Back Indian Railways to run Summer Special Vande Bharat Express trains in April. Check out routes, timings, and stops

Back

Indian Railways to run Summer Special Vande Bharat Express trains in April. Check out routes, timings, and stops

Indian Railway has announced the schedule and stops of summer special Vande Bharat Express trains in April 2024 it will operate for the convenience of passengers planning to visit their hometowns or tourist destinations.

A special Vande Bharat train will run from Chennai Egmore to Nagercoil on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays of this month for the convenience of passengers

Indian Railway has announced that it will run several summer special Vande Bharat Express trains in April 2024 for the convenience of passengers planning to go to their hometowns or tourist destinations. 

Releasing the schedule, the Indian Railways said the summer special Vande Bharat Express trains will be operated from Chennai Egmore to Nagercoil and on the return direction on 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27 and 28th of April. 

To cater to the increased demand during the festive season, Indian Railways operate the fully reservation-based special Vande Bharat Express trains every year. In 2023, the Indian Railways announced 283 festival special trains for Diwali and Chhath Puja, and made approximately 4,480 trips during the festival season.

To cater to the increased demand during the festive season, Indian Railways operate the fully reservation-based special Vande Bharat Express trains every year. In 2023, the Indian Railways announced 283 festival special trains for Diwali and Chhath Puja, and made approximately 4,480 trips during the festival season.

Festival special trains are operated for Diwali and Chhath Puja as well as Onam, Christmas, and New Year. There was a special Vande Bharat Express train for the convenience of passengers to and from Kerala during the Onam festival, and several Vande Bharat trains were operated during Christmas and New Year.

April 2024 Summer Special Vande Bharat Route

The Indian Railways said in a release a special train will run from Chennai Egmore to Nagercoil on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays of this month. 

Train number 06057, will depart from Chennai Egmore at 5:15 am and reach Nagercoil at 2:10 pm. In the return journey, train number 06058 will depart from Nagercoil at 2:50 pm and reach Chennai Egmore at 11:45 pm, it added.

These Vande Bharat summer special trains from Chennai Egmore to Nagercoil will have stops at Tambaram, Villupuram, Tiruchi, Dindigul, Madurai, Virudhunagar and Tirunelveli. Though it has been planned only for April as of now, the service may be extended, based on passenger demand, the statement said. 

Indian Railway has also advised the passengers to book the ticket in advance and check the official website for the updated schedule and stops of the April 2024 summer special Vande Bharat Express Trains.

 

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away!

Netanyahu says aid workers’ killing tragic, ‘happens in wartime’: 10 points

 Netanyahu says aid workers’ killing tragic, ‘happens in wartime’: 10 points

The seven workers killed in the strike were citizens from Australia, Britain, Poland, a Palestinians and a dual citizen of the United States and Canada.

People inspect the site where World Central Kitchen workers were killed in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip,

In Short

🔸Seven killed in Israeli strike at food charity in Gaza

🔸Israeli PM laments killings, but says it 'happens in war'

🔸Countries, including Poland, Spain, the UK, react strongly

Seven people working for the World Central Kitchen aid group in Gaza were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Tuesday. Three of them were British nationals, one Australian, one from Poland, one Palestinian and one dual citizen of the United States and Canada.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lamented the killing of the NGO workers calling the incident "tragic and unintended". However, he also said this "happens in wartime".

Byju's layoffs: Company starts job cuts via calls, lets go staff without notice period

 Byju's layoffs: Company starts job cuts via calls, lets go staff without notice period

Byju's layoffs: The company is also not asking employees to serve a notice period, the report claimed.

Byju's layoffs: Edtech company Byju's initiated layoffs on phone calls and is letting go employees without putting them on a performance improvement plan (PIP), Moneycontrol reported citing people in the know. The company is also not asking employees to serve a notice period, the report claimed.

Byju's layoffs: How many employees could be affected?

Byju's layoffs: The company is also not asking employees to serve a notice period, the report claimed.

Byju's new round of layoffs may impact anywhere between 100 to 500 employees, the report claimed. The sector most affected could be the sales function of the company.

