Latest LIVE: Flood situation worsens in Bihar, slightly better in Assam

Protestors set fire to vehicles and surrounded Congress MLA Akhanda Shrinivasa Murthy 's residence, NDTV reported. Stay tuned for latest news live updates

1:53 AM

China says frozen chicken wings from Brazil tested positive for Covid

Consumers in the Chinese city of Shenzhen have been urged to exercise caution when buying imported frozen food after a surface sample of chicken wings from Brazil tested positive for coronavirus, according to a statement from the local government.

 

The positive sample appears to have been taken from the surface of the meat, while previously reported positive cases from other Chinese cities have been from the surface of packaging on imported frozen seafood.

 

The chicken came from an Aurora Alimentos plant in the southern state of Santa Catarina, according to a registration number given in the statement.

1:50 AM

22% of Nepal workforce lost jobs during pandemic, senior banker says

Nepalese businesses have laid off 22.5 per cent of their workers as measures to contain the novel coronavirus hit tourism and other activities, a senior central bank official said on Thursday, citing a study of the economic impact of the outbreak.

 

The study of nearly 700 enterprises in 52 of the Himalayan national districts, conducted by the central bank in June, showed most jobs lost in hotels and restaurants followed by agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and the wholesale and retail sectors.

 

Nepal imposed a nationwide lockdown in March after reporting two confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus.

 

2:25 AM

Hindustan Aeronautics' light combat chopper cutting its teeth in Ladakh

A day after the Ministry of Defence (MoD) cleared the acquisition of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd’s (HAL’s) HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft, HAL announced that its light combat helicopter (LCH) is also ready for combat deployment.

 

“In light of the prevailing situation on the (Ladakh) border, two HAL-produced LCHs have been deployed for operations at high altitude in the Leh sector,” the company announced on Wednesday.

 

“The Vice Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Harjit Singh Arora, took part in one such operation recently by taking off from a high-altitude location to a forward area for a simulated attack on a high-altitude target. This was followed by a landing at one of the most treacherous helipads in the region,” stated HAL. Read more

12:28 AM

Covid-19 has adversely impacted almost all initiatives which usually contribute to peace building, says India at UN

12:27 AM

Oil spill in Venezuela stains treasured Caribbean beaches

An oil spill in Venezuela has coated a stretch of the crisis-wracked nation's Caribbean coastline, treasured for its white sand beaches, clusters of small islands and wildlife.

 

Fisherman and locals living around Morrocoy National Park began reporting oil washing ashore last week and it has coated roughly 9 miles (15 kilometers) of beaches. The area popular with tourists is located 180 miles (300 kilometers) from the capital of Caracas.

 

Venezuelan authorities acknowledged the spill, saying they're containing and cleaning it up, but so they far haven't said what caused it.

12:26 AM

7 injured in blast in Pakistan's Balochistan

A powerful explosion in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province on Wednesday left at least seven persons injured, the police said.

The blast took place in one of Quetta's commercial areas on Barori road, the latest in a string of attacks in the recent weeks in the troubled province.

Officials said that the injured, including a 15-year old boy, have been rushed to a nearby hospital.

11:49 PM

RBI asks UCBs to implement system-based asset classification

The Reserve Bank has asked urban co-operative banks to implement system-based asset classification.

 

The move is expected to improve the efficiency, transparency and integrity of the current asset classification system in UCBs.

 

Accordingly, system-based asset classification is a better process to reflect a bank's actual financial health in its balance sheet.

 

The RBI on Wednesday said that UCBs having total assets of Rs 2,000 crore or above as on March 31, 2020 shall implement system-based asset classification with effect from June 30, 2021

11:42 PM

Kozhikode plane crash: 89 injured discharged; 22 among 83 in serious condition: Kerala govt

10:53 PM

India and Nepal to hold review mechanism dialogue on 17th August to take stock of the progress of the ongoing projects in Nepal

10:12 PM

Moderate rains likely in Pune till August 17: IMD

Moderate rains are likely in Pune and adjoining areas in the next five to six days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Wednesday.

 

Dr Anupam Kashyapi, head, weather department, IMD Pune, said that along with moderate rainfall till August 17 in Pune and adjoining areas, heavy to very heavy rains are likely in isolated locations in the ghat areas.

10:07 PM

Katra-Delhi Express Road Corridor to be completed by 2023, will reduce travel time to 6.5 hours: Union minister

10:04 PM

Kerala landslide toll reaches 55, flood situation deteriorates in Bihar

The death toll in the landslide in Kerala's Idukki district rose to 55 on Wednesday as three more bodies were retrieved from under the debris while the flood situation worsened in Bihar but improved slightly in Assam.

