Page 12 - Bs Reads

Iraqi ships can transit through Strait of Hormuz: Iranian military

The declaration has the potential to unleash as much as 3 million barrels a day of Iraqi oil cargoes

US deploys bulk of stealthy long-range missiles for Iran conflict

The US has allocated funds to buy more than 6,200 JASSMs since 2009, and production of the baseline JASSM for US supplies ended about 10 years ago

BJP releases fifth list of candidates for Bengal Assembly elections

The BJP on Saturday announced its fifth list of five candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal. According to the list, Saurav Sikdar will contest the Dum Dum Uttar seat, Taraknath Chatterjee will enter the fray from Krishnanagar Uttar, Anupam Biswas from Kalyani, Anindya Raju Banerjee from Madhyamgram, while Rudraprasad Banerjee will contest the Uluberia Purba seat. With this, the BJP has released the names of 292 candidates for the 294 seats in West Bengal, which will go to polls in two phases on April 23 and April 29. The results will be announced on May 4. The ruling Trinamool Congress has already announced candidates for all the 294 seats.

Stranded Indian fishermen in Iran to return home via Armenia: Jaishankar

A group of stranded Indian fishermen in Iran are returning home through Armenia on Saturday, the government said. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar thanked his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan for assistance in the return of the Indian nationals. The exact number of Indian nationals in the group and the circumstances that led to them being stranded in Iran are not immediately known. "Thank FM @AraratMirzoyan and the Government of Armenia for facilitating the evacuation of Indian fishermen today from Iran, through Armenia to India," he said on social media. Over 1,150 Indian nationals have left Iran through land border crossings in Armenia and Azerbaijan since the start of the West Asia conflict over a month ago. "A group of Indian fishermen, stranded in Iran, are returning home via Armenia today; their flight is expected to reach India this evening," a government statement said. It said the Ministry of External Affairs continues to closely monitor the evolving situation

CM Saini lays foundation for projects worth ₹120 crore in Faridabad

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Saturday laid the foundation stone for four development projects worth Rs 120.76 crore in Faridabad and said the government is committed to accelerating the city's overall growth. Addressing the 'Dhanyavaad Evam Viksit Faridabad Rally' here, Saini said significant work has been carried out over the past 11.5 years in infrastructure, connectivity, industry, Smart City development, metro expansion and digital services. According to an official statement, the projects include the construction of a rest house at Rs 50.61 crore, a dispensary-cum-chief medical officer office at Rs 41.70 crore, laying of sewerage lines at Rs 25 crore, and a school building in Old Faridabad at Rs 3.45 crore. The chief minister said the government aims to make Faridabad one of the cleanest cities in the country and unveiled a cleanliness mascot and a comic to promote public participation in sanitation drives. He also distributed e-appointment letters to around 1,3

US arrests niece, grand-niece of late Iranian general Qassem Soleimani

The Trump administration has revoked the green cards or US visas of at least four Iranian nationals connected to the current or former Iranian government, including two who have been detained by immigration authorities and are to be deported. The latest actions were taken just this week when Secretary of State Marco Rubio determined they were no longer eligible for either lawful permanent resident status, or to enter the United States. The steps follow a move late last year in which the visas of several diplomats and staffers at Iran's mission to the United Nations were also revoked. In a statement on Saturday, the State Department said the niece and grand-niece of former Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps chief Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a US airstrike near the Baghdad airport in 2020, had been arrested late Friday by immigration agents after Rubio revoked their green cards. "Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter are now in the custody of US Immigration and Customs ...

US judge halts Trump's push for race data in college admissions process

A federal judge on Friday halted efforts by the Trump administration to collect data that proves higher education institutions aren't considering race in admissions. The ruling from US District Court Judge F Dennis Saylor IV in Boston granting the preliminary injunction follows a lawsuit filed earlier this month by a coalition of 17 Democratic state attorneys general. It will only apply to public universities in plaintiffs The federal judge said the federal government likely has the authority to collect the data, but the demand was rolled out to universities in a "rushed and chaotic" manner. "The 120-day deadline imposed by the President led directly to the failure of NCES (National Centre for Education Statistics) to engage meaningfully with the institutions during the notice-and-comment process to address the multitude of problems presented by the new requirements," Saylor wrote. President Donald Trump ordered the data collection in August after he raised concerns that colleges a

