Highlights: Senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia walks out of Tihar jail after 17 months

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10:06 PM

Two persons get former Bengal CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's corneas

The corneas of former West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee were successfully transplanted into two persons, restoring their vision, a senior doctor said on Friday.
 

Both recipients —a man and a woman — had been suffering from corneal blindness.
 

Dr Asim Kumar Ghosh, director of the Regional Institute of Ophthalmology, said the surgeries conducted on Thursday night were successful, and both patients are recovering well. He expressed his admiration for Bhattacharjee's decision, calling it an inspiring act.
 

Despite having retinal issues, Bhattacharjee's corneas were in excellent condition, largely because he had not undergone cataract surgery, which can sometimes damage the cornea, Dr Ghosh explained.

9:59 PM

CPI leader, activists holding protest to demand Gaza ceasefire detained in Delhi

Senior CPI leader Annie Raja and prominent activists, including economist Jean Dreze, holding a protest near Khan Market to demand a ceasefire in Gaza were detained on Friday, officials said.
 

Carrying banners reading "Ceasefire Now" and "Stop the Genocide", Raja and Dreze with along with dozen CPI supporters tried to march towards the Israel embassy.
 

They were detained and taken to the Tughlak Road police station in a bus, an officer said.
 

They were released after being held in detention for some time, the officer added.
 

9:01 PM

Delhi LG nod for use of 54.89 hectares of land for Baprola industrial park

The proposed industrial park in southwest Delhi's Baprola will be bigger in size as Lt Governor VK Saxena has given approval for use of 54.89 hectares instead of previously notified 22.34 hectares, Raj Niwas said.
 

Availability of proper industrial infrastructure in notified industrial areas deters the mushrooming of illegal industrial units in commercial or residential areas that often cause mishaps and unregulated pollution, LG VK Saxena said in a note from Raj Niwas.

"LG Saxena has approved the re-notification of the entire land area measuring 54.89 hectares of Baprola Industrial Area to be developed as ‘Industrial Park' under the Delhi Industrial Development, Operation and Maintenance (DIDOM) Act, 2010," said the note.

8:45 PM

Manish Sisodia meets Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's wife, other family members after being released from Tihar

Manish Sisodia meets Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's wife, other family members after being released from Tihar jail on Friday.

8:39 PM

Govt's failure to create jobs led people to risk lives: Congress on Indians recruited into Russian army

The Congress on Friday said it is a "national tragedy" that Indians recruited into the Russian army are waiting to be released from the force and alleged that the Centre's failure to create employment has led "our youth to risk their very lives for another country in a war that is not our own".
 

Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said 87 Indian youngsters, "faced with the mounting unemployment and hopelessness at home, have joined the Russian Army in the war that Papa was supposed to have stopped".
 

Citing a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Ramesh said 66 Indian nationals are still pending release from the Russian army.
 

"While the honourable minister's answer doesn't mention, eight have lost their lives as well," he said in a post on X.

8:13 PM

VA Tech WABAG records Q1 consolidated profit at Rs 50.5 cr

Water treatment player VA Tech WABAG Ltd has reported a consolidated profit after tax for the April-June 2024 quarter at Rs 50.5 crore, the company said on Friday.
 

The city-based company had registered profits of Rs 47 crore during the corresponding quarter of last year. For the year ending March 31, 2024 the consolidated profits stood at Rs 235.8 crore, VA Tech WABAG said in a statement.
 

The consolidated total income during the quarter under review grew to Rs 547.7 crore, from Rs 520.9 crore registered in the same quarter of last year.
 

For the year ending March 31, 2024 the consolidated total income stood at Rs 2,541 crore.

7:15 PM

Feeling indebted to Baba Saheb Ambedkar after this order: Manish Sisodia on SC granting him bail

Feeling indebted to Baba Saheb Ambedkar after this order: Manish Sisodia on SC granting him bail

7:15 PM

We have brought this legal battle to its logical end constitutionally: AAP leader Manish Sisodia

We have brought this legal battle to its logical end constitutionally: AAP leader Manish Sisodia after walking out of jail

7:14 PM

Tihar live: Grateful to SC that used power of Constitution to give tight slap on dictatorship, says Sisodia

Grateful to SC that used power of Constitution to give tight slap on dictatorship: AAP leader Sisodia after coming out of jail

7:13 PM

Got bail due to power of Constitution, democracy: Manish Sisodia

Got bail due to power of Constitution, democracy; this power will ensure our leader Arvind Kejriwal is also released: Manish Sisodia

6:48 PM

Kharge determined to have his way at cost of Constitution: Dhankhar

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday deplored the conduct of the Opposition party members in the House, saying Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge was determined to have his way at the cost of the Constitution.
 

