Al Qaeda suicide attack note leaves Central agencies to look upon grievously

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June 8, 2022

AL-QAEDA-REPRESENTATIONAL-IMAGE — Representational Image, Photo Source: Reuters

Central agencies are “seriously” looking into the threat letter sent by terror outfit Al-Qaeda regarding suicide attacks in Delhi, Mumbai, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat to “fight for the honour of the Prophet”, said top agency sources.

Alerts have been issued across Delhi, Mumbai, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat through law enforcement agencies to strict the vigil at specific locations like airports, metro, railway stations and market areas, said the source, privy to the development.

“Security personnel have been instructed to report to the concerned department soon after noticing any suspicious activity,” the agency said. In a threat letter dated June 6, Al-Qaeda said it would launch suicide attacks in Delhi, Mumbai, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat to “fight for the honour of the Prophet”.

The letter comes in light of the controversy that has erupted after a few Bharatiya Janata Party leaders made controversial remarks on the Prophet Muhammad. “We shall kill those who affront our Prophet and we shall bind explosives with our bodies and the bodies of our children to blow away the ranks of those who dare to dishonour our Prophet… The saffron terrorists should now await their end in Delhi, Bombay, UP and Gujarat,” the letter read.

Over the last few days, several countries such as Malaysia, Kuwait and Pakistan condemned recent remarks made by a few BJP leaders on Prophet Muhammad. While Nupur Sharma made comments during a TV debate, another leader Naveen Jindal posted a controversial remark on Twitter.

India, meanwhile, has maintained that the views belong to a few fringe elements only and do not represent those of the Government of India. India also “categorically rejected” the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) statement slamming India as “unwarranted and narrow-minded”.

Earlier, the BJP suspended spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled media in-charge, Naveen Jindal, over the remarks. The party issued a statement emphasising its intolerance for disrespect of any religious personality.

Lalu Prasad Yadav fined Rs 6,000 in the 2009 model code violation case

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PTI

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June 8, 2022

lalu prasad yadav, lalu, ed, 2009 elections, rjd — Image: PTI

RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav was fined Rs 6,000 by a court in Jharkhand’s Palamu district on Wednesday for violating the model code of conduct during the 2009 assembly elections in the state.

Appearing in the court of judge Satish Kumar Munda, Prasad confessed and accepted that he violated the model code of conduct.

Judge Munda imposed a fine of Rs 6,000, which was deposited on behalf of Prasad.

Subsequently, the matter was disposed of.

While campaigning for the 2009 assembly elections, Prasad’s chopper had landed in a paddy field in Garhwa allegedly owing to the mistake of the pilot instead of the helipad in Medininagar.

A case under IPC sections 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 279 (rash driving or riding on a public way), 290 (punishment for public nuisance), 291 (whoever repeats or continues a public nuisance) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention), and section 127 of Representation of People’s Act that deals with disturbances at election meetings.

Prasad’s counsel Prabhat Kumar said the case was later transferred to Ranchi and then to Medininagar.

The supporters of the former Bihar chief minister, who gathered outside the court, welcomed the verdict and garlanded their leader.

RJD’s Palamu district unit president Ramnath Chandravanshi said Prasad will soon leave for Patna.

Sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Surjit Kumar said tight security arrangements were made for Prasad in the court. Traffic was regulated in the area.

Prasad had arrived in Medininagar, the district headquarters of Palamu, on Monday for appearing before the court. During his stay at the circuit house, a fan in his room caught fire but was swiftly doused by his aides in a close shave for the 73-year-old leader.

“I think I will sign up for this….get my study to look better!!,” says Shahrukh Khan to his wife Gauri Khan as she post on Instagram

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ANI

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June 8, 2022

SRK and Gauri at one of the functions in Mumbai - PTI (Photo for representation only) — Gauri Khan and Shahrukh Khan at one of the functions in Mumbai – PTI (Photo for representation only)

Shah Rukh Khan who is set to return to the big screen after a hiatus of more than three years, never misses an opportunity to delight his fans.

This year King Khan has announced three big releases and while his fans are waiting with bated breaths for the films to hit the box office, his small interaction with his wife Gauri Khan on Instagram has left fans in awe of the power couple.

Gauri, who is an interior designer, recently posted a video on Instagram announcing a masterclass on the interior design and decor platform. The star wife informed about the topics she will be covering in the masterclass and wrote “A sneak peek into my class on residential design @thedesignersclass.

SRK Comment on Gauri Khan's Instagram post for Residential Designing Tips and Tricks — SRK Comment on Gauri Khan’s Instagram post for Residential Designing Tips and Tricks

Learn the tips and tricks of residential design and get exclusive tips and tricks from me.

” SRK, who is known for his witty sense of humor, reacted to Gauri’s post. He commented, “I think I will sign up for this….get my study to look better!!.”

