LIVE news updates: Nitish Kumar takes oath as Bihar CM for the 8th time

Live news updates: According to broader contours of the power sharing formula, the RJD will have the largest number of ministers

3:01 PM

NCLT says it did not issue notification on hearing urgent matters

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has said that it did not issue any notification saying that only urgent matters will be heard through the virtual mode due to shortage of members.

The clarification from the tribunal, which hears matters related to insolvency and companies, came on Tuesday in the wake of a notification that was circulated on social media platforms.

On August 8, the notification had claimed there was a shortage of members, which has been amplified further as several members seek leave on account of health and personal reasons. The situation is currently being met by members taking up multiple benches through Video Conferencing (VC) and that it has been decided to take only urgent matters through VC at all NCLT benches till further orders, it had said.

3:00 PM

China-led rare earth mining in Myanmar fuels rights abuses, pollution

Chinas outsourcing of rare earth mining to Myanmar has prompted a rapid expansion of the industry there, fuelling human rights abuses, damaging the environment and propping up pro-juna militias, according to a new report published by rights group Global Witness.

 

The report, entitled "Myanmar's Poisoned Mountains", used satellite imagery to determine that what amounted to a "handful" of rare earth mines in Myanmar's Kachin state in 2016 had ballooned to more than 2,700 mining collection pools at almost 300 separate locations, covering an area the size of Singapore, by March 2022, slightly more than a year after the military seized power in a coup, RFA reported..

 

Global Witness found that China had outsourced much of its industry across the border to a remote corner of Kachin state, which it said is now the world's largest source of the minerals used in green energy technologies, smartphones and home electronics.

2:56 PM

Nitish will try to split RJD, new Bihar govt to fall before completing term: Sushil Modi

A day after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar parted ways with the BJP and was elected leader of the RJD-led Grand Alliance, saffron party leader Sushil Kumar Modi on Wednesday claimed that the new government will fall before completing its term in 2025.

 

Modi, who has known Kumar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad for five decades, also said that the JD(U) supremo insulted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the people of Bihar who had voted for the NDA.

 

Addressing a press conference, the former deputy chief minister alleged that Kumar will ditch the RJD and try to split it, taking advantage of RJD boss Lalu Prasad's illness.

2:54 PM

China's CPEC reality exposed as Gwadar port in Pakistan remains devoid of economic activity

As China continues to boast about its economic partnership with Pakistan especially the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects in the port city of Gawadar, reports suggest a contrary picture which exposes the reality that many of these projects remain unfinished and the city is spookily devoid of economic activity.

 

The revelation came after a report by a media outlet Nikkei Asia, which took stock of the ground situation in a drive to Pakistan's port of Gwadar, seven and a half hours from Karachi via the Makran coastal highway.

 

The coverage by the media portal was an eye-opener where it was brought to light that much of the 600-km route is deserted, with no restaurants, restrooms or even fuel stations. A total of 200 vehicles in total could be counted during the entire drive.

2:46 PM

Sri Lanka's Supreme Court extends overseas travel ban on Mahinda and Basil Rajapaksa till Sept 5

Sri Lanka's Supreme Court on Wednesday extended until September 5 the overseas travel ban on former prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and his younger brother and former finance minister Basil Rajapaksa, who are widely blamed for the current economic crisis in the island nation.

On August 1, the country's apex court had extended until August 4 the overseas travel ban on Rajapaksa and his younger brother when a motion related to a petition requesting the court to issue an order for an investigation against the people responsible for the current economic crisis came up. On August 3, the Supreme Court again extended the ban till August 11.

Travel ban imposed on Mahinda and Basil has been "extended to the 5th of September by the Supreme Court," news portal newsfirst.lk tweeted.

2:32 PM

Heavy rains in Indore; low-lying areas flooded, cars swept away

Heavy rains in Indore inundated low-lying areas of the Madhya Pradesh city where some cars were swept away due to the strong water current on roads, officials said on Wednesday.

 

Alarmed by the situation arising due to heavy downpour since Tuesday evening, the district administration declared a holiday for schools on Wednesday.

 

A Meteorological department official said Indore recorded 108.9 mm rainfall in the 24-hour period ending at 8.30 am on Wednesday.

