
JMM likely to go it alone in Bihar Assembly polls
Days after the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) was left out of two INDIA bloc meetings held recently to discuss seat-sharing for the upcoming Bihar Assembly polls, the party has decided to go it alone.
Party spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya has exuded confidence in the JMM's ability to hold its own in the polls and stressed that it has its own identity. The party has also expressed dissatisfaction with the INDI alliance's preparation for the polls, which are due later this year. The JMM has already identified 12 seats where it wants to field its candidates in Bihar Assembly polls.
Police to seek Google help for traffic updates
What's worse than being stuck in a traffic snarl while heading for work or running late for a class? Luckily, some relief is in the offing. The Ranchi Police is set to have an audience with Google India on how to keep the public updated about the latest traffic and road conditions. All congestion points, road blockades and disturbances will be depicted on Google Maps to warn the motorists beforehand and avoid further snarl-ups. This is not the first initiative by cops to ease traffic woes. The Ranchi traffic police have also issued helpline numbers that commuters can call up or message to highlight the cause of snarl-ups across the city.
Now, cough up Rs 1,000 if found smoking in public
Have you non-smokers ever found yourself enjoying a pleasant day out when the acrid whiff of cigarette smoke spoilt your mood? Well, worry not. President Droupadi Murmu recently gave her assent to an amendment Bill passed four years ago in the Jharkhand Assembly, enhancing the fine for smoking cigarettes at a public place from a measly Rs 200 to Rs 1,000. The fivefold rise in the penalty is likely to deter even the most notorious public smokers. Notably, just a month before the Bill was passed, the state Cabinet had also cleared a proposal to ban hookah bars. The government had clarified that violators would face jail or a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh.

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Hindustan Times
37 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Sonia Gandhi hits out at India's ‘silence' as Israel bombs Iran, blasts Netanyahu, Trump
Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Saturday called on the Centre to comment on the Israel-Palestine and Israel-Iran conflicts, saying India's silence represents not just a loss of voice but also 'a surrender of values'. India News In an article in 'The Hindu', Sonia Gandhi alleged that the Indian government was earlier silent on Israel's offensive in Gaza, and is doing the same during the ongoing conflict with Iran. The Congress veteran also accused the government of abandoning India's long-standing and principled commitment to a peaceful two-nation solution envisioning an independent Palestine along with Israel. "New Delhi's silence on the devastation in Gaza and now on the unprovoked escalation against Iran reflects a disturbing departure from our moral and diplomatic traditions. This represents not just a loss of voice but also a surrender of values," Sonia Gandhi wrote in the article. Her opinion piece comes days after the external affairs ministry expressed deep concern after Israel launched waves of airstrikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites. Emphasising that India could still speak on the two key global issues, Sonia said India should use every diplomatic channel to promote a return to dialogue in West Asia. She also said that in the face of this humanitarian catastrophe, "the Narendra Modi government has all but abandoned India's long-standing and principled commitment to a peaceful two-state solution, one that envisions a sovereign, independent Palestine living side-by-side with Israel in mutual security and dignity." Defending Iran's sovereignty in light of Israel's "troubling and unlawful" strikes on June 13, Sonia said the world has "witnessed the dangerous consequences of unilateral militarism". Drawing parallels with the situation in Gaza for nearly two years now, the Congress leader alleged that Israel struck parts of Iran with utter disregard to civilian lives. However, when Israel struck Iran, it said it targeted nuclear and military sites, top generals and nuclear scientists. "These actions will only deepen instability and sow the seeds of further conflict," she noted, adding that Congress has condemned these bombings and targeted assassinations on Iranian soil. 'Iran a long-standing friend' As she called on the government to voice its opinion on the Israel-Iran conflict, Sonia Gandhi spoke highly of the Islamic Republic of Iran, saying the country has been a long-standing friend to India. "It has a history of steadfast support, including in Jammu and Kashmir at crucial junctures. In 1994, Iran helped block a resolution critical of India at the UN Commission on Human Rights on the Kashmir issue," she noted. "Indeed, the Islamic Republic of Iran has been much more cooperative with India than its predecessor, the Imperial State of Iran, that had tilted towards Pakistan in the 1965 and 1971 wars," she added. Referring to the India-Israel strategic relations in recent decades, she said, "This unique position gives our country the moral responsibility and the diplomatic leverage to act as a bridge for de-escalation and peace." She also brought attention to a significant number of Indian nationals living and working across West Asia, and how a conflict there affects their lives too. Big attack on Netanyahu, Trump Lashing out at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Sonia Gandhi alleged that the government led by him "has a long and unfortunate record of undermining peace and nurturing extremism". She alleged that given the record, "it is not surprising that Netanyahu would choose escalation over engagement". After the Israel-Iran conflict began on June 13, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to his Israeli counterpart and conveyed India's concerns about the situation in West Asia. He had called for the early restoration of peace in the region. Sonia Gandhi also slammed US President Donald Trump, who has taken a tough stance against Iran amid the ongoing conflict, and is deliberating on whether the US military would step in. She referred to Trump calling his own director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard 'wrong' in saying that the US believed Iran was not building a nuclear weapon, and said his remark was "deeply disappointing". "Israel's recent actions against Iran have taken place in an atmosphere of impunity, enabled by near-unconditional support from powerful western nations," Gandhi said.


