Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat), the flagship youth engagement platform of the Department of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, has been awarded the Guinness World Records [GWR] title for the “Most Users to Take an Online Quiz in One Week” after 390,812 participants successfully completed the full-length quiz during the official assessment period.

The Guinness World Records Certificate was presented to MY Bharat by GWR Adjudicator Sh. Rishinath at a ceremony held on Thursday at Shram Shakti Bhawan, New Delhi. Rishinath at a ceremony in the presence of Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports and Labour & Employment Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports Raksha Nikhil Khadse, Secretary, Department of Youth Affairs Dr. Pallavi Jain Govil, senior officials of the Ministry, representatives of Guinness World Records and youth participants.

The recognition was conferred for the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders’ Dialogue (VBYLD) Quiz, a nationwide youth engagement initiative aimed at strengthening awareness and participation among young citizens in the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047. Conducted through the MY Bharat portal, the initiative witnessed participation from over 50.42 lakh youth representing all 28 states and 8 Union Territories, making it one of the largest digital youth engagement exercises undertaken in the country.

The Minister congratulated MY Bharat and the entire team on this remarkable achievement. He said the portal caters to the aspirations of India’s youth, who constitute nearly 65 per cent of the country’s population below the age of 35 years.

He further stated that the trust and confidence of young people in the portal is evident from the fact that, in just three years, MY Bharat has recorded 2.19 crore registrations, with thousands of new youth joining every day.

The Minister also congratulated the youth of India for this Guinness World Record, saying this recognition truly belongs to them and reflects the faith they have placed in the journey towards Viksit Bharat.

He added that the MY Bharat portal is not merely a digital platform, but a credible and empowering space where young people can engage meaningfully, share their ideas, and contribute to the Prime Minister’s vision to achieve Viksit Bharat@2047. This, he said, was clearly demonstrated when ideas shared by youth through VBYLD found reflection in the Union Budget 2026.

The Secretary, Department of Youth Affairs, Pallavi Jain Govil, said the MY Bharat portal has emerged as a credible platform for meaningful youth engagement across India.

She added that the portal enables multiple forms of engagement through the organic and voluntary participation of young people.

During the official Guinness World Records assessment period from 25 to 31 October 2025, more than 8.39 lakh quiz participations were recorded on the platform.

Following a comprehensive verification process involving independent digital forensic audits, evidence validation and detailed scrutiny of participation records, Guinness World Records certified 390,812 eligible participants, thereby establishing a new world record.

The achievement underscores the Government of India’s commitment to leveraging digital technologies to expand opportunities for youth engagement and participation. It also highlights the growing role of MY Bharat as a national platform for volunteering, experiential learning, leadership development and community-driven action.

The Guinness World Records recognition marks a significant milestone in India’s efforts to harness digital innovation for youth empowerment and citizen participation while advancing the shared vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.

Looking to increase its strength in the Rajya Sabha, the BJP on Thursday announced its national general secretary Tarun Chugh, Dr. Alka Gurjar and former Rajasthan BJP chief Dr. Satish Poonia as its candidates for the upcoming elections to Upper House.

The BJP’s Central Election Committee announced the list of 11 candidates for the biennial Rajya Sabha polls scheduled across several states, along with the by-election in Odisha.

The polls for 24 Rajya Sabha seats spread across 10 states are set to take place on June 18, as announced by the Election Commission.

The elections will cover seats from 10 states including Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Arunachal Pradesh, Karnataka, and Mizoram. These posts fell vacant due to the retirement of sitting lawmakers from the Upper House, between June 21 and July 19.

Tarun Chugh and Rajneesh Agarwal have been announced as the party’s candidates from Madhya Pradesh.

In Gujarat, the saffron party has announced a strong list of four candidates which includes Rajubhai Shukla, Mukeshbhai Rathwa, Mansingh Parmar and Jitendra Meghjibhai Kanjariya.

From Arunachal Pradesh, the BJP nominated Tai Tagak, a prominent figure in the state’s political field while Manipur will be represented by A Sharda Devi, a leader known for her organisational acumen.

From Rajasthan, the BJP fielded prominent party leaders Dr. Alka Gurjar and Dr. Satish Poonia, both of whom bring significant political experience and grassroots connect to the table.

