LIVE: Assam flood affects over 600,000 people, death toll stands at 66

RBI is engaged with all stakeholders for resolution for Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative Bank," Shaktikanta Das said. Stay tuned with Business Standard for the latest news of today

1:36 AM

Anti-CAA protest: HC seeks explanation from UP govt on Rs 64 lakh recovery citation issued to retired IPS officer

The Allahabad High Court's Lucknow bench has sought an explanation from the Uttar Pradesh government on a recovery citation of Rs 64 lakh issued to retired IPS officer Sarwan Ram Darapuri in connection with an anti-CAA stir here.
 

Darapuri has been accused of instigating violence during the protest, which took place on December 19 last year. He was arrested on December 20, but later granted bail.

12:31 AM

Chelsea beaten at Sheffield United 3-0 in EPL

Chelsea's bid for Champions League qualification hit a bump in losing at Sheffield United 3-0, with striker David McGoldrick ending his 11-month wait for an English Premier League goal by scoring in each half on Saturday.
 

After 1,615 minutes on the field and 42 shots this season, McGoldrick finally found the net by tapping in a finish from close range in the 18th minute at an empty Bramall Lane.

12:29 AM

Trump commutes longtime friend Roger Stone's prison sentence

President Donald Trump has commuted the sentence of his longtime political confidant Roger Stone, intervening in extraordinary fashion in a criminal case that was central to the Russia investigation and that concerned the president's own conduct.
 

The move came Friday, just days before Stone was to begin serving a 40-month prison sentence for lying to Congress, witness tampering and obstructing the House investigation into whether Trump's campaign colluded with Russia to win the 2016 election.

12:06 AM

England ekes out lead of 170 over Windies after 4th day

England eked out a lead of 170 runs heading into the final day of the first test against the West Indies, with all outcomes still possible in the first match since the resumption of international cricket.
 

The West Indies' pace attack took five wickets in the final session of day four to reduce England to 284-8 at stumps at an empty Rose Bowl on Saturday, making the tourists marginal favorites with the pitch slow but yet to misbehave.

12:03 AM

Assam flood: Over 600,000 people affected, 2 more deaths

The flood rampage continued in Assam on Saturday as the deluge spread to 20 districts, affecting over 600,000 people and claiming two more lives, the disaster management authority said.
 

A person died in Kokrajhar district and another in Dhubri district, taking death toll due to the deluge to 66, the Assam State Disaster Management Authority said in a bulletin.

 

11:59 PM

Vikas Dubey's aide who was held in Thane 'not named' in Kanpur ambush case: UP Police

The Kanpur police claimed on Saturday that an associate of slain gangster Vikas Dubey who was arrested in Maharashtra was "neither wanted nor named" in the ambush case in which eight police personnel were killed.
 

Senior Superintendent of Police Dinesh Kumar Prabhu said in a statement that Arvind, alias Guddan Ramvilas Trivedi (46), who was arrested along with his driver Sonu Tiwari by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of the Maharashtra Police in the morning, were neither wanted nor named in the encounter case.

11:12 PM

India for initial early harvest agreement with UK: Goyal

India is open to negotiate an initial early harvest agreement with the UK, ahead of a full fledged free trade pact between the two countries, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday said.
 

India stands committed for a greater engagement with the UK as huge potential exists between the two countries to expand bilateral trade, he added.
 

Goyal said that India can engage with the UK in sectors like pharma, textiles, leather, industrial machinery, furniture, and toys.

10:59 PM

Jaishankar talks about bipartisan support in US for expanding ties with India

The relationship between India and the US took about six decades to discover itself, but having done so, it is making up for lost time, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday while elaborating on the significance of fast expanding ties between the two leading democracies.
 

In an interactive video session at the India Global Week, he said President Donald Trump and his three predecessors Barack Obama, George W Bush and Bill Clinton were on the same page on the importance of India and the need for strengthening the bilateral relationship.

10:17 PM

G Narendra Kumar appointment as new Delhi CEO 'kept in abeyance'

The Election Commission has "kept in abeyance" the appointment of G Narendra Kumar as the new Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi, purely due to "administrative reasons", according to an official order.
 