Energy mix needed to meet long-term power demand: Union Power Secretary

Union Power Secretary Pankaj Agarwal on Saturday stressed the need for an "energy mix" approach to meet long-term power demand and asked Rajasthan power utilities to accelerate projects based on a combination of renewable and conventional sources. During a review meeting with senior officials of the state's energy department and power companies here, Agarwal said bundling renewable and non-renewable energy sources would help manage the rising electricity demand more efficiently. He noted that decentralised solar projects under the PM-KUSUM Scheme have gained momentum in Rajasthan, but also flagged challenges related to the grid integration of solar power. The Union Power Secretary emphasised the need to strengthen grid stability and to develop battery energy storage systems in a timely manner to ensure an uninterrupted power supply during peak hours, as per an official statement. He also reviewed issues such as daytime electricity supply to the agriculture sector in 24 districts, l

Gujarat HC bars use of AI for decision-making, drafting of judgment

The Gujarat High Court has prohibited the use of Artificial Intelligence for any form of decision-making, judicial reasoning, order drafting or judgment preparation, bail sentencing considerations, or any substantive adjudicatory process. According to the high court's AI policy, unveiled on Saturday at a conference of district judiciary judges in Gujarat, AI should be used to improve the speed and quality of justice delivery, rather than as a replacement for judicial reasoning. As per the policy, these technologies "carry substantial risks - including hallucinations, bias, confidentiality breaches, and erosion of judicial independence - that must be managed with care and institutional discipline". It says that by confining AI to the narrowest conceivable role, purely anonymised, metadata-driven case allocation and research of legal principles, "human supremacy in justice delivery is reaffirmed and limited technological assistance is harnessed to reduce administrative imbalances that

Nine-judge SC bench to hear Sabarimala, religious freedom cases from Apr 7

A nine-judge bench of the Supreme Court is scheduled to commence from April 7 the final hearing on petitions relating to discrimination against women at religious places, including Sabarimala Temple, and on the ambit and scope of religious freedom practised by multiple faiths. According to the apex court's cause list of April 7, the nine-judge Constitution bench will comprise Chief Justice Surya Kant and justices B V Nagarathna, M M Sundresh, Ahsanuddin Amanullah, Aravind Kumar, Augustine George Masih, Prasanna B Varale, R Mahadevan and Joymalya Bagchi. In September 2018, a five-judge Constitution bench, by a 4:1 majority verdict, had lifted the ban that prevented women between the age of 10 and 50 from entering the Ayyappa shrine at Sabarimala in Kerala and held that the centuries-old Hindu religious practice was illegal and unconstitutional. Later on November 14, 2019, another five-judge bench headed by the then CJI Ranjan Gogoi, by a majority of 3:2, referred the issue of ...

Milk producers receiving ₹34.18 crore monthly benefit, highest ever

Milk-producing farmers in the state are now receiving an average benefit of Rs 34.18 crore per month -- the highest ever -- as the state milk federation procures approximately 2.70 lakh litres of milk per day from the farmers. This is a significant increase compared to the average procurement of 1.57 lakh litres per day during the financial year 2024-25, a government spokesperson said in a statement here on Saturday. The federation is ensuring doorstep milk collection, particularly benefiting marginal milk producers living in remote areas of the state. This initiative is helping improve their socio-economic conditions by providing them with direct financial support. He said that the government has consistently increased milk procurement prices over the last three years. In the 2026-27 budget, provision has been made to procure cow milk at Rs 61 per litre and buffalo milk at Rs 71 per litre. Reforms made in the dairy sector have encouraged more people to participate in village dair

UK police investigate after officers left guns outside mayor's home

London police are urgently investigating how armed protection officers guarding Mayor Sadiq Khan left a bag of guns outside his home. The Metropolitan Police said in a statement late Friday that five officers had been removed from front-line duties while inquiries were being carried out. The weapons cache, which according to The Sun newspaper included an MP5 semiautomatic Heckler and Koch carbine, a Glock pistol, Taser and ammunition, were found in south London Tuesday by a couple, who then informed the Metropolitan Police. Scaffolder Jordan Griffiths told the newspaper that his girlfriend found the bag by the curbside and said that he was in "shock" after discovering what was inside. "I could not believe my eyes and took some pictures as proof of what we had found," he said. "I called the police and told them what I had found and within a few minutes they turned up to collect the guns." The police Directorate of Professional Standards is reviewing what happened and confirmed that

Iran envoy to India calls US-Israel conflict a 'strategic failure'

In a post on X, Fathali said, "A review of global think tanks, from the US and Europe to Asia, reveals a clear pattern: strategic failure for Israel and the US"

PM Modi draws massive crowds in roadshow in Kerala ahead of April 9 polls

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday led a high-energy roadshow in Kerala's capital, drawing massive crowds and turning the city's streets into a sea of supporters as the NDA intensified its campaign for the April 9 Assembly polls. Fresh from a public meeting in Thiruvalla, Modi arrived at the state capital in the evening and began a 1.5-km roadshow from Killipalam here. Braving the evening rush, thousands of party workers and enthusiastic supporters lined the route, waving flags, chanting slogans and catching a glimpse of the prime minister as his convoy moved slowly through the packed stretch. The event underscored the BJP-led NDA's push to energise its cadre and expand its footprint in the state in the final stretch of campaigning. BJP candidates, including Rajeev Chandrasekhar and R Sreelekha, joined the roadshow, adding to the show of strength. The BJP state leadership expects that Modi's high-octane public campaigns would help them make strong inroads into the grassroots

