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Earthquake hits Afghanistan, tremors felt in Delhi-NCR, Jammu and Kashmir 

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in Delhi on Saturday and discussed multiple issues concerning the state, including the losses due to heavy rains last month. Sukhu informed Kharge about the devastation caused by floods and heavy rains in the state as well as the relief and rescue operations carried out by the state government.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on Saturday resumed its scientific survey work at the Gyanvapi mosque here to determine whether the 17th-century mosque was constructed over a pre-existing structure of a Hindu temple. Government counsel Rajesh Mishra, who accompanied the ASI survey team during the day-long exercise a day before, on Saturday said the team started work in the morning and it would end at 5 pm. 

Leaders of the united Opposition, under the banner of Indian National Developmental Democratic Alliance (I.N.D.I.A), are scheduled to hold their third meeting in Mumbai over two days - August 31 and September 1, Congress sources said on Friday.

The Opposition leaders came together to cobble up a united front against the Prime Minister-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) with an eye on next year's Lok Sabha elections. Though not official, word of the third Opposition meeting came on a day the Supreme Court stayed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's conviction in the criminal defamation case over the use of the 'Modi' surname.

The government on Friday deferred the implementation of the import restriction order on laptops and computers (including tablet computers) by about three months till October 31, a move that gives more time to electronic companies to import these devices without a licence. Now, these companies would need to take a licence from the government to import these devices from November 1. 

11:13 PM

Three killed, 24 injured as bus falls into river in Jharkhand's Giridih

At least three persons were killed and 24 others injured when a bus fell into a river from a bridge in Jharkhand's Giridih district on Saturday night, police said.

The accident took place at Giridih Dumri Road around 8.40 pm when the bus fell into the Barakar river while on way to Giridih from Ranchi, Giridih Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Anil Kumar told PTI.

"More details cannot be assessed right now as rescue and relief operations are being carried," the official said.

11:03 PM

BJP MP's office vandalised in UP's Bhadohi, one injured

A staff member of BJP MP Ramesh Bind's office was injured after three men allegedly thrashed him and vandalised the premises on Saturday, police said.

An FIR has been registered against the three accused, who fled the spot after the attack, they said.

Tauseef Saroj, Vishal and Satyam reached the office of Ramesh Bind, BJP MP from Bhadohi, in the Thanipur area here and had an altercation with computer operator Pradeep Bind (27). The trio thrashed Pradeep, who was seriously injured, and vandalised the office, said Inspector (crime) Vinod Yadav.

After receiving information about the incident, police reached the spot and took Pradeep to the hospital. An FIR has been lodged against the accused, he said.

7:48 PM

1 more arrested in ISIS Maharashtra module case; he fabricated IEDs: NIA

The National Investigation Agency Saturday said it made a major arrest in a case linked to an ISIS terror module, nabbing a suspect who was allegedly involved in the fabrication of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).

A spokesperson for the federal agency said Aakif Ateeque Nachan was also wanted for arranging a hideout for two other terror operatives in Maharashtra.

He is the sixth accused to be arrested in the case.

7:41 PM

Fresh spell of rain in Delhi, IMD forecasts light showers for Sunday

There was a fresh spell of rain in the national capital on Saturday morning with the maximum temperature settling at 33.5 degrees Celsius, a notch below the season's average, the India Meteorological Department said.

The minimum temperature settled at 25.2 degrees Celsius, two notches below the season's average, the IMD added.

The weather department forecast generally cloudy skies with light rainfall on Sunday. It said the maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to settle around 33 and 27 degrees Celsius respectively.

7:07 PM

Young rider Shreyas Hareesh dies in racing incident

Copparam Shreyas Hareesh, a 13-year-old prodigy from Bengaluru, succumbed to injuries that he had suffered following a crash in the third round of the MRF MMSC FMSCI Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship at the Madras International Circuit, here on Saturday.

Following the tragic incident, promoter of the event, Madras Motor Sports Club, cancelled the remaining races scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.

Born on July 26, 2010, Shreyas, a student of Kensri School in Bengaluru, was being hailed as a rising star, as he had won several races at the National level, including four in a row, competing in the rookie category of the Petronas TVS One-Make Championship this season.

7:06 PM

Delhi gears up 4th Van Mahotsav

Delhi is gearing up for the fourth edition of Van Mahotsav, a tree plantation drive aimed at increasing green cover and combating pollution.

