Bihar may be heading for a terrible drought: CM Nitish Kumar
Addressing the state Assembly, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar said that he doesn’t believe scientists’ sayings and that his experience tells that Bihar is heading for a ‘terrible drought’. He said the entire world is hit by water crises and Bihar won’t remain immune to it. He further urged all MLAs and MLCs to discuss means to combat the impending crisis.
Several injured after bus falls in gorge in Andhra Pradesh
Several people sustained injuries after a private bus they were travelling in fell into a gorge in Andhra Pradesh’s Vizianagaram, police said. The driver lost control of the bus which was coming from Varanasi and fell into the gorge, the police added. Around 25 people were travelling on the bus and the injured have been shifted to a hospital.
Polavaram project will cause us permanent injury: Odisha CM to PM
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to give directions to stop the Polavaram project on the Godavari river in Andhra Pradesh. Patnaik wrote, “If the project is allowed to be completed before the resolution of all the pending cases, it will cause permanent injury to the interest of the state of Odisha and its people.”
PM Modi thanks lawmakers for passage of J&K bills
PM Narendra Modi thanked lawmakers in both the Houses of Parliament for passing two bills on Jammu and Kashmir. Both the bills, the extension of President’s Rule for another six months in the state and J&K Reservation (Amendment) Bill, (tabled by Home Minister Amit Shah) were eventually passed by both the Houses. “Such bipartisan support is gladdening,” PM Modi tweeted.
Have right to ask Mamata to stop political killings in WB: Shah
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that it’s his right to send advisories to West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee to stop “political killings” in the state. He added, “Political killing is not good for a healthy democracy.” Shah’s comment came after TMC’s Derek O’Brien criticised the Centre for issuing advisories to Bengal and remaining silent on children’s death in Bihar.
Iran rejects US accusation it long violated nuclear deal
Iran on Tuesday rejected a White House accusation that it was long violating the terms of its nuclear deal with world powers. White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham had said, “There is little doubt that even before the deal’s existence, Iran was violating its terms.” Iran on Monday said it had amassed more low-enriched uranium than permitted under the accord.
Donald Trump calls Afghanistan the ‘Harvard of terrorists’
US President Donald Trump has called Afghanistan “Harvard of terrorists”. Trump said he wants to pull troops out of Afghanistan but is concerned that without American military presence, the country could be used as base for terrorist attacks on the US. Trump added the US would leave a “very strong intelligence” presence in Afghanistan if it decides to withdraw troops.
SpiceJet plane overshoots runway while landing in Mumbai amid rain
A SpiceJet plane from Jaipur overshot the runway while landing at Mumbai airport amid heavy rains on Monday night. All the passengers are safe and no injury was reported, a Mumbai airport official said. Further, following the incident, the main runway was closed although a secondary runway is operational.
Mumbai airport’s main runway shut, 54 flights diverted amid rain
The main runway of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport was closed on Monday night after a SpiceJet flight overshot the runway while landing amid heavy rainfall in Mumbai. Fifty-four flights have been diverted, although the secondary runway is operational. Several flights have been cancelled, and passengers have been advised to check for delays and diversions before leaving for the airport.
Public holiday in Mumbai, Thane as death toll due to rain reaches 16
At least 16 people were killed in two separate wall crash incidents in Malad, Mumbai and Kalyan, Thane. In the wake of the heavy rain, the Maharashtra government has declared a public holiday in Mumbai on July 2. Schools and colleges in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai will remain shut today. Only emergency services will remain functional in Mumbai.
Assam NRC date extended till July 31
The government has extended the task of enumeration for National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam till July 31 as it failed to complete the task and publish it on July 1. In December 2013, the government issued the first notification setting a deadline of three years for completion of the entire process. Since then, six extensions have been given.
Fuel tank of airborne IAF jet falls in TN farm, causes 3-ft depression
A fuel tank of a Tejas aircraft of the Indian Air Force fell down in a farm land near Sulur air base in Tamil Nadu during a flight on Tuesday. This led to a three-foot-deep depression and a minor fire, police said. The aircraft’s pilot managed to land the aircraft safely and a probe has been ordered into the incident.
15-yr-old Coco knocks 39-yr-old Venus Williams out of Wimbledon
US’ 15-year-old tennis player Cori ‘Coco’ Gauff knocked 39-year-old five-time champion Venus Williams out of Wimbledon in the first round. Coco defeated Venus with a scoreline of 6-4, 6-4 in an hour and 19 minutes. “My dream was to win. That’s what happened…I want to be the greatest,” the teenager said after her victory.
Priyanka Chopra, Nick Jonas attend Paris Fashion Week
Actress Priyanka Chopra and her husband Nick Jonas attended the Dior show at the Paris Fashion Week. They were among the first row attendees at the event. Priyanka wore a dark, flowy emerald gown and Christian Dior black logo belt, while Jonas wore a black jacket with a grey rose on it, black cargo pants and a grey collared shirt.
Protestors occupy Hong Kong parliament chamber, spray-paint walls
Protestors forced their way into the central chamber of Hong Kong’s parliament after hours-long siege. The protestors, who broke through parliament’s reinforced glass doors, then spray-painted messages on the walls. They also tore portraits of political leaders and smashed furniture. The unrest followed a peaceful protest involving hundreds of thousands over the China extradition law.
