Highlights of the day: Govt raises windfall tax on petroleum crude to Rs 7,000 per metric tonnne

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11:18 PM

ECoR to run special trains to Puri for Lord Jagannath's rituals

The East Coast Railway on Monday said it will operate special trains this month on the occasion of two rituals of Lord Jagannath temple in Puri. Apart from the regular trains to and fro Puri, 43 Special Trains for Sunabhesa (golden attire) and 33 Special Trains for Adharapana (sweet water offering) will run for the convenience of the passengers.

11:07 PM

Rs 16.50 crore swindled in cyber heist at Noida branch of Nainital Bank

In a major cyber heist, a branch of Nainital Bank in Noida has reported a server breach resulting in a staggering Rs 16.50 crore being illegally transferred to various accounts by unknown thugs, officials said on Monday.

 

Assistant Commissioner of Police (Cyber Crime) Vivek Ranjan Rai said the police have launched a probe into the crime which took place over a period of five days in June.

10:47 PM

Nepal govt forms task force to find out missing buses in Trishuli as 13 bodies recovered so far

Rescuers in Nepal have recovered 13 bodies, including that of three Indians, after two buses were swept into a swollen river following a landslide in the Chitwan district last week, authorities said on Monday. Out of the 13 corpses, three bodies belong to Indian nationals and five are yet to be identified.

10:13 PM

Govt raises windfall tax on petroleum crude to Rs 7,000 per metric tonnne

The Indian government has raised the windfall tax on petroleum crude to Rs 7,000 ($83.78) per metric ton from Rs 6,000 per metric ton, effective from July 16, a notification issued on Monday showed.

9:59 PM

Apparel exporters seeks fiscal incentives in Budget to boost exports

Apparel exporters on Monday sought fiscal incentives including cut in customs duties and fund support in the forthcoming Budget to boost the outbound shipments from the sector. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to present the Budget on July 22. The Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) suggested the government should increase the rates under the interest equalization scheme to 5 per cent for all the apparel exporters for a period of five years.

9:41 PM

Over 200 ex-MPs served eviction notices for overstaying official bungalows: Report

More than 200 former Lok Sabha MPs, who have yet to vacate their official bungalows in Lutyens' Delhi, have been issued eviction notices, sources in the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry said on Monday. The notices have been issued under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act.

9:01 PM

Revised financial statements of two IL&FS group firms submitted before NCLT

Revised financial statements of two IL&FS group firms, IL&FS Transportation and IL&FS Financial Services, for the financial years 2013 to 2018 have been submitted before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). A two-member bench of NCLT Mumbai comprising Prabhat Kumar and Justice Virendra Singh Bisht has taken the submissions of revised financial statements on record.

8:56 PM

Bengal Speaker favours oath-taking of 4 newly elected MLAs in Assembly

West Bengal Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee on Monday said he was in favour of the swearing-in of four newly elected TMC MLAs within the House premises as per well-established legislative conventions. Banerjee's remark follows a month-long dispute involving the Trinamool Congress and Raj Bhavan over the oath-taking of MLAs Sayantika Bandyopadhyay and Rayat Hossain Sarkar, who won in the June bypolls from Baranagar and Bhagabangola, respectively.

8:33 PM

Election Commission team holds meeting with Haryana officials

A team of the Election Commission of India here on Monday held a meeting with the Haryana poll officials in the wake of the assembly elections due later this year.

The ECI team reviewed the preparations related to the voter lists ahead of the assembly polls, said an official statement.

7:52 PM

Fight against three evils - terrorism, separatism and extremism: EAM

With terrorism becoming a threat to regional and global peace, the perpetrators, facilitators, financiers and sponsors of heinous acts of terrorism need to be identified and punished, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said, in a veiled jibe at Pakistan. In a recent interview with Astana-based Kazinform News Agency, he also emphasised that the "fight against the three evils -- terrorism, separatism and extremism -- is a priority in SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation)".

7:39 PM

CBI takes over probe of Public Service Commission recruitment scam during 2020-22 exams

The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a case on the request of the Chhattisgarh government on allegations of favouritism in selection for the post of Deputy Collectors and other senior posts by State Public Service Commission during 2020-22 exams.

 

Earlier, the case was registered against the then Chairman, then Secretary, then Controller of Examinations, all of Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission (CGPSC) and others on the allegations of abusing their official position by recruiting their sons, daughters, relatives, their acquaintances who were allegedly ineligible candidates for various posts in Chhattisgarh Govt in examination and interviews conducted during the year 2020-2022.

7:20 PM

Ukraine needs 25 Patriot air defence systems and more F-16 warplanes: Zelenskyy

Ukraine needs 25 Patriot air defence systems to fully defend its airspace and protect the entire country from Russian missile attacks, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday, adding that he also wants Western partners to send more F-16 warplanes than those already pledged. In his first news conference since returning from a trip to the United States, Zelenskyy said he is ready to work with Donald Trump if he wins November's election.

6:35 PM

'India, Eurasian Economic Union bloc finalising broad contours, ToRs on proposed FTA'

India and the five-nation Eurasian Economic Union bloc are working to finalise broad contours and their terms of reference on a proposed free trade agreement, an official said. The five members of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) are Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia.

6:10 PM

Committed to strengthening ties with India, says newly appointed Nepal PM Oli

Newly appointed Nepalese Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli on Monday said he was committed to working with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on strengthening Nepal-India relations and elevating the bilateral ties to new heights. Responding to Prime Minister Modi's congratulatory message on his appointment as Nepal's prime minister for the fourth time, Oli thanked the Indian leader for his warm wishes.