In the past two years, Byju's has sacked at least over 10,000 employees as the company grapples with dwindling funds and legal showdowns with investors and stakeholders. Currently, nearly 14,000 employees are on the payroll of Byju's India entity.

Byju's spokesperson told Moneycontrol, “We are in the final stages of a business restructuring exercise announced in October 2023 to simplify operating structures, reduce the cost base, and better cash flow management. We are going through an extraordinary situation in the company because of the ongoing litigation, where every employee and the ecosystem itself is going through tremendous stress given the present circumstances.”

In the current wave of layoffs, Byju's is following phone calls with emails that read, “This is to confirm that your last working day with Think and Learn Pvt Ltd will be March 31, 2024. Your full and final settlement will be done as per the exit policy. Please hand over all the assets and proprietary information of the Company that are in your possession to enable processing your full and final settlement. In case of any queries on exit formalities, please contact separations@byjus.com.

 

Arvind Kejriwal News Live: ‘Not celebrating, my 3 brothers are in jail,’ says AAP MP Sanjay Singh's wife

Arvind Kejriwal News Live: AAP MLAs met CM Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal at her residence in Delhi today.

Arvind Kejriwal News Live: Arvind Kejriwal, the chief minister of Delhi was on Monday remanded to judicial custody until April 15. Later that evening, he was placed in Tihar Jail in the national capital. During the hearing, the Enforcement Directorate informed the Rouse Avenue Court that Kejriwal had implicated his party colleagues Atishi and Saurabh in the excise policy scam case.

Arvind Kejriwal leaves in a car after attending a hearing at a court, in New Delhi.

Kejriwal claimed that one of the accused in the case, Vijay Nair, who was also the former communication-in-charge of AAP, used to report to Atishi.

In a turn of events on Tuesday, Delhi minister Atishi addressed a press conference in which she said that she was asked to ‘join the BJP or face ED action.’ She further claimed that this warning was extended to three other AAP leaders: Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, MLA Durgesh Pathak, and Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha, who were also allegedly at risk of arrest.

Aam Aadmi Party leader Saurabh Bharadwaj also made similar comments.

Meanwhile, hitting back at the AAP's allegations against it, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said, "If they have all the evidence in their command why don't the courts give them relief? This is the same party which said a few months ago that ₹800 crore had been kept by the BJP, they are breaking our party we have an audio tape we are going to disclose it but where is that audio tape?... This party has the track record of making the most number of lies and the most number of untruthful statements..."

AAP MLAs also met CM Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal at her residence in Delhi today

Tue, 02 Apr 2024 05:42 PM

Arvind Kejriwal News Live: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Sanjay Singh's bail in liquor scam case

Arvind Kejriwal News Live: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, speaking to news agency ANI about the Supreme Court granting bail to Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh, says, “I welcome the decision of the Supreme Court... This shows that the BJP is misusing the central agencies to suppress and politically arrest opposition leaders. Sanjay Singh has got bail and he can get involved in his party affairs also... Enforcement Directorate has knelt down before BJP... ED has been reduced to the Extortion Department and an Extended Department of the BJP.”

‘Pick your battles’: CJI Chandrachud tells probe agencies; lauds new criminal laws

 ‘Pick your battles’: CJI Chandrachud tells probe agencies; lauds new criminal laws

CJI DY Chandrachud also stressed on need to strike a balance between exercising search and seizure powers and the individual’s privacy rights.

NEW DELHI: Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud on Monday said the premier probe agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) must concentrate on those cases of importance that threaten the security, public order and economic health of the country rather than taking up petty cases while praising the three new criminal laws brought by the Centre.

Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud frowned at incidents of unwarranted confiscation of personal devices

CJI Chandrachud also emphasised the need to “uphold due process” in the functioning of law enforcement agencies and striking a delicate balance between “search and seizure powers” and “individual privacy rights” to create a fair and just society, alluding to the unwarranted seizure of personal devices during raids.

“It is important for us, both in the context of not just streamlining the courts but also promoting the efficiency of CBI and the investigative agencies to pick our battles. I think we have perhaps been spreading our investigative agencies too thin over the years, despite a rapid change in the environment. Our premier investigative agencies must concentrate their attention and efforts on that class of crime which truly threatens the security of the nation, public order or economic health of the nation,” the CJI said while delivering the 20th DP Kohli Memorial Lecture, organised by CBI in the memory of its founding director. “Allowing our investigative agencies to spread themselves too thin would really pose a serious challenge to the personnel who man the agencies because the number of personnel is obviously limited,” CJI Chandrachud said as he cited the example of CBI, which consists largely of officers who come on deputation.

The CJI was referring to instances of CBI investigating cases involving bribes as low as ₹300.

Lauding the three new criminal laws – Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), which will replace the colonial era Indian Penal Code (IPC), Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and Indian Evidence Act from July 1 -- the CJI noted that “the new criminal laws enacted by Parliament encompass substantive crime, procedure and evidence”.

“These laws aim at digitising various aspects of criminal procedure. This is a significant step towards modernising the justice system. From the initial registration of a first information report to the final delivery of judgment, every stage of a criminal investigation is slated to be recorded digitally under the purview of the proposed legislation. This comprehensive approach ensures a seamless flow of information and is intended to facilitate better coordination and collaboration among stakeholders involved in the investigative and adjudicatory processes,” he said.

“Summons can now be issued electronically, and testimonies from witnesses, experts, accused individuals, and other parties may also be presented virtually,” the CJI said, Underscoring how the new laws will integrate technology with the criminal justice system.

“This innovation eliminates the need for physical documentation and enables swift communication between law enforcement agencies, courts, and individuals involved in legal proceedings. It will obviate the delay in bail orders reaching the jail authorities and in recording witness depositions. Similarly, the authorisation for presenting testimonies virtually opens up new avenues for participation in legal proceedings, allowing contributions to the process from remote locations”, he added.

CJI Chandrachud also advocated for striking a balance between investigative imperatives and individual privacy rights in his address.

“In the realm of criminal justice, the delicate balance between search and seizure powers and individual privacy rights stands at the cornerstone of a fair and just society. At the heart of this balance lies the need to uphold due process while ensuring the effective functioning of law enforcement agencies,” he said.

The CJI noted that Section 94 of the newly enacted BNSS and Section 185 of BSA grant courts and law enforcement the authority to summon documents and materials, including digital evidence deemed necessary for investigation.

“Instances of raids conducted and incidents of unwarranted confiscation of personal devices highlight the pressing need to strike a balance between investigative imperatives and individual privacy rights,” he said.

The CJI further highlighted there was a need to rethink our investigative framework to deal with the innovations in criminal activities and called for having “multidisciplinary teams” consisting of officers and domain experts.

“The practice of allocating a case to an investigative officer (IO) and his local team for investigation must be re-looked to meet the challenges of sophisticated criminal networks. We can do this by completely re-engineering the national response to crime and our approach to criminal investigation by forming multidisciplinary teams consisting of law enforcement officers and domain experts including data analysts. These teams would draw from the expertise of their members and refine their investigative work. Multidisciplinary investigative teams can deploy unique approaches and pattern recognition in a seamless manner over a fluid investigative landscape,” he said.

While recommending the use of technology such as AI by agencies to bolster the criminal justice system, CJI asked to prioritise “ethical considerations” in utilising such technologies and have clear guidelines and safeguards to prevent misuse.

Unveiling Elections 2024: The Big Picture', a fresh segment in HT's talk show 'The Interview with Kumkum Chadha', where leaders across the political spectrum discuss the upcoming general elections. Watch now!

Get Current Updates on India News, Election 2024, Lok Sabha Section 2024 Live Updates, Arvind Kejriwal News Live along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON

TOPICS

Mars exploration: NASA's Curiosity searches for new clues about ancient water

 Mars exploration: NASA's Curiosity searches for new clues about ancient water

A recent study by an international team has suggested that Mars might have retained more water for a longer period than previously thought.

The presence of water on Mars—Earth’s neighbour —is not an alien concept. Astronomers over decades have talked about the presence of water on the Red Planet without evidence. However, a recent study by an international team has suggested that the fourth planet of the solar system from the Sun might have retained more water for a longer period than previously thought.

