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Tue, 02 August 2022
Shinde loyalist and ex-min Samant's car attacked
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Lt Gen Daljit Singh/ANI
23:55 Lt Gen Daljit Singh appointed honorary surgeon to President
Lt Gen Daljit Singh, currently serving as the director general of medical services (Army), has been appointed as honorary surgeon to President Droupadi Murmu, the Army said on Tuesday.
The officer is an alumnus of the prestigious Armed Forces Medical College, Pune.
He is currently the senior-most paediatrician and neonatologist in the Armed Forces Medical Services.
During his 38 years of service, he has held numerous professional appointments, including principal medical officer at the headquarters of the Central Air Command in Allahabad.
Singh is a post-graduate examiner of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bengaluru, Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Nashik, National Board of Examinations, New Delhi, and Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh.
Lt Gen Singh was awarded the Chief of the Air Staff Commendation in 2006 and the Chief of the Army Staff Commendation in 2011.
The officer was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2020 for his outstanding and meritorious service to the armed forces. -- PTI
23:38 Ruchira Kamboj takes charge as India's first woman envoy at UN
Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj presented her credentials to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in the United Nations on Tuesday as she took charge as India's permanent representative to the United Nations, the country's first woman envoy at the world body's headquarters in New York.
Kamboj, a 1987 batch Indian Foreign Service officer, was previously ambassador of India to Bhutan and was in June appointed India's permanent representative to the United Nations in New York, succeeding ambassador TS Tirumurti.
She assumes charge as India currently serves a two-year term as non-permanent member of the 15-nation UN Security Council.
India's tenure at the Council will end in December this year when the country will also preside as president of the powerful UN organ for the month.
Kamboj had also previosuly served as Counsellor at India's Permanent Mission to the UN in New York from 2002-2005.
"Just in, as PR- designate to the @UN. Wonderful today to meet all my Ambassador friends in the Security Council. It is my deepest honour to serve my country in this new position. #India," Kamboj tweeted on Monday.
Tirumurti replied to her tweet and said, Congratulations and all good wishes for your success Ruchira! @IndiaUNNewYork."
Former UN assistant secretary-general and deputy executive director at UN Women Lakshmi Puri, among the highest ranking Indian diplomats in the UN system, described Kamboj's appointment as "landmark" and a "new milsetone" for women's leadership at the UN. -- PTI
Uday Samant (right)
23:25 Shinde loyalist and ex-min Samant's car attacked
Former Maharashtra minister Uday Samant's car was allegedly attacked by a group of unidentified persons in Pune's Katraj area on Tuesday evening.
Samant, one of the 40 rebel Shiv Sena MLAs in Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's faction, was in Pune to attend Shinde's various programmes, a source close to him said.
A windowpane of the car in which Samant was travelling was damaged in the incident, he said.
A video of a mob trying to surround Samant's vehicle and shouting slogans circulated on social media.
Incidentally, Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray's public meeting was held in the vicinity around the same time. -- PTI
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23:06 Chandra Shekhar Azad's statue vandalised in MP
Unidentified persons damaged a statue of revolutionary and freedom-fighter Chandra Shekhar Azad in Madhya Pradesh's Jhabua district, officials said on Tuesday.
The incident at Thandla town, 60 km from the district headquarters, came to light on Monday night.
Thandla Nagar Parishad's Chief Municipal Officer Bharat Singh Tank said the small damaged part of the statue -- a part of the pistol wielded by the iconic revolutionary -- has been repaired.
Local police station in-charge Kaushalya Chouhan said a policeman noticed the damage during patrolling.
The miscreants will be identified through CCTV footage, she said.
Local BJP and Congress leaders demanded action against the miscreants.
The statue had been unveiled in 2017. -- PTI
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22:39 IFS officer Shweta Singh appointed director in PMO
Indian Foreign Service officer Shweta Singh was on Tuesday appointed as a director in the Prime Minister's Office, according to a Personnel Ministry order.
Singh is a 2008-batch IFS officer.
The appointments committee of the cabinet approved Singh's appointment for a period of three years from the date of her joining, the order said.
The ACC has cancelled the appointment of Aniket Govind Mandavgane, a 2009-batch IFS officer, as the deputy secretary in the PMO.
Mandavgane was on July 18 appointed as the deputy secretary. -- PTI
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22:24 Don't let likely monkeypox cases fly: India to UAE
The Union health ministry has written to the WHO representative in the UAE to ensure that air passengers exhibiting symptoms suggestive of monkeypox disease are not allowed to board flights to minimise the risk of disease transmission.
Referring to three cases in which the passengers had come to India from the UAE, joint secretary in the Union health ministry Lav Agarwal in a letter to executive director and IHR Focal Point, United Arab Emirates, Dr Hussain Abdul Rahman Ali Rand, said they were already exhibiting symptoms suggestive of monkeypox disease before arrival in India.
Under Article 18 of International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005, the World Health Organization recommends member states to undertake exit screening measures at points of entry and if required impose restrictions on persons from affected areas in response to a public health emergency of international concern, he mentioned in the communication dated August 1.
"In view of the above, it is requested that exit screening of may be further intensified so as to ensure that persons exhibiting symptoms suggestive of monkeypox disease are not allowed to board the flight to minimise the risk of disease transmission," Agarwal said in the letter, copies of which were sent to WHO representative to India, joint secretary (Gulf), ministry of external affairs, and joint secretary (U) in the ministry of civil Aviation.
India has reported eight cases of monkeypox, which includes one death, so far.
22:08 Bridgerton star Phoebe Dynevor in India; visits Taj Mahal
Daphne from Bridgerton became a known name in India right after the show's first season.
Many loved her sizzling chemistry with the Duke and even two years after its release, people can't stop talking about the duo.
Well, it's good news for all Daphne fans as the actor who plays the character onscreen -- Phoebe Dynevor is in India!
While the rest of the Netlfix series' cast is filming in the UK for season 3, Daphne has been in India for a while.
On Monday, Phoebe visited the Taj Mahal and even uploaded an Instagram Story.
She had earlier put a video for an auto-rickshaw ride and a picture of what looks like the Humanyun's Tomb complex.
If reports are to be believed, Phoebe is in India to shoot for her next project.
According to news circulating on social media, Daphne is not going to be a part of Bridgerton Season 3.
Earlier Variety reported that the third season will focus on the love story of Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton). -- PTI
21:38 China plans targeted ops to counter Pelosi visit
China on Tuesday warned that US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan disregarding its stern warnings will have a "severe impact" on bilateral ties and it "gravely undermines" regional peace and stability, as the official media in Beijing said that the military will launch a series of "targeted" operations to counter her trip.
Pelosi landed in Taipei on Tuesday night, according to the television footage shown by US networks. She is the highest-ranking US official to visit Taiwan in 25 years.
After Pelosi arrived in Taiwan, China's ministry of foreign affairs issued a strong statement, saying that her visit is a "serious violation of the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communiques".
"It has a severe impact on the political foundation of China-US relations, and seriously infringes upon China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. It gravely undermines peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and sends a seriously wrong signal to the separatist forces for 'Taiwan independence'. China firmly opposes and sternly condemns this, and has made serious demarche and strong protest to the United States," it said.
