News updates: Intermittent rainfall in Delhi causes waterlogging, traffic snarls

Catch all the news developments from around the world here

9:11 PM

Intermittent rainfall in Delhi causes waterlogging, traffic snarls

Sporadic rains lashed Delhi on Monday, leading to a drop in mercury and traffic snarls due to waterlogging in some parts of the city, officials said. Safdarjung observatory, the city's primary weather station, recorded 12.9 mm of rain, Lodi Road 13.6 mm, Palam 10.5 mm, and Najafgarh 30 mm from 11.30 am to 5.30 pm on Monday, according to India Meteorological Department (IMD). Delhi's maximum temperature settled at 31.6 degrees Celsius, three degrees below the normal, according to the IMD. The humidity level was 97 per cent at 5.30 pm. Due to the downpour, traffic was affected on Rohtak Road on both carriageways from Tikri Border to Peeragarhi due to waterlogging at Mundka, according to the Delhi Police.

9:09 PM

PM Modi's visit to Himachal Pradesh cancelled due to bad weather: CM Sukhu

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to visit Himachal Pradesh on Monday but the trip was cancelled due to inclement weather, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said.

 

He said the prime minister's visit would be rescheduled once the weather improves. No official announcement was made about Modi's visit earlier.

 

9:06 PM

Sex ratio to improve to 952 women per 1,000 men by 2036: Govt Study

Sex ratio in India is expected to improve to 952 women per 1000 men by 2036 from 943 in 2011, according to a report 'Women and Men in India 2023' released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation on Monday.

 

The report highlights that India's population in 2036 is expected to be more feminine compared to the 2011 population, as reflected in the sex ratio which is projected to increase from 943 in 2011 to 952 by 2036, highlighting a positive trend in gender equality.

 

By 2036, the population of India is expected to reach 152.2 crore, with a slightly improved female percentage of 48.8 per cent compared to 48.5 per cent in 2011, the report stated.

 

The proportion of individuals under 15 years is projected to decrease from 2011 to 2036, likely due to declining fertility, it stated.

 

Conversely, the proportion of the population aged 60 years and above is anticipated to substantially increase during this period.

 

It is evident that from 2016 to 2020, Age Specific Fertility Rate (ASFR) in the age group of 20-24 and 25-29 has reduced from 135.4 and 166.0 to 113.6 and 139.6 respectively.

7:47 PM

39,897 Palestinians killed in Israel's offensive on Gaza since Oct.7, Gaza health ministry says

At least 39,897 Palestinians were killed and 92,152 injured in Israel's military offensive on Gaza since Oct.7, the Gaza health ministry said in a statement on Monday.

In the last 48 hours, some 142 Palestinians were killed, the ministry added. An Israeli airstrike on a Gaza City school compound housing displaced families killed around 100 people, the Gaza Civil Emergency Service had said on Saturday.

7:15 PM

Vodafone Idea's losses in Q1 narrow to Rs 6,432 crore. The company says revenue has reduced marginally.

7:08 PM

Five-time Olympic gold medalist Tom Daley announces retirement from diving

7:00 PM

Neeraj Chopra's homecoming delayed, in Germany to consult doctor: family source

Star Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has left for Germany after winning a silver medal in the Paris Games to take medical advice regarding a possible surgery and to decide whether to feature in the upcoming Diamond League meetings, according to sources.

 

A family source told PTI that he has left for Germany and is unlikely to return to India for at least one month. In Paris, Indian Olympic Association sources also confirmed that Chopra has left for Germany.

 

"Chopra has left for Germany and he will not return to India for another month and a half," a family source told PTI.

 

"I am not aware of the much of the details, but for sure he will consult a doctor there (Germany)," he added.

 

After winning at the Paavo Nurmi Games in Finland in June, Chopra had said that he would consult doctors after the Paris Olympics to deal with his injury.

 

He had won the World Championships in 2023 while carrying the groin injury. Before the Paris Olympics this year, he took a break of more than one month due to adductor muscle niggle.

6:50 PM

JNU teachers, students hold protests on campus

Members of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers' Association began a 24-hour hunger strike on campus on Monday to protest against alleged delays in promotions.

 

The JNU Students Union (JNUSU) also launched an indefinite hunger strike on campus, demanding the resolution of several longstanding issues, including the revocation of proctorial inquiries initiated against students.