As the Curiosity rover of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has begun exploring a new region of Mars i.e Gediz Vallis channel—appears to have been carved by an ancient river—it could reveal more about when liquid water disappeared once and for all from the Red Planet’s surface.

The rover team is focusing on the Gediz Vallis channel and searching on for evidence that would confirm how the channel was carved into the underlying bedrock. The formation’s sides are steep enough that the team doesn’t think the channel was made by wind.

The rover’s journey through this region aims to find out the process of the Gediz Vallis channel formation—whether the debris flows (rapid, wet landslides) or a river carrying rocks and sediment could have formed the bedrock. Scientists are also eager to find out whether the debris was transported by water or dry avalanches.

Since 2014, Curiosity has been ascending the foothills of Mount Sharp above the floor of Gale Crater to explore the evaluation of the Mars climate change. The study of layers in the lower part of Mount Sharp formed over millions of years may provide scientists a clue as to how the presence of both water and the chemical ingredients required for life changed over time. These layers present a chronological record of Mars’ environmental changes, crucial for understanding its potential for past life.

Also Read | Vistara Airlines confirms flight cancellations, delays

“If the channel or the debris pile were formed by liquid water, that’s really interesting. It would mean that fairly late in the story of Mount Sharp – after a long dry period – water came back, and in a big way," said Curiosity’s project scientist, Ashwin Vasavada of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California.

Last year, Curiosity made a challenging ascent to study the ridge, which drapes across the slopes of Mount Sharp and seems to grow out of the end of the channel, suggesting both are part of one geologic system.

This Curiosity exploration contributes to a growing body of evidence suggesting Mars experienced water in phases, with periods of aridity interspersed with significant watery intervals. Discoveries like mud cracks, remnants of shallow lakes, and evidence of the complexity of Mars's hydrological past, Massive debris flows underscore the complexity of Mars’ hydrological past.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!

OPEN IN APP

Catch all the Business News, Market News, Breaking News Events and Latest News Updates on Live Mint. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates.

Next Story

Pluto declared ‘official state planet’ of this US state

2 min read

01 Apr 2024, 03:16 PM IST

Join us

Written By Deepak Upadhyay

Arizona—a southwestern US state—has recently declared Pluto as its ‘official state planet’ despite the ‘dwarf planet’ being stripped of its official status as a planet in 2006 by the International Astronomical Union

This Pluto image was taken in July 2015, when NASA's New Horizons spacecraft was 476,000 miles (768,000 kilometers) from the surface

Arizona--a southwestern US state—has recently declared Pluto as its ‘official state planet’ despite the ‘dwarf planet’ being stripped of its official status as a planet in 2006 by the International Astronomical Union

Last Friday (i.e. March 29), Arizona governor Katie Hobbs signed a legislation declaring the ‘dwarf planet’ as the ‘official state planet’ of the US state, reported The Arizona Daily Star. When quizzed on whether the Pluto is a full-fledged planet? The Arizona governor dodged the question saying “I am proud of Arizona’s pioneering work in space discovery."

It is important to note that Pluto was discovered by American astronomer Clyde Tombaugh at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff of Arizona in 1930. Pluto happens to be the only planet to be discovered in the US.

“The whole story of Clyde is just amazing, just sitting there under the telescope’’ looking for planets by taking photos over a period of time," said Arizona state Republican Justin Wilmeth (R-Phoenix), who praised the Pluto legislation.

Senator Sally Ann Gonzales (D-Tucson)--one among the five senators who voted against the legislation--said, “Scientifically, they took it out of being a planet." Gonzales added that lawmakers must take scientific information into account, “something that we as a Legislature, as a body, sometimes omit.’’

What is the status of Pluto?

In 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) voted to remove Pluto from the group of planets, claiming that the icy object at the edge of the solar system failed to meet the full and proper definition of planets. The IAU reclassified Pluto as a “dwarf planet."

