Empires and emperors come and go, but some institutions remain immortal. The Roman empire vanished in 476 CE, but Pax Romana became the basis of modern justice. King John died in 1216 CE, but the Magna Carta laid the foundation of democracy. The individuals in charge are mere mortals. As long as they have the keys, they can make or mar the image of credible institutions through inept and inappropriate methods. The Election Commission of Indias (ECI) conduct over the past few weeks exemplifies su

If modern India has been a successful democracy, it is because there is an ancient tradition of the idea. Participatory decision-making started in the ancient village councils or panchayatsa testimony to the grassroots democracy that thrived in ancient India. The Rigveda and Atharvaveda refer to the elections of king, prime minister and parliament by the people and some Brahmanas mention kings losing their positions. The people elected the best person as rajan . The king who failed to protect wa

NEW DELHI: An Indian Air Force (IAF) soldier was killed and four others were injured after militants attacked an IAF convoy in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Saturday. The attack in Poonch, located within the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha constituency, occurred mere weeks ahead of the region's scheduled vote in the sixth phase on May 25. The IAF issued an update via X, writing: In the ensuing gunfight with terrorists, the Air Warriors fought back by returning fire. In the process, five IAF

BELAGAVI: The third phase of polls on May 7 is poised for a closely contested battle between the BJP and Congress in the majority of the 14 of the 28 remaining seats in the state. However, all eyes are on the three top guns of the BJP, former Chief Ministers Jagadish Shettar, Basavaraj Bommai and Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, who have locked horns against three young Congress rivals in North Karnataka, a Lingayat heartland. The election for Belagavi, Haveri and Hubballi sea

NEW DELHI: Amid reports of being apprehended with 25 kg gold smuggled in from Dubai to Mumbai, the lone Afghan woman diplomat in India, Zakia Wardak, resigned from her position on Saturday. However, Wardak, who was Afghanistans Consul General in Mumbai, attributed her resignation to defamation and personal attacks. It is with great regret that I announce my decision to step down from my role at the consulate and Embassy of Afghanistan in Mumbai effective May 5th, said Wardak on Saturday. She wen

KOLKATA: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Saturday released a video via social media, alleging that the incidents in Sandheshkhali were a BJP conspiracy to malign West Bengal before the Lok Sabha polls. In the purported video, a man who identifies himself as the BJP mandal president in Sandeshkhali is heard saying that Suvendu Adhikari, the leader of the opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, is behind the whole conspiracy. The man in the video alleges that Adhikari directed him and other BJP le

Guwahati: Miscreants have carried out a series of petrol bomb attacks in Meghalaya's capital Shillong over the past two weeks sending the police into a tizzy. The attacks were perpetrated mostly at night, targeting police stations and government properties. In one incident, the miscreants had hurled a petrol bomb at the residence of Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar. In all these attacks, nobody was injured. The police said they were conducting a probe to identify the culprits and nab them

JD(S) leader HD Revanna was detained by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Karnataka police in Bengaluru on Saturday. The arrest came subsequent to a court's refusal of his anticipatory bail request in connection with a kidnapping case registered at the KR Nagar police station in Mysuru. Revanna was apprehended by SIT officials at the Padmanabhanagar residence of his father and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda. His arrest comes after a Special Court for People's Representatives in Bengalur

AHMEDABAD: Addressing a public rally in Vansda of Valsad Lok Sabha constituency, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, Sonia Gandhi tried to launch and relaunch Rahul Gandhi a number of times but failed in all attempts. Why should you vote for a person who is unfit to lead? In the last 10 days, Shah has addressed three public rallies in tribal areas during his campaign in the state, the first in Panchmahal district. Vansda falls in the Dang district of South Gujarat and is dominated by tribals. Ea

AHMEDABAD: Saturday in Gujarat saw Priyanka Gandhi question why Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Gujarat. While addressing voters in Lakhani village of Banaskantha district, the Congress general secretary said, He (Modi) claims he has done a lot of development for the state. If so, he should represent the state in the Lok Sabha. Why is he (then) not contesting from Gujarat? Banaskantha constituency, where Priyanka made the remarks, has come under the s