For the Rajya Sabha by-election in Odisha, the saffron party fielded Debasish Samantaray, a crucial move in a state where the party continues to expand its footprint.

According to the poll panel, the tenure of 24 Rajya Sabha members elected from 10 states is set to expire during the June-July period.

Among prominent leaders whose terms are ending are Digvijaya Singh from Madhya Pradesh, H D Deve Gowda and Mallikarjun Kharge from Karnataka.

The election will also be held for the seat held by the late Shibu Soren from Jharkhand, which has remained vacant since August 4, 2025.

The Rajya Sabha, also known as the Council of States, is the Upper House of Parliament, where members are elected by elected representatives of the states and union territories through a system of proportional representation.

Shreyas Iyer is set to make a stunning comeback in the national team in the shortest format as the BCCI has reportedly chosen him to replace Suryakumar Yadav as the captain of the Indian men’s national cricket team in T20Is.

According to a report by news agency ANI, Tilak Verma is likely to be appointed as vice-captain of the team.

BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir, along with other members of the selection committee have reportedly reached a consensus on Iyer’s name for the skipper.

The report further stated that Iyer is also likely to attend the selection committee meeting, scheduled to be held on June 6 to pick India’s squad for their upcoming tour to Ireland and England.

While Surya led the Indian team to the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 victory, he had an average campaign with the bat as he could manage only 242 runs in nine innings.

His poor form continued in the recently concluded IPL 2026 as well, where he scored just 270 runs for the Mumbai Indians.

Shreyas Iyer, who last played an international T20I match against Australia in Bengaluru in December 2023, will make his comeback after his strong performance in the IPL 2026. The skipper of the Punjab Kings scored 498 runs in the season.

In an instance of foolproof investigation and swift judicial process, a theft case registered under Laxmisagar police limits in Bhubaneswar ended in the conviction of the accused within just 22 days of the FIR being lodged.

The complainant, Susanta Kumar Behera, had reported on May 8 that an unidentified person had trespassed into his residence on the intervening night of May 4 and 5 while the family was asleep. The intruder allegedly attempted to steal a box kept near the complainant’s head, police said.

Behera woke up during the incident and raised an alarm. Family members chased the offender, whom the complainant identified as Manoj Kumar Samantaray. Although the accused managed to flee, it was later discovered that gold and silver ornaments, including a mangal sutra, a pair of earrings and a pair of silver bangles, had been stolen from the box.

Acting swiftly, police arrested Manoj Kumar Samantaray on May 9 and produced him before the court the same day. The investigation was completed in a time-bound manner, and the chargesheet was filed on May 15, merely seven days after the registration of the case.

The matter was taken up for priority trial, which concluded on May 30 with the court holding the accused guilty. The court sentenced Samantaray to two years and five months of imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 30,000.

Police officials said the entire process—from registration of the FIR to conviction—was completed within 22 days, underscoring coordinated efforts by the investigating team, prosecution and judiciary in ensuring speedy justice.

The Urban Police District (UPD), Bhubaneswar, has been placing special emphasis on fast-track investigation and prosecution of criminal cases. The district recorded 35 speedy convictions during 2025 and has secured 25 such convictions till May 31, 2026, reflecting its sustained focus on professional policing and timely justice delivery.

Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor on Thursday called out AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj for his remarks on the Delhi Fire Services (DFS) during a building collapse in the city, terming his reaction extremely shameful.

The Delhi BJP spokesman called Bharadwaj’s remark tthat the Fire Service personnel reached late at the Hauz Rani, Malviya Nagar fire on Wednesday deeply unfortunate.
He said the Fire Department received an emergency call around 8:48 am, and in response, after navigating the narrow lanes of the dense Hauz Rani area, the firefighting operations began at around 9:15 am. Several media personnel present at the site can testify to this fact.

The spokesperson further said that whether it was the fire incident in Palam, the tragedy in Vivek Vihar, the accident in Said-ul-Ajaib, or Wednesday’s incident in Hauz Rani, Bharadwaj has consistently blamed the Fire Service and the local police administration. But in reality, firefighters and police personnel risked their lives during each such incident to carry out rescue operations. He stated that nearly 10 police and fire personnel were also injured during yesterday’s rescue efforts.

