'He wanted to know what products I'd brought along, so I showed him jackfruit flour, which research has linked to managing type 2 diabetes.' 'Then jackfruit seed flour, a strong source of protein that rural households have eaten for generations without it ever becoming a commercial product. I gave him ripe jackfruit chips too.'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday expressed concern over the repeated disruptions of parliamentary proceedings, stating that due to the turmoil in the House, the country has been unable to listen to the talented MPs elected in recent times.
The founders of the Rapido app have been booked in Nagpur for allegedly operating petrol-powered bike taxi services in Maharashtra without the necessary government permissions. A case was registered following a complaint from the Nagpur RTO after a special drive revealed private vehicles were being used commercially without proper licenses, raising concerns about passenger safety and revenue loss for the government.
Monsoon rains have unleashed widespread destruction across India, claiming seven lives in Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka due to landslides and floods, while heavy downpours have disrupted normal life and triggered red alerts in Maharashtra and other regions.
Nationwide protests against the NEET paper leak have intensified across several Indian states, with demonstrators condemning the Delhi Police crackdown and demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The Congress party has called for further demonstrations, while various student and political groups have organised marches and sit-ins, some leading to clashes with police.
Ranbir Kapoor has made a significant investment, purchasing 25.7 acres of land in Pune's scenic Mulshi taluka for over Rs 16.42 crore (Rs 164.2 million), underscoring a growing trend among celebrities to favour land banking for long-term real estate appreciation and development potential.
Why the industry's public position changed is difficult to say. What the developments did establish, though, is that ethanol-blended petrol has become one of the country's most politically and commercially sensitive policy issues.
Mumbai and its metropolitan region are experiencing severe monsoon rains, leading to widespread waterlogging, transport disruptions, and the closure of schools and colleges. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an 'extremely heavy rainfall' alert, with some areas receiving nearly 200 mm of rain in 12 hours, prompting Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to urge residents to avoid non-essential travel.
Climate experts explain how El Nino and climate change are intricately linked, with El Nino delaying monsoon onset and climate change intensifying rainfall. This new reality is altering the Indian monsoon's behaviour, leading to short-duration, high-intensity rain spells, especially in western and northwestern regions.
Police in Pune have registered a case against two officials of Antony Lara Renewable Energy Pvt Ltd following the collapse of a three-storey building at a waste-to-energy project, which resulted in nine deaths. The officials are booked for culpable homicide and negligence, as preliminary inquiries suggest a lack of safety measures despite heavy rains and the proximity of a large waste mound. The Maharashtra government has formed a high-level technical committee to investigate the incident and recommend preventive measures.
Police in Beed, Maharashtra, have arrested a man for allegedly possessing a country-made pistol following a tip-off and subsequent raid on his eatery.
Two government officials in Beed district, Maharashtra, have been arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau for allegedly accepting bribes. The officials are a Talathi (Village Revenue Officer) and a Gram Sevak (Gram Panchayat Officer).
Heavy monsoon rains have severely impacted Mumbai and its surrounding areas, leading to landslides, suspension of train services, and at least 13 fatalities over the past few days. The Mumbai-Pune Expressway was also shut due to a concrete pillar collapse and waterlogging.
Two traffic police officers in Maharashtra, including an inspector, have been booked for allegedly demanding a bribe from a female colleague in exchange for favourable night duty assignments.
An Ivory Coast national has been arrested in Palghar, Maharashtra, by the Anti-Terrorist Cell for possessing 278 grams of cocaine worth Rs 1.39 crore. The accused, N' Guessan Marc Koffi, was apprehended following a raid based on specific intelligence, and police are investigating his potential links to a larger drug trafficking network.
A stray dog bit at least 40 people in Kaij town, Beed district, Maharashtra, leading to a rush for anti-rabies vaccinations and heightened concerns about stray animal control.
A Shiv Sena corporator, Ramesh Sukrya Mhatre, and five associates have been booked for allegedly assaulting two doctors at a civic-run hospital in Kalyan, Thane, after a family was advised to transfer a newborn due to lack of NICU space. The incident, captured on video, led to widespread outrage and threats of protests from the Indian Medical Association.
Sadhguru's Isha Gramotsavam, a rural sports festival, is expanding its 18th edition into North India, covering 10 states and one Union Territory. This year's event will engage over 80,000 players from 40,000 villages in men's volleyball and women's throwball, offering a prize pool exceeding Rs 1 crore, with the aim of social transformation through sport.
