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Wed, 19 August 2020
Only stones to be used for building Ram Temple

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23:32   US will always be 'faithful friends' to the people of India: WH
The United States will always be "faithful friends" to the people of India, the White House said on Wednesday, reiterating that America is eager to strengthen ties between the two countries.
"We congratulate our friends in India who recently celebrated their Independence Day," the National Security Council of the White House said in a tweet on the occasion of India's 74th Independence Day, which was recently celebrated across the US by people of Indian origin and friends of India.
As President Donald Trump said during his visit to India in February, "America is eager to strengthen ties between our two countries, and will always be faithful friends to the people of India," it said.
The NSC tweet was re-tweeted by Senator John Cornyn, Co-Chair of the Senate Indian Caucus.
Early this week, a senior administration official from the NSC said that the Trump Administration has elevated the US relationship with India and solidified its growing partnership in ways not seen in any other US administration.
During President Trump's historic visit to India in February, he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi elevated the relationship to a Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.  
Prime Minister Modi was also one of the first foreign leaders to visit the White House after President Trump took office.
The two leaders have also spoken side-by-side at two major events "Howdy, Modi" in September 2019 in Houston, Texas before a crowd of over 55,000 and again at "Namaste, Trump" in February 2020 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, to address a crowd of 110,000.
"These gatherings boosted our people-to-people ties and highlighted the warm personal relationship between the two leaders," said the official.
According to the official, Trump has prioritised the US-India relationship and worked to expand all facets of the partnership over the last three and half years. -- PTI
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23:23   Only stones to be used for building Ram Temple
Only stones will be used for building the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and it will stand for over 1,000 years, said Champat Rai, the general secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra trust, on Wednesday.
 
Rai, who is also a senior functionary of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, said the country's best minds from IIT-Chennai and the Central Building Research Institute are involved in the construction process of the temple.
While Larsen & Toubro is broadly looking after the construction of temple, IIT-Chennai has been consulted for testing soil strength and CBRI services are being used to make sure the building is earthquake-resistant, he told reporters in New Delhi.
Around 10,000 copper rods are required for building the temple. Since people want to be a part of the construction process, they can do so by donating copper, Rai said.
Using only stones, it will be built in such a manner that decay due to air, sun and water will not happen and temple will last for at least 1,000 years, he added. -- PTI
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22:56   Up to Cong leadership to decide my role: Pilot
Sachin Pilot, who was sacked as the deputy chief minister and the Rajasthan Congress head after he rebelled, on Wednesday said it was up to the party to assign him any responsibility.
 But in an apparent reference to the other Congress MLAs who were part of the recently ended rebellion, he said those who had worked for the party should be involved in the organisation and the state government on the basis of their merit and seniority.
 
Pilot made the remarks in Jaipur and his assembly constituency, Tonk, which he visited for the first time after the patch-up with chief minister Ashok Gehlot.
 
"The party makes the final decision on who works in the government and who works in the party organisation," he told reporters before heading for Tonk.
 
Pilot reiterated that he has not demanded any post for himself.
 
He reminded that a three-member panel has been formed by the All India Congress Committee to address the issues which concern him.
 
The committee was announced last week after a meeting between him and the party's top leadership in Delhi, ending a month-long crisis in the party. 

Eighteen other Congress MLAs had joined him in the revolt against Ashok Gehlot.
 
On Monday, Pilot met Ajay Maken, the new AICC general secretary in charge of Rajasthan.
 In Tonk, Pilot said he is not longing for any post and had not demanded anything.
 
"We took the stand for our principles," he said, adding that he is happy being among the people.
 
But In a possible reference to his loyalists, Pilot said he wanted those who struggled with him and played a role in the formation of the government should be involved in the party and the government according to their seniority and merit.
 
Pilot was given a warm welcome in his constituency. -- PTI
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22:24   India, China to hold another meeting tomorrow
India and China are expected to hold a fresh round of diplomatic talks on Thursday to carry forward the disengagement process to resolve the over three-month-long border stand-off in eastern Ladakh, people familiar with the developments said. 
 
The virtual talks are scheduled to be held under the framework of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on border affairs, and both sides are expected to deliberate on ways to ensure early implementation of the disengagement process, they said.
The Indian delegation at Thursday's talks is likely to be led by Naveen Srivastava, Joint Secretary (East Asia) in the external affairs ministry, they said.
In the last round of WMCC talks on July 24, the Chinese side was headed by Hong Liang, director general of the department of boundary and ocean affairs under the Chinese foreign ministry.
After the talks, the ministry of external affairs had said both sides agreed that an early and complete disengagement of the troops along the Line of Actual Control in accordance with bilateral agreement and protocols was essential for overall development of bilateral relations.
Following the diplomatic dialogue, armies of the two countries held the fifth round of Corps Commander-level talks on August 2 with an aim to expedite the disengagement process.
However, the disengagement of troops from the friction points in eastern Ladakh has not moved forward as expected by India, according to military sources.
At the military talks, the Indian side insisted on complete disengagement of Chinese troops at the earliest, and immediate restoration of status quo ante in all areas of eastern Ladakh prior to May 5 when the standoff began following a clash between the two armies in Pangong Tso, they said.
The Chinese military has pulled back from Galwan Valley and certain other friction points but the withdrawal of their troops has not moved forward in Pangong Tso, Depsang and a couple of other areas since mid-July, the sources said.
The formal process of disengagement of troops began on July 6, a day after a nearly two-hour telephonic conversation between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on ways to bring down tensions in the area.
Even as both sides have been engaged in diplomatic and military talks, the Indian Army is making elaborate preparation to maintain its current strength of troops in all key areas in eastern Ladakh in the harsh winter months. -- PTI
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22:13   Manmohan offered to make way for Rahul: Cong MP
The Congress on Wednesday sought to downplay Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's remarks in a new book regarding a non-Gandhi president for the party, saying they were made in July last year in a different context and workers throughout the country want Rahul Gandhi to return as party chief.
As the party tried to put the leadership issue to rest after Priyanka Gandhi's comments created a stir, party spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohil made a claim that former party president Rahul Gandhi could have become the prime minister during United Progressive Alliance-II as the then PM Manmohan Singh was having health issues and had offered to make way for Gandhi, who urged him to complete the term.
At an online media briefing, Gohil, when asked by the remarks, asserted that the Gandhi family had always shown large-heartedness and never aspired for power.
Gohil also cited past examples to assert that the Gandhi family never hankered for posts.
"All workers of the Congress and youth across the country want that Rahul Gandhi should lead us," he said, adding that it is the Congress Working Comitteee and the AICC that has the final say in such matters.
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21:47   SP Balasubrahmanyam still critical, on ventilator
Popular singer S P Balasubrahmanyam continues to be critical and is on ventilator and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support, a heart- lung assistance machine, the hospital treating him said in Chennai on Wednesday.
      
Noted film director Bharathiraja gave a call for a mass prayer by the cinema industry on Thursday for recovery of the 74-year old playback singer, battling COVID-19.
   
"Thiru S P Balasubrahmanyam who had been admitted at MGM Healthcare due to COVID-19 continues to be critical and is on ventilator and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support in the Intensive Care Unit.
   
"The expert medical team treating him is closely monitoring his vital parameters which are satisfactory at this point of time," Assistant Director (Medical Services), Dr Anuradha Baskaran said in a statement.
   
The popular playback singer was admitted to the hospital on August 5 after he tested positive for coronavirus and suffered a setback days later, prompting doctors to put him on life support.
  
Meanwhile, veteran Tamil film director and a long time friend of the singer, Bharathirajaa said the entire film fraternity would observe a one minute silent prayer at 6 pm on Thursday and then play a song sung by Balasubrahmanyam praying for his speedy recovery.
  
"Let's all pray to mother nature to give SPB to us," he said in a statement.
    
