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LIVE updates: The virtual summit has seen a high-level presence from Indian and US government policymakers. Stay tuned for latest news of the day.

8:01 PM

Rajasthan CM Gehlot writes to PM Modi regarding 'despicable attempts to destabilize elected govts through horse-trading'

7:53 PM

Flood relief work in Assam and Bihar to be a long haul: NDRF DG

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is working on a "mission mode" for flood rescue and relief in Assam and Bihar, but it will be a long haul, the chief of the force said Wednesday. NDRF Director General S N Pradhan said in a video message that a total of 16 teams of the federal contingency force have been deployed in Assam and 20 in Bihar, according to a PTI report.

 

"In Bihar, the situation was a little alarming yesterday because of the possible influx of almost 5 lakh cusecs of water into the Gandak river and also because of incoming water in other river systems of north Bihar." "In Assam, the situation is comparatively better in the sense that there has not been so much rain as earlier," Pradhan said while updating about the flood situation.

 

However, he said, the relief and rescue work is being done on a "mission mode" by the NDRF and it will continue to do so as long as required.

7:49 PM

We've invited PM Modi to next G-7, where we'll advance economic prosperity network: Mike Pompeo

7:46 PM

Digital platforms have to be responsive and accountable towards the sovereign concerns of countries: Ravi Shankar Prasad

7:44 PM

India to witness huge growth in digital lending: NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant

India will witness huge growth in digital lending as the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the acceptance of digital payments, Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said on Wednesday. Speaking at the virtual 'Global Fintech Fest', Kant further said, "India is economically poor but data rich andthe future of the fintech sector in the country is extremelybright."

 

"COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the acceptance of digital payments... There is a huge opportunity to use data for lending and big growth will be seen in digital lending," he added.

 

Pointing out that the government has been the biggest disrupter in fintech story,hesaidit has invested heavily in digital infrastructure to support and nurture innovation. Kant also stressed that there is a need to digitiseMicro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector fast.

7:33 PM

Sachin Pilot files caveat in SC to ensure no orders are passed on Rajasthan Speaker's plea

Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot on Wednesday filed a caveat in the Supreme Court to ensure that no orders are passed on Rajasthan Assembly Speaker CP Joshi's petition against High Court interim orders without hearing Pilot and his supporting MLAs, according to an ANI report.

 

Earlier today, Joshi approached the Supreme Court against the interim order passed by the Rajasthan High Court on the petition filed by Sachin Pilot and MLA from his camp against the disqualification notices issued against them.

 

A caveat is a notice seeking that certain actions may not be taken without informing the person who gave the notice.

 

Joshi, in his Special Leave Petition (SLP), said that the impugned interim order has interdicted and restrained the Speaker from calling of replies and conducting hearing of the disqualification proceedings pending against the respondents till July 24.

7:18 PM

PM Modi to deliver keynote address at India Ideas Summit at 9 pm

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver the keynote address at the India Ideas Summit on Wednesday, that is being hosted by the US-India Business Council, according to an ANI report.

 

"This year marks the 45th anniversary of the formation of the Council. The theme for this year's India Ideas Summit is 'Building a Better Future'," a statement from the PMO said.

 

The virtual summit will see a high-level presence from Indian and US government policymakers, state-level officials and thought leaders from business and society.

7:15 PM

PM Modi to speak at India Ideas Summit, seek better ties with the US

6:43 PM

Latest News LIVE update: Indian Red Cross lends helping hand to Assam flood victims

Amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, savage floods have wreaked havoc in Assam, disrupting the lives of nearly 33 lakh people in 28 districts. Due to the floods, lakhs of people have lost their homes and livelihoods, according to an IANS report.

 

Since the onset of the floods, 1,200 volunteers of the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS), an auxiliary to the government and armed forces' medical services, have been working tirelessly to provide support to the affected communities in the remote areas.

 

"Initially, the state branch conducted a needs assessment and established 12 zonal centres to pre-position 13,500 tarpaulins so that we are able to launch a timely emergency response," said Diganta Bujarbaruah, General Secretary of IRCS Assam. Till date, 9,283 tarpaulins have been distributed among the needy families, helping close to 46,000 people gain immediate shelter.

