LIVE: GST Council to maintain status quo on tax on online gaming, casinos

GoM given 15 more days to iron out the issue of the valuation mechanism and submit the report, says FM Sitharaman

8:58 AM

Flood situation in Assam worsens, 5 more people die, 2.4 mn still affected

The flood situation in Assam deteriorated on Tuesday with five more people losing their lives and 24.92 lakh people suffering in the deluge, officials said.

Most parts of Silchar in Cachar district continued to remain under water -- over a week now, they said.

Three people died in Cachar and one each in Morigaon and Dhubri. With these deaths, the toll in this year's flood rose to 139, they added.

Three people were also missing -- two in Cachar and one in Chirang district, according to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA).

8:58 AM

Maharashtra signs MoU with Adani Energy for 11000 MW power generation

The Maharashtra government's Energy department on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Adani Green Energy Group Ltd (AGEL) to generate 11000 MW green power in the next five years.

It would entail an investment of Rs 60,000 crore and provide employment to 30,000 persons, a statement from the government said.

According to the agreement, AGEL will set up Pumped Storage Projects (PSP) in the next four to five years, through which about 11,000 MW power will be generated, said a statement issued by the state energy department.

8:56 AM

Putin has become a terrorist, says Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskky

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russian President Vladimir Putin Tuesday of becoming "a terrorist" leading a "terrorist state" and urged Russia's expulsion from the United Nations.

In a virtual address to the UN Security Council, Zelenskyy urged the UN to establish an international tribunal to investigate "the actions of Russian occupiers on Ukrainian soil" and to hold the country accountable.

"We need to act urgently to do everything to make Russia stop the killing spree," Zelenskyy said, warning that otherwise Russia's terrorist activity will spread to other European countries and Asia, singling out the Baltic states, Poland, Moldova and Kazakhstan.

8:56 AM

US officials expand testing and vaccination as monkeypox cases rise

Reacting to a surprising and growing monkeypox outbreak, US health officials on Tuesday expanded the group of people recommended to get vaccinated against the monkeypox virus.

They also said they are providing more monkeypox vaccine, working to expand testing, and taking other steps to try to get ahead of the outbreak.

"We will continue to take aggressive action against this virus," said Dr Ashish Jha, White House COVID-19 response coordinator, who has also been playing a role in how the government deals with monkeypox.