CATEGORIES

'EU Global Gateway to be part of new economic corridor'

The European Union’s Global Gateway strategy for boosting clean and secure links in the digital, energy and transport spheres is set to be part of the ambitious India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) that will create a network of railways and ports, EU ambassador Ugo Astuto said on Tuesday. In an interview ahead of completing his tenure in New Delhi, Astuto said that collaboration between India and the EU for a coordinated European naval presence in the Indo-Pacific is set to grow to ensure that the region remains free and open. Edited excerpts:

Meeting of INDIA bloc's key panel today, focus on seat-sharing formula

The INDIA group’s coordination committee is expected to discuss formulas for seat adjustments and set deadlines for state pacts between the opposition parties in its first meeting in the capital on Wednesday, setting in motion the alliance’s plan for the 2024 elections.

Appear before probe officer in hate speech case: HC to Ramdev

The Rajasthan high court has directed yoga exponent Ramdev to appear before the investigating officer in a hate speech case for questioning on October 5, even as it extended till October 16 the protection from coercive action against him.

'The China-plus-one thinking is old news; it's now India-only'

The G20 Summit happened at the right time, in the right place, under the right leader, Union minister of commerce and industry, food and public distribution, and textiles Piyush Goyal told Rajeev Jayaswal, adding that the multilateral forum has established India in a leadership position where the global community’s confidence on the country’s supply chain resilience has changed from “China-plus-one” to “India only”. Edited excerpts:

Maratha activist to end fast, quota stir to go on

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil on Tuesday said he was ready to end his indefinite hunger strike, but his protest would continue until Maharashtra the government started issuing Kunbi (sub-caste) certificates to Marathas from the Marathwada region.

3 killed as violence rocks strife-torn Manipur again

Three men were shot dead by armed miscreants in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district on Tuesday as fresh violence rocked the strife-torn state, officials familiar with the matter said, taking the death toll to at least 168in clashes that have now been going on intermittently for over four months.

Schemes, outreach events in BJP's plan for PM b'day

A seva pakhwara, a fortnight-long event that will include outreach programmes at the state level; the roll-out of the Vishwakarma Yojna for the empowerment of skilled workers; and the launch of the Ayushman Bhava programme to ensure the saturation coverage of health schemes launched since 2014 -- these are just some of the ways in which the Bharatiya Janata Party and the government will celebrate Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 73rd birthday on Sunday, September 17.

2 die as Nipah resurfaces in Kerala, Centre rushes team

Kerala health minister Veena George said on Tuesday that four confirmed infections of the rare Nipah virus have been recorded in the state, of which two turned fatal, a development that prompted the Union government to rush a team to the state.

Centre forms panel to study Yamuna flood management

The Union government has constituted a committee to conduct a flood management study of the Yamuna from the Hathnikund barrage in Haryana to the Okhla barrage in Delhi, officials aware of the development said. The committee held its first meeting on September 4, they said, adding that it will submit its report within six months.

Delhi zoo plans to add four antelopes

Delhi's National Zoological Park plans to bring four-horned antelopes from Chhattisgarh under the animal exchange programme, officials aware of the matter said on Tuesday.

Process begins to hire drainage basin experts

The Public Works Department (PWD) has started the process of hiring private consultants to undertake a topographical survey of two of Delhi’s three drainage basins — Barapullah and Trans-Yamuna — to implement drainage solutions and prevent urban flooding. Officials aware of the project said the move will be crucial to help rid the Capital of its annual waterlogging woes during the monsoon, and will help devise flood mitigation measures.

Mukarba Chowk underpass project to miss Oct deadline

The underpass project at Mukarba Chowk, which is expected to ease traffic snarls on the busy Dr KB Hedgewar Marg in northwest Delhi, has run into several delays and will miss its October deadline, officials aware of the development said, adding that only 10% of the work is complete so far.

Plan to revamp Press Enclave Marg

The Delhi government will soon undertake work to revamp the busy Press Enclave Marg in south Delhi — it houses Max hospitals and the Select Citywalk and DLF Avenue malls — as part of a plan to redesign roads after the G20 Summit, officials said on Tuesday.

