HC seeks government’s stand on Congress’s 7, Jantar Mantar Road petition

HC seeks government's stand on Congress's 7, Jantar Mantar Road petition

New Delhi: Delhi HC on Thursday sought response from the Center and Delhi government on a petition. Indian National Congress Demand to execute a sale deed in favor of the party for its former headquarters at 7, Jantar Mantar Road.Justice Purushindra Kumar Kaurav issued notice to the authorities but refused to pass any interim order. Even as senior lawyer Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for AICC, urged the HC to ensure that the premises are not allotted to anyone else, the court said it would first examine whether the petition was maintainable or not.Justice Kaurav said the petitioner will have to satisfy sustainability before seeking interim relief. “Let’s see what the government’s reaction is. You may have to file a civil suit. This appears to be going out of bounds,” the judge said.Singhvi argued that INC was an allottee who had owned the property for decades. “I have been asking repeatedly for execution of the conveyance deed. There is no denial. There is no response. I have been in possession for 70 years. I have all the documents and payments. They should not allot it to anyone else,” he told the HC.The Congress said it has been in possession of a portion of the property since February 1946, which was allotted in 1956. He had paid Rs 6.1 lakh in 1959 for the sale consideration. The plea said that since 2017, it has made representations to the Delhi government, which is responsible for the management of the property, seeking execution of the sale deed, but to no avail.

Source link

How did Satheesan emerge as the choice of Kerala Chief Minister?

देर रात तक चली बातचीत, सहयोगियों का समर्थन: कैसे सतीसन केरल के मुख्यमंत्री की पसंद के रूप में उभरे?Rahul Gandhi After meeting former KPCC chiefs and senior leaders on Tuesday afternoon, a significant contingent of party alumni met him at 10, Janpath late at 10 pm. VM Sudheeran, a well-known voice in favor of VD Satheesan, was the last person who is understood to have been heard by the Gandhi family during the detailed deliberations to arrive at the CM selection.Hours later on Wednesday, Sudheeran publicly stressed the need to decide the CM in line with “public sentiments”. A few hours further down, Rahul had his final consultation Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge finalized the decision, although it was kept secret.Sources said KC Venugopal lost in the final stage. The Kharge-Rahul chat ousted the powerful AICC manager and Rahul confidant. And barely any time had passed before even he realized the disappointing turn of events – the first but fatal blow after Venugopal entered the race after maximum MLAs supported him in front of AICC observers on May 7.

New CM of Kerala

But his removal does not necessarily seal the deal that can be struck down. Here, Ramesh Chennithala, always the “compromising” pole of the three-way race, remained a possibility. All eyes were on Thursday morning when the decision was to be made public.At 10 am, Rahul called Venugopal for talks at his residence in Sunehri Bagh and they locked horns for over an hour, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. There, the confessor was clearly informed about the “decision-making process” – a shorthand for the factors that resulted in Satheesan being selected before him.However, the deal was still limited to the Enchanted Realm. Even the party managers who went to Kerala did not know whether it would be Satheesan or Chennithala.Half an hour later, Kharge called a meeting of AICC state in-charge Deepa Dasmunshi and state observers Ajay Maken and Mukul Wasnik. There, the final plan was unveiled and passed for public dissemination.Venugopal is out. But this was a direct leap into the generational change of state leadership. There will be no middle, “compromise” candidate in Chennithala. Apparently calls came in to calm the veteran down.Half an hour later, a press conference was scheduled for 12 noon. And there, Maken, Dasmunshi, Wasnik and Jairam Ramesh declared that it was Satisan.“Public sentiment” became the battle cry of the pro-Sateesan partisans and the common people brigade as lobbying for the chief minister’s post continued on the streets and social media for nine days. The same argument was also made by allies IUML, RSP and Kerala Congress, who questioned the sole reliance on the support of MLAs. Rahul and Priyanka were flooded with emails, which also included mention of Wayanad Lok Sabha seat, where IUML has a strong votebase. Satheesan’s all-round pace cannot be ignored.And when Rahul, instead of closing the deliberations, decided to pick the brains of more state colleagues, Satheesan was clearly in serious thought. Pressure from Sudheeran, K Muraleedharan and, according to some insiders, veterans AK Antony and Priyanka changed the situation.

