnish Sheth on Tuesday announced plans to enhance the surveillance capabilities of the Pune Police by installing approximately 2,800 CCTV cameras in areas prone to crimes such as theft, accidents, and chain snatching. During a media interaction event in the city, Sheth emphasized the importance of close monitoring of criminals through these cameras. Police Commissioner Ritesh Kumar and Joint Commissioner Sandeep Karnik were also present at the event.

1 min

Ecologist Madhav Gadgil's memoir to be released in August

A captivating memoir by eminent environmental scientist Madhav Gadgil will not only offer a glimpse into his deep connection with nature but also urge readers to recognise the significance of preserving India's ecological heritage.

1 min

Computer workshop by Pi Jam empowers Pune educators

In a joint effort by the District Education and Training Institute and Pi Jam Foundation, a computer science guide release ceremony and workshop were successfully conducted in the Pune district. The event was held at Haribhau Balwantrao Girme Vidyalaya, Wanavadi on Monday and DIET's Dr Shobha Khandare officiated the release of this guide, further enhancing its significance and relevance.

1 min

Collector calls for action to tackle Indrayani river pollution

Pune Collector Dr Rajesh Deshmukh has called for immediate action to tackle the pollution issues plaguing the sacred Indrayani River in the district. In a meeting held on Tuesday, Dr Deshmukh instructed officials to expedite measures and set time-bound targets to ensure the river's cleanliness. He assured technical and financial support for necessary projects and emphasized the need for continuous monitoring of progress.

1 min

Growth in rail freight at 7-mth low of 1.9% in May

Revenue-earning freight carried by the Indian Railways increased 1.9% year-on-year in May, against 3.5% the previous month, data released by the railways ministry showed.

1 min

India's Internet Economy To Reach $1 Trillion By 2030

The Economy Of A Billion Connected Indians Report

1 min

NSE changes Bank Nifty F&O expiry to Friday from July 7

The National Stock Exchange on Tuesday announced a change in the expiry of all Bank Nifty futures and options contracts to Friday from the existing Thursday. The change will be effective from Jul 7.

1 min

Despite heavy supply, debt cost slips marginally for states to 7.32%

Despite larger than notified supplies, the average cost for the states that hit the market on Tuesday will be less in terms of coupons, which slipped by 3 bps to 7.32 per cent.

1 min

Equity mkts settle flat in volatile trade

Equity benchmarks BSE Sensex and Nifty closed marginally higher in a volatile session on Tuesday as fag-end buying in auto, industrial and commodity stocks helped the indices extend gains for a third straight day.

1 min

HZL disinvestment: Govt plans investor roadshows this mth

The government is likely to begin international roadshows starting with the US this month for the sale of its residual 29.54 per cent stake in erstwhile public sector company Hindustan Zinc Ltd (HZL), an official said.

1 min

Adani says group EBITDA up 36% in FY23

Adani Group on Tuesday said pre-tax earnings or EBITDA of the listed companies, spanning ports to commodities, grew 36 per cent to Rs 57,219 crore in the fiscal ended March 31 (FY23), and there is no material refinancing risk and near-term liquidity requirement.

1 min

RBI not to remove its finger from repo rate pause button: Experts

The Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) may not remove its finger from the repo rate pause button it had hit in April 2023, said experts there by ruling out the possibility of a rate reduction.

1 min

WB projects weak global growth in face of higher interest rates

The global economy is likely slowing sharply this year, hobbled by high interest rates, the repercussions of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the lingering effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

1 min

Tata Consumer Products open to acquisitions in food and beverages: Chandrasekaran

Tata Consumer Products Ltd (TCPL) will see high growth in the domestic market, according to Chairman N Chandrasekaran, who also expressed the company’s openness to acquisitions and expanding into new categories.

1 min

IMC CEO Conclave sheds light on transformation of the MSME sector

IMC Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Saturday organized the IMC CEO Conclave at Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai.

1 min

Byju's disqualifies US lender for 'predatory' tactics, skips payment on $1.2 bn loan

Byju’s has skipped payments due on a USD 1.2 billion loan and instead disqualified the US lender for “predatory” tactics, the education technology startup said on Tuesday.

1 min

Aditya Birla Group to foray into branded jewellery retail biz: to invest ₹5,000 cr

New venture Novel Jewels will build large-format exclusive jewellery retail stores across India

1 min

HAL, GE Aviation sign contract for Hawk aircraft components

GE Aviation and India's premium public sector aerospace company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) have signed a 30-year contract that covers license to carry out repairs and overhaul of various avionics, instruments and hydraulic products for the Hawk Mk132 aircraft, an Advanced Jet Trainer operated by the Indian Air Force.

1 min

MU's new VC has to dive straight into NEP. examination issues

Dr Ravindra Kulkarni will join as the Vice-Chancellor of the 166-year-old University of Mumbai (MU), at a time when it faces the uphill task of implementing the National Education Policy (NEP), while struggling to resolve some of its entrenched problems related to conducting examinations and declaring results.

2 mins

Motion to be submitted in Canadian Parliament against repatriation

The Jagmeet Singh-led New Democratic Party (NDP) is preparing to introduce a motion in the country's parliament to cancel removal orders for the people while also facilitating a pathway to permanent residency for them. The motion will provide relief for hundreds of former students from India who could face deportation from Canada due to fraudulent enrollment offers.

1 min

No board exams for class 10 in Assam from next year

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday announced that there will be no board exam for class 10 students from the next academic year 2024.

1 min

FREEBIE FUNDA: BUT 'CASH 22' FOR SIDDA

The new Congress government in Karnataka finds itself in a Catch-22 situation on generating funds to roll out the five poll promises in the state.

