Latest News from United News of India
United News of India
15 minutes ago
- Sport
- United News of India
Boulter loses to end British hopes in women's singles
Paris, May 30 (UNI) British number one Katie Boulter was unable to cause a shock against American seventh seed Madison Keys as the nation's involvement in the French Open women's singles came to an end. Boulter lost 6-1 6-3 to Australian Open champion Keys in the second round, with a lot of self-inflicted damage caused by nine double faults across her eight service games on Thursday. "If you don't have a great serving day against someone like that, you're always under pressure," said Boulter, who was broken five times. "I think almost every service game I hit a double-fault. Against someone of that calibre, you just can't afford to do that." Boulter's exit came a few hours after fellow Briton Sonay Kartal was also knocked out. Kartal, competing in her first French Open, struggled for consistency in a 6-1 6-4 loss to Czech opponent Marie Bouzkova, the BBC reported. The pair followed Emma Raducanu out of the clay-court Grand Slam tournament after she lost to reigning champion Iga Swiatek on Wednesday. All three players are provisionally ranked inside the world's top 50 as their tussle for the title of Britain's leading women's player continues in the grass-court season. Boulter is still out in front at 38th in the world, three places ahead of Raducanu and 18 spots clear of 56th-ranked Kartal. UNI BM
United News of India
15 minutes ago
- Politics
- United News of India
Kumaraswamy blames Cong for flood, violence
Bengaluru, May 30 (UNI) Former Chief Minister and Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Friday launched a fierce attack on the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government, accusing it of turning Karnataka's coastal region into a 'political disaster' amid relentless floods and rising murders. Addressing the ongoing crisis caused by torrential rains that have battered the state, Kumaraswamy said, 'The floods may be nature's fury, but the murder spree is a political disaster fuelled by your party.' The former CM highlighted the severe disruption caused by the unrelenting rains, with homes, roads, and bridges collapsing and cities, towns, and villages waterlogged across the state, leaving people in tears and deep distress. 'Instead of acting responsibly and wiping the tears of the people, the Congress government seems desperate to bring blood and tears to their eyes,' Kumaraswamy said, condemning the administration's inadequate disaster preparedness and response. He criticised the Chief Minister for merely instructing ministers to visit flood-affected areas after lives were lost, likening it to 'bolting the door after the fort has been looted.' Kumaraswamy questioned the government's pre-monsoon preparations and its claim of people-centric governance. Kumaraswamy also accused the Congress of selective concern, pointing out its apparent indifference to the flood crisis while allegedly exploiting coastal murders for political gain. 'You have been in power for two years, blaming other parties, yet murders in the coastal region have not been curbed despite a particular community voting 100% for your party,' he said, accusing Siddaramaiah's administration of failing to protect people and instead spreading communal venom. 'You have turned a once peaceful garden of communities into a garden of venomous snakes,' Kumaraswamy said, urging the Chief Minister to immediately visit the flood-hit coastal areas and restore hope among the shattered people. UNI BDN PRS
United News of India
18 minutes ago
- Politics
- United News of India
Manipur BJP awaits Central signal to form govt
Imphal, May 30 (UNI) BJP MLAs are huddled in closed- door meetings amid speculation over the reinstatement of a popular government in Manipur. President's rule was imposed in Manipur on February 13, four days after Chief Minister N. Biren Singh resigned. Ethnic clashes erupted in the state on May 3, 2023, causing the loss of lives of hundreds of people. The BJP with 32 MLAs formed the government in the state for the first time with a majority in 2022. On Wednesday 10 MLAs, including eight from the BJP, one from the NPP, and one Independent MLA, met Governor AK Bhalla at Raj Bhavan and demanded the formation of a "popular" government in the state. Their meeting followed a civil disobedience drive in the valley led by a Meitei outfit that alleged that Central forces had insulted the state's identity by masking the words "Manipur State Transport" on a state-run bus on May 20. Governor AK Bhalla is holding talks with a series of BJP MLAs, including former Chief Minister N Biren Singh, Th Radheshyam, former Education Minister. Th Radheshyam, a decorated IPS officer, had led a team of 10 MLAs with a claim that 44 MLAs were ready to support any leader. Radheshyam said the leader will be chosen by the central leaders. Meanwhile, Manipur Speaker Th Satyabrata is in New Delhi to discuss the ministry