LIVE updates: Flood-like situation in Gujarat, Odisha after heavy rainfall

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2:16 AM

4G mobile Internet services restored in two districts in J-K on trial basis

High-speed mobile Internet services were restored on a trial basis in one district each in Kashmir and Jammu regions over a year after the facility was suspended, according to an official order on Sunday.

 

The resumption of 4G Internet services on mobile devices came days after the Centre had informed the Supreme Court that a special committee looking into the matter was considering allowing the facility on a trial basis in two districts of the Union Territory.

 

According to the order issued by the Jammu and Kashmir home department, the high-speed mobile data services will be restored in Ganderbal district of Kashmir and Udhampur of Jammu region with immediate effect.

2:16 AM

Not pleased: Trump says he may ask for resignation of Cabinet if re-elected

President Donald Trump said Saturday he may ask for the resignation of every member of his cabinet if he’s re-elected -- and added that he’s not pleased with all of them.

 

“I could see something like that happening,” Trump said in response to a question from a reporter at his Bedminster, New Jersey, golf club. “I wouldn’t say I’m thrilled with everybody, frankly.”

 

 

The president didn’t specify which cabinet members he’s unhappy with.Trump has privately said that he intends to replace Secretary of Defense Mark Esper after the November election, according to people familiar with internal discussions.

 

Asked about Esper, Trump said Saturday that he had no problem with his defense secretary.

2:15 AM

Saudi Arabia's inflation rate surged to 6.1% in July on VAT hike

Saudi Arabia’s inflation quickened at the fastest pace since at least 2012 after the kingdom tripled its value-added tax.

 

Consumer prices rose an annual 6.1% in July from 0.5% in June, data released by the General Authority for Statistics showed on Sunday.

 

The increase was driven mainly by an acceleration in the cost of food and beverages -- which rose more than 14% compared with last year -- and transport, which rose 7.3%. 

Reductions in fuel and gasoline prices offset the broader inflation pickup.

2:15 AM

Rishi Sunak told ending furlough puts 2 million viable jobs in peril

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak is putting 2 million viable jobs in peril by ending his coronavirus jobs support programme too early, risking an unnecessary unemployment crisis, according to a think tank.

 

The Institute for Public Policy Research estimates that 3 million workers will still be relying on the plan when it ends in October, two-thirds of whom are in roles that would be sustainable if the help was extended into next year.

12:42 AM

India, Mauritius enjoy unique friendship: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that India and Mauritius enjoy a unique friendship based on shared cultural and linguistic heritage, and robust cooperation in many areas.

 

He was responding to Mauritius' Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth's greetings to him on India's 74th Independence Day, which was celebrated on Saturday.

10:01 PM

'A great loss to Indian cricket, politics': Amit Shah mourns Chetan Chauhan's demise

10:00 PM

Punjab Minister Balbir Singh assures strict action against culprits for manhandling Covid-19 health worker

10:00 PM

Delhi pollution: Punjab, Haryana to bank on more machines, biomass plants to reduce stubble burning

9:58 PM

IMD issues red alert for 2 Maharashtra districts; more rains likely in Odisha, Telangana, Chattisgarh on Monday

8:57 PM

Latest News LIVE: Karnataka-Kerala border roads opened for inter-state travel

The Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka has opened all border roads to Kasaragod district in Kerala, allowing inter-state travel of daily commuters with some regulations related to COVID-19 norms, according to a PTI report.

 

As per the new order of Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner K V Rajendra, the commuters would have to secure monthly passes from the local gram panchayat, municipality or town panchayat for their daily travel. They are also directed to record the details at the checkpost on entering and exiting the border. The travellers would also have to undergo medical check-up and screening at the checkpost.

8:41 PM

Monsoon-induced disasters kill 227 people in Nepal, thousands displaced

At least 227 people lost their lives due to monsoon-induced natural disasters across Nepal in the past two months, officials said on Sunday.

 

The Himalayan nation witnessed the arrival of monsoon on June 13. Over 50 districts are affected by landslides and floods triggered by heavy rains, the officials said.

8:28 PM

Congress appoints Ajay Maken as General Secretary in-charge of Rajasthan, replacing Avinash Pandey

8:20 PM

Assam flood situation improves marginally; over 11,000 people affected in three districts

The flood situation in Assam improved marginally as the number of people affected by the deluge reduced on Sunday, a disaster management bulletin said. A total of 11,812 people were affected by the floods in Dhemaji, Lakhimpur and Baksa districts on Sunday, against 13,300 on the previous day, the bulletin issued by the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said.