There is but one-China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, and the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, the statement said.
This has been clearly recognised by United Nations General Assembly Resolution and 181 countries have established diplomatic relations with China on the basis of the one-China principle, it said.
"The one-China principle is a universal consensus of the international community and a basic norm in international relations," it said.
Manhar Udhas/Facebook
21:29 Ghazal singer Manhar Udhas joins BJP in Gujarat
Ghazal and playback singer Manhar Udhas joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party during its membership drive on Tuesday.
Udhas (79) was inducted into the party by state BJP chief CR Paatil at the party's Gandhinagar office. Paatil also launched the singer's 36th ghazal album Aasman on the occasion, a BJP release stated.
Udhas said he has been a fan of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and will try his best to serve people in whatever way possible.
"I am happy that I am joining Narendra Modi's party. I have been a fan of Modi ji. My only purpose in joining the BJP is to contribute to the work being carried out by the party and Modi ji. As I am an artiste, I will also write and sing songs for the party," he told reporters.
Assembly elections are expected to be held in Gujarat in December. -- PTI
US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Taiwan
21:15 Not contradicting US policy: Pelosi in Taiwan
Shortly after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi landed in Taipei on Tuesday, she reaffirmed her country's unwavering commitment to supporting Taiwan's democracy and said this trip in no way contradicts longstanding United States policy on the self-governed island.
"Our Congressional delegation's visit to Taiwan honours America's unwavering commitment to supporting Taiwan's vibrant democracy," Pelosi said in a statement after arriving in Taiwan.
"Our visit is part of our broader trip to the Indo-Pacific -- including Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan -- focused on mutual security, economic partnership and democratic governance. Our discussions with Taiwan leadership will focus on reaffirming our support for our partner and on promoting our shared interests, including advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific region," she added.
Pelosi also expressed US solidarity with 23 million people of Taiwan in the face of the increasing threat from China.
"Our visit is one of several Congressional delegations to Taiwan -- and it in no way contradicts longstanding United States policy, guided by the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, US-China Joint Communiques and the Six Assurances. The United States continues to oppose unilateral efforts to change the status quo," she added.
Pelosi's plane landed in Taiwan amid a heightened security threat from China.
20:30 Nancy Pelosi lands in Taiwan, all eyes on China
Unfazed by China's overt arm-flexing, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi landed in Taiwan on Tuesday evening local time, even though the visit was conspicuously missing from her official Asia tour itinerary.
Pelosi becomes the highest-ranking US official to visit Taiwan, which is claimed by China, in 25 years.
Beijing on Monday said it was keeping a close watch on her planned visit to Taiwan and warned of a resolute response by its military and strong countermeasures if she went ahead with the trip to Taipei.
On Tuesday evening AFP news agency reported that Chinese jet fighters were seen flying over the Taiwan straits. Pelosi's visit is bound to exacerbate the tensions between the United States and China.
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20:29 Taiwan's presidential office website receives cyber attack
The website of Taiwan's presidential office has received an overseas cyber attack, reported ANI quoting Reuters.
It came soon after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi landed in Taiwan despite still opposition from China.
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20:16 Chinese fighter jets cross Taiwan strait: Reports
Chinese fighter jets are crossing Taiwan Strait, ANI has tweeted quoting AFP News Agency reports that cite State media.
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is shortly expected to arrive in Taiwan.
19:46 Sensex top gainers today
The benchmark BSE Sensex and Nifty closed marginally higher in a volatile session on Tuesday as gains in power, auto and energy stocks helped the indices extend gains for a fifth straight day.
Among Sensex constituents, IndusInd Bank rose the most by 2.59 per cent.
Asian Paints, NTPC, Maruti, Hindustan Unilever, State Bank of India, Mahindra & Mahindra and Power Grid were among the major gainers.
19:40 Nancy Pelosi leaves Malaysia, heading to Taiwan?
China is on alert as US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi departed Malaysia on Tuesday and may head to Taiwan ignoring its warnings of a resolute response if she visited the self-ruled island, which Beijing claims as its own territory.
Travelling by US Air Force jet, Pelosi on a tour of Asia, left Malaysia and was expected to land at the Taiwanese capital Taipei around 2220 hrs local time, according to Taiwanese media reports.
It is not clear if Pelosi or her delegation were on the plane.
It is widely expected that Pelosi will visit Taiwan and meet President Tsai Ing-wen on Wednesday, defying Beijing's repeated warnings, Hong Kong-based-South China Morning Post reported on Tuesday.
In quandary over stopping her visit, China continued to issue stern warnings to deter the 82-year-old top Democratic Party leader from going to Taipei, while official media here reported that tension escalated hours ahead of Pelosi's potential Taiwan visit as the People's Liberation Army remains fully prepared for any crisis.
While issuing a stern warning, China is yet to divulge its plans to retaliate against her visit.Beijing routinely protests any foreign dignitaries' visits to Taiwan, which claims its own and firmly insists all countries follow the One China policy acknowledging that the breakaway province is part of its mainland.
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19:29 11 arrested for thrashing kanwariyas in UP over playing music on speakers
Eleven people have been arrested for allegedly thrashing some kanwariyas over playing music on speakers in Wazirganj area here, the police said on Tuesday.
The incident took place in Dungopur village Monday evening when the kanwariyas were returning from Bareilly, they said.
According to the police, the accused objected to the kanwariyas playing music on speakers, and beat them up.
Superintendent of police OP Singh said 11 people, including village head Rihan and former village head Babu Khan, have been arrested under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. -- PTI
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19:00 Rival Sena groups clash near Mumbai, none hurt
Hundreds of activists of the Shiv Sena's rival factions clashed at the party's office in Dombivili town of Maharashtra's Thane district on Tuesday, the police said.
According to the police, photographs of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his MP son Dr Srikant Shinde were removed from the party office.
Activists of the Shinde faction had arrived at the office during the day to hang the photographs back on the walls, but supporters of Uddhav Thackeray reached there and a clash erupted, an official said.
The local police rushed to the scene and brought the situation under control, he said.
In the end, Shinde's supporters managed to hang the photographs on the wall, it was stated. -- PTI
18:28 Maldives a major partner, close friend of India in Indian Ocean region: Murmu
President of Maldives Ibrahim Mohamed Solih called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday.
Welcoming Solih at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Murmu said that she was happy to receive a close friend of India and an eminent leader under whose leadership Maldives has emerged as a stable and prosperous nation.
She said that Maldives is a major partner and close friend of India in the Indian Ocean region.
"The peoples of the two countries have enjoyed strong cultural, economic and trade ties for centuries. Maldives has a special place in India's 'neighbourhood first policy," said Murmu.
She was happy to note that India's need-based financial and development assistance is supporting Maldives government's development priorities.
Murmu said that the rapid expansion of India-Maldives development cooperation, defence and security initiatives, economic ties and people-to-people contact augurs well for India's relationship with the government and people of Maldives.
18:19 Man accused of supplying arms to Khalistanis held in MP
A 22-year-old man has been arrested in Madhya Pradesh for allegedly supplying weapons to the 'Khalistani movement,' officials said on Tuesday.
