News updates: CAS decision on Vinesh's appeal against Olympic final disqualification on Aug 13

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9:44 PM

CAS decision on Vinesh Phogat's appeal against disqualification from Olympic finals deferred till August 13

CAS decision on Vinesh Phogat's appeal against disqualification from Olympic finals deferred till August 13, reports PTI citing IOA source.

 

9:43 PM

Russia evacuated more than 76,000 from border area

Russia has evacuated more than 76,000 people from border areas in its western Kursk region since Tuesday, when Ukraine launched a surprise cross-border offensive, Russian media reported.

 

"More than 76,000 people have been temporarily relocated to safe places," the state-run TASS news agency quoted an official from the regional emergency situations ministry as saying at a press briefing on Saturday.

8:08 PM

Would have been good had PM visited landslides-hit Wayanad earlier: Shashi Tharoor

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Saturday opined that it would have been good had Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the landslides-hit Wayanad earlier.

The MP from Thiruvananthapuram said he hoped at least after the Prime Minister's visit the Central government would announce it as natural calamity and provide appropriate funds for relief and rehabilitation.

"As far as I am concerned, I think that better late than never is the best I can say," Tharoor told reporters responding to a question on Modi's visit to Kerala's Wayanad earlier in the day.

8:08 PM

Heavy rains lash parts of Himachal, 135 roads closed in the state

Heavy rains lashed parts of Himachal Pradesh as 135 roads remained closed in the state following landslides and flash floods.

Reports of damages due to heavy rains, landslides and flash floods have poured in Lahaul and Spiti, Chamba and Sirmaur districts but no casualty was reported.

The Lahaul and Spiti police have issued an advisory for residents and travellers to exercise extreme caution and not to cross Jahalman nallah where the water level is rising rapidly.

The regional Met office has also issued an 'orange' alert, warning for heavy to very rainfall at isolated places in in five districts of Kangra, Mandi, Shimla, Solan and Sirmaur accompanied by thunderstorm and lightning on Saturday and a 'yellow' alert for heavy rain throughout the state till August 16.

7:45 PM

Two soldiers killed, three others injured in an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag

Two soldiers killed, three others injured in an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district, say officials.

 

The clash began during a cordon and search operation in the Ahlan Gagarmandu area, part of the Kokernag region.

7:20 PM

Delhi gets rain 4th day on trot, witnesses traffic snarls

Rain lashed parts of the national capital on Saturday, sending the morning traffic out of gear and led to collection of water in many places.

 

The Public Works Department said it received 20 complaints of waterlogging during the day, while the Municipal Corporation of Delhi received five complaints of similar nature as well as uprooting of trees

 

Delhi's maximum temperature on Saturday settled at 32.8 degree Celsius, one notch below the season's average. The minimum temperature settled at 25.8 degree Celsius in the morning, 1.2 notch below normal, according to the India Meteorological Department.

 

Rainfall was witnessed in east Delhi, south, and western parts of the city. The Ridge observatory recorded 22.8 mm of rain from 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm.

 

Rohtak Road, the highway that connects the city to Haryana, saw heavy jams in the wake of the rain.

6:33 PM

Manish Sisodia calls upon people to fight against 'dictatorship' in country

AAP leader Manish Sisodia on Saturday called upon party workers and people to fight against "tyranny" in the country and said if all opposition parties stand united against "dictatorship", Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will come out of prison within 24 hours.

 

Addressing AAP workers at the party headquarters here a day after his release from Tihar jail on bail, he said party workers need to start working hard immediately to ensure the BJP loses the Assembly polls in Haryana, Delhi and elsewhere.

 

The former Delhi deputy chief minister urged the new allies of the BJP-led NDA as well as the opposition INDIA bloc parties to unite against "dictatorship", not just to save their leaders from being imprisoned but most importantly in the interest of the country.

 

The Aam Aadmi Party is part of the INDIA bloc. In the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls, the AAP and another INDIA bloc constituent Congress fought the elections together.