 

Lakhimpur remained the worst-affected district with 9,600 flood-hit people, followed by 1,912 in Dhemaji and 300 in Baksa, it said. Altogether 31 villages and 1,630 hectares of cropland across Assam are under the water, the bulletin said.

8:10 PM

BSF nabs Pakistani fisherman, seizes four boats off Gujarat coast: Officials

Four Pakistani boats were seized by the Border Security Force on Sunday from Harami Nallah' creek along the India-Pakistan border in Gujarat's Kutch district, the force said. A Pakistani fisherman, identified as Alla Bachao Siddique (25), from Sindh province of Pakistan was apprehended, while others managed to escape, it said.

 

A patrolling team of the BSF's Bhuj unit observed movement of four to five Pakistani men on boats near the 'Harami Nallah', in Kutch region, at around 6 am, according to a PTI report.

7:57 PM

MCX to launch India's first bullion index, Bulldex, on August 24

Multi Commodity Exchange of India (MCX) is all set to launch the country's first bullion index, Bulldex, on August 24.

 

"MCX iCOMDEX Bullion Index Futures contracts, expiring September, October and November, will be available for trading with effect from August 24," the commodity exchange said in a circular on Saturday.

 

The bullion index, Bulldex, being launched by MCX is the sixth product in bullion complex with 1-kg gold, 100-gm goldmini, 8-gm gold guinea and 1-gm gold peta, while the Options on Futures on 1-kg gold is already in place. READ MORE...

7:30 PM

Flood havoc continues in Andhra Pradesh districts; SDRF deployed

The swollen Godavari river continued to cause flood havoc in East and West Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh on Sunday as tens of villages lay marooned even as three teams of State Disaster Response Force have been deployed for rescue and relief operations, according to a PTI report.

 

Two teams of SDRF personnel have been deployed in West Godavari and one in the East. One more team of SDRF is also being moved to Rajamahendravaram. The second warning signal has been raised after the floodwater discharge at Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage at Dowaleswaram crossed 14.84 lakh cusecs.

 

The East Godavari district administration moved over 2,000 people to four relief camps under Rampachodavaram and Yetapaka divisions, according to the State Disaster Management Authority.

7:24 PM

Flood like situation in several parts of Odisha, orange alert issued for Malkangiri

An orange alert has been issued in Odisha's Malkangiri district following severe flood-like situation in several parts of the state due to incessant rains. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that a few more places in Odisha may also receive heavy to very heavy rainfall.

 

"Low-pressure conditions in the Bay of Bengal will continue for another 24 hours. An orange warning has been issued for the Malkangiri district for the next 24 hours. A few more places in Odisha may also receive heavy to very heavy rainfall: Umasankar Das, Senior Scientist at the IMD, Bhubaneswar said.

 

Meanwhile, several areas in Odisha's Dhenkanal were seen submerged under floodwaters.

7:03 PM

Flood-like situation in Limbayat area of Surat following incessant rainfall in Gujarat

7:00 PM

Gold imports dip 81% in Apr-Jul period to $2.47 billion

India's gold imports, which have a bearing on the current account deficit (CAD), plunged 81.22 per cent to USD 2.47 billion (about Rs 18,590 crore) during April-July period of 2020-21 due to a significant fall in demand in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, according to data from the Commerce Ministry.

 

Imports of the yellow metal stood at USD 13.16 billion (about Rs 91,440 crore) in the corresponding period of 2019-20. Similarly, silver imports during the first four months of the current financial year also dipped 56.5 per cent to USD 685.32 million (about Rs 5,185 crore), news agency PTI reported.

6:43 PM

Goa to host 2020-21 Indian Super League season from November

The upcoming edition of the Indian Super League (ISL) is set to be staged in Goa for the season 2020-21, according to an ANI report.

 

The 2020-21 season will start from November and it will be played behind closed doors at three venues - Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Fatorda; GMC Athletic Stadium, Bambolim; and Tilak Maidan Stadium, Vasco.

