LIVE: India expects China to 'sincerely work' on disengagement, says MEA

The floodwaters have destroyed crops and fishes from ponds have been swept away in districts of Assam. Stay tuned for the latest news of the day

A large number of people have been affected because of the worsening flood situation in Assam's Darang and Sonitpur districts. With the Brahmaputra and the Tangni rivers flowing well above the danger level, several villages in the large rural region of the eastern province of Darang have been submerged.

The floodwaters have destroyed crops and fishes from ponds have been swept away. People living in low-lying areas were forced to leave their homes. The overflowing waters of the Saktola River have wreaked havoc in hundreds of villages of the Mangalde and Sipajhar Vidhan Sabha areas in the western province of Darang.

The Supreme Court hearing adjourned hearing on a plea of Rajasthan Assembly Speaker C P Joshi against the high court order restraining him till July 24 from conducting disqualification proceedings against 19 dissident Congress legislators, including sacked deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot.

The apex court also allowed the Rajasthan high court to go ahead and deliver its ruling, but said the verdict will remain subject to the outcome of the hearing in the SC.
 

Stay tuned for the latest news of the day

2:30 AM

Govt imposes restrictions on public procurement from China, neighbours

The Centre, late on Thursday, amended its General Financial Rules to restrict public procurement from countries which share a land border with India on grounds of national security, a move squarely aimed at China.
 

However, it provided relaxation in case of medical supplies in light of Covid-19. And keeping in mind some other neighbouring countries, nations with which India has a line of credit or provides development assistance were also exempted. Read more

2:29 AM

China harbouring military-linked fugitive scientist at consulate: FBI

US prosecutors allege Tang Juan, a researcher, lied about being connected to the Chinese military so she could enter the US. According to them, she is now avoiding arrest by taking refuge in the West Coast diplomatic mission.

 

According to court filings, investigators “discovered photographs of her in the uniform of the Civilian Cadre of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA)”. According to reports, Tang was interviewed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), where she denied having any connections with the Chinese Army. However, following the interview, US authorities claim that she fled to the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco.

1:12 AM

US deports man after push for indefinite detention stalls

A man convicted of terrorism-related crimes, who served his sentence and was then detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has been deported after a legal battle to hold him indefinitely stalled.

 

Federal authorities held Adham Amin Hassoun at a federal detention facility in Batavia, New York, since his release from prison in 2018 in order to deport him.

 

But until Tuesday, they could not find a destination, and argued in court that they had the authority to detain him indefinitely under the Patriot Act until they could.

1:07 AM

US accuses Russia of testing anti-satellite weapon in space

The United States accused Russia on Thursday of conducting a test of an anti-satellite weapon in space, asserting that it exposed Moscow's intent to deploy weapons that threaten US and allied satellites.

 

In Moscow, the Defense Ministry said the July 15 event involved a small space vehicle that "inspected one of the national satellites from a close distance using special equipment.

 

It added that the inspection provided valuable information about the object that was inspected, which was transmitted to the ground-based control facilities.

12:38 AM

EU negotiator cites 'objective risk' of no post-Brexit deal

British and European Union negotiators failed to agree on underlying principles in the latest round of talks on post-Brexit trade between the bloc and its one-time member, again raising concerns about far-reaching economic damage if no deal is reached by the end of the year.

 

In comments delivered after the talks ended Thursday, chief U.K. negotiator David Frost said it was clear the two sides wouldn't meet their goal of reaching an understanding on ''the principles underlying any agreement" this month.

 

While progress has been made in the negotiations, Frost said there is still substantial disagreement, particularly on questions of fair and open competition, and fishing.

12:37 AM

Putin and Trump discuss arms control in phone call

Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump discussed arms control and cooperation in fighting the coronavirus during a phone call between the two leaders Thursday, the Kremlin and White House said.

 

The presidents thoroughly considered various arms control issues given the special responsibility of Russia and the U.S. for maintaining international peace and security, the Kremlin said.

 

According to the White House, Trump reiterated his hope of avoiding an expensive three-way arms race between China, Russia, and the United States and looked forward to progress on upcoming arms control negotiations in Vienna.