Asan Singh Sikligar, who was absconding for some time, was arrested by Burhanpur police, said home minister Narottam Mishra in Bhopal.
"The police in other states may also interrogate him," the minister told reporters.
Burhanpur superintendent of police Rahul Kumar Lodha said they had received information in January about suspected connections of Asan Singh, resident of Bhagwanpura in Khargone district of the state, with the 'Khalistani movement.'
A case was registered under the Arms Act against four persons including Singh at Shikarpura police station in Burhanpur district after 21 country-made pistols were seized, he said.
Three of the accused were arrested while Asan Singh was on the run, he said, adding that Singh was arrested on July 31. -- PTI
17:56 US located Zawahiri when he moved to Kabul
US intelligence located reclusive al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri earlier this year in Afghanistan after he moved from Pakistan to a Taliban-supported safe house in a posh locality in downtown Kabul, the US media reported on Tuesday.
US President Joe Biden on Monday announced that Zawahiri, who assumed the leadership of al-Qaeda after the death of Osama bin Laden, was killed in a CIA drone strike on Saturday at a house in Kabul where he was sheltering to reunite with his family, declaring that "justice has been delivered and this terrorist is no more.
The 71-year-old Egyptian surgeon, who had a USD 25 million bounty on his head, was bin Laden's second-in-command during 9/11 attacks and took over as the head of al-Qaeda after his death. He remained a visible international symbol of the terror group, 11 years after the US killed bin Laden during a raid in Pakistan's Abbottabad in 2011.
After relentlessly seeking Zawahiri for years, the US intelligence community located him earlier this year.
US intelligence officials had determined that Zawahiri had moved from Pakistan to a Taliban-supported safe house in downtown Kabul. Zawahiri's wife and children had relocated there first, officials said.
As US intelligence officials monitored them, they learned Zawahiri had joined his family, NBC News reported.
Once Zawahiri arrived at the safe house he never left, according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters Monday on the operation. Zawahiri was long believed to have been living in Pakistan.
That he was killed in Kabul is a testament to not only the porous border between the two countries but also to al-Qaeda's decades-long use of facilities, houses, buildings and compounds throughout both countries, The New York Times quoted an official as saying.
17:50 Maldives president meets President Murmu
The President of the Republic of Maldives, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih called on the President of India Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan today.
17:47 HM holds security meet in Delhi
Union Home Minister Amit Shah chairs a meeting between NIA and Delhi Police. Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora, NIA DG, Home Secretary, and other top officials present.
17:31 Maha CM promises cabinet expansion 'soon'
The Maharashtra government is working efficiently even though there is no full-fledged cabinet in place, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said on Tuesday and promised to "soon" undertake the exercise to add new members in his team.
At present, Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis -- both took oath on June 30 -- are the only members of the state cabinet.
"We will soon expand our cabinet. Even as the cabinet expansion has not taken place, the government is working efficiently. We have taken multiple decisions that are people-oriented," Shinde told reporters when asked about the long-awaited exercise to expand his team.
The CM, who is on a Pune visit, reviewed the status of various development-related projects in five districts that fall under the Pune division.
Shinde listed major decisions taken by his government and mentioned about reducing fuel prices, granting approval for constructing a Metro car shed at Aarey Colony in Mumbai and proposed diversion of rainwater to drought-prone areas of Marathwada in central Maharashtra.
Responding to the controversy over shifting of the proposed MIDC (Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation) area from Saswad in Pune to Koregaon town in adjoining Satara district, Shinde said any decision on the issue will be taken only after considering technical aspect and availability of land.
"We will take a decision on the MIDC area after considering availability of land (in Koregaon)," he said. Asked about the proposed international airport at Purandar in Pune district, Shinde said the new aerodrome will be developed at the site selected during the tenure of the BJP government.
17:14 Rupee jumps 41 paise to close at 78.65 against dollar
The rupee jumped 41 paise to close at 78.65 (provisional) against the US dollar on Tuesday buoyed by persistent foreign fund inflows into capital markets and softening crude oil prices.
At the interbank forex market, the local unit opened strong at 78.96 against the greenback and witnessed an intra-day high of 78.49 and a low of 78.96. It finally ended at 78.65 against the American currency, a rise of 41 paise over its previous close. In the previous session, the rupee had closed at 79.06 against the US dollar.
17:11 Census to remain indefinitely postponed: Govt
The government has no plans to bring the census into the concurrent list and allow state governments to conduct the census, Union Minister Nityanand Rai said in Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
Rai, Union minister of state for home, also said that due to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, the Census 2021 and the related field activities have been postponed indefinitely.
"There is no such proposal," Rai replied to a question of DMK MP from Tamil Nadu Ravikumar D, who asked whether there is any proposal to bring the census into concurrent list and allow state governments to do the census and if so, the details thereof.
The concurrent list consists of subjects of common interest to both the Union and the states.
Both the Parliament and the state legislatures can make laws in subjects which are in the concurrent list.
When asked whether the government is going to conduct decadal census enumeration this year, the minister said: "The intent of the government for conducting Census 2021 was notified in Gazette of India on 28th March, 2019. Due to outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, the Census 2021 and the related field activities have been postponed". PTI
17:06 #SitLikeAGirl and Ukraine's First Lady
Annie Leibovitz encourages social media campaign in support of First Lady Zelenska. Read the story here
16:56 ED has grown by over 50% since 2018
The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is in the news over its action in various cases of alleged money laundering, has witnessed a remarkable growth over the last nearly four years since Sanjay Kumar Mishra assumed office as its Director.
When Sanjay Mishra took charge as ED Director in 2018, the agency had five Special Directors and 18 Joint Directors. Many of them were from the Indian Police Service (IPS).
Officers come to ED from deputation from central and state governments or union territories.
Sources said the agency now has nine Special Directors, three Additional Directors, 36 Joint Directors and 18 Deputy Directors. For deputation in ED, preference is now given to the officers from Income Tax, Directorate General of GST Intelligence and Customs and Excise Department.
ED has set up offices in states such as Meghalaya, Karnataka, Manipur, Tripura and Sikkim. The ED established its first office in Meghalaya in August last year.
16:37 Sensex extends bull run to 5th straight session
Extending the winning run to the fifth consecutive session, the Indian stock market's benchmark Sensex closed 21 points higher in a volatile session on Tuesday led by good buying support in the public sector banks and auto stocks.
The 30 stock S&P BSE Sensex ended the day at 58,136.36 points, which is 20.86 points or 0.04 per cent higher when compared with its previous day's close at 58,115.50 points.
Earlier, the Sensex started the day in the red at 58,049.02 points and slipped to a low of 57,744.70 points in the intra-day. Index rose to a high of 58,328.41 points in the intra-day
16:17 Indian Rupee has not collapsed, says Sitharaman
Amid concerns over the decline in the value of the rupee against the US dollar, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday asserted there is no collapse of the unit and it is actually finding its natural course.
Sitharaman informed the Rajya Sabha that the RBI is continuously monitoring the local currency and intervening only if there is volatility.