Music directors Ilayaraja, A R Rahman, actors Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan and others, lyricist Vairamuthu, directors, musicians, members of Film Employees Federation of South India, producers, theatre-owners, distributors besides billions of SPB fans across the globe would sing SPB songs at their respective places and pray for his recovery, he said.
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21:44   Trump posts will be taken down if...:Facebook COO
Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg has said that posts uploaded by United States President Donald would be taken down if they violate the social media company's policies on hate speech and false information.
   
Ahead of the November 3 presidential polls in the US, Facebook has taken a series of steps to check the spread of misinformation through its platform.
 
The measures include links to reliable sites and flagging of contentious content. In an interview to news channel MSNBC on Tuesday, Sandberg said the company would remove hate speech or false information, even if Trump made the posts.
 
"When the president violates our hate speech standards or gives false information about voter suppression or coronavirus, it comes down," she told the channel.
 
Last week, Facebook removed a post from the US president, in which he claimed children were "almost immune" to COVID-19. The post was flagged as 'spreading misinformation'. -- PTI 
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21:07   Maha HM welcomes SC verdict in Sushant case
Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh on Wednesday welcomed the Supreme Court ruling upholding transfer of the Patna police's FIR in actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death case to the Central Bureau of Investigation.
Deshmukh said the state government, which had earlier opposed a CBI probe in the high-profile case, will extend all cooperation to the central investigating agency.
Without naming the Bharatiya Janata Party, Deshmukh said leaders of some parties politicised the death issue in view of the Bihar assembly elections scheduled later this year.
The BJP, which had been demanding a CBI probe in the matter, is part of the ruling coalition in Bihar and main opposition in Maharashtra.
Deshmukh also said constitutional experts should now think over the concept of Union of states or federal structure in the Constitution given by Dr BR Ambedkar.
He said it is the state's right to hand over probe in a matter to an agency, but added the Maharashtra government will offer cooperation to the CBI following the apex court's order.
Patna-born Rajput, 34, was found hanging in his apartment in suburban Bandra on June 14 and since then the Mumbai police were looking into the matter.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the transfer of an FIR, lodged at Patna against actress Rhea Chakraborty and others for allegedly abetting Rajput's suicide, to the Central Bureau of Investigation. -- PTI
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20:37   India's GDP to contract by 20% in first quarter of FY21: Care Ratings
India's GDP is likely to contract by 20 per cent during the first quarter of the current fiscal on account of the COVID-19 pandemic-induced disruptions, Care Ratings said.
   
The Central Statistics Office will release the gross domestic product data for the first quarter of FY21 on August 31, which is expected to statistically mirror the adverse impact of the pandemic led lockdown on economic growth.
 
"Notwithstanding the fact that considerable uncertainty prevails regarding the quarterly economic performance, taking cognizance of the adverse impact of lockdown we are pegging the real GDP growth at (-) 20 per cent YoY for Q1 FY21," the rating agency said in a report.
 
The agency said disruptions caused by the countrywide lockdown crippled most economic and commercial activities across the country as has been depicted by various high frequency indicators slipping into red during these months.
 
Although the government had exempted certain select activities pertaining to agriculture, banking including NBFCs and HFCs, construction activities in rural areas from lockdown restrictions, these activities have remained muted due to labour shortages and other operational issues.
 
It said gross value added is expected to have contracted by nearly 19.9 per cent in Q1 FY21, led by broad based contraction across sectors, barring agriculture and public expenditure.
Low tax collections weighed on GDP, dragging down the growth further, the report noted.
 
Among the eight sectors under the broad categorisation of GVA, two sectors namely -- agriculture, forestry and fishing and public administration; defence and other services -- are expected to register positive growth rates, while others are expected to de-grow in Q1 FY21, the report pointed out.
 
It said the industry is likely to witness a steep de-growth of 35.9 per cent year-on-year in the June quarter. -- PTI
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20:35   Maha reports highest 1-day count of 13,165 cases
Maharashtra on Wednesday reported 13,165 new COVID-19 cases, highest one-day count, taking its tally to 6,28,642, while 346 fresh deaths pushed the toll beyond the 21,000-mark, a health official said.
The previous single-day highest was 12,712 coronavirus cases, recorded on August 12.
With 13,165 fresh COVID-19, the cumulative figure of infected people in Maharashtra rose to 6,28,642.
The state reported 346 deaths, taking the fatality tally to 21,033, said the health official.
Also, 9,011 patients were discharged from hospitals, taking the tally of recovered coronavirus patients to 4,46,881, he said.
There are 1,60,413 active cases in the state at present, the official added.
Mumbai reported 1,132 new cases and 46 deaths, taking its tally to 1,31,542 and the toll to 7,268.
The number of active cases in Mumbai stood at 17,914, he added.
Pune city reported 1,233 fresh cases along with 38 deaths, taking the tally to 82,907 and the toll to 2,169, the official said.
Maharashtra's COVID-19 figures are as follows: Positive cases 6,28,642, new cases 13,165, deaths 21,033, discharged 4,46,881, active cases 1,60,413, people tested so far 33,37,848. -- PTI 
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20:05   UP scribe arrested for sharing 'indecent' post on Ram temple
The Uttar Pradesh Police has arrested a journalist for allegedly sharing an objectionable social media post on Ram temple and claiming that he did so on the instructions of a Hindutva outfit's chief, an official said on Wednesday.
            
Accused journalist Prashant Kanojia had also been arrested in June last year for allegedly making objectionable remarks against Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on social media, but had been granted bail on orders of the Supreme Court.
            
"Journalist Prashant Kanojia was arrested from Delhi yesterday in connection with an indecent post," deputy commissioner of police-central Somen Barma said on Wednesday.
            
The FIR against him was registered here at the Hazratganj police station on August 17 for allegedly sharing an 'indecent' post on his twitter handle and saying that he did it on orders of Hindu Sena chief Sushil Tiwari, who denied the allegation.
            
The FIR registered on the complaint of Sub-Inspector Dinesh Kumar Shukla said, "On August 17, it was seen that Prashant Kanojia through his twitter handle (@Pjkanojia) had uploaded an indecent post related to Ram temple stating that it was done on orders of Tiwari."
            
The post was uploaded to 'malign Tiwari's image', said the sub-inspector in his complaint, adding that 'such posts can disturb peace'.
            
The case against Prashant Kanojia was lodged under various sections of Indian Penal Code, including section 420, and those of Information Technology Act.
            
In a Facebook post on August 17, Sushil Tiwari had denied he had anything to do with the indecent post on the Ram temple.
            
He had asserted that he was with 'Hindutva' and not with 'fake posts'. -- PTI 
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19:51   Docs who conducted Sushant's autopsy get threats
Doctors who signed the autopsy report of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput are now receiving a torrent of abuse, threats and allegations.
Screen-shots of the autopsy report which had names and mobile numbers of the five doctors from Cooper Hospital in Mumbai have found their way to social media as conspiracy theories about Rajput's death began to do the rounds.
While the doctors were unavailable for comment, president of the Medico-Legal Association of Maharashtra, Dr Shailesh Mohite, said they were receiving abusive phone calls and messages for the last few days.
Some media reports said that callers accused the doctors of taking bribe to `suppress' the truth in the report.
 
"The dean of Cooper Hospital Dr Pinakin Gujjar informed me about the harassment of five doctors who signed the PM (post-mortem) examination report," Dr Mohite told PTI.

"The hospital's landline numbers were also flooded with similar calls.
"I feel that firm legal action should be taken against such trolls, as some of them have gone ahead and found personal details of these doctors and shared screenshots on social media platforms," Dr Mohite said.
"It is unfortunate that doctors have to go through such harassment and their families are being targeted," he added.
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19:30   Govt orders withdrawal of 10,000 troops from J-K
The Centre on Wednesday ordered "immediate" withdrawal of about 10,000 paramilitary personnel from the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.
 
This is the biggest de-induction of these forces after additional troops were rushed to the UT post the abrogation of the Article 370 of the Constitution that gave the erstwhile state a unique status.
 
They said the decision was taken after the ministry of home affairs reviewed the deployment of the Central Armed Police Forces in the union territory (UT).
 
The home ministry had last withdrawn 10 CAPF companies from the UT in May, while 72 such units were taken out in December last year.
 
