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Dehradun, May 18 (IANS) The delegation of the 16th Finance Commission on Sunday visited Uttarakhand and discussed various developmental issues with the Chief Minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami.

“The delegation of the 16th Finance Commission, led by its Chairman, Arvind Panagariya, was welcomed at the Government House,” Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami wrote on X.The Chief Minister further informed that various points related to the development of the state were discussed with the delegation.The financial team comprised Annie George Mathew, Manoj Panda, Soumya Kantighosh, Commission Secretary Ritwik Pandey, Joint Secretary K.K. Mishra, and Joint Director P. Amruthavarshini.An official said that the state government will present its proposals before the Finance Commission in a meeting to be held at the Secretariat on Monday under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister, Pushkar Dhami.The Finance Commission will also hold a meeting with the representatives of the municipal bodies, panchayat representatives and political parties.Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal, Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan, Principal Secretary R.K. Sudhanshu, Finance Secretary Dilip Jawalkar and officials of the Finance Department were present on the occasion.On May 8, the Maharashtra government also held a meeting with the 16th Finance Commission and raised alarm over a reduction in the proportion of grants from the Centre to the states. The grants in aid from the Central government in 2022-23 were Rs 51,414 crore, which fell to Rs 36,045 crore in 2023-24 and further reduced to Rs 31,830 crore in 2024-25.–IANSdan/

Munich, May 18 (IANS) FC Bayern Munich’s men and women’s team, after both sides clinched the league titles in their respective divisions, celebrated a football festival in the heart of Munich on Sunday afternoon as both sides got together for the traditional title celebrations with the Bavarian faithful.Thomas Muller, who will be leaving the team after the end of the FIFA Club World Cup, reflected on his departure after a 25-year association with the club which has taken him to the very high of football.”It was wonderful today. We were very happy that we ended the season with the Bundesliga title. I personally feel very good, very appreciated – eventually the time will come when it’s over. To be honest, I’ve been making my farewells for six weeks, I no longer know where to put all the pictures. I’ve obviously enjoyed all these special moments, but when we have two weeks’ holiday now, I’ll have time to let it all sink in. We’re delighted to be at the Club World Cup and of course we want to win it,” said Muller.Head coach Vincent Kompany, who made the monstrous jump from Burnley to Bayern Munich this season, was elated with his first major division league title and said it was important to prioritize the Club World Cup after the celebrations.”It’s incredible and I’m delighted for the fans and for the city. The season was fun, the lads gave their all, the energy was good – that’s a good basis for next season. We’ll celebrate and get back to work tomorrow. We have a bit of time off, the players have international duty – then we’ll have a really good preparation for the Club World Cup. That’s the priority and we’ll prepare well,” said Kompany.FC Bayern women’s skipper Giulia Gwinn, who is coming off leading the side to a first-ever domestic double, reflected on the opportunity to celebrate with the club as a whole.“It’s a nice setting for both teams, standing outside again with the men and being welcomed. We’ve had a few chances to celebrate. And we’ve done so because it’s not possible that often during the season. That makes it even nicer at the end when you’ve achieved something. We’ve made history this year, which we’ve realised again today,” Gwinn added.–IANSaaa/

Agartala, May 18 (IANS) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Sunday said that public representatives think of many plans, schemes and policies for the benefit of the public, but ultimately, these are implemented by civil service officials.

After laying the foundation stone of the Civil Service Officers’ Institute at Kunjaban on the outskirts of Agartala city, the Chief Minister urged the officials to work properly and to go in-depth on the issues and understand things accurately. “I never thought of becoming a doctor and then being appointed to many posts. I had no such targets. But you (officials) have to try, and if you have a desire to work for people, you will reach your destination,” said Saha, a dental surgeon turned politician. He said that such Officers’ institutes are located in various parts of the country. “Then I asked, why not here in Tripura? We must think of officers coming from outside the state. If I go outside the state and don’t get proper accommodation and other facilities, then I would also want to come back here to Agartala.” Saha also recalled that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel once said civil service officials are the ‘steel frame’ of India. Noting that officials’ most important matter is relationships with the people, he said that public representatives and elected leaders think of many plans, schemes and policies to provide benefits to the public, but ultimately, these are implemented by officials. “After our government, the (BJP govt) came to power (in 2018), we never created pressure on officials, which was done in the earlier governments. If such things (non-pressure) continue, then only a healthy atmosphere would be created here. People are joining the civil services purely for work purposes. Due to transparent policies, talented people are joining the civil services in Tripura,” the Chief Minister remarked. He informed that currently 59 IAS officers, 42 IPS officers, 40 IFS officers, 470 Tripura Civil Service (TCS) officers, 152 Tripura Police Service (TPS) officers and 50 Tripura Forest Service (TFS) officers are working. “Some IAS officers are posted outside the state. When I decided to hold the Plenary session of the North Eastern Council (NEC), it was successful due to the efforts of officials. Many Governors and Chief Ministers have come here and wanted the NEC Plenary to be held again and again in Tripura, and this credit goes to all of you,” the Chief Minister pointed out. He said that during last year’s flood-like situation, officials worked tirelessly and “I believe that if we work together, we can solve the basic issues of the people and help them by implementing central and state government projects.” Successful implementations of all schemes are dependent on the civil service officials, because of whom people get benefits, he added. During the event, Chief Secretary J.K. Sinha, Director General of Police Anurag, Secretaries Kiran Gitte and R.K. Shamal and other senior officials were present in the event. –IANS sc/dan

