Top news of the day: SBI says no form, ID proof needed to exchange ₹2,000 notes; Zelensky denies Bakhmut has fallen to Russia, and more
The Hindu
Top news updates from The Hindu on May 21, 2023
No form, identity proof needed to exchange ₹2,000 notes: SBI
No form or requisition slip is required for exchange of ₹2,000 notes up to a limit of ₹20,000 at a time as part of exercise to withdraw high-value currency notes from circulation. In a communication to chief general manager of all its local head offices, State Bank of India informed that the facility of exchange of ₹2,000 notes by public up to a limit of ₹20,000 at a time will be allowed without obtaining any requisition slip.
Ukraine denies loss of Bakhmut to Russia after epic battles
President Volodymyr Zelensky denied Bakhmut had fallen to the Russians, his spokesman said May 21, while admitting there was “nothing left” of the flattened city after the longest battle of the war. A day after President Vladimir Putin congratulated his troops and private mercenary group Wagner who claimed to have taken the symbolic target, Zelensky suggested it would be a pyrrhic victory for Moscow in a lengthy, emotional answer. “You have to understand there is nothing” there in Bakhmut, he said, sat next to U.S. President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan. “For today, Bakhmut is only in our hearts.” Zelensky’s spokesman had to clarify that the Ukrainian president did not confirm the loss of Bakhmut to Russian troops. “The president denied the capture of Bakhmut,” spokesman Sergiy Nykyforov said on Facebook.
PM Modi strongly calls for reform of United Nations
The United Nations and the Security Council will remain just a “talk shop” if they do not reflect the realities of the present world, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on May 21, strongly pitching for reform of the global body. In an address at a G7 session in Hiroshima, Mr. Modi wondered why different forums have had to deliberate on issues relating to peace and stability when the UN was formed to deal with these challenges.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets Jaishankar, discusses PM Modi’s upcoming visit to U.S.
BJP infighting intensifies with Lingayat community conventions planned by rival camps in Karnataka.
‘Appu’, the 2002 Kannada film directed by Puri Jagannadh, launched Puneeth Rajkumar as a hero in the Kannada film industry. The movie was re-released as a part of the actor’s 50th birth anniversary celebrations
Hyderabad Holi 2025: Colours, beats & treats fill the streets
Cocoa farmers in Andhra Pradesh face crisis as domestic prices fall, demand government intervention for fair pricing.
Special Court denies bail to Ranya Rao for gold smuggling; investigation into international syndicate continues, involving actor Tarun Raju.
36-hour hackathon tackling human-animal conflict with innovative solutions, judged by IT and Forest Department experts for cash prizes.
Namma Raste conference highlights citizen-driven initiatives for better urban mobility, accessibility, and safety in Bengaluru.
Coimbatore Corporation to convert medians under flyovers into green spaces with private funding for city beautification and maintenance.
Ladakh faces job vacancies, protests, and budget cuts, with focus on infrastructure and renewable energy projects.
State Horticulture Mission’s ‘Arka Vertical Gardens’ project was launched in 2022
Emphasizing safety in rock blasting operations, RISE-25 workshop focuses on innovations for efficiency and sustainability in NITK-Surathkal.
Kanniyakumari district's Biodiversity Museum & Conservation Centre at Keeriparai offers immersive experience of western ghats biodiversity & culture.
Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu aims to transform Tirupati into a sports, cultural, and tourism hub, with ongoing development projects.