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6:43 PM

ECI revises polling date for Haryana and counting date for JK and Haryana

Election Commission of India (ECI) revises polling day for Haryana from October 1 to October 5, 2024 and accordingly counting day for J&K and Haryana Assembly elections from October 4 to October 8, 2024

 

"The decision has been taken to honour both the voting rights and the traditions of the Bishnoi community, which has upheld a centuries-old practice of participating in the Asoj Amavasya festival celebration in remembrance of their Guru Jambheshwar," said ECI.

6:17 PM

Death toll from flood climbs to 59 in Bangladesh, over 5.4 m people affected

At least 59 people, including six women and 12 children, have died in the devastating floods which affected more than five million people in 11 districts of Bangladesh, officials announced on Saturday.

 

The Disaster Management and Relief Ministry, while giving out updates on the flood situation, said the highest deaths were reported from Cumilla and Feni districts, both adjoining the border with Tripura in India on the northeast side, with 14 and 23 deaths respectively.

 

Monsoon rainfall-triggered floods in deltaic Bangladesh and upstream Indian regions have wreaked havoc in the country for about two weeks resulting in deaths and displacement of humans and cattle, and loss of property posing a huge administrative challenge to the newly installed interim government amid a political transition.

6:11 PM

After Champai Soren, ex-JMM MLA Lobin Hembrom joins BJP

A day after former Jharkhand chief minister Champai Soren joined the BJP, ex-JMM legislator Lobin Hembrom on Saturday crossed over to the saffron camp.

Hembrom was given membership of the BJP by the party's state chief Babulal Marandi in the presence of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

5:48 PM

Sub-classification of SCs, STs divisive, says Mayawati

Sub-classification of SCs and STs for reservations is divisive for these classes, BSP president Mayawati said on Saturday and asserted that her party, which "united" the "persecuted" castes, would make no compromise on the issue.

The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister also targeted the Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana and Tamil Nadu governments over their handling of the issue in light of the Supreme Court's August 1 verdict on the matter.

"The issue of classification of Scheduled Castes (SCs)/Scheduled Tribes (STs) reservation and creamy layer is also divisive for these classes, whereas the BSP is a humanitarian movement to unite these people who have been divided and persecuted on the basis of caste for centuries and create a 'Bahujan Samaj', and hence no compromise is possible. The party is extremely serious about this issue," Mayawati said in a series of posts in Hindi on X.

4:53 PM

India's August rainfall 16 per cent higher than normal: IMD

India recorded around 16 per cent more rainfall than normal in August, with rainfall over Northwest India recorded at 253.9 mm, the second highest in August since 2001, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Saturday. Addressing a virtual press conference, IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said the country recorded 287.1 mm of rainfall in August, compared to the normal 248.1 mm. Overall, India has received 749 mm of precipitation against the normal 701 mm since the start of the monsoon season on June 1. Several districts in the foothills of the Himalayas and the northeast experienced below-normal rainfall as most of the low-pressure systems moved south of their usual position, and the monsoon trough also remained south of its typical position, the IMD chief said. Many states in the northeast, along with Kerala and the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, experienced deficient rainfall, he added.

3:57 PM

Kapil Sibal highlights abysmal work conditions in district courts

Rajya Sabha MP and senior advocate Kapil Sibal Saturday highlighted the abysmal conditions in which district court judges work and said unless their salary and infrastructure are improved, the quantity and quality of justice delivery system will continue to suffer.

 

Sibal, also the President of Supreme Court Bar Association, said the fact that trial court and district and session courts are loath to grant bail in certain significant matters itself is "symptomatic of the malaise" that has set in.

 

Speaking at the 'National Conference of the District Judiciary' here, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sibal said liberty is the foundational substratum of a thriving democracy and any attempt to throttle it impacts the quality of democracy.

 

He referred to the Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud often saying that court at the highest level is burdened with bail matters because bail seems to be an exception at the level of trial courts.

3:55 PM

IMA again demands central law on violence against doctors, hospitals

The IMA has written to the National Task Force (NTF), which has been mandated to formulate protocol for ensuring safety and security of healthcare professionals, again demanding a central law on violence against doctors and hospitals and declaring hospitals as safe zones. Stating that the Supreme Court has constituted the NTF to evolve a national consensus and to formulate protocols with due consultation of all stakeholders, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) in its letter formulated its submission in three sections. The NTF was constituted the apex court in the wake of protests by doctors and healthcare professionals following the recent rape and murder of a trainee woman doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.

