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NTA launches digital training programme for examination officials

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NTA launches digital training programme for examination officials

The medical entrance examination is scheduled to be held on June 21. | Photo Credit: The Hindu Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan on Monday (June 15, 2026) reviewed the preparedness of the State governments for the upcoming National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test-Undergraduate NEET (UG) Re-examination, 2026, with a special focus on student convenience, security arrangements, and the integrity of the examination process, a statement from the Union Home Ministry said.The medical entrance examination is scheduled to be held on June 21. Chairman, Railway Board; Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy; Secretary, Department of Higher Education; Secretary, Department of Posts; Directors General of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, and DG, National Testing Agency, and senior officers from Ministry of Defence, and Ministry of Health & Family Welfare were also present at the meeting. Mr. Mohan directed all State governments and Central agencies to ensure that security protocols are strictly adhered to, and the exam is conducted in a flawless manner. States were requested to facilitate smooth travel of students. Chairman, Railway Board, assured full cooperation, the Ministry said.Earlier, the government had decided to transport the question papers in Indian Air Force (IAF) planes. The question papers will be transferred by the IAF to 18 locations across the country.CRPF and CISF personnel have been deployed to provide security to the exam papers as they are taken to examination centres, a government official said.According to an internal communication sent by CRPF directorate in Delhi on June 12, CRPF units across the country were asked to “deploy personnel and nominate nodal officers for security arrangements for transportation of confidential NEET-2026 examination material.”In another communication, all commandants were asked to ensure that the personnel deputed for the task should have clean record and no disciplinary or any other inquiry be pending against them. “Their ward, family members and relative should not be appearing in NEET examination,” the communication had added.The NEET-UG 2026 examination, originally held on May 3, was cancelled nationwide on May 12 following allegations of a paper leak. The Central Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case. Published - June 16, 2026 12:18 am IST

4 lion cubs die in Gujarat's Gir forest region, 17 isolated amid viral infection scare

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4 lion cubs die in Gujarat's Gir forest region, 17 isolated amid viral infection scare

The population of the endangered Nilgiri Tahr, Tamil Nadu’s State animal, has risen to an estimated 1,364, according to the third synchronised population survey, conducted jointly by the Tamil Nadu and Kerala Forest Departments.The estimate represents a 4.68% increase from the 1,303 animals recorded in 2025 and a 32% increase from the 1,031 estimated during the first synchronised survey in 2024.The findings were released on Friday by Minister for Forests R.V. Ranjith Kumar and Environment Minister V.K. Rajeev. Along with the Nilgiri Tahr report, they also released the State-level Synchronised Wetland Birds Survey 2026, State-level Synchronised Terrestrial Birds Survey 2026, and the Tamil Nadu State-wide Raptor Assessment Report.The survey was carried out under Project Nilgiri Tahr, a flagship conservation initiative to secure the future of the endemic mountain ungulate found only in the Western Ghats. It was conducted from April 24 to 27 across 177 survey blocks spanning all 14 forest divisions in Tamil Nadu. It covered 43 forest ranges and 124 forest beats across the Western Ghats.The exercise involved 858 personnel, including forest officers, frontline staff, scientists, researchers and veterinary doctors, who collectively trekked 3,219 km through rugged mountain terrain.For the first time, the Forest Department used the Android-based “Varudai” mobile application, enabling real-time transfer of field observations. The survey was conducted in coordination with institutions including the Kerala Forest Department, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)-India, Wildlife Institute of India, World Wildlife Fund (WWF)-India, TANUVAS University, Wildlife Trust of India and the Arignar Anna Zoological Park’s Advanced Institute for Wildlife Conservation.According to the report, 673 Nilgiri Tahrs were estimated in the two largest contiguous habitats — 360 in Grass Hills National Park in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve and 313 in Mukurthi National Park in the Nilgiris. The remaining 691 were recorded across fragmented habitats spread over 13 forest divisions.Among fragmented landscapes, Tiruppur division recorded the highest estimated population at 148 individuals, followed by Kalakad division with 115 and Pollachi division with 78. The report noted that The Anamalai landscape alone accounted for 44.87% of Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiri Tahr population, while the Nilgiris landscape held 29.25%.Five habitat blocksResearchers also documented Nilgiri Tahr in five habitat blocks where their presence had not been confirmed during previous synchronised surveys.Fresh sightings were recorded in Tiruvannamalai Mottai in Kalakad division, Rasivarai in Tiruppur division, Thoovanam Mottai in Megamalai division, and Kalaiyanputhur and Puramedu in Kodaikanal division.The survey found a male-to-female ratio of 55:100 and a female-to-young ratio of 100:66, indicating active breeding populations. The species was recorded across a wide altitudinal range, from around 270 metres above mean sea level to more than 2,630 metres.The report said the synchronised surveys conducted over the past three years indicate a steady increase in the species’ population and provide a strong scientific basis for long-term conservation planning, habitat restoration and management of fragmented populations.Senior officials who attended the event include Supriya Sahu, Environment and Forests Secretary; Srinivas R. Reddy, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Force); Rakesh Kumar Dogra, Chief Wildlife Warden; and A. Udhayan, Director, Advanced Institute for Wildlife Conservation. Published - June 05, 2026 11:59 pm IST

