Latest News LIVE: Indian Army changes rules of engagement on LAC with China

Here are all the latest developments taking place across the country today

6:55 PM

Latest News LIVE: Haryana government cancels two power sector contracts with Chinese companies

The Manohar Lal Khattar-led BJP government in Haryana has cancelled contracts with Chinese companies for installing pollution control equipment worth Rs 780 crore at two of its thermal power facilities, in the wake of heightened tension between the two neighbours.

 

The contracts had been awarded by the Haryana Power Generation Corp Ltd (HPGCL) through global tendering for the installation of the equipment in the plants in Yamunanagar and Hisar towns. While the Beijing SPC Environment Protection Tech was awarded contract for the Deen Bandhu Chhotu Ram Thermal Power Station in Yamunanagar, the Shanghai Electric Corp was shortlisted for the Rajiv Gandhi Thermal Power Plant in Hisar.

 

The price quoted by them was competitive, officials admitted. National Thermal Power Corp (NTPC) was consultant at the time of bidding the contracts. The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in its environmental guidelines in December 2015 made the installation of pollution control equipment mandatory in thermal power plants.

 

With the cancellation of tenders, the state government has now decided to invite fresh tenders but from companies registered in India only. Against the tender for the power station in Yamunanagar, five bids were received, in which three were from Chinese bidders and the others from Indian bidders. In the tender for the plant in Hisar, three firms participated, with two being Chinese and the third one domestic company with a foreign collaborator.

6:36 PM

Latest News LIVE update: Indian Army changes rules of engagement on LAC with China

After an incident of the violent face-off with China in Eastern Ladakh, the Indian Army has changed its rules of engagement on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) which would allow field commanders to order troops to use firearms under "extraordinary" circumstances. The Rules of Engagement have been changed and the field commanders have been empowered to order troops to use firearms under extraordinary circumstances, army sources according to ANI said.

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also stated that the Army has been given full freedom to deal with the situation on the ground. The Indian side is expected to discuss the issue with the Chinese Army during the proposed talks at Corps Commander level to defuse the tensions in Eastern Ladakh, ANI reported.

 

Both sides don't fire at each other as per the border agreements between them signed in 1996 and 2005. They had also agreed not to use any blasting or firearms within two kilometres of the LAC. The Galwan river clash near Patrolling Point 14 claimed 20 Indian Army personnel lives who removed a Chinese observation post from there.

6:26 PM

Latest News LIVE: Tamil Nadu reports the highest single-day spike of 2,532 coronavirus cases

6:12 PM

India observes 'Ring of fire' annular solar eclipse, deepest in century

India on Sunday witnessed its deepest annular solar eclipse or 'surya grahan' of this century for over three hours with its peak in the noon giving the appearance of a "ring of fire" for around 30 seconds along a narrow corridor running through Chandigarh, Delhi, Shimla and Jaipur.

 

This was the last annular solar eclipse of the decade. With the next solar eclipse visible in India 11 years away in 2031, this marks a big astronomical event here. The solar eclipse started from around 9 a.m. across the Indian map as the Sun, the Moon, and the Earth came in a straight line, and the country witnessed the 'deepest' annular solar eclipse in over a century and the third eclipse even for this year after first two lunar eclipses took place in January and June.

 

The eclipse began around 9 a.m. and lasted till 2:28 p.m. While most of India witnessed a partial solar eclipse, certain places in Haryana, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan observed the phenomenon of Baily's Beads. These include Dehradun, Kurukshetra, Chamoli, Joshimath, Sirsa and Suratgarh.

 

Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai --the four metropolitan cities of India--observed the eclipse between three hours 19 minutes and three hours 28 minutes. In the national capital, the eclipse began at 10.20 a.m. and ended at 1.48 p.m., with the maximum phase occurring at around noon.

 

The maximum coverage of Sun was witnessed in Chandigarh (96.62 per cent) followed by Shimla (96.46 per cent), New Delhi (93.77 per cent), Jaipur (88.46 per cent), Jammu (87.36 per cent), Itanagar (84.40 per cent) and Lucknow (84.25 per cent).

5:57 PM

Latest News LIVE: Moderate earthquake recorded in Mizoram, other northeastern states

A moderate earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale shook Mizoram, adjoining northeastern states and areas bordering Myanmar on Sunday. There was no report of any damage or casualty, officials said. According to an official of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the tremor hit Mizoram capital Aizawl, parts of the mountainous state and adjoining areas of northeastern states at 4.16 p.m..

 

The epicentre of the quake that lasted a few seconds was at 35 km depth. The state had also witnessed a earthquake measuring 5 on the Richter scale on Thursday night. Seismologists consider the mountainous northeast region as the sixth major earthquake-prone belt in the world.