San Francisco, May 18 (IANS) A wearable pulse oximeter and connected software platform show promise for monitoring obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and other sleep-related breathing diseases, according to new research released on Sunday.The device (pulse oximeter), which is cleared for medical use, was designed for comfort and ease of use; a clinical trial found high rates of utilisation by patients. It could be used to track patient response to OSA treatment over time.“Investigators in our clinical research trials report how useful longitudinal data are to observe night-to-night variability and the response to treatment of OSA,” said Ketan Mehta, head of product and engineering for Connected Wearables at Apnimed.“One sleep specialist even reported that it may be better to collect one or two channels of data over 25 nights than 25 channels over one night, which is considered the gold standard with in-lab polysomnography,” Mehta added.Wearable sensors like the Oura ring and Apple Watch that measure biometrics during sleep are widely used by consumers, but are not cleared for medical use.At the same time, other medical devices used in sleep studies gather clinically relevant data, but are too cumbersome and costly to use for frequent monitoring.This tool could potentially expand patient access to care through pulmonologists to manage routine sleep apnea in their patients, instead of having to refer them out to a sleep specialist, he added. The device provides a bridge between these two extremes, he said.Worn as a ring, the device offers several key differences from other consumer wearables. Notably, it uses transmittance-based photoplethysmography, which has been shown to be more suitable for the proximal phalanx region, provide better signal-to-noise ratio, and is more effective in low perfusion situations.It also engages in continuous data collection, rather than spot checks, he added.The device connects to an app that users can access from their smartphone, giving patients access to a subset of the same data as their health care providers.“These data empower both parties to be informed, and they’re able to have more meaningful conversations. This offers the opportunity for shared decision making between patient and provider using digital medicine,” Mehta said.—IANSna/

Yupia, May 18 (IANS) It was a final that had everything. Early drama, missed chances, a fierce fightback, and there was nothing to separate the two sides but India U19s showed nerves of steel to outlast Bangladesh 4-3 on penalties, after it ended 1-1 post regulation time.The Blue Colts successfully defended their SAFF U19 Championship crown at the Golden Jubilee Stadium on Sunday, May 18.The match had ended 1-1 after regulation time, forcing a nervy penalty shootout. Buoyed by a raucous crowd, India had taken the lead in the second minute through captain Singamayum Shami before Bangladesh equalised in the 61st minute through Md Joy Ahamed.The shootout was not for the faint-hearted. Rohen Singh’s limp second penalty gave Bangladesh the upper hand as keeper Md Ismail Hossain Mahin saved the spot-kick; the stadium fell silent.But Bibiano Fernandes’ boys refused to buckle. When Bangladesh skipper Nazmul Huda Faysal blazed his effort over the crossbar, the game swung back India’s way. With renewed belief, India converted their remaining kicks, and goalkeeper Suraj Singh Aheibam delivered when it mattered the most. He dived low to his left to deny Salahuddin Sahed.Captain Singamayum Shami, who had started the evening with a stunning goal, stepped up for the final kick. Calm, composed, and full of conviction, he slotted it in to crown India champions once again. A fitting end to a tense and fiercely fought contest.India had come flying out of the blocks. Within two minutes, they were ahead. Awarded a free-kick from over 30 yards out, Shami spotted the Bangladesh keeper slightly out of position and went for goal. His curling strike was pinpoint, and even though Mahin got a hand to it, the power behind the effort carried it into the net.India rode the momentum, dominating possession and pushing Bangladesh on the back foot. Their passing was crisp, their movement sharp, and their wings once again proved their most potent weapon. In the 16th minute, Omang Dodum sliced through the defence with a solo run and was nearly in for a second, but Mahin made a vital save to keep Bangladesh in the contest.Bangladesh, rattled at first, grew into the game. They closed down spaces, cut off India’s passing channels, and slowly turned the tide. By half-time, they had begun to threaten with set-pieces, but India’s backline stood firm.The breakthrough came in the 61st minute. A chaotic corner sparked a scramble in the box, and Md Joy Ahamed pounced on the loose ball, firing it past Suraj Singh to level the match. It was the first goal India had conceded in the tournament, and it came at the worst possible moment.From there, both teams pressed for a winner, but the game turned cagey and physical. The final third became a battlefield, and clear-cut chances were few and far between.With the whistle blowing for full time, it all came down to the tie-breaker. And India captain Shami rose to the occasion a second time to bury the final penalty into the net and send his team and the crowd into delirium.–IANSaaa/