According to him, while the DFS faces infrastructure shortages and several other challenges, firefighters still reach accident sites on time despite limited resources.
He said that 27 years of alleged corruption and misgovernance by the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party governments are responsible for any shortage of equipment and infrastructure.
Kapoor, sharpening his attack alleged that the AAP leader, repeatedly makes false statements, must explain why during the previous AAP government’s eleven years, not even a single firefighter was recruited in the Delhi Fire Service, while Bharadwaj should also answer how many fire tenders were added during AAP’s tenure.

Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi’s Almora rally was cancelled on Thursday owing to bad weather conditions in the Kumaon region. After arriving at Pantnagar Airport, Rahul was forced to return to Delhi as weather conditions prevented his helicopter from completing the flight to Almora.

Inclement weather in the high-altitude Kumaon region played spoilsport for the Uttarakhand Congress on Thursday. Rahul was forced to return to Delhi midway from Pantnagar Airport, leaving him unable to address a large public gathering at the Almora Ground, where state leaders had gathered by setting aside their factional feuds. Although days of intense preparation by the state Congress leadership went in vain, Rahul managed to address the gathering virtually. During his address, he also spoke to the parents of the deceased 19-year-old girl, Ankita Bhandari, who was killed by a resort owner and his two accomplices. The main accused is the son of a former RSS leader from Haridwar.

Rahul’s two-day visit to Uttarakhand was cancelled owing to bad weather conditions and a similar forecast by the Meteorological department for the next 2-3 days. He later returned to Delhi from Pantnagar.

The former Congress president’s Uttarakhand itinerary included addressing a massive public rally in Almora on Thursday morning, followed by an interaction with ex-servicemen in Pauri. After his Pauri meeting, Rahul Gandhi was to fly to Mussoorie for a night’s stay on June 4. On Friday, Rahul had a daylong programme featuring a series of interactive sessions and meetings with Congress leaders, PCC office bearers, party workers, district and block presidents, and leaders of other frontal organisations from across the state. More than one thousand passes had been issued by the state Congress leadership for these meetings with Rahul Gandhi. However, all meetings and programmes of the party were cancelled after Rahul returned to Delhi from Pantnagar Airport.

Expressing his regret for not being able to address the party gathering at Almora, Rahul said, “We came to Uttarakhand this morning to meet people. We took a helicopter from Pantnagar to Almora, but the pilot said it was difficult to reach Almora due to inclement weather. We had to return midway to Pantnagar. I wanted to meet you and talk about the political and economic situation in Uttarakhand. It is disappointing that we had to turn back, but we will reschedule this programme as soon as possible.”

Following his statement, Rahul addressed the people and party workers gathered at the Almora Ground virtually.

Sealdah Division under the Eastern Railway has decided to cancel some of the local trains this weekend to facilitate essential infrastructure development and safety maintenance works.

The division has announced two major traffic blocks on 6 and 7 June. The first block involves a 15-hour traffic and power block on the UP and DN Sub lines between Sealdah and Kankurgachi Road Junction for the re-girdering of bridge number 3. This block is to start from 10.15 p.m. on Saturday to 1.15 p.m. on Sunday. Additionally, movements to and from Narkeldanga Carshed would also remain suspended from 7 p.m. on Saturday to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

The second block is a 6-hour traffic block at Ballygunge station on the DN passenger line for the complete point conversion of point no. 120B/121A from 52 kg to 60 kg. This block will be operational from 11.10 p.m. on Saturday to 5.10 a.m. on Sunday.

During the period, several local EMU trains including Sealdah – Naihati, Sealdah – Bongaon, Sealdah – Kalyani Simanta, Sealdah – Dankuni and some others are to remain cancelled.

The Central government is preparing to reintroduce the “Delimitation Bill” during the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament. Earlier, in the budget session held in April 2026, the government had presented the “Delimitation Bill-2026” and the “Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill-2026” in the Lok Sabha. However, due to lack of required majority, the bills could not be passed at that time.

This time around, the government is reportedly engaging with MPs from DMK and Trinamool Congress to garner support for the aforementioned bills. According to sources, some disgruntled MPs from Trinamool may favour the Delimitation Bill. Speculation is that the DMK might also support the Central government on the delimitation issue.

