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Narendra Modi All Set to take Oath as PM on June 9

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Dhruv
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Narendra Modi will be sworn in as prime minister for the third time on June 9 at 7:15 pm, according to the Rashtrapati Bhavan announcement on Friday. His council of ministers will also take their oaths on the same day.

Earlier, Modi met President Droupadi Murmu and claimed the mandate to form the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government under his leadership.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief J P Nadda presented a letter to President Murmu confirming Modi’s election as the leader of the BJP Parliamentary Party. NDA leaders also submitted their letters of support.

“Exercising powers vested in her under Article 75 (1) of the Constitution of India, President Droupadi Murmu today appointed @narendramodi to the office of Prime Minister of India,” the President’s office posted on X.

“The President requested Shri Narendra Modi to: i) advise her about the names of other persons to be appointed members of the Union Council of Ministers; and ii) indicate the date and time of the swearing-in ceremony to be held at Rashtrapati Bhavan,” the Rashtrapati Bhavan added.

“This is the first election after Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. For the third time, the NDA government has been given a chance by the people to serve the country. I want to thank the people of this country for giving us this chance,” Modi said in a briefing after meeting with the President.

“I assure the people that the government will not fail in fulfilling their aspirations in the third term. I assure the people of the country that in the last two terms, the speed with which the country has moved forward, change is visible in every sector, and for 25 crore people to move out of poverty is a proud moment for every Indian,” he added.

Modi, 73, was formally chosen as the leader of the NDA, with the proposal being supported by Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Janata Dal (United), whose support is crucial to the ruling coalition.

The NDA holds a strong position with 293 MPs in the 543-member Lok Sabha. Among these, the BJP is the largest party with 240 seats. In the 2019 elections, the BJP secured 303 seats.

BSE and RBI outright deny Technical Glitches Which May Have Lead to Money Loss

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Dhruv
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Broking platforms have suggested the possibility of a glitch in the mutual fund system of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) on the day of the national elections, causing orders to process the next day after the market had already recovered. BSE has denied any fault, according to an ANI report.

Numerous users on X (formerly Twitter) reported that they purchased mutual funds through online apps on June 4, but the Net Asset Value (NAV) reflected the date of June 5, ANI reported.

Several investors using apps like Zerodha, Groww, Upstox, and Angel One expressed their frustration on social media about their inability to settle their positions in equities or futures and options (F&O).

The Indian stock market experienced its largest drop in four years on June 4, the day the 2024 Lok Sabha election results were announced, revealing that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had won fewer seats than predicted by exit polls.

The significant decline in share prices prompted many investors to place purchase orders to capitalize on the low prices. However, many of these orders were executed the next day, when the market had already rebounded by 3%, the report indicated.

“There was no technical glitch at the exchange end on June 4. However, there was some lag in receiving payments from the UPI channel for a few customers,” a BSE spokesperson stated.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) declined to comment on the issue during the monetary policy press conference but mentioned efforts to reduce downtime for UPI transactions.

With daily UPI transactions amounting to between Rs. 40 to 45 crore, the RBI acknowledged significant pressure on the system. They added that there is no delay from the NPCI’s end, but there may be some delays at the banking end, which the central bank is working to resolve in coordination with specific banks.

Japan Consumer Spendings Rise Once Again

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Dhruv
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Consumer spending in Japan increased by 0.5% in April compared to the previous year, according to data from the internal affairs ministry. This was slightly below the median market forecast of a 0.6% increase.

On a seasonally adjusted, month-on-month basis, spending decreased by 1.2%, against an estimated rise of 0.2%.

“Personal consumption, which has been stagnant for a long time, continues to be weak,” said Masato Koike, an economist at Sompo Institute Plus. “High prices are weighing on household consumption.”

Sluggish private consumption is a concern for policymakers aiming to achieve sustained economic growth supported by solid wages and durable inflation, which are necessary for normalising monetary policy.

Government data showed that while spending on education, clothing, and footwear increased in April, expenditures on food, entertainment, and utilities decreased.

The consumption data was released a day after Bank of Japan board member Toyoaki Nakamura, one of the more dovish members, expressed concern that recent sluggish domestic consumption could cause inflation to fall short of the central bank’s 2% target from fiscal 2025 onwards.

