Police fire tear gas as Kenyans took to the streets again in Nairobi, continuing their “Occupy Parliament” protest, and vowing nation-wide demonstrations against tax hikes that many fear will worsen a cost-of-living crisis.
(Source: AFP)
Downpour lashes erstwhile Karimnagar, several low-lying areas inundated
Highest rainfall of 106.5 mm recorded in Metpalli of Jagtial district followed by Mallial with 105 mm
Updated On – 27 June 2024, 09:47 AM
Representational photo
Karimnagar: Heavy rainfall was recorded in different parts of erstwhile Karimnagar district on Wednesday night.
The highest rainfall of 106.5 mm was recorded in Metpalli of Jagtial district followed by Mallial with 105 mm, Kandikatkur (Rajanna-Sircilla) at 99.8 mm, Karimnagar at 96.5 mm, Nustulapur at 90.5 mm and Edullagattepalli at 90.5 mm.
Almost all mandals in Karimnagar, Jagtial, Peddapalli and Rajanna-Sircilla districts received rainfall. Several low-lying areas were also inundated.
People faced difficulties as drainage water entered houses in a few areas in Karimnagar town.
Iran condemns coup attempt in Bolivia
Nasser Kan’ani said the Islamic Republic of Iran denounces the coup against the bases of democracy Thursday.
Iran also censures aggression against the democratic bodies in Bolivia and the legitimate government of that country, Kanaani noted.
He went on to say that the Islamic Republic of Iran reiterates the restoration of order and law in Bolivia and the return of power to the Bolivian legitimate government.
Bolivian President Luis Arce stared down a short-lived attempted coup on Wednesday, after calling on the public to “organize and mobilize” in defense of democracy as soldiers and armored military vehicles withdrew from surrounding government buildings in La Paz.
Bolivian police have arrested the leader of an attempted coup.
MNA
Haifa comes under fresh joint attack by Yemeni forces, Iraqi fighters
Yemen’s Armed Forces and Iraq’s anti-terror fighters have carried out a fresh joint anti-Israeli operation, targeting the port of Haifa in the northern part of the occupied Palestinian territories.
The forces and Iraq’s Islamic Resistance, which is an umbrella group of anti-terror fighters, announced the operation in separate statements on Thursday.
The statement by forces said the attack had been carried out using “several cruise missiles.”
It identified the target in question as a “vital” spot at the port, and hailed that “the operation achieved its goal successfully.”
This is not the first time, when the port comes under such a joint operation.
The Armed Forces and the Iraqi fighters have been staging numerous anti-Israeli strikes, either separately or in cooperation with one another, since last October, when the Israeli regime began a genocidal war against the Gaza Strip.
At least 37,765 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have died as a result of the war that began following a retaliatory operation carried out by Gaza’s resistance groups.
The Iraqi Resistance’s anti-Israeli attacks have been mainly aimed at targets lying across the occupied territories.
The Yemeni forces have, however, expanded their strikes to include Israeli vessels and the vessels that head towards the ports of those territories.
Completing their statement, the Yemeni forces also said they had conducted another operation, targeting a ship, identified as “SEAJOY,” for sailing towards the occupied territories.
“The operation was carried out jointly by the drone air force, the missile force, and the naval forces, with a drone boat and several missiles and drones. The operation resulted in a direct and precise hit on the ship,” the statement noted.
It vowed that the forces would continue their operations in the Red and Arabian Seas as well as the Indian Ocean as long as the Israeli regime kept up the brutal military onslaught and a simultaneous siege that it has been enforcing against Gaza.
T20 WC: Afghanistan knock Australia out of tournament, enter historic semis
Rashid Khan and Naveen-ul-Haq led the Afghan bowling attack and helped their side defend the given target of 115
Published Date – 25 June 2024, 11:26 AM
Afghanistan’s captain Rashid Khan, left, and teammate Gulbadin Naib celebrate after defeating Bangladesh by eight runs in their mens T20 World Cup cricket match at Arnos Vale Ground, Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Monday. — AP
Kingstown: Afghanistan qualified for the semi-final of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 after beating Bangladesh by eight runs in the Super Eights match at the Arnos Vale Ground on Tuesday.