The Upper House, which was adjourned sine die ahead of schedule in the afternoon, witnessed sloganeering and heated exchanges earlier in the day with the Opposition members walking out after their demand for an apology from BJP MP Ghanshyam Tiwari for purportedly insulting Kharge last week, was struck down by Dhankhar.
 

The Chairman also had a heated exchange of words with actor-politician and SP member Jaya Bachchan who objected to Dhankhar's "tone" during the Question Hour.

6:39 PM

China welcomes interim government in Bangladesh

China on Friday welcomed the formation of the interim government in Bangladesh headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, saying that Beijing is ready to advance the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries.
 

“The friendship between China and Bangladesh runs long and deep. China values its relations with Bangladesh, and stands ready to work with Bangladesh to promote bilateral exchanges and cooperation in various areas and further advance our comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership,” a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement said.

6:27 PM

Seven security personnel killed in militant attack in Pakistan

At least seven Pakistani security personnel were killed and 11 others injured when militants affiliated with the Pakistani Taliban attacked a security post in Pakistan's restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Friday, officials here said.
 

The attack took place in Tirah Valley, a town located on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, they said.
 

Hafiz Gul Bahadar Group, which formed an alliance with the Tariq Afridi Group known as Tariq Gedar Group -- an affiliate of the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) -- in February, claimed responsibility for the attack in a social media post.

6:12 PM

Bareilly man strangles pregnant daughter over 'love affair'

 A man strangled his pregnant 17-year-old daughter over her love affair and later turned up at a police station here to confess his crime, police said.
 

According to Bareilly Superintendent of Police (City) Rahul Bhati, the teenager was in a relationship with Bhujendra alias Bhura Srivastava, a resident of Rasula village.
 

The minor's father, after learning about his daughter's pregnancy, filed a case of rape against Bhujendra. Charges under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act was also slapped against him at CB Ganj Police Station on Wednesday.
 

Police arrested Bhujendra on Thursday and sent him to jail. After recording the girl's statement, she was sent back to her home. Later that night, the father strangled her, said Bhati.

6:01 PM

RBI sells bonds for fourth straight week, amount decreases

The Reserve Bank of India sold government bonds from its portfolio for a fourth consecutive week ending Aug. 2, but the sale amount was lowest in the four weeks, data on Friday showed.
 

The RBI sold bonds worth 15.70 billion rupees ($187.1 million). This brings its aggregate sale to nearly 117 billion rupees during this period.
 

In the preceding three weeks, the central bank sold bonds worth 39.85 billion rupees, 27.35 billion rupees and 34.05 billion rupees, respectively. The sale in the week ended July 12 was its first bond sale in more than 10 months.

5:33 PM

Japan Issued Its First ‘Megaquake’ Warning After Powerful Tremor

An earthquake off the coast of Japan’s southern island of Kyushu prompted the government to issue its first-ever warning for a megaquake from an undersea trough running along a swath of the country’s coast, Bloomberg reported.
 

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called off a planned trip to Central Asia out of an abundance of caution following the warning. Bullet trains were running at reduced speeds, national broadcaster NHK is running cautionary graphics and some semiconductor-related factories temporarily halted production. Some beaches in the affected regions have been closed off for the time being, according to local reports.

5:16 PM

Tata Chemicals plans to raise Rs 1,700 crore through NCDs

Tata Chemicals plans to raise Rs 1,700 crore through the issue of non-convertible debentures to investors on a private placement basis.

In a regulatory filing, the company informed that an internal committee, constituted by the board of directors, has, at its meeting held on Friday, finalised the terms of the issue of NCDs (non-convertible debentures).

The company proposes to issue 1,70,000 NCDs of face value Rs 1 lakh each, aggregating to Rs 1,700 crore, on a private placement basis to eligible investors.

The NCDs are proposed to be listed on the debt segment of the NSE.