A senior official said that a total of 100 CAPF companies have been ordered to be withdrawn "immediately" on Wednesday and they have been asked to revert to their base locations in the country.
 
As per the directions, a total of 40 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force and 20 each of the Central Industrial Security Force, the Border Security Force and the Sashastra Seema Bal, will be taken out from Jammu and Kashmir by this week.
 
The CRPF has been asked to make arrangements for air lifting of these units to Delhi and other locations, they said.
 
A CAPF company has an operational strength of about 100 personnel.
 
"The units that are being withdrawn are deployed both in Jammu and Srinagar. It was felt that the counter-insurgency and counter-terrorist grid is intact in the UT and these additional units that were sent in last year can be de-inducted giving them the much required rest, recuperation and training," a senior CAPF officer said.
 
Also, he said, with the winters soon setting in, it would have been an onerous task to keep these units in make-shift and temporary dwelling units especially in the Kashmir valley region.
 
With the latest de-induction, the lead counter-terrorist force CRPF will have a strength of about 60 battalions (about 1,000 personnel in each battalion) in the Kashmir valley apart from very few units of the other CAPFs. -- PTI 
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18:57   Bhagat Singh Koshyari sworn in as Goa governor
Bhagat Singh Koshyari was sworn in as Goa governor in Panaji on Wednesday, an official said.
Chief Justice of Bombay high court Justice Dipankar Datta administered the oath of office to Koshari, who is governor of Maharashtra and assumed the additional charge as Goa governor after Satya Pal Malik was on Tuesday transferred and appointed as the governor of Meghalaya.
Koshyari read out his oath in Konkani. 

Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant and Leader of Opposition in Assembly Digambar Kamat were among those present on the occasion. -- PTI
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18:50   5 Manipur MLAs who resigned from Cong join BJP
Five ex-Congress MLAs of Manipur, who recently resigned from the state assembly and the party, joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday in the presence of Chief Minister N Biren Singh.
 
Welcoming them in the party, BJP general secretary and the party's pointsman for the northeast Ram Madhav said there is no threat to the Biren Singh government in Manipur now. 
It will not only complete its tenure but will be reelected, he said.
Henry Okram, nephew of former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Ibobi Singh, Panonam Broken, Oinam Lukhoi Singh, Ngamthang Haokip, Ginsuanhau Zou were inducted into the BJP by its vice president Baijayant Jay Panda.
Madhav also said the state government has support of 34 MLAs in the assembly, which has effective strength of 47 as there are 13 vacancies.
The chief minister had arrived in Delhi with the former Congress MLAs who resigned both from the party and the Assembly after skipping the trust vote proceedings in defiance of a party whip.
The BJP-led government had won the Monday trust vote 28-16. -- PTI 
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18:31   'Priyanka's view on non-Gandhi chief a year old'
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has endorsed her brother Rahul Gandhi's stand on a non-Gandhi president for the Congress, saying there are plenty of people capable of leading the party, remarks that were carried in a new book which according to the Congress were made in July last year in a different context.
 
In the book "India Tomorrow: Conversations with the Next Generation of Political Leaders", she is quoted as saying that Rahul was her leader and will always be.
Though the book was released recently by Oxford University Press, the Congress said Priyanka's interview was conducted after Rahul stepped down as party president taking responsibility for the 2019 Lok Sabha poll drubbing.
Sonia Gandhi is the interim president of the party and there has been a growing demand in the Congress for return of Rahul as chief.
In the book, which features interviews with young leaders in India, Priyanka told authors Pradeep Chhibber and Harsh Shah, "He (Rahul Gandhi) has said that none of us should be the president of the party and I am in full agreement with him. I think that the party should find its own path also." 
Meanwhile, the Congress said the remarks were a year old and made on July 1, 2019 by Priyanka and its context today is to take on the vicious attack on India's polity by the current dispensation and fight it fearlessly.
Party chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said millions of Congress workers and leaders have seen that Rahul has led the fight tirelessly, undaunted by setbacks.
"It is this fearlessness and uncompromising courage that the Congress requires, workers respect and nation needs," he said.
In her conversation, Priyanka said the presence of Gandhis in the party would impede the functioning of a non-family president only if her family wanted things to be that way.
"I think it would only undermine somebody if that was the way we wanted to be. But if we wanted to step back and give other people the freedom to take decisions and do anything, I don't see why there should be an encumbrance," she said to a question on Gandhi family's presence in the party and its potential to undermine a non family chief.
Noting that none in her family look at things like that, Priyanka said if there were to be another party president, "He would be my boss. If he tells me tomorrow that he doesn't want me in Uttar Pradesh but wants me to be in Andaman and Nicobar, then I would jolly well go to Andaman and Nicobar."
"It depends on me - I could say 'sorry I don't care, I'm going to do what I want. But, I don't think that any of us have that attitude. I think that we actually believe in the democratization of our party," she added.
On her and Rahul's role going forward, Priyanka is quoted as saying, "If we could enable that process of actually empowering other young people to participate and become leaders, then we would have achieved something. I see that as my role."
She said Rahul in his resignation letter post the 2019 Lok Sabha polls had said that he thinks he should take responsibility for the last election. 
Asked if she could assume leadership role in the Congress, Priyanka said her brother is her leader and will always be.
"Firstly, I would like to say that, to me, my brother is my leader and he will always be. Secondly, I see hundreds of people in UP and in different parts of the country who are very well equipped to fight the BJP. There are young and good enough leaders. I cannot tell the future, I do not know what is going to happen in the future. But, I think there are plenty of people who are capable to lead the party as well," she said.
Praising Rahul, Priyanka said her brother had done a lot of work to democratise the party and had conducted elections in the Youth Congress and National Students' Union of India because he wanted to facilitate new and younger talent in the party.
"In fact, oddly enough, he was attacked from within his party for it," she said.
To a query on whether she would give a shot at leadership if Rahul decides to stay away, Priyanka said she has her work cut out in UP where she has her hands full.
"It is an immense task, if we do manage to revive the party in UP, it will actually do a lot to the party in the rest of the country as well. It's a huge task," she said. 
"I am at ground zero, and it is going to take a lot of time, a lot of focus, and frankly, I am quite happy doing it. I really do believe that if we do manage to build there it will be a huge contribution to the party. So, I feel that I would like to focus there and put my head down and work hard there," she added. -- PTI
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17:54   CBI should conduct proper probe in SSR case: Cong
With the Supreme Court upholding a Central Bureau of Investigation investigation into the "unnatural death" of Sushant Singh Rajput, the Congress on Wednesday said the agency should carry out a proper probe into the actor's death, and asserted justice will not be delivered by the BJP-JDU making statements for "political gains".
 
The opposition party also highlighted that the apex court, in its ruling, has stated that records of case produced before it, do not "prima facie suggest any wrongdoing by the Mumbai Police".
Congress spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohil accused the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government of trying to take political advantage of the issue in view of the upcoming assembly polls.
Gohil said he was in favour of a Supreme Court-monitored probe in the case and alleged the Bihar government was either unable to put across its point of view properly or it did not want an SC-monitored investigation.
"I demand that the CBI should fulfill its duty and an investigation is completed at the earliest," he said at an online media briefing.
"Justice will not be delivered by the statements being made by BJP- JDU for political gains in view of the assembly polls. There should be a proper investigation in the case," he said.
There were various statements made that the Maharashtra government is not acting properly and about the Mumbai Police, Gohil said.
"The Mumbai police, considered among the good police forces in the world, was abused by the BJP people just because they were opposed to the Congress and the Shiv Sena," the Rajya Sabha MP said.
"The Supreme Court in its 35-page judgement has said in paragraph 10 that the case diary was submitted and 'Mumbai police was doing nothing wrong'. I demand that the BJP leaders who had made those statements apologise to the police," he said.
Gohil said the party has repeatedly demanded that there should be a proper investigation in the case and the bereaved family should get justice.
If anyone is found guilty then strictest punishment should be handed out, he said. -- PTI
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17:43   People will teach lesson to those who betrayed Cong: Digvijaya
Veteran Congress leader Digvijaya Singh has said people will teach a lesson to those who betrayed the party.
As many as 25 MLAs in the 230-member Madhya Pradesh House resigned from the Congress and their assembly membership in the last few months after former Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia quit the party and joined the BJP.
Asked about the Congress's strategy for the Assembly bypolls, Singh told reporters in Chhindwara on Tuesday night that "people will teach a lesson to those who betrayed the party". He did not take any name.
Singh also said the Congress has full faith in the leadership of Madhya Pradesh party president and former chief minister Kamal Nath, and lauded his hard work for the party. -- PTI
Adar Poonawalla, CEO, Serum Institute of India
Adar Poonawalla, CEO, Serum Institute of India
17:06   Serum Institute enters phase 2/3 for Covid vaccine
Indian pharmaceutical giant Serum Institute of India has initiated the phase 2, 3 clinical trials to evaluate the safety and immune response of coronavirus vaccine candidate on healthy Indian adults after the pharma company got approval from Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) earlier this month. According to the Clinical Trial Registry India, the scientific title of the study says that phase 2/3 clinical trial will be observer-blind, randomised, controlled study to determine the safety and immunogenicity of Covishield (COVID-19 vaccine) in healthy Indian adults.

