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Mon, 15 July 2024
Kedarnath priests oppose temple replica in Delhi
Timeline Refresh
23:20 Kedarnath priests oppose temple replica in Delhi
The seers and priests of Kedarnath have launched an agitation in protest against the construction of a temple in Delhi replicating the centuries-old Himalayan temple in Uttarakhand's Garhwal region.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had attended the ground breaking and stone laying ceremony of the temple at Hiranki in Burari recently.
The stir entered its third day on Monday with the seers and priests of the temple holding a demonstration in Kedarnath in protest against the construction of a replica of the temple in Delhi.
They shouted slogans against the state government.
"Constructing a temple in the name of Kedarnath Dham in Delhi is showing disrespect to the sanctity of the centuries-old Himalayan temple revered by generations of Hindus," said Umesh Posti, who is linked to the association of priests in Kedarnath.
Devbhoomi Raksha Abhiyan president Swami Darshan Bharti alleged it was being done under a conspiracy and appealed to to the believers of Sanatan to stall the project.
"Misusing the name of Baba Kedar is a sin. I appeal to all sanatanis to wake up and foil this conspiracy," he said.
Offering a clarification on behalf of the state government, Badrinath-Kedarnath temple committee chairman Ajendra Ajay said the state government had nothing to do with the construction of the temple.
"The state government has nothing to do with the construction of the temple in Delhi. It is being done by an organisation named Kedarnath Trust.
"The state government has offered no financial assistance in its construction. The chief minister attended the stone laying function on the invitation of some seers and public representatives as it a was a religious ceremony," Ajay said. -- PTI
23:16 Rupee settles 10 paise down at 83.61 against US dollar
Rupee depreciated 10 paise and settled for the day at 83.61 against the US dollar on Monday, weighed down by the overall strength of the American currency in the overseas market.
Forex traders said a positive trend in domestic equities, wherein benchmark indices touched all-time high levels and significant foreign fund inflows supported the rupee at lower levels.
At the interbank foreign exchange market, the local unit opened at 83.53, but lost ground and touched its all-time low of 83.62 against the dollar. It finally settled at 83.61 against the American currency, registering a loss of 10 paise from its previous close.
On Friday, the rupee settled at 83.51 against the US dollar. -- PTI
23:15 India's trade deficit widens to $20.98 billion
According to the government data released on Monday, imports rose about 5 per cent to $56.18 billion in June due to the increase in inbound shipments of crude oil, pulses, and electronic goods.
The trade deficit, or the gap between imports and exports, during June 2023 was $19.19 billion.
India's merchandise exports grew 9.1 per cent to $38.13 billion in May, even as the trade deficit widened to a seven-month high of $23.78 billion. -- PTI
23:14 Exports rise 2.56% to $35.2 billion in June
India's merchandise exports in June increased 2.56 per cent to $35.2 billion even as the trade deficit widened to $20.98 billion during the month, the commerce and industry ministry data showed on Monday. -- PTI
23:10 Maha govt to recommend fresh names of 12 MLCs
The Mahayuti government in Maharashtra is planning to give a fresh push for the nomination of 12 members to the legislative council from the governor's quota as a list provided by the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi dispensation never got the gubernatorial nod when B S Koshyari was in the office.
The posts of 12 MLCs have remained vacant for more than four years. On November 6, 2020, the Uddhav Thackeray-led government sent a list of 12 candidates to Koshyari who was holding the office of the governor, however, he never approved the names till he resigned in February 2021.
Koshyari's successor Ramesh Bais has also not decided on the pending issue in view of an ongoing litigation in the Supreme Court.
"Once the cabinet clears a proposal of 12 names to be nominated by the governor, their names will be accepted soon, probably by August," sources in the state government said on Monday, adding that one of the nominees will be from the Muslim community.
Additionally, the state government is keen on filling the post of the legislative council chairman but awaiting the nomination of 12 MLCs, sources said.
The post of the legislative council chairman has been lying vacant since July 7, 2022, after the retirement of Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar.
Currently, Deputy Chairperson Neelam Gorhe has been presiding over the proceedings when the legislature session is conducted.
The opposition had demanded that the council chairman be appointed in the recently concluded monsoon session of the legislature. -- PTI
22:18 Over 200 ex-MPs served eviction notices
More than 200 former Lok Sabha MPs, who have yet to vacate their official bungalows in Lutyens' Delhi, have been issued eviction notices, sources in the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry said on Monday.
The notices have been issued under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act. According to rules, the former MPs are required to vacate their official bungalows within a month of dissolution of the previous Lok Sabha.
"So far, more than 200 former MPs have been issued eviction notices for overstaying. They have been asked to vacate their official bungalows at the earliest. Process to send notices to more former MPs is underway," the sources told PTI.
If they fail to vacate their official accommodation at the earliest, teams of officials will soon be sent for 'forceful eviction', the sources said.
Although the Lok Sabha Secretariat provides accommodation to the MPs, the Housing and Urban Affairs (HUA) ministry allots bungalows to the Union ministers in Lutyens' Delhi.
Eviction proceedings are launched if former ministers and former MPs fail to vacate their official bungalows within the stipulated time period.
Meanwhile, Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has been allotted 83 Lodhi Estate bungalow which was earlier occupied by a former central information commissioner, another source said.
The source said no eviction notice has been issued to any former Union minister for overstaying yet. Over four former Union ministers, including Smriti Irani, have vacated their official bungalow in Lutyens' Delhi so far.
Irani vacated her official bungalow at 28 Tughlak Crescent in Lutyens' Delhi earlier this month, weeks after she was defeated by Congress leader Kishori Lal Sharma from Amethi parliamentary seat with a margin of over 1.5 lakh votes. -- PTI
21:20 Gujarat: Chandipura virus kills 6 kids in 5 days
As
many as six children have died from suspected Chandipura virus in
Gujarat in the last five days, with the total number of suspected cases
rising to 12, state Health Minister Rushikesh Patel said Monday.
Chandipura virus causes fever, with symptoms similar to flu, and acute
encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). The pathogen is a member of
the Vesiculovirus genus of the family Rhabdoviridae.
It is transmitted
by vectors like mosquitoes, ticks and sand flies.
"Four of these 12
patients are from Sabarkantha district, three from Aravalli and one each
from Mahisagar and Kheda. Two patients are from Rajasthan and one from
Madhya Pradesh. They received treatment in Gujarat. Six deaths due to
suspected Chandipura virus have been reported in the state, but only
after the results of the samples will it be clear whether they were
caused by Chandipura virus," Patel said.
"Five out of six deaths have
been reported from the civil hospital in Himatnagar in Sabarkantha
district. All 12 samples, including eight from Sabarkantha, have been
sent to Pune's National Institute of Virology (NIV) for confirmation,"
he said.
Paediatricians at the civil hospital at Himatnagar had suspected
Chandipura virus as the cause of death of four children on July 10 and
sent their samples to NIV for confirmation.
Later four more children at
the hospital showed similar symptoms.
"Chandipura virus is not
contagious. However, intensive surveillance has been undertaken in the
affected areas. We have screened 18,646 persons in 4,487 houses. The
health department is working round the clock to prevent the spread of
the disease," Patel said. -- PTI
Representational image
21:09 Konkan Railway route cleared for operation after 24 hrs
Train traffic on the Konkan Railway route resumed at 7 pm on Monday, more than 24 hours after soil seepage outside a tunnel in Maharashtra disrupted services and left many passengers stranded in trains for hours, officials said.