This development follows Congress’s decision in Tamil Nadu to back TVK instead of DMK, prompting the DMK to signal its potential exit from the “INDIA alliance.” The Stalin party has also announced that it would not participate in the INDIA bloc’s upcoming meeting scheduled for June 8 in Delhi.

Under parliamentary procedure, the government has complete autonomy to introduce new bills during regular sessions, such as the monsoon session. Constitutional amendments, like those required for ‘delimitation,’ often necessitate modifications to the constitution itself. To pass such a bill, approval by a special majority in both houses of Parliament—Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha—is mandatory.

Decisions related to ‘delimitation’ tend to be politically and socially sensitive. Therefore, before presenting such a bill in Parliament, the government must ensure broad political consensus with Opposition parties, along with cabinet approval.

As of now, the Parliamentary Affairs Committee of the Cabinet has not made an official announcement regarding the schedule for the monsoon session of Parliament in 2026. Traditionally, this session lasts for approximately three weeks, typically commencing in the third week of July and concluding around August 15.

According to government sources, several members of Parliament from the Trinamool Congress have shown a positive attitude toward the delimitation issue. It has been claimed that the proposals being discussed by the Central government have elicited favourable responses within the party. However, no official statement has yet been issued by the Trinamool Congress on this matter. The DMK also appears to have adopted a soft stance, stating that the government should first present the new draft of the Delimitation Bill in Parliament, after which they will make their decision.

The Delimitation Bill had previously faced strong opposition from several regional parties, including the DMK and Trinamool Congress, as well as the Congress party itself. During a special session convened within the budget session earlier this year, the Central government under Narendra Modi actively pushed forward two key legislative initiatives: the “Reorganization of Lok Sabha” and an amendment to the Women’s Reservation Bill. The latter, aiming to implement reservations for women in the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, was formally named the “Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam.”

Alongside this legislation, the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill was also introduced. The Central focus of this bill was to reorganize Lok Sabha constituencies based on the 2011 Census rather than the upcoming 2027 Census. If passed by both houses of Parliament and approved by the President, the number of Lok Sabha seats could increase from 543 to 850, with one-third of these reserved for women.

However, as the Opposition alliance is united to strongly oppose the proposed bill, the bill failed to pass during the parliamentary vote. The Opposition’s position was clear—they supported women’s reservation but were unwilling to agree to nationwide seat redistribution under its guise. Notably, the Trinamool Congress shared a similar stance at the time. Union Home Minister Amit Shah pointed out that the Lok Sabha seat reallocation was last carried out in 1972 under Indira Gandhi’s government, increasing the number of seats from 522 to 543. On the other hand, the “INDIA Alliance” argued that if seat redistribution were based on the 2011 census, it would disproportionately increase representation from BJP strongholds in northern India’s Hindi-speaking belt while diminishing representation for southern, northeastern, and smaller states.

One of the email complaints sent to the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) in 2024 has ignited serious concerns for Rajesh Exports Limited (REL), one of India’s largest gold companies, regarding alleged financial discrepancies totalling approximately Rs 15.15 lakh crore.

The complaint, filed by a shareholder, focused on a technical issue regarding large trade receivables that had remained outstanding for years.

After over two years, the complaint has led to an order by Sebi where the board alleged that the company may have misrepresented revenues, failed to disclose key subsidiary information, diverted funds through entities connected to its promoter and obstructed attempts to verify a substantial part of its overseas operations.

Bengaluru-based gold refiner and jewellery manufacturer Rajesh Exports, listed on both the NSE and BSE, has been booked by the market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for financial misrepresentation worth approximately Rs 15.15 lakh crore.

According to the SEBI order, REL misrepresented consolidated revenues aggregating to approximately Rs 15.15 lakh crore, representing 99.80 per cent of the total consolidated revenue for the period FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25.

Sebi said its investigation and forensic review had uncovered prima facie evidence suggesting that about 97-99% of the company’s revenue may have been inflated, describing the findings as egregious and unheard of.

Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) holds around 10.80% of Rajesh Exports, a position it has maintained without a single share bought or sold since at least September 2023, as per shareholder data from the March 2026 quarter.

The Foreign institutional investors’ holdings stand at 14.26% by March 2026.