ULFA-I militant surrenders before security forces in Arunachal's Tirap

A militant of the banned ULFA-I surrendered before security forces in Arunachal Pradesh's Tirap district, an official said on Saturday. The surrendered militant was identified as self-styled private Jintu Gogoi (23), alias Arun Asom, a resident of Hachara village under Singhadawar Police Station in Assam's Sivasagar district. He laid down arms before the police, Assam Rifles, and Central Reserve Police Force at the Superintendent of Police's (SP's) office in Khonsa on Friday. During the surrender, Gogoi handed over a 7.65 mm Italian-made pistol along with one magazine and 10 rounds of live ammunition. The official said the move is part of sustained efforts to encourage militants to shun violence and return to the mainstream. Further investigation is underway, the official added.

EC suspends four Kolkata cops over lapses at Adhikari's nomination filing

The Election Commission on Saturday directed the suspension of four Kolkata Police officials and initiation of disciplinary proceedings against them for "failing" to maintain law and order during BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari's nomination filing in the hotly contested Bhabaniour seat. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had accompanied Adhikari for the filing of the nomination papers on April 2 in the seat in south Kolkata, where the leader of the opposition in the outgoing Assembly is pitted against incumbent Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. In a communique to the West Bengal chief secretary, the poll panel said the direction is based on a recommendation from state Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal. The missive directed action against Kolkata Police's Deputy Commissioner (DC-II), South Division, Siddhartha Dutta, Officer-in-Charge of Alipore Police Station Priyankar Chakraborty, Additional OC Chandi Charan Banerjee, and Sergeant Saurabh Chatterjee. "The commission has agreed to t

President Murmu greets citizens on Easter eve, calls for peace and harmony

President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday greeted citizens on the eve of Easter and asked all to renew the resolve to promote harmony, peace and brotherhood for a better future. Easter is a significant festival of Christianity. The resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ encourages people to embrace the values of truth, love, compassion, sacrifice and forgiveness, the President said in a message. "On this occasion, let us renew our resolve to promote harmony, peace and brotherhood, and strive collectively for a better future," Murmu said. She extended her greetings and good wishes to all fellow citizens, especially to the Christian community, residing in India and abroad.

Bandhan Bank's loans rise 12.6% to ₹1.54 trn, deposits up 10% in Q4FY26

Bandhan Bank's loans and advances grew 12.6 per cent year-on-year to Rs 1,54,235 crore as of March 31 compared to Rs 1,36,995, the private lender said on Saturday. On a sequential basis, the loan book expanded 6.2 per cent from Rs 1,45,224 crore as of December 31, 2025, according to a provisional unaudited disclosure filed with the bourses. Total deposits rose 10 per cent on-year to Rs 1,66,344 crore at the end of the fourth quarter of 2025-26 against Rs 1,51,212 crore in the corresponding period last year, and were up 6.1 per cent from Rs 1,56,724 crore in the previous quarter. Retail deposits, including CASA, climbed 17.7 per cent year-on-year to Rs 1,22,547 crore, while retail term deposits surged 30.1 per cent to Rs 73,796 crore. The retail-to-total deposits ratio improved to 73.67 per cent from 68.88 per cent a year earlier, the bank said in the filing. CASA deposits stood at Rs 48,751 crore in the fourth quarter, up 2.8 per cent year-on-year, while the CASA ratio stood at 29.

India extends duty-free yellow peas import window until March 2027

All other terms and ​conditions ‌governing such imports would remain ​unchanged, the government said

EU pushes for profit caps on energy firms as Iran conflict drives prices up

The finance ministers of Spain and four other European countries are urging the European Union to impose a bloc-wide windfall tax on energy companies, concerned that surging oil and gas prices driven by the war in Iran will fuel inflation and strain households. Spanish Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo said on Saturday that his counterparts from Germany, Italy, Portugal and Austria had signed a letter to the European Commission citing "market distortions" caused by the price spike. "The conflict in the Middle East has caused oil prices to rise, placing a significant burden on the European economy and on European citizens," the letter, dated Friday and made public by Cuerpo in an online post, said. "It is important to ensure that this burden is distributed fairly," it added. Europe is largely dependent on imported oil and gas, leaving it vulnerable to external shocks. In 2022, turmoil in energy markets following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine pushed inflation into double digit