LIVE: Droupadi Murmu surges ahead of Yashwant Sinha in Presidential polls

Of total 748 votes of MPs, NDA's Droupadi Murmu gets 540, Opposition's Yashwant Sinha gets 208, says Returning Officer

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Droupadi Murmu will be elected as the President: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan

3:10 PM

Prez poll: 15 votes of MPs found invalid during counting, says Returning Officer

3:06 PM

Droupadi Murmu surges ahead of Yashwant Sinha in Presidential polls

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Nearly 159,000 people recruited for govt jobs during COVID-19 pandemic period: Centre

Nearly 159,000 people were recruited for government jobs during the coronavirus pandemic period of the last two years, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday.

 

Recruitment in central government is a continuous process. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Staff Selection Commission (SSC) and Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) have been conducting their examinations duly complying with all COVID-19 safety protocols, Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said in a written reply.

 

2:55 PM

AstraZeneca, Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines offer high protection 6 months after second dose: Study

Two doses of Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines provide high protection against severe COVID-19 up to six months after the second shot, according to a study published in The BMJ.

 

The team led by researchers at the University of Bristol, UK, analysed the National Health Service (NHS) health record data on over seven million adults, finding protection in people aged over 65 years, and in clinically vulnerable adults.

 

They also analysed how quickly vaccine effectiveness waned over time in adults without prior SARS-CoV-2 infection and who received two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech or AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine compared with unvaccinated individuals.

2:49 PM

Stay or go? Ronaldo's future uncertain at Manchester United

The weekly social media posts published by Cristiano Ronaldo this offseason typically have shown the soccer superstar half-dressed, muscles bulging, either working out or promoting one of his many brands.

 

Remaining relevant and highly visible is clearly so important to the player who, along with Lionel Messi, is the greatest of his generation. That also extends to the final years of his career on the field, too.

 

It's why, for the 37-year-old Ronaldo, playing for Manchester United — still one of the world's most famous sports teams, despite their recent trophy drought — just isn't enough. He wants to be competing on the biggest stage, winning the biggest trophies while he can.

 

Hence the current standoff with United, which is becoming more damaging and disruptive as the days go by and the new season looms.

2:44 PM

Mario Draghi resigns as premier, throwing Italy into political chaos

Prime Minister Mario Draghi offered his resignation to Italy’s president, in a move that will raise the prospect of snap elections as soon as early October.

 

The former European Central Bank chief announced his decision to President Sergio Mattarella in a meeting Thursday morning, according to a statement by the president’s office. The government will continue as a caretaker to handle ongoing business. 

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'Can't deny abortion if woman is unmarried', SC allows plea to terminate 24-week pregnancy

In a significant decision, the Supreme Court on Thursday allowed the examination of a 24-week pregnant unmarried woman by an AIIMS medical board to determine whether the pregnancy can be safely terminated without endangering her life.

 

A bench headed by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud said letting an unmarried woman suffer an unwanted pregnancy will be contrary to the object and spirit of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act.

 

The top court noted that after the 2021 amendment, the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act uses the word "partner" instead of "husband" in the explanation to Section 3. It added that it shows legislative intent to cover unmarried women under the Act.

2:23 PM

Kejriwal promises up to 300 units of free electricity in Gujarat if AAP comes to power

Aam Aadmi Party's national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday promised that his party will provide free electricity up to 300 units per month if voted to power in Gujarat where polls are due this year.

 

Addressing people at a town hall meeting in Surat, the Delhi chief minister also guaranteed uninterrupted power supply without any cuts.

 

"I am giving you a guarantee. If you find any fault later, you are free not to vote for AAP in the next election. We will fulfil all the guarantees once we come to power in the state," he said.

 

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Those who had no role in country's Independence struggle are now trying to rewrite India's history: Mamata

Those who had no role in country's Independence struggle are now trying to rewrite India's history: Mamata Banerjee at TMC rally.

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Nagaland civilian killings: SC stays criminal proceedings against 30 Army men

The Supreme Court has stayed criminal proceedings against 30 members of the 21 Para Special Force, including a Major, in connection with the alleged botched Army operation in Oting-Tiru area of Nagaland's Mon district in 2021 that claimed lives of 13 civilians.

 

A bench of Justices Indira Banerjee and V Ramasubramanian noted that previous sanction as required under Section 6 of the Armed Forces (Special 4 Powers) Act, 1958 has not been obtained.

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Cong MPs, CWC members court mass arrest outside AICC HQ in show of solidarity with Sonia Gandhi

As Congress president Sonia Gandhi appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED), party MPs and Congress Working Committee (CWC) members "courted mass arrest" outside the AICC headquarters here on Thursday in a show of collective solidarity with her.

 

Gandhi appeared before the ED here for questioning in a money-laundering probe linked to the National Herald-Associated Journals Limited case.

 

The 75-year-old Congress leader arrived at the federal probe agency's headquarters located at Vidyut Lane flanking A P J Abdul Kalam Road in central Delhi a little after noon, escorted by her 'Z+' category Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) security cover.

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Special prayers at Chinnamastika temple for Droupadi Murmu's victory

Special prayers are being offered at the famed Chinnamastika temple at Rajrappa here, recognised as an ancient Shakti seat, on Thursday for the victory of Droupadi Murmu, the NDA presidential candidate who was Jharkhand's former governor.

Priests of the temple, which is located about 70 km from state capital on the confluence of Bhairavi and Damodar rivers, performed special 'aarti' for Murmu's victory.

The counting of votes polled in the July 18 presidential poll is on in Parliament and Murmu is billed to be the winner.

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TMC will win seats outside Bengal in 2024 LS polls: Abhishek

Senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee on Thursday asserted that the party will continue with its expansion plans outside West Bengal and will win seats outside the state in 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The TMC national general secretary, while addressing the party's Martyrs' Day rally here, said tickets for next year's panchayat polls will be distributed "based on merit and not recommendations".

He warned a section of TMC workers against indulging in corruption and said no one is above party discipline.

1:35 PM

Delhi Cong protests outside L-G residence against Sonia Gandhi's questioning by ED

The Delhi Congress on Thursday staged a protest outside Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena's residence here against the Enforcement Directorate's questioning of party president Sonia Gandhi in the National Herald money laundering case.

Several Congress workers and leaders gathered at Raj Niwas and raised slogans against the central government, party officials said.

The Centre is misusing the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to harass Congress leaders, they alleged.