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NEW DELHI :  The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has urged food vendors and establishments across the country to stop using newspapers for wrapping or serving food, citing serious health risks associated with the practice, according to an official statement on Saturday. The advisory follows a recent incident in Mumbai where a vadapav vendor was found using newspapers to pack and serve food, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said. Following the case, FSSAI, West Region, along with the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), took joint action and issued directions to discourage similar practices across the city and region. The food safety regulator said printing inks used in newspapers contain harmful chemicals, pigments, binders and heavy metals, including lead, which can leach into food when it comes into contact with hot or oily items. Moreover, it warned that newspapers, during distribution and handling are often exposed to unhygienic conditions and may carry pathogens that can cause foodborne illnesses. Reiterating existing regulations, FSSAI said the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018, strictly prohibit the use of newspapers or similar unapproved materials for storing, wrapping or serving food. The advisory applies to all food businesses, including street vendors, restaurants, cloud kitchens, caterers, quick service restaurants, hawkers and mobile food vendors, which have been directed to use only safe and food-grade packaging materials. In addition, FSSAI urged consumers to remain vigilant and avoid consuming food served or wrapped in newspapers. FSSAI and state authorities are continuing surveillance and enforcement under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, while also promoting safe and sustainable packaging solutions in the food sector. Earlier in May, the food safety regulator issued a statutory notice to the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) over alleged unhygienic handling of utensils onboard Train No. 12223 Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT)-Ernakulam (ERS) Duronto Express, following a video circulating on social media. (Source: IANS)      

CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR : Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke said on Sunday his agitation over alleged irregularities in examinations and recruitment tests will not stop until Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns. Dipke also said their protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Saturday was largely successful, with around 7,000 people participating in it, and added that the movement would now expand nationwide. The CJP founder reached his residence in the MIDC Waluj area in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district on Sunday morning and was welcomed by his family members. Later, speaking to reporters, Dipke said the agitation undertaken by the Cockroach Janata Party will not stop until Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns. ”The protest we staged (at Jantar Mantar) was successful, as 6,000 to 7,000 people attended it. This agitation will go nationwide. We won’t step back till Dharmendra Pradhan resigns,” he asserted. Hundreds of protesters gathered at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Saturday under the banner of the CJP, demanding Pradhan’s resignation over alleged irregularities in examinations and recruitment tests, with Dipke delivering the message not to be “scared”. At a press conference later in the national capital, CJP spokespersons announced that they will wait for a week either for the Centre to sack Pradhan or his voluntary resignation, after which they would launch a countrywide protest. Dipke, who called for the protest, arrived in Delhi from the United States on Saturday morning, walking out of the airport carrying a copy of B R Ambedkar’s autobiography. After receiving permission from the Delhi Police, he reached Jantar Mantar. Protesters, armed with posters demanding Pradhan’s resignation, were seen wearing cockroach masks, which were being distributed at the venue. Besides demanding the education minister’s resignation, the protesters also raised slogans demanding that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stop indulging in “Hindu-Muslim” politics, and hailed the motherland with “Bharat Mata ki Jai” slogans. (Source: PTI)      