CEC member meets Forest officials over Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project, memorandum opposing project submitted

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CEC member meets Forest officials over Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project, memorandum opposing project submitted

In this image posted on June 5, 2026, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi rides a scooter during a visit to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. | Photo Credit: PTI Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Friday (June 5, 2026) alleged that the BJP’s claim that the Great Nicobar Island project is a strategic one is a “lie”, aimed at helping industrialist Gautam Adani.On World Environment Day, Mr. Gandhi launched an online petition, inviting citizens to join the campaign which read: “we choose green over greed”.Releasing a 16-minute video based on his visit to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in April, Mr. Gandhi alleged that the Centre’s proposed mega-development project in Great Nicobar would lead to large-scale ecological destruction and displacement of local communities while primarily serving private commercial interests. The project involves building a transhipment hub, an airport and a tourist township.“The Modi government and the BJP tell you the Great Nicobar project is about defence. It is not,” Mr. Gandhi said in the video, titled ‘This is what Modi doesn’t want you to see’. He argued that if strategic considerations were paramount, the government should expand INS Baaz, the naval air station located in the Nicobar Islands, a move that the Congress would fully support.“The Navy has been asking for expansion for five years. If you want to make a military argument, expand INS Baaz. There is no need to destroy rainforests for that,” he said, adding, “INS Baaz is also on the coast. The point is that they want to help Mr. Adani and these criminals are hiding behind the Navy, behind the forces, to steal Indian land. They are saying they want to build a transshipment port, but it is a non-starter as they are already building a port in Kerala, which is on the mainland so that is the first lie.”Alleging that the project was intended to facilitate large-scale commercial development, including hotels and casinos, he said more than 1.5 crore trees, ancient rainforests and coral reefs were under threat. And the size of the area that is being talked about for times the size of New Delhi.In a post on X, Mr. Gandhi said he had visited Indira Point, interacted with settlers and tribal communities, and witnessed the island’s ecological richness first hand. He alleged that tribal communities were being deprived of their land in violation of the Forest Rights Act and that settlers were not receiving fair compensation.“What kind of India do you want to inherit? One where rainforests have been bulldozed for casinos, coral reefs erased from maps, tribal communities pushed off their land, and the air we breathe turned into poison? Or one where India’s natural heritage is protected, our tribal communities are safe, and progress works with nature not against it,” Mr. Gandhi asked, urging youngsters to sign his petition.The Congress leader maintained that he was not opposed to development but favoured what he described as “ecologically balanced development”. Great Nicobar, he said, had the potential to become a global model for sustainable tourism and conservation.In a separate post, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge broadened the attack on the government’s environmental record, accusing it of weakening India’s environmental governance framework and presiding over large-scale ecological degradation. Citing official figures and project clearances, Mr. Kharge claimed that nearly 1.92 lakh hectares of forest land had been diverted over the past 11 years and that more than 1.6 crore trees had been felled since 2014. Published - June 05, 2026 05:53 pm IST

UAPA Accused Gets Bail After Nearly 5 Years In Custody

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UAPA Accused Gets Bail After Nearly 5 Years In Custody