According to NASA, “Pluto is a dwarf planet located in a distant region of our solar system beyond Neptune known as the Kuiper Belt. It was long considered our ninth planet, but the International Astronomical Union reclassified Pluto as a dwarf planet in 2006."

“It was named by 11-year-old Venetia Burney of Oxford, England," the US space agency added.

Pluto is classified as a dwarf planet because, “while it is large enough to have become spherical, it is not big enough to exert its orbital dominance and clear the neighbourhood surrounding its orbit," ass per Encyclopedia Britannica.

The website noted that Pluto’s “demolition" felt like a “break from tradition" to many across the globe. It added that the step was, however, “a positive step forward into a new light, new knowledge, and changing perspectives of the universe."

NASA further said, “When Pluto was reclassified in 2006 from a planet to a dwarf planet, there was widespread outrage on behalf of the demoted planet. As the textbooks were updated, the internet spawned memes with Pluto going through a range of emotions, from anger to loneliness. But since the release of New Horizons images showing a very prominent heart-shaped feature on the surface, the sad Pluto meme has given way to a very content, loving Pluto that would like to once again be visited by a spacecraft."

“The Disney cartoon character Pluto, Mickey's faithful dog, made his debut in 1930, the same year Clyde Tombaugh, an astronomer at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, discovered the dwarf planet. There is speculation that Walt Disney named the animated dog after the recently discovered planet to capitalize on its popularity, but other accounts are less certain of a direct link," the US space agency added.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!

OPEN IN APP

Topics You May Be Interested In

news

Catch all the Business News, Market News, Breaking News Events and Latest News Updates on Live Mint. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates.

Nifty 50, Sensex hit fresh all-time high; why is Indian stock market gaining today?- Explained

 Nifty 50, Sensex hit fresh all-time high; why is Indian stock market gaining today?- Explained

Stock market today: Indian stock market benchmarks the Sensex and the Nifty 50 hit their fresh all-time highs in intraday trade on Tuesday.

Stock market today: Sensex, Nifty hit their fresh all-time highs on Tuesday.

Stock market today: Indian stock market benchmarks the Sensex and the Nifty 50 hit their fresh all-time highs in intraday trade on Monday, April 1, amid across-the-board buying despite mixed global cues.

The Sensex opened at 73,968.62 against the previous close of 73,651.35 and rose about 0.82 per cent to hit its fresh all-time high of 74,254.62 within the first two hours of trade.

The Nifty 50 opened at 22,455 against the previous close of 22,326.90 and jumped 0.90 per cent to hit its new record high of 22,529.95 in the morning session.

Mid and smallcap segments saw even stronger gains. The BSE Midcap index rose over 1 per cent while the Smallcap index jumped over 2 per cent in the morning session of trade.

The overall market capitalisation of the firms listed on the BSE rose to over ₹392 lakh crore from nearly ₹387 lakh crore in the previous session.

Why is the Indian stock market gaining today?

Experts point out that the undercurrent of the market is positive due to the strong prospects of the Indian economy. Moreover, expectations of rate cuts starting in the coming months are also underpinning market sentiment. Investors are buying Indian stocks after the recent correction as they remain positive about the Indian stock market for the medium to long term.

V K Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services underscored that the undertone of the market is bullish and there is momentum in the market.

"The market has been showing signs of consolidation but the spurt in Nifty by 322 points on the last 2two trading days indicates that the upward momentum can be sustained," said Vijayakumar.

Vijayakumar highlighted that some mutual funds are reported to have started restricting redemptions from the smallcap schemes due to concerns over frothy valuation in this segment which could result in higher flows of funds into the largecaps. This would lift the large caps.

According to brokerage firm ICICI Direct, the Nifty 50 may continue to trade with a positive bias and immediate support for the index can be near 22,000.

The brokerage firm expects the index to endure its northbound journey and gradually head towards 22,700 in the coming weeks.

"Empirically, in General Election year, the index has a tendency to bottom out in the first quarter of the calendar year, followed by a rally (minimum 14 per cent rally from lows) towards the General Election outcome in each of seven instances over past three decades," said ICICI Direct.