Iran playing with fire: Trump after nuclear deal limit breached
US President Donald has said that Iran is “playing with fire” after it breached the enriched uranium stockpile limit set under 2015 nuclear deal. Iran has said that the move was not a violation of the accord, adding that it was exercising its right to respond to the US’ withdrawal from the deal last year.
Ratan Tata-backed data platform Atlan gets $2.5M led by WaterBridge
Singapore-headquartered startup Atlan has raised about $2.5 million in pre-Series A funding round led by WaterBridge Ventures. Atlan counts Ratan Tata and former Google VP India and Southeast Asia Rajan Anandan among investors and advisors. Atlan lets data teams like analysts come together on the same platform to democratise an organisation’s data and processes, Co-founder Prukalpa Sankar said.
World no. 6 Tsitsipas crashes out of Wimbledon in 1st round
World number six Stefanos Tsitsipas crashed out of the Wimbledon 2019 after losing to Italian Thomas Fabbiano in the first round. “I was so frustrated knowing already how things are going to be, based on my feelings on the court, how I felt. I was very mad with myself yesterday,” said Tsitsipas, who saved two match points at one point.
Chelsea sign Kovacic from Real Madrid on permanent deal
Chelsea have signed Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic from Real Madrid on a permanent five-year deal. Kovacic had arrived at Chelsea last August as part of a deal that took Chelsea’s then-keeper Thibaut Courtois to Real Madrid on a six-year contract. Kovacic helped Chelsea win the Europa League last season and register a third-place finish in the Premier League.
Gunneswaran loses to Raonic in Wimbledon first round
Indian tennis player Prajnesh Gunneswaran lost to Canada’s Milos Raonic in the first round of Wimbledon 2019 on Monday. This was Gunneswaran’s first appearance in the men’s singles draws at the grass-court Grand Slam. The 29-year-old Indian, who is ranked 93 in the world, lost with a scoreline that read 6-7(1-7), 4-6, 2-6.
Airtel completes merger of Tata Tele’s consumer mobile business
Airtel on Monday said the merger of Tata Teleservices’ consumer mobile business with itself has been completed. Airtel will absorb Tata Tele’s consumer mobile operations across 19 circles, along with a small portion of its unpaid spectrum liabilities. In May, the telecom appellate tribunal granted a partial stay on ₹8,300-crore demand raised by the DoT from Airtel for the deal.
Beijing’s new starfish-shaped airport completed, to open in Sept
Beijing’s second international airport, shaped like a starfish, has been completed after nearly five years of construction, with operations set to begin on September 30. The new airport will be able to handle 72 million passengers a year by 2025, and 100 million by 2040. The building was designed by Anglo-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid, who died in 2016.
Rohit breaks Dhoni’s record for hitting most ODI sixes by an Indian
With his fourth six against Bangladesh in World Cup today, opener Rohit Sharma took his tally of ODI sixes to 229, setting the record for most sixes hit by an Indian in ODI cricket. The 32-year-old overtook ex-captain MS Dhoni, who has smashed 228 sixes in ODIs. Notably, Dhoni hit seven out of his 228 ODI sixes for Asia XI.
CBI files 14 bank fraud cases, raids 50 locations in 18 cities
The CBI has registered 14 cases in a special drive launched against bank frauds and began search operations at over 50 locations across 18 cities on Tuesday. The cases were registered against various companies, their directors, and bank officials, said CBI. Earlier, RBI had revealed that over 6,800 cases of bank fraud involving ₹71,500 crore were reported in 2018-19.
Singapore bank account of Nirav’s sister with ₹42 cr balance frozen
The Singapore High Court has ordered the attachment of a bank account, belonging to Pavilion Point Corporation, having a balance of ₹42.2 crore. The company is beneficially owned by Nirav Modi’s sister Purvi Modi and her husband Maiank Mehta, the Enforcement Directorate said. The agency alleged that deposits in the account were “proceeds of crime” of the PNB fraud.
US Senate passes bill to give India NATO ally-like status
The US’ Senate has passed a bill to bring India on par with NATO allies. The amendment to the US’ Arms Export Control Act provides for increased US-India defence cooperation in the Indian Ocean. It needs to be passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives before it can be signed by the US President into law.
Rohit 2nd player in history to smash 4 tons in a World Cup edition
India opener Rohit Sharma has become the second cricketer to smash four hundreds in a World Cup edition. The 32-year-old, who slammed 122*, 140 and 102 against South Africa, Pakistan and England respectively earlier in 2019 World Cup, reached the three-figure mark against Bangladesh in 90 balls today. Ex-Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara had achieved the feat in 2015 edition.
50 dead after fuel tanker turns over and catches fire in Nigeria
At least 50 people were killed in Nigeria after a fuel tanker turned over and caught fire on Monday, a government spokesperson said. The driver of the tanker lost control of the vehicle after trying to avoid a pothole, eyewitnesses said. Some local residents even attempted to take fuel from the tanker, the eyewitnesses added.
Vijay Mallya gets permission to appeal against extradition order
Vijay Mallya has been granted permission by a London court to appeal the UK’s decision to extradite him to India. There’s a “real risk” that political pressures “will undermine the fairness of any trial”, Mallya said. He also claimed that Barrack 12 of Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail is “unbearably hot in the summer” and is infested with rats and insects.