The order further noted that Rajesh Exports failed to provide access to key accounting systems, withheld critical financial records and did not furnish complete documentation sought by investigators and forensic auditors.

Rajesh Exports, in a stock filing, said there appeared to be a communication gap and confusion between the company and the regulator.

Sebi’s order was only an interim order and that no adverse conclusion had been reached, the company said, maintaining that its reported revenues were “correct” and not overstated.

According to the company’s results, between FY21 and FY25, Rajesh Exports reported around Rs 15.45 trillion of consolidated revenue. Out of this, about Rs 15.18 trillion was attributed to subsidiaries and step-down subsidiaries.

The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) faced a major setback as its candidates withdrew their candidature on Thursday, ensuring that the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance wins the Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad) election virtually unopposed.

Thursday was the last day to withdraw applications for the Legislative Council election, and candidates withdrew their applications by 3 pm.

Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena had announced Bal Mane as its candidate from the Raigad-Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg Legislative Council constituency, but he withdrew from the contest on Thursday, after which the Sena expelled him from the party for anti-party activities.

Bal Mane was originally a BJP leader. However, during the 2024 assembly elections, he left the BJP and publicly joined the Thackeray group. He contested the assembly elections from Ratnagiri against Cabinet Minister Uday Samant from the Maha Vikas Aghadi, but he had to face defeat in that election. After that, he was once again brought into the election fray through the Legislative Council. However, his withdrawal before the voting has completely changed the political equations in Konkan

Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena’s Devyani Dongaonkar was nominated from the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar-Jalna Legislative Council constituency, but she suddenly withdrew her candidature, after which the party expelled Devyani Dongaonkar and her husband, Krishna Dongaonkar.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena candidate Anil Kadam, who was supposed to be the candidate from the Nashik Legislative Council constituency, withdrew from the contest and did not file his application.

Congress candidate Sahebrao Kamble, who was nominated by the Congress to contest from the Yavatmal Legislative Council, withdrew from the election.

Reacting to these developments, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP and chief Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut alleged here on Thursday that, “The ruling party (BJP) has spent a whopping Rs 150 crore to get our candidates to withdraw their applications. One of our candidates was given Rs 25 crore to withdraw”.

“From the information I have so far, the ruling party is adamant to ensure that elections are held unopposed, and many unscrupulous methods have been adopted to achieve this. A large number of attempts were made to buy off opposition candidates, and it succeeded in some places,” Sanjay Raut said.

“Yesterday (Wednesday), such transactions took place at Hotel Sofitel in Mumbai, located in the Bandra Kurla Complex. After that, our candidate in Konkan (Bal Mane) withdrew. Our candidate withdrew in Sambhajinagar. The person who fixed the deal informed us. The process of purchasing candidates is going on in Maharashtra. I think this is a way of destroying the state and the country. This is extremely dangerous for democracy,” Sanjay Raut said.

“The prices of horses were fixed only to withdraw their candidatures. I am not shocked at all. I expected this. That is why I kept saying from the beginning that this election is not ours. This election is not for party workers. This election is for those who can spend cash, do horse-trading, and buy candidates and votes. This is not a democracy. This was my honest opinion, and I tried to present my opinion many times before the party. I was afraid that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) would get discredited due to this, especially my party,” Sanjay Raut said.

Reacting to the withdrawal of MVA candidates from the poll fray, Maharashtra State Congress Committee President Harshwardhan Sapkal said, “Despite the BJP’s power everywhere, it is still trampling upon democratic values in its desire for more power. Offers of crores of rupees have been made to opposition candidates in order to ensure that Legislative Council elections are won unopposed. The BJP has used all means to get candidates to withdraw nominations, putting aside all morality. The BJP does not want democracy. It wants a ‘nomination system’ instead of elections”.

“Voters of Legislative Council elections are the elected representatives in the local self-government bodies, and it is a limited electorate. But in this election too, the ruling alliance has openly played the game of throwing money and enjoying the spectacle. There has been a huge distribution of money by the ruling party. The BJP and the Election Commission are in an unholy alliance. This picture is not good for democracy,” Sapkal said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday urged athletes from across the globe to help spread awareness about yoga beyond the World Yogasana Championship.

In his remarks during the World Yogasana Championship in Ahmedabad via Video Conferencing, the Prime Minister said the first World Yogasana Championship begins today in Ahmedabad.