5 min readSuratJun 5, 2026 08:17 AM IST Gangster Kundan Kumar alias Kundan Bhagat. (File Photo)The Patna NIA court on Tuesday directed the jail authorities in Bihar to hand over the custody of gangster Kundan Kumar alias Kundan Bhagat to Gujarat police for interrogation in connection with the April 26 heist of Rs 50 lakh from a State Bank of India branch in Surat city, a top officer said on Thursday. The Gujarat police will get custody of Kundan Bhagat, 29, who has been lodged in Patna central jail, in a day or two, Surat Deputy Superintendent of Police (Zone 1) Alok Kumar said, adding that all security arrangements are being taken to bring Kundan Bhagat to Gujarat.“Out of Rs 50 lakh looted from the bank, we have recovered Rs 19,000 from the arrested accused. Once we take custody of Bhagat, we expect to get details of the others involved in the robbery. Bhagat’s custody is very important to us. We are thankful to the Surat and Patna courts on the issue,” Alok Kumar said. “Our police team, with high-ranking officials, has been in Patna for the last two months. We had spoken with the Patna Superintendent of Police and discussed the security measures to be followed while bringing the dreaded criminal to Surat. We have also sent more personnel to Bihar as we don’t want to take any chances,” the SP added. A Bihar resident, Kundan Kumar, 29, arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in November 2025 in an illegal weapons and smuggling case, has been lodged in Beur Jail in Patna since November 18 last year. According to the NIA, he was indulged in illegal procurement and smuggling of prohibited bore weapons from Nagaland which were being supplied to Naxalites and criminals in Bihar. The case originated with the seizure of an AK-47 rifle along with a lens by Bihar Police. Kundan was the sixth accused to be chargesheeted in the case. On April 15, the NIA submitted a supplementary chargesheet against Kundan Bhagat, a resident of Muzaffarpur, in the case with the Patna NIA court under various sections of the IPC, Arms Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). A gang of armed robbers looted Rs 52 lakh in cash from the SBI branch in Surat’s Varachha after threatening the staff and customers at gunpoint in the afternoon of April 27. The Surat police arrested two alleged accused — Shubham Thakur (24) and Vikramjit Singh Rajput (30) – on May 7 from Gonda in Uttar Pradesh for their alleged role in the heist. The probe quickly zeroed in on the alleged mastermind: Kundan Bhagat.Story continues below this ad A mastermind of high value robberies, Bhagat reportedly chose the Varachha branch because of its record of clearing a large number of gold loans, police said. According to police, Bhagat had hired criminals from different states to carry out the robbery. Their original plan was to steal gold and diamonds from the bank vault, but that didn’t work and the gang ended up looting Rs 52 lakh from the bank, police said. Surat police arrested another accused, Miteshkumar alias Maheshkumar Lakhendra Rai, from Bihar’s Motihari district on May 30. He was remanded to Surat police custody for seven days. How police get a favourable order from NIA court After the name of Kundan Kumar cropped up during the interrogation of the two accused arrested in the case, Surat police had begun work to get his custody from Bihar jail. Surat DySP Alok Kumar said, “We first filed an application with the Surat First Class Judicial Magistrate Court to get custody of Kundan Bhagat. We explained the importance of getting custody of Bhagat. Later, Surat judge coordinated with the Patna NIA court judge. The Bihar NIA court had suggested questioning Bhagat through video conferencing. We replied that Bhagat is the main conspirator in the Surat bank heist and he had hired criminals from different parts of India, giving them code names. These gang members were also given intense weapon-firing training, and they were also told not to disclose code names or or

Defence secretary meets officials from Australia, EU, Netherlands in Singapore

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Defence secretary meets officials from Australia, EU, Netherlands in Singapore

The SPARSH Service Centre of the Defence Accounts Department being inaugurated with the lighting of a ceremonial lamp at the NCC Canteen premises in Syamala Nagar, Guntur, on Monday. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement A new System for Pension Administration Raksha (SPARSH) Service Centre of the Defence Accounts Department, Government of India, was inaugurated at the NCC Canteen premises in Syamala Nagar on Monday (June 1, 2026).The centre was launched by Lt. Col. S. V. S. Sudarsan, officer-in-charge of the Unit Run Canteen, who lit the ceremonial lamp.The SPARSH Service Centre has been set up under the supervision of the Defence Accounts Department, Secunderabad, to provide pension-related services to retired personnel of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Pensioners can use the services free of charge, with help from trained staff at the centre.In a press release, the Defence Accounts Department said the facility would help defence pensioners resolve pension issues. It said services such as the submission and processing of Digital Life Certificates and the redressal of pension grievances would be available at the centre.The authorities said the centre would give pensioners continued support and help resolve their concerns faster. The initiative is expected to improve access to pension administration services for defence veterans and family pensioners in the region.The SPARSH Service Centre is now operational and open to eligible beneficiaries. Published - June 01, 2026 04:48 pm IST