Separate data released on Wednesday showed Japan’s regular pay in April rose at the fastest pace in nearly three decades, but inflation-adjusted wages remained weak, marking the 25th consecutive month of decline.

Looking ahead, consumption is expected to gradually improve as wage hikes from this spring’s labor talks take effect, inflation slows down, and temporary cuts in resident and income taxes boost spending, according to Koike from Sompo Institute Plus.

“If consumption continues to be weak, it will be difficult to normalise monetary policy, but real wages are expected to recover and consumption is believed to pick up, which will give momentum for policy normalisation,” Koike said.

Four Indians Drown in Russia; One Gets Rescued

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Dhruv
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Four Indian medical students drowned in a river near St Petersburg, Russia. The Indian missions in the country are coordinating with Russian authorities to expedite the return of their bodies to their families.

The students—two boys and two girls aged 18-20—were studying at Novgorod State University in Veliky Novgorod city.

According to local media, a female Indian student encountered trouble while wading out from the beach on the river Volkhov. Four of her companions attempted to rescue her, but in the process, three also drowned.

A third boy was rescued by local residents.

“We are working to send the bodies to the relatives as soon as possible. Proper treatment is also being provided to the student whose life was saved,” stated the Embassy of India in Moscow on X.

The Consulate General of India in St Petersburg confirmed that these students were pursuing medical education at Veliky Novgorod State University.

“Sincere condolences to the bereaved families,” it posted on X.

The Consulate General is collaborating with the local authorities in Veliky Novgorod to ensure the swift return of the mortal remains to the families.

“The bereaved families have been contacted and assured of all possible assistance,” it added.

Karnataka HC Grants Anticipatory Bail to Bhavani

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Dhruv
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The Karnataka High Court granted anticipatory bail to Bhavani Revanna, mother of suspended Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna, in a case against her, as reported by Bar and Bench on Thursday. However, the court instructed Bhavani to cooperate with the investigation and refrain from entering Hassan district or KR Nagar in Mysore.

On June 1, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) issued a notice to Bhavani to be present at her home for questioning in connection with a kidnapping case linked to sexual abuse allegations against her son.

When SIT officers arrived at Bhavani’s house, ‘Chennambika Nilaya,’ on the same day, she was not there. The SIT conducted searches in multiple locations, including Mysuru, Hassan, Bengaluru, Mandya, and Ramanagara, as well as at the homes of Bhavani’s relatives, but they could not locate her earlier this month.

The JD(S) first family, particularly former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda’s son H D Revanna, his wife Bhavani, and their son Prajwal, faced significant scrutiny after explicit videos surfaced on April 21. Prajwal, who lost the Lok Sabha elections from the Hassan constituency as an NDA candidate, fled to Germany.

Prajwal was arrested on charges of sexually abusing multiple women. Bhavani’s husband, Holenarasipura JD(S) MLA H D Revanna, is also out on bail in the same case.

The Karnataka government established the SIT to investigate the allegations against Prajwal following a recommendation from Karnataka State Commission for Women chairperson Nagalakshmi Chowdhary, who requested Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to look into the matter.

Prajwal, facing sexual abuse allegations, returned from Germany on Friday and was immediately arrested by the SIT at Bengaluru airport. A special court in the city remanded him to police custody until June 6.

Amit Shah Talks to Devendra Fadnavis and Rejects His Offer

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Dhruv
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Days after Devendra Fadnavis expressed his intention to step down as Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister following the BJP’s poor performance in the Lok Sabha elections, Home Minister Amit Shah rejected his offer.

This development comes amid reports that Fadnavis remains resolute in his decision.

Fadnavis met with Shah at his residence, where Shah urged him to continue his work in the Maharashtra government, according to NDTV sources.

Shah also asked Fadnavis to devise a plan for reviving the party in Maharashtra, where assembly elections are anticipated in October.

Reportedly, Shah told Fadnavis that his resignation would negatively impact the morale of BJP workers.

Of the 48 seats in Maharashtra, BJP candidates won only nine. In contrast, NDA alliance partners NCP (Ajit Pawar) and Shiv Sena (Shinde) secured one and seven seats, respectively.