1 min

After 'smart' Dalit gets dressing down, kid's thumb chopped off

Aggressive Dalit leader and Congress MLA Jignesh Mevani has taken up cudgels on behalf of a Dalit man whose thumb got chopped off while staving off a sword attack by upper caste men in North Gujarat’s Patan over a trifle on Sunday.

1 min

BJP bullish over Congress remark on cow slaughter

Efforts of the Congress Government in Karnataka to catch the bull by its horns regarding lifting the ban on cow slaughter have met with stiff resistance from the BJP.

1 min

Kerala govt withdraws Rahul's personal staff

The Kerala government has withdrawn the personal staff allotted to Rahul Gandhi following his disqualification as MP.

1 min

'STATE' OF EMERGENCY SOON: BOMMAI

Former chief minister of Karnataka Basavaraj Bommai Tuesday said that the people of the state will soon face an emergency-like situation in the state.

1 min

Mann seeks additional power during paddy season

Urges for 1,000 MW power from central pool from mid-June to Oct 15

1 min

VIOLENCE UNABATED

BSF jawan killed, 2 Assam Rifles troopers injured in Manipur encounter

1 min

Ganga bridge will be rebuilt: Tejashwi

The Bihar government on Sunday decided to rebuild the 3.1 km-long river bridge on Ganga which had caved in on Sunday evening. Deputy chief minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, who holds PWD  department, said the SP Shingla company, engaged as contractor for the collapsed bridge will bear the expenses and Rs 200 crores bank guarantee money would be forfeited.

1 min

Omar slams EC over delay in holding elections in J&K

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said the Election Commission should muster courage to tell people why assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir are not being held.

1 min

Ammonia leakage from ship sparks panic in port

LEAKAGE PLUGGED SWIFTLY, OPS STOPPED

1 min

Wrestling against the powerful for justice

As any seasoned observer can attest, the pursuit of justice is a formidable challenge. For justice, by its very nature, is a complex and elusive concept that demands unwavering commitment and perseverance. In a bold move, India's finest wrestlers have taken up the fight for justice against the formidable Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, President of the Wrestling Federation of India. The phrase “justice shall prevail” is undoubtedly familiar to all. The wrestlers’ battle serves as a poignant reflection of the workings of justice in India.

4 mins

The Superficial Handling Of The Indian Railways

Is there a precedent in the world since the advent of the railway, of a criminal investigative agency investigating a rail accident? In the case of a train blast or an explosion, it’s understandable. Though it sounds surreal, even before the railway has reached a conclusion, a CBI inquiry has been ordered into Odisha’s triple train collision. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw proclaimed that the root cause of the accident is the interference with the electronic interlocking system and points which ensures safe movement of the trains. If the cause was identified then why the CBI inquiry? Is this not an effort to cover up the glaring loopholes within the railway systems and its unattended problems, which abound? The Narendra Modi government conventionally seems to have the habit of putting the cart before the horse. High-speed trains are inaugurated but no publicity on the upgradation of tracks, bullet trains are introduced but no answers on the commuter problems, seaplanes made a splash in the news and the Gujarat government says that the services are non-functional because of the high operating costs. Has the central government got its priorities wrong when it comes to building infrastructure? In a bid to claim expediency, the Modi government has given safety a go-by.

2 mins

Phone hacking: Harry keen to delve deeper into case

Prince Harry on Tuesday became the first senior British royal to give evidence in a high court trial in over 100 years as he appeared in the witness box here to allege “utterly vile” unlawful information gathering, including by phone hacking, by journalists working for the Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN).

2 mins

Murmu announces relaxation in norms for OCI

President Droupadi Murmu has announced that India has decided to extend the eligibility criteria for Overseas Citizen Of India (OCI) card of the original Indian immigrants in Suriname from the fourth generation to the sixth generation, marking their importance in the 150-year-old bilateral relationship.

1 min

Iran unveils 'hypersonic' missile able to beat air defences

Iran claimed on Tuesday that it had created a hypersonic missile capable of travelling at 15 times the speed of sound, adding a new weapon to its arsenal.

1 min

ULTIMATE TEST, INDIA AIM TO BREAK JINX

ICC trophy has eluded them against formidable Australians as the two sides clash for a trophy at the oldest cricket venue The Oval

3 mins

Leverkusen coach moves to Borussia

Borussia Moenchengladbach appointed Swiss coach Gerardo Seoane on Tuesday in his first new job since a troubled end to his time with fellow Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen.

1 min

Read all stories from The Free Press Journal - Mumbai

The Free Press Journal - Mumbai Newspaper Description:

The Free Press Journal is one of the oldest English Daily newspapers from Mumbai with a heritage of more than 90 years. And yet, The Free Press Journal is a contemporary paper and rooted in current urban realities.

In keeping with the international trend, it has reinvented itself in terms of design, get up and content. It means different thing to different people – a platform for the articulate, a trendsetter for the young and a chronicle for the old.

It was at the forefront of freedom struggle against the British and continues with the free and fearless journalism till date. Indeed, the history of The Free Press Journalism mirrors that of Indian independence.

Swaminath Sadanand, a 30-year-old idealist from Madras trudged his way to Bombay and with a vision that was to prove uncomfortably ahead of his day, brought out a newspaper as unorthodox in character as it was innovative in concept. For Swaminath Sadanand, the Free Press Journal was not so much a business venture as a cause.

The spirit with which he launched the paper and ran it for almost three decades helped it make it an integral part of two great Indian movements — the struggle for independence and the evolution of Indian publishing.