LIVE: Govt says several countries easing travel curbs for Indian students

Latest News Live updates: Rahul Gandhi says Opposition parties won't 'go anywhere' till government gives an explanation on the use of spyware.

2:06 AM

14 engineering colleges to impart education in 5 Indian languages: PM Modi

Future progress and growth is dependent on the level of education and direction given to the youth today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday, as he announced that 14 engineering colleges of eight states are going to impart education in five Indian languages -- Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi and Bangla.

 

A tool has been developed for translating the engineering courses in 11 languages, Modi said during his address to the policy makers in the domain of education and skill development to mark the completion of one year of reforms under the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP).

 

The emphasis on mother tongue as the medium of instruction will instil confidence in the students from poor, rural and tribal backgrounds. Even in elementary education, mother tongue is being promoted and the Vidya Pravesh programme launched on Thursday will play a big role in that, Modi noted.

11:10 PM

T20 International: Sri Lanka thrash India by 7 wickets to win series 2-1

Sri Lanka spinners led by leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga rattled a depleted Indian batting to engineer a 2-1 series victory with a seven-wicket win in the third T20 International here on Thursday.

 

Batting first, India playing with at least two batsmen short were restricted to their third lowest total of 81 for 8 with Hasaranga getting 4 for 9 in 4 overs.

 

In reply, Sri Lanka reached the target in 14.3 overs with Dhananjaya De Silva (23 ) scoring bulk of the runs. Rahul CHahar finished with 3/15 in 4 overs.

 

Brief Scores: India 81/8 in 20 overs (Wanindu Hasaranga 4/9). Sri Lanka 82 for 3 in 14.3 overs (Dhananjaya de Silva 23 batting, Rahul Chahar 3/15).

10:50 PM

144 tourists stuck in Lahaul-Spiti after cloudburst, landslides

As many as 144 tourists are stranded in Himachal Pradesh's Lahaul-Spiti following a cloudburst and landslides triggered by heavy rainfall, according to a statement issued here on Thursday.

 

The district administration said 204 people were stuck in Pattan Valley, of which 60 were rescued by police and Fire Department officials with the help of a ladder bridge.

 

Earlier, State Disaster Management Director Sudesh Kumar Mokhta had said 175 people were stranded, including 60 women and 16 children. Deputy Commissioner Neeraj Kumar has sought helicopter support from the state government for their evacuation, a district spokesperson said. Mokhta said sorties with a state government helicopter have been planned for tomorrow due to weather conditions.

10:11 PM

Indus Towers posts profit of Rs 1,415 crore in Q1

Telecom infrastructure firm Indus Towers on Thursday posted a consolidated profit after tax of Rs 1,415 crore in the first quarter ended June 30, 2021. Indus Towers had recorded profit after tax of Rs 1,121 crore in the same quarter a year ago.

 

"The first quarter of financial year 2022 witnessed the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic impacting lives and livelihoods across the country on one hand and severe cyclones in many states on the other. Indus Towers continues to stand tall against all odds to ensure support for customers, society and nation. The company has also delivered a strong financial performance for the quarter," Indus Towers Managing Director and CEO Bimal Dayal said.

 

The financial performance, however, is not comparable because the scheme of amalgamation and arrangement between Bharti Infratel and erstwhile Indus Towers Limited (a joint venture company) became effective on November 19, 2020.

9:47 PM

Israel inspects NSO Group offices after Pegasus revelations

Israeli authorities have inspected the offices of surveillance outfit NSO Group in response to the Pegasus project investigation into abuses of the companys spyware by several government clients, The Guardian reported.

 

Officials from the Defence Ministry visited the company's offices near Tel Aviv on Wednesday, at the same time when Defence Minister Benny Gantz arrived in Paris for a pre-arranged visit, in which he discussed the Pegasus revelations with his French counterpart.

 

French President Emmanuel Macron is one of the highest profile figures whose phone numbers appeared on a leaked databse of 50,000 numbers that are believed to have been selected as candidates for possible surveillance by the clients of NSO, the report said.

7:37 PM

Travel restrictions being eased for Indian students by several countries

The government on Thursday said travel restrictions are being eased for Indian students by several countries including the US, Canada, the UK, and Germany and that more nations are expected to do the same when the coronavirus situation improves. Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said in the Rajya Sabha that the government has been making efforts for easing travel restrictions for Indian students enrolled in foreign universities. A number of countries imposed travel restrictions for Indians after India was hit by a devastating second wave of the pandemic. Read here

6:50 PM

US economy accelerated at a solid 6.5% rate last quarter

Fuelled by vaccinations and government aid, the US economy grew at a solid 6.5 per cent annual rate last quarter in another sign that the nation has achieved a sustained recovery from the pandemic recession.

 

Thursday's report from the Commerce Department estimated that the nation's gross domestic product its total output of goods and services accelerated in the April-June quarter from an already robust 6.3 per cent annual growth rate in the first quarter of the year.