"The RBI interventions are not so much to fix the value of the Indian Rupee because it is free to find its own course," the minister told the Rajya Sabha during Question Hour. Replying to supplementaries," she said interventions that are happening from the RBI side are more for containing volatility that is happening between the Indian rupee and the US dollar and so on.
"Even the interventions being made by RBI are not so much to determine the value - increase or decrease, of the Indian rupee. It is not for that. It is more to avoid the volatility and allow it to find its course.
"India, like many other countries, is not pitching its currency at a level extraneously. So the ways and which we want to strengthen... the RBI and the Ministry are fairly engaged in it," she said as members expressed concerns over the decline in the value of the Indian currency.
On suggestions that non-resident Indians should be allowed to make remittances in foreign currency, she said it is not an assurance that the Ministry of Finance will give but she can only pass on the suggestion to the RBI. Sitharaman said the rupee has seen more fluctuations against the US dollar but its performance is better than its peers.
"We have withstood the impact of the US Fed's decisions much better than any other peer currencies," she told the house. Actually, if you compare the Indian rupee versus other currencies, it is appreciating in its value, she said, urging the members to understand the context and speak about the Indian rupee.
16:05 Adar meets Mandaviya, India has 8 Monkeypox cases
SII CEO Adar Poonawalla meets Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. "My meeting went well like always. All preparations for the vaccine are being done; I briefed the minister on this. We are researching on the vaccine for Monkeypox and if there's a need for it."
This comes even as a 35-year-old man of African origin with no recent history of foreign travel has tested positive for monkeypox in Delhi, making it the country's eighth case of the infection and the city's third, official sources said on Tuesday.
The man was admitted to the Delhi government-run LNJP Hospital on Monday, they said. The first Monkeypox patient was discharged on Monday night.
Nancy Pelosi signs the Visitors' Book in Malaysia
15:05 US deploys 4 warships amid Pelosi's Taipei visit
As US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi headed to Taipei on Tuesday amid intensifying warnings from China, four US warships, including an aircraft carrier, were positioned in waters east of the island on "routine" deployments.
The carrier USS Ronald Reagan had transited the South China Sea and was currently in the Philippines Sea, east of Taiwan and the Philippines and south of Japan, reports say. '
Pelosi is expected to arrive in Taiwan today and meet with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen. She is also expected to hold a meeting with other high-ranking officials while in Taiwan and leave the island on Wednesday, as per reports.
Last month, Beijing had warned the US against the House of Representatives Speaker's Taiwan visit saying that it will act strongly and take countermeasures if the US side insists on going ahead with the visit.
14:52 Don't panic: Mandaviya on 7 Monkeypox cases
In the wake of the rising cases of Monkeypox in the country, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday assured citizens not to panic and said that an awareness campaign is being run in collaboration with the state governments to prevent the spread of the infection.
Speaking in Rajya Sabha today during the ongoing Monsoon session of the Parliament, the Union Minister said, "There is no need to be afraid of monkeypox, an awareness campaign is being run in collaboration with the state governments: Public awareness is very necessary in the context of monkeypox. We have also formed a task force under the chairmanship of a member of NITI Aayog on behalf of the Government of India."
"On the basis of the observations of the task force, we will assess and study the further action to be taken. If the state government of Kerala needs any kind of help from the Central government, it will be given. Also, an expert team of the Central government is guiding the state government from time to time," he said.
The Union Minister highlighted that when (Monkeypox) cases started appearing in the world, India had already started preparations. "Before the first case in Kerala, we had issued guidelines to all the states," he said. The Health Minister said that it has been written to the governments at the international level that the screening report of the travellers should also be sent to the respective authorities concerned.
"If someone in the family has had Monkeypox, then keeping a distance from him for 12-13 days is advised and thus, the spread can be controlled. With constant vigilance, we can control it well," he said.
14:34 India slaps tax notices on Oppo, Vivo, Xiaomi
The government is looking into cases of alleged tax evasion by three mobile companies of China and notices have been given to them, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman informed Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.
Replying to supplementaries during the Question Hour, the minister said the three companies are Oppo, Vivo India and Xiaomi.
The Department of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has issued a notice to mobile company Oppo for total customs duty of Rs 4,389 crore and these are on the grounds of mis-declaration of certain goods leading to a short payment in customs duty, she said, adding, "duty evasion we think is about Rs 2,981 crore".
"Undervaluation of imported goods for the purpose of payment of customs duty, that we think is an evasion of Rs 1,408 crore," she said. She said voluntarily they have come about to deposit Rs 450 crore, much against the demand of Rs 4,389 crore. Regarding the other companies, she said Xiaomi is another mobile company which deals with assembled MI mobile phones.
"Three show-cause notices have been issued to them and the approximate duty liability there is about Rs 653 crore.For the three show cause notices, they have been issued, they have deposited only Rs 46 lakh," the minister said. The third company is Vivo India, for whom also there is a demand notice issued for Rs 2,217 crore for which they have deposited Rs 60 crore as voluntary deposit, she informed the House.
"Besides these, the ED is looking at 18 companies that were established by the same group Vivo and there they have voluntarily remitted Rs 62 crore as deposit but the parent company outside of India has the total sales of 1.25 lakh crore. "Of the Rs 1.25 lakh crore total sales, Vivo has transferred through these 18 companies huge amounts of funds and it is believed that Vivo India has, in turn, remitted 0.62 lakh crore to its parent company which is outside India," Sitharaman said. PTI
Melissa Nazareth
14:27 Can You SAVE This Mother's Life?
Stem cell transplant is the only lifesaving cure for lakhs of Indians living both in India and abroad suffering from leukaemia, Thalassemia and severe blood disorders.
However, finding a donor when you are racing against time is perhaps the greatest roadblock that needs to be addressed.
"Each one of you is the cure," says Melissa Nazareth, who has acute myeloid leukaemia and wants young people to step up and donate to the cause before it's too late.
Read on to find out how a kind heart and a few hours of your life can save the life of another Indian fighting for her life. Interview by Divya Nair/Rediff.com.
Representational image: Nail art
14:24 School job scam: ED searches flats, nail art shop
Officials of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), probing the multi-crore teacher recruitment scam, on Tuesday conducted search operations at two flats and another shop allegedly linked to Arpita Mukherjee, a close aide of suspended TMC leader Partha Chatterjee.
Sleuths of ED raided two flats in South Kolkata one on Panditiya Road and the other in Madurdaha during the day, along with another nail art shop in the northern part of the city, agency sources said.
ED had earlier recovered around Rs 50 crore in cash, along with jewellery, from her two apartments in Tollygunge and Belghoria areas. Both Chatterjee and Mukherjee were arrested by the ED on July 23 in connection with its probe into the scam.
They will be produced before a PMLA court again on Wednesday, with the 10-day ED custody coming to an end. Earlier in the day, Mukherjee, on her arrival at ESI hospital in Joka for medical check-up, told waiting reporters that money was placed in her residences without her knowledge.
14:21 National Herald: ED raids 12 locations in Delhi
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday carried out raids at 12 locations in the national capital and at other places in connection with the National Herald case in which top Congress leaders are accused of violating norms.
