Buy Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra at Rs 89,999 on Flipkart: Discounts, offers and more

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is available at the lowest price tag of all time- at Rs 89,999. Originally, the handset was launched at Rs 1,24,999 for the 12GB RAM + 256GB storage variants and this is a Rs 35,000 price cut witnessed recently.

Buy Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra at Rs 89,999 on Flipkart

If you have been waiting for a while to drop the price of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, then this is the right time as the tech players have dropped the pricing of the device. The smartphone is available at a huge discounted price in India, making it way more affordable than ever before, by the time of writing.

Price: Before versus now

This is a high time when the price of the device drops down to as low as Rs 89,999. The device was originally priced at Rs 1,24,999 for the 12GB RAM + 256GB storage variants, and it is now available at Rs 89,999 on Flipkart- which is a Rs 35,000 price cut on last year’s top-tier Galaxy phone.

Additional offers on Galaxy S23 Ultra

The e-commerce player has been further offering some additional bank offers which can enable the user to avail more thousand rupees. Those who are planning to buy the device could avail of additional discounts between Rs 1,500 to Rs 5,000. By using certain credit cards from Axis Bank, ICICI and HSBC.

The smartphone is priced under a lakh and at such value, the device comes with the best camera capabilities and other hardware which are more or less similar to the two existing Ultra devices- S23 Ultra and Galaxy S24 Ultra. 

The handset will further run on Samsung’s latest AI-powered One UI 6.1 operating system and will be coming to the Galaxy S23 series very soon with the new update (expected to roll out soon)- which will give a near-identical experience at under Rs 90,000 cost. 

Flipkart and Samsung discounts

Flipkart has developed a bit of a reputation for some really good discounted devices for a while now. In January 2024, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra itself was listed at Rs 74,999- for which customers rushed to get their hands on the device but later, they had them cancelled, and later e-commerce offered a Rs 2,000 gift card as an apology.

The new price of Rs 89,999 for Galaxy S23 Ultra could be a great offer to grab and the offer looks legitimate this time. 

Delhi Police's traffic advisory ahead of AAP's protest today

 Delhi Police's traffic advisory ahead of AAP's protest today

No vehicles will be permitted to stop or park on Tughlak Road, Safdarjung Road, and Kemal Ataturk Marg, Delhi Traffic Police said in the advisory.

Delhi Traffic Police announced diversions ahead of AAP's protest in front of Prime Minister's residence on Tuesday

In Short

Delhi Traffic Police issues advisory ahead of AAP's protest at PM's residence

Traffic rerouted through several points, commuters advised to plan routes

No vehicles allowed on Tughlak Road, Safdarjung Road, and Kemal Ataturk Marg

The Delhi Traffic Police released an advisory about traffic restrictions and diversions ahead of Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) protest at the Prime Minister's residence on Tuesday.

The AAP workers and leaders will gherao Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence at Lok Kalyan Marg on March 26 to register its protest against Arvind Kejriwal's arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

"No vehicles will be permitted to stop or park on Tughlak Road, Safdarjung Road, and Kemal Ataturk Marg," the traffic police said in the advisory.

Public entry will be restricted in the area, and any violations will result in strict legal action, including towing, the advisory state.

Traffic will be rerouted through several points, including Aurobindo Chowk, roundabouts at Samrat Hotel, Gymkhana Post Office, Teen Murti Haifa, Niti Marg, and Kautilya Marg.

The police advised commuters to avoid travelling on routes like Kemal Ataturk Marg, Safdarjung Road, Akbar Road and Teen Murti Marg to avoid congestion. The advisory further said that the public should "make maximum use of public transport" to ensure safe travel.

The police further said that people going to the ISBT, Railway station and Indira Gandhi International Airport should "carefully plan their travel with sufficient time at hand

UN chief says blocked Gaza aid is a ‘moral outrage’, calls for war to end

 UN chief says blocked Gaza aid is a ‘moral outrage’, calls for war to end

On a visit to the Rafah crossing, Antonio Guterres urges Israel to give people in Gaza unfettered access to humanitarian aid.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said it is 'time to truly flood Gaza with life-saving aid' [Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters]

The line of blocked aid trucks stuck on Egypt’s side of the border with the Gaza Strip while Palestinians face starvation on the other side is a “moral outrage”, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on a visit to the Rafah crossing.

“I have come to Rafah to shine a spotlight on the pain of Palestinians in Gaza,” the UN chief said on Saturday, addressing a news conference in El Arish, in Egypt’s northern Sinai, where much of the international relief for Gaza is stockpiled as Israel continues to block aid from entering.

“Here, from this crossing, we see the heartbreak and heartlessness of it all. A long line of blocked relief trucks on one side of the gates, the long shadow of starvation on the other,” he said.