 

While 16 districts of Uttar Pradesh too are affected by floods, several parts of the country received rains including the national capital which was lashed by heavy showers which ended a prolonged dry spell in the city.

 

Delhi suffered stifling humidity in the afternoon only to be rewarded with a heavy downpour at night which inundated low-lying areas. Dark clouds hovered over the national capital during the day, but rains kept the residents waiting until after 8 pm.

 

Earlier, the India Meteorological Department had forecast moderate to heavy rains in the city on Wednesday and Thursday. The Safdarjung Observatory, which provides representative figures for the city, recorded just 0.2 mm rainfall till 5.30 pm.

9:42 PM

Gem, jewellery exports dip 38 pc in July: GJEPC

The country's gem and jewellery exports contracted by 38.10 per cent in July to $1.35 billion (around Rs 10,185 crore) due to weak global demand on account of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC).

The exports stood at $ 2.2 billion (around Rs 15,112 crore) in July last year.

The labour-intensive sector contributes about 15 per cent of the country's overall exports.

9:37 PM

China, Nepal should support each other's core interests: Chinese official

China and Nepal should firmly support each other's core interests and major concerns, a senior Chinese official said on Wednesday as the two countries held their annual diplomatic consultations.

 

The 13th round of diplomatic consultations between China's Vice Foreign Minister Luo Zhaohui and Nepal's Foreign Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi via video conferencing came amidst Beijing's deepening political and diplomatic influence in the Himalayan nation, including shoring-up support for pro-China Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli in the backdrop of intra-party feud in the ruling communist party.

8:55 PM

Latest News LIVE update: CRPF being dispatched to violence-hit areas of Bengaluru

Karnataka Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday said six companies of the Central Reserve Police Force are being dispatched to the violence-hit areas of Bengaluru.

 

Three companies from Hyderabad and three from Chennai will be deployed in DG Halli and K G Halli police station limits where disturbances occurred Tuesday night, after which three people died in police firing, he said in an interaction with reporters at Udupi before leaving for Bengaluru.

 

He said efforts to vitiate the atmosphere in society through hooliganism which will not be tolerated. Restoration of peace is the priority of the government and strict action will be taken against such elements, he said. Several police personnel were also injured in the clashes. The minister said police had to resort to firing as a last resort.

8:53 PM

Karnataka Home Minister says six companies of CRPF being dispatched to violence-hit areas of Bengaluru

8:34 PM

Jammu and Kashmir: Pakistan violates ceasefire in Nowshera sector. Indian Army retaliating

8:18 PM

146 arrested in Bengaluru violence, DM to hold inquiry: Karnataka home minister

Karnataka Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai has said that a district magistrate will hold an inquiry into Tuesday's violence in Bengaluru and said so far 146 people have been arrested.

 

"It has been decided in a meeting with Chief Minister with senior officials that district magistrate will hold an inquiry into the incident as per the guidelines of the National Human Rights Commission. So far, 146 people have been arrested," Bommai told ANI.

 

Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Wednesday informed that directives have been issued to take strict action against accused of Bengaluru violence and asserted that the government has taken all possible steps to curb the situation.

 

While appealing people to maintain peace, he also said that violence against journalists, police and people last night was unacceptable.

8:09 PM

We will do asset recovery from Bengaluru rioters like in UP: Karnataka Minister

Karnataka Minister CT Ravi on Wednesday said that the violence in Bengaluru was well planned and that the state government will do an asset recovery from rioters just like it the Uttar Pradesh government had done recently.

 

"The riot was planned. Within one hour, thousands of people gathered and caused destruction. Petrol bombs and stones were used in the destruction of property. Over 300 vehicles were burnt," he said while speaking to ANI.

 

He said that the state government had suspects but could only confirm after an investigation.

7:51 PM

Odisha asks factories to take safety measures after Beirut explosion

In the wake of the Beirut blast in Lebanon that killed over 150 people, the Odisha government has asked all factories to take all possible safety measures to prevent any untoward incident in the future, said an official on Wednesday.

 

In a letter, the Directorate of Factories and Boilers instructed Occupiers of all factories to furnish a list and quantity of flammable and explosive materials used, handled and stored in their facilities.

 

The government has also sought a report to review the preparedness to deal with any such emergency.