The National Herald case pertains to the alleged financial irregularities under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and was registered about nine months ago after a trial court took cognisance of an Income Tax department probe carried out on the basis of a private criminal complaint filed by former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Subramanian Swamy in 2013.
The petitioner had approached the court alleging that the assets of Associated Journals Limited (AJL), which published the National Herald newspaper, were fraudulently acquired and transferred to Young Indian Pvt Limited (YIL), in which Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi owned 38 per cent shares each.
Swamy had alleged that the Gandhis cheated and misappropriated funds, with YIL paying only Rs 50 lakh to obtain the right to recover Rs 90.25 crore that AJL owed to Congress. The raids were conducted days after the investigative agency questioned Congress interim-president Sonia Gandhi for nearly three hours on July 27. It was the third round of questioning of the senior leader in the case.
14:03 India, Maldives ink 6 pacts to expand ties
India and Maldives on Tuesday inked six agreements to expand cooperation in several key areas with Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserting that New Delhi has been and will continue to be the "first responder" to any need or crisis facing the island nation.
After wide-ranging talks with visiting Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Modi announced a Line of Credit of USD 100 million (one million = 10 lakh)for the neighbouring country for the completion of development projects in a time-bound manner.
"We also reviewed projects for the construction of 4000 social housing units in Greater Male today. I am happy to announce that we will additionally provide financial support for 2,000 social housing units," he said in his media statement.
"We have also decided to provide an additional line of credit of USD 100 million so that all projects can be completed in a time-bound manner," he added.
The prime minister said the threat of trans-national crime, terrorism and drug trafficking is serious in the Indian Ocean and close India-Maldives ties were vital for peace in the entire region.
Arpita Mukherjee
13:35 Money kept without my knowledge: Partha's aide
Suspended TMC leader Partha Chatterjee's close aide Arpita Mukherjee, who has also been held by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with its probe into a school recruitment scam, said on Tuesday that crores of rupees recovered by the agency was slipped into her residences without her knowledge.
ED sleuths have recovered around Rs 50 crore in cash, along with jewellery, from her two flats in south-west Kolkata and Belghoria. Both Chatterjee and Mukherjee were taken to ESI Joka, on the southern outskirts of the city, for medical check-up, during the day.
Mukerjee, after deboarding a vehicle, told waiting reporters, "Money was kept in my residences without my knowledge," sparking speculation as to who was she pointing fingers at.
Earlier, Chatterjee, who has been relieved of his ministerial duties, had said that he was a victim of a conspiracy and expressed displeasure over the TM's decision to suspend him.
The veteran leader had also said that only time would tell if the action against him was justified. Both Chatterjee and Mukherjee have said that the money recovered did not belong to them. They will be produced before PMLA court on Wednesday, with the 10-day ED custody of the duo coming to an end.
13:31 al-Zawahiri's presence shows Taliban untrustworthy
Taliban, which has been crying for international recognition of its government in Afghanistan, has gained the spotlight once again after the US killed Ayman al-Zawahiri in a drone strike in Kabul.
Ayman al-Zawahiri, one of the world's most wanted terrorists and a mastermind of the September 11, 2001 attacks, was killed in a drone strike carried out by the US in the Afghan's capital city of Kabul on Saturday.
The reports said that US' strategy to use the Taliban as an ally in the fight against terrorism has failed miserably as the Islamic Emirates made it clear that they cannot be trusted by hosting and sheltering Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri.
The Taliban might have played a good cop or bad cop with the US authorities or someone might have given up information on Zawahiri for the sake of the billion dollars frozen fund of Afghanistan.
Greater terrorism might take place even though Zawahiri is dead in case the United States continues to treat the Taliban as a partner. -- ANI
13:21 Go First car goes under IndiGo plane, narrowly avoids collision with nose wheel
A car belonging to Go First airline went under an IndiGo A320neo aircraft at the Delhi airport on Tuesday, narrowly avoiding collision with the plane's nose wheel, sources said.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will investigate this incident, its officials stated. There was no damage to the plane, aviation industry sources said.
The aircraft was readying to depart for Dhaka on Tuesday morning when a car belonging to Go First airline went under it, narrowly avoiding collision with the nose wheel, the sources said. IndiGo and Go First did not respond to PTI's request for statements on this incident. PTI
13:10 Fifth case of Monkeypox reported from Kerala
A 30 year-old man, who came to Kerala from UAE last month, has tested positive for Monkeypox, making him the fifth case of the virus from the southern state. Health Minister Veena George on Tuesday said the man had arrived at the Calicut Airport on July 27 and was undergoing treatment at a hospital in Malappuram district.
His health condition is stable, she said. Those who were in close contact with him, including his parents, are being closely monitored. It is the fifth case of Monkeypox reported in the state, she said. The first patient was discharged and the condition of others was stable, the minister added. PTI
Ayman Al-Zawahiri, the face of evil
13:00 Taliban confirms al-Zawahiri's killing, slam strike
A loud explosion echoed through Kabul early Sunday morning, according to Tolo News.
"A house was hit by a rocket in Sherpoor. There were no casualties as the house was empty," Abdul Nafi Takor a spokesman of the Interior Ministry had claimed earlier. US President Joe Biden in a televised address on Monday (US time) announced that Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri was killed in an air strike by the United States stating that "Justice has been delivered."
Al-Zawahiri was one of the world's most wanted terrorists and a mastermind of the September 11, 2001 attack. Zawahiri's targeted killing comes a year after the US military's withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Taliban's takeover of the country. -- ANI
12:36 ED raids National Herald assets in Delhi
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday raided a dozen locations including the head office of the Congress party-owned National Herald newspaper here as part of an ongoing money laundering probe, officials said.
They said the searches are being carried out under the criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to "gather additional evidences with regard to the trail of funds".
Officers of the federal agency also searched the 'Herald House' office located at Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, ITO in central Delhi. The address is registered in the name of Associated Journals Ltd which publishes the newspaper.
The ED has recently undertaken the high-profile questioning of Congress President Sonia Gandhi and her MP son Rahul Gandhi in this case apart from few other Congress politicians. PTI
Maha CM and Dy CM with the RSS chief
12:27 Not even during Emergency: Sena on Oppn clampdown
The Shiv Sena on Tuesday slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the arrest of Sanjay Raut by the Enforcement Directorate, saying such targeting of the Opposition did not happen even during the Emergency imposed by the then prime minister Indira Gandhi.
In an editorial in the party mouthpiece Saamana, the Sena said democracy and a country perish if the Opposition is not treated with respect. Raut was arrested by the ED on Sunday night in connection with a money laundering case emerging from a chawl redevelopment scheme in Mumbai.
He was remanded in ED custody till August 4.
The Sena said Raut, Raya Sabha MP and Saamana executive editor, was arrested out of political revenge and many "false proofs" were produced to frame him in the alleged Patra chawl case.
"Had Raut aligned with the BJP, he too would have got cleaned in its washing machine," the edit said.
