Top News Headlines of the hour

Published : Aug 1, 2021, 8:10 AM IST

Updated : Aug 1, 2021, 5:04 PM IST

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17:00 August 01

1. Lalan Singh vows to expand JDU footprint in other states

The Janata Dal (United) has unanimously appointed Munger MP Rajiv Ranjan Singh aka Lalan Singh as their new national president. The newly-appointed national president urges all the party leaders and workers to work in unison to make JD(U) a strong political force in the state.

2. BSF detects landmine along LoC in J&K's Poonch

BSF troopers on Sunday recovered a landmine along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district.BSF sources said a team of BSF along with specially trained sniffer dog 'Juliet' was on area domination patrol near the LoC when the sniffer dog sat over a piece of land, which created suspicion about the presence of explosive material at the site in the Mendhar area of Poonch district.

3. India will always be proponent of international law, says Jaishankar as New Delhi assumes UNSC presidency

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday said India looks forward to "working productively" with other members of the United Nations Security Council as the country takes over the presidency of the 15-nation UN body. Taking to Twitter, Jaishankar said that New Delhi will always be a voice of moderation, an advocate of dialogue and a proponent of international law.

4. JK: Police says stone-pelters and anti-nationals will be denied passport, jobs

Jammu and Kashmir people who are involved in stone-pelting and 'anti-nationals' cases, from now on, will be denied security clearance for issuance of passports, government jobs and other schemes, as per police order. Owing to pending verification and security clearance by police, thousands of people have been denied passport services in the Valley, as per sources.

5. Cases of triple talaq dropped by 80 pc after enactment of law: Naqvi

Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Sunday informed that the cases of instant triple talaq have dropped by 80 per cent since the Muslim Women Act was enacted. Speaking at an event in the national capital to commemorate two years of triple talaq, Naqvi said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi fulfilled his promises."

14:12 August 01

1. Ready to withdraw FIR against Assam CM: Mizoram govt

The Mizoram government is ready to withdraw the FIR filed against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Chief Secretary Lalnunmawia Chuango said on Sunday.

2. Cong 'James Bond of spying' when in govt; Pegasus a 'fabricated issue': Naqvi

Attacking the Congress which has been protesting in Parliament demanding a discussion on the Pegasus snooping allegations, Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Sunday said the party was "James Bond of spying" when in power and it now wants to waste Parliament's time over "fake and fabricated" issues.

3. Opposition parties likely to seek Supreme Court's intervention on Pegasus issue

The opposition is all set to approach the Supreme Court seeking an independent probe into the Pegasus snooping issue. "Pegasus issue is a very serious security concern for the nation. The opposition is planning to approach the Supreme Court for unbiased and fair investigations in the Pegasus snooping case," sources told the media.

4. Deepak Das takes charge as new Controller General of Accounts

Deepak Das took charge as the new Controller General of Accounts (CGA) on Sunday. Das is the 25th officer to hold the position of CGA.

5. Himachal CM conducts aeriel survey to flood affected region

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jairam Thakur conducts aerial survey of the flood-affected region of Lahaul-Spiti district on Sunday. Jairam Thakur said that the National Disaster Management team has also been moved towards the Lahaul-Spiti district.

13:12 August 01

1. SC to hear Pegasus snooping plea on August 5

The Supreme Court will on August 5 hear the pleas, including the one filed by senior journalists N Ram and Sashi Kumar, seeking a court-monitored probe into the reports of the central government allegedly using Israeli software Pegasus to spy on politicians, activists, and journalists.

2. BJP will return to power in UP with massive majority: Shah

Union home minister Amit Shah on Sunday said that the BJP would return to power with a massive majority in the next assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh and asked the opposition leaders to prepare for their defeat.

3. India's power consumption returns to pre-COVID level in July; up nearly 12 pc to 125.51 bn units

India's power consumption grew nearly 12 per cent in July to 125.51 billion units (BU) and returned to pre-pandemic level mainly due to the easing of lockdown curbs and delayed monsoon, according to power ministry data.

4. Former Manipur Cong chief Govindas Konthoujam joins BJP

Just months before Manipur Assembly elections, former Manipur Congress chief Govindas Konthoujam joined Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday. Govindas Konthoujam, former Manipur Congress chief joined Bharatiya Janata Party, in the presence of Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh and senior BJP leader Sambit Patra.

5. One Maoist killed in exchange of fire with cops in Telangana

A maoist was killed on Sunday in an alleged exchange of fire (EoF) between the ultras and police in a forest area of Bhadradri-Kothagudem district, police said.

11:33 August 01

1. Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs to visit J-K, Ladakh in August

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs is likely to visit Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh from August 17 to 22, sources said on Sunday.

2. July is gone, vaccine shortage hasn't gone away: Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday slammed the Centre over the alleged vaccine shortage across the country. In a tweet in Hindi, Gandhi said, "July is gone, the vaccine shortage hasn't gone away. #WhereAreVaccines (July chala gaya hai, vaccine ki kami nahin gayi.)"