Rome, May 18 (IANS) In a significant diplomatic gesture underscoring renewed transatlantic dialogue, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni hosted US Vice President J.D. Vance and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for high-level talks in Rome on Sunday.

The meeting, held as a side event to the historic inaugural mass (formerly known as enthronement) of Pope Leo XIV — the first American to hold the papacy — marked a potential turning point in the US-EU relations, with trade, defence, and global security topping the agenda.Speaking to the press at the opening of the talks, Prime Minister Meloni emphasised the symbolic and strategic importance of the meeting. “I am proud to host two of the most important leaders representing the US and the European Union. There are many issues to address, many challenges to overcome, but above all, a shared recognition of how vital our transatlantic relationship is — especially for a West that seeks to remain united and influential on the global stage,” said the Italian Prime Minister. Meloni framed the meeting as a “new beginning” – particularly in the realm of trade, where tensions have persisted in recent years. While acknowledging that trade negotiations fall under the purview of the European Commission, she highlighted Italy’s role as a facilitator of dialogue. “Today is about building bridges,” she added. Meloni has been known as the “Trump whisperer” and was one of the only European leaders present at President Trump’s inauguration. She visited Trump for a bilateral visit in April, where he accepted Italy’s invitation as the venue for trade talks with the European Union.US Vice President J.D. Vance, representing the Trump administration, echoed Meloni’s spirit of cooperation. Praising the solemnity and unity displayed at Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural Mass, he lauded Italy’s hospitality and reaffirmed the strength of the US-Italy alliance.“We’re thrilled to be here on such a momentous day. This meeting is not just about resolving disagreements, though we have a few, especially on trade, but also about reaffirming our shared commitments. Europe remains a vital partner for the US, and we hope this dialogue sets the stage for long-term cooperation and mutual advantage,” Vance said.European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen struck a similarly collaborative tone, pointing to the scale and depth of existing economic ties. “We already share the largest trade relationship in the world, exceeding $1.5 trillion annually,” she noted. While recognising that technical negotiations can be complex, “the devil is in the details,” she quipped. She also expressed optimism that the discussions would yield a balanced and mutually beneficial agreement.Von der Leyen also raised two critical geopolitical concerns: the war in Ukraine and European defence readiness. She praised ongoing US-EU coordination on Ukraine and emphasised the need for sustained momentum toward a “just and lasting peace.” On defence, she highlighted new Commission initiatives to boost military investment among EU member states, stating, “A stronger Europe always means a stronger NATO.”The trilateral talks, though informal, represent a noteworthy attempt to recalibrate US-EU relations amid a shifting global landscape. That the discussions took place on the margins of Pope Leo XIV’s enthronement only heightened the symbolism: a union of religious tradition and geopolitical renewal. Separately, it has been communicated that VP Vance met with the Ukrainian President Zelensky for 30 minutes. A historic informal Trump-Zelensky meeting made front pages when the men met alone in St. Peter’s during Pope Francis’s funeral.Meanwhile, the Italian Prime Minister Meloni concluded, “This is a first meeting — but we hope it will not be the last.” –IANSdan/

New Delhi, May 18 (IANS) With the arrest of a criminal, the East District Police in Delhi on Sunday claimed to have successfully solved a case of criminal intimidation and extortion.