Source link

France is shocked again by Candace Owens’ reaction after Brigitte Macron’s slap claim

France shocked again by Candace Owens’ reaction after Brigitte Macron’s slap claims (Image via Getty)

president of france Emmanuel Macron He is once again facing online rumors after claims about his wife were made in a new book. brigitte macronEnraged by alleged messages sent to Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani. The claims spread quickly online after conservative commentator Candace Owens responded to the story during her podcast this week. The controversy began when journalist Florian Tardif discussed details of his newly released book An (almost) perfect couple During an interview with RTL France on 12 May. Tardif claimed that Brigitte Macron slapped the French president after seeing a message he allegedly sent Farahani, which reportedly read, “I find you very beautiful.” The story drew attention to a viral video from last year that showed Brigitte Macron pushing Emmanuel Macron as he disembarked from a plane in Vietnam. At the time, Macron dismissed the moment and said the pair were only joking.Candace Owens reacted strongly to the latest report during her Wednesday podcast. Political commentators questioned the claims and suggested they did not believe the story.Owens said, “As everyone knows Emmanuel Macron is gay. So it’s absolutely unbelievable, as it is at first glance, that Brigitte Macron and Emmanuel Macron are arguing because he’s messaging some hot actress, but that’s what they’re going along with.”

Candace Owens says Brigitte Macron trial could be held in June

according to le parisienSources close to Brigitte Macron denied the claims made in Florian Tardif’s book. A source reportedly said the French first lady flatly rejected the story and insisted she never checks her husband’s phone. Actress Golshifteh Farahani has previously denied rumors linking her to a romance with Emmanuel Macron.Even as the controversy continues online, Candace Owens is still involved in a legal battle with the French first couple. Last year, Emmanuelle and Brigitte Macron filed a defamation lawsuit against Owens in Delaware after he repeatedly claimed Brigitte Macron was born a male. Owens later released a video series called becoming brigitteWhere he made many controversial and unverified allegations about the couple.During her latest podcast, Owens hinted that she may revisit the topic before the court hearing, which she said is expected to take place in June.Owens said, “You know, the court has just been filed. I think the June meeting is there. I’m looking forward to it. I hope that me and Brigitte get a chance to meet in person one day. I think it should happen.”Earlier this year, several people were convicted in France in a cyberbullying case involving online abuse targeted at Brigitte Macron. Owens reacted to the news on social media and continued to criticize the French first lady despite the ongoing trial. In another controversial claim made last year, Owens also alleged that the Macron family “paid for his murder”, although he did not provide evidence to support the statement.

Source link

The present system allows the government to choose the CEC, EC of its choice.

SC: Current system allows government to choose CEC, EC of its choice

New Delhi: Questioning the appointment process of the Chief Election Commissioner/Election Commissioners, where a panel comprising the PM, a Cabinet minister and the Leader of the Opposition selects the candidate, the Supreme Court on Thursday said the current system allows the government to appoint a person of its choice as two out of three members will favor it and asked the government why it is “pretending about independence” in the appointment process. It was said that instead of the minister, an independent person should be made a part of the panel.Citing the Supreme Court’s earlier direction that the panel should include the PM, CJI and the LOP, a bench of Justices Dipankar Gupta and Satish Chandra Sharma said it was not necessary that the CJI participate in the process, but an independent person would have to be a part of it or the presence of the LOP would become merely decorative. It said that when a CBI Director is appointed by an independent panel comprising the PM, CJI and LOP, why should not the same practice be followed for the CEC/EC, which is all the more important as the institution is involved in maintaining democracy and ensuring free and fair elections in the country.Although Attorney General K Venkataramani said that the neutrality and independence of the CEC/EC arises from their functioning after their appointment, the bench said that it started with the appointment process itself. The court said that the Election Commission should not only act neutrally but also appear neutral.