Rashid Khan and Naveen-ul-Haq led the Afghan bowling attack and helped their side defend the given target of 115. The second inning of the match was reduced to 19 overs, and the target was 114 runs after Rain played a spoilsport in the second inning.
After the defeat, Mitchell Marsh-led Australia are also out of the tournament. The Aussies ended up in third place in the Group 1 table of the Super Eights with just two points. Litton Das (54* runs from 49 balls, 5 fours, and 1 six) was the only standout batter for the Tigers after his unbeaten knock.
Soumya Sarkar (10 runs from 10 balls, 1 four) and Towhid Hridoy (14 runs from 9 balls, 2 fours) tried their best to form a partnership with Litton, but they struggled to face the Afghan bowlers, who were ferocious while defending the target.
Naveen-ul-Haq and Rashid Khan picked up four wickets each in their respective spells. Fazalhaq Farooqi and Gulbadin Naib also bagged one wicket each in their respective spells and helped the Afghan side win the match by eight runs. Naveen removed Mustafizur Rahman from the crease in the fifth ball of the 18th over to end the match early.
Naveen-ul-Haq was named the ‘Player of the Match’ after he displayed a stupendous performance while defending the target given by Afghanistan. Recapping the first inning of the match, after winning the toss, Rashid Khan-led Afghanistan decided to bat first. However, their decision did not go in their favour as they struggled to add runs to the scoreboard.
Afghanistan had a great start to the match after openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz (43 runs from 55 balls, 3 fours and 1 six) and Ibrahim Zadran (18 runs from 29 balls, 1 four) played a 59-run partnership.
Rishad Hossain made the first breakthrough of the game after he removed Zadran in the 11th over. Azmatullah Omarzai (10 runs from 12 balls) tried his best to contribute to the game but failed to make a mark after Mustafizur Rahman dismissed him in the 16th over.
Even though Bangladesh failed to take quick wickets, they were successful in keeping a check on Afghanistan’s run rate in the first inning. Gurbaz’s knock came to an end in the first ball of the 17th over after Rishad Hossain bagged his wicket. The Afghan opener missed his half-century for just seven runs.
Gulbadin Naib (4 runs from 3 balls, 1 four) and Mohammad Nabi (1 run from 5 balls) did not contribute in the first inning for Afghanistan. In the end, skipper Rashid Khan (19* runs from 10 balls, 3 sixes) and Karim Janat (7 runs from 6 balls, 1 four) stayed on the crease and powered Afghanistan to 115/5 after the end of the 20 overs.
Rishad Hossain led the Bangladesh bowling attack after he picked up three wickets and gave 26 runs in his four-over spell. Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed also bagged one wicket each in their respective spells.
Brief score: Afghanistan 115/5 (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 43, Rashid Khan 19*, Ibrahim Zadran 18; Rishad Hossain 3/26) beat Bangladesh 105 (Litton Das 54*, Towhid Hridoy 14, Soumya Sarkar 10; Rashid Khan 4/23).
28 Indian startups raised over $800 million this week-Telangana Today
Zepto raises $665 million at $3.6-billion valuation — one of the largest funding bagged by a company in recent times
Updated On – 22 June 2024, 02:26 PM
Representational photo
New Delhi: About 28 Indian startups have raised $800.5 million in funding across 29 deals this week.
This represents an increase of 296 per cent from the $201.8 million secured by the startups last week across 21 deals, reports Inc42.
Quick commerce unicorn Zepto announced the close of its mega funding round this week. It raised $665 million at a valuation of $3.6 billion, making it one of the largest funding bagged by a company in recent times.
Among the top sectors, consumer services alone raised $665 million, fintech raised $50.3 million, alcoholic beverages raised $25 million, cleantech raised $23.9 million and enterprisetech raised $16.7 million.
Microlending platform Aye Finance raised Rs 250 crore ($30 million) this week in debt funding in a round led by FMO, the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank.