Govt's plan to check bad air: Artificial rain, tracking of hot spots

The Delhi government will attempt a technique known as cloud seeding, create separate action plans for the 13 air pollution hot spots of the city, tap security agencies to stop biomass burning, and encourage people to use public transport, state environment minister Gopal Rai said on Tuesday, citing discussions between the city government and experts earlier in the day to come up with a winter action plan for bad air.

Decoding the SC verdict on investigations against bureaucrats

The Supreme Court’s Monday verdict on whether or not the central government’s prior approval is needed before investigating top bureaucrats has brought to centre stage a consistent practice by successive governments since 1969 to put in place a safety net for their bureaucrats — and also of the top court’s unwavering scrutiny of the way this has been done repeatedly.

20% cut in retaliatory tariff on US apples will not impact domestic farmers: Goyal

India’s decision to remove 20% “retaliatory” tariff on American apple imports, after Washington agreed to provide market access to Indian steel and aluminium products, will not affect domestic farmers as they continue to enjoy three layers of protection – a high import duty of 50%, a minimum import price of ₹50 per kg, and sanitary and phytosanitary measures – commerce minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday.

Wanted cow vigilante Monu Manesar caught

Cow vigilante and Bajrang Dal functionary Mohit Yadav, also known as Monu Manesar, was on Tuesday arrested from Manesar in Haryana, ending an eight-month-long hunt for a man first sought for the murders of two men from Rajasthan in February, and then for allegedly making remarks that were among the triggers for the communal clashes in Nuh on July 31.

August retail inflation 6.83% as veg prices ease, cereals up

India’s benchmark inflation rate, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), fell from its July print of 7.4% to 6.8% in August, on the back of a moderation in vegetable prices, although obstinate cereal inflation continues to pose a problem and food inflation (at 9.9%) still remains high.

'Nyoma airfield game-changer': Rajnath opens new border infra

Defence minister Rajnath Singh, who inaugurated a raft of infrastructure projects near the China border on Tuesday, said the airfield coming up at Nyoma in eastern Ladakh, the world’s highest, will be a “game-changer” for the armed forces while stressing that timely execution of projects in far-flung areas has become “the new normal of New India.”

Bench of at least 5 judges will rule on sedition law

The Supreme Court on Tuesday referred a clutch of petitions questioning the validity of the sedition law prescribed under Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) to a Constitution bench of at least five judges, rejecting the Union government’s request to defer scrutinising the penal provision because a new law on the subject was in the pipeline.

Ahead Of Diwali, Delhi Reiterates Cracker Ban

Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai on Monday reiterated that a ban on the use, sale, production, and bursting of firecrackers in the Capital would stay in place, and said the restrictions will cover online sale and delivery of firecrackers.

Djokovic holds Court with Slam 24

Serb equals Margaret Court's all-time Slam count of 24 with a 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-3 win over Russia's Medvedev

RBI okays ICICI Bank CEO reappointment

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Monday approved the reappointment of ICICI Bank chief executive Sandeep Bakshi for three years, the bank said in a regulatory filing.

Byju’s to sell Epic, Great Learning to repay 1.2bnloan

Byju's has put up kids' reading platform Epic and higher education platform Great Learning for sale, three people aware of the development said, as the edtech giant tries to raise money and pay off a $1.2 billion loan it raised in November 2021.

India, UK explore investment cooperation in several areas

India to explore LSE as an international destination for direct listing of its firms

Kremlin, N korea say kim to visit Russia for talks

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will visit Russia, both countries said on Monday, and he is expected to hold a highly anticipated meeting with President Vladimir Putin that has sparked Western concerns about a potential arms deal for Moscow's war in Ukraine.

Nato to hold biggest joint exercise since Cold War next year

Nato is preparing to hold its biggest live joint command exercise since the Cold War in 2024.

Morocco’s traditional houses make hunt for survivors tough

These homes are often built by the families based on traditional patterns, without any architect’s support

Delhi's moment as voice of Global South

The Global South is still an amorphous entity that will begin to crystallise slowly. India, not China, will have the first-mover advantage in emerging as its leading voice

After 1-yr delay, top national science awards announced

The 2022 Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Awards, India's top science prize, will be conferred on 12 scientists, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research announced on Monday.