NEW DELHI : The European Union is eyeing a long-term trade and investment partnership with India’s Northeastern region to unlock its economic potential, focusing heavily on green energy, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, tea, and agri-food processing. A high-level ‘Team Europe’ delegation will arrive in Guwahati on Monday for a two-day visit, aiming to foster deeper economic collaboration with the eight Northeastern states: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura. This initiative aligns with the priorities established under the comprehensive strategic agenda agreed upon during the EU-India summit in January. The delegation’s visit signals a new chapter in EU-India collaboration, with a shared vision to unlock the North-East’s economic potential through innovation, sustainability, and inclusive growth, the EU’s New Delhi mission said. The EU delegation will comprise envoys and senior representatives from EU member states, including EU Ambassador Herve Delphin, alongside European business representatives. “North-East India and Assam at its core, has enormous potential – its resources, its skilled workforce – and is already one of the fastest growing regions of India by GDP,” Delphin said. The Team Europe ambassadors will engage in a bilateral meeting with Assam’s Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, while a business delegation led by the Federation of European Businesses in India (FEBI) will also hold discussions with state officials to identify trade and investment opportunities, the EU said. The delegation will also participate in the ‘Blue Valleys: Building ecosystems and value chains between India and Europe’ workshop on Tuesday organised by the Assam government, which will bring together European and Indian businesses to explore partnerships in sustainable value chains, industries and innovation. “Through initiatives like Blue Valleys, we’re not just discussing cooperation, we’re building real, long-term business to business partnerships that will drive growth for both the EU and India,” Delphin said. “While the general contours to strengthen the EU-India ties have been finalized at the EU-India summit, it will have to take roots at the state level. The EU has a long-standing engagement with Assam and we are encouraged by the advancements we’re seeing through initiatives like the Blue Valley,” he said. The visit will also see the launch of Assam’s first Blue Valley Cluster, a new industrial hub focused on fragrances, flavours and food processing. This 4P (public-private-people-partnership) cluster will seek to connect Europe, North-East India, and Bhutan, promoting innovation, research, sustainable manufacturing, and business collaborations, according to the EU. This pilot project, led by the Assam government, is aligned with the Blue Valleys initiative which was introduced at the 2026 EU-India Summit, it said. The Blue Valley aims to promote industrial clusters, MSME linkages, and sector-specific value-chain integration between the EU and India, while ensuring economic growth and environmental sustainability. Key sectors identified under this initiative include clean energy, natural ingredients, bamboo-based industries, eco-friendly textiles, biotech, wellness, and smart manufacturing. By combining funding, skills development, and sustainability standards, the initiative seeks to create scalable business models that benefit local communities and connect them to European markets, the EU said in a statement. “The visit will focus on value chains across sectors where Europe and the State of Assam and the region as a whole share strong synergies, including renewable and green energy, sustainable urban infrastructure, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, semiconductors and electronics manufacturing, tea and agri-food processing, flavours and fragrances, and AYUSH,” it said. In addition to meetings and the Blue Valleys event, the EU delegation will visit Tata Electronics’ new semiconductor plant. This visit also highlights the importance of EU-India digital partnership under the EU-India Trade and Technology Council (TTC) and will give European investors a closer look at Assam’s business environment, infrastructure, and industry potential, the EU said. (Source: PTI)    

NEW DELHI : The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Sunday released the exam city intimation slip for the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination, scheduled to be held on June 21. Candidates can now check their allotted examination city for NEET-UG 2026. Log in with your application number and password to view and download your slip, the NTA said in a post on X. According to a public notice issued by the agency, the re-examination will be conducted in pen-and-paper mode from 2 pm to 5:15 pm across 551 cities in India and 14 cities abroad. The NTA clarified that the exam city intimation slip is not the admit card and is being issued solely to inform candidates about the city where their examination centre will be located. “This is NOT the Admit Card. It shows only your exam city. The Admit Card will be issued later,” the agency said. It said that all efforts are made by the NTA to give 1st choice city to all students. The agency further urged candidates to stay updated through its official websites for the latest announcements regarding the examination and admit card release. The NEET-UG for admissions into medical courses took place on May 3 this year but was cancelled by the NTA on May 12 amid allegations of paper leak. The CBI is currently investigating this matter, and a retest is scheduled for June 21. (Source: PTI)      