 

As many as 2,000 families are being supported in temporary shelters and relief camps set up by the IRCS in the highlands at several locations. All the beneficiaries are being provided with dry ration, utensils, mosquito nets, soaps, masks and clean drinking water.

6:18 PM

Sachin Pilot files a caveat before SC to ensure no orders are passed on Rajasthan Speaker's petition

Sachin Pilot files a caveat before Supreme Court to ensure that no orders are passed on Rajasthan Speaker CP Joshi's petition without hearing Pilot and his supporting MLAs: ANI

6:03 PM

China likely to suffer Rs 4,000-crore loss this Rakhi festival: CAIT

Traders' body Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) expects that imported 'Rakhi' products from China worth an estimated Rs 4,000 crore will take a hit ahead of the upcoming Raksha Bandhan festival to be celebrated on August 3, according to a PTI report. CAIT expects this to happen on the back of its boycott Chinese product campaign.

 

The traders' body said that an estimated Rs 6,000 crore of goods are sold each year during the of Raksha Bandhan festival in which China alone contributes about Rs 4,000 crore.

 

"In the last few years, China-made Rakhis and other products essential for making Rakhis such as foam, pearls, drops, thread, decorative thali etc. have captured a significant share in the Indian market," CAIT said in a statement.

5:47 PM

Oil India Ltd issues statement on blowout in their gas well Assam's Baghjan

5:42 PM

China not de-escalating situation on LAC, continues to deploy 40,000 troops on Ladakh front

It seems that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) is not in a mood to de-escalate the situation on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) as it has continued deployment of around 40,000 troops in its front and depth areas for the Eastern Ladakh sector, according to an ANI report.

 

The Chinese are also not honouring their commitment for disengagement at the friction points in Eastern Ladakh and not moving back as per the agreed terms during the multiple rounds of talks at the government and Army level and intervention at the senior level like the one done by the National Security Advisor couple of weeks ago would be required for further progress, the sources said.

 

"The Chinese have not shown any signs of de-escalation as they continue to maintain their heavy troop deployment of almost 40,000 troops supported by heavy weaponry like air defence systems, armoured personnel carriers and long-range artillery in front and depth areas," sources said.

 

The disengagement process has also not made any progress since the last round of talks between the two Corps Commanders held last week and ground positions have also not changed, the sources said.

5:23 PM

Rajasthan Speaker moves SC against HC order to defer disqualification proceedings till Friday

Rajasthan Assembly Speaker C P Joshi Wednesday moved the Supreme Court against the high court order restraining him till July 24 from conducting disqualification proceedings against 19 dissident Congress MLAs, including sacked deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot, saying the "judiciary was never expected" to intervene in such matters resulting in "constitutional impasse".

 

Seeking an interim stay on the high court's July 21 order, the plea said it was the duty of the top court to ensure that all constitutional authorities exercise their jurisdiction within the boundaries and respect their respective lakshman rekha' as envisaged by the Constitution itself, Caccording to a PTI report.

 

The chances of an urgent hearing on the Speaker's plea during the day diminished as the apex court's registry till 3 pm could not inform lawyer Sunil Fernandes, the counsel for Joshi, about the clearance of the petition for an urgent hearing by a bench.

 

A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde later told Congress leader and senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who was appearing in another matter, to raise the issue of urgent listing before the apex court's registry.

5:19 PM

China's quest to grab more land undercut three decades of trust: C Raja Mohan

China's misadventure in eastern Ladakh has created conditions for a "fundamental reset" of India's ties with that country as its "unacceptable assertion" of power and quest to grab more land undercut nearly three decades of efforts to build mutual trust, strategic affairs expert Prof C Raja Mohan said on Wednesday.

 

Referring to China's aggressive posturing in eastern Ladakh, South China Sea and East China Sea, Prof Mohan said China will face consequences for its misplaced aggression as it may trigger "nationalist counter-responses" including a push for re-balancing of power in the region.

 

"I think the important point here is that the Chinese might have fundamentally miscalculated the nature of nationalism in Asia. Most countries in Asia are nationalist, India is nationalist. There is a strong sense of nationalism all across South East Asia," Prof Mohan told PTI. READ MORE...