Konkan Railway officials expect train services to normalise soon. Notably, this is the second major disruption in the last six days on the Konkan Railway route which passes through mountainous terrains from Roha in Maharashtra to Thokur in Kerala.
Earlier, traffic on the route was halted for 18 hours due to waterlogging at the Pernem tunnel near Goa on July 10.
The area where the seepage occurred between Vinhere and Diwan Khavati railway stations in Raigad and Ratnagiri districts of Maharashtra on Sunday evening, had received over 300 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours.
A Konkan Railway spokesperson confirmed that the CSMT-bound Mandovi Express was the first train to pass through the affected area around 7 pm after the track was declared fit for operation earlier in the evening.
Passengers faced considerable difficulties since the soil seepage incident occurred outside the Natuwadi tunnel on Sunday around 5 pm.
The disruption led to several train cancellations, diversions via the Pune-Londa route, short terminations, and rescheduling. Many passengers were stranded in trains for hours, prompting Konkan Railway to arrange state transport (ST) buses for their relief.
More than 25 trains were cancelled, 19 diverted, 7 partially cancelled/short terminated, and 8 trains were rescheduled, the Konkan Railway said on Monday evening.
An official said the restoration of tracks took longer than expected due to heavy rains and mud coming onto the tracks.
Some trains were short-terminated at Ratnagiri, and buses from the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation were roped in to take stranded passengers to their destinations, the official said.
A passenger heading to Udupi from Mumbai said he has been travelling onboard the Matsyagandha Express diverted via the Pune-Londha route due to the soil seepage for the last 26 hours.
"I have been onboard the train for the last 26 hours and it will take another 7-8 hours to reach the destination," he said.
20:23 Ordered to remove Shambhu barricades, Haryana moves SC
The Haryana government has moved the Supreme Court challenging the high court order asking it to remove within a week the barricades at the Shambhu border near Ambala where farmers have been camping since February 13.
The state government's appeal, filed through advocate Akshay Amritanshu, has cited law and order situation for the blockade.
On July 12, while hearing a related matter, the top had court asked the Haryana government to remove the barricades and questioned its authority to block the highway.
The Haryana government had set up barricades on the Ambala-New Delhi national highway in February after the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha announced that farmers would march to Delhi in support of various demands, including a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for crops.
"How can a state block a highway? It has a duty to regulate traffic. We are saying open it but regulate," a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan had said on June 12 after the counsel informed the bench about the state's intention of filing an appeal in the apex court.
Justice Kant had told the state's counsel, "Why do you want to challenge the high court's order? Farmers are also citizens of this country. Give them food and good medical care. They will come, raise slogans and go back. I think you don't commute by road."
The top court had made the observations while hearing a plea of the Haryana government challenging a March 7 Punjab and Haryana high court decision to set up a committee headed by a former high court judge to probe farmer Shubhkaran Singh's death during a clash between the protesting farmers and Haryana security personnel in February.
Singh, 21, a native of Bathinda, was killed and several police personnel were injured in clashes at Khanauri on the Punjab-Haryana border on February 21.
The incident occurred when some protesting farmers were trying to head towards the barricades erected at the border and were stopped by the security personnel from marching to Delhi.
In its order, the court had also said if any law and order situation arises, the state government can take preventive action according to law. It had issued a similar direction to the Punjab government for maintaining law and order while stating that the barricades on its side should also be removed. -- PTI
20:04 Only 8 applied for citizenship under CAA: Assam CM
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday said only eight persons have applied for citizenship under the CAA from the state so far.
Speaking at a press conference in Guwahati, Sarma noted that out of these applicants, only two have proceeded to attend interviews with relevant authorities.
The Centre on March 11 implemented the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 CAA by notifying the rules, four years after the law was passed by Parliament to fast-track citizenship for undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, who came to India before December 31, 2014, and stayed here for five years.
"We conducted outreach programmes in the Barak valley and approached many-Hindu Bengali families and asked them to apply for citizenship under CAA. They refused to do so saying they would prefer fighting their cases at the Foreigners Tribunal (FT)," Sarma said.
Foreigners' Tribunals are quasi-judicial bodies exclusive to Assam to decide the nationality issue of doubtful citizens.
The CM claimed that most of the Hindu-Bengali families, who were not included in the final draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC), told him that they have documents to prove their Indian citizenship and prefer the FT route than applying through the CAA.
Legal experts said people declared foreigners by the FTs can subsequently apply under the CAA if their nationality verdict is unfavourable.
"While a case for citizenship is going on, there is no question of applying for the same under a new law," a senior advocate said.
According to legal provisions, only the FTs can declare a person a foreigner in Assam, and subsequently higher courts can be approached if the verdict is not favourable.
Asked whether the state government is dropping cases in FTs against Hindu-Bengalis, Sarma clarified, "This is misleading. We cannot drop any case. We are simply advising that before initiating a case, individuals should apply through the CAA portal. Even if a case is filed, there won't be any outcome because these people are eligible for citizenship."
The CM said he will request the Advocate General to flag the issue of CAA so that FTs can give time to people whose cases are going on to apply for citizenship under the newly implemented law.
"I can't give a direction to court to pause while deciding citizenship cases. The FT judges themselves have to decide as they know the latest situation," he added.
However, Sarma acknowledged that a letter was issued in the first week of July by the Home Department to Assam Police's border wing. The letter instructed them not to refer cases of people from Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Parsi, Jain, and Christian communities who entered India before December 31, 2014, directly to the FTs.
Issued by Home and Political Secretary Parth Pratim Majumdar to the Special Director General of Police (Border), the letter directed that such people should instead be advised to apply through the citizenship portal for their applications to be considered by the Indian government.
"It was just a statutory order. There is nothing objectionable in that and it was as per law," Sarma added.
Asked about such few number of applications in CAA, Sarma said the opposition myth that 15-20 lakh Bangladeshis will get citizenship in Assam has been busted.
"In the anti-CAA movement, five Assamese youths lost their lives. So they made the sacrifice to prevent only these eight people! This abysmally low number of eight applications, of which only two turned up for interview, is a bit surprising for us also," he added.
To a query if fear psychosis of being tagged as 'Bangladeshi-turned-Indian citizen' is preventing Hindu-Bengalis from applying through CAA, Sarma said no such factor is working in the Barak valley but it is true to a certain extent in the Brahmaputra valley.
Sarma said anyone who came to Assam in 2015 or later will be deported back to their country of origin. According to the Assam Accord, names of all foreigners coming to the state on or after March 25, 1971 would be detected and deleted from electoral rolls and steps would be taken to deport them.
The final NRC was released on August 31, 2019 by excluding 19,06,657 persons. A total of 3,11,21,004 names were included out of 3,30,27,661 applicants.
On people facing issues due to blocking of Aadhaar cards, Sarma said around nine lakh cards were blocked as people had applied during update work of the NRC.
"At that time, the government had transformed the Aadhaar centres to NRC centres. These people had gone there to get Aadhaar, but it was blocked due to a clash of timing only. We are examining the list now," he added.
The CM said that after the assessment, the state government will actively take up the issue with the Centre. -- PTI
Salman Khan
19:15 Youtuber held for threatening to kill Salman Khan gets bail
A Mumbai court on Monday granted bail to a Youtuber held last month for allegedly threatening to kill actor Salman Khan and boasting about links to gangster Lawrence Bishnoi.
Banwarilal Gujjar, hailing from Rajasthan, was charged with criminal intimidation and provisions of the Information Technology Act.