KEEP READING :

🔸Israel seizes 800 hectares of Palestinian land in occupied West Bank

🔸Is­rael’s war on Gaza: List of key events, day 169

🔸What Aida of Khan Younis can teach us about courage

“That is more than tragic. It is a moral outrage. Any further onslaught will make things even worse – worse for Palestinian civilians, worse for hostages and worse for all people in the region.”

The visit by Guterres, which is a part of his annual “solidarity trip” to Muslim countries during Ramadan, comes as Israel faces global pressure to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza, which has been devastated by more than five months of war.

“You cannot see so many people being killed, you cannot see so much suffering without feeling hugely frustrated,” Guterres said while taking questions from reporters. “We don’t have the power to stop [the war in Gaza], I appeal to those who have the power to stop it to do it,” he added.

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Israel War on Gaza

UN chief says blocked Gaza aid is a ‘moral outrage’, calls for war to end

On a visit to the Rafah crossing, Antonio Guterres urges Israel to give people in Gaza unfettered access to humanitarian aid.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks as he visits the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Rafah, Egypt, March 23

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said it is 'time to truly flood Gaza with life-saving aid' [Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters]

Published On 23 Mar 2024

23 Mar 2024

The line of blocked aid trucks stuck on Egypt’s side of the border with the Gaza Strip while Palestinians face starvation on the other side is a “moral outrage”, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on a visit to the Rafah crossing.

“I have come to Rafah to shine a spotlight on the pain of Palestinians in Gaza,” the UN chief said on Saturday, addressing a news conference in El Arish, in Egypt’s northern Sinai, where much of the international relief for Gaza is stockpiled as Israel continues to block aid from entering.

“Here, from this crossing, we see the heartbreak and heartlessness of it all. A long line of blocked relief trucks on one side of the gates, the long shadow of starvation on the other,” he said.

KEEP READING

list of 3 items

list 1 of 3

Israel seizes 800 hectares of Palestinian land in occupied West Bank

list 2 of 3

Is­rael’s war on Gaza: List of key events, day 169

list 3 of 3

What Aida of Khan Younis can teach us about courage

end of list

“That is more than tragic. It is a moral outrage. Any further onslaught will make things even worse – worse for Palestinian civilians, worse for hostages and worse for all people in the region.”

The visit by Guterres, which is a part of his annual “solidarity trip” to Muslim countries during Ramadan, comes as Israel faces global pressure to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza, which has been devastated by more than five months of war.

“You cannot see so many people being killed, you cannot see so much suffering without feeling hugely frustrated,” Guterres said while taking questions from reporters. “We don’t have the power to stop [the war in Gaza], I appeal to those who have the power to stop it to do it,” he addedd

‘Flood Gaza with life-saving aid’

Several NGOs and rights organisation have accused Israel of deliberately blocking aid to Gaza as warnings of famine in the besieged strip rise.

Receiving Guterres at the airport in El Arish, regional governor Mohamed Shusha said some 7,000 trucks were waiting in North Sinai to deliver aid to Gaza, but that inspection procedures demanded by Israel had held up the flow of relief.

The UN chief stressed that it was time for Israel to give an “ironclad commitment” for unfettered access to humanitarian goods throughout Gaza and said that the UN would also continue to work with Egypt to “streamline” the flow of aid into Gaza.

“It’s time to truly flood Gaza with life-saving aid. The choice is clear: either surge or starvation,” Guterres said.

This week, a global food monitor warned that famine was imminent in northern Gaza and could spread to other parts of the territory if a ceasefire is not agreed.

In a post on the social media platform X, Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), said a food convoy had been denied access to northern Gaza for the second time this week.

Lazzarini noted the last time the UNRWA was able to deliver aid to the northern part of the enclave, where starvation is spreading, was two months ago.

“This is a man-made hunger & looming famine which can still be averted,” he said. “The Israeli authorities must allow delivering food aid at scale to the north including via UNRWA, the largest humanitarian organisation in Gaza.”

Israel has kept all but one of its land crossings into the enclave closed. It opened the Karem Abu Salem crossing (which Israel calls Kerem Shalom) close to Rafah in late December and denies accusations by Egypt, rights groups and UN agencies that it has delayed deliveries of humanitarian relief.

Wounded Palestinians, including children, are taken by horse-drawn carriage to al-Ahli Baptist Hospital after Israel hit Palestinians waiting for humanitarian aid at Kuwait Junction in Gaza City on March 23, 2024 [Dawoud Abo Alkas/Anadolu Agency]

‘Aid distribution with a humanitarian ceasefire’

Since October, more than 32,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, most of them women and children, according to local health authorities.