MP Shabari appeals to Chief Minister to release funds for land acquisition

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MP Shabari appeals to Chief Minister to release funds for land acquisition

PHOTOS IN DCX IN KAKINADAMinister for Tourism and Culture of Andhra Pradesh Kandula Durgesh on Wednesday warned of stringent actions against the Andhra Paper Limited (APL) if it continues to release effluents into the Godavari river.Speaking to the media, Mr. Durgesh said that the APL management would no longer be allowed to release the effluents even if it threatens to declare a “lock out” for the firm and directed the Rajamahendravaram Municipal Corporation to ensure the collection of ₹13 crore in taxes to be paid by the APL.On the proposed Vijjeswaram-Siddhantham road, Mr. Durgesh has claimed; “[Deputy Chief Minister] Pawan Kalyan has consented to the 33-kilometre-long road that connects 21 ghats for the Godavari pushkarams. The road connects the East and West Godavari districts.” Published - May 27, 2026 07:57 pm IST

Father alleges foul play in daughter’s death at Krosuru police station in Palnadu district

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Father alleges foul play in daughter’s death at Krosuru police station in Palnadu district

Police Commissioner S.V. Rajashekar Babu on Monday (May 25, 2026) launched a training programme titled “NTR Police Khaki Studio” for police constables, aimed at preventing cybercrimes.Under the programme, one police constable from each police station in the commissionerate will be trained for five days on cyber safety and prevention of cyber offences by using Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Police Commissioner said.Deputy Commissioners of Police Shareen Begum, K.G.V. Saritha, K. Krishna Prasanna and B. Lakshmi Narayana and other officers were present. Published - May 25, 2026 10:54 pm IST

US charges Mexican governor and other leaders with aiding drug cartel

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US charges Mexican governor and other leaders with aiding drug cartel

US charges Cuba's Raúl Castro with murder over 1996 downing of two planes3 hours agoKayla Epstein, Cecilia Barría & Pascal FletcherBBC News, BBC Mundo & BBC MonitoringReutersThe US has charged former Cuban leader Raúl Castro with conspiracy to kill US nationals and other crimes over the downing of two planes between Cuba and Florida in 1996.The case unveiled on Wednesday – a revival of charges originally from 2003 – accuses Castro and five others in the shooting down of an aircraft belonging to Cuban American group Brothers to the Rescue and killing four people, including three Americans.Castro, now 94, was the head of the country's armed forces and faced international condemnation over the crash.As the US seeks to exert increasing pressure on Cuba's communist rule, President Miguel Díaz-Canel called the charges "a political manoeuvre, devoid of any legal foundation".Speaking at Freedom Tower in Miami, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced that the US would also charge Castro with destruction of aircraft, and four individual counts of murder over the deaths of Armando Alejandre Jr, Carlos Alberto Costa, Mario Manuel de la Peña, and Pablo Morales."The United States, and President Trump, does not, and will not, forget its citizens," Blanche said.The justice department's new charges take aim at a key figurehead of Cuba's communist leadership when it is facing intense US pressure to make significant political and economic reforms to its one-party rule there."I think the strategy is to increase the pressure gradually to the point where the Cuban government will give in and surrender at the bargaining table," said Wiliam LeoGrand, a expert on Latin American politics at American University.The US has issued sanctions on the country and imposed a blockade on oil to Cuba that has resulted in blackouts and food shortages.Earlier on Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a message to the Cuban people timed to the country's independence day."President Trump is offering a new path between the US and a new Cuba," Rubio said.Rubio told citizens of the island that a Cuban military-run conglomerate known as GAESA is primarily responsible for the blackouts and food shortages that the country continues to endure.GAESA owns or operates most of the lucrative parts of the Cuban economy from the ports to the petrol pumps to 5-star hotels.In response to Rubio's message, Díaz-Canel accused the US of lying and imposing a collective punishment on the Cuban people.Getty ImagesActing US Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the charges in Miami.Díaz-Canel also said that the indictment of Castro was being used to "justify the folly of a military aggression against Cuba" and accused the US of distorting the facts around the downing of the plane.He claimed that Cuba acted in "legitimate self-defence within its jurisdictional waters".Asked by reporters about the prospects of bringing Castro to the US to face charges, Blanche responded that there was a warrant for his arrest."We expect he will show up here, by his own will or another way," he said.Nearly 95 years old, Castro remains an influential figure, acknowledged on the island as the surviving "leader of the Cuban Revolution". He has relinquished his active government and party roles, but during his 2008-2018 presidency, he and former US president Barack Obama presided over a short-lived thaw in Washington-Havana relations.Blanche said he would "not compare cases" between Castro's and that of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.In January, the US staged a military operation to seize Maduro and bring him to the US, after the justice department indicted him.US President Donald Trump was asked about the political aspect of the indictment."A lot of those people are related to me in the sense that I've had such a great relationship with Cuban-Americans," Trump said. "On a humanitarian basis, we're here to help."Cuba unlikely to bow without a fightGetty ImagesRaúl Castro and his brother