KOLKATA: Kolkata Police have constituted an inquiry team to probe a woman employee's allegation of sexual molestation by Governor C V Ananda Bose, a senior officer said on Saturday. The team as part of its investigation will speak to probable witnesses over the next few days and has requested the Raj Bhavan to share the CCTV footage, the officer said. Under Article 361 of the Constitution, no criminal proceedings can be instituted against a Governor during his term in office. We have formed an i

NEW DELHI: Former Delhi Congress president Arvinder Singh Lovely joined the BJP on Saturday along with a few other leaders, including former city government minister Raj Kumar Chauhan and former MLAs Neeraj Basoya and Naseeb Singh. All the former Congress leaders slammed the opposition party's alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi for the Lok Sabha polls as they joined the BJP in the presence of Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and party general secretary Vinod Tawde. Lovely hailed t

BEIJING: A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the countrys mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people. Wang Xiangnan was driving Wednesday along the highway in Guangdong province, a vital economic hub in southern China. At around 2 a.m., Wang saw several vehicles moving in the opposite direction of the four-lane highway and a fellow driv

NEW DELHI: India is not xenophobic, the country's foreign minister has insisted, after comments by US President Joe Biden suggesting the South Asian nation and fellow ally Japan were struggling economically because they rejected immigrants. Biden, who is seeking reelection against Republican rival Donald Trump in November, made the remarks at a campaign fundraising event in Washington this week. Foreign minister S. Jaishankar told a media roundtable Friday that Biden's comments did not match Ind

TIRUNELVELI: Two days after a man missing complaint was received by the Uvari police, the body of Tirunelveli East District Congress president KPK Jeyakumar Dhanasingh, was recovered in a charred state at Karaisuthu Pudur near Thisayanvilai in Tirunelveli on Saturday. The body of Jeyakumar was recovered from his own grove at Karaisuthu Pudur village, in a completely charred state. Jeyakumar was a government contractor and a business man hailing from a staunch Congress family. The body appeared t

A man wades through an area flooded by heavy rains, in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. Heavy rains in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul killed 39 people, with another 68 still missing, the state civil defense agency said Friday, asrecord-breaking floodsdevastated cities and forced thousands to leave their homes. It was the fourth such environmental disaster in a year, following floods in July, September and November 2023 that killed 75 people in total. The flooding

The name Hamida Banu is probably unheard of to folks like you and I but in the world of sports, she stands out as the first woman wrestler in India. On Saturday, Google paid tribute to her through a doodle illustrated by Bangalore-based artist Divya Negi. The artist depicts the wrestler in a pink, polka-dotted ensemble, holding her hands in a fighting position and surrounded by flora and fauna. Diving more into the date's significance, it was on this day in 1954 when Hamida Banu defeated famed w

Shaken by surgical strikes, Pak leaders now praying Cong shehzada' becomes India's PM

NEW DELHI: India's agricultural sector is blooming with modern day innovation and technology at an accelerated pace and the country is striving to achieve the 'Viksit' tag by 2047. Speaking at a national conference titled Innovate, Protect, Prosper: Role of Intellectual Property Protection in taking India's Seed Sector to the Next Level, organised by the Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII), several experts dwelt upon other subsidiary aspects of related subjects, which now merit attention

Malappuram: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday arrested four police officers in connection with the alleged custodial murder of Thamir Jifri, a 30-year-old resident of Tanur in Malappuram. Jifri died while in the custody of the Tanur police last year. The post-mortem examination of Jifri's body showed that he sustained injuries as a result of physical assault inflicted by members of the District Anti-Narcotic Special Action Force (DANSAF) squad operating under the jurisdiction

INDIA bloc PM will be first among equals, all oppn parties will join hands after polls: Shashi Tharoor

DEHRADUN: Five people were killed in a road accident after a vehicle fell down into a deep gorge near Chunakhal on the Mussoorie-Dehradun road at around 5 am on Saturday. Four of the victims are identified to be engineering students while a fellow woman passenger survived the fall with minor injuries. Speaking to The New Indian Express, Fire Station Officer Dheeraj Singh Tadiyal said, On receiving the information of the incident at around 5:30 a.m., we rushed to the accident scene with the polic

