| 13 June 2023
1. PM Holds Meeting to Prepare for Impending Cyclone 'Biparjoy' Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting on Monday to assess the preparedness of central agencies and the Gujarat government in dealing with the approaching cyclone 'Biparjoy.' The PM instructed officials to ensure the safe evacuation of people residing in vulnerable areas and maintain essential services like power, telecommunications, and healthcare. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted that the cyclone would make landfall between Mandvi (Gujarat) and Karachi (Pakistan) near Jakhau Port (Gujarat) on June 15 as a "very severe cyclonic storm" with wind speeds reaching 125-135 kmph. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Indian Coast Guard, Navy, Air Force, and Army are prepared with teams, equipment, and resources for rescue and relief operations.
2. Supreme Court Puts a Stay on Bike-Taxi Services in Delhi The Supreme Court issued a stay on the Delhi High Court's order allowing bike-taxi aggregators Rapido and Uber to operate in the city. As a result, bike-taxis cannot operate in Delhi for the time being. The Delhi government had previously ordered the cessation of bike-taxi services, stating that they violated transport regulations. Uber challenged this order in the Delhi High Court, which temporarily allowed their operations until specific rules were formulated. The Supreme Court's decision now upholds the Delhi government's directive, and bike-taxis will remain prohibited until further legal proceedings.
3. Reports of CoWIN Data Breach Dismissed by Indian Government Reports emerged claiming that data stored on the CoWIN platform, which contains information on vaccinated individuals in India, was breached, and the details were accessible to social media bots. However, the government categorically denied these allegations, labeling them as baseless and mischievous. The matter is being investigated by India's top cybersecurity agency, CERT-In, and according to Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, there is no direct evidence of a breach of the CoWIN app or database. The government assured that the CoWIN portal is secure and has implemented measures to protect data privacy.
4. Congress Urges PM Modi to Address the Situation in Manipur The Congress party called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the ongoing unrest in Manipur and facilitate an all-party delegation visit to help restore peace in the region. The party also urged the prime minister to personally visit Manipur to listen to the concerns of the people affected by the violence. Fresh incidents of violence were reported in Manipur on Monday, including attacks by unidentified gunmen on two villages. Efforts are being made to encourage the voluntary return of weapons looted from security forces by setting up drop boxes for their deposition. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also met with leaders of Kuki rebel groups in Guwahati to discuss the situation.
5. Former Twitter CEO Makes Allegations Against Indian Government Former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey made startling allegations against the Indian government, claiming that it had threatened to shut down the platform and conduct raids on employees' homes. Dorsey disclosed that India had requested the removal of tweets and accounts associated with the farmers' protest in 2020, and Twitter was pressured to censor journalists critical of the government. However, the Indian government vehemently denied these allegations, accusing Twitter of violating the country's laws. The strained relationship between Twitter and the Indian government has been a subject of concern globally, as it raises questions about free speech, government oversight, and the role of social media platforms.
These were the top 5 news stories of the day. Stay tuned to 5ive in Focus for the latest updates and in-depth analysis of the most important events happening around the world.
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