 

There was no immediate response from Jawaharlal Nehru University Vice-Chancellor Santishree D Pandit on the strikes and the allegations levelled by the teachers and the students.

 

More than a dozen professors from various departments associated with the Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers' Association (JNUTA) joined the sit-in at the School of Languages lawn.

 

Posters bearing slogans such as "Promoting the truth about promotion", "Promotions are hard earned", and "Waiting for promotions" were put up at the protest site.

6:08 PM

Olympic Games showed world 'the true face of France': Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that the Olympic Games showed the world "the true face of France" as he praised the "success" of Paris 2024. "We don't want life to get back to normal," Macron said at a reception at the Elysee Palace.

5:41 PM

Retail inflation slows to 3.5 %in July, falls below RBI's target for the first time in 5 years

5:40 PM

IIP grows 5.2% in June against 4.7% expansion a year ago, shows government data

Industrial production (IIP) grows 5.2 per cent in June against 4.7 per cent expansion a year ago, shows government data.

 

4:53 PM

Kerala implemented 'Fake News Detection' in textbooks before the UK, says education dept

The Kerala General Education Department incorporated modules into the ICT textbooks for Classes 5 and 7 to empower school children to identify fake news on online platforms and conduct fact-checking, according to a senior official said. It was done in Kerala even before UK rolled out its programme, he said.

In 2022, Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education (KITE), the technology arm of the department headed by CEO K Anvar Sadath, had imparted training on fake news prevention and awareness creation for 1.9 million students of Grade 5 to 10, as part of the Digital Media Literacy programme, he said.

4:48 PM

Mortal remains of Natwar Singh consigned to flames; several leaders pay tribute

The mortal remains of former foreign minister K Natwar Singh were consigned to flames here on Monday as several political leaders, including External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, joined in paying tribute to him. Natwar Singh passed away on Saturday night after a prolonged illness, according to his family members. He was 93.

4:46 PM

Defamation case against Rahul Gandhi: Sultanpur special judge on leave, hearing not held

Hearing in a defamation case involving senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi could not be held in the MP-MLA court in Sultanpur on Monday as the special judge was on leave. Gandhi's advocate Kashi Prasad Shukla said as Special Judge Shubham Verma was on leave, no hearing could take place. August 23 has been fixed as the next date of hearing, he added. On July 26, Gandhi appeared before the MP-MLA court here in a defamation case against him and said it was filed to gain "cheap publicity".

4:41 PM

Former Odisha CM Patnaik writes to Union science minister to continue support for UNESCO Kalinga Prize

Leader of opposition in the Odisha assembly, Naveen Patnaik, on Monday wrote to Union Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh, urging continued support for the UNESCO Kalinga Prize, a prestigious international science award. He expressed concern over the Union Ministry of Science and Technology's alleged decision to withdraw support, noting that, after the prize's 50th anniversary in 2002, a cost-sharing arrangement was established between the central government, Odisha government, and Kalinga Foundation Trust.

4:32 PM

Kolkata doctor rape-murder case: Delhi hospitals launch indefinite strike, elective services suspended

Resident doctors from multiple hospitals in Delhi, including centrally-run facilities AIIMS, RML Hospital and Safdarjung Hospital, have begun an indefinite strike, suspending all elective services on Monday, in response to the recent rape and murder of a resident doctor in Kolkata. According to the Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA), during the indefinite strike, all outpatient departments (OPDs), operation theatres (OTs), and ward duties will be shut, but emergency services will continue to operate as usual, 

4:31 PM

SC notice to ED on bail plea filed by AAP's Vijay Nair in money laundering case

The top court sought a response from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on the bail plea of the Aam Aadmi Party's former communication in-charge Vijay Nair in a money laundering case related to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam. The Supreme Court bench issued notice to the central agency and sought its response within four weeks. Senior advocates Abhishek Singhvi and Vikram Chaudhary, appearing for the petitioner, submitted that Nair has been in jail for almost two years.

4:27 PM

Two deputy governors of Bangladesh Bank resign after Hasina's exit

Days after the resignation of the Bangladesh Bank governor, two deputy governors and the head of the Financial Intelligence Unit (BFUI) have resigned following the directives from the interim government, a media report said on Monday. Additionally, an adviser to the central bank has also submitted his resignation to the governor, The Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported.

