LIVE: Bihar flood situation remains grim; over 5.3 million affected

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for 10 districts in Kerala for the next four days. Stay tuned for the latest news of the day

2:45 AM

First splashdown in 45 years: SpaceX guides NASA astronauts' safe return

NASA claimed a triumphant return to US space travel as SpaceX’s Dragon vehicle plopped into the Gulf of Mexico with two astronauts, successfully concluding the company’s first crewed test flight to the International Space Station.

 

The spacecraft splashed down at about 2:48 p.m. Eastern time Sunday near Pensacola, Florida. A SpaceX vessel was to hoist the capsule carrying Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley onto its deck less than one hour after their arrival. The astronauts said they felt fine after landing.

2:16 AM

BCCI issues guidelines for resumption of domestic cricket

12:43 AM

Trump says very exciting as astronauts complete first splashdown in 45 years

12:11 AM

SpaceX capsule with NASA astronauts streaking toward Earth

The first astronauts to ride a SpaceX capsule into orbit streaked toward a retro-style splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday afternoon to close out a two-month test flight.

 

It will mark the first splashdown in 45 years for NASA astronauts and the first time a private company has ferried people from orbit. The target is off the Florida Panhandle, where the waves and wind were calm unlike Florida's storm-battered Atlantic coast.

 

Test pilots Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken were ready to intervene if necessary, as the capsule's thrusters automatically fired one last time and set them on a downward course meant to end about 40 miles offshore.

11:31 PM

BCCI SOP: 60 plus Arun Lal can't coach Bengal

BCCI's Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for state associations bar 60-plus individuals from taking part in the training camp, potentially affecting Arun Lal and Australian Dav Whatmore, who are coaches of Bengal and Baroda respectively.

 

Whatmore, 66, was appointed in April while Lal, 65, guided Bengal to the Ranji Tropohy final in March.

 

"Individuals who are over the age of 60 years, viz support staff, umpires, ground staff and those indviduals with underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, weakened immunity, should be considered vulnerable and are believed to have higher risk of severe COVID-19," read one of the guidelines from BCCI's 100-page SOP, which is in possession of PTI.

11:30 PM

'Mind your own business': Amarinder to Kejriwal for demanding CBI probe over Punjab hooch tragedy

9:22 PM

Heavy rains forecast in Kerala this week; Low pressure likely in Bay of Bengal

Several parts of Kerala received rains on Sunday under the influence of the South West monsoon as the Met office forecast heavy showers over the next few days with a low pressure area likely to form in the Bay of Bengal.

 

Thalassery in Kannur district recorded the maximum of nine cm of rainfall in the state on Sunday while most districts continued to witness good spells for the past few days.

 

A special bulletin issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) here said a low pressure area was likely to form over North Bay of Bengal around August 4 (Tuesday) as per the latest analysis.

9:12 PM

Multi-disciplinary feature of new education policy to attract more foreign students: P K Mishra

9:10 PM

SpaceX guiding NASA astronauts to 1st splashdown in 45 years

The first astronauts to ride a SpaceX capsule into orbit headed toward a retro-style splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday afternoon to close out a two-month test flight.

 

It will mark the first splashdown in 45 years for NASA astronauts and the first return in the gulf. Unlike Florida's Atlantic coast, already feeling the effects of Tropical Storm Isaias, the waves and wind were calm near Pensacola in the Florida Panhandle.

 

Test pilots Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken departed the International Space Station on Saturday night, and awoke to a recording of their young children urging them to rise and shine" and we can't wait to see you."

 

Don't worry, you can sleep in tomorrow, said Behnken's 6-year-old son Theo, who was promised a puppy after the flight. Hurry home so we can go get my dog.

9:09 PM

Heavy to very heavy rains likely over western coast, central India from August 3-5: IMD

9:08 PM

Indian Premier League's Governing Council approves Covid-19 replacements during the tournament

8:55 PM

5% reservation for more backward classes in Rajasthan judicial service

The Rajasthan government has approved five per cent reservation to the 'more backward classes', including Gurjars, in the state judicial service, according to a statement.

 

The government has amended the Rajasthan Judicial Service Rules, 2010, through the state cabinet on the initiative by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot to provide five per cent reservation in place of one per cent, an official statement said.

 

Candidates belonging to the more backward classes have been demanding amendment in the judicial service rules for a long time so that they can get five per cent reservation in the state judicial service instead of one per cent. The more backward classes include Gurjars, Raika-Rabari, Gadiya-Lohars, Banjara and Gadariya.

8:52 PM

Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to take over the security of Leh airport from August 5

8:39 PM

Lewis Hamilton wins British Grand Prix for a record seventh time

8:20 PM

200,000 flowers from Thailand to decorate Ayodhya on August 5

Flowers specially brought from Thailand would be used to decorate Ayodhya on August 5, the day the foundation will be laid for the Ram temple. The Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has ordered 200,000 flowers from Thailand for decoration of the temple complex and other important places in and around Ayodhya. A large quantity of flowers has also been ordered from Delhi and Kolkata for the occasion.

 

On August 5, PM Modi will perform Bhoomi Pujan for the Ram temple at Ayodhya. To make this event memorable, all of Ayodhya will be decorated and hundreds of thousands of earthen lamps will be lit that evening. Orchid and Jarvela flowers have been brought from Thailand specially for the occasion. The trust has invited Watkar sisters of Indian Idol fame to sing bhajans on the occasion. They would be arriving from Nagpur. READ MORE...

8:06 PM

Home Ministry seeks three more months to frame Citizenship Amendment Act rules

The Union Home Ministry has informed a department related Standing Committee of Parliament that it needs three more months to frame the rules of the newly passed Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), according to a PTI report.