A total of 1,600 eligible participants of more than or equal to 18 years of age will be enrolled in the study, which will be conducted on 17 sites in India.

These sites include-- Andhra Medical College (Visakhapatnam), JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, (Mysore), Seth G. S. Medical College and KEM Hospital (Mumbai), KEM Hospital Research Centre (Vadu), B J Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital (Pune), All India Institute Of Medical Sciences (Jodhpur), Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, (Patna), Institute of Community Medicine ( Madras), Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University Medical College and Hospital (Pune), Jehangir Hospital ( Pune), AIIMS (Delhi), ICMR- Regional Medical Research Centre ( Gorakhpur), TN Medical College & BYL Nair Hospital (Mumbai), Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (Sewagram) and Government Medical College (Nagpur).

Of the total 1,600 eligible participants, 400 participants will be part of the immunogenicity cohort and will be randomly assigned in a 3:1 ratio to receive either COVISHIELD or Oxford/AZ-ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, respectively.The remaining 1,200 participants from safety cohort will be randomly assigned in a 3:1 ratio to receive either COVISHIELD or Placebo, respectively.
Waterlogging on the Delhi-Gurugram Highway
Waterlogging on the Delhi-Gurugram Highway
16:53   'Millennium City' Gurgaon sinks after heavy rain
Heavy rains lashed Delhi-NCR, particularly battering the satellite city of Gurgaon on Wednesday, flooding the low-lying areas and bringing the traffic to a halt. Kuldeep Srivastava, the head of the regional forecasting centre of the India Meteorological Department, said Delhi recorded light to moderate rains between 6 am and 8:30 am, thereafter the intensity increased. Heavy rains are very likely as the day progresses, he said. Till 8.30 am, Gurgaon had recorded 23 millimetres of rainfall, he said. Gurgaon witnessed very heavy downpour since morning. 

The rains flooded many streets, turning them into small rivers, as traffic came to a virtual standstill at key stretches. 

An underpass on the Golf Course Road was also submerged under water. Many vehicles lay marooned on the roads as they got stuck due to the water. Police were also seen moving them to keep the traffic going. The traffic congestion also brought back the memories of the rains in 2016 when commuters were stuck in a massive jam for hours. 

"Traffic has not moved an inch on Subhash Chowk (Gurgaon) since an hour because there is waterlogging," said Deepak Sharma, a resident of Gurgaon said. The Millennium City was among the worst hit as water entered complexes of high-rises, forcing them to turn off the power to avoid any mishap. 

"The city has come to a standstill, roads are submerged under water, imagine what would be the state of subways. Gurgaon is never prepared for rains," said Nidhi Shukla, a Gurgaon-based architect. Keerti Uppal, another resident of Gurgaon, said the situation is so bad in up-class Gurgaon areas, what could be the state of interior Gurgaon. 

"If it is known as cyber city, it cannot be floating every time it rains for an hour, she added. In Delhi, waterlogging took place at 16 different locations in areas, including Kirari, Burari and Rohini, the North MCD said.
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16:35   No wrongdoing by Mum police, but... SC on Sushant
Records of the case relating to the "unnatural death" of actor Sushant Singh Rajput do not prime facie "suggest any wrong doing" by Mumbai Police, but its "obstruction" to the Bihar Police team could have been avoided as it gave rise to suspicion over the bona fide of the inquiry, the Supreme Court said on Wednesday. 

The apex court, "according approval" to the ongoing CBI probe into the FIR registered against actress Rhea Chakraborty and others in connection with Rajput's death, said that Mumbai Police has not yet lodged an FIR and they are conducting inquiry under section 174 of the CrPC which deals with finding out the apparent cause of the unnatural death. 

A bench of Justice Hrishikesh Roy noted in the judgement that while Chakraborty's lawyer has reposed confidence in Mumbai Police, the advocate representing Bihar has claimed that it was "trying to suppress the real facts and not conducting a fair and professional inquiry". 

It said Rajput's father and the Bihar government have alleged that Mumbai Police is "attempting to shield the real culprits under political pressure", while Maharashtra government has strongly refuted it and said that Patna Police has no jurisdiction to investigate the crime when the incident has taken place in Mumbai.  

The verdict came on a plea filed by Chakraborty who had sought transfer of the FIR lodged against her at Patna to Mumbai.
Adani Enterprises had won the rights to run six airports
Adani Enterprises had won the rights to run six airports
16:05   The Adani connect in the leasing out of three airports
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the proposal for leasing out airports at Jaipur, Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram through public-private partnership (PPP). Adani Enterprises had won the rights to run six airports -- Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Mangaluru, Thiruvananthapuram, and Guwahati -- through PPP model after a competitive bidding process in February 2019. These six airports are owned by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). 

Adani Enterprises had signed the concessionaire agreement with AAI for three airports - Ahmedabad, Mangaluru and Lucknow - on February 14, 2020. At a press conference on Wednesday, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said the cabinet has approved the proposal for leasing out Jaipur, Guwahati, Thiruvananthapuram airports through PPP model. PTI
The statement released by Sushant Singh Rajput's family
The statement released by Sushant Singh Rajput's family
15:50   SC's CBI order: Sushant's family thanks Nitish
Hours after the Supreme Court verdict ordering a CBI probe in the Sushant Singh Rajput death case, his family released a statement thanking friends and well-wishers and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar for "setting in motion the wheel of justice". The statement says that with India's premier investigating agency taking over the case, the family believes those involved in this "dastardly crime will be brought to justice."

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday said the Supreme Court's order for a CBI probe in actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death case vindicated Bihar
government's lawful action which had nothing to do with politics or elections.

 When pointed out that if it was victory of the state government and Bihar police as their actions have been vindicated by the apex court, Kumar said, "it is victory for justice. It is not ours victory." 

"Nyay ki jeet hui hain (truth has triumphed)," Kumar said on the apex court's verdict. He expressed hope that justice will be ensured in the
case and proper investigation will be carried out by the CBI at the earliest.

The chief minister had on August 4 ordered that the FIR lodged with the Rajiv Nagar police station in Patna be handed over to the country's premier investigating agency on plea of Rajput's father.
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15:36   He killed a party and a country: a Chinese insider hits out at Xi Jinping
An edited transcript of an interview with Cai Xia, who was expelled from the Communist party on Monday. Read the  interview here
Union Minister Prakash Javadekar
Union Minister Prakash Javadekar
15:32   Union Cabinet decision today on airports, CET
Union Ministers Prakash Javadekar and Jitendra Singh brief the media over union cabinet decisions. Highlights so far...

-- Union Cabinet approves the for leasing out Jaipur, Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram airports, of Airports Authority of India (AAI), through Public-Private Partnership.