The police had said Gujjar, in a video uploaded on his Youtube channel, has spoken about killing Khan and also on his links to Lawrence Bishnoi, Gold Brar and other gangsters.
The police had said Gujjar had uploaded the video just to increase the viewership of his online channel.
His bail plea was accepted on Monday by additional chief judicial magistrate (Esplanade court) VR Patil.
In his bail application filed through advocate Faiz Merchant, Gujjar claimed he had been "falsely implicated in the case without any proper or cogent material".
In his plea, Gujjar said he makes videos and uploads them on his channel for entertainment and to gain fame.
The plea claimed the transcript of the video is in the FIR and nowhere in it has the applicant stated that he was going to kill Salman Khan. Therefore, the sections that have been applied in the case are not made out against Gujjar, the plea contended.
Yuvraj Singh
18:53 Police complaint against Yuvraj, Raina, Bhajji for mocking disabled
A police complaint has been filed against former cricketers Harbhajan Singh, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh and Gurkeerat Mann for allegedly mocking people with disabilities in a video that was uploaded on Instagram.
The complaint was lodged by Arman Ali, executive director of the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP), with the SHO of the Amar Colony police station in New Delhi.
Besides the cricketers, the complaint has also been filed against Sandhya Devanathan, the vice president and managing director of Meta India.
In the complaint, social media platform Instagram, which is owned by Meta, has been accused of violating the Information Technology Act, 2000, by allowing such content to be posted.
A police officer said the complaint was received at the Amar Colony police station and it will be shared with the cyber cell of the district for further probe into the matter.
The former cricketers had shared the video on Instagram after India Champions beat Pakistan Champions by five wickets in the World Championship of Legends final. In the video, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh and Raina are seen limping and holding their backs to show the physical toll taken by the matches on their bodies.
"Body ki Tauba Tauba ho Gayi in 15 days legends cricket... Every part of the body is sore. Straight competition to our brothers @vickykaushal09 @karanaujla our version of Tauba Tauba dance. What a SONG," the caption of the video read.
Disability activists have found the video to be in poor taste.
The National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled called the video "totally disgraceful".
The complaint stated that Instagram failed to adhere to its user guidelines, thus enabling the dissemination of derogatory content.
"This video is a blatant violation of Article 21 of the Constitution of India, which guarantees every person the right to life with dignity.
"It also breaches Section 92 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, and contravenes the Supreme Court's guidelines established in the case of Nipun Malhotra vs Sony Pictures Films India Private Limited (2004 SCC Online SC 1639)," Arman Ali said in the complaint.
He urged the authorities to take immediate and appropriate action against the individuals involved and emphasised the need to hold public figures accountable for their actions, especially when they undermine the dignity of vulnerable communities.
Speaking to PTI after lodging the complaint, Ali said a simple apology from these cricketers would not do.
"They must be penalised for their actions," he said.
-- PTI
18:49 Uddhav a victim of betrayal, says Shankaracharya
Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, the Shankaracharya of the Jyotish Peeth in Uttarakhand, who turned down the invitation to the Ram temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya, on Monday said Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray is a victim of betrayal.
On Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his blessings when they met at the Shubh Ashirwad' ceremony of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant in Mumbai on Saturday, the Shankaracharya said he is Modi's well-wisher.
"Yes, PM Modi came to me and did a pranaam. It is our rule that we will bless whoever comes to us. Narendra Modiji is not our enemy. We are his well-wishers and always speak for his welfare. If he makes a mistake, we also point that out to him. He is not our enemy," he said.
"Uddhav Thackeray has been betrayed and many people are anguished by it. I met him today as per his request and told him that people's pain won't subside till he becomes the chief minister again," he told reporters after meeting Thackeray at the latter's residence Matoshree in Bandra.
He (Uddhav) said he will do whatever was needed as per our blessings, Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati said.
"Betrayal is the biggest sin, he said, adding, "The one who betrays can't be a Hindu. The one who tolerates betrayal is a Hindu. The entire populace of Maharashtra is anguished by the betrayal and this was reflected in the recent (Lok Sabha) elections," he said.
"We don't have anything to do with politics, but we are talking about betrayal which is a sin as per religion," he added.
Uddhav Thackeray had to resign as Maharashtra chief minister in June 2022 after Eknath Shinde rebelled, walking out with a majority of the Shiv Sena MLAs with him to become the CM by forming the government in alliance with the BJP.
The Shankaracharya also attended a puja ceremony at Matoshree bungalow.
18:01 Statistical jugglery: Cong on PM's 8-cr jobs claim
The Congress on Monday countered the Centre's claim that eight crore new jobs have been created, alleging that the government has done some "artful statistical jugglery" to claim job creation as it has failed to pay attention to the "quality and circumstances" of employment.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that at a time when India faces a "severe Modi-made unemployment crisis", when lakhs of young people apply for each and every job, "the self-anointed non-biological PM is busy reacting the only way he knows -- by applying his patented 3D model of denying, distracting, and distorting".
He said that based on new RBI estimates, the government is claiming a booming job market. "The self-appointed divinity himself has chimed in with the claim that the economy created 80 million jobs," Ramesh said in a statement.
The truth is that the alleged growth in employment figures doesn't square up to the grim realities of the Modi era economy, where private investment has been weak and consumption growth sluggish, he said.
"The government has done some artful statistical jugglery to claim job-creation, by adopting a very expansive definition of employment, without paying attention to the quality and circumstances of employment: A large part of the claimed 'employment growth' is just recording unpaid household work done by women as 'employment'," Ramesh claimed.
"Amidst the poor economic climate, the share of salaried, formal employment in the labour market has decreased. Workers are moving to low-productivity informal and agricultural jobs this is an economic tragedy," the Congress leader said.
However, since the '80 million new jobs' headline elides discussion on the quality of jobs, the government touts the 'creation' of these low-productivity, poorly paid jobs as an achievement, he said.
"This deception is also why the RBI's data shows an increase in employment during the COVID-19 pandemic years, when large sections of the economy fully shut down. While crucial sectors like education saw 12 lakh fewer jobs in 2020-2021, a whopping 1.8 crore 'jobs' were 'created' in agriculture," Ramesh said.
Thus, factory workers, teachers, miners, etc. who returned home during the pandemic and had to fall back upon farming in their family's fields or as tenants for a richer farmer registered as a "job created" in agriculture, he argued. "This travesty is the non-biological Prime Minister's economic legacy," Ramesh said.
He said the forthcoming Budget will also undoubtedly make use of the RBI data to paint a rosy picture of the economy. "The reality on the jobs front, however, is extremely grim both because of mass unemployment and an abundance of low-quality employment. This dual tragedy will certainly get overlooked in the Budget speech next Tuesday," Ramesh said.
17:36 Sensex, Nifty race to record closing highs
Benchmark Sensex and Nifty closed at new record high levels on Monday following buying in PSU bank shares and fresh foreign fund inflows. The 30-share BSE Sensex rose by 145.52 points or 0.18 per cent to settle at a new record high of 80,664.86.
During the day, it advanced 343.2 points or 0.42 per cent to hit a high of 80,862.54. The NSE Nifty rallied 84.55 points or 0.35 per cent to settle at an all-time closing high of 24,586.70.
During the day, it surged 132.9 points or 0.54 per cent to hit a new record peak of 24,635.05. Among Sensex shares, State Bank of India was the biggest gainer, rising by 2.55 per cent after the bank announced a hike in MCLR-based lending rates for various tenors. NTPC, UltraTech Cement, Mahindra & Mahindra, Bajaj Finance, Tata Motors, Maruti and ITC were the other major winners.
