More than a week after Eidul Azha, residents across Karachi continue to grapple with the foul smell of decomposing animal waste, raising questions about the effectiveness of post-Eid sanitation measures, Dawn reported. The unpleasant odour has been reported from several areas, including Nazimabad, Karimabad, Teen Hatti, Guru Mandir, Numaish, Orangi Town, Korangi, District South, District East, and District West. Locals claim that animal remains are still lying unattended at some garbage collection points, while several cleaned sites were not properly disinfected.
During a survey, Dawn found decomposing waste in parts of Nazimabad and Orangi Town. Commuters passing through Karimabad, Teen Hatti, and Guru Mandir also complained that the smell persisted even after waste had been removed from many collection spots. A refrigerator repair technician from Orangi Town described how the stench had disrupted daily life. He said even eating indoors had become difficult, recalling how he initially believed spoiled food was causing the smell before realising it was coming from nearby garbage dumps.
Residents in and around Numaish accused civic authorities of failing to thoroughly clean and sanitise areas after removing sacrificial waste. In Sector 15-C of Orangi Town, animal remains were reportedly found near the boundary wall of a government girls’ college, triggering health concerns among residents. Near Lasbela Chowk, a woman criticised both the public and authorities, saying citizens should have disposed of waste only at designated collection points while officials should have ensured proper inspections and cleanup operations.
Zeeshan, a private company employee who travels daily across Karachi, said hardly any part of the city seemed completely free from the lingering stench. Experts told Dawn that merely removing waste is often not enough, as blood and organic matter seep into roads and soil, making thorough washing and the use of disinfectants, bleach, or lime necessary to remove odours and minimise disease risks.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.
In a significant step toward environmental conservation, offices under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), including the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), planted more than five lakh saplings across the country on Friday as part of a nationwide plantation campaign. The government has set a target of planting seven crore saplings this year.
The initiative is part of the MHA’s tree plantation campaign launched in 2020 under the leadership of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Since the programme began, over 6.67 crore saplings have been planted nationwide, demonstrating the ministry’s continued commitment to increasing India’s green cover.
MHA officials stated that the target of planting seven crore trees is expected to be achieved within the current year. The CAPFs have been playing a major role in carrying out plantation activities across different regions of the country and are preparing to expand the effort further. According to officials, the forces plan to plant 40 lakh saplings in 2026, with the number expected to rise to 2 crore in 2027. Officials also highlighted a major achievement from July 14, 2024, when the Border Security Force (BSF) conducted a record-breaking plantation drive at the Revati Range in Indore. On that day, 12,41,017 saplings were planted, earning a place in the Guinness World Records.
The large-scale plantation drives are intended to support environmental sustainability, enhance biodiversity, and help combat climate change. Officials added that the campaigns also encourage environmental awareness among security personnel and local communities. On the occasion of World Environment Day, Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the latest plantation drive in Agartala, Tripura. During the event, he planted an Agar sapling at the BSF’s Lankamura Border Outpost (BOP) and also visited the post during his trip.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from X/@AmitShah.
The Centre on Friday issued the Income-tax (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, granting Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) exemption from tax on interest income and capital gains earned through investments in government securities. The move is aimed at attracting stable long-term foreign capital and strengthening India’s bond market.
Since Parliament is currently not in session, the Ordinance was promulgated to amend Schedule IV of the Income-tax Act, 2025, with retrospective effect from April 1, 2026. As per the Gazette notification, the amendment introduces a new provision under the tax-exempt income category, stating that any interest earned on government securities, along with capital gains arising from their sale, transfer, or exchange by FIIs, will be exempt from tax, provided the required disclosures are submitted. The same benefit has also been extended to the Bank for International Settlements (BIS).
The measure is expected to encourage greater foreign participation in India’s sovereign debt market, particularly in long-term government bonds. Stable overseas investments in government securities can support public expenditure and investments across sectors such as infrastructure, urban development, climate transition, manufacturing, and social welfare.
Increased foreign investment is also likely to enhance liquidity and improve price discovery in the government securities market, helping make borrowing costs more efficient across the financial system. Since government bond yields act as benchmark rates for corporate borrowing, bank loans, and infrastructure financing, a stronger sovereign debt market is considered vital for overall financial-sector efficiency.