-- Union Cabinet approves Fair and Remunerative Price of sugarcane, payable by sugar mills for the sugar season 2020-21, at Rs 285 per quintal for a basic recovery rate of 10%.

-- Cabinet approves setting up of 'National Recruitment Agency' to conduct Common Eligibility Test. This decision will benefit job seeking youth of the country. 

-- Cabinet approves one-time relaxation to Power Finance Corporation & Rural Electrification Corporation for extending loans to DISCOMs above limits of working capital of 25% of last year's revenues, under Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana.
Representational image
Representational image
15:17   17 BSF personnel among 49 fresh Covid cases in Meghalaya
Forty-nine more people, including 17 Border Security Force personnel, have tested positive for COVID-19 in Meghalaya, taking the northeastern state's tally to 1,506 on Wednesday, a health official said. Forty-seven fresh COVID-19 cases were reported in East Khasi Hills district and two in North Garo Hills district, Health Services Director Aman War said.

"Seventeen BSF personnel are among the new patients," he said. Nine more people have been cured of the disease and were discharged from hospitals, taking the total number of recoveries to 694, the official said, adding six patients have died in the state so far. The fresh infections have pushed the number of active cases in the state to 806, he said. -- PTI
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15:10   Jitin Prasada asks UP MLAs to address atrocities on Brahmins
Senior Congress leader Jitin Prasada on Wednesday urged the UP MLAs to effectively raise the issue of atrocities on Brahmins during the three-day Monsoon Session of the state legislative assembly which begins on Thursday.

In a letter, Prasada said, "I would like to draw the attention of MLAs from different sections of the society towards the murder of Brahmins in the state and other crimes committed against them. I would appeal to you to rise above the party lines, and effectively raise the issue of atrocities on Brahmins in your respective districts, assembly constituencies, and ask the government to immediately put an end to such atrocities and injustice," he said. Prasada also said that "the Brahmin society of the entire state" will remain grateful to the people for this step. -- PTI
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15:05   Sushant can now rest in peace: Ravi Shankar Prasad
BJP leader and Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday hailed a SupremeCourt order upholding a CBI probe in actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death case as a triumph of justice. He also praised the "exemplary courage" shown by the actor's family and the "overpowering desire of the people of India" to see justice in the case and called it a new milestone. "Justice triumphs! The soul of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput will surely now rest in peace with the assurance of a fair investigation by CBI on the FIR filed in Patna by Bihar Police whose request for transfer of case to CBI has been validated by the Supreme Court," Prasad tweeted. 

The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the transfer of an FIR, lodged at Patna against actress Rhea Chakraborty and others for allegedly abetting the suicide of Rajput, to the CBI. The apex court said that Bihar government is competent to transfer the case to the CBI for investigation.

Rajput, 34, was found hanging from the ceiling of his apartment in suburban Bandra in Mumbai on June 14 and since then Mumbai Police has been probing the case keeping in mind various angles. -- PTI
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14:56   People can now trust justice will be delivered: Nitish on CBI probe
"People can trust that Sushant Singh Rajput will get justice now that the Supreme Court has directed to hand over the investigation in the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation," Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said on Wednesday.

"Supreme Court verdict makes it clear that probe by Bihar Police and FIR registered here were correct. Not just Sushant Singh Rajput's family or people of Bihar, entire country is concerned over the matter. With CBI probe, people can trust there'll be justice," Kumar told ANI in a telephone interview. 

He said that the team probing the death case in Mumbai did not get the cooperation of the local police, but added that political comments on the matter are not right.

"It was the duty of the Bihar Police to probe after complaint, but they didn't get cooperation in Mumbai. Behaviour meted out to our IPS officer is known to all. With the Supreme Court verdict, it's clear what happened wasn't right. Any political comment in this situation isn't right," Kumar said.

"These things are not about politics, they are about justice. We are focused on providing justice. What was said, was not right. Probe will speed up now. Today it was proved that we abided by law in the steps we took," he added.
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14:41   Guj ATS arrests man sent by Chhota Shakeel to kill BJP leader
The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad has arrested a 'sharp shooter' who was allegedly sent here by gangster Chhota Shakeel to kill a BJP leader, a senior ATS official said on Wednesday. The man, who was staying in a hotel on Relief Road in Ahmedabad, fired one round at the ATS team during the late Tuesday night operation following which he was nabbed, the official said.

"Based on a tip-off that Chhota Shakeel has sent a sharp shooter to kill a BJP leader, our team raided the hotel late last night. The accused fired one round at us when we tried to catch him. Luckily, no one was hurt. We eventually overpowered him," he said.

Two pistols were recovered from the possession of the man, whose identity will be revealed after completion of preliminary questioning, he said. According to the hotel manager, a Mumbai resident booked a room there on Tuesday and was later caught and taken away by the ATS team. -- PTI
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14:28   Rhea will face CBI like she faced ED: Lawyer
Actor Rhea Chakraborty will face the investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) just like she has done with the Mumbai Police and Enforcement Directorate (ED), her lawyer Satish Maneshinde said on Wednesday.

'The Supreme Court after examining the facts and circumstances of the case and the report of the Mumbai Police has observed that it will be the desired justice as Rhea herself called for a CBI investigation,' Maneshinde said in a statement.

He said that the Supreme Court also observed that due to the allegations made by the two states of political interference against each other, it would be in the interest of justice to hand over the case to the CBI.

'Since the court has transferred the investigation to CBI invoking its powers under Article 142 of the Constitution of India, she will appear and face the investigation by the CBI as she has done earlier with the Mumbai Police and the Enforcement Directorate,' the statement said.

It added that Rhea has maintained that the truth will remain the same whichever agency investigates the case.   -- ANI
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13:56   Not fit for me to comment: Raut on Sushant order
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Wednesday said that it is 'not right' for him to make any political comment on Supreme Court's latest order in actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death case.

"Supreme Court has given its verdict, it is not right to make political comments. Our state's justice system has always been one of the best in the country, no one is above law here and to provide justice to all has been the norm," Raut said while speaking to ANI.

"Those in the government who know the law, the Mumbai Police Commissioner or our Advocate General can talk about it, it is not fit for me to comment on the verdict of Supreme Court," he added.

Notably, holding that the FIR registered in Bihar's Patna over the death of Sushant Singh Rajput was legitimate, the Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the CBI to investigate the case.   -- ANI
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13:27   Sushant case: Read the full verdict of the SC here
The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the transfer of an FIR, lodged at Patna against actress Rhea Chakraborty and others for allegedly abetting the suicide of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, to the CBI. The apex court said that Bihar government is competent to transfer the case to the CBI for investigation. 

A bench of Justice Hrishikesh Roy said that FIR registered by the Bihar Police on the complaint of Rajput's father Krishna Kishore Singh is correct and the reference to the CBI is lawful. The top court delivered its verdict on a plea by Chakraborty who had sought transfer of the FIR lodged against her at Patna to Mumbai. 

Rajput, 34, was found hanging from the ceiling of his apartment in suburban Bandra in Mumbai on June 14 and since then Mumbai Police has been probing the case keeping in mind various angles. The Centre had earlier informed the top court that it has accepted the recommendation of the Bihar government for a CBI probe into the FIR lodged at Patna by Rajput's father, who has accused Chakraborty and six others of various offences including abetment of suicide. 

While pronouncing the verdict, the bench said that if any other case is registered regarding Rajput's death, the same shall be probed by the CBI only. It said that jurisdiction of Mumbai Police, which is conducting probe under section 174 of the CrPC which deals with procedure to be followed in cases of unnatural death and suicide, is limited. The apex court held that the ongoing investigation done by the CBI is lawful.

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13:14   Rhea has no stature to comment on CM: Bihar cop
While talking about the statement that actress and ex-girlfriend of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, Rhea Chakraborty made in the court, Bihar DGP Gupteshwar Pandey on Wednesday said "she has no stature to comment on Bihar Chief Minister.

"The comment from the Bihar DGP came just days after Chakraborty approached the Supreme Court to file an affidavit seeking an end to media trial. She reportedly has stated in her affidavit that Sushant's case is being blown out of proportion as Bihar elections are just round-the-corner and also an FIR was filed in Bihar because the Chief Minister got involved in the matter.

