National News
Ex-JD(U) MLA says popularity of Nitish Kumar dipped due to liquor ban

Shyam Bahadur Singh, a former three-time Janata Dal (United) MLA, has claimed that the popularity of Nitish Kumar, the Bihar Chief Minister and his party Chief, has declined due to liquor ban in the state.
He said that if Nitish Kumar fails to provide relaxation in liquor ban then he would support Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Chief Tejashwi Yadav in future.
Singh came to limelight following his announcement to conduct a drunkard convention in Siwan’s Gandhi Maidan on Tuesday.
“If Nitish Kumar will amend the existing Liquor Prohibition law, then I will support him. If he denies it, I will make an effort for Tejashwi Yadav to make him the Chief Minister in future. The popularity of Nitish Kumar plummeted due to his liquor ban decision. Yesterday, he shut liquor and tomorrow women (kal inhone daru band kar diya or kal ye ‘mehraru’ (women) band kar denge),” the JD(U) MLA added.
“The popularity of Nitish Kumar has been declining and it was proven in the 2020 Assembly election when JD(U) seat tally reduced from 69 to 43. JD(U) had won 69 seats in the 2015 Assembly election,” he said.
“We serve drinks (liquor) according to the choice of common people. We will arrange every brand of liquor from beer to country-made and Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) which is popularly known as “Laal pani” or “English” in Bihar, he said.
Though, he has not given the exact date but he added that the convention will be held after the winter.
“The idea is to find the number of people who are in favour of liquor to be allowed in the state and those who are in favour of liquor ban,” Singh said.
While pleading to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar with folded hands, the JD(U) MLA appealed to him to give some relaxation in the law.
“The availability of liquor is everywhere in the state. Liquor is not banned here. Nitish Kumar should allow beer and IMFL to be made available easily. For poor people, the state government should also allow country-made liquor. Poor people cannot afford English (IMFL) liquor,” he said.
Asked by the media if the Chief Minister was firm on his decision and will continue the liquor ban, Singh said, “Nitish Kumar is not above the judiciary. All judges drink liquor. If Nitish Kumar does not listen to my suggestion, I will settle the matter in the next Assembly election,” he added.
Following the move of the former JD(U) MLA, RJD Spokesperson Mritunjay Tiwari slammed Nitish Kumar.
“This is the real outcome of your so-called ‘Samaj Sudhar Abhiyan’ (Social Reform Campaign). Your party legislator is going to organise a drunkard convention in the state. What kind of Samaj Sudhar Abhiyan had you organised in various districts? First you (Nitish Kumar) should do reforms in your own party and then think of social reforms. The real truth of the liquor ban was explained by your own party leader. He is confirming that there is no liquor ban in the state.”
Another RJD leader Bantu Singh said, “Your (JD-U) leader is going to announce a drunkard convention in Gandhi Maidan and your (Nitish) government has served notices to the houses of poor people in Nalanda and are forcing them to vacate it. You are completely exposed now. Why are you not taking action against Shyam Bahadur Singh, who is openly challenging your liquor ban decision.”
National News
241 dead, one survivor as Air India Dreamliner crashes after takeoff from Ahmedabad: Air India

New Delhi, June 13: In what is being described as one of the worst aviation disasters in Indian history, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 242 people crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport.
The aircraft, operating as Flight AI-171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, plunged into a residential complex near BJ Medical College, killing 241 people on board.
The ill-fated flight had 230 passengers, 10 cabin crew, and two pilots. According to officials, only one person, a British national of Indian origin seated in 11A, survived the crash and is currently undergoing treatment at a local hospital.
The aircraft took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1.38 p.m. (IST) on Thursday before losing control moments later and crashing into a densely populated area, igniting a massive blaze and triggering emergency response teams across the city.
Air India confirmed the accident in an official statement on X: “UPDATE: Air India confirms that flight AI171, operating from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick on 12 June 2025, was involved in an accident. The 12-year-old Boeing 787-8 aircraft departed from Ahmedabad at 1338 hrs, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew. The aircraft crashed shortly after take-off. We regret to inform that, of the 242 aboard, there are 241 confirmed fatalities. The sole survivor is being treated in a hospital.”
The airline also shared the nationality breakdown of passengers: 169 Indian nationals, 53 British, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian.
“Air India offers its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased. Our efforts now are focused entirely on the needs of all those affected, their families and loved ones. A team of caregivers from Air India is now in Ahmedabad to provide additional support,” the statement added.
The national carrier has pledged full cooperation with authorities investigating the cause of the crash and has established dedicated helplines for families seeking information.
Domestic callers can reach the support team at 1800 5691 444, while international callers are advised to dial +91 8062779200.
Regular updates will be provided through Air India’s official website and its X handle.
National News
Plastic nurdle spill from sunken cargo ship reaches TN’s Dhanushkodi sanctuary, raising alarm

