10:43 PMNew case filed against Sheikh Hasina over murder of 2 students
Another murder case was filed on Sunday against Bangladesh's deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina over the death of two college students during the recent anti-quota protests in the country. It was the latest in the slew of cases filed against the 76-year-old former premier, who resigned and fled to India on August 5 following a massive protest by students against a controversial quota system in government jobs.
10:20 PMDelhi mayor pulls up MCD commissioner over garbage disposal
Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi on Sunday pulled up the MCD commissioner over the "worsening condition" of garbage disposal in the city and directed the official to ensure better collection and clearance of waste. In a letter to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) commissioner, Oberoi said she was writing "to bring to your attention the worsening condition of garbage disposal in entire Delhi, especially in West Zone and Central Zone".
9:43 PMKolkata doctor's rape-murder: SC to hear case on August 20
The Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognisance of the alleged rape-murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata and will hear the case on August 20, as protests demanding justice for the victim continued across West Bengal for the tenth day. In a rare display of unity, football fans from rival teams East Bengal and Mohun Bagan gathered near Salt Lake Stadium to demand justice for the victim, leading to the cancellation of the Kolkata Derby in the Durand Cup due to law and order concerns.
9:21 PMAdhir urges Amit Shah to look into 'torture' of labourers from Bengal in Odisha
West Bengal Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Sunday wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, requesting him to intervene in the alleged torture of labourers from the state in neighbouring Odisha. Chowdhury also forwarded copies of the letter to both the chief ministers of West Bengal and Odisha.
8:40 PMHimachal CM Sukhu launches scheme to provide nutritious food to schoolchildren
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Sunday launched the Mukhyamantri Bal Paushtik Aahar Yojana to provide nutritious food to children in government-run schools.
Launching the initiative in Hamirpur, he said it would complement the existing midday meal scheme and was targeted at students from nursery to Class 8 in 15,181 schools.
Under the scheme, schoolchildren will be provided boiled eggs or fruits once a week.
"Currently, about 5,34,293 (5.34 lakh) children are benefitting from the midday meal scheme. They will now receive additional nutrition under the new initiative," Sukhu said.
"The schools will source fresh fruits from local markets based on the children's preferences," he added.
8:15 PMSingapore setting up Islamic college to nurture future Islamic leaders: PM Wong
Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Sunday said that the city-state will set up a new Islamic college to nurture future Islamic leaders in the multi-ethnic country, asserting that he will support the community's efforts to become modern and progressive while maintaining its distinctive customs and way of life.
The college has been in the works for eight years and is to be called the Singapore College of Islamic Studies, according to media reports.
In his first National Day Rally, Wong said the college would nurture future Singapore Islamic leaders, The Straits Times newspaper reported.
Wong, who was sworn in on May 15 as the fourth Government leader of the predominantly Chinese-business community-led prosperous city-state, said that more details would be shared when ready.
As the “newest project” for the Malay and Muslim community, the college was first mooted in 2016 by the then Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, Yaacob Ibrahim.
7:46 PMIron grip has clearly rusted and rusted terribly: BJP chief Nadda slams Bengal govt
BJP president JP Nadda on Sunday slammed the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal as anti-women, anti-youth and anti-democracy as protests continued over the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata.
He said in a post on X, "The chief minister has failed the people of the state, presiding over an administration which has looted with impunity. The iron grip has clearly rusted and rusted terribly." Students of different medical colleges took out a procession in Kolkata on Sunday, demanding justice for the trainee doctor who was allegedly raped and murdered at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
7:43 PMRajnath Singh inaugurates new Coast Guard facilities in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday inaugurated a new rescue coordination centre and two units of the Indian Coast Guard here and in Puducherry.
Singh inaugurated the Coast Guard's new Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) and the Regional Marine Pollution Response Centre (RMPRC) here and a Coast Guard Air Enclave in Puducherry, through remote mode.
"The new Coast Guard MRCC situated near Napier Bridge in Chennai, constructed at a cost of Rs 26.10 crore, will be an iconic structure facilitating the enhanced coordination for rescue of mariners and fishermen in distress at sea.
6:26 PMJammu and Kashmir elections 2024: Former minister Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali joins BJP
Ahead of the Assembly elections, former minister and veteran leader Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali joined the BJP on Sunday, saying he joined the party with his commitment to peace and development in the region.
Union Ministers G Kishan Reddy and Jitendra Singh, along with BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh and Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Ravinder Raina, welcomed Ali into the party fold at the headquarters in Jammu. They emphasised that his entry would boost the party's grassroots-level presence in Jammu and Kashmir.
Ali, accompanied by scores of his supporters and leaders, expressed his satisfaction in joining the BJP, citing his admiration for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts for bringing peace and development to the region.
"I have chosen to join the BJP and Modi ji and Shah sahib to steer our region towards progress, development and prosperity," Ali told reporters.
He emphasised a departure from emotive politics often advocated by leaders from the valley, and said "We do not have anything to do with emotional politics preached by political leaders from the valley." Former vice president of the Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party, Ali recently met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi to discuss regional issues and seek central support.
He highlighted the need for enhanced tourism initiatives in the Rajouri-Poonch area, underscoring its potential as a tourist destination comparable to Kashmir.
5:58 PMSAD president Badal urges Centre to reduce minimum export price of basmati rice
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Sunday urged the Union government to reduce the minimum exports price (MEP) of basmati rice from USD 950 to USD 750 per tonne to ensure a better price for farmers as well as increase competitiveness of the variety in the international market.
In a statement here, the SAD president said even though a bumper harvest was expected this year basmati farmers would not be benefitted from the same in case the government did not review the MEP for the rice variety.
"This is also necessary to fulfil the government's intention to double farmers income," he added.
Badal said basmati exporters were in no position to purchase the variety from farmers this year because their godowns were full due to restrictive export policies since the last two years.
"The industrialists are not able to export at the current MEP because Pakistan is exporting the product at an MEP of USD 750 per tonne. This has also affected the international basmati market and caused uncertainty," he said.
He said a review of the MEP on basmati would give a fillip to exports and also result in a spike in the prices in the country, which would help farmers in the northern region including Punjab and Haryana.
Badal simultaneously called for withdrawal of the ban on the export of non-basmati white rice as well as the 20 per cent duty imposed on the export of parboiled rice. He said while the country was losing out on precious foreign exchange, farmers were also in economic distress due to stagnation of prices.
"We should allow exports of both basmati rice as well as non-basmati rice by removing the present restrictions for the welfare of farmers," Badal said.
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