Notably, holding that the FIR registered in Bihar's Patna over the death of Sushant Singh Rajput was legitimate, the Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the CBI to investigate the case.

The single-judge bench of Justice Hrishikesh Roy also said that the Bihar Government was competent to recommend transferring the case to the CBI.

The apex court also asked Mumbai Police to hand over all the evidence collected so far in the case to the CBI. The state of Maharashtra refused the option to challenge the order, Justice Roy said. -- PTI
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13:00   Not fit for me to comment on SC verdict: Raut
Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena, on the SC verdict ordering the handover of Sushant Singh Rajput's death case to the CBI: "Those in the government who know the law, the Mumbai Police Commissioner or our Advocate General can talk about it, it is not fit for me to comment on the verdict of Supreme Court. It is not right to make political comments. Our state's justice system has always been one of the best in the country, no one is above law here and to provide justice to all has been the norm."
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12:56   Dr Reddy's Laboratories launches Covid treatment drug in India
Dr Reddy's Laboratories on Wednesday announced the launch of Avigan (Favipiravir) tablets, used for treating mild to moderate Covid-19, in India. 

"The launch is part of the global licensing agreement with Fujifilm Toyama Chemical Co Ltd that grants Dr Reddy's the exclusive rights to manufacture, sell and distribute Avigan (Favipiravir) 200 mg tablets in India, "the drug major said in a regulatory filing. Dr Reddy's said Avigan has been approved by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for the treatment of patients with mild to moderate COVID-19.

"The need for high quality and efficacy, affordability and better disease management are key priorities for us. We believe that Avigan would provide an effective treatment option to the COVID-19 impacted patients in India, MV Ramana, CEO, Branded Markets (India and Emerging Markets), Dr Reddy's Laboratories, said. Shares of Dr Reddy's Laboratories were trading 0.10 per cent higher at Rs 4508.90 a piece on the BSE. -- PTI
Sushant Singh Rajput's sister with a friend
Sushant Singh Rajput's sister with a friend
12:45   It's just the beginning: Sushant's sister
After the Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation to investigate the Sushant Singh Rajput's death case, the late actor's sister Shweta Singh Kirti called it 'just the beginning' and thanked 'god for answering all the prayers.'

"There we go!! Finally!! CBI for SSR!! #CBITakesOver," wrote the 'Kai Po Che' actor's sister as she posted on Twitter after the verdict by the apex court. Taking the decision as just a beginning to justice, she added, "Thank you, God! You have answered our prayers!! But it is just the beginning... the first step towards the truth! Full faith on CBI!! #Victoryoffaith #GlobalPrayersForSSR #Wearefamily #CBITakesOver."

She also congratulated the extended family and said that she has full faith on CBI. "Congratulations to my extended Family!! So happy... first step towards victory and unbiased investigation. #JusticeforSushantSingRajput #OurfullfaithonCBI."

Shortly afterwards, actor Ankita Lokhande too spoke out about the historic verdict by the Supreme Court as 'the first step for justice' and tweeted, "Justice is the truth in action. Truth wins .... #1ststeptossrjustice."Lokhande, the former girlfriend of the 'Kedarnath' actor also shared a picture of the lady justice.
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12:31   Pranab Mukherjee's health declines
The health condition of former President Pranab Mukherjee has declined as he has developed a lung infection, the Army's Research and Referral Hospital said on Wednesday. The 84-year-old former president, who was admitted to the hospital in Delhi Cantonment on August 10, continues to be on ventilatory support, doctors attending to him said. However, his son and former MP Abhijit Mukherjee said his father is showing "positive signs of improvement". Pranab Mukherjee was operated for removal of a clot in his brain and has been in a coma ever since. He also tested positive for COVID-19.

"There has been a decline in the medical condition of Shri Pranab Mukherjee as he has developed features of lung infection. He continues to be on ventilatory support and is currently being managed by a team of specialists," the hospital said in a statement. In a tweet, Abhijit Mukherjee said his father's vital parameters are under control.

 "With all your good wishes and sincere efforts of the doctors, my father is stable now! His vital parameters continue to remain under control and manageable! Positive signs of his improvement are noticed. I request you all to pray for his speedy recovery," he said. Pranab Mukherjee was the President of India from 2012 to 2017. PTI
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12:31   Rahul: 2 crore jobs lost in last 4 months
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday alleged that around two crore people lost their jobs in the last four months amid the coronavirus pandemic and asserted that the "truth about unemployment" cananot be hidden from the country. 

Citing a media report, he said in a tweet in Hindi, "In the last 4 months, around 2 crore people have lost their jobs. The future of 2 crore families is in the dark. The truth about unemployment and destruction of the economy cannot be hidden from the country by peddling fake news and hatred on Facebook." 

The news report cited by Gandhi claimed that around 1.89 crore jobs were lost due to the coronavirus pandemic from April onwards. 

A massive political row broke out after a report by the Wall Street Journal  last week alleged that senior Facebook executives had opposed applying hate speech rules to posts by certain BJP leaders, with the BJP and the Congress engaged in a bitter war of words over the issue. 

"We cannot allow any manipulation of our hard-earned democracy through bias, fake news and hate speech. As exposed by WSJ, Facebook's involvement in peddling fake and hate news needs to be questioned by all Indians," Gandhi tweeted on Tuesday. -- PTI
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12:08   Pranab Mukherjee develops lung infection
Army Research & Referral Hospital, Delhi: "There has been a decline in the medical condition of former President Pranab Mukherjee as he has developed features of lung infection. He continues to be on ventilatory support and is currently being managed by a team of specialists."
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11:52   Bihar CM did not interfere in Sushant's case, observes SC
Update on the SC verdict on the Sushant Singh Rajput case: Holding that the FIR registered in Bihar's Patna over the death of Sushant Singh Rajput was legitimate, the Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation to investigate the case.

The single-judge bench of Justice Hrishikesh Roy also said that the Bihar Government was competent to recommend transfering the case to the CBI. The apex court also asked Mumbai Police to hand over all the evidence collected so far in the case to the CBI. State of Maharashtra refused the option to challenge the order, Justice Roy said.

The apex court had, in its last hearing on August 11, reserved its judgment and asked all the parties to file their respective submissions in the case.Former Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh, appearing for the Bihar Government, had submitted that Bihar Chief Minister had not interfered in the case and added that the recommendation for a CBI probe was based on the advice of the concerned authorities.

Senior lawyer Shyam Divan, appearing for Rhea, had raised questions over the manner in which the Bihar Police registered an FIR in the case and argued that the matter has no connection with the FIR registered in Patna.

Claiming innocence in the case, Rhea had stated that her entire financial transactions are crystal clear and there is nothing incriminating against her and she is not involved in any way with respect to the death of Sushant Singh Rajput.

The CBI has registered an FIR against Rhea Chakraborty and others in connection with the actor's death after the Centre accepted Bihar Government's recommendation to transfer the probe in the matter from Patna.

An FIR was registered in Patna on a complaint filed by KK Singh, Rajput's father, under sections related to abetment to suicide. Rajput was found dead at his Mumbai residence on June 14. -- PTI
Bihar DGP Gupteshwar Pandey
Bihar DGP Gupteshwar Pandey
11:37   All FIRs in Sushant case will be probed by CBI: SC
More on the updates on the Sushant Singh Rajput case: The Supreme Court also said that any other FIR registered in connection with the Sushant Singh Rajput's death will also be investigated by the CBI. 

"I am very happy. The Supreme Court's order has strengthened the trust people have in the Court and has assured the nation that justice will be delivered in the case," Bihar DGP Gupteshwar Pandey said.

The apex court also said the jurisdiction of the Mumbai Police in conducting a probe under Section 174 CrPC (enquiry on suicide) is limited.
Sushant Singh Rajput's father at the funeral in June
Sushant Singh Rajput's father at the funeral in June
11:23   Victory for Sushant's family: Lawyer
First reactions from Sushant Singh Rajput's father's lawyer: "This is a victory for Sushant Singh Rajput's family. The SC ruled on all points in our favour. The Court also clearly said that the FIR registered at Patna was correct."

