U.S. President Donald Trump said his administration will “take a look” if Google has been working with the Chinese government. The firm swiftly denied the allegation. “Tech Investor Peter Thiel believes Google should be investigated for treason,” Mr. Trump said in a tweet. “A great and brilliant guy who knows …
Read More »Monthly Archives: July 2019
Iran confirms arrest of academic
It risks raising tension between Paris and Tehran Iran confirmed on Tuesday the arrest of a French-Iranian academic without giving any details of her case, the latest in a long list of dual nationals held in the country’s prisons. The detention of Fariba Adelkhah, 60, risks increasing tension between Paris …
Read More »Khan to visit U.S. to ‘refresh’ ties
Washington may seek Pak. assistance in securing a deal to end war in Afghanistan Pakistan expressed hopes on Tuesday that Prime Minister Imran Khan’s maiden trip to the White House later this month would help repair its acrimonious relationship with Washington as the U.S. seeks its help in ending the …
Read More »Rajya Sabha clears Bill on airport tariffs
Amendment restricts AAI from fixing tariffs for private airports The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday passed a Bill to amend the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India Act, 2008, whereby the Airports Authority would not determine tariff structures in the case of privatised airports as that was part of the bid …
Read More »Central Universities Bill cleared
The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday passed the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2019, for establishing a Central University and Tribal University in Andhra Pradesh. HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal “Nishank” assured the House that the universities would be set up in the next four years. The Lok Sabha had cleared the Bill …
Read More »Assam flood toll rises to 19; 2 rhinos drown in Kaziranga
Centre releases Rs. 251.52 crore as part-payment for relief and rescue operations Four people lost their lives and two one-horned rhinos drowned in Kaziranga National Park (KNP) on Tuesday as Assam continued to reel under floods and rain-induced landslides. The day also saw Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat …
Read More »SC moved for sample re-verification of NRC
The applications may be listed soon for hearing before a Special Bench of the CJI and Justice Rohinton Nariman. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), in its application, tried to impress upon the court the “unprecedented large scale of complexities” involved in the NRC process. ‘Impact social harmony’ The …
Read More »Monitor biomedical waste management: NGT
Asks States to set up common treatment and disposal facilities, if not done yet The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed all States and Union Territories to furnish a report on the amount of biomedical waste generated and asked them to set up common treatment and disposal facilities, if not …
Read More »Heavy rain in Nepal causes floods in Bihar, over 25 lakh hit
Kosi, Bagmati and Mahananda rivers in spate, says CM Unusually torrential rainfall in catchment areas in Nepal and subsequent massive discharge of water in rivers led to flash floods in Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar told the State Assembly on Tuesday. A total of 25.72 lakh people have been affected …
Read More »ICJ to deliver verdict on Jadhav today
As the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague prepares to deliver its verdict in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case on Wednesday, the government is pinning its hopes on two precedents, both in cases against the United States in 2001 and 2004, when the ICJ ruled for a review and …
Read More »Schools turn nutrition gardens in Mizoram’s most backward district
Scheme to ensure fresh producefor children It takes a powerful SUV almost nine hours on non-rainy days to cover 296 km from Mizoram capital Aizawl southward to Lawngtlai, headquarters of the State’s remotest district Lawngtlai bordering Bangladesh and Myanmar. Loaded commercial vehicles take much longer, and those carrying perishables mainly …
Read More »Rajasthan to bring law against mob lynching
Bill likely to be tabled in ongoing session The Congress government in Rajasthan has decided to bring a law to curb mob lynching and honour killing. A Bill on the subject is likely to be introduced in the ongoing budget session of the State Assembly. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot made …
Read More »Relief for airlines as Pakistan opens its airspace after 6 months
AI flight from U.S. arrives in Delhi 90 minutes early In a massive relief for air travellers and airlines, Pakistan reopened its airspace for all flights early on Tuesday after a gap of six months since the IAF launched strikes in Balakot. Hours after the announcement, an Air India flight …
Read More »Don’t try to lay down
Court to rule on plea against Karnataka Speaker today The Supreme Court on Tuesday took a swipe at the ruling Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) combine in Karnataka for questioning its power to give directions to the Speaker after welcoming its intervention last year. The court recalled how the parties had hailed …
Read More »HC quashes CRZ clearance for coastal road project
Restrains BMC from proceeding with the 29.2 km-long project The Bombay High Court on Tuesday set aside the coastal regulation zone (CRZ) clearances granted to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for the ambitious Rs. 14,000-crore coastal road project, saying there was “serious lacuna” in the decision-making process. Pointing out that …
Read More »Centre, Assam move SC for sample re-verification of NRC
Seek 20% recount in border districts, extension of July 31 deadline for final list The Centre and the State of Assam on Tuesday made an urgent mention before the Chief Justice of India for an extension of the deadline for final publication of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) for …
Read More »10 dead, several feared trapped as decrepit building collapses
Narrow lanes hamper rescue operations in Dongri; CM orders probe Ten persons were killed and nine others injured when a portion of a decrepit, four-storey building collapsed in south Mumbai’s congested Dongri locality on Tuesday morning, once again exposing the creaking infrastructure of India’s largest city. Police suspect that at …
Read More »Hurdles to reconciliation
The chances of reconciliation between the Prime Minister and the “Syndicate” over the Presidential nomination are being hampered by an almost conspiratorial atmosphere of crisis being built up by the busybodies on both sides on the eve of the Congress Parliamentary Party meetings this week-end. It was thought by some …
Read More »Waiting for daybreak
Chandrayaan-2 missed this rendezvous with the moon, but the next date is not too far India’s second moon mission, Chandrayaan-2, was pulled back from launch just 56 minutes before its scheduled liftoff on July 15. This was owing to a technical glitch in the GSLV Mark-III rocket launcher. No rescheduled …
Read More »Closer than close
England did well to win the World Cup,but New Zealand did not deserve to lose Summit clashes of global sporting tournaments can often be underwhelming. One team revels in the occasion, the other wilts, and a lopsided climax occurs. But Sunday’s ICC World Cup final involving England and New Zealand …
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