Nepal PM calls for talks with India to resolve border issues, seeks UK participation in talks

Nepal PM calls for talks with India to resolve border issues, seeks UK participation in talks

Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah on Sunday said the country’s border issues with India will be resolved through dialogue and diplomatic efforts, while also proposing the United Kingdom’s participation in talks, citing Britain’s role in shaping the region’s modern boundaries during the colonial era.Addressing Nepal’s House of Representatives for the first time since taking office following elections in March, Shah stressed the need for dialogue to resolve long-standing territorial disputes.He said the border issue with India would be resolved “through table talks and diplomatic efforts”. Calling for Britain’s involvement in the process, Shah said Britain should also be concerned about the issue as the present-day borders date back to colonial times.“When they were leaving British India, the problem was passed down through the generations, which is why we believe England also needs to be concerned about it,” he said.“All these issues will be resolved through table talk and diplomatic channels,” news agency ANI reported.According to Shah, Nepal has already exchanged diplomatic notes with India and agreed on a roadmap involving historians, surveyors and regional experts from both sides to examine geographical and historical records related to the disputed areas.His comments come amid ongoing differences over areas including Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura. Nepal published a revised political map in 2020 laying claim to the Kalapani-Lipulekh-Limpiyadhura region, while India rejected the move and said the map included parts of Indian territory.Earlier this month, India reiterated its willingness to engage with Nepal on all bilateral issues, including unresolved border issues, through dialogue and diplomacy.Responding to questions regarding Nepal’s claims regarding the annual Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “Lipulekh Pass has been a long-term route for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra since 1954 and the Yatra through this route has been going on for decades. This is not a new development.”On Nepal’s territorial claims, he said, “With regard to territorial claims, India has consistently stated that such claims are neither justified nor based on historical facts and evidence. Such unilateral artificial expansion of territorial claims is unsustainable.”India had similarly rejected Nepal’s revised map in 2020 under the KP Sharma Oli-led government, saying the move was contrary to the bilateral understanding that pending border issues should be resolved through diplomatic dialogue.

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Indians to be third largest among Schengen visa applicants in 2025; Numbers rise in tough travel year india news

Indians to be third largest among Schengen visa applicants in 2025; Numbers rise in year of tough travel

New Delhi: Indians were the third largest number of applicants for Schengen visas globally in CY 2025, with 11.5 lakh people doing so with a rejection rate of 15.8%. According to data released by the European Commission (EC), the Chinese were the largest applicants with 18 lakh with a rejection rate of 4.1%, followed by Turkish nationals (12.5 lakh) with a rejection rate of 14.6%. “The top five applicant countries remained largely unchanged,” the EC says, adding that Russia (6.8 million) and Morocco (6.2 million) are applicants to the Court and in fifth place.Despite rising international airfares and the rupee’s steep depreciation since last year, which has made traveling abroad more expensive, 4% more Indians applied for a Schengen visa in 2025 compared to 2024. The rejection rate for Indian applicants also increased from 15% to 15.8% during this period.Rajesh Mago, Co-Founder and Group CEO, MakeMyTrip, said, “After the budget-friendly and close to home Middle East and South East Asia, Europe tops the list of Indian globetrotters with its diverse attractions, including Switzerland, Greece, Amsterdam, France and others. We are now seeing a growing trend of sports tourism and a large number of Indians are going there to watch matches.”Among the EU and Schengen associated consulates, Switzerland sees the maximum number of applications in India at around 2.3 lakh and the country-specific rejection rate is no more than 13.6%. This is followed by France with more than 2 lakh, Germany with 1.5 lakh, Netherlands with less than one lakh and Sen with around 91,000. Other big attractions for visa applicants included the embassies of Italy, Austria, Greece, Belgium and Sweden.“Switzerland and France (the top two embassies in India in terms of receiving Schengen visa applications) have really made the visa application here easy in terms of dates and then getting the passport stamped back. While the total turnaround time for the Schengen states is 15 working days, Switzerland and France return in 7-10 days. Availability of dates in Italy is a big issue,” said a leading travel agent on condition of anonymity. At 46.5%, the highest rejection rate for Indians was in SloveniaOverall, 3.3 crore Indians were expected to travel abroad in CY 2025 – 6% more than 2024 and 21.5% more than pre-Covid 2019. According to government data, their top five destinations were: UAE (86 lakh), Saudi Arabia (34 lakh), Thailand (22 lakh), USA (20 lakh) and Singapore (15 lakh).According to the European Commission, EU and Schengen-affiliated consulates globally received approximately 12 million applications for short-term visas in 2025 and granted more than 10 million visas. While over CY 2024, both the number of applications and visas granted were below pre-Covid levels.“More than 10 million visas were issued in 2025 – an increase of 3% from 2024 (97 million), but still down from 15 million granted in 2019. The global denial rate remained stable at 14.8%, unchanged from 2024, although some countries saw significant fluctuations. Denials declined in Russia (6.4%, down from 7.5%), Algeria (31%, down from 35%), and Ethiopia (34%, down from 36.1%), but faster increases in Cape Verde (21.4%, up from 13.4%), Democratic Republic of the Congo (40.1%, up from 29.9%), Senegal (51.9%, up from 46.8%), and Burundi (53.4%, up from 40%). Happened,” says EC.