Time of India
37 minutes ago
- Time of India
Net direct tax collections dip 1.39% to Rs 4.59 lakh crore despite 5% rise in gross mop-up; refunds surge 58%
India's net direct tax collections for the ongoing financial year 2025-26 declined by 1.39 per cent to Rs 4.59 lakh crore as of June 19, mainly due to a sharp surge in refund issuances, according to government data released on Saturday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In the same period last year, net direct tax collections had stood at Rs 4.65 lakh crore, according to news agency PTI. Gross direct tax collections, however, rose by 4.86 per cent to Rs 5.45 lakh crore, up from Rs 5.19 lakh crore collected during the corresponding period in FY24. The fall in net collections is attributed to a 58 per cent increase in refunds, which touched Rs 86,385 crore so far this fiscal, indicating improved processing and faster taxpayer services. Advance tax collections between April 1 and June 19, 2025, showed a modest growth of 3.87 per cent at Rs 1.56 lakh crore, a significant slowdown from the 27 per cent year-on-year growth recorded in the same period last year. Corporate advance tax collections rose 5.86 per cent to Rs 1.22 lakh crore, while non-corporate advance tax collections fell 2.68 per cent to Rs 33,928 crore. Corporate tax collections overall fell by over 5 per cent to Rs 1.73 lakh crore, while non-corporate tax collections, largely personal income tax, saw a marginal rise of 0.7 per cent to Rs 2.73 lakh crore. Securities Transaction Tax (STT) collections also grew by 12 per cent, reaching Rs 13,013 crore during this period. Meanwhile, the Income Tax Department has introduced the 'e-Pay Tax' feature on its official portal to simplify the tax payment process, according to news agency ANI. The broader tax reform agenda is also advancing, with the Income Tax Bill 2025 currently under review by a Select Committee. Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman had earlier announced that the new Bill, which aims to replace the existing Income Tax Act of 1961 with a more concise, litigation-free law, will be taken up in the monsoon session of Parliament. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The proposed structure also ensures zero tax liability for individuals earning up to Rs 12 lakh annually due to a raised rebate of Rs 60,000, as stated by the finance minister in her Budget speech. The government has invited stakeholder suggestions on the draft Bill to fine-tune the reforms.


Time of India
41 minutes ago
- Time of India
'Because matter became public?': Priyank Kharge gets Centre's nod for US visit; he responds with 'U-turn' jibe
NEW DELHI: Karnataka minister Priyanka Kharge on Saturday said the Union government has taken a "U-turn" and granted him permission for an official visit to the United States. Kharge also highlighted that the ministry of external affairs (MEA) revoked its earlier decision and gave him an NOC on Thursday, after his press conference that day on the issue. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "So in a U-turn, the Ministry of External Affairs has now decided to revoke its earlier decision and grant me a clearance for an official visit to the United States," the Karnataka IT minister wrote on X. The Congress leader, who is the son of party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, stated that he had applied for the June 14-27 tour on May 15, and alleged that he was denied permission without any official explanation. The timing of the NOC, he added, raised "serious questions" - why was the clearance denied in the first place, was the earlier order revoked only because the matter was made public, why should he travel to the US when key events pertaining to his programmes are already over or nearing completion, and would the MEA now not explain its earlier denial because it has now granted permission for the visit. "While the Centre gives us slogans like 'Make in India,' 'Digital India', 'National Quantum Mission' and 'India AI Mission,' the real work to realise these aspirations is happening here in Karnataka. They coin the vision, but when we do the work to bring investments, create jobs and position India as a global leader - they block us," Kharge said. These questions, he added, warrant an "urgent response" as Karnataka "deserves answers."