LIVE news: Ammonium nitrate near Chennai being shifted after e-auction

Storage of ammonium nitrate has been e-auctioned and is being shipped to Hyderabad. Stay tuned for latest news live updates

1:53 AM

Saudi Arabia turns off oil tap for Pakistan over deferred payments

Pakistan has not received oil on deferred payments from Saudi Arabia since May as a deal signed between the two close allies for provision of $3.2 billion worth of the fuel under the arrangement expired two months ago.

 

The $3.2-billion Saudi oil facility was part of the $6.2-billion Saudi Arabian package announced in November 2018 to ease Pakistan’s external sector woes, the Express Tribune reported.

 

The agreement expired in May and efforts are being made by the finance division to renew the facility, the petroleum division spokesperson Sajid Qazi was quoted as saying by the paper.

1:52 AM

US Covid cases top 5 million; Brazil hits grim milestone of 100,000 deaths

According to a Reuters tally, the United States has hit a record 5 million cases of Covid-19.
 

Last week, the country’s top infectious diseases official had offered hope to citizens citing that an effective vaccine might be available by the year end. 

 

Meanwhile, Brazil surpassed a grim milestone of 100,000 deaths from Covid-19, five months after the first reported case. The country has not shown signs of crushing the disease.
 

The nation of 210 million people has been reporting an average of more than 1,000 daily deaths from the pandemic since late May and reported 905 for the latest 24-hour period. In a tribute to victims, the non-governmental group Rio de Paz placed crosses on the sand on the famed Copacabana beach.

1:51 AM

Covid-19 crisis: Russia to register world's first vaccine on Wednesday

Russia’s all set to register world’s first Covid-19 vaccine on August 12, according to reports. The vaccine is being jointly developed by Gamaleya Research Institute and the Russian Defence Ministry.

 

Russia’s Deputy Health Minister Oleg Gridnev on Saturday confirmed the development. “The vaccine developed by the Gamaleya centre will be registered on August 12. At the moment, the last, third, stage is underway.

 

Medical professionals and senior citizens will be the first to get vacci­nated,” Gridnev had said. The country plans to begin mass production of the vaccine from October 2020.

1:51 AM

Covid-19: Record 700,000 tests conducted in a day, says health ministry

Over 700,000 samples have been examined for Covid-19 in a day, taking the cumulative tests conducted so far to 2,41,06,535, the Union Health Ministry said on Sunday.

 

With a record single-day increase of 64,399 cases, India's Covid tally mounted to 2.15 million, while the death toll climbed to 43,379 with 861 new fatalities being reported in a day, the ministry's data updated at 8 am showed.

 

 

The number of recoveries too has surged to 14,80,884 with 53,879 Covid patients having discharged in 24 hours, the highest in a day so far, pushing the recovery rate to 68.78 per cent. Recoveries are over twice the number of active cases (628,747) of Covid infection at present. The fatality rate has dropped to 2.01 per cent, it said.

1:50 AM

Britain records more than 1,000 new infections, highest since June

Britain has recorded more than 1,000 new coronavirus infections in a day for the first time since late June.

 

Government statistics say 1,062 new cases of Covid-19 were reported in the 24 hours until 9 a,m. Sunday. The last time the number was over 1,000 was on June 26.

 

 

Britain has seen a gradual rise in coronavirus infections since it began lifting lockdown restrictions in mid-June. The government has put the next stage of reopening, which had been due to take effect August 1, on hold for at least two weeks.

 

The number of patients hospitalised with the virus continues to decline, as does the daily number of deaths. Eight new Covid-19 fatalities were reported Sunday.

1:18 AM

We have to accomplish the mission of making India a $5 trillion economy & we have that potential: Nitin Gadkari

1:16 AM

Yemen's rebels say floods, heavy rains left over 130 dead

Yemen's Houthi rebels said Sunday that floods have swept through rebel-held parts of the country since mid-July amid heavy seasonal rains, leaving more than 130 dead and damaging more than 260 homes.