 

"If the whole opposition gives a call (against dictatorship) with full force, Arvind Kejriwal will come out of jail within 24 hours," Sisodia said. The Delhi chief minister is in Tihar Jail in connection with an excise policy scam case.

6:27 PM

China warns Philippines to stop 'infringement' after aerial encounter

China warned the Philippines on Saturday to stop "infringement" around a disputed reef in the South China Sea, after the Philippines said one of its planes was harassed by the Chinese air force.

 

"We sternly warn the Philippines to immediately stop its infringement, provocation, distortion and hype," the Southern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army said in a statement, adding that "China has indisputable sovereignty over Huangyan Island (Scarborough Shoal) and adjacent waters".

6:27 PM

Two children among eight dead in Uganda rubbish dump collapse: city authority

5:45 PM

TV Somanathan appointed as Cabinet Secretary

5:16 PM

Sugar mills must look beyond sugarcane as feedstock for ethanol: Cooperation Minister Amit Shah

Sugar mills must look beyond sugarcane as feedstock for ethanol & focus on multidimensional biofuel production: Cooperation Minister Amit Shah

5:16 PM

South Korea says North Korea is again flying balloons suspected of carrying trash toward the South, reports AP

5:15 PM

"Committed to deepen India-Maldives ties": EAM Jaishankar meets Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu on Saturday to strengthen bilateral ties between India and the Maldives. He emphasised New Delhi's commitment to deepening India-Maldives ties for the benefit of the people in both countries and the region.

4:09 PM

Heavy rainfall continues in Rajasthan, more showers predicted for next week

Heavy rains continued in parts of Rajasthan, with Pipalkhunt in Pratapgarh district recording the highest rainfall at 112 mm, the weather office said on Saturday.

 

Bharatpur, Alwar and Bikaner also received heavy rainfall, it said.

 

The meteorological department has predicted more showers at some places for the next week.

 

Till 8:30 am on Saturday, Deeg in Bharatpur recorded 89 mm of rain, Bamanwas in Sawai Madhopur 76 mm, Mundawar in Alwar 72 mm, Khajuwala of Bikaner 65 mm, according to the Jaipur Meteorological Centre.

 

The met office said there is also a possibility of heavy to very heavy rainfall at some places in Jaipur, Ajmer and Kota divisions on Saturday.

 

Heavy rain activities are likely to remain active in Jaipur, Ajmer, Kota, Udaipur and Bharatpur divisions for the next 5-7 days.

 

Some parts of Bikaner and Jodhpur divisions of western Rajasthan might receive moderate and sometimes heavy rain for the next 5-6 days, with a possibility of heavy rain at some places in the Shekhawati region.

4:09 PM

Heavy rains lash parts of Himachal, over 120 roads closed

Heavy rains lashed parts of Himachal Pradesh as 128 roads remained closed in the state due to landslides and flash floods.

 

The regional Met office has also issued an 'orange' warning for heavy to very rainfall, accompanied by thunderstorm and lightning, at isolated places on Saturday and a 'yellow' warning for heavy rain till August 16.

 

Heavy rains lashed parts of the state with Nahan (Sirmaur) recording the highest rainfall of 168.3 mm since Friday evening, followed by 106.4 mm in Sandhole, 93.2 mm in Nagrota Suriyan, 67 mm in Dhaulakuan, 53.2 mm in Jubberhatti and 45.6 mm in Kandaghat.

 

According to the State Emergency Operation Centre, 44 power and 67 water supply schemes have been disrupted due to the rains.

 

The Met department also warned of a low to moderate flash flood risk in isolated parts of Mandi, Sirmaur, Shimla and Kullu districts till Sunday morning.