7:45 PM

PM Modi will launch platform for 'Transparent Taxation – Honoring the Honest' via video conferencing tomorrow

7:20 PM

BSF patrols Chenab river along International Border with Pakistan ahead of Independence Day

7:01 PM

Latest News LIVE: District Magistrate to inquire into Bengaluru violence

The Karnataka government on Wednesday decided to conduct an inquiry into the violence in parts of the city last night, in which at least three people were killed and scores of others were injured, though a District Magistrate. The government also decided to recover the losses arising from damage to public property during the violence, from the rioters, Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai said.

 

"...There are National Human Rights Commission guidelines for such a situation, as per which the inquiry will be conducted by the district executive magistrate. This decision was taken at the meeting headed by the Chief Minister," Bommai said.

6:31 PM

Latest News LIVE update: Death toll in Kerala landslide goes up to 55

The death toll in the landslide at Pettimudi near Munnar in the high-range Idukki district has gone up to 55 with three more bodies being recovered from the debris on Wednesday, officials said.

 

Operations led by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are continuing in the area even on the sixth day today to trace 15 more missing people.

 

"Till now, we have recovered 55 bodies.Earlier we rescued 12 people.Now 15 people are missing.

6:17 PM

16 UP districts hit by floods; CM directs officials to ensure sanitisation, hygeine in relief camps

With 16 districts of Uttar Pradesh affected by floods, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday directed officials to ensure sanitisation and hygeine in relief camps set up in the deluge-hit areas, news agency PTI reported.

 

The Sharda river in Lakhimpur Kheri's Palliakalan and the Saryu at Barabanki's Elgin Bridge, Ayodhya and Ballia's Turtipar are flowing above the danger mark, state Relief Commissioner Sanjay Goyel said.

 

"The chief minister has directed (officials) to ensure sanitisation and hygeine in flood relief camps in 16 districts, where 523 village are affected. Among the affected villages, 275 are marooned," he told reporters.

5:56 PM

Bengaluru social media row: Mob runs amok, riot-hit areas resemble warzone

Areas under Pulakeshinagar assembly constituency here resembled a war zone on Wednesday, hours after after an unruly mob went on a rampage torching vehicles, irked over a 'communally sensitive' social media post allegedly by put up by a relative of a Congress MLA.

 

Charred vehicles, shards of glass from broken windows, stones and bricks lie strewn over the deserted roads of the violence-affected localities.

 

Earlier, three people were killed in police firing and scores of others wounded, including at least 50 policemen in the violence and arson that erupted in the city on Tuesday night and continued till the wee hours of Wednesday. READ MORE...

5:51 PM

Qualification from Pakistan Occupied Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh shall not entitle a person to practice Modern Medicine in India

5:34 PM

Karnataka govt will deal with rioters with iron hand: Revenue Minister

Terming the violence in the city as a 'well planned act,' Karnataka Revenue Minister R Ashoka on Wednesday said the 'traitors,' who perpetrated the riots would be dealt with an iron hand and steps would be taken to ensure that such incidents do not recur, according to a PTI report.

 

Speaking to reporters after meeting Congress MLA Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy at Vidhana Soudha here, Ashoka said, "The manner in which the riots were perpetrated shows that it was a well planned act and was intended to spread to other parts of the city. These are traitors and we will subdue them."

 

As many as three people were killed in the police firing and scores other injured including 50 policemen in the violence that erupted on Tuesday night at D J Halli in Pulakeshinagar locality over an alleged social media post on a 'communally sensitive' issue posted by the MLA's relative.

5:20 PM

Confiscate Bengaluru rioters' properties like Yogi Adityanath did: Karnataka MP

Bengaluru South Member of Parliament Tejasvi Surya on Wednesday advised Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa to go the Yogi Adityanath way in confiscating the rioters' properties to compensate for the loss to public property.

 

"I request Yediyurappa to confiscate and attach the properties of the rioters and compensate the losses to public property in the same way as the Adityanath government did in Uttar Pradesh," the BJP MP said.

 

In the wake of the riots, arson and vandalism by some people on Tuesday night, he added that Bengaluru is known for its peaceful atmosphere. "Bengaluru is known for its peace and harmonious society. We must protect this strength of our city at all costs," said Surya. The young parliamentarian attacked a couple of state Congress politicians for their statements, according to an IANS report.

5:05 PM

Tripura govt introducing neighbourhood classes for students who can't study online

The Tripura government has decided to start neighbourhood classes for school students, mostly in remote areas, who do not have television sets or mobile phones, an official said on Wednesday. The classes will begin from August 20.

 

After the lockdown started from March, the state government had introduced virtual classes through cable TV networks and android phones so that the students could be engaged in the process of learning.