4:53 PM

Mumbai hoarding collapse: No impairment in arrest, says HC; refuses relief to advertising firm director

The Bombay High Court today rejected a plea filed by advertising firm director Bhavesh Bhinde, arrested in the Ghatkopar hoarding collapse case, in which he had claimed the incident was an "act of God" and his arrest was illegal. A division bench of Justices Bharati Dangre and Manjusha Deshpande said it has not found any legal infirmity and no impairment in the procedure mandated while arresting a person.

 

4:42 PM

RSS urges central govt to ensure safety of Hindus, other minority communities in Bangladesh

RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale also urged the interim government of Bangladesh to immediately take strict action to stop such incidents and "make proper arrangements for the protection of life and property, and honour of victims".

4:38 PM

Delhi liquor policy case update: Court issues release order for AAP leader Manish Sisodia

 A Delhi court on Friday issued an order for the release of AAP leader Manish Sisodia, who was granted bail by the Supreme Court earlier in the day in the excise policy cases lodged by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Special Judge Kaveri Baweja accepted the bail bonds and surety bonds submitted by the advocates representing Sisodia.

4:19 PM

Can't put career of 2 lakh students in jeopardy at behest of five students, says Supreme Court

The top court today rejected a plea seeking postponement of the NEET-PG examination, scheduled for August 11, which claimed that candidates have been allocated cities that are highly inconvenient for them to reach. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said it can't put the careers of two lakh students in jeopardy for five students.

4:01 PM

Centre issues clarification on documents needed for citizenship under CAA

The Centre has expanded the ambit of the rules issued under the citizenship law CAA through which Indian nationality will be given to persecuted minorities coming from Afghanistan, Bangladesh or Pakistan. The Union home ministry announced that "any document" issued by the central or state governments or quasi-judicial body in India proving that either of the parents, grandparents or great-grandparents is or had been a citizen of one of the three countries will be acceptable.

3:58 PM

Delhi liquor policy case update: Counsel for AAP leader Manish Sisodia furnishes bail bond before Delhi court

The Supreme Court granted bail to Sisodia today in the corruption and money laundering cases, registered by the CBI and the ED, respectively, on a personal bond of Rs 10 lakh with two sureties of the like amount.

 

3:11 PM

News update: Decision on Phogat's application for a shared silver medal to be issued before end of Olympics

Vinesh Phogat has appealed against her disqualification from the 50kg category Olympic finals in the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS).

2:56 PM

News Update: SC partly stays circular of Mumbai college banning 'hijab, burqa, cap and naqab' inside campus

The top court said that students must have choice to wear what they want.  The court stated that its interim order on 'burqa, hijab' should not be misused, and grantedd liberty to the Mumbai college to approach court in case of misuse. 

2:41 PM

Pakistan more of 'nuisance', than strategic threat to India: Shaurya Doval

Pakistan is now more of a "nuisance" than a strategic threat as India has gained an edge over its neighbour, according to BJP leader and India Foundation founder Shaurya Doval. "We have passed various points in our relationship with Pakistan, and while they still present challenges, they no longer represent a serious threat...Pakistan poses nuisance value to us now but does not pose any strategic threat to us. So, that is one situation solved," he said.

2:30 PM

Disseminate message of Independence across India: Home Minister Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday asked people to actively disseminate the message of Independence across the country as part of the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign. Shah said following a call by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he has changed his profile picture to national flag on 'X', and appealed all to do the same.

2:29 PM

Bengal CM Mamata congratulates Muhammad Yunus for taking charge of Bangladesh's interim govt

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today congratulated Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus on taking charge of the interim government in Bangladesh. "My sincere congratulations and best wishes to Professor Muhammad Yunus and those who have taken up their duties in Bangladesh. Hopefully, our relationship with them will improve further," Banerjee posted on X.

2:03 PM

Supreme Court to screen 'Laapataa Ladies' today

The Supreme Court will host a screening of the film Laapataa Ladies for the judges, their families, and registry officials. A notice from the court’s administration department indicates that actor and producer Aamir Khan, along with the film’s director Kiran Rao, will also attend the screening. Read here for more details.

2:01 PM

A triumph for democracy, defeat of injustice and dictatorship: Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren on bail to Sisodia

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Friday described the Supreme Court verdict granting bail to AAP leader Manish Sisodia as a "triumph for democracy" and "defeat of dictatorship and injustice". The top court granted bail to the AAP leader in the corruption and money laundering cases linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam, noting that he has been in custody for 17 months. "It is a triumph for democracy and defeat of injustice and dictatorship," said Soren in a post on X.