Policy Repo Rate to increase by 50 basis points to 4.9 per cent: RBI

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ANI

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June 8, 2022

Image of RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das, (Photo Source: PTI)

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday announced to increase the policy repo rate by 50 basis points to 4.9 per cent, the second hike in five weeks aimed at quelling the inflation.

The MPC vote was unanimous and has decided to keep stance withdrawal from accommodative, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said in a press conference today. The decision was taken during a three-day meeting of the RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to review the interest rates in the country. “The MPC voted unanimously to increase the policy repo rate by 50 bps to 4.90 per cent,” Das said.

“Consequently, the standing deposit facility – the SDF rate – stands adjusted to 4.65 per cent and the marginal standing facility – MSF rate and bank rate – to 5.15 per cent,” he said. Last month, in its off-cycle monetary policy review the central bank hiked the policy repo rate by 40 basis points or 0.40 per cent to 4.4 per cent.

This was the first increase in the policy repo rate in nearly two years. The repo rate is the interest rate at which the RBI lends short-term funds to banks. Inflation has been above the RBI’s 2-6 per cent target band since the beginning of this year.

As per the latest available data, India’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) based inflation surged to an eight-year high of 7.79 per cent in April. It has been above 6 per cent since January 2022. Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation in April 2022 is the highest since May 2014, when it stood at 8.33 per cent.

Bank of America Securities said in a research note that the retail inflation is likely to be around 7.1 per cent in May. CPI-based inflation is likely to average 6.8 per cent during the current financial year, Bank of America Securities said.

In April, the RBI revised upward the inflation forecast for the current financial year to 5.7 per cent from its earlier projection of 4.5 per cent announced in February. According to Bank of America Securities, the RBI is likely to further raise its inflation expectation for the current financial year to 6.5 per cent. The RBI is likely to do this upward revision in inflation projection either next week or in August.

“All Of Us Are Dead”: Netflix set off to announce the second season

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ANI

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June 7, 2022

Zombies have risen from the dead again! Streaming platform Netflix has officially renewed the popular Korean drama ‘All of Us Are Dead’ for its second season.

As per Variety, the news of the renewal of the second season was announced as part of Netflix’s Geeked Week, an event which showcases Netflix’s new series accompanied by returning ones. Netflix’s second annual Geeked Week also aims at establishing the streaming platform as the home of Asian horror and sci-fi genre content.

According to Netflix, Asian horror viewership has witnessed a surge of up to 30 per cent on the platform while viewership of sci-fi has increased to 20 per cent in the Asia-Pacific region in the years from 2020 to 2021.

‘All of Us Are Dead’ is based upon a Korean webtoon created by the talented Joo Dong-geun. The plot of the horror fiction series revolves around several high school students who find themselves amid a horrifying zombie apocalypse after a science experiment doesn’t go as planned. Students are completely cut off from the outside world while they find ways to protect themselves from the undead.

The cliffhanger ending of the first season finale revealed six of the zombie survivors who were rescued from the zombie outbreak. However, Nam-ra (Cho), the class president turned into a half-zombie. All the six survivors were quarantined by the government.

The four main actors featured in the Geeked Week video are Park Ji-hu, Yoon Chan-young, Cho Yi-hyun and Lomon, They have thanked the ‘All of Us Are Dead’ fans for their support and confirmed that the anticipated second season is just around the corner, reported Variety. Yoo In-soo, Lee Yoo-mi, Kim Byung-chul, Lee Kyu-hyung and Jeon Bae-soo also feature in this zombie apocalypse series.

‘All of Us Are Dead’ reigned in the list of Top 10 most-watched non-English TV series in 91 countries, staying there for two consecutive weeks. After the first 10 days of its release, the Netflix series witnessed 361 million viewing hours as well.

ISL: Chennaiyin FC sign Manipuri midfielder Jiteshwor Singh

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ANI

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June 7, 2022

Two-time Indian Super League champions Chennaiyin FC have roped in young Manipuri midfielder Yumkhaibam Jiteshwor Singh on a multi-year deal ahead of the upcoming season.

Jiteshwor will be joining Marina Machans following an impressive outing for Neroca FC in the I-League last season in which he was adjudged the Best Emerging Player of the Season.

He had produced one assist and spent over 1500 minutes on the pitch, featuring in 12 league and five championship stage matches.

“We are excited to see Jiteshwor in Chennaiyin FC colours especially after being awarded the Best Emerging Player of the Season in I-League last year. This is a real positive signing for us and our vision this season,” Chennaiyin FC co-owner Vita Dani said.

The 20-year-old will look to add youthful energy to Chennaiyin FC’s midfield, consisting of last season’s skipper Anirudh Thapa, who was retained by the club earlier on a two-year deal.