The accused has been identified as Kartar Bhati, a resident of village Jamalpur, Police Station Kasana, Distt. Gautam Budh Nagar in Uttar Pradesh.Deputy Commissioner of Police, East District, Delhi, Abhishek Dhania, said, “On May 17, Ramkumar, aged 58 years, a resident of Sitaram Apartments, IP Extension, Delhi, approached the Police Station Madhu Vihar with a grave complaint. He reported that he runs a business under the name Singla Electricals in West Vinod Nagar, Delhi. On May 11, at approximately 6:50 p.m., two unidentified men entered his shop while he was present with his two sons. One of the individuals introduced himself as Kartar Bhati, claiming he was responsible for the murder of a person named Bhure. He produced a pocket diary containing the home and shop addresses of the complainant and threatened him, stating that he had recently been released from jail and knew the complainant was a wealthy man.”The DCP stated that the accused demanded Rs 50 lakh and issued a chilling threat, saying the complainant would meet the same fate as Bhure if the demand was not met.On May 16, the complainant received a WhatsApp call from the same individual, identified on the app as Kartar Bhati, reaffirming the extortion demand. Based on this complaint, a case was promptly registered at Police Station Madhu Vihar on May 17 under section u/s 308(4)/3(5) BNS, and investigation of the case was taken up.Given the gravity of the threats and the criminal history involved, a joint team comprising members of the Special Staff, Anti-Narcotics Squad and Police Station Madhu Vihar was immediately formed.The joint team included the staff of the Special Staff in charge, Inspector Jitendra Malik, led by ACP/Ops; staff of the Anti-Narcotics Squad in charge, Inspector Arun Kumar, led by ACP/Ops and staff of Police Station Madhu Vihar, led by Inspector Arun Kumar, SHO/Madhu Vihar, under the supervision of ACP/Madhu Vihar, Tilak Chand Bist.These teams worked under the supervision of Vinit Kumar, Addl DCP-I/East, and under the overall supervision of the undersigned.Acting swiftly, the police team collected and analysed CCTV footage from the complainant’s shop and surrounding areas. Two suspects were clearly seen conversing with the complainant and his sons in the footage. Using a combination of CCTV analysis, technical surveillance, and local intelligence, the investigating team identified the two accused. The main accused was identified as Kartar Bhati, and the other accused was identified as Nadir aka Sah Alam. Utilising real-time intelligence inputs and strategic surveillance, the police team successfully apprehended Kartar Bhati.“The police have also recovered the diary used to intimidate the complainant and the clothes worn during the incident from his possession. Further interrogation of the accused is underway to uncover additional details and connections,” the DCP said.The accused, Kartar Bhati, is a habitual offender, previously involved in seven criminal cases, including offences under the Arms Act, robbery, snatching, and murder. He was recently released from jail in September 2024.During the investigation, it also came to light that the name Bhure, mentioned during the extortion threat, referred to Rahul aka Bhura aka Bhure, a resident of West Vinod Nagar, Delhi, who was murdered on June 3, 2020. The case was registered under Sections 302/392/397/34 IPC and 27 Arms Act at Police Station Mandawali. The reference was clearly an attempt to instil fear in the complainant.–IANSuk