 

The Houthi-run Health Ministry said at least 124 others were injured by the flooding in parts of northern Yemen controlled by the rebels, including the capital Sanaa and its historic Old City, which is on UNESCO's World Heritage List.

 

More than 160,000 people were forced to leave their homes amid heavy flooding and rainfall in the provinces of Hajjah and Hodeida, according to security officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media.

 

At least 33,000 displaced people who were sheltering in camps in southern Yemen lost their tents and belongings in the floods, the International Committee of the Red Cross said last month.

1:02 AM

Pelosi says election threats from Russia, China aren't equal

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Sunday the threats of interference in the US presidential election from Russia and China are not equal, pointing to a more serious risk with Moscow's efforts to boost President Donald Trump's reelection bid.

 

They're not equivalent, said Pelosi, D-Calif. Russia is actively 24/7 interfering in our election. They did so in 2016, and they are doing so now. She urged intelligence agencies to put more information out there on the specific nature of the threats.

 

An intelligence report last week said Russia was already using a range of measures to undercut Trump's Democratic challenger, Joe Biden, and promote Trump with misinformation on social media.

1:01 AM

Show your unity on the floor of the House: Ashok Gehlot says at CLP meet

12:42 AM

Idukki landslide: Body of 6-month-old baby recovered, death toll rises to 43

12:42 AM

Fire breaks out at coastal shipping boat in Visakhapatnam Port Trust, no injuries reported

12:39 AM

800 villages in UP affected by flood

Over 800 villages in 20 districts of UP have been hit by flooding and several rivers are flowing above the danger level, the relief commissioner's office said Sunday.

 

As 802 villages in Ambedkar Nagar, Ayodhya, Azamgarh, Bahraich, Ballia, Balrampur, Barabanki, Basti, Deoria, Gonda, Gorakhpur, Khiri, Kushinagar, Maharajganj, Mau, Pilibhit, Pratapgarh, Santkabir Nagar, Siddharthanagar and Sitapur districts have been affected.

 

Of these, 428 villages have been disconnected with other areas, the office said.

12:19 AM

Donors pledge nearly $300 million at Lebanon aid conference

French organisers say international donors have pledged a total of 252.7 million euro (USD 298 million) in emergency aid during conference for Lebanon.

 

The French presidency said this amount is including 30 million euros from France. Donors promised to provide emergency aid focusing on medicine and hospitals, schools, food and housing.

 

French President Emmanuel Macron, who was the first foreign leader to visit Lebanon after Beirut devastating explosion, co-organised the conference with the United Nations on Sunday.

11:47 PM

Saudi Aramco says it still plans to pay $75 billion in dividends for 2020

11:47 PM

Heavy rains kill 58 in Pakistan

Heavy rains in the last three days have killed at least 58 people in Pakistan, officials said on Sunday.

 

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said the northwestern province of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa was the worst-hit where 19 people were killed.

 

Another 12 died in the southern province of Sindh, while 10 died in Gilgit-Baltistan, eight in Punjab, eight in Balochistan and one in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, according to the NDMA, adding that another 15 people were injured.

11:46 PM

Railway museum dedicated to public by Union Minister

A railway museum depicting the evolution of advanced systems in the railways was dedicated to the public at Hubballi by Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Sunday.

 

The museum at Hubballi, which is the headquarters of South Western Railway Zone, offers the visitors a glimpse at the rolling stock, Malaprabha and Ghataprabha cottages, theatre coach, Suruchi cafeteria, toy train, memorabilia shop, ticket-printing machine, model train run and childrens activity room, a statement said.

11:45 PM

Sonia Gandhi to continue as interim Congress president till process for electing new chief completes

11:09 PM

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will launch ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat Saptah’ at 3.30 pm tomorrow

10:46 PM

Mizoram University defers undergraduate semester examination

The Mizoram University (MZU) on Sunday deferred the upcoming undergraduate examinations slated for Monday following appeals by student bodies and Mizoram Principals Council due to the surge in Covid-19 cases in the state.

 

An urgent notification issued by the university said undergraduate semester examination will not be held during August 10 to 14 in view of the present situation due to Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown imposed in certain localities in Aizawl.

