Month: June 2025

[ad_1] VIJAYAWADA: Andhra Pradesh, which once amended its laws to bar people with more than two kids from contesting panchayat and municipal elections, now plans to incentivise having larger families as part of a strategy to combat dropping fertility rates and shift focus to what chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu terms “investment in human capital”. “I am looking at giving financial incentives by taking a family as a unit. The bigger families may get higher incentives,” Naidu told TOI ahead of completing a year in office on June 12.“As part of the ‘Zero Poverty ’ initiative, I have already rolled out an interesting model in which wealthier people will adopt poor families. This will not only bridge income disparities, but also ensure welfare of the entire family,” he said.The four-time CM, who has been an advocate of population management, said […]

[ad_1] Donald Trump talking to reporters US President Donald Trump on Sunday talked about his decision to deploy National Guard troops to Los Angeles in response to protests against immigration raids, framing the move as essential to restoring law and order.Speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One, departing for Camp David, Trump claimeddemonstrators had engaged in physical provocation, justifying a tough federal response.“They spit and worse, you know, what they throw at them, right?” Trump said. “And when that happens, I have a little statement. They spit, we hit. And I told them, nobody's going to spit on our police officers, nobody's going to spit on our military. Which they do, is a common thing. They get up to them this far away and then they start spitting in their face. That happens. They get hit very hard.”“I mean, […]

[ad_1] NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi has asked road transport ministry to formulate "clear norms and standards" for subcontractors engaged by main highway builders to ensure high quality of work during project execution. The ministry has also been instructed to rework the criteria of eligibility and selection of supervision engineers, who are responsible for quality compliance during construction.These instructions, among several others, came amid instances of newly-built highways getting damaged due to poor quality work - primarily because of abnormally low prices quoted by bidders to bag projects and laxity in supervision by consultancy firms engaged by the govt. Last Dec, the PM had reviewed the ministry's performance and minutes of the meeting issued last month mentions these directions, TOI has learnt.While the ministry has amended the contract conditions to discourage abnormally low bids, it is finalising stringent norms for […]

[ad_1] NEW DELHI: DRDO has transferred technologies of nine land systems and weapon platforms, including for mounted artillery guns and CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) reconnaissance vehicles, to defence PSUs and private companies for production.In line with the govt's vision to establish a robust defence industrial ecosystem, DRDO laboratory Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (VRDE) located near Ahmednagar in Maharashtra handed over the licencing agreements to the different companies on Saturday, officials said.DRDO chairman Samir V Kamat, speaking on the occasion, praised the "exceptional performance" of indigenous systems like the Akash air defence missiles during Operation Sindoor. The country's defence industry should also plan for "surge capacity" during such situations, he said.The technologies transferred by VRDE included CBRN recce vehicle (tracked) Mark-II to defence PSU Bharat Electronics (BEL) and the mounted gun system to private sector company Bharat Forge.The […]

[ad_1] NEW DELHI: Election Commission officials on Sunday challenged Congress' Rahul Gandhi to follow-up on his claims of "rigging" in 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections by formally writing to the poll panel, saying only then can it offer a formal, point-by-point rebuttal of his "baseless allegations"."It is very strange that even after 24 hours have passed, Rahul has neither written any letter to EC nor sought time with it to air his grievances," said a senior EC functionary. "It is public knowledge that a constitutional body like EC cannot respond formally to allegations unless they are raised or communicated to it directly," the functionary added.Also read: 'Maharashtra polls were match-fixed, Bihar next,' alleges Rahul GandhiRahul, leader of opposition in Lok Sabha, on Saturday hit out at EC after it rejected his allegations of "rigging" in Maharashtra elections in an Op-Ed. He […]

[ad_1] The liver's vital role in detoxification and digestion is often overlooked until disease strikes. Early symptoms like fatigue, abdominal pain, jaundice, and itchy skin can be subtle indicators of liver dysfunction. Dark urine, unexplained weight loss, and changes in stool color also warrant attention, as prompt diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment and preventing further liver damage. Keeping your liver healthy is crucial for overall well-being. Let’s not forget that there literally is a ‘live’ in liver! The liver performs over 500 essential functions, including detoxification, nutrient processing, and bile production for digestion. Liver disease affects millions of people across the globe, and it is on the rise, more than ever. When liver disease develops, its early symptoms are often subtle and are mistaken for minor ailments or ignored entirely. This can delay diagnosis of conditions like hepatitis, fatty […]

[ad_1] PANAJI: A day after public outrage over the decision of health minister Vishwajit Rane to suspend the chief medical officer (CMO) of Goa Medical College’s (GMC) casualty department, chief minister Pramod Sawant said on Sunday that the doctor would not be suspended.Rane on Saturday directed the immediate suspension of the doctor following a complaint alleging that the doctor told a patient to go to an urban health centre to receive an injection.“I reviewed the issue at GMC and held discussions with the health minister. I want to assure the people of Goa that the doctor will not be suspended,” said Sawant.“State govt and our dedicated medical team remain fully committed to ensuring the highest standards of healthcare for every citizen. We also appreciate the tireless efforts and invaluable service of our doctors, who continue to save lives.”Immediately after facing […]

[ad_1] NEW DELHI: Six more Covid-related deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, the Union health ministry said on Sunday. The country's total Covid count has crossed the 6,000-mark, with 769 fresh cases being reported in the last 48 hours, revealed data released by the ministry.Kerala continues to be the most affected state, followed by Gujarat, West Bengal and Delhi. In all, there are 6,133 active Covid cases in the country.With the latest casualties, the Covid death toll since Jan has gone up to 65. Maharashtra has recorded the maximum fatalities (18), followed by Kerala (15) and Delhi (7).Due to the rising number of cases, Centre is conducting mock drills to check facility-level preparedness and has instructed all states to ensure availability of oxygen, isolation beds, ventilators, and essential medicines, official sources said. However, most cases are mild and […]