He called on athletes participating in the inaugural ‘World Yogasana Championship’ to become global ambassadors of the Ayush Ministry’s ‘Yoga 365’ campaign when they return to their home countries.

He said Ahmedabad, a UNESCO World Heritage City, is hosting this event, which is a matter of pride for the entire nation.

“Just a few days from now, on June 21, ‘World Yoga Day’ will also be celebrated. On that day, yoga-related events will take place across various countries, with the main program being held in another historic Indian city, Kolkata. Thus, before World Yoga Day, the World Yogasana Championship has arrived, bringing with it a double dose of health and wellness,” the Prime Minister stated.

He said this year, the theme of International Day of Yoga is Yoga for Healthy Ageing.

“People today are searching for ways to remain healthy and active for longer. Yoga is a very suitable option for this. Yoga frees us from indulgence as well as from disease. Most importantly, it is the best way to maintain a healthy lifestyle with minimal expense. Therefore, remember this mantra: Daily yoga will drive away all diseases,” the Prime Minister said.

“Carrying this vision forward, the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, has launched the ‘Yoga Three Sixty Five’ campaign. I urge all athletes participating in this World Yogasana Championship to carry the message of yoga back to your countries. You can become ambassadors of ‘Yoga Three Sixty Five’ in your nations. Your experience and faith in yoga can connect the entire world with this message,” he stated.

Anil Agarwal-led Vedanta-owned copper mining company CopperTech Metals Inc, which is domiciled in the United States, has announced that it has publicly filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission regarding its proposed initial public offering (IPO) on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

However, neither the number of CopperTech shares to be offered nor the price range of the date of listing for the proposed IPO has been disclosed. The company plans to list itself on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol “CUX”, according to the website of the company’s IPO lead manager.

Citigroup and Cantor have been appointed as joint lead managers for the proposed offering. BMO Capital Markets, RBC Capital Markets, TD Securities, Stifel, William Blair, and Needham & Company are acting as book runners for the proposed offering, with Roth Capital acting as co-manager.

Vedanta-owned CopperTech controls 79.42% of Konkola Copper Mines in Zambia.

CopperTech plans to use the proceeds of the IPO to invest in exploration activities across its operational sites and select international jurisdictions to support long-term mineral resource development, beyond expanding copper production at Konkola Copper Mines in Zambia, which is owned by CopperTech.

CopperTech intends to build on the existing $3 billion investment made by Vedanta Resources Limited in the Konkola Copper Mines, which included construction of a deep mine shaft, a smelter and a concentrator, for general mine development, and it intends to invest an additional $1.5 billion in the operations.

CopperTech intends to leverage advanced mining and cutting-edge AI-driven resource identification and extraction technology as an integral part of its plans to expand production capacity and enhance operational efficiency from the current planned integrated copper production levels of 140,000 tonnes in FY26 to 300,000 tonnes by 2031.

With future investments, and supported by proven and probable reserves, CopperTech has plans to raise production levels to 500,000 tonnes per year, which CopperTech believes would position the company among the leading copper producers in the world.

CopperTech’s go-to-market strategy leverages the US-backed $10 billion Lobito Corridor project, which connects Zambia’s Copperbelt to Angola’s Atlantic coast, providing enhanced logistics access for serving US markets. CopperTech’s strategic positioning aligns with this infrastructure development, creating optimal conditions for serving the US technology and industrial sectors.

Additionally, CopperTech intends to utilise a portion of the planned $1.5 billion investment towards further exploration within the Konkola Copper Mines, as well as conduct exploration activities in other countries. These include ‘drill and fill’ projects and AI-based surveys to ascertain the potential for additional resources.

Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) chief Humayun Kabir, who formed his own outfit after breaking away from Trinamool Congress, has offered to resign from his constituency Rejinagar to help Mamata Banerjee a way back to the West Bengal Assembly.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Kabir said that he is ready to resign and ensure Mamata Banerjee is elected from Rejinagar.

“If Mamata Banerjee comes to me, I can send her to the Assembly from Rejinagar. If she contests from Nandigram, she will not win. But if she wants, I will resign and ensure her victory from my constituency,” Kabir said.