17:34 Woman abducted, forced into car in UP, body found in ditch
A 22-year-old woman was kidnapped here in a car on Sunday night and here body was found floating in a water-filled ditch on the roadside on Monday morning, police said. ASP (North) Mukesh Chandra Mishra on Monday said the police received information that on Sunday night.
Lakshmi Devi (22), a resident of Sardar Nagar under the Nawabganj police station, was going home with her cousin sister on a scooty, when on the way, the car riders forcibly made her sit in the car and took her away.
Mishra said the girl was murdered in the Hafizganj area of the district and on Monday morning, her body was found floating in a water-filled ditch on the roadside. Her throat and fingers were also found cut.
According to the family of the deceased, they lodged a complaint at the Hafizganj police station against Monu Gupta of the Nawabganj area and others on Sunday night itself.
A Trump supporter at a rally. Reuters/Cheney Orr
17:31 Secret Service head 'confident' of RNC meet
From CNN.com: The US Secret Service Director on Monday sought to assure Americans that there is ample security in place for the upcoming RNC convention following the assassination attempt against Donald Trump.
"I am confident in the security plan our Secret Service RNC coordinator and our partners have put in place, which we have reviewed and strengthened in the wake of Saturday's shooting," Kimberly Cheatle wrote in a statement.
Cheatle addressed the USSS' presence at the Trump rally on Saturday, first extending her condolences to the friends and family of Corey Comperatore, a firefighter who was killed at the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
She said agents at the scene "moved quickly during the incident, with our counter sniper team neutralizing the shooter and our agents implementing protective measures to ensure the safety of former president Donald Trump."
17:27 BJP's tally falls below 90 in Rajya Sabha
The BJP's tally in Rajya Sabha has dipped below 90 for the first time in several years but the party and its allies are expected to not only recoup their losses but also make some gains when by-elections to fill the existing vacancies are held in the coming weeks.
While the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is confident of winning two seats each in Bihar, Maharashtra and Assam and one each in Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Tripura due to their numerical superiority over the opposition, the four new nominated members are also expected to be pro-treasury benches whenever the government names them.
Though nominated members are usually independent in the House in terms of their party affiliation, they are traditionally supportive of the agenda of the government which picks them. The current strength of Rajya Sabha is 226 with the BJP having 86 followed by 26 of the Congress and 13 of the Trinamool Congress (TMC). There are currently 19 vacancies.
The ruling Congress is looking to win the lone seat in Telangana at the expense of the BRS but its gain will be cancelled in Rajasthan where the BJP, which has a strong majority, will pick up the seat vacated by K C Venugopal, a senior member of the opposition party who won the Lok Sabha poll from Alappuzha in Kerala.
Representational image
17:24 Russian army marches on 'Made in Bihar boots
As the Russian Army continues its operation in Ukraine, the soldiers march on using 'Made in Bihar' boots manufactured in Hajipur. Bihar's Hajipur city, known for its agricultural production, is writing its own story by manufacturing safety shoes for the Russian army, which has an acclaimed international presence.
Hajipur-based Competence Exports, a private limited company, makes safety shoes for companies based in Russia and designer shoes catering to European markets.
Speaking about the facility, General Manager Shib Kumar Roy told ANI, "We started the Hajipur facility in 2018, and the main interest is to generate local employment. At Hajipur, we make safety shoes that are meant to be exported to Russia. Total exports are for Russia, and we are also slowly working on Europe and will launch in the domestic market soon."
Talking about safety shoe requirements for the Russian army, Roy said, "Their requirements are that shoes should be lightweight, slip-resistant, have special features in the sole, and withstand extreme weather conditions like -40 degrees Celsius. We manufacture the safety shoes, considering these conditions."
The response has been tremendous, and his company is one of the largest exporters to Russia. Expectations are that the numbers will expand day by day.
Talking about the employment aspect, Roy said, "The ambition of the company's MD, Danesh Prasad, is to make a world-class factory in Bihar and contribute to state employment. We are trying our best to give maximum employment to employees, of which 70 percent are women out of 300 employees." They exported 1.5 million pairs last year, which is worth Rs 100 crore, and their aim is to increase it by 50 percent next year.
17:24 Kejriwal lost only 2 kilos in jail: Tihar
Tihar jail authorities on Monday said Arvind Kejriwal lost only 2 kg in prison and that he was being regularly monitored by an AIIMS medical board, refuting the AAP's claims that the Delhi chief minister's health was deteriorating.
In a report sent to the Delhi government's Home Department, the Tihar administration shared Kejriwal's vitals and said that the narrative created by AAP ministers and leaders "confuses and misleads the public".
Meanwhile, senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh said the report "leaked" by the prison authorities showed that Kejriwal lost weight and suffered multiple hypoglycemia episodes in jail due to which "something untoward" could happen. Since Kejriwal's arrest in the excise policy-linked money laundering case on March 21, the AAP and the Tihar jail administration have been at loggerheads over his health condition.
Singh had on Saturday claimed that Kejriwal lost 8.5 kg in prison and this could be a sign of some serious ailment. He had also claimed that the blood sugar level of the AAP national convener had dropped below 50 mg/dl five times.
The Tihar report stated that Kejriwal weighed 65 kg when he first came to prison on April 1 and 66 kg between April 8 and 29. When he returned to prison on June 2 after a 21-day bail, his weight was 63.5 kg.
"On July 14, his weight was 61.5 kg. So, effectively, he lost 2 kg," the report stated. According to the report, Kejriwal has been eating home-cooked food in jail but regularly sends back portions of his meals.
16:54 Police file supplementary chargesheet in 2023 Parliament breach case
The Delhi Police Monday filed a supplementary charge sheet before a court here in connection with the Parliament security breach last year on the anniversary of the 2001 terror attack.
The police filed the charge sheet before Additional Sessions Judge Hardeep Kaur after obtaining requisite sanctions to prosecute all the accused under the stringent Unlawful Activates (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Meanwhile, the court also extended the judicial custody of all accused persons till the same date. Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Akhand Pratap Singh informed the judge during the brief hearing that the police have obtained the requisite sanctions from the authorities concerned to prosecute the accused persons under sections of UAPA.
He also apprised the court that certain forensic reports are awaited, and will be submitted very soon. The judge noted the submission and listed the matter for arguments on cognisance for August 2, 2024.
Reuters/Brendan McDermid
16:23 Bitcoin surges as investors now bet on Trump win
From CNN.com: Bitcoin surged Monday after the assassination attempt on Donald Trump at the weekend, as investors saw a greater chance that the former president '" a cryptocurrency skeptic-turned-supporter '" will win the November election.
The price of bitcoin jumped 9.5% to $62,980 in morning trading in London, after a deadly shooting at a campaign rally Saturday in Butler, Pennsylvania, left Trump wounded but defiant.
While Trump denounced cryptocurrencies during his presidency, saying their value was "based on thin air,' the presumptive Republican presidential nominee has since made a U-turn, with his campaign even accepting cryptocurrency payments.
Representational image
16:15 Delhi HC permits woman to medically terminate 32-week pregnancy
The Delhi High Court has allowed a 31-year-old woman to undergo medical termination of her pregnancy of over 32 weeks due to the foetus's abnormalities, which posed a substantial risk of physical and mental handicap.
Justice Sanjeev Narula, allowing the woman's plea seeking permission to undergo an abortion, said the continuation of the pregnancy poses a significant risk to the petitioner's physical and mental health and is likely to result in the birth of a child with severe health issues.
