Latest LIVE: SC to review 2 points in PMLA verdict, issues notice to Centre

From Supreme Court's hearing on review plea of PMLA, remission order of Bilkis Bano convicts, to latest Covid and Russia-Ukraine war updates, catch all the latest news here

3:00 PM

Incoherent judgements have serious impact on dignity of judicial institutions: SC

The Supreme Court has said that incoherent judgements have a serious impact on the dignity of judicial institutions and suggested guidelines based on a formula to be followed by the constitutional courts while writing verdicts.

 

The top court said that to ensure accessibility of verdicts, especially for those with a disability, all judicial institutions must endeavour that the judgements and orders being published by them do not carry improperly placed watermarks as they end up making the documents inaccessible for persons with a visual disability who use screen readers to access them.

2:59 PM

Saudan Singh appointed as chief election in-charge for Himachal polls

Saudan Singh appointed as chief election in-charge and Devender Singh Rana appointed as election co-in charge for the upcoming polls in Himachal Pradesh

2:53 PM

UP minister Bhupendra Chaudhary appointed state's BJP chief

Uttar Pradesh minister Bhupendra Chaudhary appointed state's BJP chief

 

2:52 PM

Rajib Bhattacharjee appointed as Tripura BJP president

Rajib Bhattacharjee appointed as Tripura BJP president

2:52 PM

Key for India to break Pak's opening partnership, force middle order to do what they don't want to: Styris

Former New Zealand cricketer Scott Styris is of the opinion that breaking Pakistan's opening partnership and forcing their middle order to do which they won't be wishing to do will be the key for India to upstage their arch-rivals in the marquee clash on August 28.

Sunday's clash at Dubai will see the resumption of 'greatest rivalry' in the world of cricket when India and Pakistan open their Asia Cup Group A campaign. This will also be the first meeting between these two teams after facing off in the Men's T20 World Cup last year in the UAE, where Pakistan secured a resounding ten-wicket victory over India, their first such victory in Men's World Cups.

2:49 PM

BJP gen secy Sunil Bansal to visit Bengal from Aug 28

Given the task of its organisational affairs in West Bengal and Telangana, BJP general secretary Sunil Bansal will be on a three-day visit to the eastern state from August 28 and visit the southern region later.

Sources said he will attend a training programme in Bengal where BJP leaders from different parts of the state will participate, giving Bansal a chance to interact with the start party's functionaries at one place.

Bansal was recently relieved from his duties as the party's Uttar Pradesh general secretary (organisation) and elevated as a national general secretary.

2:49 PM

Qatar to invest $3 billion in Pakistan's commercial, investment sectors

Qatar's state-owned investment authority has announced that it will invest $3 billion on commercial and investment sectors in cash-strapped Pakistan, as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held talks with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in Doha.

Sharif's visit to Qatar comes ahead of an International Monetary Fund meeting next week that is expected to approve more than USD 1 billion in financing that has been stalled since the beginning of the year.

Qatar's Amiri Diwan, the administrative office of the Emir, on Wednesday made the announcement following a meeting Prime Minister Sharif had with the sovereign fund officials a day ago, the Dawn News reported.

2:30 PM

No communication received: Jharkhand CM's office on EC's letter to Guv

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Thursday alleged blatant misuse of constitutional authorities and public agencies after reports claimed that the Election Commission recommended his disqualification as an MLA in the mining lease case.

No communication in this regard has been received by the Chief Minister's Office from either the Election Commission or Governor Ramshe Bains, his secretariat said.

"It apparently seems that BJP leaders including a BJP MP and his puppet journalists have themselves drafted the ECI report, which is otherwise a sealed cover report," Soren said in a statement issued by his secretariat.

2:24 PM

Soren mining lease: Political temperatures soar in J'Khand as ruling camp, oppn wait for EC opinion

Political temperatures have risen in Jharkhand as the ruling JMM-Congress-RJD alliance and the opposition BJP keenly waits for Governor Ramesh Bais to return to the state and inform them about the Election Commission's opinion on a plea seeking Chief Minister Hemant Soren's disqualification as an MLA for allegedly violating electoral law.

The BJP, the petitioner in the case, has sought Soren's disqualification under section 9 A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 -- which deals with disqualification for government contracts -- for allegedly extending a mining lease to himself.

The opinion was sent to the Jharkhand Raj Bhavan in a sealed cover this morning, sources there said.