Kabir, once a close aide of Mamata Banerjee, was suspended from the party after he announced to build a Babari mosque in Bengal.

The development comes amid the ongoing crisis within the Trinamool Congress. After defeat in Bengal Assembly elections, the TMC has split into two factions – one ked by Mamata Banerjee and the other by rebel MLA Ritabrata Banerjee.

Ritabrata, with the help of 58 other MPs, has managed to secure the post of Leader of Opposition. His faction has been recognised by the Speaker as the real TMC.

The Mamata Banerjee-led faction had appointed Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay as the LoP but he was reportedly not recognised by the Speaker.

Ritabrata has offered the chief advisor’s role for Mamata Banerjee, while launching a scathing attack on her nephew Abhishek Banerjee.

“We want Mamata Banerjee to be our chief advisor, to give us advice that will help us in strengthening our position as the opposition,” he told reporters on Wednesday.

However, he slammed Abhishek Banerjee and said that the TMC has no connection with him.

“Abhishek Banerjee will have absolutely no role in it. Neither our legislative party nor the party organisation has any connection whatsoever with him. Nor does the public have any connection with him,” he said.

Rajesh Exports Ltd informed the BSE on Thursday that the order passed by the Securities & Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is an interim order, not a final one, following SEBI’s allegation that the company appears to have prima facie overstated its revenues.

Rajesh Exports Ltd Chairman Rajesh Mehta informed the BSE in a statement on Thursday that, “The (SEBI) order is interim and SEBI has not reached any adverse conclusion on any aspect. The revenues declared by the company are correct and there is no overstating of revenues. There seems to be some communication gap and confusion between SEBI and the company. The company is clarifying all aspects to SEBI by submitting all required and relevant documents.”

“The company is confident that SEBI in its wisdom will clarify the situation and arrive at the correct conclusion based on the authenticated documents the company is submitting,” Rajesh Exports Ltd informed the BSE.

“The company rejects all adverse media reports regarding SEBI’s interim order. The company will shortly issue a media clarification that will settle the unnecessary speculation in the media,” according to the statement by Rajesh Exports.

The statement was issued to the stock exchange after SEBI passed a 109-page interim order alleging that Rajesh Exports misrepresented consolidated revenues aggregating about Rs 15.15 lakh crore between FY 2020-21 and FY 2024-25, which accounts for nearly 99.8 per cent of the company’s total consolidated revenue during that period.

“I prima facie find that the pattern of routing substantial sums through the personal bank accounts of Rajesh Mehta and Siddharth Mehta, coupled with the absence of approvals, non-disclosure and inconsistent explanations, demonstrates a systemic failure of corporate governance, concealment of material information and deliberate circumvention of regulatory requirements,” SEBI Whole Time Member Kamlesh Chandra Varshney mentioned in the SEBI’s interim order.

SEBI also alleged that Rajesh Exports Ltd received repeated summons and several opportunities to furnish true and fair financial statements, but the company’s statutory auditors failed to cooperate with SEBI.

SEBI began probing Rajesh Exports after receiving a complaint on March 11, 2024 from a Rajesh Exports Ltd shareholder who alleged potential financial misrepresentation in its books regarding a large sum of trade receivables outstanding for more than two years.

According to SEBI, its interim order resulted from a four-year investigation carried out between April 1, 2020 and March 31, 2024.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested another accused in the murder case of Chandranath Rath, a close aide to Chief Minister. The incident happened when Suvendu was CM-elect.

The latest arrest was made in Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh, taking the investigation a step further in one of the state’s most sensitive criminal cases.

The arrested individual has been identified as Golu Singh. According to sources, he is the third accused to be apprehended in connection with the murder conspiracy. The CBI has secured a 48-hour transit remand and is bringing him to Kolkata for further interrogation. Investigators believe that questioning Golu Singh could provide crucial leads regarding the planning and execution of the crime.

Preliminary findings reportedly indicated his involvement in the case, following which the agency moved to arrest him from Ballia. The arrest comes weeks after the CBI apprehended Rajkumar Singh, a resident of Ballia, from Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh. Following Rajkumar’s arrest, the agency began scrutinising his network of associates and contacts to identify others allegedly linked to the murder plot.

