Top 10 news @7 PM

Amid the ongoing tensions over transgressions by the Chinese in Eastern Ladakh, the Indian Army is keeping its formidable Bofors howitzers ready for operations. While on the other hand, in a vast swath of the world's largest tropical wetlands in Brazil, nearly 200 jaguars, reptiles and other animals have been killed. These and more, get to know the top stories at a glance.

1. Army fully prepared for war in eastern Ladakh: Army Northern Command

Asserting that it is fully prepared to fight a full-fledged war even in winters in eastern Ladakh, the Indian Army on Wednesday said if China created conditions for war, they will face a better trained, better prepared, fully rested and psychologically hardened Indian troops.

2. Amid border conflict with China, Indian Army readies Bofors guns

Amid the ongoing tensions over transgressions by the Chinese in Eastern Ladakh, the Indian Army is keeping its formidable Bofors howitzers ready for operations. The Bofors gun, which was inducted into the regiment of artillery in the mid-1980s, is capable of firing both in low and high angles will be deployed in Ladakh once they will be serviced.

3. Telangana assembly clears TS-bPASS Bill

Telangana Legislative Assembly on Monday passed the Telangana State Building Permissions Approval and Self Certification System (TS-bPASS) Bill. Minister KT Rama Rao introduced the Bill in the house. By the end of September, all municipalities including GHMC will implement the Bill. In the past, Telangana introduced TS-iPASS, which allows a single mechanism for industries and services for doing business with the state.

4. US outlines plan to provide free COVID-19 vaccine

In a report to Congress and an accompanying "playbook" for states and localities, federal health agencies and the Defence Department sketched out complex plans for a vaccination campaign to begin gradually in January or possibly later this year, eventually ramping up to reach any American who wants a shot.

5. Sandalwood drug case: Aditya Alva hiding in California, suspect officials

Aditya Alva, son of former Karnataka minister late Jeevaraj Alva, whose house was raided by Central Crime Branch (CCB) in alleged connection with Sandalwood drug case is still at large. Alva, who is also the brother-in-law of Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi, came under the radar of NCB in the alleged drug nexus after actors Ragini Dwivedi and Sanjana Galrani were taken into the police custody. Sleuths are suspecting that Aditya Alva is hiding in California.

6. Chinese troops fired warning shots in air at Pangong lake

The Chinese army fired a barrage of "warning shots" in the air at the North Bank of Pangong lake in eastern Ladakh last week to "intimidate" the Indian troops ahead of the talks between foreign ministers of the two countries in Moscow, official sources said on Wednesday.

7. Tamil Nadu govt committed to two-language formula: Palaniswami

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E. K.Palaniswami on Wednesday said that the government has constituted two expert committees to study the New Education Policy 2020. Speaking in the Assembly, Palaniswami said that the government was committed to the two-language formula.

8. Islamic State most active in 12 Indian states: Govt to Parliament

With Islamic State and its various manifestations spreading base in 12 Indian states in recent years, the Sunni jihadists' group is now "most active" in these states across the country. Apart from southern states like Telangana, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu -- where the Iran and Syria-based terrorist outfit penetrated years ago -- investigating agencies have found their links in states like Maharashtra, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir as well.

9. 'Is Modi govt with Army or China?', asks Congress

Soon after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) informed the Parliament that 'no infiltration' has been reported along Line of Actual Control (LoC), Congress party slammed the Center for giving a 'clean chit' to China. The opposition attacked the Centre's move and called the statement as an 'insult' to the martyrdom of Indian soldiers who laid down their lives in Galwan Valley standoff.

10. Brazil's horrific blaze kills 200 jaguars, reptiles

In a vast swath of the world's largest tropical wetlands in Brazil, nearly 200 jaguars, reptiles and other animals have been killed, injured or forced from their territories by the fires, according to Panthera, an international wild cat conservation organization.