LIVE: Bihar flood situation remains grim; over 5.3 million affected
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for 10 districts in Kerala for the next four days. Stay tuned for the latest news of the day
 "Floods, NDRF, Rains")
A man carrying firewood on a tube wades through the flooded field following heavy rainfall
Petrol, diesel prices remain unchanged
Petrol and diesel prices remained unchanged across metro cities on Sunday. In the national capital, petrol was sold at Rs 80.43 per litre, unchanged for over a month now, and diesel at Rs 73.56, same for a second consecutive day. On Friday, oil market companies made a hefty Rs 8.38 per litre cut in diesel prices in Delhi due to VAT reduction. The price cut has again made diesel cheaper than petrol in the city after more than a month. In fact, diesel is cheaper than petrol in Delhi by the widest margin among all metros now. Delhi was the only major city in the country where diesel prices were higher than petrol.
MoS Parliamentary Affairs V.Muraleedharan holds a day-long hunger strike
Varanasi weaver prepares cloth with 'Jai Shree Ram' message for PM Modi
Bachche Lal, a handloom weaver from Varanasi, has prepared a special cloth with 'Jai Shree Ram, Ayodhya Pavitra Dham' embroidered on it for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, ahead of his visit to Ayodhya on August 5. While speaking to ANI, Bachche Lal said that what makes the cloth special is the material and design of the cloth. "This is a very special cloth as it has 'Jai Shree Ram. Ayodhya Pavitra Dham' written on it. It has also bows of Lord Ram designed onto it. The cloth has been made using cotton and silk threads," he said. "I have been preparing this cloth for the past 15 days. The colours used to make the cloth are golden and red. While its length is 72 inches, it is 22 inches wide," he added. He plans to send the cloth to Ayodhya through the Commissioner of Police.
Uttar Pradesh CM's visit to Ayodhya cancelled today
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's visit to Ayodhya today to review the preparations for Ram Temple foundation laying ceremony, stands cancelled. The visit has been cancelled due to the demise of the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Kamala Rani Varun who was was receiving treatment for Covid-19. He was scheduled to visit Ayodhya today to take stock of preparations for the Ram temple foundation stone laying ceremony. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to lay the foundation stone of the Ram temple in Ayodhya on August 5.
ISIS Khorasan intelligence chief Asadullah Orakzai killed in Afghanistan
Assadullah Orakzai, a Pakistan-origin terrorist operating in Afghanistan as the head of intelligence for ISIS Khorasan branch, was killed in an operation by Afghan security forces, confirmed National Directorate of Security (NDS) on Saturday. Assadullah Orakzai, who was a Pakistani national, was killed during an operation near Jalalabad city, the centre of Nangarhar province, NDS confirmed in a statement. He was the head of intelligence for the Khorasan branch of Daesh (IS). Orakzai was involved in plotting deadly attacks on a number of military and civilian targets in Afghanistan, Tolo News reported. "The Special Units of the National Directorate of Security NDS have eliminated Ziaurrahman known as Assadullah Orakzai, the native of Akhel Orakzai agency of Pakistan during a targeted operation," the statement said.
Yogi announces free bus travel for women on Raksha Bandhan
As a special gift to women in Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said that the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) will offer free services to women in its buses of all categories, on the occasion of 'Raksha Bandhan'. The free bus travel facility will be available for 24 hours, from August 2 midnight till August 3 midnight. The Chief Minister has also ordered intensive patrolling by UP police to ensure women's safety. The government has asked police to ensure that people adhere to the social distancing norms and strictly follow the guidelines issued in view of Corona pandemic.
Kuwait resumes commercial flights after months of suspension
Kuwait has resumed commercial flights after remaining suspended for months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the country's civil aviation authorities said. The flights resumed on Saturday at the Kuwait International Airport, reports Xinhua news agency. Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah, president of Kuwait's Directorate-General for Civil Aviation, said in a statement on Saturday that the first day of resuming commercial flights was a success in cooperation with all governmental and non-governmental agencies operating at the airport.
Telangana BJP leader invites Owaisi in 'bhoomi poojan' of Ram temple
Telangana BJP Leader and Chief Spokesperson Krishna Sagar Rao has invited AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi to participate in the 'bhoomi poojan' of the Ram temple in Ayodya. "The Ayodhya Ram Mandir bhoomi pooja will be performed and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in it and initiate construction of magnificent Ram Mandir. The place of birth of Lord Rama will be celebrated from here on with Bhavya Ram mandir, and the BJP is proud that it is in our term that this realisation of the dream of crores of Hindu's across the world has become a reality," Rao said.
Saddened by the loss of lives in Punjab due to illicit liquor: Kejriwal
In Pics | Floods wreak havoc, NDRF teams conduct rescue ops
Isro checking space enthusiast's claim of Pragyan rover rolling on moon
Akshaya Patra raises $950,000 in US to feed mid-day meals in India
An Indian nonprofit organisation Akshaya Patra has raised $950,000 through a virtual event hosted by its Texas chapter in the US to feed mid-day meals to school children in India. The event, Virtual Gala - Technology for Change, was attended by over 1,000 businesses, non-profits, government officials and philanthropic leaders from around the world, supporting the organisation's dual mission of addressing childhood hunger and promoting education for underserved children in India. The Texas gala, hosted by the cities of Austin, Dallas and Houston, was held on July 25.
Will embrace rebel MLAs if high command forgives them: Gehlot
Amid the ongoing political crisis in Rajasthan, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot seems to be adopting a soft approach against the rebels from the Sachin Pilot camp, as he openly announced on Saturday that he will forgive and embrace them if they apologise to the party high command. Speaking to the media in Jaisalmer, the Rajasthan Chief Minister said that if those who were engaged in the conspiracy to destabilise the government in Rajasthan confess to the party high command and are forgiven, he would also embrace them. Gehlot also attacked Union Home Minister Amit Shah, saying he always contemplates ways and means of toppling elected governments.
6.4-magnitude earthquake jolts Philippines
An earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale jolted Maguindanao province in southern Philippines on Sunday, authorities said. The Philippine Institute of Seismology and Volcanology (Phivolcs) said the quake, which struck at 1.08 a.m., hit at a depth of 543 km, about 13 km southeast of Cotabato City, reports Xinhua news agency. Phivolcs said the quake was also felt in the towns of Alabel, Kiamba and Malungon in Sarangani province, Tupi in South Cotabato province, General Santos City and Koronadal City.
Rain, thundershowers likely in parts of Uttar Pradesh today
Rain, thundershowers and lightning are very likely during the next two hours at isolated places over Uttar Pradesh, said the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday. Rain, thundershowers and lightning are very likely over Bareilly, Pilibhit, Shahjahanpur, Lakhimpur Kheri, Bahraich, Balrampur, Siddharth Nagar, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Amethi, Raebareli, Pratapgarh districts and their adjoining areas. "Rain/thundershowers and lightning very likely during next three hours at isolated places over Bareilly, Pilibhit, Shahjahanpur, Lakhimpur Kheri, Bahraich, Balrampur, Siddharth Nagar, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Amethi, Raebareli, Pratapgarh districts and their adjoining areas," IMD said in a tweet.
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First Published: Aug 01 2020 | 7:16 AM IST