3. ED to grill Raj Singh Gehlot on how J&K Bank settled amount of Rs 289 cr at Rs 128 cr

Raj Singh Gehlot, Chairman of the Ambience Group of Companies who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) last week and sent to ED custody for seven days, will be questioned about how money was routed to different companies and how he made the J&K Bank settle for Rs 128 crore in place of Rs 289.08 crore.

4. Several rockets hit Kandahar airport as Taliban-led violence rages

Several rockets struck Afghanistan's Kandahar airport overnight, RT reported. No casualties have been reported so far. Violence has escalated in Afghanistan in recent weeks as the Taliban have intensified their offensive against civilians, Afghan defense and security forces.

5. Tokyo Olympics, Day 10: Gutsy Satish Kumar's debut Olympics ends with loss to world champ in QFs

A bruised Satish Kumar (+91kg) put up a gutsy performance against reigning world champion Bakhodir Jalolov but it was not enough to upstage the rampaging Uzbek as the Indian boxer made a quarterfinal exit from the Olympic Games here on Sunday.

10:26 August 01

1. India takes over UNSC Presidency

India on Sunday took over the Presidency of the United Nations Security Council. This will be India’s first Presidency during its 2021-22 tenure as a non-permanent member of the Security Council.

2. COVID-19: India records 41,831 new cases, 541 deaths

Single-day rise of 41,831 new infections, 541 fatalities push India's COVID-19 tally of cases to 3,16,55,824, death toll to 4,24,351, as per the data updated by the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry at 8 am on Sunday.

3. First goods train through revived Haldibari-Chilahati rail link leaves for Bangladesh

The first goods train carrying stone chips to Bangladesh through the revived Haldibari-Chilahati rail link departed from Damdim station of Jalpaiguri district in West Bengal on Saturday.

4. ED to grill Raj Singh Gehlot on how J&K Bank settled amount of Rs 289 cr at Rs 128 cr

5. Rains lash Delhi, waterlogging reported from several areas

Citizens in the national capital woke up to heavy rainfall, resulting in waterlogging in a few areas on Sunday morning. Vehicles commuting from the Yamuna Bazar area witnessed heavy waterlogging due to heavy rainfall.

09:21 August 01

1. Breakthrough in Assam-Nagaland border dispute: Two states start withdrawing forces

Amid the ongoing Assam-Mizoram major border troubles, in a major development over the Assam-Nagaland border plight, the two northeastern states on Saturday started pulling out of their forces from the two disputed locations.

2. Evictions looming, Biden fails to get Congress to extend ban

A nationwide eviction moratorium is set to expire after President Joe Biden and Democrats in Congress worked furiously but ultimately failed to align on a long-shot strategy to prevent millions of Americans from being forced from their homes during a COVID-19 surge.

3. Aamir Khan, Kiran Rao meet J-K Lt Governor to discuss new film policy of state

Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan on Saturday met Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha here and discussed about making the Union territory a "favourite" film shooting destination. Khan called on the lieutenant governor (L-G) at the Raj Bhavan here.

4. Asked about inflation, MP minister says problems started with Nehru's 1947 speech from Red Fort

A BJP minister in Madhya Pradesh on Saturday said the problem of inflation does not arise "in a day or two", and the economy began to go downhill due to the "mistakes" of Jawaharlal Nehru's speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort on August 15, 1947.

5. China, India miss UN deadline to update emissions targets

China and India have missed a UN deadline to submit fresh plans for cutting their greenhouse gas emissions in time for the global body to include their pledges in a report for governments at this year's global climate summit, according to officials.

08:01 August 01

1. J-K: Both militants killed in Saturday encounter were involved in Pulwama attack

The second militant killed in encounter in the forest area of Namibian and Marsar, general area of Dachigam forest in Kashmir on Saturday has been identified as Sameer Ahmad Dar alias Hanzala Jihadi, officials said. Dar was a resident of Gundibagh, Kakapora Pulwama and was affiliated with proscribed terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed.

2. 'Muslim Women Rights Day' today to commemorate 2 years of triple talaq law

The Ministry of Minority Affairs on Saturday said that August 1 will be observed as "Muslim Women Rights Day" across the country to celebrate the second anniversary of the enactment of the law against triple talaq.

3. Assam's all-party delegation to visit Delhi, urge Centre to resolve Mizoram boundary dispute

A 19-member all-party delegation of Assam assembly, headed by Speaker Biswajit Daimary, on Saturday decided to visit Delhi and urge the Centre to resolve the state's boundary dispute with Mizoram at the earliest.

4. Air Chief Marshal Bhadauria embarks on UAE visit

Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria on Saturday embarked on a visit to the United Arab Emirates in reflection of India's growing strategic ties with the influential Gulf country. His visit comes nearly eight months after Chief of Army Staff Gen MM Naravane travelled to that country.

5. Former West Bengal higher education minister Sudarshan Roy Chowdhury passes away

Former West Bengal higher education minister and veteran CPM leader Sudarshan Roy Chowdhury passed away at a private hospital in Hooghly district following a massive heart attack on Saturday night. He was 75.