Pakistan opens historic Gurdwara 72 years after Partition
Pakistan on Friday opened the doors of the historic Gurdwara Chowa Sahib in Punjab province to Sikh devotees, including from India, 72 years after Partition. This comes ahead of the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the first Sikh guru, in November. The Gurdwara was in a state of neglect since 1947 when Sikhs migrated to India after Partition.
Will discuss cabinet expansion with central leadership: K’taka CM
After the opposition parties reportedly targeted Karnataka government over the delay in the cabinet formation, state’s Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Friday said he would discuss it with the central leadership during his Delhi visit next week. “I’ll try to do the cabinet expansion at the earliest,” he added. “Routine developmental works…are not facing problems,” Yediyurappa further said.
J&K Tourism Dept sending buses to bring tourists back from Valley
The Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department is sending buses to different destinations to bring tourists back from Kashmir Valley in order to send them home. It said, “We have informed all officials at tourist destinations to clear tourists in their areas.” The state asked tourists to leave the Valley immediately, following intelligence inputs of terrorists trying to disrupt Amarnath Yatra.
TN hotel names chicken dish after Brahmin community, apologises later
A hotel in Tamil Nadu’s Madurai named a chicken dish after ‘Kumbakonam Iyer’ Brahmin community, who raised a strong objection to the name. The hotel authorities apologised for naming the dish ‘Kumbakonam Iyer Chicken’ after the representatives of the community met them. The hotel also released a statement, confirming that they are “doing away with the name”.
Airlines told to be ready to run extra flights from Srinagar: Report
Aviation regulator DGCA on Friday advised airlines to remain ready to operate additional flights from the Srinagar airport if the need arises, according to a report. The move comes after the Indian Army said it has confirmed intelligence inputs of terrorists trying to disrupt Amarnath Yatra and the Jammu and Kashmir government asked tourists to leave the Valley immediately.
North, central India to witness heavy rains for 2-3 days: IMD
Widespread and heavy rains are likely in parts of north and central India in the next 2-3 days, the India Meteorological Department said on Saturday. Fairly widespread rainfall is likely in states including Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. The IMD has also issued a red colour rain warning for west and central Maharashtra.
10 bn tonnes of Greenland ice sheet melts, turns into river in 24hrs
With several European countries experiencing heatwave, over 10 billion tonnes of ice sheet melted across Greenland on Wednesday alone. A video, which is being widely shared on social media, shows the melted ice sheets flowing like a river in the country. This was Greenland’s biggest melt day this season with around 60% of the ice sheet melting at the surface.
No cancellation fee on flights to and from Srinagar amid terror threat
After Jammu and Kashmir government asked tourists and Amarnath pilgrims to leave the valley amid terror threat, airlines have announced that they won’t charge cancellation or rescheduling fee on flights to and from Srinagar. After the Centre’s advisory, Air India offered fee waiver till August 15, while carriers like IndiGo, SpiceJet and Vistara is offering the waiver till August 9.
Jal Jeevan Mission ready for Cabinet approval
Blueprint for Jal Jeevan Mission which was announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on July 05 has been approved by Expenditure Finance Committee and only Cabinet approval is pending, officials said. The mission aims to provide piped water to every household by 2024. “The day the scheme is approved, we’ll start working,” Minister for Jal Shakti Gajendra Shekhawat said.
3 men suspected to be Pakistani spies arrested in Haryana
Haryana Police on Thursday arrested three persons who are suspected to be Pakistani spies for allegedly leaking secret information to their handlers. Incriminating evidence, including video clippings of military activities, was found on their mobile phones, as per reports. Police also retrieved a Pakistani number from the phones which is suspected to belong to their handler, reports added.
SP MP Surendra Nagar quits Rajya Sabha, may join BJP
Samajwadi Party MP Surendra Nagar resigned from the Rajya Sabha on Friday, bringing down the party’s strength in the Rajya Sabha to 11. Although Nagar has not quit the Samajwadi Party yet, reports have claimed that he is upset with some senior leaders in the party. Reports further claimed that Nagar is set to join the BJP.
Yet again Kashmir Valley is on edge, tweets Mehbooba Mufti
After the Amarnath Yatra was suspended over terror threats, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti tweeted, “Yet again the valley is on edge.” She added, “It’s a travesty that Central govt hasn’t made efforts to reach out & clarify recent developments. I’ll be in Budgam today to meet party workers & create awareness about J&K’s special constitutional provisions.”
3 killed as cliff collapses onto beach in California
At least three people were killed after a sandstone cliff collapsed onto a beach in California, US, on Friday. Authorities said pieces of the cliff were known to fall off and beachgoers were warned to sit at some distance away. Sniffer dogs were used to search through the debris to ensure that no additional victims were underneath.
Zero chance: Michelle Obama on running for US President
Former US First Lady Michelle Obama has said that there’s “zero chance” that she’ll run for US President. “There are so many ways to improve this country and build a better world, and I keep doing plenty of them…But sitting behind the desk in the Oval Office will never be one of them. It’s just not for me,” she added.
Cocaine worth ₹7,753 crore disguised as soybeans seized in Germany
German authorities have seized 4.5 tonnes of cocaine worth over ₹7,753 crore in Hamburg – the nation’s biggest drugs haul to date. Hamburg customs office had examined an Antwerp-bound suspicious shipping container two weeks ago. The container’s description said it was loaded with soybeans but over 200 duffel bags containing 4,200 packets of pressed cocaine was found in it.
16-yr-old National Bravery Award winner dies in road accident
Sixteen-year-old National Bravery Award winner Situ Mallick and his cousin Bapu were killed on Friday after their motorcycle collided with a speeding truck in Kendrapara district, Odisha. Situ had received the award for saving his uncle from a crocodile in February 2018. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has announced ex-gratia compensation of ₹2 lakh each for their next of kin.
7 Maoists killed in encounter in Chhattisgarh, operation underway
At least seven Maoists were killed in an ongoing encounter with security forces in the Rajnandgaon district of Chhattisgarh on Saturday, the police said. The police added that a cache of arms and ammunition, including an AK-47 rifle, was recovered from the spot. The exchange of fire began at around 8 am in the jungles between Sherpar and Sitagota areas.
WeWork may get $6 bn funding if it raises at least $3 bn in IPO
WeWork is set to get $6 billion via a $2 billion letter-of-credit and a $4 billion delayed-draw term loan if it raises at least $3 billion in its Initial Public Offering (IPO), Bloomberg reported. The co-working space startup had confidentially filed for IPO in April. American investment bank JPMorgan Chase is reportedly set to lead the IPO.
Messi banned from international football for 3 months, fined ₹35 lakh Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has been banned from playing international football for Argentina for three months after alleging corruption in Copa America last month. South American football body CONMEBOL also handed Messi a $50,000 (₹35 lakh) fine for his comments following Argentina’s 2-1 third-place match victory against Chile. Messi was sent off in the match for scuffle with Gary Medel.
