LIVE: Uttar Pradesh CM Adityanath oversees preparations in Ayodhya

The official religious ceremonies at Ayodhya Ram temple leading up to the 'bhoomi pujan' by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 5 started from today. Stay tuned for latest news live updates

4:50 PM

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath offers prayer at Hanuman Garhi temple in Ayodhya

4:42 PM

Ayodhya turns into fortress ahead of ground-breaking for Lord Ram temple

Ahead of the ground breaking ceremony for the grandiose Lord Ram temple in Ayodhya on August 5, the temple town has been turned into a virtual fortress with different agencies taking over the security net. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be present at the event.

 

The Ayodhya district borders will be completely sealed this evening, considering high threat perception and the presence of VVIPs at the foundation laying ceremony on Wednesday afternoon. Only local residents and those with valid passes would be let in after proper screening and security checks.

 

According to sources, about 3,500 policemen, 40 companies of Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and 10 companies of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have been requisitioned from other districts for deployment in Ayodhya for the event, apart from the local police force. READ MORE...

 

4:34 PM

Kerala gold smuggling: UDF observes 'Satyagraha', seeks CM's resignation

Intensifying the protest against the ruling CPI(M) government in Kerala, several leaders of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) are observing a one-day 'Satyagraha' over the gold smuggling case on Monday.

 

Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala started the 'Satyagraha' at his official residence, while Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief, along with other office bearers, is observing it at the KPCC office.

 

"We are holding the agitation "Speak Up Kerala" in which various UDF leaders including, MLAs and MPs are holding Satyagraha (protest) in their homes or offices in full compliance with the COVID-19 protocol. We are demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and initiating a CBI probe into various illegal appointments and contracts awarded by the state government," the leader said. READ MORE...

4:27 PM

Made all arrangements to ensure there is no laxity on any count: Uttar Pradesh CM

4:24 PM

Latest News LIVE: IMD issues red alert, extremely heavy rain likely in Mumbai

The India Meteorological Department issued a red alert for Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Raigad and Ratnagiri districts in Maharashtra for Tuesday after upgrading its earlier rain forecast from "heavy-very heavy" to "extremely heavy".

 

An IMD official on Monday said the "extremely heavy" forecast means Mumbai, Raigad, Thane, Pune and Ratnagiri may get more than 204.5 millimetres of rain in a period of 24 hours.

 

4:15 PM

Sensex plunges 667.29 points to end at 36,939.60; Nifty tanks 181.85 points to 10,891.60

3:55 PM

Bangalore International Airport extends biometric-based self-boarding facility to AirAsia India

Prem Watsa's Fairfax group-owned Bangalore International Airport has extended its biometric-based self-boarding process facility to budget carrier AirAsia India, a year after the private aerodrome operator rolled it out for airlines, according to a PTI report.

 

Under the digital boarding process, which is optional, the passengers can simply enrol their ID and biometric data, combined with their flight details, before entering the terminal.

 

The safe and contactless facility was first rolled out by the Bangalore International Airport for Tata-SIA airline, Vistara, in July last year. Bangalore International Airport's ambitious DigiYatra project for seamless flow of passengers from registration to boarding has just got bigger and better with AirAsia India joining the facility, Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) said in a release.

 

3:36 PM

Chinese artificial intelligence company files $1.4 billion lawsuit against Apple

Chinese artificial intelligence company Shanghai Zhizhen Intelligent Network Technology Co., Ltd., also known as Xiao-i, has filed a lawsuit against Apple Inc, alleging it has infringed on its patents, news agency Reuters reported.

 

The company is calling for 10 billion yuan ($1.43 billion)in damages and demands that Apple cease "manufacturing, using, promising to sell, selling, and importing" products that infringe on the patent, it said in a social media post.

 

Xiao-i argued that Apple's voice-recognition technology Siri infringes on a patent that it applied for in 2004 and was granted in 2009.

 

3:29 PM

Google adds icon in Maps to help people identify Black-owned businesses

Google has started adding an icon in Google Maps and Search to help people identify Black-owned businesses.

 

The move, which comes amid a surge in online searches for Black-owned businesses, is part of the company's commitment to support underrepresented entrepreneurs.

 

With the addition of the icon, people will be able to see a black heart over an orange three-striped background which will indicate a Black-owned business in Google Maps and Search. Similar to other attributes, Google relies on business owners to self-identify as being Black-owned businesses. It is not clear how Google will verify the authenticity of the claims. READ MORE...

3:28 PM

Rajasthan government transfers 88 IFS and RAS officers

The Rajasthan government has transferred or redesignated 57 officers of the Indian Forest Service (IFS) and 31 officers of the Rajasthan Administration Service (RAS).

 

IFS Shruti Sharma has been posted as Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Jaipur whereas in the transfers of RAS, Narendra Gupta has been posted as Additional Divisional Commissioner, Jaipur, as per an order of the Department of Personnel issued on Sunday night.

 

Earlier on July 31, the government had transferred or redesignated 97 RAS officers.

3:19 PM

Women MLAs tie rakhi to Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot at Hotel Suryagarh in Jaisalmer

3:18 PM

Uttar Pradesh CM takes stock of preparations ahead of foundation stone laying ceremony in Ayodhya

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday visited Ayodhya to review preparations for Ram temple Bhoomi Pujan' by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 5. The Chief Minister reached Ayodhya in the afternoon and visited the Ram Janmabhoomi site where the Bhoomi Pujan is to be held. He also visited Hanuman Garhi temple and was seen giving various directions to the senior officers.

 

Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Kumar Awasthi, Ayodhya District Magistrate Anju Kumar Jha and DIG Deepak Kumar also accompanied the CM during his visit in which he also sought details of sitting and other plans for the event, a senior official said here.

 

CM had to visit Ayodhya on Sunday but at the plan had was cancelled due to the death of state minister Kamla Rani Varun.

3:17 PM

Sushant Singh Rajput searched for 'painless death', 'bipolar disorder' on the internet: Mumbai police

Late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who was found hanging at his Bandra residence on July 14, had googled several words related to death and mental disorder towards the end, said Mumbai police according to a PTI report on Monday.

 

Sushant searched for words like "painless death", "schizophrenia" and "bipolar disorder" on Google, according to Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh. Commissioner Singh revealed these details while interacting with the press on Monday.

 

Sharing the information, celebrity photographer Viral Bhayani posted on Instagram: "Commissioner Param Bir Singh today revealed few things to the press.

3:01 PM

Masjid land handed over to Sunni Waqf Board by Ayodhya District Magistrate

As the countdown for the grand ceremony of 'Bhoomi Pujan' for the construction of the Ram temple began, Ayodhya District Magistrate Anuj Kumar Jha handed over the five acre land to the Sunni Waqf Board at Dhannipur village in Faizabad, as mandated by the Supreme Court in lieu of the Babri mosque.

 

A delegation of the newly formed Masjid Trust -- Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation led by its president Zufar Faruqi and the Board's Chief Executive Officer Sayyad Mohammad Shoib met Ayodhya DM Anuj Kumar Jha at the latter's residence.

Talking to IANS, Board CEO Shoib said, "Today the district magistrate formally handed over the possession of land for the mosque to the Trust members. He handed over the certified copy of revenue record (Khatauni)."

 

The Supreme Court in its Ayodhya verdict of November 9, 2019, mandated a five acre plot to the Sunni Waqf Board at a prominent place in Ayodhya.

2:48 PM

Foundation stone has already been laid, Rajiv Gandhi ji did it: Digvijaya Singh