Craft beer maker Bira 91 has secured $25 million through ECB (External Commercial Borrowing) from its existing investor Kirin Holdings. Over the last three months, the firm has received $50 million in funding. In March, it raised $25 million from Tiger Pacific Capital.
Meanwhile, a new report by leading market intelligence platform Tracxn showed that Indian tech startups raised $4.1 billion in the first half this year (January to June), a 4 per cent increase from $3.96 billion in the second half of 2023.
Dominant India Storm Into T20 WC Final With 68-Run Drubbing Of England
India flaunted their superabundance of talent in a display of absolute dominance to storm into the final of the T20 World Cup with a 68-run shellacking of England in their semi-final in Guyana on Thursday. Leading the charge once again was their inspirational skipper Rohit Sharma, who laid the foundation with an aggressive 57 off 39 balls, and the captain was well-supported by Suryakumar Yadav (47 off 36), as India posted 171 for seven after being asked to bat first in the rain-hit match.
In reply, England were bowled out for 103 in 16.4 overs as India set up a title clash with first-timers South Africa in Barbados on Saturday. This is India’s third entry into the final of the tournament.
Hardik Pandya chipped in with a 13-ball 23, striking two sixes at a crucial juncture to prop up India.
On a slow, holding pitch with low bounce, left-arm Axar Patel (3/23) helped India tightened their grip on the match with his brilliant bowling, while his slow-bowling colleague Kuldeep Yadav (3/19) caused the damage in the middle overs.
The Indian team thus exacted revenge for the crushing 10-wicket loss it endured against the defending champions in the 2022 semifinal of the mega-event at the Adelaide Oval.
In the process, Rohit became the first Indian captain to lead the country in three ICC global finals in a space of 12 months — 2023 World Test Championship, 2023 ODI World Cup and now the T20 World Cup.
Considering India’s all-round bowling attack and nature of the surface, Rohit’s men were expected to defend the total and they did that rather comfortably.
His decision to use Axar in the powerplay proved to be a masterstroke as the left-arm spinner struck twice in quick succession, from which England could not recover.
Wrist spinner Kuldeep also played his part to perfection on a pitch that suited the spinners all through the competition.
Jos Buttler (23 off 15), Harry Brook (25 off 19) and Jofra Archer (21 off 15) were the only England batters to reach double figures, summing up India’s dominance in the game. Both Buttler and Brook fell while attempting the reverse sweep against Axar and Kuldeep respectively.
“We adapted to the conditions really well. It was a challenge and we adapted. We played the conditions really well,” Rohit said after the match.
India, who are yet to lose a game in the tournament, will be hoping that their star batter Virat Kohli finds run in the all-important title clash. Kohli (9 off 9) perished early once again on Thursday, trying to force the pace.
The keenly awaited fixture was impacted by intermittent rain with the start of play being delayed by one hour and 15 minutes. Another long halt came when India were 65 for two in eight overs.
As many as 250 additional minutes were allotted to the game but there was no reserve day.
Soon after Kohli and Rohit came out to bat after England put the opposition in, it became clear the surface was on the slower side and low bounce made the task trickier for the batters.
While Kohli fell early, Rohit adapted to the conditions much better and decided to play the ball late and behind the stumps. One example of that was the guide over backward point off Archer in the second over when the ball went through Phil Salt’s hands to reach the boundary. Setting the benchmark for other batters, Rohit then collected back-to-back fours in Topley’s third over before applying pressure on England’s premier spinner Adil Rashid after India reached 46 for two in the powerplay.
Rishabh Pant (4) was the second batter to be dismissed as he mistimed a flick to be caught at midwicket off Sam Curran.
Then came the engrossing match-up between Rohit and Rashid where the Indian captain employed the reverse and conventional sweep to collect two fours from the leg-spinner’s opening over.
Suryakumar was batting on 13 alongside Rohit when rain returned at the Providence Stadium, forcing the game to be paused for more than an hour.
The weather played spoilsport two balls after Suryakumar got inside the line to pick Jordan over fine leg for a maximum.
England used the leg-spin of Rashid and Liam Livingstone from both ends after the forced break but they could not stifle Rohit and Suryakumar.
