53rd GST Council likely to take up rate rationalisation in its June 22 meeting

NEW DELHI: Kasol, a once picturesque village in Himachal Pradesh's Parvati Valley, is facing environmental degradation as viral videos reveal extensive plastic waste littering its forests. The footage, which has sparked public outrage, shows heaps of garbage compromising the region's natural beauty and ecosystem, prompting discussions about poor waste management and irresponsible tourist behavior. As netizens express their frustrations, opinions are divided between blaming local authorities and highlighting the need for civic responsibility among visitors....

SpaceX's Starship program encountered another setback when its Super Heavy booster and Starship rocket exploded during the ninth test flight, marking the third failure in succession. The uncrewed mission from Texas aimed to develop a 400-foot-tall rocket system for transporting cargo and people to orbit, the Moon, and Mars, but ended with a booster detonation and a critical fuel leak causing the Starship's explosion during reentry. Despite the challenges, CEO Elon Musk expressed optimism on...

Mamta Pathak, a 60-year-old chemistry professor convicted of her husband's murder, is challenging the autopsy report in court. Arguing her case, she questions the differentiation between electric and thermal burn marks without chemical analysis. BHOPAL/JABALPUR: Mamta Pathak, a 60-year-old chemistry professor sentenced to 20 years for murdering her husband, is contesting the autopsy report in court, arguing that the differentiation between electric and thermal burn marks requires chemical analysis. The High Court has reserved its...

Karnataka's Congress government is contemplating sending a bill proposing 4% reservation for Muslims in civil contracts to President Droupadi Murmu after Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot returned it for a second time, insisting on presidential review. The Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which also includes quotas for SCs, STs, and OBCs, faced opposition from the BJP, citing constitutional violations. Despite considering legal challenges, constitutional experts advised against it, leading to a potential informal...

New Supreme Court Appointments Representative image (Picture credit: ANI) President Droupadi Murmu appointed Justices N V Anjaria, Vijay Bishnoi, and Atil S Chandurkar as Supreme Court judges, following a swift recommendation from the SC collegium led by CJI B R Gavai. The appointment, finalized within three days, will bring the Supreme Court to its full strength of 34 judges, although one vacancy will arise with Justice Bela M Trivedi's retirement on June 9. Justices Anjaria...

Suyash Sharma (Image credit: BCCI/IPL) NEW DELHI: Suyash Sharma's exceptional leg-spin, featuring a deadly googly, led the Royal Challengers Bengaluru to an eight-wicket victory over Punjab Kings in Qualifier 1, securing RCB's spot in the IPL 2025 final. His impressive bowling figures of 3-17 helped dismiss PBKS for just 101 runs in 14.1 overs, while Phil Salt's rapid 56 off 27 balls ensured a swift chase in 10 overs. Suyash credited his success to the...