On Wednesday, Lt Governor Anil Baijal had appointed him as the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Delhi and also the Principal Secretary (Elections). His name was nominated by the Election Commission of India in June.

10:01 PM

It is a work in progress, EAM Jaishankar on disengagement on Sino-Indian border

As India and China attempt to lower weeks of border tension in eastern Ladakh, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said a disengagement and de-escalation process has been agreed upon between the two countries and it is "very much a work in progress".
 

"What just happened is that we have agreed on the need to disengage because the troops on both sides are deployed very close to each other. So there is a disengagement and de-escalation process which has been agreed upon," he said during an video interactive session at the India Global Week.

9:57 PM

Prove horse-trading charge or quit politics, BJP tells Gehlot

The BJP on Saturday dared Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot to prove his allegation of horse-trading levelled against it or quit politics, and claimed he was targeting the opposition party as he was unable the check the infighting in the state Congress.
 

Taking a swipe as the chief minister, Union Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat alleged that Gehlot had come up a with a "cooked up story" with an intention to defame Congress' state president and deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot for his personal political gains.
 

9:53 PM

BSP MP suggests division of Uttar Pradesh into smaller states

BSP MP Kunwar Danish Ali on Saturday suggested that Uttar Pradesh be divided into smaller states for better governance and overall development of the region.
 

The Mayawati-led BSP government in 2011 had passed a proposal in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly to divide the state into four parts -- Bundelkhand, Purvanchal, Awadh Pradesh and Paschim Pradesh.
 

The proposal was later sent to the then Congress-led UPA government at the Centre.
 

"Proposal for division was passed by Uttar Pradesh Assembly during BSP government under Behn Mayawati ji was sent to government of India. Let BJP governments at centre and Uttar Pradesh takes call on it (sic)," Danish Ali tweeted.

9:49 PM

NIA arrests Swapna, Sandeep Nair, accused in gold smuggling case

Swapna Suresh and Sandeep Nair, key accused in the gold smuggling case, were arrested by the NIA from Bengaluru on Saturday, official sources said here.
 

Swapna is among the four accused booked by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in the smuggling of 30 kg of gold through diplomatic baggage which arrived at the Thiruvanathapuram International airport.

9:24 PM

Will do whatever needed to end corruption, crime in UP: Yogi Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said that his government will do whatever is needed to put an end to corruption and crime in the state.

While addressing the audience at a global event on Saturday, Adityanath said, "We will do whatever is needed to end corruption and crime in the state. Our policy is zero tolerance towards crime and corruption."

9:06 PM

Clear signs India on path to getting back in action: Piyush Goyal

9:02 PM

Inquiry will be held into fake degree certificate submitted by Swapna Suresh: Kerala CM

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday said an inquiry will be held into the complaint on the alleged fake degree certificate submitted by Swapna Suresh, a key woman accused in the gold smuggling case, for securingappointment in a government project under the state IT department.
 

"Police has received the complaint.That will be probed," Vijayan told reporters here.
 

The absconding woman, who is the second accused in the sensational gold smuggling case, had allegedly submitted a fake B.Com certificate for getting appointment in the Space park here which is under the Kerala State Information Technology Infrastructure Limited (KSITIL).

 

8:55 PM

Congress President has approved the appointment of office bearers

8:27 PM

We have strong political, strategic relationship with the US: S Jaishankar

8:16 PM

Hardik Patel appointed Working President of Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee

7:58 PM

Flooding in parts of north Bengal, heavy rains in Kolkata, Siliguri

Heavy rains lashed the districts of north Bengal, leading to flooding in low lying areas of Jalpaiguri and other places on Saturday, even as the Met department forecast heavy to very heavy showers in the region for the next two days.
 

Several places in Mainaguri block were inundated owing to heavy rains, officials said.
 

People in the low-lying areas are being removed to safer places, they said.
 

Several areas of Siliguri also saw waterlogging due to the incessant rains.

7:39 PM

Gold smuggling case: Cong, BJP youth outfits continue protests

Continuing their protests for the second day, demanding the resignation of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in the gold smuggling case, youth outfits of the Congress and BJP on Saturday held state-wide agitations, which turned violent at a few places.
 

The Chief Minister, reacting to it, said organising such protests violating Covid-19 protocol will not be allowed.
 