3:10 PM

CAS to give decision on Vinesh's appeal this evening

The ad-hoc division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will give its decision on the appeal filed by Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat against her disqualification from the Olympic finals by 6pm local time (9.30pm IST) on Saturday. The hearing on the matter concluded here on Friday after it accepted Vinesh's appeal against her ouster for being 100gm overweight on the morning of her final against eventual gold-winner Sarah Ann Hildebrandt of USA. "By application of Article 18 of the CAS Arbitration Rules form the Olympic Games, the President of the CAS Ad Hoc Division extends the time limit for the Panel to give a decision until 10 August 2024 at 18h00 (Paris time)," a statement from the CAS said. This was after the ad-hoc division, set up especially for dispute resolution during the Olympics, said that a decision can be expected before the end of the Paris Games on Sunday.

2:51 PM

Devendra Fadnavis alleges that MVA govt gave contract to frame, jail him

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis claimed on Saturday that during the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, there was a "contract" to frame him and other BJP leaders with false cases to imprison them. Speaking in Nagpur, Fadnavis alleged that despite efforts by the Uddhav Thackeray administration to imprison him and others, many honest officials resisted filing false charges. His comments were in response to former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh's accusations that former home minister Anil Deshmukh pressured him to create false cases against BJP leaders.

2:36 PM

PM Modi visits landslide-devastated Chooralmala in Wayanad

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the landslide-hit areas of Wayanad district in Kerala on Saturday to assess the damage firsthand. PM Modi had conducted an aerial survey of Chooralmala, Mundakkai, and Punchirimattam hamlets from an Indian Air Force helicopter. PM Modi walked across the bridge and continued his survey on foot, interacting with rescue teams, state chief secretary V Venu, and district officials amidst the debris.

2:27 PM

EAM Jaishankar meets Maldivian Prez Muizzu, seeks to reset bilateral ties

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu on Saturday and reaffirmed India's commitment to strengthening bilateral relations for the benefit of both countries and the region. Jaishankar, on a three-day visit to the Maldives, aims to enhance ties following Muizzu's pro-China stance since taking office last year. He conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's greetings and emphasized deepening cooperation between India and the Maldives.

2:08 PM

People have to fight against 'dictatorship' in country: AAP leader Sisodia

Senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia urged party workers and the public to resist the "dictatorship" in the country following his release from jail in the Delhi excise policy case. Addressing AAP workers at the party headquarters, Sisodia criticized the BJP, asserting that no one is above the Constitution. He urged people to stand against this "dictatorship," which he claimed not only targets leaders but also harasses ordinary citizens.

1:55 PM

BJP-JD(S) protest march seeking Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah resignation

On Saturday, the opposition BJP and JD(S) completed the final leg of their week-long protest march demanding the resignation of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over the alleged Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allotment scam. The Bengaluru-Mysuru foot march aimed to expose alleged fraudulent site allotments by MUDA, including those given to Siddaramaiah's wife, Parvathi. The final day of the 'Mysuru Chalo' march began at Ramaswamy Circle and will end with a major rally at Maharaja's College Grounds. BJP State President B Y Vijayendra, JD(S) leader Nikhil Kumaraswamy, and other party leaders and legislators participated in the march after visiting a temple.

1:42 PM

SC to hear K Kavitha's pleas in excise policy case on August 12

The Supreme Court is set to hear on August 12 the petitions filed by BRS leader K Kavitha, challenging the Delhi High Court's decision to deny her bail in corruption and money laundering cases related to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam. The High Court had rejected Kavitha's bail applications on July 1, identifying her as a key conspirator in the criminal case involving the now-cancelled Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22. According to the August 12 cause list on the Supreme Court's website, Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan will review her petitions.

1:36 PM

Banks should bring in innovative products to mobilise deposits: Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman urged banks on Saturday to develop innovative and appealing schemes to boost deposit mobilization. Speaking to the media after the Reserve Bank of India's board meeting, she highlighted that while deposits and lending are equally important, deposits are currently growing slowly. She emphasized that banks need to prioritize their core banking activities, including mobilizing deposits and lending to those in need. To address the imbalance between deposits and lending, Sitharaman called for banks to introduce creative and attractive deposit schemes to encourage public participation.