 

In 1897, a Shillong-epicentred quake measuring 8.2 on the Richter scale hit the area. In 1950, an earthquake measuring 8.7 on the Richter scale altered the course of Brahmaputra river.

5:41 PM

Earthquake of magnitude 5.1 on the Richter scale in Aizawl today

An earthquake of magnitude 5.1 on the Richter scale, occurred 25 km east-northeast of Aizawl, Mizoram at 16:16:24 (IST) today: National Centre for Seismology (ANI).

5:33 PM

PM Narendra Modi chaired a review meeting today on various Varanasi development projects

5:28 PM

Parts of Uttar Pradesh receive rainfall; thunderstorm likely on Monday

Moderate to heavy rains lashed many places in east Uttar Pradesh, while light to moderate rain and thunderstorms occurred at few places in western part of the state, the Meteorological Department said on Sunday. Monsoon has been vigorous over east UP and normal in western districts of the state, it said.

 

The weatherman has forecast rain and thundershower in east UP and at few places in western districts on Monday. Thunderstorm and lightening with winds gusting up to 30-40 kmph are very likely at isolated places over western UP on Monday, the Met department said.

5:09 PM

Amid border dispute with China, defence forces get powers to buy critical weapons, ammunition up to Rs 500 crore per acquisition: ANI

Amid the ongoing border dispute with China, the three defence forces have been given financial powers upto Rs 500 crore per project for the acquisition of critical ammunition and weapons which would be required in case an all-out or limited conflict breaks out, ANI reported.

 

"The Vice Chiefs of the three services have been given the financial powers upto Rs 500 crore per project to acquire the required weapon systems under fast track procedures needed to fill whatever shortcomings or requirement is felt," a senior government official told ANI.

 

The requirement of granting this power again to the forces was felt by the government after the Chinese aggression in Eastern Ladakh and the way they have deployed their troops in large numbers there along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Similar financial powers were given to the armed forces after the Uri attack and the Balakot aerial strikes against Pakistan.

 

The Air Force had emerged as the biggest beneficiary of the powers granted by the government after the Balakot airstrikes as they procured large number of equipment including the Spice-2000 air to the ground stand off missiles, Strum Ataka air to ground missiles along with multiple spares and air to air missiles for its aerial fleet.

 

The Army has acquired the Israeli Spike anti-tank guided missiles along with the precision-guided Munitions from America. The main focus in granting these powers to forces by the government has been to prepare themselves at a short notice for any contingency.

4:45 PM

Latest News LIVE: India hikes exposure in April; becomes 12th largest holder of US govt securities

India became the 12th largest holder of US government securities at the end of April, with holding worth $157.4 billion, according to official data.

 

After significantly reducing the exposure in March to $156.5 billion, Indian marginally hiked the holding by $0.9 billion to $157.4 billion the next month, the data from the US Treasury Department showed.

 

So far this year, there has been no specific trend in terms of such securities bought and sold by India amid global economic uncertainties due to coronavirus pandemic. While the holding touched a record high of $177.5 billion in February, the same was drastically reduced in March. The exposure stood at $164.3 billion in January.

 

At the end of April, Japan remained the country with the maximum exposure at USD 1.266 trillion, followed by China ($1.073 trillion) and the UK ($368.5 billion) at the second and third positions, respectively.

4:22 PM

Latest News LIVE: Rajnath Singh briefs CDS, service chiefs on LAC before Russia visit

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday held detailed discussions with Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat and all three service chiefs on the India-China border standoff in eastern Ladakh in the backdrop of the recent clash between troops of the two countries that led to the killing of 20 Indian soldiers.

 

In the over half-hour discussion at his residence, Singh reportedly suggested to the CDS and the three service chiefs to be "fully prepared" to take any unprecedented action as per the situation on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in view of the ongoing situation in Ladakh. It is learnt that the Army has been advised by the Defence Minister to be very cautious during patrol duty and enhance strict vigil at the border with China.

 

The other two forces have been asked to keep proper observation on land and sea lanes. The minister also discussed some critical defence deals which are expected to be inked during his visit to Russia. Singh's meeting took place ahead of his June 24 visit to Russia where he will witness the Victory Day Military Parade being organised in Moscow on the 75th anniversary of the Russia victory in World War II.

4:21 PM

Latest News LIVE: Badrinath Temple opened at 1:55 pm today after the solar eclipse

4:04 PM

We asked some prominent people to appeal to the three terrorists to surrender but they didn't budge: IG Police Kashmir (ANI)

3:48 PM

For the first time in history, four chiefs of main terrorist outfits killed in four months: IG Police Kashmir

3:47 PM

Latest News LIVE: Supreme Court to hear petitions on 'Rath Yatra' in Puri

Supreme Court will hear tomorrow four petitions seeking modification of its earlier order of June 18, which had stayed the 'Rath Yatra' in Puri and all other places in Odisha keeping in view the spread of Covid-19 pandemic.