Meanwhile, the Congress party emerged as the largest party with 13 seats, followed by Shiv Sena (UBT) with nine and NCP (SP) with eight.

At a press conference after the results, Fadnavis took responsibility for the outcome in Maharashtra. “I am requesting the party leadership to relieve me of my government responsibilities so that I can work full-time for the party in the upcoming assembly elections,” he said.

Fadnavis acknowledged his shortcomings and committed to addressing them.

Several BJP leaders have urged Fadnavis to reconsider his decision to quit.

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar stated that Fadnavis’s resignation offer was not discussed at the NDA meeting in Delhi, noting that it was an internal BJP matter and irrelevant to the NDA meeting.

Iran Accuses West of Misleading Concerns

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Dhruv
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Iran accused Germany, France, and the UK of escalating tensions by threatening to revoke some sanctions relief granted under the 2015 nuclear deal.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), as the deal is known, remains the “best option with no alternatives,” and its revival benefits all participants, stated Saeid Iravani, Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, in a letter to the Security Council dated June 5, reviewed by Bloomberg News.

The JCPOA began to unravel after President Donald Trump withdrew the US from the agreement in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Iran. In response, Tehran restricted some UN nuclear watchdog activities and significantly increased uranium enrichment.

Iran sent the letter after the three countries expressed concerns this week about Iran’s recent actions and highlighted worries that the original deal stipulates UN sanctions on Tehran will be permanently lifted in October 2025.

These concerns were included in a move to censure Iran at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) after inspectors reported that Tehran hasn’t cooperated in resolving a probe into uranium particles. The measure passed with significant support from Western countries.

Iravani claimed that Western countries’ concerns over the expiration of the agreement are “misleading, irrelevant, and provocative” given the “absolutely peaceful nature” of Iran’s nuclear program.

The criticism at the IAEA follows recent statements by current and former Iranian officials suggesting the country might shift its nuclear doctrine to allow the building of a nuclear bomb.

Iravani asserted that the agreement, negotiated under then-President Barack Obama and later scrapped by Trump, “exemplified successful dialogue and diplomacy.”

Congress Has Managed to Pass 100 Mark in Lok Sabha

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Dhruv
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An independent MP-elect from Maharashtra, Vishal Patil, met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday and extended his support to the Congress party.

Vishal Patil, a Congress leader, contested as an independent candidate from Sangli after the seat was allocated to Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance partner Shiv Sena (UBT) under the seat-sharing arrangement for the Lok Sabha elections. Uddhav Thackeray refused to relinquish the seat for Congress. Patil won the seat independently, defeating his closest rival, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Sanjay (Kaka) Patil, by 100,053 votes. The Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate, Chandrahar Patil, received 60,860 votes.

Congress president Kharge posted on X, “People of Maharashtra defeated the politics of treachery, arrogance, and division. It is a fitting tribute to our inspiring stalwarts like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, and Babasaheb Dr. Ambedkar, who fought for social justice, equality, and freedom. Welcoming the support of elected MP from Sangli, Shri Vishal Patil (@patilvishalvp) to the Congress party. Long live the Constitution!”

Patil’s support is a significant boost for Congress, which won 99 seats in the Lok Sabha, improving its tally from 52 in the previous election.

The Congress party and its allies won 30 out of 48 seats in Maharashtra, while the BJP-NCP-Shiv Sena Mahayuti alliance managed only 17 seats.

On Wednesday, members of the INDIA bloc met in the national capital to discuss the outcome of the Lok Sabha election results.

“The constituents of the INDIA bloc thank the people of India for the overwhelming support received by our alliance. The people’s mandate has given a befitting reply to the BJP and their politics of hate and corruption,” Kharge said after the meeting.

“This is a mandate in defense of the Constitution of India and against price rise, unemployment, and crony capitalism, and also to save democracy. The INDIA bloc will continue to fight against the fascist rule of the BJP led by Modi,” he added.