The judge, following a report given by the doctors of AIIMS, concluded that permitting the termination of the pregnancy was in the best interest of both the petitioner and the foetus.
"In the opinion of the court, the diagnosis in the present case clearly qualifies as substantial foetal abnormality with substantial risk of physical and mental handicap," the court said in its order passed on July 13. The petitioner, a married woman, had approached the high court earlier this month, seeking permission to undergo medical termination of her pregnancy after her ultrasound reports revealed certain abnormalities in the foetus.
The woman was examined by the AIIMS doctors, pursuant to an order of the court. As per the medical report, the foetus exhibited "bilateral severe ventriculomegaly", a condition characterised by excessive accumulation of fluid in the brain cavities.
The court was informed that the extent of fluid buildup was "severe" and another critical part of the brain had not developed normally and should the child be born, locomotive and intellectual capacities would be severely impaired.
15:59 Dhoni pens love-up note for newlyweds Radhika, Anant
Star cricketer MS Dhoni rarely posts on social media but whenever he does he undoubtedly wins everyone's hearts. His latest Instagram post is proof of this fact as he penned down a heartfelt note for newlyweds Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant.
Dhoni, who was one of the celebrities invited to the wedding, extended his best wishes to Anant and Radhika in a special post.
The CSK wicketkeeper wished for their life to be filled with happiness, laughter and adventure. He also posted a picture in which Radhika could be seen hugging him.
"Radhika, may your radiant smile never fade! Anant, please continue to cherish and care for Radhika with the same love and kindness you show to everyone around you. May your married life be filled with happiness, laughter, and adventure. Congratulations and see you guys soon. Song is for Viren uncle," he wrote, adding 'Dilbaro' song in background. Viren Merchant is Radhika's father.
Dhoni attended the wedding festivities of Anant and Radhika with his wife Sakshi and daughter Ziva.
Nita Ambani looks resplendent in a heavily embellished sari
15:47 Goa's top chef wows with vegetarian food at Ambani wedding
'I avoided common ingredients like tofu, paneer and broccoli. Instead, I chose raw mango, sweet potato and tender coconut,' says the Cavatina chef who reimagines Goan cuisine. Read more here.
15:44 Parineeti, Raghav missed the Ambani shaadi because...
... the couple was at Wimbledon.
Parineeti Chopra shared this picture with her husband Raghav Chadha: "Wimbledon finals, strawberries & cream, and my love ' the best weekend! Congratulations @carlitosalcarazz!"
Kate, the Princess of Wales, handed Carlos Alcaraz the champion's trophy after the Wimbledon men's final at the All England Club in only her second public appearance since announcing she was diagnosed with cancer.
15:38 I'm supposed to be dead: Trump
Donald Trump has said he is "supposed to be dead" after the assassination attempt on him at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, calling the incident a "surreal experience."
In one of his first interviews since the incident, the 78-year-old former president told conservative US media that he felt that he had been saved "by luck or by God".
"I'm not supposed to be here, I'm supposed to be dead," the former US president said, speaking to the New York Post while en route to Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention starting on Monday which will nominate him as the party's candidate for the November 5 presidential election.
"The most incredible thing was that I happened to not only turn [my head] but to turn at the exact right time and in just the right amount," he said, adding that the bullet that grazed his ear could have easily killed him.
"I'm supposed to be dead, I'm not supposed to be here," he said. He called the entire incident a "surreal experience."
A spectator was killed in the attack, while two other people were seriously injured. The 20-year-old gunman, who also died, has been named as Thomas Matthew Crooks.
Trump wore a white bandage that covered his right ear but his aides did not allow any photographs to be taken, said the Post. The doctor at the hospital said he never saw anything like this, he called it a miracle," Trump added.
"By luck or by God, many people are saying it's by God I'm still here. Trump also addressed the photos of him raising his fist and saying Fight! as he had blood on his face. A lot of people say it's the most iconic photo they've ever seen," Trump said. "They're right and I didn't die. Usually, you have to die to have an iconic picture."
Trump told the paper he wanted to keep speaking following the shooting but the Secret Service insisted he go to the hospital. "I just wanted to keep speaking, but I just got shot," he said.
Trump also said he appreciated the call he received from President Joe Biden, also expected to be his rival in the election, according to the Post, calling it fine and very nice. The paper reported that Trump suggested the campaign between him and Biden, a Democrat, could be more civil from now on. PTI
15:22 Pak government moves to ban Imran Khan's party
Pakistan's Information Minister Atta Tarar announced on Monday that the government plans to file a case seeking to ban Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, Dawn reported.
During a press briefing, Tarar emphasised the necessity of moving the country forward without PTI's presence: "The federal government has decided to ban PTI."
He cited "credible evidence" as the basis for this decision. Tarar further disclosed that the government intends to file a review petition with the Supreme Court of Pakistan challenging its recent ruling. Last week, the court had ruled in favour of PTI's eligibility for reserved seats for women and minorities, Dawn reported.
15:19 Told to pay for fuel, cop drives with man on bonnet
A police driver has been booked for attempt to murder, after he dashed into a petrol pump employee and drove with the man on the bonnet on being asked to pay for the fuel he filled, police said on Monday.
The accused has been arrested and suspended from service, they said. Kannur city police commissioner Ajith Kumar said various sections including attempt to murder were imposed against the accused and he was suspended from the service.
The arrest of the accused was recorded on Monday, police added. The employee, Anil, was attacked when the police driver allegedly tried to leave without paying the amount for the fuel on Sunday evening, police said.
CCTV visuals of the man, clinging to the bonnet of the speeding car as it travelled along a busy highway for nearly one kilometer, went viral on social media platforms soon. In the video, Anil can be seen having an argument with the accused, identified as K Santhosh Kumar. As the argument escalated, the driver suddenly accelerated the car, where the petrol pump employee was thrown onto the bonnet of the vehicle. The car with the staff on the bonnet travelled and stopped after covering nearly a kilometer along the busy road. Anil, who suffered injuries to his hands, later lodged a complaint with the Town Police. PTI
15:11 Look who Mamata Banerjee bumped into at the Ambani do
Shatrughan Sinha shares this picture of his wife, WB CM Mamata Banerjee, Rashmi Thackeray and his daughter-in-law at the Ambani shaadi.
He writes, "It has been a month of 'events' with #Sonakshi & Zaheer 'Wedding of the Century' followed up with 'The Most Talked About Wedding of The Millennium' #AnantAmbani & #RadhikaMerchant it was the record making & record breaking marriage in totality & true sense as the who's who of the country & worldwide were there from films, sports, social & political world.
"The entire credit for this marvelous event goes to the great lady #NitaAmbani her husband & our dear friend #MukeshAmbani & their entire team. Due to prior commitments I couldn't be there but nonetheless my 'bestest' half @PoonamSinha my sons @LuvSinha @kusshssinha his beautiful wife #TarunaSinha attended all the events & enjoyed the warm hospitality of the Ambanis as always. Heartiest Congratulations to #MukeshAmbani NitaAmbani the lovely couple & their entire team. #WeddingCelebrations."
14:59 Zomato hikes platform fee in select cities
Food-delivery firm Zomato has hiked the platform fee to Rs 6 from Rs 5 per order in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. Its rival Swiggy, which had also increased the platform fee in select cities on Sunday, reverted to charging Rs 5 per order on Monday in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru, as shown on its app.
When contacted to ascertain the reasons for the hike, both Zomato and Swiggy declined to comment. The two companies had introduced platform fees last year, initially at Rs 2 per order, which has been increased gradually.