2:21 PM

Nitish was uncomfortable with BJP: Prashant Kishor

Poll strategist Prashant Kishor on Wednesday said Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was not comfortable in the alliance with the BJP and that is why he moved from one political formation to the other.

Kishor, once considered a close confidant of Kumar, said the impact of the political developments in Bihar will remain limited to the state at present.

They were unlikely to have an impact on the national level in the short-run, he said.

From 2017 to 2022, he was with the BJP. But I never found him comfortable because of many reasons. He may have thought that let us experiment with Mahagatbandhan, Kishor told television news channels in Patna.

2:02 PM

Hard to digest but need to move on: Harmanpreet on India's CWG final loss

The bitter loss to Australia in the Commonwealth Games final is "hard to digest" but the Indian hockey team will have to move on, said star drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh, promising a thread-bare analyse of the side's performance in Birmingham.

 

In one of its worst performances in recent times, India suffered an embarrassing 0-7 drubbing at the hands of defending champions Australia to settle for a silver medal on Sunday.

 

"It is hard to digest a loss by such a big margin," the India vice-captain said in a Hockey India (HI) release after returning to the country early on Wednesday morning.

 

1:51 PM

RJD likely to get lion's share in new Bihar cabinet, Nitish may retain Home

JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar, who is set to be sworn in as Bihar chief minister for a record eighth time on Wednesday, is likely to retain the all-important Home portfolio, while the RJD may get most of the departments that were previously with the BJP, a highly-placed source said.

He said an in-principle agreement has been reached about the composition of the new cabinet, which is likely to have 35 members or more, drawn from Kumar's JD(U), the RJD and the Congress.

Kumar, who is being commended by opposition parties for joining the anti-BJP camp, also had a telephonic talk with Congress president Sonia Gandhi over the political situation.

1:43 PM

Chess Olympiad: Stalin announces Rs 1 cr prize for Indian teams

Both the India-B and A-Women's teams, would be honoured with a cash prize of Rs 1 crore each for winning bronze medals in the FIDE 44th Chess Olympiad, Chief Minister M K Stalin announced here on Wednesday.

 

The international indoor sports event was successfully conducted by the Tamil Nadu government, bringing laurels from across the world, Stalin said.

 

The FIDE Chess Olympiad was held at Mamallapuram near here and it began on July 28 and concluded on August 9. The India 'B' team settled for a bronze medal in the Open section while the India 'A' women's side also finished third in the Olympiad on Tuesday. In a statement, the Chief Minister expressed joy over the two teams winning medals and said it has brought accolades to the country.

 

1:35 PM

New test can tell how much immunity you have against COVID-19

Researchers in the US have developed an easy-to-use test that can predict the degree of immune protection people have against COVID-19, either from vaccination, infection, or a combination of the two.

Easy access to this kind of test could help people determine what kind of precautions they should take against COVID-19 infection, such as getting an additional booster shot, the researchers said.

Described in the journal Cell Reports Methods, the test measures the level of neutralising antibodies -- responsible for defending cells from the virus -- that target SARS-CoV-2 in a blood sample.

1:18 PM

Japanese PM reshuffles cabinet, ruling party leadership

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday reshuffled his cabinet and the executive lineup of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) as the administration faces slipping public support.

 

According to the lineup, Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki and Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno remained in their posts, as Kishida aims to ensure continuity in the face of pressing economic and diplomatic issues, reports Xinhua news agency.

 

LDP Secretary General Toshimitsu Motegi and the party's Vice President Taro Aso also retained their posts.

 

1:02 PM

Pakistan: Imran's arrest may trigger 'bloody politics', warns ex-Minister

Reacting to the Pakistan governments move to file references against the PTI chairman in prohibited funding and Toshakhana cases, former Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed has warned that attempts to arrest Imran Khan or break the party would trigger "bloody politics" in the country.

Rasheed said that the security of the country is more important than politics and power, adding that the instability in Afghanistan will also affect peace in Pakistan, Geo News reported.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has launched a probe into the illegal funding and has summoned senior PTI leaders to appear before it.

12:34 PM

'Shameful' to extract price of 'Tiranga' by snatching the poor's food: Varun Gandhi

BJP MP Varun Gandhi on Wednesday alleged that ration card holders are being forced to buy the national flag, and said it will be unfortunate if the celebrations of the 75th anniversary of Independence becomes a burden on the poor.