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Iran’s chief negotiator says there will be no deal with the US until Iranian rights are secured

Iran's chief negotiator says there will be no deal with the US until Iranian rights are secured

TEHRAN: Iran’s chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Sunday that Tehran will not agree to any deal with the United States that fails to secure the rights of Iranians.“We will not approve any agreement until we are convinced that the rights of the Iranian people are upheld,” Ghalibaf said in a video broadcast on state television.He said Iranian negotiators “trust neither the enemy’s words nor his promises.”His comments came as Iran and Washington continue to exchange proposals on the outline of a deal to end the February 28 war spanning the Middle East.The New York Times and Axios media outlets reported this on Saturday US President Donald Trump had sent back to Tehran a new framework for consideration by Iran with “tough” conditions.It was not immediately clear what was involved.Iran views sanctions relief and the release of its assets held in banks abroad as one of its key rights to be ensured under any agreement with the United States.Since the beginning of the war, Iran has kept tight control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy conduit, and views monitoring of shipping through the waterway as its right.

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SIR Phase-3 starts in 4 states to cover 3.7 crore voters. india news

SIR Phase-3 begins in 4 states to cover 3.7 crore voters

New Delhi: Counting for the third phase of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) – which will cover over 37.7 crore voters from 16 states and union territories under various programs – has begun in Odisha, Mizoram, Sikkim and Manipur. The exercise will verify the eligibility of about 3.7 crore voters in four states, based on three key criteria as per Article 326 of the Constitution: being a citizen of India, not being below 18 years of age, and not being disqualified under any law.As of May 14, 2026, the number of voters in Odisha was 3.3 crore, Manipur was 20.9 lakh, Mizoram was 8.7 lakh and Sikkim was 4.7 lakh. Assembly elections are to be held in Manipur along with Goa, UP, Uttarakhand and Punjab early next year.The counting phase in Odisha, Mizoram, Sikkim and Manipur, which began on Saturday, will continue till June 28. According to the order issued by the Election Commission on May 14, eligible voters whose enumeration forms are received by the electoral registration authorities by June 28 will be included in the draft poll roll to be published on July 5. This will be followed by a one-month window for filing claims and objections, which will end on August 4. The claims and objections are to be settled by September 2. The latest, which will be followed by the publication of final voting rolls for the four states on September 6.“All eligible voters are requested to participate in the SIR process and cooperate with the election officials during the door-to-door visits,” the Election Commission said on Sunday.Phase 3 of SIR comes in the wake of the Supreme Court judgment upholding the SIR practice and all related processes and procedures. The Supreme Court, in an order issued last week, legalized the Election Commission’s order to check the citizenship of a person for the limited purpose of inclusion in the voting list.

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Prices of 30 medicines including diabetes, BP fixed

New Delhi: Medicines used for diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, infections and women’s health are among the 30 drug formulations for which the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has fixed retail prices, a move that could significantly reduce treatment costs for patients who are long-term drug dependents.The latest notification covers a number of commonly prescribed drugs for chronic diseases affecting millions of Indians, many of which require long-term or lifelong treatment.The formulation includes an anti-diabetic combination containing empagliflozin, sitagliptin, metformin, teneligliptin and dapagliflozin; cardiovascular medications containing atorvastatin, telmisartan, cilnidipine, and metoprolol; Antibiotics for infection; painkillers; Vitamin supplements; and medications used for women’s health conditions.