KOLKATA: The Kolkata Police inquiry team constituted to investigate a woman employee's allegation of sexual molestation by Governor CV Ananda Bose, will speak to the witnesses over the next few days, a senior officer said on Saturday. The investigators, she said have already requested the Raj Bhavan to share the CCTV footage. We have formed an inquiry team which will be speaking to some probable witnesses over the next few days in this matter. We have also requested the Raj Bhavan to share the C

Glitter and rhinestones or pro-Palestinian demonstrations and slogans? The 2024 Eurovision Song Contest opens in the southern Swedish city of Malmo on Tuesday overshadowed by the war in Gaza. Looming over the festivities is Israel's participation in the almost 70-year-old contest, which this year brings together 37 countries, concluding with the final on May 11. Malmo President Anders Puschel told AFP that he will be taking part in a demonstration on May 9, the same day Israel will be competing

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has written to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, urging him to extend all possible help to the victims of JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna's exploits. In a letter to Siddaramaiah, Gandhi condemned the actions of Revanna, an MP from the southern state, and accused him of enjoying immunity with the blessings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. In a veiled attack on Modi, the Congress leader said he has never come across a seni

Actors Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy have joined the star cast of The Magic Faraway Tree , a magical family adventure adapted for screen from Enid Blyton's children's classic. The film is produced by Pippa Harris and Nicolas Brown under Neal Street Productions, along with Danny Perkins (Elysian Film Group) and Jane Hooks, while Simon Williams, Joe Simpson and Jonathan Bross of Ashland Hill Media Finance, and Tamara Birkemoe of Palisades Park Pictures have executive produced this film. The Magic

BHUBANESWAR: In a major setback to Congress ahead of polls, party's Puri Lok Sabha candidate Sucharita Mohanty has announced her withdrawal from the electoral race, returning her ticket for the parliamentary constituency, Mohanty attributed her decision to a lack of funds and what she perceives as nomination of weaker candidates in some seats across the seven Assembly segments. I have returned the ticket because the party was not able to fund me. Another reason is that in some of the seats in 7

RAIPUR: The Election Commission of India (ECI) pioneering initiative to facilitate home voting, introduced for the first time, in the parliamentary polls for elderly citizens and Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) didn't find many takers in Chhattisgarh. The ECIs plan was intended to make the electoral process all-inclusive and accessible by enabling voting convenient for eligible citizens about 85 years of age and PwDs with 40 percent benchmark disability, giving them an opportunity and a privile

MUMBAI: Kolkata Knight Riders and Australia pacer Mitchell Starc believes not having Indian Premier League's Impact player rule will force the captains to think more tactically when the T20 World Cup begins in the Americas next month. The impact player rule, which was implemented last year, has witnessed teams batting with more aggression and fearlessness, leading to totals in excess of 200 being scored consistently. The IPL this year has been particularly high-scoring with totals in excess of 2

Nick Jonas, singer and husband of actress Priyanka Chopra, recently dropped a video revealing that he has influenza A. Nick took to his Instagram account on Friday, to explain that he won't be able to perform onstage due to his sickness. The singer apologized to his fans for 'disappointing' them and mentioned that the Jonas Brothers' show dates have been changed. The trio, consisting of Kevin Jonas, Nick Jonas, and Joe Jonas, was set to perform in Mexico this weekend. In the video, Nick said, He

COIMBATORE: Coimbatore police arrested YouTuber Savukku Shankar under five sections including sections under the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Woman Act and Information Technology Act on Saturday. According to sources, a team of police personnel from Coimbatore visited Theni and arrested Sahankar in the wee hours of Saturday. According to sources, he was arrested based on a complaint against him for passing obscene comments on women police officers in his recent interview The YouTuber

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Saturday claimed that the Centre owed Jharkhand lakhs of crores of rupees in coal royalties and central scheme benefits, and alleged that the Modi government dished out a step-motherly treatment to the state. Congress general secretary posed questions to the prime minister ahead of his rally in Palamu, Jharkhand. Why is the PM not releasing 1.36 lakh crores due to Jharkhand? Why is the PM denying 8 lakh people of Jharkhand the homes they were promised? What happened to