Talking about his maiden ISL contract, an elated Jiteshwor said: “I am very excited to join Chennaiyin FC. I can’t wait for pre-season and to meet my new teammates. I will work hard to play in the starting eleven.”

A defensive midfielder, Jiteshwor has played in three I-League seasons in his career so far since making his professional debut with Orange Brigade in 2020. He also appeared for Kolkata-based Bhawanipore FC on three occasions in the I-League qualifiers during a short loan spell in 2020.

Jiteshwor has played 40 professional matches in his career which also includes two assists.

On Saturday, two-time champions Chennaiyin FC have signed West Bengal captain and defender Monotosh Chakladar ahead of the upcoming Indian Super League season 9.

Chakladar is the third fresh signing for Marina Machans this summer. It is also a maiden ISL contract for the 24-year-old footballer, who captained Bengal in the 75th Santosh Trophy last month and played a crucial role in the state team’s runners-up finish.

A well-known face in the Bengal football circuit, Chakladar will bring invaluable experience into the Chennaiyin side, having played in various domestic competitions in his five-year-long career so far.

“Deadpool won’t be Disney-fied,” says writer

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ANI

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June 7, 2022

Deadpool Image — Photo Source: Instagram

Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick are presently writing ‘Deadpool 3’ for director Shawn Levy and star Ryan Reynolds. Reese assured fans that the script will not be ‘Disney-fied’.

According to Variety, the upcoming third chapter of the ‘Deadpool’ franchise will be the first made under Disney, which acquired Fox in 2019 after two R-rated ‘Deadpool’ films grossed over USD780 million worldwide.

Fans have speculated about how a Disney-backed ‘Deadpool’ would look, as well as if the studio’s family-friendly image will sanitize the bawdy and rude tone of the character.

“It’s these [Disney] people and these people do things their way,” Reese recently told The Playlist. “And we were used to doing things our way, so there are differences, but I think the great part is that Marvel’s been incredibly supportive. They are gonna let Deadpool be Deadpool, you know? It’s not like any particular joke may be the one that they say, ‘You know, that’s too far,’ that could happen, but to this point, it’s been nothing but support.” Reese added Marvel’s views on the franchise’s future, “It’s been nothing but, ‘How can we help you?’ What from our universe would you like to use? How can we make your life easy? And we’re gonna let Deadpool be Deadpool.

We’re not… this is not going to be the Disney-fied Deadpool. So they’re awesome, and now it’s up to us to come through and justify that faith.” “Oh, sure,” Reese said when asked if the ‘Deadpool’ trilogy will be rated R with the upcoming third film.

“They’re not gonna mess with the tone. I mean, I’d never say never, I guess there’s an outside chance, but we’ve always been told it can be R-[rated] and we’re proceeding as if it’s R. We would like it to be R, we always have, so I don’t think that’ll change.” The ‘Deadpool’ films have earned over USD780 million worldwide, making them the highest-grossing ‘X-Men’ films of all time. The first two films, which were released in 2016 and 2018, were produced by 20th Century Fox prior to Disney’s acquisition of the studio. The release date for ‘Deadpool 3’ is presently unknown.

Security being conducted for Nupur Sharma by Delhi Police after her receiving death threat over controversial religious remarks

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ANI

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June 7, 2022

Delhi Police on Tuesday said that it has provided security to suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma after an FIR was registered on a complaint that she was getting death threats following her controversial religious remarks.

“Sharma and her family have been provided police security after she alleged that she has been receiving threats and was being harassed over her remarks,” an official said.

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday suspended its spokesperson Nupur Sharma from the party’s primary membership after her alleged inflammatory remarks against minorities.

” CPDelhi I’m being bombarded with rape, death and beheading threats against my sister, mother, father & myself. I’ve communicated same to Delhi Police. If anything untoward happens to me or any of my family members…,” tweeted Nupur Sharma on May 27.

While suspending Sharma, the BJP said that it “respects all religions” and is “strongly against any ideology which insults or demeans any sect or religion”.

The BJP leader’s remark drew sharp reactions from Gulf countries. India has said that it had taken strong action against those who made controversial remarks against minorities.

ED seizes Rs 2.8 cr cash, and 133 gold coins after raids against Satyendar Jain

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PTI

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June 7, 2022

satyandar jain, ed, enforcement directorate, delhi health minister — Image: ED

“Unexplained” cash of Rs 2.85 crore and 133 gold coins were seized after raids were conducted at the premises of Delhi minister Satyendar Jain and his alleged associates as part of a money-laundering probe against them, the ED said Tuesday.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) said those raided on Monday “either directly or indirectly assisted (the minister) or participated in the process of money laundering”.

The cash and coins were “unexplained” and were kept in a “secret” place, it said in a statement.

Jain, 57, was arrested on May 30 under the criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and is in ED custody till June 9.