Koottupatha waste cleanup in final phase; 83 % waste cleared

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Koottupatha waste cleanup in final phase; 83 % waste cleared

The Government General Hospital (GGH) in Vijayawada where a street dog reportedly ran away an amputated limb kept for disposal in the biomedical waste room. | Photo Credit: File photo Officials of the Government General Hospital (GGH) in Vijayawada, who conducted a preliminary inquiry into the incident in which a street dog ran away with an amputated limb, suspect a conspiracy.The dog, which picked up the amputated limb of a patient from the biomedical waste room, allegedly took it outside a couple of days ago. An outsourcing employee of the GGH reportedly recorded the incident on his mobile phone and shared the video footage on social media groups.Suspecting foul play, the GGH officials who conducted the inquiry, questioned why the employee took video instead of alerting the staff concerned.No CCTVMeanwhile, there is no CCTV near the biomedical waste room. “The operation theatre staff handover the biomedical waste to the sanitary staff, who then dump it in the waste room and lock it. However, it is unclear how the dog entered the room and picked up the plastic bag containing the waste,” said a medical officer.“The biomedical waste room is always kept locked. We are inquiring why the room was left unlocked,” the doctor said. Meanwhile, GGH staff claim that there have been internal disputes within the hospital. Some outsourcing staff might have conspired in the incident, they alleged.Speaking to The Hindu, GGH Superintendent Dr. A. Yedukondalu said that the maintenance of biomedical waste room has been handed over to a private agency. “Instructions have been given to install surveillance cameras in the room and to follow a foolproof system for storing and disposing the waste,” the Superintendent said.“We are also inquiring why there was no security at the biomedical waste room when the incident happened,” Dr. Yedukondalu said. Published - May 17, 2026 07:12 pm IST

Hyderabad’s Gachibowli IT corridor chokes under 15-lakh-tonne waste mountain

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Hyderabad’s Gachibowli IT corridor chokes under 15-lakh-tonne waste mountain

The kochi Corporation has so far spent ₹118.30 crore on biomining. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL The National Institute of Technology-Calicut (NIT-C) is likely to submit its report on the volume of legacy waste remaining to be bio-mined at the Kochi Corporation’s Brahmapuram dumping yard on Monday (May 11, 2026).The agency, initially engaged by the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) council, was reappointed by the newly elected United Democratic Front (UDF) governing committee earlier this year. In its earlier assessment during the LDF tenure, the NIT-C had found an additional 1.46 lakh tonnes of legacy waste over and above the 7 lakh tonnes initially calculated for biomining.The NIT-C was re-engaged after the Opposition LDF contested Mayor V.K. Minimol’s statement in January, following her visit to Brahmapuram, that 2.50 lakh tonnes of waste remained to be bio-mined. The Opposition alleged that the figure included scientifically capped waste, which does not require biomining, and questioned how the estimate was reached when officials had confirmed that only 1.43 lakh tonnes remained.Since being reappointed, the NIT-C has conducted a drone survey of the legacy waste site. “We are expecting the report on Monday. It will be placed before the council meeting scheduled for May 15,” said Ms. Minimol.Just before the Assembly election notification, the UDF-led Corporation council granted Bhumi Green Energy an extension to complete biomining of the remaining waste. The council claimed it had managed to reduce the per-tonne rate of biomining by ₹18 from the previously fixed ₹1,690 through intense negotiations, saving the Corporation around ₹60 lakh.The Opposition LDF, however, alleged that norms were violated by assigning work without tender and council approval. It contested the extension agreement reached even before receiving the NIT-C’s report. LDF parliamentary party leader V.A. Sreejith warned of stiff protest when the Mayor’s advance approval comes before the council for ratification.Ms. Minimol defended the extension, citing April-May as the most suitable period for biomining, since the tonnage of waste would increase during the monsoon. She added that the Corporation would pay the bill for the additional 1.46 lakh tonnes bio-mined by the company after securing council approval through a supplementary agenda.Biomining, originally scheduled for completion within 16 months, had earlier been given a nine-month extension due to weather-related challenges and financial constraints. The Corporation has so far spent ₹118.30 crore on biomining. Published - May 09, 2026 07:57 pm IST