Guterres highlighted that the continuing war has become an obstacle for delivering aid in the region with continuous violence and bombardments killing people and humanitarian workers at aid distribution points.

On Saturday, near the time of Guterres’s news conference, at least 19 people were killed in Israeli shelling as aid was being distributed at the Kuwait Roundabout in Gaza City, authorities in Gaza said.

This attack at a food distribution point, a primary location for delivering assistance to the northern part of the strip, comes days after at least 21 Palestinian people were killed by Israeli troops in Gaza City, while waiting for aid.

“There is no way to have an effective aid distribution in Gaza without a humanitarian ceasefire,” the UN chief told reporters, adding that it was also time for all captives being held by Hamas in Gaza to be released.

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE: INDIA bloc leaders, along with AAP, to address press conference on Delhi CM's arrest

 Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE: INDIA bloc leaders, along with AAP, to address press conference on Delhi CM's arrest

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE: Before the demonstration by AAP leaders and supporters, authorities have increased security measures, as per officials.

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has declared plans to organise a candlelight march and effigy-burning event throughout Delhi on Sunday to protest against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) following the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal in Rouse Avenue Court after his Enforcement Directorate

AAP said in a statement, “There will be a candle march and effigy burning across Delhi tomorrow in protest against the dictatorship of the BJP and the fake arrest of Arvind Kejriwal. Now the people of Delhi have come out on the streets in protest against the arrest of CM Arvind Kejriwal. We all have to stand together as the shield of Arvind Kejriwal. The arrest of Arvind Kejriwal will prove to be the last nail to oust the Modi government from power.”

Before the demonstration by AAP leaders and supporters, authorities have increased security measures, as per officials.

A senior official told PTI, “We got information that workers and leaders of AAP will hold protest. To ensure law and order situation, we have stepped up security in the national capital. We will ensure deployment of paramilitary forces along with Delhi Police personnel. Senior officers will continue to monitor the entire situation in their districts. Directions have been issued to the SHOs to keep a strict vigil in their area and to inform their senior officers immediately, if they get to know about any protest.”

On March 21, Kejriwal was apprehended by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding the defunct excise policy case. Subsequently, CM Arvind Kejriwal filed a petition with the Delhi High Court on Saturday, contesting both his arrest and the remand order issued by the trial court on March 22.

Follow all the updates here:

Sun, 24 Mar 2024 12:55 PM

AAP leaders, MLAs, councillors to meet to decide strategy after Delhi CM Kejriwal's arrest: Sources

The AAP will hold a meeting of its leaders, MLAs and councillors on Sunday to decide its future strategy following the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, party sources said.

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak will preside over the meeting.

"This is the first big meeting after the arrest of the party supremo. There is likely to be discussions on the party's future strategy," a source said.

PTI

Sun, 24 Mar 2024 12:15 PM

‘People of Delhi lost trust in you’: BJP's Manoj Tiwari to Kejriwal

BJP MP Manoj Tiwari hits out at Kejriwal, saying,""A script was made today in reference to a criminal in the custody of ED. It was done after no one showed support (to Arvind Kejriwal). If you want to see the condition of delhi, go and watch the lanes of Delhi. The drains are full of dirty water, coming into the streets, entering the houses and dirty drinking water in the houses... Now, Delhi will not listen to your script. The people of Delhi have lost trust in you."

Sun, 24 Mar 2024 11:57 AM

AAP leader Priyanka Kakka in a press conference in Delhi

AAP leader Priyanka Kakka said during a press conference in Delhi, “If BJP won’t answer the questions that have been raised (on Sharat Chandra Reddy's donation to the party), then it would be obvious that it has been caught red-handed for being involved in corruption.”

Moscow concert attack: ISIS releases bodycam footage; netizens say ‘extremely graphic’

 Moscow concert attack: ISIS releases bodycam footage; netizens say ‘extremely graphic’

Islamic State claims responsibility for the deadly concert hall attack in Moscow, killing 133. US cites evidence of jihadists' involvement, leading to mutual accusations between Moscow and Kyiv amid the Ukraine conflict.

TOPSHOT - This video grab taken from a handout footage released by the Russian Investigative Committee on March 23, 2024 shows a view of the Crocus City Hall, a day after a gun attack in Krasnogorsk, outside Moscow. Camouflaged assailants opened fire at the packed Crocus City Hall in Moscow's northern suburb of Krasnogorsk on March 22, 2024, evening ahead of a concert by Soviet-era rock band Piknik in the deadliest attack in Russia for at least a decade. Russia on March 23, 2024, said it had arrested 11 people - including four gunmen - over the attack on a Moscow concert hall claimed by Islamic State, as the death toll rose to over 100 people. (Photo by Handout / RUSSIAN INVESTIGATIVE COMMITTEE / AFP)

The Islamic State group has taken responsibility for a devastating assault on a concert hall in suburban Moscow, resulting in the deaths of at least 133 individuals, marking one of the deadliest incidents in Russia in recent years

Despite assertions from the US regarding evidence supporting the jihadists' involvement, both Moscow and Kyiv engaged in mutual accusations on Saturday amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

The video surfaced on a Telegram account believed to be associated with Amaq, the news outlet linked to IS, as per the SITE monitoring group.