SC seeks records on ‘hasty’ appointment of two ECs

“Why should a Cabinet minister be a part of this? Let us assume the ruling party has 300 MPs. The PM picks 25 of his best. Now you micromanage it again and bring in one of the 25. Why? Then why do you include the Leader of the Opposition in it? He is decorative. A minister will never go against the PM. It will always be decided by 2:1. Why this pretense of independence in the body,” the bench asked. Asked.The court is examining the validity of the law which was created after the Supreme Court passed orders that the appointments would be made by a panel of the PM, CJI and LOP to bring independence in the process.Deliberations on the search, selection and appointment of Gyanesh Kumar (now CEC) and SS Sandhu as Election Commissioner in 2024 came under question, with the bench asking the Center to bring before it the original records.The Supreme Court said that the CJI is part of the panel for the appointment of CBI director. It said that the role of the Election Commission is more important than that of the CBI because it is involved in maintaining democracy. The bench said, “We do not say that there should be a CJI. But why should there not be an independent member? Why should it be from the ministry?”

Source link

Shardul Thakur discusses Hardik Pandya’s prolonged absence amid trade rumors

Shardul Thakur has responded to the growing speculation over Hardik Pandya’s future at Mumbai Indians by quashing rumors of the MI captain’s transfer after the team’s six-wicket win over Punjab Kings on May 14.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Shardul said that social media talk should largely be limited to social media and clarified that Hardik is currently unavailable due to injury.

Shardul said, “There is a lot of talk on social media. Some are true and some are false. But in the end it is the team management that takes the decision.”

PBKS vs MI: highlighted | Achievement:

Hardik did not accompany the team to Dharamshala for the Punjab clash and has now missed Mumbai’s last three matches in the Indian Premier League 2026 season.

The MI captain’s absence has fueled rumors of unrest within the franchise, with speculation that Hardik could be traded to Chennai Super Kings. The news and fan conversations have intensified regarding the alleged close relationship between CSK CEO Kasi Vishwanathan and former India captain MS Dhoni.

Hardik has also been linked with franchises like Delhi Capitals after Mumbai’s disappointing season.

However, Shardul insisted that the all-rounder’s absence was entirely injury-related and revealed that Hardik was currently undergoing rehabilitation in Mumbai.

“If we talk about Hardik Pandya specifically, he had an injury and did not travel with the team. He traveled to Raipur, but he was not able to play there. He is now in Mumbai training. I am hopeful that he will return to action in Kolkata and play games.”

“We always miss a player of his caliber when he doesn’t play,” he said.

Mumbai will face Kolkata Knight Riders on May 20 at Eden Gardens.

Hardik has faced a lot of difficulties IPL 2026 campaign as both captain and player. This season he has scored only 146 runs with the bat at a strike rate of 136, while with the ball he has taken only four wickets at an average of 61.

Despite the absence of Hardik Pandya and vice-captain Suryakumar Yadav on Thursday. Mumbai Indians managed to defeat Punjab Kings by 6 wickets. While chasing the target of 201 runs, Tilak Verma stood up and gave victory to the team by hitting a powerful six on the last ball.

ipl 2026 | ipl schedule | ipl points table | ipl player stats | purple cap | orange cap | ipl video | cricket news | live score

– ends

published by:

Kingshuk Kusari

Published on:

May 15, 2026 01:08 IST

Source link

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s settlement may not end the drama for Taylor Swift ahead of her wedding

ब्लेक लाइवली और जस्टिन बाल्डोनी के समझौते से टेलर स्विफ्ट के लिए उसकी शादी से पहले नाटक खत्म नहीं हो सकता हैBlake Lively And the Justin Baldoni saga is technically over. Except that’s not really the case. And with Taylor Swift’s wedding reportedly just weeks away, things are about to get very complicated, very fast.