2:17 PM

Election for Congress president likely to postpone for a few weeks

The election for Congress President is likely to be postponed for a few weeks, final schedule will be taken in the CWC meeting on August 28th, reports ANI quoting sources.
Earlier it was announced that election schedule will be from August 21 to September 20,

2:10 PM

All leading realty firms will end up being national players: Pirojsha Godrej

All leading real estate developers will eventually become national players and compete with each other across the country, Godrej Properties Executive Chairman Pirojsha Godrej said, signalling maturity in India's property market.

Pirojsha said the company is in a good position to take up the challenge because of the Godrej brand and its understanding of the property market.

"I think our view is, we have been saying for a while, all the leading developers will end up being national developers. So I think these top four five developers will be competing with each other across the country," Pirojsha Godrej said in an interview to PTI.

2:08 PM

Chambal river flowing above danger mark in Rajasthan's Dholpur

Chambal river is flowing above the danger mark in Dholpur. The Indian Army is conducting rescue operation in 80 flood-affected villages. 

1:49 PM

Shiv Sena factions target each other in Maha Vidhan Bhavan premises

Legislators of the Shiv Sena faction of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde targeted former minister Aaditya Thackeray by displaying a banner against him on the steps of the Vidhan Bhavan here on Thursday.

 

Aaditya Thackeray countered them by shouting a slogan implying that MLAs of the Shinde faction got money to switch loyalty, which had resulted in the collapse of the Uddhav Thackeray-led government comprising the Sena, NCP and Congress.

1:43 PM

BJP's 'Operation Lotus' has failed in Delhi: AAP

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday said that the BJP's 'Operation Lotus' has failed in Delhi.

Addressing reporters after a meeting at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence earlier in the day, AAP spokesman Saurabh Bharadwaj said that "all AAP MLAs are in our contact and the Delhi government is completely stable without any hindrance".

"Today, we officially announce that the BJP'S 'Operation Lotus' has failed in Delhi," Bhardwaj added.

1:28 PM

India's first aircraft carrier INS Vikrant to be commissioned on September 3

The commissioning of the indigenously-built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant will contribute in ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, Vice Chief of Indian Navy Vice Admiral SN Ghormade said on Thursday.

INS Vikrant will be commissioned into the Navy at an event in Kochi on September which will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said.

Vice Admiral Ghormade said the commissioning of the aircraft carrier will be an "unforgettable" day as it will significantly enhance the country's overall maritime capabilities.

1:27 PM

Kejriwal questions source of Rs 800 crore 'offered' by BJP to 40 AAP MLAs

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday questioned the source of the Rs 800 crore allegedly offered by the BJP to 40 AAP MLAs for switching sides.

After a meeting of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislators at his residence, Kejriwal, along with his MLAs, went to Rajghat to pray for the failure of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) "Operation Lotus".

"Even mattresses and walls at my deputy Manish Sisodia's residence were searched by the CBI but not even a single unaccounted penny was found. A day after the CBI's raids, Sisodia was approached by the BJP with an offer of the chief minister's post and to betray Kejriwal. I am lucky to have Sisodia, who has no greed for the chief minister's post," Kejriwal told reporters.

1:27 PM

Jailed Malaysian ex-PM Najib returns to court for 1MDB trial

Jailed Malaysian ex-Prime Minister Najib Razak returned to court Thursday for a second corruption trial over the pilfering of the 1MDB state fund, two days after he began a 12-year prison term for graft.

Najib, 69, became Malaysia's first leader to be imprisoned Tuesday after the country's top court rejected his final appeal in his first graft case linked to the looting of the 1Malaysia Development Berhad fund. His incarceration comes four years after his election ouster over the scandal and was celebrated by many citizens as justice served.

Wearing a dark blue suit, red tie and face mask, Najib sat impassively in the dock without handcuffs as the hearing began. He was earlier brought into the court complex in a tinted police vehicle under heavy security to avoid a crowd of media waiting to catch a glimpse of him.

1:03 PM

Rare black panther spotted in MP's tiger reserve

Rare black panther spotted in Madhya Pradesh's Pench Tiger Reserve after two years, reports PTI quoting forest official

12:47 PM

AAP MLAs led by Kejriwal reach Rajghat

AAP MLAs, led by Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, reach Mahatma Gandhi's memorial at Rajghat to pray for failure of BJP's 'Operation Lotus'

12:44 PM

Six months into war, Russian goods still flowing to US

On a hot, humid East Coast day this summer, a massive container ship pulled into the Port of Baltimore loaded with sheets of plywood, aluminum rods and radioactive material all sourced from the fields, forests and factories of Russia.