As reported by The Spectator Index, ISIS released bodycam footage of the Moscow terrorist attack.

In the comment section, few replied with the videos.

As reported by AP, in their Saturday statement they said the attack had come in the “the natural framework" of the ongoing war between the extremist group and countries they accuse of fighting Islam.

Islamic State (IS), a branch stemming from al-Qaida, gained significant control over parts of Iraq and Syria in 2014. During this time, it initiated a brutal campaign targeting the Yazidis, a religious minority residing in northern Iraq, along with other communities.

While a U.S.-led coalition largely defeated IS on the battlefield by 2018, remnants of the group persist in remote desert hideouts within both nations. Additionally, IS affiliates maintain a presence in regions such as Afghanistan, West Africa, and the Far East.

Also Read: Moscow concert attack: From India to Ukraine, here's how world reacted to deadly shooting in Russia

The US Embassy in Moscow issued a security alert to U.S. citizens on March 7 saying it was monitoring reports that extremists had “imminent plans to target large gatherings" in Moscow, including concerts, AP reported.

Putin denounced the US warning as an attempt to scare Russians.

CNN reported citing Russian state media TASS that according to Russia's Investigative Committee, all four individuals believed to have perpetrated the terrorist attack have been apprehended and are currently undergoing interrogation in Moscow.

Approximately five armed individuals unleashed gunfire and explosives within the packed Crocus City Hall, which was nearing its maximum capacity of 7,500 attendees. The indiscriminate attack occurred just before a music band was set to perform, sparking widespread panic among the crowd.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared March 24 a day of 'national mourning' and has vowed to punish the terrorists behind the attack, TASS reported.

A police officer - the only person to have access to the fence - lays flowers outside the Russian embassy in Berlin on March 23, 2024, a day after a gun attack in Krasnogorsk, outside Moscow. Camouflaged assailants opened fire at the packed Crocus City Hall in Moscow's northern suburb of Krasnogorsk on March 22, 2024, ahead of a concert by Soviet-era rock band Piknik in the deadliest attack in Russia for at least a decade. Russia on March 23, 2024, said it had arrested 11 people - including four gunmen - over the attack on a Moscow concert hall claimed by Islamic State, as the death toll rose to 115 people. (Photo by JOHN MACDOUGALL / AFP)

A police officer - the only person to have access to the fence - lays flowers outside the Russian embassy in Berlin on March 23, 2024, a day after a gun attack in Krasnogorsk, outside Moscow. Camouflaged assailants opened fire at the packed Crocus City Hall in Moscow's northern suburb of Krasnogorsk on March 22, 2024, ahead of a concert by Soviet-era rock band Piknik in the deadliest attack in Russia for at least a decade. Russia on March 23, 2024, said it had arrested 11 people - including four gunmen - over the attack on a Moscow concert hall claimed by Islamic State, as the death toll rose to 115 people. (Photo by JOHN MACDOUGALL / AFP)

In a televised address to the people of Russia, he said, "I declare March 24 a day of national mourning," the head of state said in a televised address to Russians."

“Our people, our children, just like the Nazis that once killed our people during the war. They do the same. All the orchestrators, all those who are responsible for this crime will inevitably be found responsible, they will pay. We will identify everyone who stands behind these terrorists and they will pay. This is a strike against Russia," Putin said.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Atishi says ‘had tears in my eyes…’ as Kejriwal issues 1st order from ED custody

Assam news: IIT student detained; ‘black flag, similar to ISIS' found in his bag

INDIA alliance including AAP to hold press conference in Delhi

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Arvind Kejriwal arrested ahead of Lok Sabha, assembly elections: 5 key challenges before AAP in Delhi

 Arvind Kejriwal arrested ahead of Lok Sabha, assembly elections: 5 key challenges before AAP in Delhi

Delhi CM and AAP's national convenor Arvind Kejriwal was arrested in connection with the excise policy case. His arrest poses several challenges to the Delhi government and party leadership ahead of the Lok Sabha elections this year and assembly elections in the Union Territory in 2025.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is arrested in the excise policy case.

The arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has prompted many to demand his resignation from the post. Kejriwal is also the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) national convenor. His arrest in connection with the money laundering case linked to the excise policy has already raised questions about the party's next leadership.

