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12:50 PM

Jagdeep Dhankhar sworn in as 14th Vice President of India

Former West Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankhar was on Thursday sworn in as the 14th Vice President of India.

President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath to Dhankhar (71) in a brief ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Dhankhar took the oath in Hindi in the name of god.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Dhankhar's predecessor M Venkaiah Naidu were among the dignitaries present at the ceremony.

11:07 AM

Delhi govt makes wearing mask at public places mandatory

Delhi govt makes wearing mask at public places mandatory as coronavirus continues to spread in  the city.

10:39 AM

ED is political tool for BJP, will not appear : Ex-Kerala Minister

Two-time former Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac on Thursday refused to appear before the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) scam at their office in Kochi, saying that ED was a political tool to target political rivals.

He said since he has not been told what wrong he had done, he will not appear before the ED in the case, and instead has sought a legal recourse. This was the second notice from the ED to Isaac.

Speaking to the media here, Isaac said he has filed a petition before the Kerala High Court and hence won't appear.

"ED has now become a tool for the BJP to target political rivals. The apex court has clearly said ED is to tackle cases under Public Money Laundering Act and not under FEMA. It is the RBI which deals with FEMA and the affairs of the KIIFB and all mandatory filings have been made to the RBI," said Isaac.

10:38 AM

Cop stages protest over quality of food provided by mess; probe ordered

A video of a constable bursting into tears and sitting on a dharna over the "poor" quality food provided by the mess at the police lines here has prompted the department to order an inquiry.

In the clip that surfaced on social media on Wednesday, Constable Manoj Kumar was seen staging a protest with a plate of food from the mess.

Kumar was also heard referring to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's promise to give Rs 1,875 separately for provisions of nutritious food for police constables.

10:37 AM

PM Modi extends greetings on occasion of Raksha Bandhan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended greetings to the people of the country on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan on Thursday.

"Greetings to everyone on the special occasion of Raksha Bandhan," PM Modi tweeted.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also extended greetings on the occasion.

"Warm wishes to all the countrymen on the auspicious occasion of Rakshabandhan," Shah tweeted.

9:20 AM

India logs 16,299 new cases

India logs 16,299 new cases, 53 deaths in 24 hours.

9:13 AM

Rajouri attack: One Officer is also among the injured Army personnel

One Officer is also among the injured Army personnel in the terrorist attack and has been rushed for medical treatment. 16 Corps Commander Lt Gen Manjinder Singh is constantly monitoring the situation on the ground. The area is being sanitised: Indian Army officials

8:57 AM

In India, 7.3% of the population owned digital currency in 2021, 7th highest in the world: UN

Over seven per cent of India's population owns digital currency, according to the UN, which said that the use of cryptocurrency rose globally at an unprecedented rate during the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

The UN trade and development body UNCTAD said that in 2021, developing countries accounted for 15 of the top 20 economies when it comes to the share of the population that owns cryptocurrencies.

8:56 AM

I would rather lose than win on a false promise: Rishi Sunak

Britain's prime ministerial candidate Rishi Sunak has insisted that he would rather lose the Conservative Party leadership race to replace Boris Johnson than win on a false promise on how he plans to tackle the economic crisis.

 

In an interview with the BBC, the British Indian former Chancellor said he was committed to helping the most vulnerable families with the cost-of-living crisis and felt a "moral responsibility to go further" and provide "extra help" over the winter.

7:56 AM

Two terrorists carry out suicide attack on Army company operating base

In a terrorist attack 25 km from Rajouri, two terrorists carried out a suicide attack on an Army company operating base. Both terrorists have been killed while three own troops have lost their lives. Operations in progress: Indian Army officials

Someone tried to cross the fence of the Army camp at Pargal in Darhal area of Rajouri. Exchange of fire took place. Additional parties despatched for the location, 6 km from Darhal PS. Two terrorists killed, two Army personnel got injured: Mukesh Singh, ADGP, Jammu Zone

7:24 AM

Raksha Bandhan communicates zeal, enthusiasm in life along with mutual brotherhood: Dhami

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday said that the Rakhi is a symbol of the sacred relationship of brother and sister while adding that Raksha Bandhan communicates zeal and enthusiasm in life along with mutual brotherhood.

 

On the eve of Raksha Bandhan, a large number of women of the state tied rakhi to the Chief Minister at his residence and Chief Sevak Sadan auditorium and wished him a long life.

 

"The festival of Rakhi is a symbol of the sacred relationship of brother and sister. The festival communicates zeal and enthusiasm in life along with mutual brotherhood. Festivals are our identity. Festivals play an important role in maintaining the ancient culture," he said.

7:23 AM

Children getting COVID-19 re-infections, other seasonal illness like foot and mouth disease: Expert

Amid the rise in COVID-19 cases among children, the health expert said that children who were infected with coronavirus in January or April are again being infected with the virus but the cases are mild that can be managed at home.

 

However, children are also being infected with other seasonal illnesses. Dr Nitin Verma Director Madhukar Rainbow Children's Hospital said that children are coming with COVID-19 reinfection.

7:23 AM

ISRO successfully tests Gaganyaan Low Altitude Escape Motor

In another important milestone in the Gaganyaan project, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully carried out the test-firing of the Low Altitude Escape Motor (LEM) of Crew Escape System, from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, said the officials on Wednesday.

 

"The Crew Escape System (CES) takes away the Crew module of the Gaganyaan mission in case of any eventuality and rescues the astronauts. In case of mission-abort during the initial phase of flight, LEM provides required thrust to CES, to take away Crew Module from the launch vehicle," read a statement by ISRO.

7:23 AM

Japan PM purges Cabinet after support falls over church ties

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reshuffled his Cabinet on Wednesday in an apparent bid to distance his administration from the conservative Unification Church over its ties to the assassinated leader Shinzo Abe and senior ruling party members. The reshuffle, second in just 10 months since Kishida took office, followed his July election victory that had been expected to ensure long-term stability until 2025.

 

But Abe's shocking assassination on July 8 and its impact on politics increased uncertainty as public support for Kishida's Cabinet plunged.