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The notification fixes the maximum retail price at which these formulations can be sold, excluding GST, and manufacturers will not be allowed to sell them above the notified rates.Major formulations include empagliflozin-sitagliptin-metformin tablets priced at Rs 14.88 per tablet, sitagliptin-glimepiride-metformin tablets priced at Rs 11.91 per tablet, teneligliptin-dapagliflozin tablets priced at Rs 10.17 per tablet and atorvastatin-fenofibrate tablets priced at Rs 18.46 per tablet. Tacrolimus capsules, used by organ transplant patients, have been priced at Rs 127 per capsule.The list also includes Vitamin D3 oral solution, calcium and vitamin supplements, cefpodoxime-clavulanate antibiotic suspension for children and norethisterone acetate tablets for women’s health.Industry representatives said the notified prices of many commonly used drugs are lower than the prevailing market rates. However, market prices may vary according to different brands and strengths. All India Organization of Chemists and Druggists general secretary Rajeev Singhal welcomed the move and said consumers are likely to benefit from the revised prices in 60-90 days, once the existing stock in the supply chain is cleared and the revised-MRP stock reaches the market.Health experts say the contribution of medicines to household health care expenditure in India is significant, especially for patients suffering from chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. Affordable access to treatment is considered important for reducing the financial burden on families and improving adherence to long-term therapy.

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‘Purely politics’: Controversy over Zohran Mamdani’s new communications office costing $5 million

'Purely politics': Controversy over Zohran Mamdani's new communications office costing $5 million

mayor of new york city Zohran MamdaniThe new communications office is facing opposition after budget documents revealed taxpayers could lose more than $5.2 million in salaries. Critics are calling this spending “morally incomprehensible”.The Office of Mass Engagement has expanded far beyond its original size. According to the city’s 2027 executive budget, its workforce is expected to increase from 14 employees to 40, an increase of 186 percent. The total salary allocation is now $5,123,756.This is much higher than earlier estimates, which put the cost at around $1.6 million when recruitment first began. The new data shows there are plans to bring on an additional 26 staff members, whose average salary will be about $125,000. An additional $30,000 is also set aside for non-employee expenses.The scale of the spending has been criticized by political opponents, some of whom argue that the office duplicates existing city functions and provides only little public benefit.“This is pure politics at a time when real services are needed,” Democratic political consultant Hank Sheinkopf told The New York Post.He said: “We have a real deficit and this mayor is spending five million dollars to keep 40 political operatives on the payroll. It’s morally incomprehensible… It’s outrageous.”He added, “This is not for anyone’s benefit but for the mayor’s benefit.”City budget documents show the office aims to increase public participation in policymaking and improve civic engagement.According to sources cited by the New York Post, the Office of Mass Engagement sits alongside an already expanded communications team in the mayor’s office, which is expected to be larger than any previous administration in NYC history.The total budget for the Mayor’s Office in 2027 is set at $51.8 million, $7 million more than former Mayor Eric Adams’ previous budget.Those already hired include officials with Mamdani’s campaign background, including Commissioner Tascha Van Auken, her former area director, and Mohammed Alharbi, who now serves as deputy borough director for Queens.

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The list of vehicles exempted from NH toll may soon be reduced. india news

The list of vehicles exempted from NH toll may soon be reduced.

New Delhi: The government is considering cutting the list of vehicles exempted from toll payment on national highways and the first category that could be removed is “Secretary to the Government of India”. At present, vehicles carrying people holding any of the 25 public offices like President, Prime Minister, Governor, CJI, CM and MPs are exempted from paying toll.Vehicles used for official purposes by central and state armed forces in uniform including defense personnel, paramilitary forces, executive magistrates, fire departments and inspection of highway projects and vehicles used for emergency purposes (ambulances, funeral vans) are also exempted from paying toll. TOI has learned that a high-level committee constituted by the Central government has recommended the road transport ministry to amend the National Highway Fee rules by “eliminating the exempted category”.

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Rajat Patidar dedicates RCB’s second consecutive IPL title to Bengaluru stampede victims

Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Rajat Patidar dedicated the franchise’s second consecutive IPL title to the 11 fans who lost their lives in the stampede during celebrations of the team’s maiden championship win last year.

RCB defended their crown brilliantly Defeated Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the IPL 2026 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. Virat Kohli chased the target by playing an unbeaten inning of 75 runs, due to which Bengaluru secured the title by achieving the target of 156 runs in a row.

Speaking after the win, Patidar remembered the supporters who died in the tragedy in Bengaluru a day after RCB’s historic win in 2025.

“We dedicate this trophy to our fans, not really fans, but to the family members who passed away in the tragedy last year,” Patidar said in the post-match press conference.

IPL 2026 final: highlighted | Achievement:

The tribute was in keeping with the franchise’s efforts throughout the season to honor the victims. Before their opening match against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, RCB observed a minute of silence in memory of the 11 supporters who lost their lives in the crowd attack.