3:06 PM

72 roads closed in Himachal, Met predicts heavy rain on Sept 2

A total of 72 roads have been closed in Himachal Pradesh following rain, officials said on Saturday even as the local Met office here warned of heavy showers at isolated places on September 2.

 

Of the 72 roads, 35 are closed in Shimla, 15 in Mandi, 10 in Kangra, nine in Kullu and one each in Una, Sirmaur, and Lahaul and Spiti districts, according to the state emergency operation centre.

 

Ten power and 32 water supply schemes have also been disrupted in the state due to rain, it said.

 

According to the centre, 150 people have died in rain-related incidents since the onset of the monsoon on June 27 till Friday and the state has suffered losses amounting to Rs 1,265 crore due to the damage caused by the rainfall.

 

Intermittent rains continued to lash parts of the state since Friday evening and Sundernagar recorded 44.8 mm of rain followed by Shilaroo (43.1 mm), Jubbarhatti (20.4 mm), Manali (17 mm), Shimla (15.1 mm), Slapper (11.3 mm) and Dalhousie (11 mm).

 

The local meteorological office has issued a 'yellow' alert of heavy rain, thunderstorm and lightning at isolated places in the state on September 2.

 

Himachal Pradesh's rainfall deficit so far in the past three months since June 1 till August 31 stands at 23 per cent with the state receiving 471.1 mm rainfall against an average of 613.8 mm.

2:54 PM

Won't stop until Indian Railways ensure comfortable travel for all, says PM Modi

On Saturday, while flagging off three new Vande Bharat trains, Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged that his government will continue efforts until Indian Railways ensures comfortable travel for all, including the poor and middle class. He said, We will not stop until Indian Railways guarantees comfortable travel for everyone. PM Modi also described the Vande Bharat trains as the new face of modern Indian Railways.

 

2:44 PM

Two new murder cases filed against ousted Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina

Two new murder cases have been filed against Bangladesh's ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her former cabinet ministers for the deaths of three people, including two BNP activists, during quota reform protests, according to media reports. The cases were filed in Dhaka courts on Friday, adding to the extensive list of legal actions against the 76-year-old leader following her resignation and flight to India on August 5 amid student protests over the quota system.

 

2:31 PM

Assam govt to notify Poba Reserve Forest as wildlife sanctuary: State min

State Environment and Forest Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary announced that the Poba Reserve Forest in northeastern Assam will soon be designated as a wildlife sanctuary. The new Poba Wildlife Sanctuary will cover 257.29 square kilometers, incorporating the Poba Reserve Forest, Kabu Chapri Proposed Reserve Forest, and the surrounding riverine areas.

2:14 PM

Farmers to hold mahapanchayat on September 15 and 22, ask center to open borders

Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher stated that the farmers' agitation, which began on February 13 in Delhi, will continue with upcoming mahapanchayats in Jind on September 15 and Pipli on September 22. Pandher accused the central government of misusing central agencies and suggested that the BJP is anxious about the protests with elections approaching in Haryana. Farmers have been camping at the Shambhu border near Ambala since February 13.

1:47 PM

Rahul Gandhi to address two election rallies in J-K on September 4

Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, will campaign for the NC-Congress alliance by addressing two election rallies in Jammu and Kashmir on September 4, according to a senior Congress leader. AICC General Secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir stated that the alliance candidates requested Gandhi's presence for their campaign.

1:35 PM

TN govt inks MoU with Google to set up AI labs to skill 2 million youngsters

The Tamil Nadu government has signed an MoU with Google to establish Artificial Intelligence labs at Guidance, the state's investment promotion agency, with the goal of training 2 million young people in AI, announced Industries Minister T.R.B. Rajaa. The MoU was finalised during Chief Minister M.K. Stalin's visit to Google's headquarters. Stalin, who is currently on an official trip to the United States to secure support and attract investment for economic development, is ushering Tamil Nadu into a new tech era, according to Minister Rajaa.

1:15 PM

Fire breaks out at flat in multi-storey apartments in west Delhi's Vikaspuri, no one injured

A fire erupted in a flat within a multi-storey building in West Delhi's Vikaspuri area on Saturday, according to officials. No injuries were reported, but household items were destroyed. The Delhi Fire Services (DFS) received the fire report at 8:10 a.m. and dispatched four fire engines to the location. It took about an hour for the fire engines to control the blaze, as stated by a DFS official.