Taylor Swift and Blake Lively’s friendship drama intensifies after Justin Baldoni case is settled

The agreement was reached about two weeks before jury selection was to begin on May 18. No hearing. No jury. No dramatic courtroom showdown. A judge had already dismissed ten of Lively’s thirteen claims – including sexual harassment and defamation, with only three remaining: retaliation, aiding and abetting retaliation, and breach of contract. None of this was against Baldoni personally, but rather against his production company and a PR firm.The terms of the settlement have not been confirmed, and claims are already circulating that Lively walked away with no cash. Baldoni’s lawyer, for his part, said his client was “excited”. Make of that what you will.This is where things go wrong. The Baldoni case dragged Taylor Swift into it, whether she wanted to or not. Private conversations between Swift and Lively were revealed in court documents, and insiders say Taylor felt “exposed and violated”, and it crossed a line.The result has been in the making for months. Sources say Taylor “no longer trusts Blake or Ryan” and wants a “drama-free day.” An insider put it bluntly: “He’s not invited. Period.”Despite everything, Blake is reportedly confident that the friendship can be saved and has already picked out a dress for Taylor’s wedding. Sources say that she “sees herself in the inner circle as essential, not optional”, pointing to the fact that she was around when Taylor and Travis first got together.Bold. Very courageous.With Taylor and Travis’ big day reportedly getting closer, with most reports pointing to New York on July 3, the question of the guest list isn’t going away. Blake was not included in the alleged bachelorette party plans, instead Selena Gomez, Gigi Hadid, the Haim sisters, Brittany Mahomes, and Kylie Kelce were reportedly on that list.If you’re not on the bachelor’s list, your chances of marriage aren’t looking great.The matter was resolved. There was no chaos. Blake Lively is here dress shopping for a wedding she may not be invited to, while Taylor Swift is reportedly trying to keep her big day completely drama-free.Travis Kelce is trying to get married right now. Honestly, same.

Source link

‘Foreign pregnant mothers get extra service’

Indian-origin doctor under investigation for 'birth tourism' in San Jose: 'Foreign expectant mothers get extra service'
An Indian-origin doctor in San Jose has come under scrutiny for encouraging birth tourism.

Dr. Athiya Javid of San Jose has come under government investigation over allegations of encouraging birth tourism. James Comer (R-Ky.), Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform) and Representative Brandon Gill (R-Texas) alleged that Dr. Javid and three other organizations were advertising for birth tourism on their websites. Letters have been sent to Doctores Para T, Have My Baby in Miami, International Maternity Services and Dr. Athiya Javid asking for documents. Dr. Athiya Javid studied medicine in Hyderabad, India.“The benefits of U.S. citizenship are a unique privilege. However, as foreign expectant mothers traveling for this purpose come primarily from China and Russia, there are concerns that the birth tourism industry poses potential national security and election integrity threats that threaten U.S. interests,” the letter said.“In January 2025, President Trump issued an executive order limiting birthright citizenship by limiting the eligibility for citizenship of children born in the United States to parents who are present in the United States illegally or are lawfully present, but only temporarily reside in the country at the time of birth such as under the visa waiver program or on a foreign visit on a nonimmigrant visa. A federal court issued a preliminary injunction in July 2025, “The executive order has been halted from taking effect, and will remain in place pending a final decision by the US Supreme Court,” the letter said.Dr Javid is accused of saying that his website shows that the company is engaged in birth tourism. “Although specific pricing for the maternity package is not publicly listed, interested clients should contact the firm directly through their online portal or via phone or email to receive personalized travel planning options, price quotes and information on additional fees – including registration costs, extended hospital stays and medical tests and examinations. “In addition to antenatal and postnatal care, the company provides a wide range of services to foreign expectant mothers, including logistics assistance, temporary accommodation assistance and legal counsel, provided either directly or through affiliated third-party providers,” it said.