Questioning the "haste" in arresting Raut, the Sena said he had submitted a letter to the ED stating he will appear before the anti-money laundering agency post the monsoon session of Parliament and the Vice Presidential elections, but the ED didn't consider it and raided his residence on Sunday morning.
"People in power have decided to chop off the tongues or strangle those who speak the truth. This never happened even during the Emergency imposed by Indira ji," the edit said.
Many Opposition leaders, political workers, and journalists were arrested during the Emergency in 1975-77.
In another swipe at BJP, the Sena said when notices were issued by Central agencies to Opposition leaders, alleged economic offenders like Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi, and Vijay Mallya fled the country.
It also slammed the rebel group led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, saying the MPs and MLAs who are now speaking the words of courage are under the radar of the ED and Income Tax.
All these people are talking like saints today," the party said. The Sena recalled Raut had submitted a letter to Rajya Sabha Vice Chairman Venkaiah Naidu six months ago stating that he was approached by certain people who asked him to assist in toppling the then MVA government in Maharashtra or else he has to face the consequences. "Those who kept the sword hanging toppled the Thackeray government. This chronology has to be understood, the Sena said.
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
11:54 China flexes muscles ahead of Pelosi's Taiwan visit
Ahead of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's possible visit to Taiwan on Tuesday, Chinese Ambassador to ASEAN Deng Xijun said that Beijing will hold military exercises in the South China sea from August 2-6.
Maritime entry during the drill will be prohibited, the Chinese envoy said citing Hainan Maritime Safety Administration.
"According to Hainan Maritime Safety Administration, #China will hold MILITARY EXERCISES in the #SouthChinaSea from August 2-6. Entry will be prohibited," he tweeted.
Pelosi is expected to visit Taiwan today, as per reports. She is going to Taiwan with scheduled meetings with government officials at the self-governed island that China threatens to forcefully overtake.
On Monday, China reiterated that it is keeping a close watch on the reports of Pelosi's planned visit and warned of a resolute response and strong countermeasure if she insists on going ahead with the visit to Taipei.
Meanwhile, the White House said that Pelosi has the right to visit Taiwan. "If she goes it's not without precedent, it's not new," US National Security Council coordinator John Kirby on Monday.
11:50 CJI meets President Murmu
Chief Justice of India Justice NV Ramana and his wife called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan yesterday.
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11:46 Pak Army chopper crashes in Balochistan
Pakistan Army aviation helicopter carrying six senior military officers, including a top commander of XII Corps, is feared to have crashed while on a flood relief operation in Balochistan province after losing contact with air traffic control.
"A Pakistan army aviation helicopter which was on flood relief operations in Lasbela, Balochistan lost contact with ATC. 6 individuals were on board including Commander 12 Corps who was supervising flood relief operations in Balochistan.
The search operation is underway," Major General Babar Iftikhar, Director General Inter-Services Public Relations -- the media wing of Pakistan's armed forces -- said in a tweet on Monday.
The six individuals on board included the Commander XII Corps Lt Gen Sarfraz Ali, who was supervising the flood relief operations in Balochistan province.
Incidentally, General Sarfraz was one of the contenders interviewed by former prime minister Imran Khan for the post of director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in October last year, according to the Express Tribune newspaper.
He has served as Pakistan's defence attache in the United States.
The others on board included Major Syed the pilot, Major Talha the co-pilot, Director-General of Coast Guards Brigadier Amjad, Engineer Brigadier Khalid and Chief Naik Mudassir.
A police source said the helicopter had apparently crashed near a place called Sassi Pannu in a mountainous region in Lasbela on Monday. The helicopter took off from Uthal at 5:10pm on Monday and was supposed to land in Karachi at 6:05pm, but it lost contact with the air traffic controller, officials said.
11:41 Rajya Sabha adjourned till noon
Rajya Sabha proceedings on Tuesday were adjourned for almost an hour as Shiv Sena MPs protested against the alleged misuse of probe agencies while citing the arrest of their leader Sanjay Raut.
The Sena MPs also sought a discussion on the arrest of Raut by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case. Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said he has rejected notices given under Rule 267 seeking setting aside of the business of the day to discuss the issue.
But Shiv Sena MPs and some other opposition members tried to raise the issue, forcing Naidu to adjourn the proceedings till 12 noon.
Shiv Sena MPs were up on their feet as soon as BJP's Krishan Lal Panwar and independent candidate Kartikeya Sharma had taken oath as members of the Upper House and official papers laid on the table of the House.
Naidu said he has received notices under Rule 267 from some MPs including K C Venugopal of the Congress, Shiv Sena's Priyanka Chaturvedi and Anil Desai, Binoy Viswam of the CPI and AAP's Raghav Chadha.
"I have gone through it...They are to be discussed in normal course (of business)," he said. But this did not satisfy the opposition MPs who were up on their feet. Naidu asked them to sit down. "Everything is important... This is not the way. Don't do injustice to others," he said seeking taking up of listed Zero Hour submissions.
As the MPs persisted, he asked if they want the House to be adjourned till Wednesday. Soon after, he adjourned the proceedings till noon. PTI
11:24 Obama tweets: 'Finally!'
Former US President Barack Obama tweets, "More than 20 years after 9/11, one of the masterminds of that terrorist attack and Osama bin Laden's successor as the leader of al-Qaeda -- Ayman al-Zawahiri -- has finally been brought to justice."
File pic: The 9/11 Tribute in Light shines in New York City.
11:22 World is safer after Zawahiri's death: Blinken
The world is a safer place following the death of Ayman al-Zawahiri, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said, as he accused Afghanistan's Taliban regime of grossly violating its commitments to the international community by "hosting and sheltering" the al-Qaeda chief in Kabul.
Blinken said the US will continue to act against those who threaten the country, its people and its allies.
"We have delivered on our commitment to act against terrorist threats emanating from Afghanistan. The world is safer following the death of al Qa'ida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri. The U.S. will continue to act against those who threaten our country, our people, or our allies, he said in a tweet.
Blinken's remarks came shortly after US President Joe announced on Monday that an American precision drone strike killed al-Zawahiri, a key plotter of the 9/11 terrorist attacks who took over as the leader of al-Qaeda after Osama bin Laden's death in Pakistan in 2011, at a safe house in Afghanistan.
Al-Zawahiri, 71, was the No. 2 in al-Qaeda when the group conducted the 9/11 terror attacks, and American officials considered him a central plotter. While he lacked the charismatic leadership of bin Laden, he profoundly shaped al-Qaeda and its terrorist movements with his writing and arguments. -- PTI
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11:09 Grenade blast occurs in J-K's Ramban
Jammu and Kashmir Police on Tuesday informed that a grenade blast occurred near the Ind Police post in Ramban district of Jammu division.
A grenade blast occurred near the Ind police post near the Gool Police Station, Ramban district. A letter was found claiming it to be done by Jammu Kashmir Ghaznavi Force (JKGF), ADGP Jammu said.
Special Operation Group (SOG) and Army teams are conducting search operations. A case has been registered in the matter and a probe is underway, the top cop added.
Meanwhile, no injury or damage to any property was reported so far in this incident, the Police informed. -- ANI
10:58 Taliban violated deal not to shelter terrorists: US
Taliban has grossly violated the Doha Agreement by hosting and sheltering Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri, the US secretary of state Antony Blinken said on Monday (local time).