6:00 PM

Only 8 applied for citizenship under CAA in Assam, says Himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday said only eight people have applied for citizenship under the CAA from the state so far.

 

Speaking at a press conference here, Sarma noted that out of these applicants, only two have proceeded to attend interviews with relevant authorities.

5:21 PM

EAM meets German state secretary of foreign office

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held talks with Germany's state secretary of foreign office Thomas Bagger with a focus on German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's visit to India later this year. Bagger is on a visit to India, primarily to prepare grounds for Scholz's planned trip to New Delhi around October, people familiar with the matter said.

5:10 PM

K Kamaraj's contribution to sectors like education remains unparalleled, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to former Congress president K Kamaraj, the PM said Kamaraj's contribution to sectors like education remains unparalleled. "Remembering Thiru K. Kamaraj on his birth anniversary. He is widely respected for his visionary leadership and efforts to uplift the poor. His contribution to sectors like education remain unparalleled. We reiterate our commitment to fulfil his ideals and build a society that is just and compassionate," PM Modi said in a post on X.

4:53 PM

AI cameras set up in Karnataka Assembly to record arrival, exit time of MLAs, duration of presence

Artificial Intelligence-enabled cameras with facial recognition technology have now been installed in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly that will record arrival and exit time of members, as well as the duration of their presence in the House. KGF Congress MLA Roopakala Shashidhar was the first legislator to be recorded by the cameras on arrival at the Assembly for the monsoon session, which began today as the new system became operational.

4:48 PM

Liquor policy scam: Delhi court extends AAP leader Sisodia's custody till July 22

A Delhi court today extended the judicial custody of AAP leader and former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia in a corruption case related to the alleged excise policy scam. Special judge for CBI and ED Kaveri Baweja extended the custody of Sisodia till July 22 after he was produced before the court through video conference on the expiry of his judicial custody.

4:34 PM

Delhi High Court permits woman to medically terminate 32-week pregnancy

The Delhi High Court has allowed a 31-year-old woman to undergo medical termination of her pregnancy of over 32 weeks due to the foetus's abnormalities, which posed a substantial risk of physical and mental handicap. Justice Sanjeev Narula, allowing the woman's plea seeking permission to undergo an abortion, said the continuation of the pregnancy poses a significant risk to the petitioner's physical and mental health and is likely to result in the birth of a child with severe health issues.

 

4:29 PM

SC to examine Maharashtra govt plea against remission to gangster Arun Gawli in murder case

The Supreme Court on Monday said it would like to examine the plea of the Maharashtra government, challenging the remission granted to gangster-turned-politician Arun Gawli who is serving a life sentence in a murder case.

4:14 PM

Senior legislator Suresh Babu replaces Kumaraswamy as JD(S) leader in Karnataka Assembly

Senior JD(S) lawmaker C B Suresh Babu is the party's leader in the Karnataka Assembly, Speaker U T Khader said on Monday. The position fell vacant following JD(S) leader and Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy's election to the Lok Sabaha.

4:12 PM

8 civilians wounded in 2 coordinated suicide attacks near a military facility in northwest Pakistan

A suicide bomber detonated an explosives-laden vehicle and at least one of his accomplices exploded his vest near the outer wall of a military facility in northwestern Pakistan early Monday, wounding eight civilians and damaging nearby homes, a local police official said.

3:56 PM

Parliament security breach case news update: Delhi Police files supplementary charge sheet

Delhi police officials have submitted a supplementary charge sheet in the Parliament security breach case. The charge sheet, filed after obtaining prosecution sanctions, names all accused under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The court will review the case and arguments on August 2, with judicial custody extended until then.

3:32 PM

Delhi liquor policy case: Court defers CBI arguments, hearing on July 22

The Rouse Avenue court today deferred hearing arguments of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on charges against the accused in the Delhi Excise policy case. The matter has been listed on July 22. Manish Sisodia and other accused in judicial custody were produced before the court through video conferencing.

3:29 PM

Drug peddler's property worth Rs 10 million attached in J-K's Rajouri

The property of an alleged drug peddler worth over Rs 10 million attached in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, a police officer said. The residential house of Basid Ali was attached under Section 68(E)(F) of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, he said.

3:23 PM

Former MP High Court judge Rohit Arya joins BJP

Former Madhya Pradesh High Court judge Rohit Arya has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party, three months after his retirement, citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's public-oriented developmental work and the BJP's policies as his primary influences. Arya was appointed as a judge of the MP High Court on September 12, 2013, and became a permanent judge on March 26, 2015. He retired on April 27, 2024.

 

2:55 PM

Bihar CM should 'strike', he's in position to get it done: Congress on special category status demand

The Congress on Monday sought to know what Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is doing about the demand for special category status for the state and asserted that "he should strike" as he is in a position to get this done now.The remarks come after Bihar ministers claimed that the latest report of NITI Aayog's Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) India Index 2023-24 vindicated the state's long-standing demand for greater central financial assistance.

2:43 PM

NEET news update: Youth Congress workers stage protest in Bhopal

2:41 PM

Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren calls on PM Modi

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, days after he took charge of the post again. Positing a picture on X from his meeting with the prime minister, Soren said the meeting was a "courtesy call". Soren had resigned as the chief minister before his arrest on January 31 by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam.