LIVE: Delhi court grants regular bail to outgoing WFI chief Brij Bhushan

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3:04 PM

Don't step out of homes unless necessary: Maharashtra govt urges people

In view of continuous downpour in parts of Maharashtra and heavy rainfall warning, the state government on Thursday issued an advisory, asking people not to step out of homes unless necessary. Mumbai received an average 100 mm rainfall in 24 hours till 8 am on Thursday, while neighbouring Thane city received a whopping 213.84 mm rainfall during that period. Some coastal districts, including Raigad and Ratnagiri, have been receiving incessant rainfall, officials said. A massive landslide at Irshalwadi village in Raigad district has claimed the lives of at least 10 villagers and many are still feared trapped, they said.

 

2:45 PM

LS adjourned for the day, govt assures discussion on Manipur in both Houses

Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the day on Thursday amid noisy protests by opposition members over the situation in Manipur. As soon as the House assembled at 2 pm, ministers laid papers amid din. Opposition members were shouting slogans such as "Manipur Manipur" and "Manipur is burning". Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi said that the government has already made it clear that it was open to a discussion on Manipur in both Houses of Parliament.

 

2:33 PM

Dhankhar reconstitutes RS panel of vice-chairpersons, half of them women

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday reconstituted the panel of vice-chairpersons of Parliament's upper house with half of them being women. The House members are informed that the panel of vice chairpersons has been reconstituted with effect from July 17, 2023, he said. Among the Rajya Sabha members who are the new vice-chairpersons are P T Usha, S Phangnon Konyak, Fauzia Khan, Sulata Deo, V Vijaysai Reddy, Ghanshyam Tiwari, L Hanumanthaiah and Sukhendu Sekhar Ray.

 

2:12 PM

Delhi court to hear regular bail plea of outgoing WFI chief at 4 pm

A Delhi court on Thursday reserved for later in the day the order on regular bail application of outgoing WFI chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in a case of sexual harassment of women wrestlers. The judge reserved the order after hearing arguments from the counsel appearing for the accused, the prosecution as well as the complainants. Will pass order at 4 PM, the judge said. During the hearing, the public prosecutor, representing Delhi Police, asked the court to try the accused as per law and impose certain conditions if relief was granted.

 

1:58 PM

Cong's General Secy Priyanka Gandhi to address rally in Gwalior on Friday

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will address a public meeting in Gwalior, the home turf of Union minister and former Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia, on Friday, a party office-bearer said. This would be Priyanka Gandhi's second visit to the state, where assembly elections are due by the year-end, in 40 days.

"Priyankaji will reach Gwalior at 11 am and then visit the memorial of Rani Laxmibai, where she will pay homage to the great freedom fighter," MP Congress's media department chairman K K Mishra told PTI on Thursday. Priyanka Gandhi will address a public meeting at Mela Maiden around 11.30 am, he said.

 

1:46 PM

Protesters storm Swedish Embassy in Baghdad ahead of planned Quran burning in Stockholm

Protesters angered by the planned burning of a copy of the Quran stormed the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad early Thursday, breaking into the compound and lighting a small fire.Online videos showed demonstrators at the diplomatic post waving flags and signs showing the influential Iraqi Shiite cleric and political leader Muqtada al-Sadr ahead of a planned burning of the Islamic holy book Thursday in Stockholm.
 

The videos showed dozens of men climbing over the fence at the complex, with the sound of them trying to break down a front door. Another showed what appeared to be a small fire being set. Other footage showed men, some shirtless in the summer heat, inside what appeared to be a room at the embassy, an alarm audible in the background.

 

1:41 PM

Delhi court reserves order on regular bail application of Brij Bhushan

A Delhi court on Thursday reserved for later in the day the order on regular bail application of outgoing WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in the women wrestlers sexual harassment case. The judge reserved order after hearing arguments from counsel appearing for the accused and the prosecution, as well as the complainants.

 

1:30 PM

Rajya Sabha adjourned over oppn demand for discussion on Manipur situation  

Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 2 PM on Thursday after opposition members created uproar demanding a discussion on the Manipur violence issue under Rule 267. Soon after the House met at 12 noon, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar accepted eight notices by members for a short duration discussion under the rule. Leader of the House Piyush Goyal said the government has no objections and was ready for a discussion.

1:11 PM

Delhi HC seeks WFI's stand on challenge to Asian Games trials exemption

The Delhi High Court on Thursday asked the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) to state before it the basis for the exemption grant to wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia from the Asian Games trials. Justice Subramonium Prasad, while hearing a petition by Under-20 World Champion Antim Panghal and Under-23 Asian Champion Sujeet Kalkal against the direct entry handed to Phogat and Punia, asked the sporting body to file its response during the day.

 

12:54 PM

Kishan Reddy prevented from visiting T'gana housing project site, sits on road in protest

High drama prevailed here on Thursday as Union Minister and Telangana BJP president G Kishan Reddy along with other party leaders sat on the road after being stopped by police from proceeding to inspect a site of the BRS government's housing scheme for the poor. Kishan Reddy sat on the road in Outer Ring Road miffed at being prevented from heading to the housing site.

"Am I a criminal? Am I a terrorist? I have a right to go anywhere in India," Kishan Reddy told Commissioner of Rachakonda Police D S Chauhan who tried to persuade the Union Minister and other leaders to vacate the place.

 

12:37 PM

TN minister Balaji's plea in money laundering case to be heard on Friday

The Supreme Court agreed to hear on Friday the pleas of Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji and his wife Megala challenging the July 14 order of the Madras High Court by which it upheld his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case. A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and justices P S Narasimha and Manoj Misra took note of the submissions of senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the minister and his spouse, that the issue would become infructuous if not heard urgently.

 

12:27 PM

Mumbai gets 100 mm rainfall in 24 hours, IMD predicts heavy rain in city

Mumbai received an average 100 mm rainfall in the last 24 hours and the weather department has predicted heavy to very heavy showers in the city and suburbs along with strong winds over the next one day. After a heavy downpour on Wednesday which caused water-logging in many low-lying areas and affected local train services, the rain intensity reduced early Thursday morning and there were no showers in some parts of the city. The country's financial capital received an average 100 mm rainfall in the 24-hour period ending at 8 am on Thursday, a civic official said.

 

12:25 PM

Yamuna water level in Delhi now below danger mark of 205.33 metres

The water level of the Yamuna in Delhi dropped below the danger mark of 205.33 metres on Thursday morning and is expected to recede further, albeit slowly as heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places in the upper catchment areas in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The Central Water Commission's (CWC) data showed the water level reached 205.25 metres at 10 am. There have been marginal fluctuations in the water level over the last two-three days. The Yamuna had been receding gradually after reaching an all-time high of 208.66 metres last Thursday.

 

11:58 AM

A gunman in New Zealand kills 2 people hours ahead of first game in Women's World Cup

A man stormed a high-rise construction site in downtown Auckland early Thursday morning, shooting at terrified workers and killing two people hours before New Zealand planned to host the first game of the FIFA Women's World Cup tournament.

The gunman was found dead after a police shootout, during which an officer was shot and wounded. Four civilians were also injured.

11:45 AM

Sharad Pawar demands immediate steps from Centre to restore peace in Manipur

NCP president Sharad Pawar on Thursday demanded that the Prime Minister's Office and the Union Home Ministry immediately take necessary steps to restore peace in Manipur, after shocking visuals emerged of two women being paraded naked in the strife-torn state.

Quoting Dr B R Ambedkar, Pawar in a tweet said, "Without humanity, your glory is worthless."