Jaipur, May 18 (IANS) Punjab Kings restarted their campaign in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League with a huge win over Rajasthan Royals at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur on Sunday.After electing to bat, Punjab lost early wickets with the in-form openers Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, and Aussie batter Mitchell Owen getting out. But Nehal Wadhera (70 runs off 37 balls) stitched crucial partnerships with skipper Shreyas Iyer (30 runs off 25 balls), Shashank Singh (59*runs off 30 balls) to help his side post a solid total of 219/5 in 20 overs. Azmatullah also added 21* off 9 balls in the end to further help his side.In the chase, Rajasthan started well with Yashasvi Jaiswal (50 runs off 25 balls) and Vaibhav Suryavanshi (40 runs off 15 balls) adding 76 runs together for the opening wicket. But Punjab left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar (3/22 in 4 overs) dismissed both the batters and restricted the opposition. Despite a fighting knock from Dhruv Jurel (53 runs off 31 balls), the Royals fell short by 10 runs and Punjab Kings won the game.Speaking at the post-match press conference, Punjab Kings spin bowling coach Sunil Joshi praised Harpreet Brar for his performance and said, “I think he has been very consistent. Last year he also bowled really well. Whenever he has received the opportunity, he has performed. And today as well, he made a big difference for Punjab Kings. Our plan was to get Brar and take wickets when the opposition was forming a partnership, and he did that.””I think it’s a team effort. Lot of team strategies goes behind the scenes. Whenever a partnership happens, all we have to do is bowl dot balls and get wickets. That’s the strategy we opted and it worked for us,” he further added.Joshi also praised Shreyas Iyer for his captaincy and his rotation with the ball and credited him for making smart moves to help the side. “Shreyas is a positive leader and a street-smart cricketer. He knows when you need to make subtle changes. He is experienced and a title-winning captain. He knows domestic circuit well. He has always enjoyed players’ confidence. Talking to players make a bigger impact in players and the leader,” he said.Meanwhile, Iyer also praised Brar for his performance at the post-match presentation ceremony and explained his side’s strategy. “Brar has been consistent in the nets. He wants to do the best for himself, he was hungry for this opportunity and today I feel he stepped in and delivered at his best, congratulations to him and his mindset has been tremendous throughout. Absolutely brilliant approach and attitude coming in after the break, the boys were in high spirits and we also needed a rest, going forward in the tournament, it was the right time we came in together and showed the kind of mindset to win irrespective of the situation,” Iyer said.Brar, who was handed the Player of the match award trophy, credited the prize to his wife and also gave an insight into his conversations with head coach Ricky Ponting in the lead-up to the game.”I am feeling really good. I would like to dedicate this award to my wife as it is my first after marriage. We practice a lot against the left handers, Ponting Sir has told us that a leftie can get a leftie out. I have worked on that, I knew they would come after me but I backed to bowl to my strengths. The way the wicket was playing and they were batting, the plan was to not give a boundary or give them easy balls,” he said.Punjab Kings will next face off against Delhi Capitals at the same stadium on Saturday, May 24.–IANSaaa/

Kolkata, May 18 (IANS) Three illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators, residing in India after illegally entering the country, have been arrested by the West Bengal Police near the Indo-Bangladesh international borders in Nadia district.

The accused were presented at a district court, which remanded them to police custody.The three arrested illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators include two men and one woman. They have been identified as Rupa Begum, Muhammad Alam, and Manira Sheikh. They are original residents of the Jhenaidah area in Bangladesh.Sources said that all of them entered India after illegally crossing the border almost four months back with the help of a local agent, who also arranged for illegal Indian identity documents.Thereafter, they moved to another state and started earning a livelihood by doing some odd jobs. However, due to the increased hunting operations launched against illegal Bangladesh infiltrators by the administration in different states, they decided to go back to Bangladesh.On Saturday night, when they again reached a village near the Dhantala international borders in the district, from where they entered India illegally, their whereabouts were tipped off by the local police by sources, leading to their arrest.“In the past, several illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators have been arrested from different villages near the international borders. However, during the last couple of months, mainly those illegal infiltrators have been arrested who are attempting to go back to their native land after spending some time on Indian soil illegally,” a Nadia district police official said.–IANSsrc/dan

New Delhi, May 18 (IANS) Delhi Capitals (DC) mentor Kevin Pietersen said KL Rahul, who hit a majestic 112 not out off 65 balls in the IPL 2025 clash against Gujarat Titans, wanted to bat at the top of the order and added that watching the wicketkeeper-batter is an absolute treat when in full flow.At the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Rahul reached the three-figure mark off 60 balls with a powerful pull off Prasidh Krishna in the 19th over. With his fifth IPL century and first for DC, laced with 14 fours and four sixes, Rahul became the first batter in IPL history to score hundreds for three different teams – previously doing the same for Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants“It’s tough sitting and watching the boys, especially in the pressure situation we got into ourselves, we started well, got into a wobble, but the break must’ve done good for us. KL wanted to bat at the top of the order and he’s so good to watch when in full flow. When you can see players of that quality, watch them practice and then watch them put on a show during the match is do good to see,” said Pietersen in a mid-innings chat with broadcasters.Rahul, DC’s leading run-getter in IPL 2025 with 495 runs, now has the fourth most number of hundreds in the tournament, after Virat Kohli, Jos Buttler and Chris Gayle. During his majestic knock on Sunday, Rahul also became the fastest Indian and third overall to amass 8,000 runs in T20 cricket. With Rahul propelling DC to 199/3, Pietersen feels they need to defend the total against an in-form GT batting line-up.“It’s just half the job done though, the top-3 have done a superb job (for Gujarat Titans), but we’ve Mustafizur who joined us this morning, and Nattu (T Natarajan) as well back from injury. We spoke about getting a solid start, we were poor in that over the last few overs and we then solidified during the middle overs before exploding towards the end, 200 I think is a good target,” he added.–IANSnr/