Police in Amravati district, Maharashtra, have filed a case against former state minister Omprakash alias Bachchu Kadu for allegedly conspiring to kill the brother of a BJP MLA.
As Mumbai grapples with rising temperatures and humidity, many slum dwellers are spending their nights on Versova beach to escape the unbearable heat in their poorly ventilated homes, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting a gradual rise in temperatures before a decline, and a yellow alert for isolated rainfall.
With the southwest monsoon stalled over southern Maharashtra, India is facing a nationwide rainfall deficit of 41 percent between June 4 and June 18, according to the latest India meteorological department (IMD) data.
BJP spokesman Sajid Yousuf Shah claimed he was asked to leave a hotel in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar due to his "Kashmiri identity." Shah expressed sadness over the incident, highlighting persistent stereotypes despite efforts to strengthen bonds between Jammu & Kashmir and India. The National Conference criticised the BJP, stating the incident reflects the "politics of hatred" propagated by the party.
A 60-year-old farmer in Maharashtra's Beed district has been arrested for allegedly cultivating cannabis plants hidden within a jowar (sorghum) crop.
After more than four decades, Chhattisgarh's Bastar region has been declared free of Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), marking the end of the armed Maoist rebellion in the area. The decline is attributed to sustained security operations, improved governance, and socio-economic development initiatives.
A 23-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly murdering a 45-year-old nurse in the compound of a private hospital in Yavatmal, Maharashtra. The incident, which occurred on Saturday, is believed to be the result of an ongoing dispute between the victim and the accused's mother.
Police in Chhattisgarh's Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki district seized 800 boxes of illicit liquor worth Rs 50.28 lakh from a truck attempting to smuggle the consignment into Maharashtra. The driver was arrested, and an investigation is underway to uncover the full smuggling network.
The India Meteorological Department has issued a 'red' alert for Mumbai, Thane, and Raigad districts, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall and strong winds. Residents are advised to avoid unnecessary travel, and warnings include potential flash floods, structural damage, and disruptions to essential services. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has also urged caution and deployed officials to monitor the situation.
The Congress Legislature Party leader in Maharashtra raises concerns about law and order due to missing girls and the impact of unseasonal rains on farmers, criticising the government's response.
'We ourselves hadn't heard it initially. Many people called us. The entire village was overjoyed.'
A landslide in Maval tehsil, Pune district, has buried a house, with three family members feared trapped. Rescue operations are underway by NDRF and police, while heavy rainfall has also caused waterlogging and partial closure of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway.
Three individuals with a history of burglaries and thefts have been banned from entering Beed, Latur, and Dharashiv districts in Maharashtra for three years.
Maharashtra Congress leader Naseem Khan met with the representative of Iran's Supreme Leader in India to express condolences for the deaths of Ayatollah Khamenei, soldiers, and civilians in the West Asia conflict.
There are strong possibilities of some Union ministers being sent to take organisational roles in the BJP and party office-bearers being inducted into the Modi ministry.
Arms and explosives, along with manufacturing equipment, were recovered from a forested area along the Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border during an anti-Naxal operation.
Shiv Sena (UBT) workers in Dharashiv have issued strong warnings, including threats of public humiliation, against any party members, particularly MP Omprakash Raje Nimbalkar, who might defect. This comes amidst reports of six of the party's nine MPs potentially forming a separate group, posing a significant challenge to the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction.
As the Shiv Sena marks 60 years, political experts highlight the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction's existential crisis and the Eknath Shinde-led group's struggle for relevance in the face of a dominant BJP, a significant shift from the party's historical 'elder brother' status in Maharashtra.
The Maharashtra government has revoked provisional licences issued to motorbike aggregators like Rapido, Ola, and Uber due to non-compliance with the Maharashtra E-bike Taxi Rules 2024, including the mandatory use of electric vehicles and submission of required documents.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) is facing a potential crisis as speculation mounts that 'six to seven' of its nine Lok Sabha MPs are considering switching allegiance to the Eknath Shinde-led ruling Shiv Sena, with some reportedly camping in New Delhi.
The opposition in the Maharashtra assembly has alleged that teak wood smugglers in the Chandrapur district are receiving political protection, hindering efforts to combat illegal logging.
Police in Thane, Maharashtra, seized dry opium worth Rs 38 lakh from a car and a pickup van, arresting one person and launching a search for another suspect.