The United Nations food agency warned Sudans warring parties Friday that there is a serious risk of widespread starvation and death in Darfur and elsewhere in Sudan if they dont allow humanitarian aid into the vast western region. Leni Kinzli, the World Food Programs regional spokesperson, said at least 1.7 million people in Darfur were experiencing emergency levels of hunger in December, and the number is expected to be much higher today. Our calls for humanitarian access to conflict hotspots i

The Earth is the library of mankind. For centuries, an obsessive, inquisitive and courageous tribe has been trying to excavate the extensive hoard of knowledge hidden beneath its layers of soil and sand, oceans, forests, rivers and ruinsa tribe called archaeologists. Their purpose is to exhume the debris of millennia, to understand the evolution of man, the rise and fall of civilisations and empires and, in the process, find a common thread between the past and present, and explain why we are as

HYDERABAD: In establishment renowned for its exquisite culinary delights has extended its reach to the Financial District, bringing forth a diverse array of Telugu flavours to the bustling IT corridor. Yes, youve guessed it AnTeRa Courtyard, nestled in Vattinagulapally beside Pradhan Conventions, has unveiled a new outpost, following its longstanding reputation as a culinary gem as a brand in Jubilee Hills and Gachibowli, renowned for its tantalising Telugu cuisine. Stepping inside, we were inst

HYDERABAD: With decades of culinary excellence under its belt, Ohris, the iconic restaurant chain in India, has recently embarked on a new culinary adventure with the launch of Mings&Mee, a haven for Pan Asian cuisine enthusiasts. Mings&Mee offers an immersive dining experience that artfully combines tradition with innovation. Prepare your taste buds for a journey through the vibrant flavours of Japan, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Korea, Burma, and Thailand. While the restaurants ambiance has und

A cistern normally takes 10 hours to be filled by a tap, but because of one open outlet pipe, it takes 5 hours more. How long would it take for that outlet pipe to empty a full cistern? I thought this kind of problem only existed in math books until I noticed our water tankers spilling fresh water as if it were saltwater. If ignorance is bliss, Id love to be in the bliss zone of the people in the water tanker business. Only someone unaware that theres only 3% fresh water in the world would opera

HYDERABAD: Her resilient spirit propelled Dr Maddali Usha Gayatri through illness, allowing her to showcase an unwavering strength and dedication to her craft. As a Kuchipudi dancer, she has not only conquered challenges but also inspired countless individuals striving for excellence in their chosen paths. Recently honoured with the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 2023 by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, Dr Gayatri has left an indelible mark on the cultural landscape of the nation

HYDERABAD: Dilemma of the poor, frustrations of the common man and promises of politicians were aptly portrayed on stage by Dharmi Theatre Academy through a play named Hush Kaaki at the Lamakaan. Set against the backdrop of a park, the intriguing play delved into the complex dynamics of power and influence within society through the characters of two beggars Lachi and Kitty, a politician, and a common man. It also took a critical look at a persons greed and how it affects other members of a soc

HYDERABAD: Surrounded by an array of exquisite ethnic dcor, including wooden dolls, sculptures, paintings, and furniture, alongside the fragrant essence of flowers, a temporary stage adorned with vibrant yellow marigold flowers stands proudly, inviting artists to grace the Basant Festival. Hosted by Yellow Verandah, this festival serves as a symbolic ode to the arrival of spring, aiming to spread joy as nature begins anew. The Basant Festival amalgamates various art forms such as dance, music, c

HYDERABAD: Revival of Information Technology and Investment Region (ITIR), setting up of steel factory at Bayyaram, railway coach factory, Indian Institute of Management (IIM), a Supreme Court bench in Hyderabad, National Sports University and a NITI Aayog regional office are among the 23 promises made by the Congress in its Telangana-specific Lok Sabha election manifesto it released at Gandhi Bhavan here on Friday. The state Congress made these promises in addition to the partys national manife

