Latest LIVE: Five Indians suffered injuries in Lebanon blast, says MEA

As many as 666 villages have been affected by floods across 17 districts of Uttar Pradesh, and major rivers are flowing above danger mark. Stay tuned for latest news live updates

2:09 AM

Omission of 80 million people in Ayodhya speech worrying after CAA/NRC: Shashi Tharoor's dig at PM Modi

2:08 AM

WHO hopes US leadership will reconsider its departure

The head of the World Health Organization hopes the United States leadership will reconsider its departure from the U.N. health agency.

 

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says the US was well recognized both for its generosity and support of global health projects in the past.

 

You cannot defeat this virus in a divided world, Tedros said of a country that contributes more than $450 million to the agency every year.

2:07 AM

US Senate approves bill banning federal employees from using TikTok app

2:06 AM

An earthquake of magnitude 3.1 shakes Jaipur

12:21 AM

UN releasing $9 million to help Beirut hospitals

The United Nations says it is releasing $9 million to address immediate needs following the explosion that devastated Beirut and help strengthen operations in the city's hospitals.

 

U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said on Thursday the money from the Lebanese Humanitarian Fund will be following by additional funds from the U.N.'s Central Emergency Response Fund.

 

He said the UN is carrying out assessments of the damage and needs resulting from the massive explosion and hopes to hold a meeting on Monday to inform the 193 UN member states of the results and launch an appeal to help Lebanon.

11:23 PM

US Senator seeks increase in Green Card cap; another want to replace country quota with language

10:58 PM

Girish Chandra Murmu appointed as the Comptroller & Auditor General of India

10:29 PM

PNB launches cash credit, loan facility for weavers

State-owned Punjab National Bank (PNB) on Thursday announced the launch of a scheme to facilitate cash credit or loans to weavers against their credit requirements.

 

Under the PNB Weaver Mudra Scheme (PNBWMS), the bank has launched a credit card plan under which loans up to Rs 2 lakh to weavers will be granted as per the scheme of the Ministry of Textiles.

 

The scheme aims to provide adequate and timely assistance to weavers by way of cash credit or loan by way of loan or cash credit for their credit requirements such as investments and working capital flexibly and cost-effectively in both rural and urban areas, the bank said in a statement.

8:52 PM

Chennai Customs Dept seized 740 MTS imported ammonium nitrate

8:30 PM

SC seeks charge sheets of Palghar lynching case from Maharashtra govt

The Supreme Court Thursday asked the Maharashtra government to apprise it of the inquiry and action taken against the errant police personnel in the alleged lynching of three people, including two seers, in Palghar district in April.

 

A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan and R Subhash Reddy asked the state government to also file the charge sheet before it, saying it would like to examine them.

 

A further affidavit dated July 29, 2020 has been filed by the State of Maharashtra which mentions in paragraph 3 that two charge sheets have been filed in July 2020. Let the State bring the charge sheets on record, the bench said. READ MORE...

8:22 PM

Plea in SC seeks postponement of JEE (Main), NEET-undergraduate exams, which are scheduled to be conducted in Sept

8:09 PM

CBI registers FIR against Rhea Chakraborty, and others in connection with Sushant Singh Rajput's death case

8:07 PM

Turkey's comments on Jammu and Kashmir incorrect, biased: MEA

India on Thursday called as factually "incorrect, biased and unwarranted" Turkey's comments that removal of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir has not contributed to peace and stability in the region.

 

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava also asked Turkey to refrain from interfering in internal matters of India.

 

"The statement is factually incorrect, biased and unwarranted. We would urge the government of Turkey to get a proper understanding of the situation on the ground and refrain from interfering in matters internal to India," he said at an online media briefing.

 

A Turkish foreign ministry spokesperson on Wednesday said that withdrawal of special powers of Jammu and Kashmir has further complicated the situation and that it has not served peace and stability in the region. The criticism came on a day marking first anniversary of India's decision on Jammu and Kashmir.