 

It is "shameful" to extract the price of 'Tiranga', which lives is in the heart of every Indian, by snatching the poor's morsel of food, he said in a tweet.

 

The Pilibhit MP posted a video purportedly showing some ration card holders complaining about being forced to pay Rs 20 to buy the flag.

 

12:17 PM

Nadda to be on two-day Tripura visit from Aug 27

BJP national president J P Nadda is scheduled to arrive in Agartala on August 27 on a two-day visit to Tripura to oversee organisational activities, a senior party leader said on Wednesday.

The visit assumes significance in view of next year's assembly elections.

Nadda ji will be in Tripura to oversee the party's preparedness for the 2023 assembly elections, BJP state vice-president and MP Rebati Tripura said.

The BJP chief will likely preside over an officer bearers' meeting and a core committee meeting during his Tripura tour.

12:07 PM

Mullaperiyar, Banasursagar dams still releasing water, isolated heavy rains predicted in Kerala

Major dams like Mullaperiyar and Banasursagar are still open and discharging water downstream with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday predicting widespread and isolated heavy rainfall in Kerala during the day and on August 11.

Banasursagar dam in Wayanad was at red alert water level status and three of its gates were opened 10 centimeters (cm) each this morning spilling around 24 cumecs of water, district officials said.

In Mullaperiyar dam, which is managed by the Tamil Nadu government, 13 shutters were opened by 90 cm each to discharge around 8,980 cusecs of water, Idukki district officials said.

11:59 AM

Zawahiri's killing stokes debate over Pakistan's complicity in combatting terrorism

Islamist militant outfit Haqqani network which is long known to be a terrorist proxy of Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI, was involved in Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri's movements and his stay in Kabul is a clear indication of Pakistani complicity, a think tank report said.

Notably, key 9/11 plotter, Ayman al-Zawahiri was killed in Kabul, Afghanistan by a US drone on the morning of 31 July.

The prospect of Pakistani involvement in Zawahiri's targeting, meanwhile, has emerged as a contentious issue, even if neither the US nor Pakistan has so far publicly acknowledged such a role.

11:41 AM

Four months on, anti-govt protests over crisis in Sri Lanka fizzle out

Demonstrations planned by Sri Lankan opposition parties and trade unions have fizzled out, with smaller crowds turning up to mark the fourth month of an anti-government protest campaign launched in the wake of the ongoing economic crisis.

In contrast to the tens of thousands who turned up for previous protests, less than 2,000 were at one of the main rally sites in Colombo on Tuesday, police said.

At a demonstration near the President's office, where people have been camped for the past four months, only about 150 people arrived, reports dpa news agency.

11:32 AM

Corbevax approved as booster for adults vaccinated with Covaxin, Covishield

The government has approved Biological E's Corbevax as a precaution dose for those above 18 years fully vaccinated with either Covishield or Covaxin, official sources said on Wednesday.

This is for the first time that a booster dose that is different from the one used for primary vaccination against Covid has been allowed in the country.

The sources told PTI that the Union Health Ministry's approval is based on the recommendations made recently by the COVID-19 Working Group of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI).

11:32 AM

River Godavari crosses first danger level in AP, 5 districts face flood threat

For the second month in a row, river Godavari is in spate again and crossed the first danger level at Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage at Dowaleswaram near Rajamahendravaram in Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday.

Alluri Sitarama Raju district, which is yet to fully recover from last month's deluge, is once again in the grip of a massive flood threat as discharge in the river crossed 10 lakh cusecs (cubic foot of water flow per second) mark.

State Disaster Management Authority Managing Director B R Ambedkar said in a release that the current inflow in Godavari stood at 10.37 lakh cusecs. "We have issued the first warning signal at Dowaleswaram. We have accordingly alerted the officials of the districts along the river course to take required precautionary measures," Ambedkar said. 

11:08 AM

China blames Taiwanese leadership for increasing risk of war

China accused Taiwan’s ruling party of damaging the chances of peaceful unification, as authorities in Beijing attempted to keep the pressure on Taipei a week after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit. 