Source link

Delhi High Court judge decides to withdraw from Kejriwal excise case after initiating contempt

Delhi High Court judge decides to withdraw from Kejriwal excise case after initiating contempt

New Delhi: In a fresh twist in the ongoing CBI appeal hearing against the acquittal of all the accused in the excise policy case, Delhi High Court judge Swarn Kanta Sharma initiated criminal contempt proceedings against the former chief minister. Arvind KejriwalAAP officials Manish Sisodia, Durgesh Pathak, Sanjay Singh, Saurabh Bhardwaj and others abstained from hearing the main case.“Can’t surrender to a powerful litigant,” Justice Sharma said while initiating contempt proceedings against Kejriwal, saying he “launched a defamatory campaign” against him on social media instead of challenging the adverse orders against him in the higher court.She said she would now hear only the contempt case and transferred the appeal, so that the “defendants” would not later claim that she was biased against them. The judge said that while the hearing in the excise policy case was going on inside, “a parallel narrative was being constructed outside… and aspersions were being leveled on this court by contemporaries armed with political powers.”

-

Justice Sharma took exception to social media posts shared by Kejriwal and other AAP office-bearers which ascribed their “political allegiance” and targeted them by posting a misleading “edited” video of a speech delivered by them at an educational institution in Varanasi.Justice Sharma said, “After I refused to withdraw from the case, Arvind Kejriwal tried to destroy my reputation instead of availing legal remedies and this deliberate attempt to undermine the authority of the court under the guise of free speech cannot be allowed.”He said Kejriwal wanted to sow “seeds of distrust”, but warned that “judicial silence cannot afford to threaten judges into silence”.

Gandhiji’s Satyagraha won: Kejriwal

She said she would now hear only the contempt case and transferred the appeal, so that later the “defendants” would not claim that she was biased. The judge said that while the hearing in the excise policy case was going on inside, “a parallel narrative was being constructed outside… and aspersions were being leveled on this court by contemporaries armed with political powers.”Justice Sharma took exception to social media posts shared by Kejriwal and other AAP office-bearers which ascribed their “political allegiance” and targeted them by posting a misleading “edited” video of a speech delivered by them at an educational institution in Varanasi.Justice Sharma said, “After I refused to withdraw from the case, Arvind Kejriwal tried to destroy my reputation instead of availing legal remedies and this deliberate attempt to undermine the authority of the court under the guise of free speech cannot be allowed.”He said Kejriwal wanted to sow “seeds of distrust”, but warned that “judicial silence cannot afford to threaten judges into silence”.Referring to Kejriwal’s conduct, the judge said that hopefully the matter will be put to rest once his plea is decided.Justice Sharma said, “The plaintiff could have gone to the Supreme Court for challenge, but he did not, instead he released a video and repeated the same allegations and grounds which were rejected by this court.” He also referred to Kejriwal’s letter on X where he had announced his decision to boycott the hearing in his court.“The tone, tenor and manner of the criticism were not those of fair criticism. They have launched a campaign and social media campaigns have raised questions about the integrity, impartiality of this court,” the HC said. Detailed copy of the order is awaited. The judge read out parts of his order in a special sitting at around 6.30 pm and lasted for about 1.5 hours.Justice Sharma clarified that she is not recusing herself from the case but is transferring the matter to another bench as she has initiated contempt proceedings. “By selectively editing the letters and videos, the respondents tried to intimidate the court and tried to cast aspersions on my family members by dragging them in,” the judge said. He said they were intended as a “thoughtful insult”.Undeterred by Justice Sharma ordering contempt proceedings against him, the AAP chief lauded his decision to withdraw from the excise case. “Truth has won, Gandhiji’s Satyagraha has won,” Kejriwal said in his first reaction on social media platform X.

Source link

Many seats, one family: Paper leak probe lens on Biwals’ MBBS course | jaipur news