Follow LIVE updates on Arvind Kejriwal's arrest here

Now, if he steps down as the chief minister, the crisis will grip Delhi's governance as well. Although AAP leaders say that there will be "no problems in running the (Delhi) government from jail," legal experts beg to differ.

Moreover, the Lok Sabha elections 2024 are around the corner. The AAP will be contesting the polls in alliance with the Congress in Delhi, Haryana, Gujarat, Chandigarh and Goa. Kejriwal's party is also part of the Opposition's INDIA bloc.

ALSO READ: From an anti-graft crusader to a CM behind bars: The political journey of Arvind Kejriwal in 5 points

Here's a look at the key challenges before Kejriwal, his party AAP and his government in Delhi:

1. Challenges to governance in Delhi

A. ‘Running government from jail not that easy’

AAP leader Sandeep Pathak has said he doesn't think there'll be any difficulty in running the government from jail.

However, Sunil Gupta, a former law officer from Delhi's Tihar jail, told NDTV that running a government from jail is not that easy. He said a chief minister has to attend several meetings with officers and governors and has to visit people at times. However, "the jail manual says that a prisoner can meet his family, friends or anyone just twice a week", he said. This makes the process difficult.

Keeping this situation in view, Gupta suggested an easier way to run the government while remaining in custody/jail. Citing jail rules, he said that any area can be declared a jail. It can be a house or even a stadium. The power is in the hands of the Lieutenant Governor (Vinai Kumar Saxena) to declare any building a jail.

Now, the question is — will the authorities allow this to happen? VK Saxena and Kejriwal's government have been at loggerheads on several occasions. It was VK Saxena who recommended a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the Delhi government's excise policy. He had also called for a CBI probe into alleged irregularities involving fake lab tests and 'ghost patients' at Aam Aadmi Mohalla Clinics (AAMCs).

In this scenario, what will happen to the AAP's claim that Kejriwal will run the government from jail is yet to be seen.

B. Choosing the next Delhi CM

The demand for Kejriwal's resignation as the chief minister has grown ever since he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate. In case Kejriwal steps down as the CM, the hunt for the next CM will commence. All the key leaders of the AAP — Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain — are currently in jail in connection with the excise policy case.

2. Party leadership issue

Arvind Kejriwal has been the face of the AAP across the nation. Under his leadership, the party achieved national status and secured a landmark victory in the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections. He has also been a key leader in the Opposition's INDIA bloc. Now, who will lead the Aam Aadmi Party? Will Kejriwal reign as the party chief from inside the jail or move to appoint a new national convenor? The question remains unanswered.

3. Kejriwal's arrest to impact election performance?

The AAP is in power in Delhi and Punjab. The national capital of India is among states and Union Territories which are not ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This makes it important for the party to tackle the current issues, especially when the Lok Sabha elections are around the corner. The assembly elections in Delhi are also slated for 2025.

Notably, Delhi voters have backed the AAP in assembly elections but not in Lok Sabha elections. The party did not win a single seat in Delhi in the 2019 and 2014 Lok Sabha elections. All the Lok Sabha seats in Delhi were won by the BJP in the last two general elections.

 

• 2024

Milky Way’s Earliest Building Blocks Found, Named Shiva & Shakti

Scientists of one of the world’s leading astronomy institutes, Germany-based Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, have identified two of the Milky Way’s earliest building blocks and named them“Shakti” and “Shiva”

“These appear to be the remnants of two galaxies that merged between 12 and 13 billion years ago with an early version of the Milky Way, contributing to our home galaxy’s initial growth. The new find is the astronomical equivalent of archeologists identifying traces of an initial settlement that grew into a large present-day city. It required combining data for nearly 6 million stars,” the study said, the results of which have been published in Astrophysical Journal.

Khyati Malhan and Hans-Walter Rix of the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy were the ones who succeeded in identifying the two earliest building blocks that can still be recognised today as “proto-galactic fragments that merged with an early version of our Milky Way at the very beginning of the era of galaxy formation in the universe”. The components were identified by combining data from European Space Agency’s astrometry satellite Gaia with data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey.

Researcher Malhan has named these two structures Shakti and Shiva, the latter one of the principal deities of Hinduism and the former a female cosmic force often portrayed as Shiva’s consort. “We observed that, for a certain range of metal-poor stars, stars were crowded around two specific combinations of energy and angular momentum. Shakti and Shiva might be the first two additions to the ‘poor old heart’ of our Milky Way, initiating its growth towards a large galaxy,” said Malhan, in a press statement. Rix provided detailed information about the stars’ chemical composition.

Their energy and angular momentum values, plus their overall low metallicity on a par with that of the “poor old heart”, makes Shakti and Shiva good candidates to be some of the earliest ancestors of our Milky Way.