A full toss from Rashid was duly dispatched over short fine leg for four, the first of many boundaries that India accumulated in the middle overs.
The 13th over from Curran yielded 19 runs for India with Suryakumar smashing a couple of sixes and Rohit played a pick-up shot for a maximum that also brought up his second successive fifty.
The entertaining 73-run ended when Rohit was beaten by a googly from Rashid while attempting a slog.
Following Curran’s bumper 13th over, the next fours were quiet for India before Hardik Pandya (23 off 13) hit two flat sixes on either side of the pitch to push the innings forward.
Ravindra Jadeja (17 not out off 9), sent ahead of Shivam Dube, got two crucial fours off Archer in the penultimate over while the latter’s stay lasted only one ball.
Axar’s six off Jordan in the final over took India past 170. The team scored 53 runs in the last five overs.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Topics mentioned in this article
15 police officers and many civilians killed in Russia’s southern Dagestan region
Gunmen opened fire on two Orthodox churches, a synagogue and a police post in two cities in Southern Russia
Published Date – 24 June 2024, 08:55 AM
Russia Dagestan Attacks
Moscow: More than 15 police officers and several civilians, including an Orthodox priest, were killed by armed militants in Russia’s southern republic of Dagestan on Sunday, its governor Sergei Melikov said in a video statement early Monday.
The gunmen opened fire on two Orthodox churches, a synagogue and a police post in two cities, according to the authorities.
Russia’s National Anti-Terrorist Committee described the attacks in the predominantly Muslim region with a history of armed insurgency as terrorist acts.Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday were declared days of mourning in the region.Dagestan’s Interior Ministry said a group of armed men shot at a synagogue and a church in the city of Derbent, located on the Caspian Sea.
Both the church and the synagogue caught fire, according to state media. Almost simultaneously, reports appeared about an attack on a church and a traffic police post in the Dagestan capital, Makhachkala. Authorities announced a counter-terrorist operation in the region.
The Anti-Terrorist Committee said five gunmen were “eliminated.” The governor said six “bandits” had been “liquidated.” The conflicting numbers couldn’t be immediately reconciled and it wasn’t clear how many militants were involved in the attacks. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks. The authorities launched a criminal investigation on the charge of a terrorist act. Russian state news agency Tass cited law enforcement sources as saying that a Dagestani official was detained over his sons’ involvement in the attacks.
Melikov said in the video statement that the situation in the region was under control of the law enforcement and local authorities, and vowed that the investigation of the attacks will continue until “all the sleeping cells” of the militants are uncovered. He claimed, without providing evidence, that the attacks might have been prepared from abroad, and referenced what the Kremlin calls “the special military operation” in Ukraine in an apparent attempt to link the attacks to it.
In March, gunmen opened fire on a crowd at a concert hall in suburban Moscow, killing 145 people. An affiliate of the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack, but Russian officials also sought to link Ukraine to the attack without providing any evidence. Kyiv has vehemently denied any involvement.
Drinking water supply to be disrupted for two days in Hyderabad
The officials of Hyderabad Metropolitan water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) urged people in the affected areas to use water sparingly. List of the affected areas given below
Published Date – 26 June 2024, 06:34 PM
Representational Image
Hyderabad: Due to urgent repair works of the NRV valve of the second pump in the Kondapur pump house of the Krishna Drinking Water Supply Scheme Phase-II, drinking water supply will be disrupted in several parts of Hyderabad city for two days. The officials of Hyderabad Metropolitan water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) urged people in the affected areas to use water sparingly.
The Krishna Drinking Water Supply Scheme Phase-II supplies water to several parts of the Greater Hyderabad city. However, the NRV valve of the second pump in Kondapur pump house came under an unexpected repair and the officials took up restoration works on a warfooting.
Due to these repair works, there will be complete disruption of drinking water supply for on Wednesday and Thursday in many areas under the jurisdiction of Operations and Maintenance Divisions – 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10(A), 10(B), 13, 14, 16, and 20 of HMWS&SB. While a few areas might experience partial disruption, water will be supplied with pressure in some areas, according to an official press release.