The Supreme Court today ruled that the case should be transferred to the CBI for a probe. The SC also said the Bihar government is competent enough to transfer the to the CBI for investigation. The court said the FIR registered by the Bihar Police is correct and the reference to CBI is lawful. 
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11:15   Sushant Singh Raput case: SC orders CBI probe
Sushant Singh Rajput case: Supreme Court pronounced the verdict on actor Rhea Chakraborty's petition seeking a transfer of investigation in the Sushant Singh Rajput death case from Patna in Bihar to Mumbai. The court also said the FIR registered in Bihar based on the complaint filed by Sushant Singh's father was correct. 

The actor's father KK Singh had filed a case in Bihar, accusing his son's 28-year-old girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty and her family of cheating him financially and mentally harassing him.
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11:09   SC orders CBI probe in Sushant's death case
Just in: The Supreme Court has ordered a CBI investigation in the Sushant Singh Rajput death case. 
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11:06   Union minister Balyan goes into self-quarantine
Union minister Sanjeev Balyan has gone into self-quarantine after he came in contact with Uttar Pradesh minister Atul Garg who tested positive for COVID-19, his aide said on Wednesday. 

According to the aide of Balyan, the Union Minister of State for Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries went into self-quarantine in Delhi after he came to know about Garg's infection on Tuesday. 

Sixty-three-year-old Garg, an MLA from Ghaziabad, was admitted to a hospital on Tuesday after he said he had tested positive for the novel coronavirus. On his way to Delhi, Balyan had lunch with Garg at the latter's Ghaziabad residence. Balyan represents Muzaffarnagar in Lok Sabha. 
-- PTI
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10:59   Pt Jasraj's mortal remains to reach Mumbai at 12:30 pm today
Padma Vibhushan Pandit Jasrajs body is being brought back to India for the last rites today. The classical vocalist did in New Jersey on Monday. He was 90. His body will arrive by an Air India flight AI 144 from New Jersey at 12:30 pm. After the completion of formalities at the airport, the mortal remains will be taken on the journey home at around 3 pm. There will be a puja at the family home at 4pm. Last respects will be limited to the family members only due to the Covid pandemic. 
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10:47   Mumbai Police was only looking to close Sushant case, says Bihar Minister
Bihar Minister Sanjay Kumar Jha on Wednesday said Mumbai Police was only looking to close the Sushant Singh Rajput's death cases, adding that people will ensure that the investigation goes into the right hands and the late actor's family get justice.

"What appears is that the Mumbai Police was trying to close the case. It was only after Sushant Singh Rajput's family filed an FIR, a serious probe started. The people wish that the investigation goes into the right hands. We will ensure that the family gets justice," National General Secretary JD(U) Jha told ANI. 

On the subject of the Maharashtra Government's allegation that Bihar state government is playing politics on the death case of the actor, the JDU general secretary said that the Nitish Kumar led government is not playing politics but "only came into the picture" as Rajput's father was not satisfied with the investigation."

Where are we playing politics? We only came into the picture because his father was not satisfied with the manner in which the Mumbai Police was dealing with the case," he added.
Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh
Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh
10:42   Way forward after SC verdict: Maha HM on Sushant
Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh reacts to the impending verdict in the Supreme Court in the Sushant Singh Rajput case. "We will decide the way forward after the Supreme Court verdict today," Deshmukh said. The apex court will decide today whether the Whether the CBI will be allowed to take over the investigation into actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death will be decided by the Supreme Court at 11 am today. The court is expected to settle the row over the complaint filed by Sushant Singh's father in Bihar against actor Rhea Chakraborty who had asked the top court to transfer the First Information Report or FIR from Patna to Mumbai.
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10:22   Mali govt falls
Trouble in Mali: Mali President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita resigns and dissolves parliament hours after mutinying soldiers detained him at gunpoint. AK Sahay, India's Ambassador to Mali says, "We asked colleagues to return to their homes at the first indication of disturbance. All embassy colleagues are safe. Have advised Indians to return home. We're in touch with Indians, advised them to be vigilant, not step out from their homes."
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10:09   Sensex jumps over 200 points in early trade
Domestic equity benchmark Sensex jumped over 200 points in early trade on Wednesday tracking positive cues from global markets and persistent foreign fund inflows. The BSE Sensex was trading 217.77 points or 0.57 per cent higher at 38,746.09; while NSE Nifty was up 63.60 points or 0.56 per cent at 11,448.95. SBI was the top gainer in the Sensex pack, rising around 2 per cent, followed by L&T, M&M, ICICI Bank, Sun Pharma, Axis Bank, ITC and Bajaj Auto. On the other hand, HCL Tech, Nestle India, Tata Steel, Kotak Bank and Infosys were among the laggards.

In the previous session, the Sensex had settled at 38,528.32, up 477.54 points or 1.26 per cent, while the broader Nifty surged 138.25 points or 1.23 per cent to end at 11,385.35. Exchange data showed that foreign institutional investors bought equities worth Rs 1,134.57 crore on a net basis on Tuesday. According to traders, domestic bourses followed positive cues from US equities which hit fresh records in overnight session, they said. -- PTI
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09:44   64,531 cases in a day; Covid tally 27.67 lakh
And the Covid tally is here. There has been a spike of 64,531 cases and 1092 deaths reported in India, in the last 24 hours. The Covid tally in the country rises to 27,67,274 including 6,76,514 active cases, 20,37,871 discharged/migrated and 52,889 deaths, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, said.The total samples tested up to 18th August is 3,17,42,782 including 8,01,518 samples tested yesterday: Indian Council of Medical Research
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09:37   Reliance Retail acquires majority stake in Netmeds
Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) announced that its subsidiary Reliance Retail Ventures Limited (RRVL) has acquired a majority equity stake in Vitalic Health Pvt. Ltd. ("Vitalic") and its subsidiaries collectively known as 'Netmeds' for a cash consideration of approximately Rs 620 crores.The investment represents 60 per cent holding in the equity share capital of Vitalic and 100 per cent direct equity ownership of its subsidiaries- Tresara Health Private Limited, Netmeds Market Place Limited and Dadha Pharma Distribution Pvt Limited, according to a release by RIL on Tuesday. Isha Ambani, Director, RRVL, said that this investment is aligned with our commitment to provide digital access for everyone in India. -- PTI
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09:32   Spot the masks at this gathering
In Punjab, people take out a 'nagar kirtan' from Ramsar Sahib to Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar on the first Prakash Parv of Guru Granth Sahib today. Almost none are wearing masks.
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09:26   SC decision on CBI probe in Sushant case today
Will the CBI will be allowed to take over the investigation into actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death? That's what will be decided by the Supreme Court at 11 am today.

The entire country is awaiting the Supreme Court's verdict today on actor Rhea Chakraborty's petition seeking transfer of investigation in actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death case, said Bihar Director General of Police (DGP).

"The whole country is awaiting the Supreme Court's verdict. I from the very beginning felt that he (Rajput) will get justice," Bihar DGP Gupteshwar Pandey told ANI. The top court is set to pronounce its verdict on Chakraborty's petition seeking transfer of investigation of Rajput's death case to Mumbai.

The CBI has registered an FIR against Chakraborty and others in connection with the actor's death after the Centre accepted the Bihar government's recommendation to transfer the probe in the matter from Patna.

An FIR was registered in Patna on a complaint filed by KK Singh, Rajput's father, under sections related to abettment to suicide.Rajput was found dead at his Mumbai residence on June 14. -- ANI
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09:12   Heavy rainfall during Ganesh Chaturthi in Maha
Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur in Konkan and central Maharashtra over the next four to five days, the India Meteorological Department has said. Mumbai and neighbouring Thane are likely to witness maximum rainfall intensity on Friday and Saturday, when the Ganesh festival commences, IMD Mumbai centre's deputy director general K S Hosalikar said. The 10-day Ganesh festival will begin on August 22. 