 

A senior official told IANS that the Ministry had raised the issue before the Standing Committee in its recent meeting and said it was, however, not known whether the Ministry has got permission for extension. The Parliament had passed the amendment to the Citizenship Act, 1955, in December, 2019, following which the Narendra Modi government notified it in January 2020.

 

As per the amendment, India will grant citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Parsis, Christians, Jains and Buddhists from Muslim-majority Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan on grounds of religious persecution.

7:56 PM

Rajasthan govt approves 5% reservation to 'more backward classes' in state judicial service

7:39 PM

Women from northeastern states tied rakhi to jawans from Armed/Paramilitary forces

7:39 PM

Three-team women's IPL to be proposed during governing council meet: Report

A three-team women's Indian Premier League is set to to proposed at the governing council meet on Sunday. The tournament will be played in the UAE -- the same venue for this year's men's IPL -- and the dates regarding the same will be discussed soon.

 

Speaking to news agency IANS, sources in the know of developments said that a 3-team IPL for women is to be proposed during the GC.

 

"Yes, we are looking at this and a three-team women's IPL is set to be proposed during the governing council meeting. We have always had the women's T20 matches during the knockout stages of the IPL and we will look at a similar window this time as well," the source said. READ MORE...

7:24 PM

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot directs officials to start Indira Rasoi Yojana in urban areas of Rajasthan from August 20

7:24 PM

Ram temple in Ayodhya will give a boost to tourism, create jobs: Uttar Pradesh minister

The Ram temple in Ayodhya will not only give a boost to tourism but generate employment opportunities as well, Uttar Pradesh minister Shrikant Sharma said here on Sunday.

 

The minister said the news of the August 5 "bhoomi pujan" (ground-breaking ceremony) of the Ram temple by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has delighted devotees of Lord Ram across the globe.

 

The grand temple will not only give a boost to tourism but create jobs as well, he said. The Uttar Pradesh government has started work to give a facelift to Ayodhya to draw in international tourists in large numbers, he said.

7:12 PM

People in Hyderabad purchase rakhis ahead of Raksha Bandhan tomorrow

6:55 PM

NIA arrests six more people and conducts searches at 6 places in Kerala gold smuggling case

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested six more people and conducted searches at six places in connection with the Kerala gold smuggling case, an official said on Sunday. The agency has so far arrested 10 people in the case of smuggling of gold through diplomatic baggage addressed to the UAE consulate in Kerala capital Thiruvananthapuram.

 

On July 30, two accused -- Jalal A M of Ernakulam and Said Alavi E of Malappuram -- were arrested for conspiring with the arrested accused Ramees K T, an NIA spokesperson said.

 

On July 31, two more accused, Mohammed Shafi P and Abdu P T, both residents of Malappuram, were arrested in the case, he said.

6:45 PM

Sweets industry may suffer Rs 5,000 crore loss on Raksha Bandhan: Association

The country's sweets industry would suffer an estimated financial loss of Rs 5,000 crore during this Raksha Bandhan festival due to the coronavirus pandemic, an industry association claimed.

 

A national federation of sweet makers says that sales of sweets on this Raksha Bandhan are expected to be halved due to the alleged mismanagement of the administration in different states in addition to the epidemic hitting customers. This may cost the sweets industry about Rs 5,000 crore.

 

The director of the Federation of Sweets and Namkeen Manufacturers, Feroz H. Naqvi, on Sunday told PTI, "Sweets worth around Rs 10,000 crore were sold across the country on Raksha Bandhan last year. This figure expected to come down to around Rs 5,000 crore this time." READ MORE...

6:33 PM

3-year-old boy dies in Kochi allegedly due to medical negligence after swallowing a coin

5:53 PM

NIA arrests 6 persons in Kerala gold smuggling case

5:42 PM

IRB Infra wins NHAI contract for executing Vadodara-Mumbai Expressway

IRB Infrastructure Developers Ltd on Sunday said it has received a letter of award from NHAI for executing a stretch of Vadodara-Mumbai Expressway at a cost of Rs 1,755 crore.

 

With this contract, the company's order book now stands at Rs 13,755 crore.

 

"IRB Infrastructure Developers Ltd, India's largest highway infrastructure developer, has received a Letter of Award (LoA) from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for 27.5-km long GandevaEna section of the upcoming greenfield project of eight lane Vadodara-Mumbai Expressway," the company said in a regulatory filing. READ MORE...

 

5:32 PM

L K Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi invited to Ayodhya Bhoomi Pujan: Ram Mandir Trust

The officer in-charge of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, Prakash Kumar Gupta has dismissed reports that flagbearers of the Ram temple movement and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders L.K. Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi are not being invited for the Bhoomi Pujan.

 

Gupta said such reports were aimed at creating a controversy, adding that an invitation had been sent to all eminent persons associated with the temple movement.

 

Speaking to IANS, Gupta said, "All prominent persons, including Advaniji, Joshiji, have been invited by mail and informed telephonically, too. Due to corona and health reasons, many distinguished invitees may not be able to come for the Bhoomi Pujan. One may be unable to come or may have difficulty in undertaking a long journey. There is no question of not inviting all imminent personalities, the trust respects the sentiments of all."

5:02 PM

Orange alert issued for tomorrow in Idukki, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasargod districts with prediction of heavy rainfall

5:01 PM

BSNL launches 'Bharat Air Fibre' service in Maharashtra

State-run BSNL on Sunday launched 'Bharat Air Fibre' services at Akola in Maharashtra allowing the residents of Akola and Washim districts to get wireless internet connections on demand, according to an IANS report. The service is part of the Centre's 'Digital India' initiative which aims to provide wireless connectivity in the range of 20 km from the BSNL locations benefitting people in the remote areas.

 

The air fibre service was inaugurated by Sanjay Dhotre, Union Minister of State for Communications and IT.