 

The figure was less than analysts had expected, but the economy was likely held back mainly by supply shortages in goods, components and labour. (AP)

6:38 PM

TVS Motor reports consolidated net loss of Rs 15 cr in Q1

TVS Motor Company on Thursday reported a consolidated net loss of Rs 15 crore for the first quarter ended June 30. The company had reported a net loss of Rs 183 crore in the April-June quarter of the 2020-21 financial year. Total income increased to 4,692 crore in the first quarter as against Rs 1,946.35 in the same period of the financial year 2019-20, TVS Motor Company said in a regulatory filing. On a standalone basis, the company posted a net profit of Rs 53 crore during the first quarter. It had reported a net loss of Rs 139 crore in the April-June period of last fiscal. (PTI)

6:01 PM

Half the 100,000 lateral hiring we planned has been done: Cognizant chief

In a Q&A, Rajesh Nambiar dwells on the reasons for an attrition rate as high as 31% and why he thinks the company will deliver growth in the coming quarters. Read here

5:23 PM

Union Bank of India Q1 profit zooms to Rs 1,120 cr

State-owned Union Bank of India on Thursday reported over three-fold jump in consolidated net profit at Rs 1,120.15 crore for the first quarter ended June 30, 2021. The bank clocked a net profit of Rs 340.95 crore in the same quarter of 2020-21. However, compared sequentially, the net profit was down from Rs 1,269.18 crore in March quarter 2021. Total income rose to Rs 20,666.62 crore in the quarter under review from Rs 20,487.01 crore in the year-ago period, Union Bank of India said in a regulatory filing. (PTI)

5:04 PM

NEP being implemented in phased manner amid pandemic: PM

I want to congratulate everyone that the new education policy has completed a year... Even amid the pandemic, the policy is being implemented with help of suggestions of over lakhs of citizens, teachers, autonomous bodies and by deploying task force, in a phased manner: PM Modi

4:50 PM

NSE adds 5 million investors in first four months of current financial year

The National Stock Exchange (NSE) has seen registrations of 5 million new investors between April and July. The registrations are 2.6 times more compared to the same period last year and 6 times higher when compared to the same period of FY19. The exchange said more than half of new investors registered this fiscal are from beyond the top five ranked states in terms of investor base. The exchange’s overall investor base has now crossed 45 million. Read here

4:06 PM

Landmark decision: PM on reservation for OBCs, EWS in medical courses

3:44 PM

27% reserved quota for OBCs, 10% for EWS category for medical courses

Modi government on Thursday took a decision to provide 27 per cent reservation for OBCs and 10 per cent reservation for Economically Weaker Section (EWS) in the All India Quota (AIQ) scheme for undergraduate and postgraduate medical/dental courses (MBBS / MD / MS / Diploma / BDS / MDS) from the current academic year 2021-22 onwards. Read full govt release here

2:36 PM

Lok Sabha proceedings adjourned for the day

Lok Sabha proceedings adjourned for the day following protest by Opposition MPs

2:22 PM

Just In: The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2021 passed in Lok Sabha

Just In: The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2021 passed in Lok Sabha

2:21 PM

Factoring Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2021 passed in Rajya Sabha

The Factoring Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2021 passed in Rajya Sabha. House has been adjourned till 11 am, tomorrow.

2:10 PM

Monsoon Session: Oppn MPs continue to protest over pegasus

Monsoon Session: Opposition MPs continue to protest on Pegasus issue in Lok Sabha, disrupt House proceedings

1:57 PM

India doubles tiger numbers 4 yrs ahead of schedule

India achieved the target of doubling of tiger population four years ahead of schedule of the St. Petersburg Declaration on tiger Conservation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on the International Tiger Day on Thursday.

1:13 PM

SC reserves verdict in pleas against Future, Reliance deal

The Supreme Court reserved Thursday its verdict on Amazon’s plea against the Rs 24,713 crore deal for merger of Future Retail with Reliance Retail.

1:04 PM

Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha adjourned till 2pm

Rajya Sabha adjourned again till 2 pm as Opposition MPs continue protests. Lok Sabha was adjourned till 2pm as well

12:36 PM

Lok Sabha adjourned till 2pm

Lok Sabha adjourned till 2pm; Opposition MPs continues protests over Pegasus spyware issue and other matters

12:12 PM

Lok Sabha adjourned till 12.30 pm

Lok Sabha is adjourned till 12.30 pm as Opposition MPs shout slogans against government.

12:04 PM

Speaker says Opposition MPs' behaviour had hurt him

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla adjourned the House till 11.30am, saying was "very hurt" by Opposition members behaviour Wednesday. PTI reports tha on Wednesday, when papers were being laid, Congress members Gurjeet Aujala, TN Prathapan, Hibi Eden and some others threw business papers of the day as well as torn pieces of paper and placards at the Chair.

11:19 AM

Govt wasting time: Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi says the government is "wasting Parliament's time" by not let Opposition raise issues. "The foundation of our democracy is that Parliamentarians should be the voice of the people and should discuss issues of national importance," he said on Twitter.

11:11 AM

Rajya Sabha adjourned till noon

Rajya Sabha adjourned till noon as Opposition parties continues protest over Pegasus spyware controversy, farm laws and other issues

10:45 AM

Kerala must enforce guidelines for gatherings: Union Health Secretary

ANI, while quoting sources, reports that the Union Health Secretary has written to Kerala’s government about Covid-19 "super spreader events" in the state. "Compliance with mass/social gatherings guidelines need to be enforced strictly," said Rajesh Bhushan in his letter.

10:36 AM

Congress MP gets his cycle to make a point

10:17 AM

Opposition wants discussion on Pegasus: Kharge

Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge, who is leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, says the Opposition will let House "function properly" if government agrees to discuss the Pegasus controversy. "We only want discussion on Pegasus issue. For that, PM Modi and Home Minister's presence is necessary. We have also called an all-party meeting today,” says Kharge, according to ANI.

9:11 AM

Manish Tewari gives adjournment notice in Lok Sabha

Congress MP Manish Tewari gives adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha to discuss Pegasus controversy, reports ANI.