The ED had conducted searches at about 7 premises, including that of a jeweller, in Delhi and some neighbouring locations on Monday.

Jain, a minister without portfolio in the Arvind Kejriwal government, is being probed by the federal agency under the PMLA on charges of alleged hawala dealings.

Kejriwal recently had defended Jain as a “hardcore honest and patriot” person who was being framed in a “false case” and hoped the minister will come out clean after the ED probe.

The agency said those raided include Jain’s wife Poonam Jain, his business associates Ankush Jain and Vaibhav Jain, Naveen Jain and Siddharth Jain (directors of Ram Prakash Jewellers Pvt Ltd), G S Matharoo (chairman of Lala Sher Singh Jivan Vigyan Trust which runs Prudence group of schools), Yogesh Kumar Jain (director in Ram Prakash Jewellers Pvt Ltd.), father-in-law of Ankush Jain and Lala Sher Singh Jivan Vigyan Trust.

“Lala Sher Singh Jivan Vigyan Trust had provided accommodation entries for transfer of land from company beneficially owned by Satyendar Kumar Jain to family members of accomplices in order to alienate the property and to frustrate the process of confiscation,” the ED said.

It said “incriminating documents and digital records” were seized during the raids.

“Cash amounting to Rs 2.85 crore and 133 gold coins weighing 1.80 kg in total from unexplained source were found to be secreted in the said premises and were seized under PMLA,” it said.

In April, the ED had attached assets worth Rs 4.81 crore of Jain’s family and companies “beneficially owned and controlled” by him as part of the probe.

In a statement issued then, the ED had said a provisional order was brought out under the PMLA to “attach immovable properties worth Rs 4.81 crore belonging to Akinchan Developers Pvt. Ltd., Indo Metal Impex Pvt Ltd, Paryas Infosolutions Pvt. Ltd., Manglayatan Projects Pvt. Ltd., J.J. Ideal Estate Pvt. Ltd., Swati Jain, wife of Vaibhav Jain, Sushila Jain, wife of Ajit Prasad Jain, and Indu Jain, wife of Sunil Jain.”

The probe found that “during the period 2015-16, when Satyendar Kumar Jain was a public servant, the companies beneficially owned and controlled by him received accommodation entries to the tune of Rs 4.81 crore from shell (paper) companies against cash transferred to Kolkata-based entry operators through the hawala route”.

“These amounts were utilised for direct purchase of land or for repayment of loan taken for the purchase of agricultural land in and around Delhi,” the ED said.

The named persons in the attachment order are associates and family members of Jain, officials had said.

The money laundering case against the AAP minister stems from an August 2017 FIR filed by the CBI against him and others on charges of alleged possession of disproportionate assets (DA).

A charge sheet was filed by the CBI in December, 2018 stating that the alleged DA was to the tune of Rs 1.47 crore, about 217 per cent more than his known sources of income, during 2015-17.

The Income Tax Department too had probed these transactions and had issued an order attaching “benami assets” allegedly linked to Jain.

BJP has set new restrictions for its spokespersons

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Afternoon Voice

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June 7, 2022

bjp, spokesperson, bharatiya janata party, nupur sharma, bjp modi, modi, narendra modi — BJP has set new restrictions for its spokespersons 12

A recent episode of Nupur Sharma has globally embarrassed the Modi government, due to her dreadful statements about the prophet Muhammad. The ruling BJP has set new limitations for its spokespersons and leaders joining TV debates as its government faces a huge international backlash.

BJP leader said “Only authorized spokespersons and panellists are allowed to participate in TV debates, and they will be assigned by the media cell. The spokespersons have been warned against criticising any religion, its symbols or religious figures.

BJP panellists have been prohibited from crossing the line during heated discussions. They have been urged to keep their language restrained and not get agitated or excited, sources say. For no provocation can they violate the party’s ideology or ideals, they add. The BJP has ordered its spokespersons to first check for the topic of the TV discussion, prepare for it and find out the party’s line on it before appearing on any channel. BJP instructed the Spokespersons and panellists of the party to stay on the agenda. They should not fall into any trap.

The BJP also wants its spokespersons to focus on the government’s social welfare work. The government continues to fight after the comments of two leaders provoked condemnation from at least 15 countries.

Nupur Sharma, who has since been suspended, made the comments during a TV debate around 10 days ago. She said on Twitter that her comments had been in response to “insults” made against Lord Shiva. Another party leader, Naveen Jindal, was expelled for posting a tweet about the Prophet that he later deleted. The government sought to distance itself from the comments by describing them as “views of fringe elements”.

The BJP on Sunday said it is “strongly against any ideology which insults or demeans any sect or religion” and “does not promote such people or philosophy”. Despite the attempts at damage control, several Muslim nations have summoned India’s envoys and demanded apologies for the comments.