The event will be held at the Polo Ground of Delhi University in the Chandni Chowk Lok Sabha constituency on Sunday, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said.

This year's Van Mahotsav is set to be observed across all seven Lok Sabha constituencies in Delhi, with active participation from Paryavaran Mitras, resident welfare associations (RWAs), and eco clubs, the minister said in a statement.

6:52 PM

Chhattisgarh CM Baghel announces hike in stipend for junior doctors

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Saturday said his government has decided to hike the stipend of junior doctors in the state.

As per the decision, MBBS students will get Rs 15,900 per month in place of Rs 12,600, while first-year postgraduate (PG) students will get Rs 67,500 per month, up from the current Rs 53,550.

Similarly, the stipend of second-year PG students will be hiked to Rs 71,450 per month from Rs 56,700 and third-year PG students will get Rs 74,600 per month in place of Rs 59,220, officials said.

6:42 PM

Himachal CM briefs Cong chief Kharge about losses due to heavy rains last month

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in Delhi on Saturday and discussed multiple issues concerning the state, including the losses due to heavy rains last month.

Sukhu informed Kharge about the devastation caused by floods and heavy rains in the state as well as the relief and rescue operations carried out by the state government.

He also told the Congress chief about the evacuation of tourists from Chandertaal at an altitude of 4,300 metres in Spiti, by his ministers.

6:15 PM

Threat calls to Gadkari: NIA moves HC for transfer of case proceedings to Mumbai court

The National Investigation Agency has moved the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court seeking transfer of proceedings in the case involving threat calls to Union minister Nitin Gadkari to the special NIA court in Mumbai.

Earlier, District and Additional Session (NIA) Judge J P Zapate had ruled on July 18 that while the federal agency would take over the probe into the case, proceedings would continue to be held at the Nagpur NIA court.

An HC bench of justices Vinay Joshi and Valmiki SA Menezes on Friday issued notices to respondents.

5:52 PM

Nepal's foreign minister requests Uttarakhand CM's help to find Nepalese pilgrims missing in flash flood

Nepal's Foreign Minister NP Saud on Saturday sought the help of Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to locate the Nepalese pilgrims who went missing after a flash flood swept away the hotel they were staying in near the Kedarnath temple area.

Saud on Saturday called Uttarakhand Chief Minister Dhami and formally requested him for the urgent search and rescue of the Nepalese pilgrims who went missing in the landslides that have occurred in Gauri Kund of Rudraprayag district since Thursday night following incessant rain, according to the minister's secretariat.

A total of 19 pilgrims went missing in the landslide that hit Gauri Kund, out of which 11 are Nepal citizens.

So far, seven bodies have been recovered of which three are Nepalese.

4:25 PM

J&K: Members of the Gorkha community celebrated the abrogation of Articles 370, 35 A

2:45 PM

ED takes possession of villas, land in Kerala's Munnar in money laundering case against PFI

The Enforcement Directorate has taken possession of four villas and 6.75 acres of land in Kerala's Munnar district as part of a money laundering investigation against the banned Popular Front of India. The assets are worth a total Rs 2.53 crore (book value) and belong to Munnar Villa Vista Pvt Ltd. They were provisionally attached by the federal probe agency on January 7 and the adjudicating authority of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) confirmed it on June 30, the ED said in a statement on Saturday.

2:00 PM

The House should function and Rahul Gandhi comes back there: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury

1:48 PM

Pak court sentences Imran Khan to 3 years in prison: Reports

A Pakistan judge handed out a three-year prison sentence to former Prime Minister Imran Khan after finding him guilty of hiding assets he made by selling state gifts while in office, local media reported. Islamabad’s district and sessions court judge Humayun Dilawar announced the verdict in a surprise move on Saturday, Geo television channel reported. Khan, who denies any wrongdoing, will challenge the decision in a higher court, his lawyer Intazar Hussain Panjhuta had said before the verdict was announced.

1:46 PM

Owaisi hopes Gyanvapi survey will not open floodgates for 'thousand Babris'

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday wondered how things will pan out after the Archaeological Survey of India reports are made public after the investigation and hoped that the floodgates for a "thousand Babris" (Babri Masjid) will not be opened. The Supreme Court on Friday refused to stay the Allahabad High Court order allowing the ASI to conduct a scientific survey at the Gyanvapi mosque complex to determine if the 17th century structure was built upon a pre-existing temple, notwithstanding the assertion by the Muslim side that the exercise will "reopen wounds of the past".