Health officials track dozens who left hantavirus-stricken ship after first fatality

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Health officials track dozens who left hantavirus-stricken ship after first fatality

US and Iran Trade Fire, Tennessee Redistricting, US Boat Strikes In Caribbean Download Embed Good morning. You're reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day. Today's top stories The U.S. military says three Navy ships came under attack yesterday while navigating through waters near Iran. U.S. Central Command says it responded by launching strikes on Iranian missile and drone sites. Iran says that the U.S. started Thursday's violence by attacking one of its oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. This incident marks the first report of U.S. airstrikes on Iranian soil since the ceasefire began a month ago. Malta-flagged oil tanker Odessa arrives near Daesan Port in Seosan City on May 8. Shin Yong-ju/AFP via Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Shin Yong-ju/AFP via Getty Images 🎧 Despite the recent violence, neither Iran nor the U.S. seems inclined to return to war, NPR's Aya Batrawy tells Up First. President Trump told reporters yesterday that the ceasefire remains in effect. But Trump continues to threaten Iran with more bombing if it doesn't agree to a U.S. proposal to end the conflict. Iran says it's reviewing the proposal and will deliver a response to mediator Pakistan. Republicans in Tennessee passed a new congressional map yesterday that would divide Shelby County — home to the majority-Black Memphis — into three districts. The action aims to eliminate the state's only remaining Democratic-held seat. Currently, Tennessee is represented by eight Republicans and one Democrat. The state is the first to redraw its congressional map after the U.S. Supreme Court last week weakened the Voting Rights Act's protections against racial discrimination in redistricting. 🎧 Protesters from Tennessee's blue cities argue that the new map will silence the voices of voters who support Democrats. These voters make up roughly a third of the state's population, according to Marianna Bacallao from NPR network station WPLN in Nashville. The NAACP has filed a petition to challenge the map, arguing that it is too close to the election to make changes. The organization says it could cause confusion about which district people are in. Over the last few days, Republicans in the Southern states of Louisiana, Alabama and South Carolina have also rushed to redraw congressional maps. Currently, California and Virginia are the only states that have adjusted their district boundaries to support the Democrats. Global public health authorities are working to contain a hantavirus outbreak that began on a cruise ship early last month. There have been eight cases reported, including three fatalities. The ship is currently off the coast of Africa, but dozens of passengers have already disembarked and flown to destinations in Turkey, New Zealand and the United States. Despite a series of alarmist headlines, the World Health Organization emphasizes that the risk to the general public remains very low. Here's what else you should know about the hantavirus outbreak, including what the symptoms are, how it spreads, how the U.S. has responded and more. 🎧 Epidemiologists are racing to identify individuals who've come into contact with those infected in the outbreak. Their goal is to ensure that those exposed get treated if needed. NPR's Ari Daniel speaks with the disease detectives about the challenges they face in this race compared to their work with other outbreaks. The Court of International Trade struck down a second round of worldwide tariffs that Trump ordered to replace the import levies that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled were unlawful. The international court's decision was limited to two importers who contested the tariffs, as well as the state of Washingt

Minister directs officials to expedite roadworks in Kodagu

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Minister directs officials to expedite roadworks in Kodagu

N.S. Boseraju | Photo Credit: K. MURALI KUMAR With the possibility of monsoon rains commencing in the first week of June, Minister in charge of Kodagu district N.S. Boseraju has issued directions to officials to expedite and complete the ongoing roadworks at the earliest.Chairing the district-level Karnataka Development Programme (KDP) progress review meeting in Madikeri on Tuesday, Mr. Boseraju instructed the officials to take up necessary pothole filling up works across Kodagu district at the earliest. Published - May 05, 2026 08:15 pm IST