The case witnessed a fresh turn on Thursday morning when Jnanendra Singh Monu, described as a close associate of Rajkumar Singh, surrendered before a Ballia court in connection with an old case registered under the Gangsters Act. Shortly after his surrender, the CBI arrested Golu Singh, who is also believed to be closely connected to Rajkumar. Officials said Golu Singh would be extensively questioned in Kolkata to ascertain his precise role in the conspiracy, the chain of communication among the accused, and any possible links to other individuals involved in the crime.

Earlier, on 21 May, the CBI had arrested Naveen Kumar Singh from the Fefna area of Ballia. During the course of the investigation, joint teams of the CBI and local police also arrested several other accused, including alleged shooter Raj Singh alias Chandan, from locations in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar’s Buxar district.

A comprehensive review meeting involving the district administrations of Darjeeling and Kalimpong and the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) was held at the GTA headquarters in Darjeeling on Wednesday to assess key developmental issues and chart out priorities for the hill region.

The meeting, convened by GTA Principal Secretary Shama Parveen, was attended by Darjeeling MP Raju Bista, Darjeeling MLA Noman Rai, Kalimpong MLA Bharat Chhetri, Kurseong MLA Sonam Lama, the district magistrates and superintendents of police of Darjeeling and Kalimpong, along with senior GTA and government officials.

According to a statement issued after the meeting, participants expressed confidence that the West Bengal government’s proposed engagement with the Centre-appointed interlocutor would help accelerate dialogue towards a permanent political solution for the hills.

In the meantime, the GTA was urged to continue serving the people with transparency, accountability and efficiency, with public welfare remaining the foremost priority.

The meeting identified several sectors requiring immediate intervention. In healthcare, steps will be taken to fill vacancies of doctors and nurses, strengthen emergency services and examine the feasibility of establishing a medical college in the hills. In the education sector, emphasis was laid on restoring quality, ensuring transparent recruitment processes and investigating alleged irregularities in teacher appointments.

The rehabilitation of families affected by the Teesta floods was also reviewed. Officials noted that Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has approved the construction of 90 houses for affected families, while the process of identifying suitable land is underway.

Disaster preparedness ahead of the monsoon, revival of tea gardens and cinchona plantations, and improvement of road connectivity and infrastructure were among other priorities discussed. Plans for an alternative highway to Darjeeling, the Circular Road project and ropeway connectivity also came up for consideration.

The meeting further reviewed the implementation of welfare schemes and directed officials to ensure that benefits reach eligible beneficiaries without delay or intermediaries. Tourism promotion, municipal reforms, revival of Darjeeling Hill University, enhanced support for ICDS and ASHA workers, and transparent clearance of pending liabilities were also discussed.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday met UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and expressed satisfaction over the growing momentum in India-United Kingdom relations, saying the deepening partnership between the two countries has created unprecedented opportunities for growth and cooperation.

‎Sharing details of the meeting in a post on social media platform X, Modi highlighted the steady expansion of bilateral ties in recent years and underscored the importance of the long-term roadmap guiding relations between New Delhi and London.
‎“Pleased to meet UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper. Appreciated the deepening of the India-UK partnership in recent times that has unlocked unprecedented growth opportunities for both our countries,” the Prime Minister said.

‎Modi also reaffirmed the importance of the India-UK Vision 2035 framework, describing it as a key pillar for advancing cooperation across a wide range of sectors and addressing global challenges through joint efforts.

‎“India-UK Vision 2035 will continue to guide our partnership and strengthen our joint efforts for global good,” he added.
‎The meeting comes amid growing engagement between India and the United Kingdom across areas such as trade, investment, technology, innovation, education, defence, climate action and people-to-people exchanges. Both countries have intensified efforts in recent years to broaden their strategic partnership and deepen economic cooperation.

‎India and the United Kingdom elevated their relationship through the adoption of the India-UK Vision 2035 roadmap, which outlines cooperation in trade and prosperity, defence and security, climate and health, migration and mobility, and multilateral engagement. The framework seeks to strengthen collaboration between the two democracies while leveraging their shared interests in promoting economic growth, innovation and global stability.
‎The interaction between Modi and Cooper reflects the continuing high-level engagement between the two countries as they work to further expand bilateral cooperation and implement the objectives laid out under the Vision 2035 partnership agenda.