4:12 PM

RBI sets up expert committee on benchmarking of its statistics

The RBI today announced setting up a committee under deputy governor Michael Debabrata Patra on benchmarking the statistics regularly disseminated by it against global standards. The 10-member 'Expert Committee on Benchmarking of its Statistics' has been asked to submit report by the end of November 2024.

The panel, chaired by Patra, will also study the quality of other regular data, where such benchmarks do not exist (like sectors of national priority) and provide guidance on the scope for any further data refinement.

4:03 PM

NIRF Ranking 2024 news updates: Top 10 institutes in overall category

1) IIT Madras

2) IISc Bengaluru

3) IIT Bombay

4) IIT Delhi

5) IIT Kanpur

6) IIT Kharagpur

7) AIIMS, New Delhi

8) IIT Roorkee

9) IIT Guwahati

10) JNU, New Delhi

3:57 PM

NIRF rankings: IIM Ahmedabad best B-school in India, two IITs among top ten for management courses

Jamia Hamdard has been adjudged as the best university for pharmacy.

3:50 PM

NIRF 2024 rankings: 8 IITs, AIIMS Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University in top ten list

IISc Bengaluru adjudged best Indian university, IIT Madras best engineering institution.

3:42 PM

Centre issues guidelines for 'Model Solar Village' under PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana

The Centre today issued operational guidelines for implementation of 'Model Solar Village' component under PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. Under the scheme component, emphasis has been laid on creating one model solar village per district across India, to promote solar energy adoption and enable village communities to become self-reliant in energy needs, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) said .

3:35 PM

News update: IIT Madras tops NIRF rankings for sixth consecutive year

3:31 PM

Supreme Court reserves judgement on bail plea of former TN minister Senthil Balaji in money laundering case

The Supreme Court on Monday reserved its verdict on the bail plea of former Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate last year in connection with a money laundering case. A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih heard the submissions of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Enforcement Directorate (ED), and senior advocates Mukul Rohatagi and Sidharth Luthra, appearing for Balaji.

3:09 PM

Foreign Secretary Misri meets Nepal Dy PMs and foreign minister; Holds talks on bilateral ties

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Monday met his Nepalese counterpart Sewa Lamsal and other senior political leaders of the Himalayan nation and discussed steady growth of bilateral ties and ways to take it forward. Misri's two-day visit is the first by the Indian foreign secretary to Nepal after the formation of the new government led by Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli last month."Foreign Secretary @VikramMisri met his counterpart Ms. Sewa Lamsal @sewa_lamsal. They discussed the steady growth of India-Nepal cooperation and ways to take it forward. #IndiaNepalFriendship," the Indian embassy in Nepal said in a post on X.

 

3:00 PM

No changing date of birth after retirement: Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court has ruled that an employee cannot change the recorded date of birth after retirement. The case involved a man who worked at a pulp drawing processor manufacturing unit from 1983 until he retired in 2006. When he was hired, he verbally gave his date of birth as March 30, 1952, but didn't provide any proof. The employer, however, recorded his date of birth as March 10, 1948, based on his provident fund details and a school certificate. This meant he retired at 58 in 2006.

2:42 PM

Rare artefacts of Homi Bhabha to go under the hammer at NCPA auction

A Sheaffer pen with a 14-Carat gold nib, a landscape painting and a set of three cultured pearl shirt buttons that were gifted to him by his parents are among the rare items from the Bhabha family that will go under the hammer at an upcoming auction in Mumbai, the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) announced on Monday. The art auction, 'An Evening with The Maestro', will be organised on August 17, shortly after a concert by renowned conductor Zubin Mehta at Jamshed Bhabha Theatre.

2:31 PM

Heavy rain continues to lash Himachal Pradesh, 338 roads closed

Landslides and flash floods triggered by heavy rain since Sunday has led to the closure of 338 roads, including four national highways in Himachal Pradesh, officials said. Several areas in Una are waterlogged, they said on Monday. Rescue operations to locate about 30 people who went missing after the July 31 flash floods in Kullu, Mandi and Shimla districts are being conducted but there has been no major success. 

2:03 PM

Sebi case: Strictest action will be taken against Hindenburg, says minister Giriraj Singh

Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Monday said Hindenburg Research has defamed the country in alliance with Congress and the "strictest action" will be taken against the US short-seller. Hindenburg on Saturday launched a broadside against markets regulator Sebi chairperson Madhabi Buch, alleging she and her husband Dhaval had stakes in obscure offshore funds used in the alleged Adani money siphoning scandal.