Zawahiri was killed in an air strike by the United States on Saturday, President Joe Biden said.
"By hosting and sheltering the leader of al Qa'ida in Kabul, the Taliban grossly violated the Doha Agreement and repeated assurances to the world that they would not allow Afghan territory to be used by terrorists to threaten the security of other countries," Blinken said in a statement.
The US and the Taliban signed the peace agreement in February 2020 under the Presidency of former US President Donald Trump. The deal stated the withdrawal of the US troops from Afghan soil and the Taliban would abate violence and guarantee that its soil will not be a safe haven for the terrorists.
In a statement, Blinken said that the Taliban also betrayed the Afghan people and their own stated desire for recognition from and normalization with the international community.
"In the face of the Taliban's unwillingness or inability to abide by their commitments, we will continue to support the Afghan people with robust humanitarian assistance and to advocate for the protection of their human rights, especially of women and girls," Bliken said in a statement.
al-Zawahiri was one of the world's most wanted terrorists and a mastermind of the September 11, 2001 attacks, was killed in a drone strike carried out by the US in Kabul. Zawahiri, an Egyptian surgeon was deeply involved in the planning of 9/11 and he also acted as Osama Bin Ladens personal physician.
Al-Qaeda, who had just turned 71, took over the leadership of Al-Qaeda after the US Forces hunted down Osama bin Laden in Jalalabad of Pakistan. 11 years after Laden was killed, Zawahiri had become an international symbol of the group, and a global terrorist with a reward of USD 25 million on his head.
The culmination of Zawahiri's terror plotting came on September 11, 2001, when nearly 3,000 people were killed in the attacks on the twin towers of the World Trade Center and Pentagon.
A fourth hijacked airliner, headed for Washington, crashed in a Pennsylvania field after passengers fought back.
His whereabouts were a mystery for several years, but he was believed to be hiding along the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. In January 2006, the US had earlier tried to kill Zawahiri in a missile strike near Pakistan's border with Afghanistan.
The attack killed four al-Qaeda members, but Zawahiri survived and appeared on video two weeks later, warning US President George W Bush that neither he nor "all the powers on earth" could bring his death "one second closer". -- ANI
10:46 Zomato shares jump nearly 11%
Shares of online food delivery platform Zomato on Tuesday jumped nearly 11 per cent after the company's consolidated net loss in the first quarter of the current financial year almost halved.
The stock climbed 10.67 per cent to Rs 51.80 on the BSE. At the NSE, it zoomed 10.79 per cent to Rs 51.30. Zomato on Monday said its consolidated net loss in the first quarter of the current financial year almost halved to Rs 186 crore due to higher income.
The company had reported a net loss of Rs 360.7 crore in the year-ago period. During the quarter under review, the company's total income rose to Rs 1,582 crore against Rs 916.6 crore in the corresponding period of last year. PTI
10:44 BJP Parl meet underway
Parliamentary party meeting of the BJP is underway at the Parliament Library building.
10:32 Zawahiri's safe house owned by Taliban minister's aide
Members of the dreaded terror group Haqqani network tried to conceal that al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri who was killed in a US drone strike was at a safe house in Kabul and restricted access to the site, a media report said on Tuesday.
An American drone strike killed al-Zawahiri, a key plotter of the 9/11 terrorist attacks who took over as the leader of al-Qaeda after Osama bin Laden's death, at a safe house in Afghanistan, President Joe Biden announced on Monday.
Al-Zawahiri was the No. 2 in al-Qaeda when the group conducted the September 11 terror attacks, and American officials considered him a central plotter. While he lacked the charismatic leadership of bin Laden, he profoundly shaped al-Qaeda and its terrorist movements with his writing and arguments.
"After the US drone strike that killed al-Zawahiri, members of the terror group Haqqani network had tried to conceal that the al-Qaeda leader was at the house in Kabul, which reportedly was owned by a top aide to Sirajuddin Haqqani, and restricted access to the site," The New York Times reported.
The report citing a senior administration official said that according to one American analyst, the "house that was struck was owned by a top aide to Sirajuddin Haqqani, who is now the interior minister in the Taliban government in Kabul.
The Haqqani network is an Islamist terror outfit founded by Jalaluddin Haqqani, who emerged as a top Afghan warlord and insurgent commander during the anti-Soviet war.
The report added that the United States had "multiple intelligence threads" confirming that al-Zawahiri was killed in the strike.
Al-Zawahri was long believed to have been living in Pakistan.
"That he was killed in Kabul is a testament to not only the porous border between the two countries but also to Al Qaeda's decades-long use of facilities, houses, buildings and compounds throughout both countries," the report said, citing a US official.
"And unlike the relatively sleepy city of Abbottabad, Pakistan, where Bin Laden was killed by a commando raid in 2011, his successor apparently spent the last weeks of his life right smack in the Afghan capital," it said.
The report further said that American intelligence sources had learned earlier this year that al-Zawahiri's wife, daughter and grandchildren had relocated to a house in Kabul.
"American intelligence agencies grew increasingly confident that al-Zawahiri was at the house as well. As they did in the case of Bin Laden, intelligence officials used different sources and methods to build a so-called pattern of life that confirmed his presence," the report said, quoting officials.
09:54 'Deceased': FBI updates profile of al-Zawahiri
The Federal Bureau of Investigation added a "deceased" caption under the profile image of Al Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri on its website, after the most wanted terrorist was killed by the United States in an air strike in Kabul.
Zawahiri was killed in a drone strike in Afghanistan on Saturday, according to US President Joe Biden.
There is what the profile of Zawahiri was on the FBI website before his killing was announced.
In a televised address on Monday (local time), US President Joe Biden said that "Justice has been delivered."
al-Zawahiri was one of the world's most wanted terrorists and a mastermind of the September 11, 2001 attacks was killed in a drone strike carried out by the US in the Afghan capital Kabul on Saturday.
"On Saturday, at my direction, the United States successfully conducted an airstrike in Kabul, Afghanistan that killed the emir of al-Qa'ida: Ayman al-Zawahiri. Justice has been delivered and this terrorist leader is no more," Biden said in a video address from the Blue Room Balcony at the White House.
"He will never again, never again, allow Afghanistan to become a terrorist safe haven because he is gone and we're going to make sure that nothing else happens," he added.
Zawahiri, an Egyptian surgeon was deeply involved in the planning of 9/11 and he also acted as Osama Bin Ladens personal physician.
09:38
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday put 'tiranga' as the display picture of his social media accounts and urged people to do the same as part of a collective movement to celebrate the Tricolour.
In his Mann ki Baat radio broadcast on Sunday, Modi had said the 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' is turning into a mass movement and urged people to put 'Tiranga' as the profile picture of their social media accounts between August 2 and 15.
"It is a special 2nd August today! At a time when we are marking Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, our nation is all set for Har Ghar Tiranga, a collective movement to celebrate our Tricolour. I have changed the DP on my social media pages and urge you all to do the same," he said in a tweet this morning.