Chennai, June 10: A plastic nurdle spill from the sunken cargo ship MSC ELSA 3 has spread into the newly declared Dhanushkodi Greater Flamingo Sanctuary in Ramanathapuram district, threatening one of India’s most fragile coastal ecosystems.
The MSC ELSA 3, a Liberian-flagged vessel, sank off the Kochi coast a few weeks ago while carrying 640 containers, including 13 with hazardous materials, 12 with calcium carbide, 367 tonnes of furnace oil, and 84 tonnes of diesel.
The ship’s cargo manifest remains undisclosed, fuelling speculation about the full extent of environmental risk.
Dhanushkodi Sanctuary, located within the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve, supports 128 species of birds — including Greater and Lesser Flamingos — and is home to sea turtles, crustaceans, molluscs, and fish. Its dunes, marshes, and seagrass beds form part of the Central Asian Flyway for migratory birds.
The nurdles — tiny plastic pellets used in industrial manufacturing — resemble fish eggs and can be deadly to marine life. When ingested, they cause internal blockages, starvation, and often death. They also absorb toxins, entering the food chain and posing long-term health hazards.
About 80 bags, each weighing 25 kilograms, have reportedly washed ashore along a 12-km coastal stretch. Affected sites include the Dhanushkodi old church, Irattaithalai, Mugandharayan Chathiram, Gothanda Ramar temple, and Patchappatti village.
Carried by ocean currents from the Thiruvananthapuram-Kanniyakumari coast, the spill now threatens the adjacent Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, home to vital coral reefs and seagrass beds.
Experts warn these habitats could be smothered by plastic debris, blocking sunlight and disrupting photosynthesis.
Ramanathapuram District Collector Simranjeet Singh Kahlon said, “We’ve identified between 15 and 30 nurdle bags along the coast. A special team has been deployed for cleanup, and additional teams are monitoring for further debris.”
He urged the public not to panic, stating that swift action was underway.
The disaster evokes memories of the 2021 X-Press Pearl incident in Sri Lanka, where 1,680 tonnes of nurdles led to mass marine deaths and crippled fisheries.
Studies showed severe impacts on plankton and larval life forms, threatening entire food chains.
Cleanup efforts in Ramanathapuram face challenges due to the nurdles’ buoyancy and small size, worsened by monsoon waves that break them into microplastics.
With the 61-day annual fishing ban nearing its end, fishermen fear reduced fish catches and consumer hesitancy could harm their livelihoods if the spill worsens.
Environmentalists are calling for urgent intervention, cargo transparency, and long-term containment measures to prevent irreversible damage to one of India’s most critical marine ecosystems.
National News
Eight Punjab and Haryana HC judges take lead to boost Kashmir tourism post Pahalgam terror attack

Srinagar, June 9: To give a boost to Kashmir tourism post Pahalgam terror attack, eight judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court are visiting the valley along with their families.
The visit of the legal personalities along with their families carries a powerful message for the revival of tourism in Kashmir, which got shattered after the Pahalgam terror attack.
On April 22, Pakistan-backed terrorists of Lashkar-e-Kashmir (LeT) killed 26 civilians, including 25 tourists and a local pony owner.
The pony owner sacrificed his life while trying to protect the tourists from the bullets of the terrorists.
The terror attack caused outrage in the entire country, and to avenge the killings of innocent civilians, the Indian Armed Forces carried out airstrikes against terror infrastructure in Pakistan under Operation Sindoor.
In retaliation for India’s attack on terrorist infrastructure, Pakistan resorted to heavy mortar shelling on civilian facilities in Poonch, Rajouri, Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora districts.
Eighteen civilians were killed in Pakistan shelling, 13 of them in Poonch district, in addition to the destruction of scores of homes, shops, a temple, a mosque, a church and a Gurudwara.
The itinerary of the visiting high court judges includes visits to the Mughal Gardens of Nishat and Shalimar, Shikara rides on the Dal Lake, a visit to the historic Pari Mahal and buying a few handicrafts at the local market.
There could be no better omen for the revival of tourism in Kashmir than the decision of the honourable justices of the High Court to come here along with their families.
Coinciding with the visit of these dignitaries, local tour and travel operators and hotel owners are reporting a gradual rise in the tourist bookings that had virtually stopped after the Pahalgam terror attack.
Tour and travel operators and others connected with the tourist industry have expressed hope that the visit by the most respected legal dignitaries, like the high court judges, will restore confidence among visitors, both domestic and foreign, that Kashmir is a safe tourist destination.
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