1:19 PM

Jaishankar meets Maldives Defence Minister Maumoon, discusses maritime security

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with Maldives Defence Minister Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon on Friday to discuss defense and security cooperation, as well as joint maritime security initiatives. Jaishankar shared pictures of the meeting on X, noting, "A very good meeting with Defence Minister @mgmaumoon." He highlighted their discussions on India-Maldives defense and security collaboration, maritime security, and mutual interests in regional peace and stability.

 

1:05 PM

President Murmu conferred with Timor-Leste's highest civilian award

On Saturday, President Droupadi Murmu was awarded the Grand-Collar of the Order of Timor-Leste, the highest civilian honor of the country, by her counterpart, Jos Ramos-Horta. The 66-year-old Murmu received the award in recognition of her contributions to public service, education, social welfare, and women’s empowerment, as announced by her office on X. President Murmu described the honor as a testament to the strong friendship between India and Timor-Leste.Her visit to Dili, the final leg of her three-nation tour, follows stops in New Zealand and Fiji. This marks the first presidential visit from India to Timor-Leste.

12:54 PM

Bangladesh's central bank Governor Abdur Talukder resigns amid protests

Bangladesh Bank Governor Abdur Rouf Talukder has resigned, according to sources familiar with the situation, just days after protesters stormed the central bank’s headquarters amid ongoing political turmoil in the country. Talukder stepped down on Friday, citing "personal reasons" for his resignation, according to sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter. His resignation comes two years before his term was set to end. The central bank has not yet responded to requests for further information outside regular business hours.

12:31 PM

PM Narendra Modi carries out aerial survey of disaster-hit areas of Wayanad

Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducted an aerial survey on Saturday of the disaster-stricken areas in north Kerala’s Wayanad district, where landslides have claimed hundreds of lives. Modi surveyed the landslide-hit regions of Chooralmala, Mundakkai, and Punchirimattom from an Indian Air Force helicopter. He departed for Wayanad from Kannur Airport around 11:15 am. Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, and Union Minister of State for Tourism and Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi accompanied the Prime Minister.

12:22 PM

North India's largest floating solar project commissioned in MP's Omkareshwar

The largest floating solar project in central and north India, generating 90 MW of energy, has been commissioned at Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh, according to state Renewable Energy Minister Rakesh Shukla. The Omkareshwar Floating Solar Project, which cost Rs 646 crore, was officially commissioned on August 8. Developed under the Union Ministry of Renewable Energy, this is the biggest solar park in India and the largest floating solar project in the central and northern regions, Shukla said in a statement. 

11:58 AM

PM Narendra Modi departs for Wayanad by IAF helicopter from Kannur airport

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Kerala on Saturday to visit disaster-hit areas in Wayanad district, where last week’s massive landslides claimed hundreds of lives. Modi’s flight landed at Kannur International Airport around 11 am, where he was welcomed by Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. He then traveled to Wayanad on an Indian Air Force helicopter, accompanied by Khan, Vijayan, and Union Minister of State for Tourism and Petroleum and Natural Gas, Suresh Gopi, who also traveled with the PM on Air India One. The helicopter is set to land at SKMJ Higher Secondary School in Kalpetta, from where Modi will proceed by road to visit the landslide-affected areas.

11:41 AM

PM Modi arrives in Kerala, to visit landslide-hit areas of Wayanad

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Kerala on Saturday to visit the areas of Wayanad district affected by landslides. His flight landed at the international airport around 11 am, after which he will take a helicopter to Wayanad to visit the landslide-stricken regions. In Wayanad, rescue teams will brief him on the ongoing evacuation efforts. He is also scheduled to visit a relief camp and hospital to meet and interact with the landslide victims and survivors. Modi will then lead a review meeting to receive a detailed briefing on the incident and the ongoing relief operations.