The areas where water supply will be disrupted include NPA, Mir Alam, Balapur, Maisaram, Barkas Bhojagutta, Allabanda, Mekalamandi, Bholakpur, Chilkalguda, Tarnaka, Lalapet, Bouddha Nagar, Marredpally, Control Room, Railways, MES, Cantonment, Prakash Nagar, Patigadda, Hasmathpet, Ferozeguda, Gautam Nagar, Vaishali Nagar, BN Reddy Nagar, Vanasthalipuram, Autonagar, Alkapuri Colony, Mahendra Hills, Elugutta, Ramantapur, Uppal, Nacharam, Habsiguda, Chilkanagar, Beerappagadda, Budwel, Shastripuram, Meerpet, Badangpet and Shamshabad.
Kenya: Five killed, dozens injured in violent tax hike protests
At least five people were killed and 31 injured in Tuesday’s protests in Kenya, CNN reported, citing a joint statement from several human rights groups.
Updated On – 26 June 2024, 09:22 AM
Protesters scatter as Kenya police spray water canon at them during a protest over proposed tax hikes in a finance bill in downtown Nairobi, Kenya. Photo: AP/Brian Inganga
Nairobi: The protests in Kenya against new tax hike turned extremely violent, with several casualties reported and protestors flooding the street around the Kenyan Parliament, CNN reported.
At least five people were killed and 31 injured in protests in Kenya on Tuesday, CNN reported, citing a joint statement released by several human rights groups.
It was released by Amnesty International Kenya, the Kenya Medical Association, the Law Society of Kenya and the Police Reforms Working Group Kenya.
“Despite the assurance by the government that the right to assembly would be protected and facilitated, today’s protests have spiralled into violence. Human rights observers and medical officers have reported several incidents of human rights violations,” the statement said.
According to the statement, at least five people were shot dead. At least 31 have been injured, with 13 of these people shot with live bullets, four with rubber bullets, and three hit with launcher canisters.
However, there has not been any official statement by the Kenyan police on this.
As violence rages, the ambassadors of 13 Western embassies in Kenya, in a joint statement, said they were “shocked” by the scenes around Kenya’s Parliament on Tuesday. They said they were “deeply concerned” by allegations that some protesters had been abducted by the security forces and called for “restraint on all sides,” the New York Times reported.
Embassies and high commissions from Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States said that they “are especially shocked by the scenes witnessed outside the Kenyan Parliament.”
Amid violent protests, several cases of internet disruptions have also been reported.
The internet watchdog group NetBlocks is reporting a major disruption to internet connectivity in Kenya, just hours after protesters marched towards Parliament.
However, Kenya’s Communications Authority said on Monday, that it had “no intention whatsoever to shut down internet traffic or interfere with the quality of connectivity.”
The contentious bill was introduced by the government of President William Ruto in May to raise revenue and limit borrowing in an economy facing a heavy debt burden. But, the legislation has received sharp criticism from Kenyans, who claim that it adds punitive new taxes and raises others on a wide range of goods and services that would escalate living costs, and detractors have pointed to corruption and mismanagement of funds, as reported by NYT.
President Ruto now has two weeks to sign the legislation into law or send it back to Parliament for further amendments.
India has also issued an advisory for its nationals in Kenya, as protests against a tax hike turned violent, causing a rampage in the African nation.
The Indian Embassy in Kenya on Tuesday, has advised the Indian nationals there to “exercise utmost caution, restrict non-essential movement and avoid the areas affected by the protests and violence till the situation clears up.”
“In view of the prevailing tense situation, all Indians in Kenya are advised to exercise utmost caution, restrict non-essential movement and avoid the areas affected by the protests and violence till the situation clears up,” the Embassy stated.
Earlier in the day, Auma Obama, the half-sister of former US President Barack Obama, was teargassed live on air on Tuesday, CNN reported.
The incident occurred when Auma Obama, who is a Kenyan-British activist, was in a chat with CNN’s Larry Madowo with a group of teenage protestors.