7:59 PM

Latest News LIVE: University of Hyderabad to resume classes online from August 20

City-based University of Hyderabad (UoH) on Thursday said it has decided to resume classes in online mode for about 2,000 ongoing post-graduate students in various programmes from August 20.

 

The university had suspended classes for all batches on March 15 and has since completed the evaluation process of final semester students, allowing them to graduate, a press release from the varsity said.

 

Based on projections about the continuing COVID-19 epidemic, a task force headed by senior professor Vinod Pavaralarecommended that the university start online teaching, the release said.

 

7:39 PM

Indian Railways introducing first 'Kisan Rail' from Devlali to Danapur tomorrow: Ministry of Railways

7:29 PM

Delhi CM Kejriwal visits sexual assault victim at AIIMS, promises Rs 10 lakh for her family

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday visited the 12-year-old girl at AIIMS on Thursday, two days after she was allegedly sexually assaulted and attacked in the national capital's Paschim Vihar area.

 

Kejriwal told reporters that the government will make sure that those found guilty will get strict punishment.

 

"I have spoken to the Police Commissioner. The police are trying to nab the accused. The govt will ensure strict punishment for the accused. The govt will provide Rs 10 lakh to her family members," he told reporters.

7:14 PM

We expect that Chinese side will work with us sincerely for complete disengagement and de-escalation: MEA on eastern Ladakh situation

7:14 PM

31 dengue cases in Delhi till Aug 1; fever clinics set up, campaign intensified

Over 30 cases of dengue have been reported in the national capital till August 1 this year, even as the civic bodies have set up separate fever clinics to attend to patients afflicted with the vector-borne disease, authorities said on Thursday.

 

Besides, the corporations have also stepped up awareness campaigns as the dengue season has now coincided with the coronavirus pandemic the city is reeling under since March, according to a PTI report.

 

According to data shared by the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), the nodal agency that tabulates data on the vector-borne diseases for the entire city, 31 cases of dengue has been recorded in Delhi till August 1. The number of cases of malaria and chikungunya in the same period, stands at 45 and 18 respectively, it said.

6:49 PM

Haven't received any communication from Pak on Kulbhushan Jadhav case; Pak needs to provide unhindered, unimpeded consular access to him: MEA

6:49 PM

IMD predicts heavy to very heavy rains in parts of Madhya Pradesh

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday forecast heavy to very heavy rains accompanied by thunderstorm and lightning at isolated places in western parts of Madhya Pradesh till Friday morning. Heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorm and lightning was very likely to occur at isolated places in eastern parts of the state, the IMD said.

 

"Both the forecasts are valid till Friday morning," senior meteorologist with the IMD's Bhopal office, P K Saha, said.

 

Large parts of the state received showers in the last 24 hours, he said, adding that 14 cm rainfall was recorded in Rehti area of Sehore district during this period. Madhya Pradesh has so far received 13 per cent less than the average rainfall, the official said.

6:34 PM

Gujarat, Goa, parts of Maharashtra likely to receive heavy rain: ANI

Gujarat, the ghat areas of Madhya Maharashtra, Konkan and Goa are likely to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall during the next 24 hours, said a notification issued by Press Information Bureau (PIB), according to an ANI report.

 

According to the notification, significant weather features of Thursday include strong surface winds over plains of northwest India during next 24 hours, along with cyclonic circulation at north Konkan and neighbourhood at mid and upper tropospheric levels tilting southwestwards with height.

 

The PIB said the monsoon trough is also active and is south of its normal position. Its western end is very likely to shift northwards gradually towards foothills of the Himalayas from August 8.

6:05 PM

Latest News LIVE: 666 villages in 17 districts hit by floods in Uttar Pradesh

As many as 666 villages have been affected by floods across 17 districts of Uttar Pradesh, and major rivers are flowing above the danger mark at some places in the state, officials said on Thursday. The Sharda river in Lakhimpur Kheri's Palia Kalan, the Saryu river in Barabanki's Elgin Bridge, Ayodhya and Ballia's Turtipar, and the Rapti at Gorakhpur's Bird Ghat were flowing above the red mark, Relief Commissioner Sanjay Goyal said.

