1. At Least 19 Killed in Blast at Ariana Grande Concert in British Arena
At least 19 people were killed in a blast at a concert in the English city of Manchester on Monday where US singer Ariana Grande had been performing and two US officials said a suicide bomber was suspected in the explosion.
British police said the incident, in which at least 50 people were injured, was being treated as a terrorist incident. Police carried out a controlled explosion on a suspect device several hours after the blast.
Police said they responded to reports of an explosion shortly after 10:35 pm (2135 GMT) at the arena, which has a capacity for 21,000 people, and where the US singer had been performing to an audience that included many children.
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2. Smartphones, Medical Devices to Cost Less With GST, Says Government
In a bid to ensure that the benefits of lower GST on products – ranging from smartphones to medical devices and cement – are passed on to consumers, the Centre on Monday released calculations to show how the burden of indirect taxes will come down in the new regime.
The detailed analysis from the finance ministry comes days after the GST Council, comprising ministers from the Centre and states, decided on product-wise tax rates and the government threatened to invoke the anti-profiteering clause if the gains were not passed on from July, the scheduled date for GST launch.
(Source: The Times of India)
3. Army Officer Major Gogoi, Who Used Kashmiri as Human Shield, Awarded for Counter-Insurgency Ops
Army Chief General Bipin Rawat on Monday awarded Major Nitin Leetul Gogoi a commendation card for his ‘sustained efforts’ on counter-insurgency operations, news agency PTI reported.
Interestingly, the latest development comes a week after the Army had denied that its Court of Inquiry had given a clean chit to the officer who tied a local youth in front of a moving jeep purportedly as human shield to avoid attack from stone-pelters last month.
“Major Gogoi has been awarded Chief of Army Staff’s Commendation Card for sustained efforts in counter-insurgency operations,” Army spokesperson Aman Anand said.
(Source: Indian Express)
4. Triple Talaq Undesirable, Practitioners to Face Boycott: Muslim Board to SC
Instant divorce through triple talaq is undesirable and anyone practising it will face social boycott, an influential Muslim body told the Supreme Court on Monday, as it appeared to be backing down over the controversial issue facing judicial scrutiny.
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB)’s views were presented in an affidavit that included a copy of resolutions adopted during a meeting in April to discuss the Sunni sect’s practice that allows a man to divorce his wife by uttering ‘talaq’ thrice in quick succession.
A five-member multi-faith bench led by chief justice JS Khehar last week reserved its verdict on a clutch of petitions by Muslim women seeking scrapping of the provision, which they say is against gender justice. The central government has backed the petitioners.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
5. Jaitley Files Fresh Defamation Case of Rs 10 Crore Against Delhi CM Kejriwal
Union finance minister Arun Jaitley filed on Monday a second defamation suit against Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, seeking Rs 10 crore in damages for calling him a “crook” during a hearing in a libel case last week.
The legal action compounded the Aam Aadmi Party leader’s troubles. Kejriwal is battling bribery charges by a former colleague and internal feuds after losses in the Punjab and Goa assembly elections this April and the municipal polls in New Delhi.
Jaitley charged the chief minister and five of his party colleagues with defamation in 2015.
The AAP politicians accused the BJP leader of corruption when he was president of the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) for 13 years since 2000. Jaitley dismissed the charges as false.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
6. Left Front March in Kolkata Turns Violent
Large-scale violence erupted during the Left Front’s “March to Nabanna” on Monday, leaving hundreds injured and throwing life in large parts of central Kolkata out of gear.
While the injured included Left Front supporters, over a dozen journalists were also beaten up by the police.
Almost all roads leading to Nabanna, the State Secretariat, saw pitched battles between the Left Front supporters and the heavily armed police.
While Left Front activists used sticks and bamboo poles to break guard walls and barricades and rained bricks and stones on police and the Rapid Action Force the security personnel resorted to the use of tear gas shells, water cannons and massive baton charge.
(Source: The Hindu)
7. Six Murders in 3 Days: BSP Neta’s Family Wiped Out by Business Partner
The murder of a city Bahujan Samaj Party politician and property dealer, reported by The Times of India on Monday, took a chilling turn when his business partner told cops that he had killed the man and wiped out his family in batches, committing six murders over three separate days since 20 April.
The victim, Munawwar Hasan Rana, was in jail when the alleged killer – Sahib Khan alias Bunty – made his first moves. By the time Rana was released on parole on 17 May, his wife and four children had been killed without anyone getting to know of their fate. Rana, who filed a missing report on his family after his release, was Bunty's last target.
On the night of 19 May, alleged contract killers cornered the property dealer-turned-politician in the bathroom of his house in Sant Nagar, near north Delhi's Burari, and shot him thrice, killing him on the spot.
(Source: The Times of India)
8. UP Govt Recommends CBI Investigation Into IAS Officer Anurag Tiwari's Death
Hours after Uttar Pradesh police registered a murder case in connection with the death of Karnataka-cadre IAS officer Anurag Tiwari, the state government on Monday recommended a CBI probe into the matter.
“It has been decided that investigation will be transferred to CBI,” Arvind Kumar, Principal secretary (Home) was quoted as saying by ANI.
Earlier in the day, the 36-year-old IAS officer’s family members had met Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and pressed for a CBI probe. His post-mortem indicated that he had passed away due to asphyxia.
(Source: Indian Express)
9. Coalgate: Former Coal Secretary, 2 Other Ex-Officials Get 2 Years' Jail
In what might be a first, a special CBI court on Monday awarded a two-year jail term to three former coal ministry officials, including former Union coal secretary HC Gupta, in connection with a Coalgate case.
Along with Gupta, then joint secretary KS Kropha and former director KC Samaria were also handed jail terms with regard to allocation of Thesgora B/Rudrapuri coal block to Kamal Sponge Steel and Power Ltd (KSSPL).
A fine of Rs 1 lakh was imposed on each of the former government employees. KSSPL managing director Pawan Kumar Ahluwalia was awarded a stiffer three years in jail and slapped with a fine of Rs 30 lakh, besides the company being directed to pay a fine of Rs 1 crore.
(Source: The Times of India)
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