‘Lottery king’ Santiago Martin’s company gave most electoral bonds to TMC, DMK & YSRCP

 

‘Lottery king’ Santiago Martin’s company gave most electoral bonds to TMC, DMK & YSRCP

Lottery king’ Santiago Martin’s company Future Gaming and Hotel Services Pvt Ltd has given the largest amount through electoral bonds to All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) - Rs 542 crore, followed by Rs 509 crore to Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Rs 154 crore to the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP), Rs 100 crore to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rs 50 crore to the Congress, according to the latest data released by the Election Commision of India (ECI).

Santiago’s company has given a total of Rs 1368 crore to seven political parties in various states by the way of bonds between April 2019 to January 2024. Future Gaming and Hotel Services Pvt Ltd has also given Rs 100 crore to Prudent Electoral Trust (PET) which in turn gave 76% of its total donations to the BJP. 

The Election Commission data further reveals that Future Gaming donated Rs 11 crore to Sikkim Krantikari Morcha which is the ruling party in Sikkim led by Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang and Rs 5 crore to the Sikkim Democratic Front.

Amount donated by Future Gaming in Electoral Bonds

It is to be noted that complete details of donations through Electoral Bonds is known only for the DMK as the party had disclosed its donors to the Supreme Court in November 2023 in a sealed cover. In the case of other parties, what is known is how much funds they got through the bond scheme since April 2019.

Also Read: 'Lottery King' Martin is DMK's biggest donor through Electoral Bonds

The lottery business is legal in 13 states in India including West Bengal, where TMC is the ruling party. It is however banned in states like Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh where DMK and the YSRCP are in power.  

Santiago Martin’s connections with the DMK has been well-known for a while, especially after his music channel called SS Music produced ‘Ilaignan’, M Karunanidhi's 75th movie as a scriptwriter in 2011. He later funded M Karunanidhi’s film project called ‘Ponnar Shankar’, which had been on the backburner for many years. But despite his proximity with the DMK first family, he failed to persuade them to lift the ban on lottery in Tamil Nadu when the party came to power in 2006. 

The YSRCP’s connections with Santiago Martin however is unclear as neither is lottery allowed in the state nor has there been any overt business dealings with the Jagan Mohan Reddy-led party. 

Future Gaming was incorporated in December 1991 in Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore. Over years, Santiago Martin’s businesses grew and currently he is the Director of 110 firms. 

Also Read: 'Lottery King' Martin is DMK's biggest donor through Electoral Bonds

The lottery business is legal in 13 states in India including West Bengal, where TMC is the ruling party. It is however banned in states like Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh where DMK and the YSRCP are in power.  

Santiago Martin’s connections with the DMK has been well-known for a while, especially after his music channel called SS Music produced ‘Ilaignan’, M Karunanidhi's 75th movie as a scriptwriter in 2011. He later funded M Karunanidhi’s film project called ‘Ponnar Shankar’, which had been on the backburner for many years. But despite his proximity with the DMK first family, he failed to persuade them to lift the ban on lottery in Tamil Nadu when the party came to power in 2006. 

The YSRCP’s connections with Santiago Martin however is unclear as neither is lottery allowed in the state nor has there been any overt business dealings with the Jagan Mohan Reddy-led party. 

Future Gaming was incorporated in December 1991 in Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore. Over years, Santiago Martin’s businesses grew and currently he is the Director of 110 firms. 

Read: The bond between 'Lottery King' Santiago Martin, political parties and probe agencies

This report is part of a collaborative project involving three news organisations – Newslaundry, Scroll, The News Minute – and several independent journalists.

Project Electoral Bond includes Aban Usmani, Anand Mangnale, Anisha Sheth, Anjana Meenakshi, Ayush Tiwari, Azeefa Fathima, Basant Kumar, Dhanya Rajendran, Jayashree Arunachalam, Joyal George, M Rajshekhar, Maria Teresa Raju, Nandini Chandrashekhar, Neel Madhav, Nikita Saxena, Parth MN, Pooja Prasanna, Prajwal Bhat, Prateek Goyal, Pratyush Deep, Ragamalika Karthikeyan, Raman Kirpal, Ravi Nair, Sachi Hegde, Shabbir Ahmed, Shivnarayan Rajpurohit, Siddhartha Mishra, Sumedha Mittal, Supriya Sharma, Sudipto Mondal, Tabassum Barnagarwala and Vaishnavi Rathore.