"In the current scenario, we expect the index to maintain the same rhythm as the index has already undergone a corrective phase in the first quarter and formed a higher base. Thereby, setting the stage for the next leg of a bull rally towards 23,400 by the election outcome. In the process, 21,900 would act as immediate support which we expect to hold," said the brokerage firm.

The Sensex and the Nifty 50 witnessed impressive gains of 29 per cent and 25 per cent, respectively, in the last financial year (FY24). Experts are optimistic that these indices could continue to record robust growth in the new financial year, despite ongoing challenges.

Also Read: FY25 Outlook: Can Nifty 50 repeat the feat of FY24? 5 crucial challenges that loom

“Considering the consistent earnings growth and an easing interest rate environment, the Nifty 50 may deliver a healthy double-digit return in the low to mid-teens," Naveen Kulkarni, Chief Investment Officer at Axis Securities PMS, told Mint.

Also Read: Expert view: Nifty 50 may give a double-digit return in FY25: Naveen Kulkarni of Axis Securities PMS

Niraj Kumar, Chief Investment Officer at Future Generali India Life Insurance Company expects FY25 to be driven by sustained corporate earnings growth, policy continuity and a favourable geopolitical landscape and any disappointment on these fronts may have negative ramifications on the market.

Also Read: Expert view: Corporate earnings growth, geopolitical stability key triggers for FY25, says Niraj Kumar

Read all market-related news here

Disclaimer: The views and recommendations above are those of individual analysts, experts and broking companies, not of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! 

Topics You May Be Interested In

Indian stock market stock market today

Catch all the Business News, Market News, Breaking News Events and Latest News Updates on Live Mint. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates.

Adani Total Gas share price jumps 8% as Barsana Biogas Plant begins production

GM Breweries skyrockets 12%: board to consider bonus issue, dividend this week

Multibagger Stock: Hi-Tech Pipes climbed 250% in less than two years

Multibagger defence stock hits upper circuit

 after SBI term loan deal

Turkey local elections: Opposition claims big city wins in blow to Erdogan

 Turkey local elections: Opposition claims big city wins in blow to Erdogan

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu hails victory in blow to Turkish president’s standing after two decades in power.

Turkey's Republican People’s Party claimed victory in 36 of Turkey's 81 provinces in local elections, according to state-run Anadolu Agency

Turkey’s main opposition party has claimed victory in Istanbul and Ankara in local elections, inflicting the biggest defeat on President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party (AK Party) in more than two decades.

With more than 95 percent of ballot boxes opened in Istanbul on Sunday, Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) said he had defeated the governing AK Party candidate by more than one million votes.

“Those who do not understand the nation’s message will eventually lose,” Imamoglu, a former businessman, told thousands of supporters late on Sunday.

KEEP READING

What shapes Turkey’s municipal elections?

🔸Turkey votes in local elections in test of Erdogan’s popularity

🔸Turkey’s opposition in electoral battle to keep hold of major cities

🔸Tonight, 16 million Istanbul citizens sent a message to both our rivals and the president.

In the capital, Ankara, CHP’s Mayor Mansur Yavas claimed victory over his rival, hailing the result as a “clear message to those who rule this country”.

The CHP was also ahead in Izmir, Turkey’s third city.

In total, CHP prevailed in 36 of Turkey’s 81 provinces, state-run Anadolu Agency reported, making inroads into many AK Party strongholds.

Opposition supporters gathered in Istanbul to celebrate the results, with tens of thousands of people lighting torches and waving Turkish flags.

In a speech delivered from the balcony of the presidential palace, Erdogan, who has governed Turkey since 2002, acknowledged that his party had “lost altitude” across the country and said he would self-reflect and rectify any mistakes.

“We will correct our mistakes and redress our shortcomings,” he said.

In previous local elections in 2019, Imamoglu won Istanbul’s mayoral race, dealing Erdogan and the AK Party their biggest electoral blow until that point. That defeat also struck a personal note for Erdogan, who was born and raised in the city and served as its mayor in the 1990s.

Sunday’s local elections represent a new blow to the president who had set his sights on retaking control of those urban areas.