The government believes the exemption will diversify the investor base for sovereign debt, boost competition in primary auctions and secondary markets, and gradually lower borrowing costs by compressing term premia. The decision further strengthens the appeal of Indian government securities among global investors as India deepens its integration with international capital markets. It follows earlier reforms such as the Fully Accessible Route (FAR), which enabled the inclusion of Indian government bonds in major global bond indices and helped attract long-term passive foreign investments. The definition of Foreign Institutional Investor will follow the provisions of the Income-tax Act, while “government security” will carry the meaning assigned under the Government Securities Act, 2006. The exemption will apply subject to prescribed disclosure and reporting requirements.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.
IIT Roorkee on Friday dismissed reports claiming that a major data breach had compromised the personal information of lakhs of JEE (Advanced) aspirants, describing the allegations as “misleading” and “factually inaccurate.” In a statement shared on X, the institute clarified that the information being circulated online does not present the complete picture and accused some sections of spreading misinformation regarding the incident.
According to IIT Roorkee, technical measures were introduced on June 2 to help candidates who were facing difficulties while accessing their admit cards and to ensure the registration system functioned smoothly. During this process, a temporary and minor misconfiguration occurred in one of the cloud storage systems. The institute said the issue was identified by ethical hacker Rylen Anil, who informed authorities that the database could be accessed. IIT Roorkee stated that the problem was fixed immediately and access permissions were restricted without delay.
The institution further explained that the affected storage system had “read-only” access, meaning no data could be altered or deleted. After reviewing cloud access logs, officials confirmed that there was no bulk download or mass extraction of candidate information. IIT Roorkee added that the exposure was limited to less than 0.05% of the data and that no sensitive details were compromised.
The institute also emphasized that the incident had no effect on examination-related outcomes, including candidates’ marks, rankings, or category details. Reaffirming its commitment to secure admissions and examination processes, IIT Roorkee said it remains dedicated to maintaining the integrity, transparency, and security of both JEE (Advanced) and JoSAA counselling procedures.
The statement also expressed concern over what it described as attempts to misrepresent the technical issue and weaken public confidence in the examination system. “The JEE (Advanced) team remains committed to supporting every aspirant through a smooth and secure admission process into IITs and IISc,” the institute added.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said artificial intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept but a practical reality that is reshaping governance, commerce, warfare, and judicial systems. Speaking at Birkbeck College, University of London, he described AI as one of the biggest challenges facing international law and said the choices made today will shape the future of technology, freedom, justice, and power. He stressed that technology itself is neither good nor bad, and its impact depends on the legal and ethical frameworks guiding its use. Justice Kant noted that governments and courts are increasingly using AI for welfare distribution, policing, legal research, case management, and decision-making. While AI can improve efficiency and access to justice, he warned that it also raises serious concerns about accountability, sovereignty, and human rights in a world where algorithmic systems operate across borders. The CJI said the international community must ensure that technological advancement remains accountable to democratic values and human dignity, adding that humanity must retain control over the principles by which society is governed.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from PTI.
On Made in SG, Melanie Oliveiro chats with Singaporean singer-songwriter Frances Tan, who recently competed in the Commonwealth Song Contest — an international music competition featuring participants from all 56 Commonwealth countries. Tan shares her experience of being chosen as a Grand Finalist, representing Singapore alongside six other finalist nations. She also discusses her original track, Just Me, which she submitted as her contest entry.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
A second batch of more than 1,000 pages of documents concerning Peter Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador has been made public. The files were expected to shed light on what ministers knew about Mandelson’s connections to Epstein and the vetting process behind his approval. Instead, they exposed internal government tensions and early concerns over Keir Starmer’s leadership. Lucy Hough talks with the Guardian’s head of national news, Archie Bland.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
On Saturday, Donald Trump stated that negotiations with Tehran were progressing positively and that a deal to end the conflict was largely in place. Just a day later, the United States carried out strikes in southern Iran. By Thursday, Trump had shared a draft peace proposal for the Iran conflict with allied nations. As the future of a US-Iran agreement remains uncertain, Jonathan Freedland speaks with Ali Vaez of the International Crisis Group to explore why Trump has repeatedly shifted his approach to ending the war.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) has kept its GDP growth forecast at 2–4%, supported by stronger-than-anticipated economic performance in the first quarter. At the same time, core inflation eased more than expected in April. Economists caution that geopolitical uncertainties and weaker external demand continue to pose risks. Susan Ng and Hairianto Diman discuss the strength of Singapore’s economy and its outlook for the coming months with Jeff Ng from Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