ADILABAD : The Communist Party of India (CPI) will support Congress Adilabad candidate Atram Suguna in the Lok Sabha elections. The party took a decision to this effect during a meeting held here on Friday. CPI leaders Kalaveni Shanker and M Prabhakar Reddy and Atram Suguna, DCCB chairman A Bhoja Reddy and Adilabad Assembly constituency in-charge Kandi Srinivas Reddy were among those who attended the meeting. Speaking on the occasion, Suguna appealed to all sections of the society to support the

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister and TPCC chief A Revanth Reddy on Friday alleged that the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre was not conducting the population census as it plans to scrap reservations. Addressing election meetings in Dharmapuri and Sircilla, Revanth asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to explain why the his government did not take up the census in 2021. He reiterated his allegations that if the BJP gets majority in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, it would abolish reservations. Revan

HYDERABAD: The city recorded the highest temperature of this summer season yet on Friday amidst the prevailing heatwave conditions in the state for the past week. According to the Telangana State Development and Planning Society (TSDPS), Hyderabad witnessed the highest maximum temperature of 44.20C in Quthbullapur, marking a one degree rise from Thursdays 43.20C. The IMD also reported a sharp rise in temperatures in the city and said the ongoing heatwave will persist for the next four days acros

HYDERABAD: Refuting allegations that the BJP and RSS are against reservations, OBC Morcha national president K Laxman on Friday charged that it was Jawaharlal Nehru who was against reservations. Interacting with the media here, Laxman said that in 1961, Nehru wrote to chief ministers arguing against caste-based reservations. In his letter, Nehru wrote that he reacts strongly against anything that leads to inefficiency and second-rate standards, he said. Stating that he wants India to be a first-

VIJAYAWADA : Celebrating the successful completion of the 29th Paediatric Cardiac Surgical Camp conducted by Andhra Hospitals in collaboration with UK-based Healing Little Hearts, Managing Director of Heat and Brain Institute at Andhra Hospitals, Dr PV Ramana Murthy, said that the feat has marked a monumental achievement in providing care to children. Over six days, from April 29 to May 4, the skilled hands of Dr Andrew Parry, Consultant Paediatric Cardiac Surgeon from Bristol, United Kingdom, a

An analysis of the caste composition of candidates fielded by the YSRC and the TDP-JSP-BJP combine for the 25 Lok Sabha seats in the State reveals the fact that caste factor is one of the criteria for selection, despite the political parties commitment to ensuring social justice. Total LS seats 25 YSRC ST - 1 (Valmiki) SC - 4 (3 Mala and 1 Madiga) BC - 11 (2 Turpu Kapu, 2 Settibalija, 2 Yadava, 2 Boya, 1 Kalinga, 1 Kuruba and 1 Velama) OC - 9 (5 Reddy, 3 Kapu and 1 Kamma) BJP-TDP-JSP BJP - 6, TD

HYDERABAD : Prime Minister Narendra Modi created a new MCC (Modi Criminal Code) under which he could say anything and nobody would stop him, alleged AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday. The four-time Hyderabad parliamentarian was referring to Modis recent remarks about ghuspethiyon (infiltrators) and those who have many children during a rally in Rajasthan that sparked a nationwide controversy. Addressing a meeting at Charminar on Friday, Owaisi asked why the PM was targeting only one par

HYDERABAD: The Telangana High Court dismissed a petition that sought to cancel the anticipatory bail granted to Kadapa MP YS Avinash Reddy, an accused in the YS Vivekananda Reddy murder case. The petition was filed by Shaik Dastagiri, an accused-turned-approver in the case. Justice K Lakshman, who had reserved orders on the petition last month, delivered the verdict. Furthermore, the court has also granted bail to Avinash Reddys father, YS Bhaskar Reddy, in connection with the same case. Initial

HYDERABAD: With voting day rapidly approaching, the Congress has successfully forced the BJP on the back foot with its allegations that the saffron party will scrap reservations and change the Constitution if it is voted back to power for a third consecutive time. The air in BJP corridors is thick with tension these days as the party leaders work overtime to counter the Congress allegations, which they feel could dent their chances of victory in a majority of the 17 Lok Sabha seats in the state.