Modi also paid homage to the Pingali Venkayya, who had designed the flag, on his birth anniversary.
"Our nation will forever be indebted to him for his efforts of giving us the Tricolour, which we are very proud of. Taking strength and inspiration from the Tricolour, may we keep working for national progress," Modi said. -- PTI
09:20 BSF fires at flying object along IB in Jammu
The Border Security Force opened fire at a flying object near the International Border in Kanachak sector of Jammu and Kashmir, a senior official said on Tuesday.
The unidentified flying object with a blinking light was detected at 9.35 pm on Monday as it tried to intrude into the Indian territory from across the border, he said.
The Border Security Force troops opened fire and the blinking light was not observed thereafter, he added.
A search operation was launched in the area along with police and other agencies, the officer said, adding nothing has been recovered so far.
Earlier, police had busted three Lashkar-e-Taiba modules, arrested seven of its members and recovered a huge cache of arms, ammunition, and explosive material reportedly dropped by 35 drone sorties from Pakistan.
Reportedly, LeT had set up three terror modules in Jammu and Rajouri districts to collect and transport weapons dropped by drones in border areas of Jammu, Samba, Kathua and Rajouri districts to terrorists in Kashmir. -- PTI
08:20 Justice delivered: Biden on Al-Qaeda chief's killing
Al Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri was killed on Saturday in an air strike by the United States, President Joe Biden said.
"On Saturday, at my direction, the United States successfully concluded an air strike in Kabul, Afghanistan and killed Al Qaeda's Amir Ayman al-Zawahiri," Biden said in a media briefing.
The US President said that justice has been delivered, adding, "No matter how long it takes, no matter where you hide, if you are a threat to our people, the US will find you and take you out."
"He carved a trail of murder and violence against American citizens, American service members, American diplomats, and American interests. Zawahri was Bin Laden's leader, his number two man, and his deputy during the time of terrorist attacks on 9/11. He was deeply involved in the planning of 9/11," Biden said.
"When I ended our military mission in Afghanistan almost a year ago, I made a decision that after 20 years of war, the United States no longer needed thousands of boots on the ground in Afghanistan to protect America from terrorists who seek to do us harm," Biden said, adding "I made a promise to the American people that we would continue to conduct effective counterterrorism operations in Afghanistan and beyond. We've done just that."
"The United States continues to demonstrate our resolve and our capacity to defend the American people against those who seek to do us harm. Tonight we made clear: No matter how long it takes. No matter where you try to hide. We will find you," he later tweeted.
Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid confirmed the strike and said, "An air strike was carried out on a residential house in Sherpur area of Kabul city on July 31."
"The nature of the incident was not apparent at first" but the security and intelligence services of the Islamic Emirate investigated the incident and "initial findings determined that the strike was carried out by an American drone," he said.
Mujahid said the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan "strongly condemns this attack on any pretext and calls it a clear violation of international principles and the Doha Agreement."
The US State Department had offered a reward of up to USD 25 million for information leading directly to Zawahiri's capture.
01:09 Kalamassery bus burning case: Two accused get 7, 6 years imprisonment
The National Investigation Agency special court in Kochi sentenced two accused in the Kalamassery bus burning case to seven years each and one accused to six years of imprisonment.
The court sentenced Nazeer Thadiyantavidatha and Sabir Buhari to seven years of imprisonment and imposed fines of Rs 1.75 lakh each.
The court also sentenced Thajudin to six years of imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 1.10 lakh.
The case pertains that, the accused persons had entered into a criminal conspiracy in the first week of September 2005 to wage war, strike terror, and damage government property in retaliation to the continued detention of Abdul Nasar Madani, chairman of PDP who was detained in Coimbatore jail at that time.
The accused persons had assembled on September 8, 2005, at Aluva Masjid and chalked out their plan at the instance and instigation of accused Majid Parambai and Sufia, to set fire to a Tamil Nadu government-owned bus.
The NIA special court in Kochi convicted these three accused on 27.07.2022 under sections 120B, 121A of IPC, 16(1)(b) and 18 of UAPA. -- ANI
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00:55 Kanwariyas attacked in UP, hunt on to nab accused
Some Kanwariyas were injured after they were allegedly beaten up by the members of a particular community in this Uttar Pradesh district on Monday, the police said.
The Kanwariyas were returning from Bareilly, they said, adding that as they reached Dungopur village in the evening, the members of a particular community objected to music being played on speakers.
An argument broke out between the two groups and subsequently, the Kanwariyas were allegedly beaten up by the mob, police said.
District magistrate Deepa Ranjan said a case has been registered in connection with the incident.
She added that the accused are absconding and efforts are on to nab them.
The sub-divisional magistrate and the circle officer are present at the spot along with heavy police force, the DM said. -- PTI
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00:52 TN braces for heavy rain, NDRF teams rushed to districts
With the India meteorological department predicting heavy rains in certain districts in Tamil Nadu in the next four days, the state government on Monday said four National Disaster Response Force teams have been rushed to Kanyakumari and the Nilgiris district to assist the district administrations.
The administration in the districts set to receive heavy rains have been told to take up all precautionary measures including launching rescue and relief operations.
State revenue and disaster management minister KKSSR Ramachandran directed the officials to remain alert and promptly respond to any emergencies.
Chief Minister MK Stalin has directed the officials to prevent damages to property and loss of human lives due to rain, he said.
The district collectors have been told to take all precautionary measures and keep earthmovers and other equipment and rescue teams ready, the minister said.
"A team of State Disaster Response Force has been sent to Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Coimbatore and Nilgiris district each respectively to assist the district administration in rescue operations. Further, two NDRF teams each have been rushed to Kanyakumari and Nilgiris district, respectively," the minister said.
People could contact the round-the-clock helpline: 1070 or Whatsapp 9445869848 for any emergency, Ramachandran said in a release in Chennai. -- PTI
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00:43 Pak army chopper with top officers goes missing
A Pakistan Army aviation helicopter which was on flood relief operations in Lasbela, Balochistan has gone missing, Pakistan inter-services public relations confirmed on Monday.
Taking to Twitter, the media wing of the Pakistan Armed Forces ISPR said that the helicopter carried XII Corps' Commander General Sarfraz Ali and other five senior military officials who were supervising flood relief operations being carried out in Balochistan.
"A Pakistan army aviation helicopter which was on flood relief operations in Lasbela, Balochistan lost contact with ATC. Six individuals were on board including Commander 12 Corps who was supervising flood relief operations in Balochistan," the tweet said, adding, "Search operation is underway."
While Pakistan media reports said that the helicopter lost contact with the Air Traffic Contol and has been missing for around the last five hours.
Further details are underway.
Notably, amid the ongoing floods in parts of the country, the Pakistan Army initiated rescue and relief efforts in the flood-hit districts of Balochistan, Sindh, Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which left thousands of people stranded across the country.
ISPR said that Balochistan has received 467 per cent of additional unprecedented rains from July 1".
In Balochistan, twenty-nine districts have been affected due to recent rains, flash floods particularly Lasbela, Kech, Quetta, Sibbi, Khuzdar and Kohlu. -- ANI
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