 

Seventeen districts in the state are now flood-affected. A total of 666 villages have been hit, out of which 446 have been marooned, Goyal said.

 

The districts affected by the floods are Ambedkar Nagar, Ayodhya, Azamgarh, Bahraich, Ballia, Balrampur, Barabanki, Basti, Gonda, Gorakhpur, Kushinagar, Lakhimpur Kheri, Mau, Sant Kabir Nagar, Siddharthnagar, Maharajganj and Sitapur, he said.

5:54 PM

CBI gets in touch with Bihar Police in connection with the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput

5:54 PM

Latest News LIVE update: Flood situation in Bihar remains grave

The flood situation in Bihar remains grave as the waters have entered 1,165 panchayat areas in 16 districts of the state. Though the water level in some rivers has gone down, the Ganga is still witnessing an upsurge. The water in the Ganga river has crossed the danger mark near Kahalgaon.

 

Nineteen people have died in 121 blocks in 16 districts across the state so far. The Bihar Disaster Management Department has claimed that relief and rescue operations are continuing.

 

An official of the Bihar State Water Resources Department said on Thursday that the water level of the Kosi is dropping. However, a slight increase was noticed in the water level of the Gandak river.

5:49 PM

Latest News LIVE: Union minister flags off 'medicine van' for Bihar flood victims

Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda on Thursday flagged off a 'medicine van' for the Bihar flood victims.

 

Delhi-based Thakurdwara Trust has provided medicines worthRs 15 lakh for flood-affected people. Around 2,000 volunteers have been working on the ground to help the flood victims, a statement from the tribal affairs ministry said.

 

The minister lauded the efforts of retired IAS officer Bhore Lal and his teammates at the Thakurdwara Trust for their selfless service to society, it said. Floods have claimed nine lives in Bihar.More than 66 lakh people across 16 districts have beenhit.

5:46 PM

Karnataka CM Yediyurappa asks district incharge ministers to tour rain-hit areas

The district in-charge ministers have been asked to tour areas facing a flood-like situation, remain in their districts, and also ensure distribution of relief, Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa said on Thursday.

 

"I have already ordered release of Rs 50 crore for emergency relief works in rain-hit districts and asked ministers to take decisions about works that need to be immediately carried out in the affected areas. I have assured them of additional funds for relief work, if required," Yediyurappa said.

 

The CM had asked the state chief secretary on Wednesday to take necessary steps to face the situation arising from heavy rainfall and issued instructions for releasing Rs 50 crore for emergencies.

5:31 PM

BCCI and Vivo end their partnership for IPL's 2020 season

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Vivo Mobile India Pvt Ltd have decided to suspend their partnership for Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2020, an IPL media advisory confirmed.

 

The 2020 edition of the IPL is scheduled to be played from September 19 - November 10 in the UAE. The decision regarding the tournament was made after the IPL's Governing Council (GC) meeting on Sunday.

 

The 13th edition of the T20 tournament will be staged at three venues (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah) in the UAE.

5:21 PM

Vodafone Idea says recognised additional charge of Rs 19,440.5 crore in June quarter towards AGR liabilities: PTI

5:20 PM

Saudi Arabia, Algeria to send humanitarian aid to Lebanon after deadly Beirut blast

Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has ordered emergency assistance to be sent to Beirut in solidarity with Lebanon to help the latter cope with the consequences of Tuesday's powerful explosion in the capital city's port, according to an ANI report.

 

Along with Riyadh, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has also been inclined to send urgent assistance to Beirut after a phone conversation with his Lebanese counterpart, Michel Aoun, Tebboune's office said.

 

Four Algerian aircraft with food packages, necessary medical equipment and groups of doctors aboard are preparing to leave for Beirut, according to the office. Algeria will also send a ship carrying construction material to help Lebanon rebuild the sites that the blast destroyed, the statement read.

5:11 PM

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal arrives at AIIMS to meet 12-year-old girl who was sexually assaulted and attacked in Pashchim Vihar