The government is not questioning anyone's right to protest, he said.
 

The opposition parties are targeting the Chief Minister after it emerged that a key woman suspect in the case, Swapna Suresh, a former UAE Consulate employee, had been employed on contract by the IT department, a portfolio held by Vijayan.

The woman was later sacked.

7:29 PM

Pakistan Ulema Council supports construction of first Hindu temple in Islamabad

An umbrella group of Muslim organisations in Pakistan has extended its support to the construction of the first Hindu temple in Islamabad and denounced the controversy over the issue, according to a media report on Saturday.
 

The Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC), whose members include Islamic clerics and legal scholars of different Islamic traditions, also said the Constitution of Pakistan categorically defines the rights of Muslims and non-Muslims living in the country, Dawn newspaper reported.
 

We denounce the controversy over construction of the temple. This [making it controversial] by extremist clerics is not correct. The PUC will call a meeting and will also present its point of view to the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), PUC chairman Hafiz Mohammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi said on Friday.

7:20 PM

Kerala HC directs cops to ensure protection to nun

The Kerala High Court has directed the police to provide adequate protection, if necessary, to the life and property of a nun who alleged that she was facing threat from the authorities of her convent and some priests of her diocese.
 

Considering a plea filed by sister Lucy Kalappura seeking police protection, Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan has also issued notice to authorities of Franciscan Clarist Congregation and two priests of Mananthavady diocese of Syrian Catholic Church.
 

In its interim order, the High Court on July 9 directed the police "to ensure that the law and order is maintained and, if necessary, to provide adequate protection to the life and property of the petitioner from any incursions by the respondents."

7:00 PM

Rate cut helping deliver growth is not working in simplistic way: Rathin Roy

Senior economist Rathin Roy on Saturday said the assumption that rate cut helping deliver growth is not working in simplistic way as transmission is not happening.
 

Rathin Roy, director of National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP) - a think tank backed by the Finance Ministry, said the assumptions on linear relationships between rate cuts resulting in growth by lowering the cost of capital is not working for some time now.
 

"I am not persuaded by the RBI's monetary policy statements, including that of the governor, regarding the rush down for these rate cuts. I heard him (Governor) just before this session and I continue to not being convinced," Roy said at Annual Economics Conference organised by State Bank of India.

6:38 PM

UP govt orders SIT to conduct investigation in Kanpur case

6:27 PM

Swarms of locust hit Bahraich in Uttar Pradesh

6:12 PM

Train carrying overturns in Thane, Maharashtra

6:02 PM

BJP rejects Gehlot's charge of horse-trading in Rajasthan

The BJP on Saturday rejected Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's charge that it was trying to topple his government, and claimed there was infighting in the ruling Congress.
 

The party also hit out at the chief minister over the case registered by police's special operations group (SOG) against two persons in connection with alleged horse trading of MLAs ahead of Rajya Sabha polls, saying he should utilise agencies like SOG and ACB for crime control "instead of threatening" MLAs and political parties.
 

The chief minister did not talk logically in his press conference. It is their own infighting but he wants to blame BJP. He is a veteran leader of the Congress and his pain is justified because the Congress has shrunk in the country, BJP's state president Satish Poonia told reporters.

5:48 PM

Traders' body protests after Chinese JV bids for 44 Vande Bharat trains

In a letter to Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has urged that a Chinese firm be disallowed from participation in bids, a day after it emerged as the only foreign player for the Railways' global tender for its ambitious semi-high speed indigenous Train 18 project.
 

CRRC Pioneer Electric (India) Private Limited, one of the six bidders for the project, is a joint venture of the state owned Chinese firm CRRC Corporation Ltd with a Gurugram-based company according to its website.
 

The tender is for procuring propulsion systems or electric traction kits for 44 trains to function as the Vande Bharat Express or Train 18.

5:39 PM

5 killed in hostage situation at church in South Africa

Police in South Africa say five people are dead and more than 40 have been arrested after an early-morning hostage situation at a church near Johannesburg.
 

A statement says police and military who responded to reports of a shooting at the International Pentecostal Holiness Church in Zuurbekom found four people shot and burned to death in a car and a security guard shot in another car.
 

Six other people were injured.