NEW DELHI : The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which organised a protest led by its founder Abhijeet Dipke at the Jantar Mantar here on Saturday demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s removal, warned that the agitation would expand across the country if he is not sacked or does not resign voluntarily. Addressing a press conference, CJP spokespersons Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das said the protest had drawn participants from several states and marked the beginning of a broader youth movement centred on education and governance issues. Birthed as an online campaign in May, the CJP, which garnered over 22 million followers on Instagram, had exhorted youths to take part in the protest in the national capital over the issue of alleged irregularities in examinations and recruitment tests, in an apparent show of strength. “We are giving the government seven days. Either Dharmendra Pradhan should resign respectfully, or Prime Minister Narendra Modi should sack him. If his resignation does not come within seven days, this movement will spread throughout the country,” Ranka said. He said the organisers were receiving messages from supporters in different states expressing readiness to hold peaceful demonstrations, and claimed the group would wait for a week before announcing its next course of action. Cockroach Janta Party protest at Jantar Mantar, students demand education reforms, exam controversies and youth concerns, competitive exam aspirants protest Delhi, education system accountability and governance issues Describing the turnout on Saturday as a significant moment, Ranka said the protest demonstrated that young people were willing to mobilise around issues affecting them. “June 6, 2026, will be written in history because today the politics of this country has completely changed,” he said, adding that many young people who were often discouraged from taking to the streets had come together for a peaceful demonstration. The organisers repeatedly projected the protest as a youth-led campaign and sought to frame it as a response to concerns surrounding the education system. “The time has come to reset our education system, and we have started that reset today,” Ranka said, asserting that the demand for Pradhan’s resignation was the immediate focus of the movement. According to him, removing the education minister was necessary if meaningful reforms were to be undertaken. “Until this education minister is there, we will not be able to improve the education system of this country,” he said. While maintaining that the resignation demand remained the top priority, Ranka indicated that the campaign would continue beyond that issue. “This is just the beginning. There are so many problems of the youth of this country,” he said, arguing that concerns relating to education had not received adequate attention. Asked whether the mobilisation should be viewed as a protest, a movement or a political platform, Ranka described it as “a platform for the youth”, “a collective for the youth” and “a movement for the youth”, while leaving open how it may evolve in the future. The organisers also rejected suggestions that the mobilisation was linked to any established political formation and described themselves as “pro-youth, pro-education, pro-Constitution and pro-India”. Ranka claimed the turnout had exceeded expectations and emphasised that the gathering remained peaceful despite the crowds. “It was such a huge crowd, and yet it remained a very, very peaceful protest. Maybe one of the most peaceful protests the country has seen in a while,” he said. “The Gen Z and the youth of this country have Gandhi and Ambedkar in their blood,” he added, thanking participants who had travelled from different parts of the country to attend the event. Saurav Das said people from several states, including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and those in the Northeast, had joined the protest. He also referred to online support for the campaign, claiming that hundreds of thousands of people had signed petitions seeking the minister’s resignation. Asked if they would send any representation to Pradhan or request a meeting, Ranka said, “Why doesn’t he just resign.” Das said several other student groups have written to the minister over the issue but have not received any response. “The youth wants to talk, but when the government is not talking, that is when they are getting on the road,” Das said. He also thanked Delhi Police for facilitating the demonstration and said maintaining peace had been a priority for the organisers. “We are very happy that the Delhi Police’s priority was peaceful demonstration,” he said. The protest was called by Dipke, who started the online satirical account of the Cockroach Janta Party, also called ‘CJP’, amid demands for accountability over recent developments in the education sector. Earlier in the day, Dipke had urged Pradhan to step down by 5 pm, with organisers later announcing the seven-day deadline for action by the minister or the government. (Source: PTI)  

NEW DELHI : The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Saturday dismissed as “false” and “fraudulent” claims circulating on social media about alleged leak or sale of the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination question paper and warned of strict action against those spreading such content. In a statement on X, the agency said messages claiming a “leak”, advance access or “sale” of the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination paper were aimed at misleading students and parents. “The National Testing Agency (NTA) has noted certain messages circulating on social media and messaging platforms claiming a ‘leak’, advance access or ‘sale’ of the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination question paper,” the NTA said in a post on X. “These claims are false, fraudulent and intended to mislead,” the NTA said, adding that such content was being circulated by “organised cheating rackets” seeking to exploit the anxiety of candidates and their families by selling fake question papers. “Such content is the work of organised cheating rackets that prey on the anxiety of students and their families. Their objective is to extort money by selling fake ‘papers’, and every such claim circulating is a fabrication,” the agency added. “The integrity of the examination process is fully intact, and every safeguard is in place to ensure a fair and secure examination for all candidates,” the agency said. The NTA said it was actively identifying and reporting the offending channels, accounts and content to the platforms and cyber-crime authorities for immediate takedown and action. The agency further said it was filing a formal complaint with law-enforcement and cyber-crime authorities, warning that creating, circulating or forwarding such fraudulent content and attempting to defraud students constituted a serious punishable offence. “Strict action will be taken against those responsible,” it said. Candidates and parents have been advised not to engage with, pay for or forward such messages and not to fall prey to these “fraudulent solicitations”. It also said to rely only on official communications issued through NTA’s verified channels. “We urge all aspirants to ignore these rumours and to rely solely on official communication issued by NTA through its verified website and channels,” the statement said. “To every candidate appearing for NEET (UG) 2026 — focus on your preparation with confidence. Your hard work is what matters, and NTA stands committed to conducting a fair, secure and credible examination,” it added. The NEET-UG for admissions into medical courses took place on May 3 this year but was cancelled by the NTA on May 12 amid allegations of a paper leak. The CBI is currently investigating this matter, and a retest is scheduled for June 21. (Source: PTI)        