Boeing’s Starliner Faces New Issues As Capsule Nears ISS Docking

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Dhruv
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Boeing’s new Starliner capsule, carrying its first two-member NASA crew, was scheduled to dock with the International Space Station on Thursday. This follows the detection of helium leaks, highlighting new issues during the critical test mission.

The CST-100 Starliner, with astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams on board, launched from Florida on Wednesday for a long-awaited test flight. This mission aims to demonstrate the spacecraft’s flightworthiness and heighten Boeing’s competition with SpaceX.

The reusable, gumdrop-shaped capsule was launched atop an Atlas V rocket by United Launch Alliance (a Boeing-Lockheed Martin joint venture) and is on a one-day journey to the ISS. It is expected to dock autonomously at around 12:15 p.m. ET (1615 GMT).

During the flight, helium leaks were found in Starliner’s propulsion system, rendering some of its 28 thrusters unusable. However, the astronauts are safe, and the spacecraft has backup thrusters to compensate, according to NASA and Boeing.

Starliner uses helium to pressurize the propellant for its thrusters. NASA and Boeing did not specify the location of the affected thrusters or the rate of the helium leak.

Despite this, NASA mission managers gave Boeing the go-ahead on Thursday morning for Starliner to proceed with docking. Once docked, Wilmore and Williams will conduct standard procedures, including checking for airlock leaks and pressurizing the passage between the capsule and the ISS before opening the entry hatches.

They will be welcomed by the current seven resident crew members of the ISS, including four U.S. astronauts and three Russian cosmonauts.

Wilmore and Williams plan to stay aboard the station for about eight days. They will then return to Earth, with Starliner re-entering the atmosphere and landing with parachute and airbag assistance in the U.S. Desert Southwest—a first for a crewed NASA mission.

The Starliner launch follows years of technical challenges, delays, and a successful 2022 test mission without astronauts. Previous crewed launch attempts were canceled due to last-minute issues, including a helium leak that was later deemed not serious enough to require a fix.

Boeing built Starliner under a $4.2 billion contract with NASA to provide an alternative to SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule, which has been NASA’s only vehicle for sending ISS crew members to orbit from U.S. soil since 2020. This mission is Starliner’s first test flight with astronauts, necessary for NASA certification for regular missions.

Wilmore, 61, and Williams, 58, are NASA veterans with 500 days in space between them. Wilmore is a retired U.S. Navy captain and fighter pilot, and Williams is a former Navy helicopter test pilot with experience flying over 30 different aircraft.

Boeing’s development of Starliner has faced delays and cost overruns, now $1.5 billion over budget. Meanwhile, Boeing’s commercial airplane manufacturing has been affected by crises involving its 737 MAX jetliners.

Kangana Ranaut Gets Slapped By CISF Jawan at Chandigarh Airport

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Dhruv
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Actor-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut, recently elected as the Lok Sabha MP from Mandi, was allegedly slapped by a CISF personnel at Chandigarh Airport on Thursday.

According to news agency PTI, the constable involved has been suspended, and an FIR has been lodged against her. ANI, citing sources, reported that a female CISF officer allegedly slapped Kangana during a frisking argument at Chandigarh Airport.

The incident occurred at the security check when Kangana refused to put her phone in the tray and pushed the security personnel. Following the altercation, Kangana left for Delhi on a Vistara flight at 3 pm.

Upon her arrival in Delhi, Kangana met with CISF Director General Nina Singh and other senior officials to explain the incident, as reported by India Today. An inquiry committee comprising senior CISF officers has been established to investigate further.

Kangana issued a statement regarding the incident, reassuring her safety and describing the events:

“I am getting a lot of phone calls from the media as well as my well-wishers. First of all, I am safe, I am perfectly fine,” she said.

She claimed the CISF personnel slapped her during the security check because the officer supported the farmers’ protest. “As soon as I came out after the security check, a lady CISF security staff came from the side, hit me on my face, and started abusing me. When I asked her why she did so, she said that she supports the farmers’ protest,” Kangana explained.

“I am safe but concerned about the increasing terrorism and extremism in Punjab,” she added.

The Bollywood actor was elected to Lok Sabha from the Mandi Constituency in Himachal Pradesh, defeating her nearest Congress rival by over 74,000 votes.

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