Platform fee is treated as one of the ways in which food-delivery platforms are trying to increase their profitability, with a duopoly in place as Zomato and Swiggy are the key players in the segment. PTI
14:40 Forensics say as many as 3 guns fired at Trump rally
From CNN.com: Forensic analysis suggests that as many as three weapons were fired at the Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday.
The FBI said Sunday that the shooter acted alone.
The first three shots were consistent with alleged weapon A, the next five were consistent with alleged weapon B, and the final "acoustic impulse' was emitted by a possible weapon C, per audio analysis by Catalin Grigoras, director of the National Center for Media Forensics at the University of Colorado in Denver, and Cole Whitecotton, Senior Professional Research Associate at the same institution.
Audio analysis has also confirmed that the gunman was about 360 to 393 feet from the podium, according to forensics expert Robert Maher.
This conclusion aligns with CNN's analysis that the gunman was on a rooftop 393 to 492 feet from the podium when shots rang out.
The shots exemplify a "crack-pop' sequence, typical when a supersonic bullet passes a microphone, before the "arrival of the corresponding muzzle blast sound," Maher, who teaches audio forensics at Montana State University, told CNN.
The time between these markers places the shooter 110 to 120 meters from the microphone, Maher said, assuming the bullet is moving at an average speed of 800 to 1,000 meters per second, the equivalent of 2,600 to 3,280 feet per second.
14:21 Here, take a look
Nita Ambani paired her outfit with a special jewelled blouse featuring hand-embroidered jhumkaas all over and auspicious elephant motifs at the back. Displaying hand-embroidered Hindi text on its borders, the garment also has Nita's children and grandchildren's name adorned over its delicate net base.
14:17 Can you read the writing on Nita Ambani's ghagra?
Reliance Foundation Founder and Chairperson, Nita Ambani, the wife of Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, was seen in stunning couture wear that echoed the grandeur of ancient Indian architecture, at the wedding of her youngest son Anant Ambani with Radhika Merchant.
The wedding celebrations of Anant, the youngest son of Mukesh and Nita Ambani were held at Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai and were a blend of opulence and tradition.
Nita Ambani's attire was a focal point of admiration of guests.
For the 'Shubh Aashirwad' ceremony, Nita Ambani donned an exquisite hand-embroidered Zardozi ghagra by Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla, meticulously crafted to reflect the architectural splendour of Kashi's temples. The garment, featured intricate motifs and designs that echoed the grandeur of ancient Indian architecture.
Designer Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla took to his official Instagram handle to post pictures of "family, love and the finest craftsmanship."
"She exudes maximum grandeur in this hand-embroidered Zardozi ghagra," the caption read adding that it "most marvellously expresses Abu Sandeep's love for the eternal divinity of temple architecture."
It features decadent hand-embroidery inspired by the architecture and temples of Kashi and is paired with a special jewelled blouse featuring hand-embroidered Jhumkaas all over and auspicious elephant motifs at the back.
Displaying hand-embroidered Hindi text on its borders, the garment also has Nita's children Akash, Isha, and Anant and her grandchildren Krishna, Aadiya, Prithvi, and Veda and grandchildren's name adorned over its delicate net base.
"A twinkling touch of sequins and stones concludes the majestic craftsmanship of this ensemble," the designers said. Nita wears it with utmost elan with emeralds from her personal collection designed and set by Viren Bhagat, they said. To complement her regal attire, Nita Ambani accessorized with a collection of diamond and emerald jewellery, including a magnificent necklace with emerald drops, large emerald earrings, a maang teeka, bazubandh, rings, and stacks of bangles.
14:04 Kim at the wedding
And another picture of Kim Kardashian at the Ambani mega wedding. Seen here with Isha Ambani looking resplendent in her navratna statement necklace.
13:59 SC notice to Payal Abdullah on Omar's plea seeking divorce
The Supreme Court on Monday sought a response from Payal Abdullah, the estranged wife of Omar Abdullah, on a plea filed by the National Conference leader seeking divorce on grounds of cruelty.
A bench of Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah issued notice to Payal Abdullah and sought her response within six weeks. At the outset, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Omar Abdullah, submitted that the marriage was "dead" as they have been living separately for the past 15 years.
The Delhi High Court on December 12, 2023, dismissed Omar Abdullah's plea seeking divorce, saying there was no merit in his appeal. The high court had upheld the 2016 family court order refusing to grant a decree of divorce to Abdullah, a former chief minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. PTI
13:49 China expert Vikram Misri takes charge as India's new foreign secretary
Seasoned diplomat Vikram Misri, widely regarded as an expert on China and national security, assumed charge as India's new foreign secretary on Monday. Misri, a 1989-batch Indian Foreign Service officer who was serving as the deputy national security advisor, succeeded Vinay Kwatra. He assumed charge of the key position at a time India is looking to navigate various geo-political challenges, including its frosty ties with China following the lingering eastern Ladakh border row and the consequences of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
He has served in various capacities at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), in the Prime Minister's Office and in various Indian missions in Europe, Africa, Asia and North America. He has the rare distinction of serving as private secretary to three prime ministers -- Inder Kumar Gujral, Manmohan Singh and Narendra Modi.
Manorama Khedkar brandishing a gun. She is wanted in a land dispute case
13:46 Cops unable to track down IAS officer Khedkar's mom
The Pune police have not been able to get in touch with Manorama Khedkar, mother of controversial probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar, in connection with a case registered against her over a land dispute, a senior official said on Monday.
The police have registered a first information report (FIR) against Manorama and her husband Dilip Khedkar besides five others, after a video showing her allegedly threatening some persons with a gun over a land dispute emerged. A team with a senior officer of the Pune Rural police have been visiting Manorama's bungalow at Baner Road in the city but has not been able to track her down, the official said.
"We visited the house on Sunday and today, but have not been able to enter the premises. Her mobile phone is also switched off. Once we find her, an enquiry will be set up and legal action will be taken," the official said.
Pune Rural Police have booked the Khedkar couple and five others under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), including section 323 (dishonest or fraudulent removal or concealment of property), at Paud police station.
The case was registered days after a video surfaced on social media, which showed Manorama, accompanied by her security guards, engaged in a heated argument with some people with a pistol in her hand in Dhadwali village in Pune's Mulshi tehsil. PTI
13:03 India has my heart: Kim Kardashian shares pics
American actor-socialite Kim Kardashian shared more pictures from her visit to India to attend Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant's wedding. Kim, 40, arrived in India alongside her sister Khloe Kardashian on Friday morning.
Both the sisters were quick to share updates on their respective Instagram handles and also took a rickshaw ride around the city before the main event. Kim has now posted more pictures from the grand gala on her Instagram.
The posts had pictures of her dressed in red outfit that's accessorised with a matching veil, emerald headband and bracelet. The post also featured her posing alongside Isha Ambani and the newlyweds Anant and Radhika.
She captioned the post, "Indian has my" and added a heart emoji.
The wedding took place on July 12 and was attended by several notable personalities from across the fields including celebrities, sports players, politicians and others.
It also witnessed performances by several international artists. Anant is the son of Asia's richest man Mukesh Ambani and Radhika is the daughter of pharma tycoons Viren and Shaila Merchant. The Kardashian sisters trip to India will feature on their popular reality TV show "The Kardashians". PTI
12:41 Guess who DKS met in Mumbai?
Karnataka Dy CM DK Shivakumar shares this picture with the Blairs at the Ambani wedding in Mumbai. "It was pleasant meeting former Prime Minister of UK Mr. Tony Blair and his wife Mrs. Cherie Blair, at a social gathering in Mumbai," he writes.