"With likely formation of low pressure over N Bay on 19 Aug & getting well marked in nxt 24hrs & moving westwards;Mah,Goa,Guj likely to receive widespread RF nxt 4-5 days with hvy to very hvy RF ovr Konkan, M Mah more:Mumbai Thane too. 21-22 could be Max; Arrival days of Lord Ganesha," Hosalikar tweeted late Tuesday night.

The Modak Sagar dam, one of the seven reservoirs which supply water to Mumbai, started overflowing on Tuesday night following incessant rains in its catchment area, a civic official said. With good rainfall this month, the seven dams- Bhatsa, Upper Vaitarna, Middle Vaitarna, Tansa, Modak Sagar, Vihar and Tulsi - have 83 per cent water stock, officials said. -- PTI
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09:03   Signs of improvement, says son on Pranab Mukherjee's health
Update on former President Pranab Mukherjee's health: His son Abhijit tweets, "My father is stable now. His vital parameters continue to remain under control and manageable. Positive signs of his improvement noticed."

The 84-year-old former president was admitted to the hospital a week ago and was operated upon for removal of a clot in the brain. He is also COVID-19 positive.
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08:56   Joe Biden officially becomes Democratic presidential nominee
Former Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday (local time) officially became the 2020 presidential nominee for the Democratic Party.

Biden became the party's nominee to challenge President Donald Trump after a roll call vote spanning 50 states and seven territories, CNN reported.

The 77-year-old Biden appeared live on screen for the first time in the Democratic National Convention, which is currently underway, after his home state of Delaware delivered the final delegates in his favour.

Biden and his wife Jill Biden appeared on the live screen and his grandchildren shot celebratory streamers after the announcement was made.

In a tweet earlier today, Biden said, 'It is the honour of my life to accept the Democratic Party's nomination for President of the United States of America.'

'Thank you all from the bottom of my heart from my family and I will see you on Thursday,' Biden was quoted by CNN as saying while referring to his upcoming speech to close the convention.  -- ANI
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08:42   Pak army chief fails to meet Saudi crown prince
It seems Saudi Arabia is in no mood to mend ties with Pakistan whose Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa who flew in to Riyadh to placate an angry Saudi leadership failed to secure a meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, according to reports in Pakistan media.

Bajwa along with the head of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), General Faiz Hameed, arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday amid strained ties between the two countries.

Though Bajwa met Saudi Arabia's Deputy Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and Saudi Arabia's military chief of staff General Fayyad bin Hamid Al-Ruwaili, he failed to meet the crown prince.

The decade-long friendship between both countries took a sharp turn when Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi's issued a blunt warning to Saudi Arabia after the latter refused to act against India over Kashmir issue.

On the first anniversary of revocation of Article 370 by India, Qureshi took Saudi Arabia to task in a TV interview for not obliging Pakistan over the issue of 'organising' a meeting of the Council of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Foreign Ministers (CFM) on Kashmir in early February 2020.

Qureshi's remarks revived Riyadh's anger, who has forced Pakistan to pay back $1 billion prematurely and is demanding another $1bn of the loan.

Pakistan was reportedly paying 3.2 per cent interest on the loan and it has now arranged $1 billion loan from State Administration Foreign Exchange (SAFE) of China at London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus 1 per cent, which at current rates comes to around 1.18 per cent.

Pakistan may have to arrange similar easy loans to pay up the rest $2 billion to Saudi Arabia.

Risking ties with Saudi will prove to be expensive for Pakistan. And Pakistan Military's desperation to improve relationships proves the same point.

Riyadh has helped Islamabad many times including helping in paying for Pakistan's first batch of F-16 fighter aircraft in the 1980s and providing $6 billion loans that helped Pakistan tide over its balance of payments crisis just two years ago.

Saudi Arabia had come to Pakistan's rescue in 2018 when it had agreed to provide $3.2 billion worth of oil on deferred payments per annum as part of its $ 6.2 billion packages to help Pakistan tide over its balance of payment crisis.

The balance $3 billion was delivered as a cash-loan. Saudis had activated the deferred payment facility for three years from 1 July 2019, and the agreement signed in May had come up for renewal this year.

However, the Saudis, visibly upset at Pakistan's behaviour, have possibly discontinued the arrangement.

Among other things, Pakistan's tilt towards Turkey, Malaysia, and Iran, as also its growing economic and strategic dependence on China might have annoyed the Saudis. -- ANI
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08:42   Cabinet meet at PM's residence today
JUST IN: Union cabinet is scheduled to meet at 10.30 am today at Prime Minister's residence.

The agenda of the meet is likely to be a policy decision to privatise 10 new airports and new economic package for migrants to return to work places.

Details awaited.
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00:28   No financial transaction between Sushant and Rhea
The Mumbai police on Tuesday  received the forensic audit report of late Bollywood star Sushant Singh Rajputs bank accounts, a top official said.
While carrying out investigation into Rajput's bank accounts after his death in June, the police had decided to get them forensically audited.
Accordingly, Grant Thornton, an accounting and advisory firm, was appointed the forensic auditor in the case.
The police on Tuesday received the report from the auditor, the top police officer confirmed.
Rajput's bank transactions of the last five years were analysed by the firm, he said.
The report suggests that there was no financial transaction from Rajputs accounts to those of his girlfriend, actor Rhea Chakraborty, the official said.
Rajput (34) was financially well-off and took good care of his staff too, he said.
The police will share necessary documents with the Enforcement Directorate, which is looking into suspected money laundering aspect in the death case, the official said.
On July 25, K K Singh, the father of Rajput, had submitted a complaint to the Patna police against Chakraborty, her family members and a few others, alleging they abetted his son's suicide.
Based on the complaint, the Patna police had filed an FIR against Chakraborty and others.
In the complaint, Singh had also claimed that an amount of Rs 15 crore was siphoned off from his son's bank account.
Rajput was found dead in his apartment in suburban Bandra on June 14. -- PTI 
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00:23   Dabholkar's murder probe not over even after 7 yrs: Son
Hameed Dabholkar, son of the slain anti-superstition activist Narendra Dabholkar, said here on Tuesday that it was "painful" that even after seven years, the probe into his father's murder has not reached a conclusion.
Dr Narendra Dabholkar, founder of the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti (Maharashtra Eradication of Superstition Committee), was shot dead by two motorcycle-borne assailants in Pune on August 20, 2013.
Dr Hameed Dabholkar, his son, said the Central Bureau of Investigation should complete the probe and arrest the "main perpetrators".
"On Thursday, it will be seven years to the incident. It is painful that after seven years, a reputed investigation agency such as the CBI has not been able to complete the probe," he told reporters in Pune.
The agency has filed chargesheets against Virendra Tawde, Sharad Kalaskar, Sachin Andure, Sanjeev Punalekar and Vikram Bhave, but not against remaining arrested accused -- Amol Kale, Amit Degvekar and Rajesh Bangera, he said.
"In the investigation so far, it has not yet made it clear who were the real perpetrators. The CBI should find them. Otherwise the threat to the freedom of speech of writers, rationalists and journalists will remain," he added.
 
"When Dr Dabholkar was murdered, the Congress-NCP government was in power. When Comrade Govind Pansare was murdered (in 2015), there was the BJP-Shiv Sena government and now there is a coalition government of the Shiv Sena, the Congress and the NCP," he said.
 
All the parties like to use the epithet "progressive" for Maharashtra, Hameed Dabholkar said.
"In fact, the `progressive Maharashtra of Shahu-Phule and Ambedkar' is a mandatory phrase in the speeches. But unfortunately, the investigation of the murder of a person who gave up his entire life to create a society based on progressive thoughts is not completed after seven years," he said.
So far the CBI has arrested eight people including Andure and Kalaskar, the duo who allegedly shot Dabholkar. One of the accused, Punalekar, is out on bail. 
In March this year, the CBI claimed to have recovered a firearm from a creek near Thane which it said could have been used in the killing. -- PTI

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