Players of both the teams wore black armbands, while the RCB team trained wearing the number 11 jersey. The franchise also announced that 11 seats at the Chinnaswamy Stadium will remain vacant throughout the season as a mark of respect.

The tragedy occurred on June 4, 2025, a day after RCB ended their 18-year wait for the IPL title by defeating Punjab Kings in the final. Thousands of fans gathered outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium for the felicitation ceremony held after the team returned to Bengaluru.

The crowd had exceeded expectations and, struggling to cope with the rush at the entrances, a crush developed outside the venue. Eleven people died and several others were injured, eclipsing what is considered the most famous day in franchise history.

The incident led to intense scrutiny of crowd management and event planning, while cricket activities at the Chinnaswamy Stadium were affected for months.

Virat, Rajat thank RCB’s ’12th Army’

RCB supporters once again made their presence felt in the final on Sunday. Although the match was played at Gujarat Titans’ home ground in Ahmedabad, a large section of the crowd was supporting Bengaluru.

Rajat Patidar and both Virat Kohli pays tribute to the franchise’s loyal fan base After helping RCB win their second consecutive IPL title.

“I always say we don’t have seven home matches. We probably have 14. Wherever we go, our fans are cheering for us and supporting the team. GT might have been the home team tonight, but it felt like 90 percent of the crowd was RCB supporters,” Kohli said.

“It’s something we’ve built up over the years and we just want to make them proud and continue to do our best. Their support has been invaluable. I’m really happy they were able to celebrate with us tonight and see us lift the trophy.”

Patidar echoed those sentiments, dedicating the win to the fans who stood by the franchise through almost two decades of ups and downs.

Patidar said, “This one is for you once again, RCB fans. Ee Saala Nu Cup Namdu.”

A year after tragedy loomed over their maiden IPL win, RCB ensured their supporters remained at the center of the celebrations as they lifted the trophy for the second consecutive season.

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

– ends

published by:

-Saurabh Kumar

Published on:

June 1, 2026 02:01 IST

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‘Drishyam 3’ box office collection day 11: Mohanlal film sees growth again; Worldwide total hit Rs 228.95 crore | malayalam movie news

'Drishyam 3' box office collection day 11: Mohanlal film sees growth again; Worldwide total hit Rs 228.95 crore

Mohanlal and Jeetu Joseph’s ‘Drishyam 3’ continues its strong theatrical performance. The mystery drama continues to maintain momentum even as it enters its second weekend.According to Sacknilk, the film earned a net worth of Rs 5.35 crore on the 11th day. The latest numbers show a growth of 4.9 per cent compared to the 10th day’s earnings of Rs 5.10 crore.

India’s numbers approach major milestone

The net collection of ‘Drishyam 3’ in India has now reached Rs 96.70 crore. At the same time, India’s gross collection has reached Rs 112.20 crore.The film was shown in 2,454 shows on the 11th day.Day 9 (2nd Friday): Rs 4.30 croreDay 10 (2nd Saturday): Rs 5.10 croreDay 11 (2nd Sunday): Rs 5.35 croreDeliveries underway in international marketsOverseas markets also played an important role in the overall performance of the film. Drishyam 3 earned Rs 4.50 crore from international territories on its 11th day.The overseas earnings of the film have reached Rs 116.75 crore. The film has performed strongly outside India and continues to attract audiences across all markets. According to the latest figures, the total worldwide collection of the film has now reached Rs 228.95 crore.Kerala once again emerged as the strongest region for the film. The state contributed Rs 4.85 crore on the 11th day alone.Karnataka stood second with Rs 50 lakh. Tamil Nadu added Rs 35 lakh. Other regions also contributed less to the total number. Occupancy figures for the Malayalam version were good. The film recorded an overall occupancy of 46.79 percent on its 11th day.The evening show recorded the strongest response of 60.17 per cent. The afternoon screening also got good numbers. Meanwhile, the Telugu version reported a total occupancy of 14.83 percent.

When and where to watch ‘Drishyam 3’ online

Mohanlal returned as Georgekutty with the third installment of the popular franchise. The film reached theaters on 21 May. The release also coincided with the superstar’s 66th birthday celebrations.Amazon Prime Video has secured the digital streaming rights for the film. The makers have not announced the official OTT release date yet.Disclaimer: The box office numbers and data in this article are compiled from public and industry sources. Unless explicitly noted, all figures are approximate, representing a fair representation of the film’s box office performance. These totals may change as official studio data is updated or additional international market reports are finalized. This data is provided by us for informational and entertainment purposes only.

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