12:01 AM

Mike Tyson all set to make boxing comeback on September 12

Legendary boxer Mike Tyson is all set to return to the ring as he will fight against Roy Jones Jr in an exhibition bout on September 12.

 

Tyson, who turned 54 last month, announced his comeback on his official Twitter handle.

 

"I. AM. BACK. #legendsonlyleague. September 12th vs @RealRoyJonesJr on #Triller and PPV #frontlinebattle @TysonLeague," Tyson tweeted.

 

The bout will take place at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Los Angeles and will be broadcasted on pay-per-view as well as multimedia platform Triller.

11:33 PM

WTO reform process should be inclusive, consensus-based: Piyush Goyal

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said that trade can be an engine of reviving growth in the current scenario and this is premised on the strengthening of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) based on its principles of openness, fairness, transparency, inclusivity, and non-discrimination.
 

The Minister called for removing multiple hurdles in access to medicines at affordable prices created by the WTO rules for protecting intellectual property. He mentioned that the TRIPS Agreement did not envisage a pandemic where demand for vaccines and medicines would come from several countries simultaneously, with the requirement changing at a rapid pace. He said that IPRs should not block access to critical medicines and other devices required for the treatment of the disease.

11:32 PM

Govt imposes restriction on public procurement from China, other neighbours

Amid the border row with China, the government on Thursday imposed restrictions on public procurement from China and other countries with common border.

 

The Government of India amended the General Financial Rules 2017 to enable imposition of restrictions on bidders from countries which share a land border with India on grounds of defence of India, or matters directly or indirectly related thereto including national security, an official statement said.

 

The Department of Expenditure has, under the said Rules, issued a detailed order on public procurement to strengthen the defence of India and national security, it said.

11:31 PM

India needs further economic reforms to attract more investment: IMF

Concerted efforts by India to strengthen the business climate and encourage investment in the trade have helped to attract investment, but the country needs further economic reforms to ensure sustainable and more inclusive growth, the IMF said on Thursday.

 

The remarks by the International Monetary Fund's Chief Spokesperson Gerry Rice came in response to a question on the recent FDI announcements made by companies like Facebook and Google in India.

 

In recent weeks, several international companies have pledged $20 billion FDI in India, and a whopping $40 billion this year so far.

11:13 PM

Kamal Nath writes to PM, says there is

With three Congress MLAs in Madhya Pradesh resigning in the last two weeks, former chief minister Kamal Nath on Thursday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, exhorting him to protect "democratic values".
 

There was an "undemocratic pandemic" prevailing in the country in which the BJP was luring away MLAs to topple elected governments in states ruled by opposition parties, the Madhya Pradesh Congress chief alleged.
 

"I am sure...you will come forward to save the declining credibility of Indian democracy by not giving any place in your government and the party to such opportunist leaders who are facing charges of trading democratic values, so that India's established identity as a nation having democratic neutrality, transparency and maturity will remain intact," the letter said.

11:12 PM

PM Modi meets Gujarat BJP chief, praises him as 'outstanding' worker who rose through ranks

11:05 PM

China carrying out construction along border in Ladakh despite talks, claims Congress

10:47 PM

IAF to integrate Rafale with new generation air-to-ground missiles

As it inducts a first batch of five Rafale jets in the midst of the border row with China in eastern Ladakh, the Indian Air Force is looking at integrating the fleet with new generation air-to-ground missile systems having a strike range of up to 60 KM, people familiar with the development said.

 

The aircraft is capable of carrying a range of potent weapons. European missile maker MBDA's Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile, Scalp cruise missile and MICA weapons system will be the mainstay of the weapons package of the Rafale jets.

 

The people cited above said the IAF is zeroing in on procuring new generation medium-range modular air-to-ground weapon system Hammer to integrate with the Rafale jets, using the emergency financial powers provided by the government to the armed forces for faster acquisition of key weapons and platforms.

10:41 PM

Waterlogging: Delhi PWD to barricade roads leading to Minto Bridge if water level rises above 45 cms