President Joe Biden promised to inflict pain and deal a crushing blow on Vladimir Putin through trade restrictions on commodities like vodka, diamonds and gasoline in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine six months ago. But hundreds of other types of unsanctioned goods worth billions of dollars, including those found on the ship bound for Baltimore from St. Petersburg, Russia, continue to flow into US ports.

The Associated Press found more than 3,600 shipments of wood, metals, rubber and other goods have arrived at US ports from Russia since it began launching missiles and airstrikes into its neighbor in February. That's a significant drop from the same period in 2021 when about 6,000 shipments arrived, but it still adds up to more than $1 billion worth of commerce a month.

12:31 PM

53 of 62 AAP MLAs attend meeting to discuss BJP's 'poaching' attempts

A total of 53 AAP MLAs out of 62 attended a meeting convened by party supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday to discuss alleged poaching attempts by the BJP, sources said.

The meeting that was scheduled to begin at 11 am was concluded within a few minutes, they said, adding that all the 62 legislators of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi were contacted ahead of the meeting at Kejriwal's residence.

The sources said at least a dozen AAP MLAs had gone incommunicado ahead of the meeting.

12:28 PM

Pegasus inquiry panel found some kind of malware in 5 out of 29 phones examined, says SC

The Centre did not cooperate with the probe into the Pegasus spyware row, the apex court-appointed technical and supervisory committees to look into the matter said.

 

A bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana said on Thursday that the panel also found some kind of malware in five mobile phones out of the 29 examined.

 

12:23 PM

CBI, ED should probe from where BJP got money to buy AAP MLAs

CBI, ED should probe from where did BJP get Rs 800 crore to buy AAP MLAs, says AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj

11:50 AM

Give justice to Bilkis Bano, says Priyanka Gandhi

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday demanded justice for Gujarat riots survivor Bilkis Bano and said the government has made its stand clear with its silence on the release of 11 people convicted in the 2002 case of her gangrape and murder of her seven family members.

 

The 11 convicts were released on August 15 under the Gujarat government's remission policy after serving 15 years in jail.

11:50 AM

SC issues notice to Gujarat govt over release of 11 convicts in Bilkis Bano case

The Supreme Court issued notice to the Gujarat government over release of 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano gangrape case. The SC said, "Question is, under Gujarat rules, are the convicts entitled to remission or not? We've to see whether there was the application of mind in this case while granting remission."  

The apex court also directed petitioners to make 11 convicts party in the case.

11:45 AM

Japan police chief to resign over Abe shooting death

Japan's national police chief on Thursday said he will resign to take responsibility over the fatal shooting of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at a campaign speech last month.

 

National Police Agency Chief Itaru Nakamura's announcement came as his agency released a report on how it failed to save Abe's life on July 8 when he was assassinated in Nara in western Japan.

 

The police report found holes in Abe's police protection that allowed the alleged attacker to shoot him from behind.

11:33 AM

PMLA case: SC issues notice in review plea, extends interim protection by 4 weeks

The Supreme Court says two aspects of PMLA judgment, that is regarding no legal requirement to provide ECIR copy and the reversal of presumption of innocence - require reconsideration. The apex court issues notice in the review petitions, extends interim protection by four weeks.

11:31 AM

PM Security breach | Ferozepur SSP failed to discharge his duty, SC reads panel report

Hearing the case on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's security breach in Punjab in January 2022, the Supreme Court reads the panel's report, that says the Ferozepur SSP failed to discharge his duty to maintain law and order, even though sufficient force was available and even was informed 2 hours before that the PM will enter that route.

The committee set-up by the Supreme Court suggests remedial measures to strengthen the security of Prime Minister. The Supreme Court says it will send the report to the government so that steps are taken.

 

11:25 AM

Malware in 5 phones, no conclusive proof of Pegasus, says SC

The Supreme Court says that as per report no conclusive proof has come out about use of Pegasus in 29 mobile phones examined by technical committee. Five of these phones were found to be affected by some malware, not sure if it was Pegasus, reports ANI

11:20 AM

At least dozen AAP MLAs go incommunicado ahead of meet called by Kejriwal: Sources

At least a dozen AAP MLAs have gone incommunicado ahead of a crucial meeting convened by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at his residence on Thursday to discuss alleged poaching attempts by the BJP, sources in the party said.

 

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 11 am.

 

The sources said all the 62 Delhi MLAs of the Aam Aam Party (AAP) have been called for the meeting.

 

Refusing to divulge the names of the legislators who could not be contacted, one of the sources said, "Let them get in touch with us first."