Some 61 million people were eligible to vote for mayors across Turkey’s 81 provinces as well as provincial council members and other local officials on Sunday.

The nationwide local elections were seen by analysts and civilians as a gauge of both Erdogan’s support and the opposition’s durability amid skyrocketing inflation and the crumbling of the Turkish currency against the dollar.

Sinan Ulgen, director of the Istanbul-based Edam think tank, told The Associated Press news agency that “the surprising outcome” was the result of voters wanting to punish the governing party over the state of the economy and described the elections as a “watershed for Imamoglu”.

“He will emerge as the natural candidate of the opposition for the next round of presidential elections,” Ulgen said.

 

Dalal Street Week Ahead: RBI policy, auto sales, global PMI data among 10 key factors to watch

Overall, the first week ahead of the new financial year FY25 is expected to be positive for the market with focus on auto sales data, manufacturing & services PMI numbers, RBI interest rate decision, and expectations for March FY24 quarter earnings, experts said.

The market had a strong close for the truncated week ended on March 28, as the benchmark indices gained 1 percent with participation from most sectors barring IT after consolidation in previous couple of weeks. In fact, the monthly expiry session for March derivative contracts had a good rally, indicating the market may be inching towards a record high soon.

Overall, the first week ahead of the new financial year FY25 is expected to be positive for the market with focus on auto sales data, manufacturing & services PMI numbers, RBI interest rate decision, and expectations for March FY24 quarter earnings, experts said.

The Nifty 50 rallied 230 points to 22,327, and the BSE Sensex jumped 819 points to 73,651, while the broader markets had a better week than benchmarks as the Nifty Midcap 100 and Smallcap 100 indices gained 1.6 percent and 1.4 percent respectively.

Meanwhile, the market performance for the fiscal year 2023-24 was quite strong with the Nifty 50 surging 28.6 percent, and the Nifty Midcap 100 index up 60 percent & Smallcap up 70 percent.

"Overall, we expect the market to continue its positive momentum with a focus on large-cap. With the start of the election in April, we believe government-centric stocks to be in focus. Auto stocks are likely to be in the limelight next week amid the release of monthly auto sales numbers," Siddhartha Khemka, head - retail research at Motilal Oswal Financial Services said.

Donald Trump assails judge and his daughter after gag order in New York hush-money criminal case

 Donald Trump assails judge and his daughter after gag order in New York hush-money criminal case

Donald Trump objected in particular to what he said was her specious social media photo showing him behind bars.

Donald Trump lashed out on Wednesday at the New York judge who put him under a gag order ahead of his April 15 hush-money criminal trial, suggesting without evidence that the veteran jurist was kowtowing to his daughter's interests as a Democratic political consultant.

The former president objected in particular to what he said was her specious social media photo showing him behind bars.

Mr. Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, posted on social media that the gag order issued on Tuesday was “illegal, un-American, unConstitutional".

his company's books when they were for Cohen's work during the 2016 campaign covering up negative stories about Trump.

That included $130,000 Cohen paid Daniels on Trump's behalf so she wouldn't publicise her claim of a sexual encounter with him years earlier.

Trump pleaded not guilty last April to 34 counts of falsifying business records, a felony punishable by up to four years in prison, though there is no guarantee that a conviction would result in jail time. He denies having sex with Daniels and his lawyers have said that the payments to Cohen were legitimate legal expenses, not part of any coverup.

In issuing the gag order, Merchan cited Trump's history of “threatening, inflammatory, denigrating” remarks about people involved in his legal cases. A violation could result in Trump being held in contempt of court, fined or even jailed.

Though not covered by the restrictions, Merchan referenced Trump's various comments about him as an example of his rhetoric. The gag order mirrors one imposed and largely upheld by a federal appeals court panel in Trump's Washington, D.C., election interference criminal case.

Trump's lawyers fought a gag order, warning it would amount to unconstitutional and unlawful prior restraint on his free speech rights.

Merchan had long resisted imposing one, recognizing Trump's “special” status as a former president and current candidate and not wanting to trample his ability to defend himself publicly.