Many seats, one family: Paper leak probe lens on Bivals' MBBS operations

Jaipur: The shadow of the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak investigation has now fallen on the entire family, as investigators found that several members of the Biwal family are linked to all the three arrested accused. CBISecured admission in medical colleges and are currently pursuing MBBS course in Rajasthan and other parts of the country.CBI on Wednesday arrested Dinesh Biwal, his brother Mangilal Biwal and Mangilal’s son Vikas Biwal in the paper leak case.Police sources said investigators became suspicious “from day one” when it was revealed that four members of the same family had cracked NEET and entered medical colleges.Investigators are now probing whether the confessions of the family members had any connection with the alleged leak racket.According to preliminary findings, Vikas Biwal is a first-year student at Sawai Madhopur Medical College, while his sister is enrolled at Dausa Medical College. Another relative, the daughter of Mangilal’s deceased brother Ghanshyam, is a student at SMS Medical College in Jaipur, while Ghanshyam’s other daughter is studying in a medical college in Mumbai. Sources said another member of the family may be studying in a medical college, but the CBI took over the case before the information could be confirmed by state agencies.The scrutiny around the family has intensified after some people allegedly exposed old social media posts of Dinesh Biwal in which he had claimed that five children of his family have secured admission in medical colleges. However, the agencies said they were still verifying the claim.Investigators found that they all studied at the same coaching institute in Sikar, although sources later claimed that they were enrolled only for the mock test series. Officials said that all three had appeared in the NEET-UG examination of 2025.“There is no direct evidence yet that they cleared the exam using leaked question papers, but the fact that five members of the same family secured admission to MBBS in the same period naturally raises questions, especially when the family is now linked to an alleged paper leak syndicate,” a senior official said on condition of anonymity.Sources said investigators suspect that Dinesh paid money to another accused, Gurgaon-based Yash Yadav, to obtain the leaked NEET-UG 2026 question paper to benefit his son. Sources said that another member of the family was also preparing for NEET, whose identity has not been disclosed.CBI has already taken Dinesh, Mangilal and Vikas to New Delhi for further questioning. In connection with the investigation, a CBI team also reached the family’s house in Jamwa-Ramgarh near Jaipur.As television crews and journalists gathered outside the residence following the arrest on Thursday, family members strongly denied the allegations. Speaking to local media, the wives of Dinesh and Mangilal insisted that their children had secured the seats through hard work and claimed that the allegations were baseless.

Source link

3 things OPT employers should check as ICE announces crackdown on 10,000 foreign students

3 things OPT employers should check as ICE announces crackdown on 10,000 foreign students
Immigration attorney Emily Newman explains what F-1 students and OPT employers need to know as ICE announces a major crackdown on the program.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced a major crackdown on foreign students working in the Optional Practical Training Program alongside their studies, and said they have uncovered a major fraud going on with fake companies, non-existent companies offering OPT jobs to students. Immigration attorney Emily Newman said what ICE described is absolutely true. Vacant buildings are listed as workplaces for hundreds of students, with no actual employees ever working.Newman said most companies do not engage in these misconducts, but now with ICE announcing this action, they should be vigilant that they are doing everything necessary, as there will be more site visits.Newman listed three things that HR and in-house counsel at companies hiring OPT students should check immediately.

  1. Is your Form I-983 current? If the workplace, supervisor, or training description on file does not match what the student is actually doing today, that difference is the first thing an investigator will notice.
  2. Are supervisors of your STEM OPT students aware that they are responsible for the training described on that form? At the site visit, the supervisor’s answers are compared with the form that was signed.
  3. Are you giving notice of termination within five business days? This is a regulatory deadline, not a guideline.

Overall OPT Checklist

  • The student applies for the OPT by filing Form I-765 and employers do not need to submit a petition for the standard, non-STEM OPT.
  • The work should be directly related to the student’s field of study and the relationship should be such that it can be explained in writing on demand.
  • The student must provide employment information to the Designated School Officer (DSO) of the school that issued the Form I-20.
  • Employers should expect to provide a written offer letter, a job description, and, if asked, a letter explaining the connection between the role and the degree.
  • When OPT is over, the student has to inform the same to the DSO.

What irregularities did ICE find?

  • Empty buildings, locked doors and residential addresses are serving as listed work sites for hundreds of students.
  • Coordinated employer groups in shared office premises, where different employers allegedly operated almost identical websites and management personnel denied any business relationship with each other.
  • A sole proprietor allegedly sets up multiple OPT employer entities to structure income, avoid taxes, and obscure the true employment relationship.
  • International financial patterns spanning multiple countries and bank accounts, missing employment records and offshore (mostly India) human-resources or payroll arrangements.
  • OPT employees never come to work.

Source link