India's 21st Century Pushpak 'Viman' Set For Launch, D-Day Today, 7 AM

 India's 21st Century Pushpak 'Viman' Set For Launch, D-Day Today, 7 AM

"The Pushpak launch vehicle is India's bold attempt to make access to space most affordable," said S Somanath, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

Thiruvananthapuram: A sleek, SUV-sized winged rocket is ready for its experimental flight at a defence airfield in Karnataka. The rocket will be launched at 7 am today from the Chalakere Runway. Named "Pushpak", the Re-usable Launch Vehicle (RLV) sometimes dubbed the "swadeshi space shuttle" is India's bold attempt to enter the reusable rocket segment. The current experiment is the third flight of Pushpak -- all part of a test of its robotic landing ability in more complicated circumstances.

"The Pushpak launch vehicle is India's bold attempt to make access to space most affordable," asserted S Somanath, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). "It is India's futuristic Reusable Launch Vehicle, where the most expensive part, the upper stage, which houses all the expensive electronics, is made reusable by bringing it back safely back to Earth. Later, it could even do refuelling of in-orbit satellites or retrieving satellites from orbit for refurbishment. India seeks to minimise space debris and Pushpak is one step towards that as well," he said.

In making for a decade, the RLV flew from Sriharikota first in 2016 and successfully landed on a virtual runway in the Bay of Bengal. The RLV was never recovered. As planned, it sank into the sea.

A second test was successfully conducted on April 2, 2023, at the Chitradurga Aeronautical Test Range of the defence establishment. Called the RLV-LEX, the winged rocket was hoisted into the air by an Indian Air Force (IAF) Chinook Helicopter, slung on its under-carriage and then dropped to land in an autonomous landing, which went off without a hitch.

Regarding the name, Mr Somanath said the "Pushpak Viman" is India's legendary spaceship named in the Ramayan, known to be the vehicle of the Lord of Wealth, God Kuber. So it is appropriate to name India's most audacious 21st Century rocket as Pushpak. "It is expected that in times to come, it could be a money spinner for India when it becomes a commercially available launcher.'

"Pushpak is the future," said Mr Sunil P, Program Director, Advanced Technology & Systems Group, Vikram Sarabhai Space Center. "ISRO has an objective to fly a vehicle that is more cost-effective and provides very low-cost access to space," he added.

India thought of building its own version of the space shuttle over 15 years ago. Ten years ago, a dedicated team of engineers and scientists plunged into making RLV a reality.

The 6.5-meter aeroplane-like space craft weighs 1.75 tons and will be hoisted aboard an IAF helicopter. During the descent, a phase which is essentially a glider-like event, small thrusters will help the vehicle navigate to the exact spot where it is supposed to land.

The government has invested over Rs 100 crore in the project, which is a milestone as the country moves towards making its own space station -- the Bhartiya Antariksha Station -- by 2035.

 

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Congress set to name additional candidates; Charanjit Channi, Jignesh Mevani not on list

Congress has decided its candidates for Lok Sabha polls 2024, and the number of seats the party will be contesting from, said Sachin Pilot.

Lok Sabha elections 2024: Sachin Pilot also added that “good candidates” with “good image” have been selected

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: After the Congress Central Election Committee meeting, senior leader on Wednesday said that former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and the Dalit activist Jignesh Mevani will not be on the party's list of candidates.

After the meeting, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said that the candidate list will be announced soon.

"There is no name of Charanjit Singh Channi and Jignesh Mevani (in the list of Rajasthan candidates)," he added.

Congress has decided its candidates for Lok Sabha polls 2024, and the number of seats the party will be contesting from, said Sachin Pilot.

“The discussion happened on all the seats and decisions have been taken on many seats. The final announcement (of candidates) will be made by CEC," he said.

Pilot also added that “good candidates" with “good image" have been selected. "Candidates working at the grassroots level have been selected.....This time our effort will be to improve our performance in Rajasthan..." he added.

The Congress is likely to release its list of candidates today.

So far, the party has announced candidates for 82 of the total 543 Lok Sabha seats.

In its first two list, the party announced the candidature of Rahul Gandhi, DK Suresh, Shashi Tharoor, Gaurav Gogoi, Nakul Nath and Vaibhav Gehlot among others.

The Lok Sabha Elections 2024 will start on April 19. It will be held in seven phases. The counting for the Lok Sabha polls will be held on June 4.

Today, Jan Adhikar Party chief Pappu Yadav, suspended BSP leader and Amroha MP Danish Ali and Jharkhand BJP leader Jai Prakash Bhai Patel joined the Congress.

Pappu Yadav also merged his party Jan Adhikar Party with the Congress.

On electoral bonds, Congress party leader Salman Khurshid said taht there is a big difference between what the opposition gets and what the government gets.

"Who has ED and CBI, and who can put pressure? People willingly give (money) to the opposition, so we accept it..."

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Supreme Court pulls up SBI: Don’t do selective disclosure, give poll bond numbers, full details

The unique alphanumeric codes would enable matching the poll bond donors with the recipients.