"I am delighted to bring the ISL Season 7 to the state of Goa, from where we had left the action last season. Congratulations to the beautiful state of Goa and their passionate fans of football, as they once again become the epicenter of the beautiful game in India," Nita Ambani, Founder, and Chairperson, Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) said in an official statement.

 

6:31 PM

CBDT undergoing significant restructuring for faceless assessment

The income tax department is undergoing a complete restructuring exercise with regional e-assessment centres (ReAC) set up across 20 cities, apart from the national centre in Delhi. Some 4,224 officers have been diverted to the faceless assessment unit, leaving about 2,000 officers in the residual jurisdiction, which will no longer carry out any assessment exercise.

 

Detailed guidelines have been issued on reallocation of roles and functions to do away with physical interface between the taxpayer and the tax authorities.

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched the faceless assessment scheme, which eliminates territorial jurisdiction and substitutes individual discretion with team-based assessment, with the aim of bringing in transparency and objectivity to the process. READ MORE...

6:07 PM

Rajput Karni Sena holds protest near India Gate demanding CBI probe in Sushant Singh Rajput death case

5:51 PM

Working on pay norms of retired officials, re-appointed on contract: FinMin

The finance ministry is working on norms to regulate salary paid to retired central government employees re-appointed on contract and has proposed keeping nomination-based appointments at "bare minimum".

 

In an office memorandum dated August 13, the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, said that ministries/departments appoint retired central government employees on contract basis, including as consultants, but there are no uniform guidelines for regulating the salary payment in such cases.

 

The expenditure department has framed draft regulations for salary payments in case of appointment of retired central government employees and has invited comments of ministries/departments within 10 days. READ MORE...

5:42 PM

Parts of Sukma district flooded following heavy rainfall in Chhattisgarh; normal life disrupted

5:26 PM

Govt may not need to infuse fresh capital in PSU banks this fiscal

The government may not have to inject fresh capital into the public sector banks (PSBs) as one-time loan restructuring permitted by the RBI has reduced additional fund requirement by them. Also the poor credit offtake on account of coronavirus pandemic may obliterate the need for significant growth capital during the current fiscal, sources said, according to a PTI report.

 

There may not be a sudden surge in non-performing assets (NPAs) after the six months moratorium comes to an end this month as it is followed by one-time loan restructuring, sources said, adding, provisioning requirement is also quite low for the debt recast accounts.

5:03 PM

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav today met flood-affected people in Chapra district of Bihar

4:54 PM

Andhra Irrigation department warns people of flooding in low-lying areas

Irrigation department officials of Andhra Pradesh on Sunday has appealed people of low lying areas to be on alert as 70 gates of Prakasam Barrage in Vijaywada has been lifted to release the floodwater, according to an ANI report.

 

"River Krishna is overflowing at Prakasam Barrage in Vijayawada. The floodwater level is increasing at a fast pace. A huge amount of water is accumulating at the barrage due to rains in upper areas. The irrigation department has lifted 70 gates and leaving the flood water into the sea," said the officials.

 

The officials added that a warning has been issued to the people of low lying areas to be on alert for the possibility of floods.

4:40 PM

Ground Penetrating Radar to be used to locate bodies buried in landslide

Ground Penetrating Radar will be used to locate bodies buried in the landslide at Pettimudi in the district, where the death toll has risen to 58 with the recovery of three more bodies, a senior official said on Sunday.

 

The GPR would assist the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), police, fire force personnel and locals, who have been engaged in search and rescue operations for the last nine days, District Collector H Dineshan said.

 

"We have requested for a Ground Penetrating Radar from Chennai. We hope it will reach here by Tuesday. Currently 12 people are missing," Dineshan told PTI.

 

4:14 PM

Flood like situation in Dhenkanal district of Odisha following heavy rainfall

4:14 PM

National Highway 7 blocked near Gauchar in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, due to rockfall

The Badrinath National Highway 07 was blocked after a landslide occurred near Gauchar in Chamoli district today afternoon. The incident created a hindrance for those commuting from the area. So far, no injuries have been reported due to the incident.

 

With this, the work for reopening the highway blocked by landslides in Badrinath Highway, Karnprayag, Baldoda, and Lambgarh has been started. The intermittent rains have put the lives of locals in danger as the Badrinath highway has been closed due to debris falling from the mountains. Earlier, Chamoli District Magistrate Swati S Bhadoria said that several roads have been closed due to torrential rains.