12:40 SBI raises lending rates, new loans to cost more
The State Bank of India (SBI) on Monday announced an increase in its Marginal Cost of Funds Based Lending Rate (MCLR) by 5-10 basis points for most tenors.
The MCLR represents the minimum rate at which a bank can lend money and is a crucial factor in determining loan interest rates. This adjustment by SBI is significant as it reflects changes in the cost of funds and overall market conditions.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) implemented the MCLR system in April 2016, replacing the base rate system to enhance transparency in the interest rate-setting process. This system aims to ensure that the benefits of reduced lending rates are passed on to borrowers more effectively.
12:20 Hold your heads high: King to England team
King Charles III writes to Gareth Southgate and the England team following their loss against Spain at the Euro 2024 final yesterday.
Southgate is team's manager.
12:04 Secret Service knocked off my shoes: Trump
From CNN.com: Reflecting on surviving the assassination attempt, Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump said in an interview with the New York Post that when the Secret Service came to protect him on stage, they knocked off his shoes. "The agents hit me so hard that my shoes fell off, and my shoes are tight,' Trump said.
In the interview, the former president praised the Secret Service agents protecting him on Saturday.
"They took him out with one shot right between the eyes," he said, referring to the shooter.
"They did a fantastic job," he added. "It's surreal for all of us."
In the audio of Trump talking with Secret Service members following the shooting, Trump was heard twice saying he needed to get his shoes on as agents started to move him off stage.
Let me get my shoes. Let me get my shoes, Trump says.
I got you sir. I got you sir, a male agent says.
Let me get my shoes on, Trump says again.
11:29 BJP uses Trump hit to target Rahul, Cong says...
The Congress on Monday slammed the BJP for the allegation that Rahul Gandhi encouraged violence against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying "cheap politics" should not be played on the issue of security of leaders.
The BJP on Sunday had targeted the Leader of Opposition following the assassination attempt on former US president Donald Trump. "Third Time Fail Rahul Gandhi has often encouraged and justified violence against Prime Minister Modi, who he has lost election to, several times now. How can India ever forget how Punjab Police, then under the Congress, deliberately compromised PM's security, when his convoy was left stranded on a flyover," BJP's IT department head Amit Malviya had said.
Hitting back at the BJP, Congress' media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said, "Cheap politics should not be played on the issue of security of leaders. The Congress party lost Mahatma ji to Right Wing terrorists. We lost two prime ministers at the hands of terrorists. We lost our entire Chhattisgarh leadership to Left Wing terrorists, under the watch of the BJP government."
Prime Minister Modi and the entire BJP has been instigating people against the leadership of the Congress party by "spreading vitriolic" lies against Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and the entire family, he alleged.
"He (Modi) also mysteriously withdrew their SPG security," Khera said.
Donald Trump survived an attempt on his life when a young gunman fired multiple shots at the former US president at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, injuring his right ear. PTI
Representational image
11:15 Kerala man gets stuck in hospital lift for 2 days
A 59-year-old man, who was stuck inside a hospital lift in Thiruvananthapuram for the past two days, was rescued on Monday morning after the lift was operated for routine work, police said.
Ulloor resident Ravindran Nair (59) had been stuck inside the lift of the OP Block of the government medical college since Saturday, they said.
"He got into the lift to go to the first floor but claims that the lift came down and did not open. He says he shouted for help but no one came. His phone was also switched off," police said.
The officials said that the incident came to light on Monday morning, when the lift operator started it for routine work. The man's family had on Sunday night filed a missing case with the medical college police. Police said the man visited the hospital for a medical checkup. PTI
11:12 6 killed, several injured as truck hits bus on expressway in Gujarat
Six persons were killed and more than six others injured after a speeding truck rammed into a stationary bus on the Ahmedabad-Vadodara Expressway near Anand town in Gujarat early Monday morning, police said.
The accident took place near Chikhodra village in Anand district at around 4.30 am when the private luxury bus, which was on way towards Ahmedabad, had pulled over on the roadside after one of its tyres burst, an official from Anand Rural police station said.
While the tyre was being changed, the bus passengers alighted and some of them were waiting in front of the vehicle when a speeding truck hit the bus from behind, the official said.
Five persons died on the spot while one succumbed to injuries in a hospital, he said, adding the bus driver was among the deceased. According to the police, the deceased included three women and as many men and they were yet to be identified. The injured persons were admitted to hospital, the official said. PTI
10:51 Ivanka Trump: Mom was watching over dad
Former First Daughter Ivanka Trump, shares this image alongside and posts on X: "Two years ago today, my mom passed away. I believe she was watching over Dad last night during the attempt on his life. I miss her every day and pray for the safety of the family and friends she left behind."
Ivanka is the daughter of Donald and Ivana Trump. Ivana Trump, the ex-wife of the former president is also the mother of Eric, and Don Jr. She died from a fall down the stairs in her Manhattan home. Her death was ruled accidental.
10:38 Trump shooting: Democrats tread with sensitivity
In the aftermath of an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, Democrats are treading cautiously, navigating a complex landscape of political ramifications and moral considerations, The Hill reported.
President Joe Biden, out of respect for Trump and in response to the tragic events, has suspended all political activities, including the cessation of political advertisements.
This pause has prompted introspection among Biden's allies and party operatives, who are grappling with the potential impact of this dramatic turn of events on the presidential race.
"There are more questions than answers right now," admitted a top Democratic strategist and close Biden ally.
"I don't think anyone knows how this will turn out, even this week. There are so many unknowns," as reported by The Hill.
The debate over Biden's candidacy, particularly concerning his age and mental acuity, has been temporarily shelved. Multiple Democratic sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, acknowledged the sensitivity of the topic in the immediate aftermath of the shooting.
While discussions about Biden potentially withdrawing from the race have dominated recent headlines and discussions, many Democrats, from lawmakers to donors, have chosen to remain silent on the issue for now.
"This is not the time," remarked a Democratic donor who had previously expressed reservations about Biden. "That's not to say it won't come back in a few days or next week. But it would be incredibly insensitive to have the debate on Biden right now."
"We all need to take a breath and see what happens," the donor added. Amidst the somber atmosphere following the assassination attempt, the focus has shifted from internal Democratic deliberations to broader concerns about how this event might reshape the political landscape as the Republican National Convention looms.
Another Democratic strategist predicted that the focus on Saturday's tragic events would "slow the public noise but I don't think it slows the private conversations. "I've seen enough data to show my guy trailing. And the state-by-state numbers are really rough."
10:17 What Obama said on Trump assassination attempt
What former US president Barack Obama said on the assassination attempt on Trump. "There is absolutely no place for political violence in our democracy. Although we don't yet know exactly what happened, we should all be relieved that former President Trump wasn't seriously hurt, and use this moment to recommit ourselves to civility and respect in our politics. Michelle and I are wishing him a quick recovery," Obama wrote.
10:06 Dodged bullet because I bent to look at data: Trump
Former President Donald Trump has made significant changes to his upcoming convention speech in response to an attempted assassination on Saturday, now focusing on a call for national unity rather than his original plan to critique President Joe Biden's policies.
In an exclusive interview with the Washington Examiner, Trump reflected on the incident, emphasising his desire to use the moment to bring the country together.
"The speech I was going to give on Thursday was going to be a humdinger," he remarked. "Had this not happened, this would've been one of the most incredible speeches aimed mostly at the policies of President Joe Biden. Honestly, it's going to be a whole different speech now."