 

The examination will be held after September 3, it said.

10:41 PM

If need be, govt must drag China to international dispute resolution fora over artificial lake in Tibet: Congress

10:21 PM

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi urges people to protest new Environment Impact Assessment 2020 draft, saying it is "dangerous" and if notified, long term consequences will be "catastrophic"

10:16 PM

Promoter group Khaitan family's stake in Eveready falls below 10 per cent

10:07 PM

Lebanon explosion: European Commission pledges 30 million euros

The European Commission has pledged additional 30 million euros ($35 million) at an international donors' conference for Lebanon after deadly Beirut explosion.

 

The EU's executive body said in a statement this comes on top of 33 million euros ($39 million) in emergency aid previously announced.

 

The new EU funding will be channelled to UN agencies, NGOs and international organizations and be strictly monitored, the statement said.

9:14 PM

Pakistan launches largest-ever plantation drive; 3.5 million saplings planted on first day

8:53 PM

Latest News LIVE: Officials resign in wake of deadly blast in Lebanon

Lebanon's information minister resigned on Sunday as the country grapples with the aftermath of the devastating blast that ripped through the capital and raised public anger to new levels.

 

The resignation comes comes after a night of demonstrations against the ruling elite, blamed for the chronic mismanagement and corruption that is believed to be behind the explosion in a Beirut Port warehouse.

 

Hundreds of tons of highly explosive material were stored in the waterfront hangar, and the blast sent a shock wave that killed at least 160 people, wounded nearly 6,000 and defaced the coastline of Beirut destroying hundreds of buildings.

8:44 PM

Several houses damaged due to flash flood in Ganderbal District of Jammu and Kashmir

8:43 PM

India proposes virtual talks for Indus Water Commission, Pakistan wants to meet at Attari border

India has proposed a virtual meeting with Pakistan to discuss the Indus Water Commission, in view of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, sources said on Sunday. Islamabad, however, say sources, remains adamant on holding physical talks at the Attari border.

 

"India has asked Pakistan to hold virtual meet of the Indus Water Commission. Pakistan remains adamant on holding the meet at Attari border. India has sought to meet virtually due to #COVID19 situation," the sources said.

 

The Permanent Indus Commission (OIC) is a bilateral commission of officials from India and Pakistan, created to implement and manage goals of the Indus Waters Treaty 1960, brokered by World Bank. It comprises the Indus Commissioners from both sides and discusses technical matters related to the implementation of the treaty.

8:31 PM

Delhi MCD 2022 polls: AAP appoints Lok Sabha in-charge, district in-charge, assembly observers

With an eye on the 2022 Delhi municipal elections, the ruling AAP has appointed Lok Sabha in-charge, district in-charge, district communication in-charge and assembly observers at all the 70 assembly constituencies, senior party leader Gopal Rai said on Sunday. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal took to Twitter to wish the members in the newly-appointed roles, according to a PTI report.

 

"Best wishes to all new office bearers. Work hard to strengthen AAP. AAP should emerge stronger and serve people with greater zeal," he said.

 

Addressing a press conference, Rai said the party will appoint in-charge for all the assembly constituencies in the next phase, and the in-charge at all 272 wards in the third phase.

8:24 PM

Three shutters of Aruvikkara dam in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram opened today

8:07 PM

740 tonnes of ammonium nitrate to be moved to Hyderabad from Chennai CFS

Ammonium nitrate weighing 740 tonnes stored in 37 containers at a container freight station (CFS) here is being moved to Hyderabad in a phased manner, said an official of the CFS.

 

"The first 10 containers of ammonium nitrate have left the CFS on Sunday and the balance will be moved over the next two days. All one has to do is to load the containers onto a truck as the ammonium nitrate was imported in containers and impounded by the customs," an official told IANS preferring anonymity.

 

He said that as per the plans, 10 containers will be sent out daily in order to avoid bunching and increasing the risk enroute. A consignment of 740 tonnes of ammonium nitrate in 37 containers was imported by the Amman Chemicals in 2015 as fertiliser from Korea.