There is no manner of doubt that SBI shall make disclosure of all information with it and it shall include the details of electoral bond numbers, the SC said

THE SUPREME Court on Monday told the State Bank of India (SBI) to “disclose all details” on electoral bonds purchased or redeemed after its April 12, 2019 interim order, including their unique alphanumeric codes, to the Election Commission of India (ECI), and to file an affidavit on compliance by March 21, 5 pm.

Expressing its displeasure over “selective disclosure” of details by the bank, the five-judge Constitution Bench, presided by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, said: “There is no manner of doubt that SBI is required to make a complete disclosure of all details in its possession… This, we clarify, would comprehend the alphanumeric number and the serial number, if any, of the bonds which were purchased and redeemed.”

The unique alphanumeric codes would enable matching the poll bond donors with the recipients.

The Bench, which included Justices Sanjiv Khanna, B R Gavai, J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, however, rejected a request to direct SBI to disclose the unique codes of bonds purchased or redeemed prior to its interim order on April 12, 2019.

“To fully effectuate (its) order and to obviate any controversy in the future”, the Bench also asked the SBI Chairman and Managing Director to file an affidavit, on or before March 21, 5 pm, “indicating that SBI has disclosed all details of the electoral bonds which were in its possession and custody and that no details have been withheld…”

Referring to its earlier orders, the court said the operative directions required the SBI to submit details of electoral bonds purchased since the interim order. The Bench recalled that it had said that “such details…shall include the date of purchase of each electoral bond, the name of the purchaser of the bond and the denomimation of the electoral bond purchased”.

“SBI was required to disclose details of each electoral bond encashed by political parties, inclusive of the date of encashment and the denomination of the electoral bond,” the court said. Read with its February 15, 2024 decision to strike down the electoral bond scheme, this “indicates that SBI was required to submit all details, both in terms of the purchase and in terms of receipt of contributions.” it said.

EXPLAINED

Matching donors with parties

The unique alphanumeric code printed on each electoral bond will enable matching the donors with the recipients. While the electoral bond scheme does not mandate parties to keep records of donor details, some smaller parties, in compliance with the Supreme Court’s order, either disclosed what they already knew or conducted a special exercise to ascertain contributor details and share them with the EC.

“The expression ‘include’… clearly demonstrates that the inclusive part was treated as illustrative and not exhaustive of the nature of disclosure which was to be made by SBI… In other words, there is no manner of doubt that SBI is required to make a complete disclosure of all details in its possession,” the court said, adding, “This, we clarify, would comprehend the alphanumeric number and the serial number, if any, of the bonds which were purchased and redeemed”.

The court also asked the EC to “forthwith” upload the details furnished by the SBI.

On March 15, the court had issued notice to the SBI, saying the bank was “duty-bound” to furnish the unique alphanumeric codes.

Hearing the bank’s response on Monday, the CJI said: “We had expressly asked SBI to disclose all details. The language of the judgment was that all details have to be disclosed. Therefore, that includes the bond numbers as well”.

“Let SBI not be selective in the disclosure of details … it shall disclose all details, including the bond numbers and every part of the information which is in its possession and custody. Don’t wait for an order of the court. We banked on the fact that the State Bank of India would be candid and fair to the court,” he said.

Asking why the bank had not disclosed the details, the CJI said: “SBI’s attitude appears to be — you tell us to disclose a particular detail and we will disclose it. That’s not a fair process.”

The SBI chairman should have said this being the order of the SC, I am duty bound to comply with it and will disclose every part of the information which is in my custody as directed, he said.

“Because when we said all details of the purchases, that meant every conceivable detail which was available with SBI, and we clarified it by saying ‘include’. SBI has the best legal advice open to it,” the CJI said.

The CJI then remarked: “We take it that you are not arguing a case for a political party.”

Saying that he was not appearing for any political party, Salve said paragraph 16 of the interim order “only required political parties to give all these details, and these details have been given. If they have not been given, that’s between the ECI and political parties… Para 17 was the mechanism for disclosure”.

The senior counsel said that in its February 15 judgment, “the court dealt with diverse aspects, including the need to preserve some degree of anonymity, and discussed electoral trust as an alternative to this system…”

Salve said that at the time of the interim order, “we were functioning under the edict of anonymity, which had not been stayed. So, at that time, we were directed to preserve the anonymity…”

He added that if the court feels that all the information should be given now, the bank was willing to do so.

“We will clarify to put it beyond any doubt… we will say that now SBI will not only disclose the bond numbers, but it shall also file an affidavit again before our court saying that you have not suppressed any (details)… You have to disclose all details, let that be clear. Because the burden should not lie upon the court or the petitioners to say that this has not been disclosed, that has not been disclosed… We must have finality to it,” the CJI told him.