LIVE: Nitish, Tejashwi to take oath as Bihar CM, Deputy CM at 2 pm tomorrow

Nitish Kumar, who dumped the BJP-led NDA earlier on Tuesday, will be taking oath as the CM for the eighth time

3:53 PM

Today credibility of Nitish Kumar is zero: Chirag Paswan

3:44 PM

CM Nitish Kumar arrives at Raj Bhawan in Patna

3:34 PM

We have decided that our party will remain a part of NDA: RLJP President Pashupati Paras

3:28 PM

BJP weighs options as JD(U) walks out of coalition

A number of BJP leaders have been left surprised at the swift turn of events in Bihar where the JD(U) has walked out of the coalition with the NDA, even though the party leadership was aware of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's uneasiness over a host of issues.

 

Even until Monday, some senior BJP leaders, including those from Bihar, were of the view that the Janata Dal (United) leader was engaging in brinkmanship to pressure his bigger partner to be more accommodative.

 

Though there was also a tacit acknowledgement that the ball was entirely in the JD(U)'s court and Kumar was in an enviable position of dumping one ally for another, something he has already done twice since 2014 while retaining the hot seat in the state.

 

The BJP is likely to spell out its stand and rejoinder to the JD(U)'s charges against it once Kumar formalises the split.

3:00 PM

Bihar political crisis: BJP wants Nitish Kumar to continue as CM, says Union Minister Kaushal Kishor

12:36 PM

Restrictions imposed in some parts of J-K's Budgam

Authorities in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday imposed restrictions in some areas to maintain law and order as members of the Shia community observed the tenth day of Muharram, officials said.

The officials said restrictions on the movement and assembly of people were imposed as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order on the occasion of Ashura, the tenth day of mourning in the Islamic month of Muharram.

The officials said there were no restrictions on the movement of the people anywhere else in the valley, including in Srinagar city.

12:26 PM

Absconding politician Shrikant Tyagi arrested from Meerut, 3 associates also held

Absconding Noida politician Shrikant Tyagi, who was seen abusing and assaulting a woman at his housing society here, was arrested Tuesday from Meerut, officials said.

 

Senior police officials said Tyagi's three associates have also been held.

 

Tyagi, who was at large since Friday evening, had moved a court in the Gautam Buddh Nagar district with a plea for surrender-related procedures. The hearing in the matter has been listed for August 10.

12:25 PM

Ukraine proposes new sanctions on Russia

The Ukrainian Parliament has unveiled a draft law to impose new sanctions on Russia.

 

The bill, which was submitted by President Volodymyr Zelensky, envisages 10 new restrictive measures to be introduced against Russia for the next 10 years,reports Xinhua news agency.

 

In particular, the draft law stipulates a ban on transferring funds from Ukraine to Russia-related individuals and legal entities.

 

Besides, it prohibits Russia-linked individuals from participating in the privatisation and lease of Ukrainian state property and purchasing land plots in Ukraine.

12:14 PM

Tributes pour in for 'perfect lady with great poise' Olivia Newton-John

Tributes have been pouring in from around the world to 'Grease' star Olivia Newton-John, who died from cancer aged 73.

 

The British-born Australian singer and actress was best known for playing Sandy in 'Grease', one of the most successful film musicals ever made, reports the BBC.

 

Her co-star John Travolta said she "made all of our lives so much better" while its director said: "What you see is what you get with her."

 

She died peacefully at her California ranch surrounded by family and friends.

12:03 PM

Worst Seoul storm in 80 years kills eight, floods capital

At least eight people were killed and six people missing in the Seoul area after one of the heaviest rain storms in 80 years hit the South Korean capital, flooding streets and subway stations and prompting the country’s president to call an emergency meeting.

 

The storm dumped as much as 141 millimeters (5.5 inches) of water an hour in parts of the region. Another 300-350 millimeters of rain is forecast to fall through Thursday, the Meteorological Administration said, adding to the risks of more flooding. 

 

President Yoon Suk Yeol convened an emergency meeting at the country’s National Disaster and Safety Status Control Center Tuesday.

11:51 AM

Heat wave continues in Europe, countries log record high temperatures

The most severe heat wave in recent memory has held its grip on most of Europe, with record high temperatures registered in multiple countries causing severe economic and health damage.

The spell of unusually hot and dry weather has caused wildfires in Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Greece and elsewhere, reports Xinhua news agency.

In Spain, more than 4,000 hectares of land has been burnt in wildfires, while across Europe tens of thousands have been forced to flee their homes, media reports said.

11:50 AM

Chinese hackers attack govt ministries, military plants globally

China-based hackers attacked military industrial plants, research institutes, government agencies and ministries in several countries and were able to even hijack the IT infrastructure of some, taking control of systems used to manage security solutions, a new report has revealed.

Researchers at cyber-security firm Kaspersky detected a wave of targeted attacks on military industrial complex enterprises and public institutions in several Eastern European countries and Afghanistan.

"In the course of our research, we were able to identify over a dozen of attacked organisations," the researchers said.

11:46 AM

Bihar JDU-BJP rift: Congress, Left leaders converge for RJD meeting at Rabri Devi's residence

Amid reports of an ongoing rift between Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Bihar, MLAs and leaders of the Rashtriya Janata Dal arrived at the residence of Rabri Devi, wife of party chief Lalu Prasad Yadav in Patna on Tuesday.

The meeting of the RJD convened by its leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, the son of Lalu Yadav also saw leaders of the CPI ML and Congress - part of Mahagathbandhan, the grand Opposition alliance in the state, according to Ajit Sharma, Congress Bihar legislature party leader

The RJD leaders arriving for the meeting were asked to hand over their mobile phones ahead of the meeting.

11:38 AM

IMD issues 'red alert' for Konkan, Vidarbha, north central Maharashtra

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday issued a 'red alert' for north Konkan, north central Maharashtra, east and west Vidarbha, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall in the regions.

Relief is likely after August 12, it said.

Various parts of Maharashtra have been witnessing heavy showers since Sunday and the IMD said the heavy rainfall is likely to continue over the state.

The IMD has also issued an 'orange alert' for Marathwada, south central Maharashtra and south Konkan.

11:31 AM

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to visit North Gujarat on August 10

With the aim to expand its political influence in other states including Gujarat where elections are slated to be held later this year, Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal will be on a visit to North Gujarat on August 10.

He will address a meeting at Townhall in Palanpur.

"Kejriwal will be arriving in North Gujarat on August 10 where he will hold a town hall event in Palanpur that will be attended by people from all walks of life," said AAP Gujarat spokesperson Yogesh Jadwani.