Trump, who narrowly escaped the attempt on his life at a rally in Pennsylvania, expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support from Americans across the political spectrum. He recounted how he narrowly avoided the sniper's bullet by momentarily turning away from the crowd to view data on a screen, a decision he believes saved his life.
"That reality is just setting in," he acknowledged. "I rarely look away from the crowd. Had I not done that in that moment, well, we would not be talking today, would we?"
Speaking from his plane in Bedminster, New Jersey, en route to Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention, Trump underscored the gravity of the event.
"It is a chance to bring the country together. I was given that chance." Early Sunday morning, Trump posted on Truth Social that it was "God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening" and that he would "fear not."
Again, in talking to the Washington Examiner, he invoked "God" for his deliverance. "This is a chance to bring the whole country, even the whole world, together," Trump continued in his interview with the Washington Examiner.
"The speech will be a lot different, a lot different than it would've been two days ago." The interview, originally scheduled to take place aboard his return flight from the rally, placed the reporter just feet away from Trump when the assassination attempt occurred. Trump paid tribute to Corey Comperatore, the former fire chief who lost his life at the rally, and acknowledged the injuries sustained by supporters David Dutch and James Copenhaver, who are currently recovering in stable condition. Reflecting on his immediate response to the attack, Trump described raising his hand to reassure the crowd and the nation of his safety.
"And that America goes on, we go forward, that we are strong," he asserted.
The photograph capturing Trump with a raised fist amid blood streaming down his face, surrounded by Secret Service agents, has already become an iconic image of the 2024 election cycle. If Trump delivers a message of unity in Milwaukee, it would evoke memories of President Ronald Reagan's resolve following the 1981 assassination attempt on him in Washington, DC.
09:43 Trump arrives for Republican Convention after assassination attempt
The Republican National Convention, held every four years, began in Milwaukee on Monday under an unprecedented security cover in the aftermath of a failed assassination attempt on its presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump.
The former US president, Trump miraculously escaped when a bullet pierced the upper part of his right ear during an election rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday afternoon.
Trump would be formally accepting the nomination and deliver the acceptance speech at the Fiserv Forum in downtown Milwaukee on July 18. A day earlier, he is expected to announce his vice-presidential candidate as well.
Trump arrived in Milwaukee Sunday night around 6 pm local time. He is not expected to speak until Thursday night.
His campaign and convention in a joint statement said that they would proceed with the convention "to nominate him to serve as the 47th President of the United States".
More than 2400 elected delegates from across the nation would gather in Milwaukee and formally announce their decision to vote in support of Trump.
This is for the third time that Trump would be nominated as the party's presidential candidate. The previous two terms being in 2016 and 2020.
Given the elevated level of security threat to Trump, thousands of security personnel have been deployed at the convention venue. A large part of the downtown in and around the venue and the hotels where the delegates are staying have been cordoned off. Entry and exit to this bubble is very restricted and only credentialed people are allowed.
According to the organisers, upwards of 50,000 delegates, officials, guests, and members of the media from all 50 states, five territories, and the District of Columbia have descended on Milwaukee.
Milwaukee schoolchildren have inflated nearly 100,000 balloons that will be lifted into place for the final minutes of the 2024 Republican National Convention.
Security forces from various states have been deployed to meet the additional security needs of the convention. -- PTI
09:10 Time to 'cool down': Biden after Trump attack
United States President Joe Biden on Sunday urged citizens to unite in the hour of crisis when a failed assassination bid was made on his predecessor Donald Trump and said it was time to "cool down" political rhetoric in the country.
In a prime-time national address from the Oval Office, "I want to speak to you tonight about the need for us to lower the temperature in our politics and to remember, while we may disagree, we are not enemies we are neighbours, friends, coworkers, citizens, and most importantly, we are fellow Americans."
Calling for national unity, he said, "We must stand together."
"Yesterday's shooting at Donald Trump's rally in Pennsylvania calls on all of us to take a step back, take stock of where we are and how we go forward from here," he said.
The President spoke for the third time in less than 24 hours after Trump was shot at during an election rally in Pennsylvania.
Biden said the motive of the shooter is not known yet. "We don't know his opinions or affiliations. We don't know whether he had help or support or if he communicated with anyone else. Law enforcement professionals, as I speak, are investigating those questions."
"A former president was shot and an American citizen killed for simply exercising his freedom to support the candidate of his choosing. We cannot we must not go down this road in America. We've travelled before throughout our history. Violence has never been the answer," he said.
"There is no place in America for this kind of violence, for any violence ever. Period. No exceptions. We can't allow this violence to be normalised," he said.
Disagreement is inevitable in American democracy, he observed.
"Political rhetoric in this country has gotten very heated. It's time to cool it down. We all have a responsibility to do that," the President said.
"It's part of human nature that politics must never be a little battlefield, or God forbid, a killing field. I believe politics ought to be an arena for peaceful debate, to pursue justice and to make decisions guided by the Declaration of Independence in our constitution," he said. -- PTI
08:59 When will govt, Modi wake up: Priyanka after CRPF jawan killed in Manipur
Attacking the Centre after a Central Reserve Police Force jawan was killed in Manipur, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said the state has completely fallen apart and asked when will the central government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi "wake up from their sleep".
In a post in Hindi on X, Priyanka Gandhi said, "The news of martyrdom of a soldier in the attack on a CRPF convoy in Manipur is extremely saddening. May God grant peace to the departed soul. Deepest condolences to the bereaved family."
"The violence that started on May 3 last year continues till today. A state has completely fallen apart. After all, when will the central government and the Prime Minister wake up from their sleep?" she said.
A CRPF jawan was killed in a gun attack by suspected militants at Mongbung village in Manipur's Jiribam district on Sunday morning, police said.
A policeman also suffered injuries and he has been admitted to a hospital, they said.
The deceased has been identified as Ajay Kumar Jha, 43, a resident of Bihar.
He suffered bullet injuries in the head and was declared dead in hospital. The injured policeman is undergoing treatment and he is out of danger, a police officer said. -- PTI
08:33 Trump rally shooter acted alone: FBI
The gunman who shot at former United States president Donald Trump during an election rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday appears to have acted alone, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which is investigating it as a potential "domestic terrorism" act.
The gunman has been identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks (20).
"At this point in the investigation, it appears that he was a lone actor, but we still have more investigation to go," said Robert Wells, the executive assistant director of the FBI's National Security Branch.
The FBI, he said, is investigating this as an assassination attempt, and also as a "potential domestic terrorism act."
The counterterrorism division and criminal divisions are working jointly together to determine the motive, he added.
The FBI is leading the investigation into the assassination attempt of Trump at an election rally in Pennsylvania.
Trump was hit with a bullet that pierced the upper part of his right ear. He is now safe and is continuing with his schedule that includes travelling to Milwaukee to attend the Republican National Convention, which would formally nominate him as the party's presidential nominee against incumbent Joe Biden.
"The shooter may be deceased, but the investigation is very much ongoing. And, because of that, we are limited in what we say at this point," FBI Director Christopher Wray said.
"What we witnessed yesterday was nothing short of an attack on democracy and our democratic process," he told reporters at a news conference in Washington DC.
According to an FBI official, the investigation into the gunman at Donald Trump's rally Saturday has not yet turned up any mental health issues, threatening posts or other motives, but cautioned it was still early.
The shooter, as per FBI, used an AR-style rifle chambered in 5.56mm, a common calibre for such weapons.
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