formation. Legislators are tightlipped about the development. However, they indicated that the central BJP leaders might take a decision soon. Sources said the MLAs are anxious as the next Assembly elections are due early 2027 and if popular government is not installed, the BJP may not be able to command confidence and support of the people in the next elections. The Manipur Assembly has 60 seats, of which one is vacant due to the death of an MLA. "There is no question of differences among BJP MLAs as all will abide by the decision of the central leaders," said a state BJP leader. A huge task awaits the new leader who will have to wrestle with a political scenario where over 60,000 persons are still not able to return to their homes and people are not able to travel on the national highways as two communities are locked in a deadly conflict since 2023. None of the BJP MLAs has yet been given appointment by the Prime Minister since the outbreak of the crisis, which has led to disappointment among the ruling party MLAs. The President's rule has made little impact on the ground as none of the organizations has surrendered arms to the government in Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts -- the hotspots of Kuki militant outfits. On the other hand, all village volunteers in the valley areas have laid down arms as suggested by the government. An attempt by the Centre to make the national highway free for all failed miserably on March 8 last when Kuki villagers stopped the movement of vehicles and over 20 security personnel were injured in the clashes in which a civilian died. UNI NS PRS
United News of India
31 minutes ago
- Climate
- United News of India
Flash floods, water logging hits normal life in Guwahati
Guwahati, May 30 (UNI) Incessant rain since Thursday kept Assam's capital town, Guwahati, waterlogged for the second consecutive day on Friday. Most parts of the Guwahati-Shillong (GS) Road, one of the arterial roads in the city, remained waterlogged, triggering traffic congestion in different parts of the city. Flash floods were seen in Chandmari, Rukminigaon, Hatigaon and many other parts of the city on Friday. It may be mentioned here that the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) had predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in Guwahati and other parts of the state for the next two to three days, accompanied by strong winds. Following the weather prediction, the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) had also issued warnings and cautioned the people of the state to avoid unnecessary travel during this period. As per the IMD forecast, the weather pattern suggests that a well-marked low-pressure area lies over Northwest Bay of Bengal off the Odisha coast at 0830 hrs IST on May 28. Associated cyclonic circulation extends up to 7.6 km above mean sea level, tilting southwards with height. It is likely to move slowly northwards and concentrate into a depression over the North Bay of Bengal during the next 24 hours. Under this influence of weather, heavy to extremely heavy rain accompanied with thunderstorms and lightning along with gusty wind is expected in the western and southern districts of Assam, viz. Cachar, Hailakandi, Sribhumi, Dhubri, South Salmara, Goalpara, Barpeta, Bongaigaon, West Karbi Anglong, Kokrajhar, Chirang, Bajali, Baksa, Tamulpur, Nalbari, Kamrup (Metro), Kamrup, Darang, Udalguri, Marigaon, Nagaon, Hojai, Sonitpur, Dima Hasao, Cachar, Hailakandi, etc. The ASDMA had earlier warned that continued downpours could aggravate waterlogging, slow vehicular movement, and increase the risk of tree falls and localised landslides in vulnerable pockets in Guwahati. The city authorities are closely monitoring the situation, and emergency response systems are being kept on alert. UNI AS ARN
United News of India
31 minutes ago
- Business
- United News of India
Mumbai police to shortly have digital ID cards
Mumbai, May 30 (UNI) Mumbai police will shortly get digital ID cards after the state government has approved its chief's proposal to issue secure and technology-enabled ID cards to all officers and personnel in the city force, a top officer of the police said here on Friday. He said that in recent times, cases of fraud using counterfeit IDs, especially in the digital arrest scam, have seen a significant rise, and the issuance of digital IDs will curb crimes involving fake police IDs and address national security concerns. A budget of Rs 4 crore has been allotted for issuing digital smart identity cards for 51,308 sanctioned posts. This makes the Mumbai police the first government department in India to implement such an initiative for the entire staff. A government resolution to this effect was issued on Thursday. Given the sensitivity of the project, the home department has also permitted the police commissioner to follow a closed tender process for procurement. Currently, the Mumbai police personnel use printed ID cards, which can be easily duplicated using desktop publishing tools. UNI-AAA ARN