NEW DELHI : The Congress on Wednesday said the BJP has decided to brazen it out in Arunachal Pradesh with Chief Minister Pema Khandu keeping control over all files that have to be part of the CBI inquiry ordered by the Supreme Court. The top court on April 6 directed the CBI to register a preliminary inquiry into allegations of preferential allotment of contracts for public work in Arunachal Pradesh to firms allegedly owned or related to the family members of Chief Minister Khandu. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleged that all principles and norms have been abandoned by the BJP in the case of Khandu, and that this was an “insult” to the Supreme Court. “The BJP has clearly decided to brazen it out in Arunachal Pradesh, even though the Supreme Court has ordered a CBI investigation on the decision of the chief minister there,” Ramesh said on X. “The CM continues to be PWD minister as well and therefore has control over all files that have necessarily to be part of the CBI inquiry. All principles and norms have been abandoned,” the Congress general secretary in-charge communications said. This is an “insult” to the Supreme Court, to the people of Arunachal Pradesh, and to the Constitution of India, he said. The Congress last month had questioned why Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Khandu has not been removed even after the Supreme Court directed the CBI to begin a probe into charges of corruption against him. Ramesh had said this amounts to “gross travesty” of the Supreme Court order itself. He had said it was on April 6, 2026, that a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court directed the CBI to commence a preliminary inquiry into allegations that the Arunachal Pradesh chief minister’s family was awarded contracts worth Rs 1,270 crore over 10 years from January 2015 to December 2025 in a direct conflict of interest. Observing that the state and its instrumentalities cannot confer benefits according to the “whims of any political or administrative functionary”, the apex court had said it was a fit case where an “independent investigation” was necessary. The bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath had said where a case concerns the integrity of public procurement and involves allegations of conflict of interest at the highest levels, an investigation must not only be fair but also must appear fair. (Source: PTI)

HYDERABAD : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that the need of the hour, in the wake of the West Asia crisis, is to use petro products with restraint. Speaking at an event here where he virtually laid the foundation stone and inaugurated development projects worth around ₹9,400 crore in Telangana, he said the imported petro products should be used only as per need, as it will not only save foreign exchange but also reduce the adverse impact of war. Observing that, over the past few years, India has reached a spot among the top countries in the world in terms of solar power, he said, unprecedented work has been done in ethanol blending in petrol. First, the government is focused on 100 per cent LPG coverage, and now, it is focused on the supply of piped gas economically. The government is also promoting a CNG-based system. Due to all these efforts, India is dealing with the major energy crisis in the world, he said. “But, today, the need of the hour is also to use petrol, gas, diesel and such things with great restraint. We have to use imported petro products only as per need. This will not only save foreign exchange but reduce the adverse impact of war,” he said. He also said India is moving on reforms express today, and also building modern infrastructure. He said he would like to assure every family in Telangana, Centre will continue to work with greater speed to realise your dreams. Modi on Sunday virtually laid the foundation stone and inaugurated development projects worth around ₹9,400 crore in Telangana at the HICC here. Telangana Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, Union Ministers G Kishan Reddy, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, and several other leaders attended the event at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC). Modi laid the foundation for projects, including the four-laning of National Highway-167 from Gudebellur to Mahabubnagar on the Hyderabad-Panaji Economic Corridor and Zaheerabad Industrial Area in Sangareddy district. He inaugurated various sections of Kazipet-Vijayawada multi-tracking project of railways, Greenfield POL (Petroleum, Oil, Lubricants) Terminal in Hyderabad, Kazipet Rail Under Rail Bypass and PM MITRA Park at Warangal (Kakatiya Mega Textile Park). Developed at an estimated cost of around ₹1,700 crore, the Kakatiya Mega Textile Park is India’s first fully functional PM MITRA Park and operationalises the Centre’s 5F vision – Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign. (Source: PTI)