 

The Democratic Progressive Party helmed by President Tsai Ing-wen must change course to reduce tensions, the Taiwan Affairs Office in Beijing said, in its first white paper published since President Xi Jinping took power. The report said DPP leaders deepened the dispute by refusing to accept that both sides belong to “one China.”

 

China won’t rule out the use force to unify the two sides, the paper said, reaffirming the Communist Party’s long-stated position that it would reserve all necessary options. 

 

9:09 AM

Priyanka Gandhi tests positive for Covid

Priyanka Gandhi tested positive for coroanvirus again.

8:14 AM

3 LeT terrorists trapped in J&K's Budgam encounter

Three Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) terrorists have been trapped during an ongoing encounter between terrorists and security forces at Waterhail area in central Kashmir's Budgam district, police said on Wednesday.

 

"Three terrorists of terror outfit LeT (TRF), including terrorist Lateef Rather, trapped in ongoing encounter. Terrorist Lateef is involved in several civilian killings, including Rahul Bhat and Amreen Bhat," Jammu and Kashmir Police quoting Additional Director General of Police (Kashmir zone), Vijay Kumar tweeted.

 

The gunfight started after a joint team of Police and security forces received an input about the presence of terrorists in that area.

8:05 AM

Workers at Kudumbashree Apparel Unit in Kottayam prepare the Tricolour for Har Ghar Tiranga campaign

7:42 AM

No one above law: AG Garland on FBI's search of Trump's Florida estate

The FBI's unprecedented search of former President Donald Trump's Florida residence ricocheted around government, politics and a polarized country Tuesday along with questions as to why the Justice Department notably cautious under Attorney General Merrick Garland decided to take such a drastic step.

 

7:22 AM

Haryana Assembly passes Code of Criminal Procedure Amendment Bill 2022

Haryana Assembly on Tuesday passed the Code of Criminal Procedure (Haryana Amendment) Bill, 2022.

 

According to the statement of objects and reasons of the Bill, "The condition of mandatory detention of the approver in custody till conclusion of trail in section 306 (4) (b) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, is discriminatory and creates artificial classification between two types of persons willing to be approver--those who are already on bail and those who are not on bail".

7:18 AM

Explosions hit Russian military airbase in annexed Crimea

One person has been killed and several others wounded in an explosion at a military airbase in the Russian-controlled Crimean Peninsula.

The explosions were caused by the detonation of several aviation ammunition stores and Russia's Ministry of Defence clarified that there has been no attack.

And no aviation equipment had been damaged, Al Jazeera reported.

7:15 AM

Facebook user’s messages bring abortion charges in Nebraska

A Nebraska woman was charged with two felonies related to an illegal abortion after authorities discovered information about the pregnancy through private messages on Facebook Messenger, according to court documents. The case renewed debate about how law enforcement may use social media accounts in cases involving reproductive choices. 

 

The messages were collected from Facebook parent company Meta Platforms Inc. using a search warrant after investigators in June requested the woman’s personal information to determine whether she had committed other crimes, including concealing the death of another person.

 

7:11 AM

Nitish Kumar to take oath as Bihar CM for 8th time today

Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar is likely to take oath as Bihar's chief minister again on Wednesday afternoon after having announced a new "Grand Alliance" which includes Tejashwi Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and other Opposition parties.

 

Tejashwi Yadav is also likely to take oath as Deputy Chief Minister.

 

Seven parties including 164 MLAs along with independent MLA in our Mahagathbandhan, says Nitish Kumar at a joint presser with RJD's Tejashwi Yadav after meeting Bihar Governor.

 

Kumar ended his alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party-led (BJP) National Democratic Alliance and rejoined hands with RJD on a day of rapidly changing political developments in Bihar.

7:10 AM

Biden formalises US support for Finland, Sweden joining NATO

President Joe Biden formally welcomed Finland and Sweden joining the NATO alliance Tuesday as he signed the instruments of ratification that delivered the U.S.'s formal backing of the Nordic nations entering the mutual defense pact, part of a reshaping of the European security posture after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

In seeking to join NATO, Finland and Sweden are making a sacred commitment that an attack against one is an attack against all," Biden said at the signing as he called the partnership the indispensable alliance.

The U.S. became the 23rd ally to approve NATO membership for the two countries. Biden said he spoke with the heads of both nations before signing the ratification and urged the remaining NATO members to finish their own ratification process as quickly as possible.