But, he said, as the trial nears, he found that his obligation to ensuring the integrity of the case outweighs First Amendment concerns. He said Trump's statements have induced fear and necessitated added security measures to protect his targets and investigate threats.

 

Lok Sabha election 2024: Which state, UT will vote in how many phases? Check details

Lok Sabha election 2024 dates: The 7-phase polls for the 18th Lok Sabha will begin on April 19 and then on April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1.

The Lok Sabha elections, the world’s largest polls, will be held in seven phases spread over 44 days beginning April 19. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi eyeing a third consecutive term in office, the Opposition INDIA bloc remains hit by internal bickering. The counting of votes will be held on June 4.

Chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar addresses the press conference announcing the dates for the Lok Sabha polls, which will be held in 7 phases from April 19 to June 1, in New Delhi on Saturday. (ANI)

Announcing the poll schedule to elect the 543-member Lok Sabha, chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar told a news conference on Saturday more than 97 crore voters – 49.7 crore male and 47.1 crore female – are eligible to cast their votes across 10.5 lakh polling booths.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The election commission also announced assembly election dates for Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. The polling in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim will be held on April 19, and in Andhra Pradesh on May 13. Voting in the Odisha assembly will be conducted in four phases on May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1.

Bypolls will also be held for 26 assembly constituencies in different states, said Rajiv Kumar, who was flanked by the two new election commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu.

2024 Lok Sabha election dates

The seven-phase elections for the 18th Lok Sabha will begin on April 19 and then on April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1. The entire election process, from the announcement of polls on Saturday to the declaration of results, lasts 82 days.

In the first phase on April 19, voting will take place in 102 constituencies spread over 21 states/UTs, with 10 states/UTs completing the poll process in this phase.

Voting will take place in 89 constituencies across 13 states/UTs in the second phase on April 26. The poll process would be completed in four more states/UTs.

In the third phase on May 7, voting will take place in 94 constituencies spread across 12 states/UTs. With this, polling will be completed in six more states/UTs.

In the fourth phase on May 13, 96 constituencies spread across 10 states UTs would vote. With this, three more states/UTs would have completed voting.

As many as 49 constituencies spread across eight states/UTs will vote in phase five on May 20. This phase will see voting completed in three more states/UTs.

In the sixth phase on May 25, voting will take place in 57 constituencies spread across seven states/UTs. Polling in two more states/UTs would be completed with this phase.

The seventh and final phase will take place on June 1 in 57 constituencies spread across eight states/UTs. The polling process in eight states/UTs would be completed.

Which state, UT will vote in how many phases:

States and UTs with one poll date: Total - 22

Arunachal Pradesh, Andaman and Nicobar island, Andhra Pradesh, Chandigarh, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Ladakh, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Puducherry, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Telangana, Uttarakhand, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.

States and UTs with two poll dates. Total- 4

Karnataka, Rajasthan, Tripura, Manipur

States and UTs with three poll dates. Total- 2

Chhattisgarh, Assam

States and UTs with four poll dates. Total-3

Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand

States and UTs with five poll dates. Total-2

Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir

States and UTs with seven poll dates. Total- 3

Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal

How election panel is preparing for the Lok Sabha polls

Drone-based checking at borders, surveillance of non-chartered flights, a crackdown on misleading advertisements and fake news, and "ruthless" action against poll violence are also among the election commisson's strategies to deal with the four-fold challenge of “muscle, money, misinformation, and Model Code violations”, Rajiv Kumar said the press conference.

Rajiv Kumar also said assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir will be held as soon as possible after the Lok Sabha elections.(With inputs from agencies)

Unveiling 'Elections 2024: The Big Picture', a fresh segment in HT's talk show 'The Interview with Kumkum Chadha', where leaders across the political spectrum discuss the upcoming general elections. Watch now!

Get Current Updates on India News, Lok Sabha Election 2024 Date Live, Lok Sabha Election 2024 Schedule along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

HT News Desk

Follow the latest breaking news and developments from India and around the world with Hindustan Times' newsdesk. From politics and policies to the economy and the environment, from local issues to national events and global affairs, we've got you covered....view detail