PM Modi Begins Key Visit to Singapore, Brunei; 'Important for Trade', Says MEA

) Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Tuesday expressed condolences on the demise of Poonam Chand Yadav, father of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.

In his condolence message, Sharma prayed to God to give peace to the departed soul and to provide strength to the bereaved family. 

Police have seized expired food items, cosmetics and other products worth more than Rs 1.25 crore during a raid in Bhiwandi in the district, an official said on Tuesday.

The products were past their sell-by date and posed health risk to consumers, he said.

The raid was conducted at a warehouse at Sagar complex, Narpoli, on Monday.

Two employees of a private firm were allegedly found replacing expiry date stickers on the goods which were supposed to be destroyed, as per the official. The total value of the seized material was Rs 1,25,86,026, he said.

 In a decision that may generate controversy, the Rajasthan government has decided that the colour of bicycles to be given to girl students in Class IX in the government schools will be saffron.

The saffron colour is associated with the right-wing BJP which is governing Rajasthan.

Black coloured bicycles were provided to the girl students during the previous Congress government. However, with the BJP coming into power in December last year, tenders have now been issued for orange-coloured bicycles.

Rajasthan Education Minister Madan Dilawar on Tuesday said the colour of bicycles to be given to the girl students of the government schools will be saffron. The initiative aims to support girls in government schools by facilitating their access to education through the provision of free bicycles, he said.

 A major strike by Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) employees for salary hikes and other demands severely disrupted services on Tuesday ahead of the Ganesh festival, leaving thousands of passengers in the lurch.

The employees are demanding salary parity with state government employees, seeking a pay scale adjustment to match that of their counterparts in the state sector.

As the strike launched by the action committee of 11 trade unions began at midnight, services at 59 of the 251 MSRTC depots were entirely suspended, while 77 depots faced partial disruptions. Services remained unaffected at 115 depots, an MSRTC spokesperson said.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde appealed to the striking employees to call off the protest in view of the Ganesh festival, assuring them to resolve their issues through discussion.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday visited Brunei's iconic Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque built by the father of the current Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.

"Went to the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque in Brunei," Modi said in a post on X.

The prime minister was received by Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Dato Ustaz Awang Badaruddin at the mosque, where he also watched a video depicting its history. Minister of Health Mohammad Isham was also present.

The mosque is named after Omar Ali Saifuddien III, the 28th Sultan of Brunei (father of the current Sultan, who also initiated its construction), and was completed in 1958.

 Delhi airport operator DIAL has asked SpiceJet to clear its dues at the earliest, sources said on Tuesday even as the airline asserted that there are no immediate concerns regarding payments.

There was no official comment from DIAL (Delhi International Airport Ltd), which operates the Indira Gandhi International Airport in the national capital.

SpiceJet has been facing financial and legal woes, and aviation watchdog DGCA placed the budget carrier under enhanced surveillance last week.

The sources in the know on Tuesday said DIAL has asked the carrier to clear the dues at the earliest.

Details about pending dues could not be immediately ascertained.

 There was a brief gunfight between security forces and terrorists Tuesday evening at a village in the Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, security officials said.

They said the exchange of fire occurred around 7.30 pm when police and Rashtriya Rifles personnel moved to the lower Karyote village of Thanamandi following information about suspicious movements.

They said the terrorists fired a few bullets on noticing the search parties and then took advantage of the darkness to flee in the face of retaliation.

No one was injured in the brief firing, the officials said, adding reinforcements were rushed to the area, and a massive search operation is underway to track down the terrorists.

The defence ministry on Tuesday approved the procurement of future-ready combat vehicles (FRCVs) for modernisation of the Army's tank fleet and air defence fire control radars, among other proposals.

The proposals were cleared by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

The DAC "accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for 10 capital acquisition proposals amounting to Rs 1,44,716 crore," the ministry said in a statement.

Of the total cost of the AoNs, 99 per cent is from indigenous sources under the "Buy (Indian)" and "Buy (lndian-Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured)" categories, it added.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has sought a reply from authorities, including the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and the city government, in a matter regarding improper management of solid and liquid waste at Sangam Vihar here.

The green body was hearing a matter regarding the poor condition of sewage and solid waste management in the area that reportedly caused health hazards for the residents.

In a recent order, a bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava said in pursuance of the tribunal's earlier order, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) had filed a report, saying around 40 metric tonnes per day (MTD) of municipal solid waste was generated in the locality and there were no dhalaos, fixed compactor transfer station (FCTS) machines or secondary collection points in the area due to a space crunch.

Netflix changes disclaimer of IC 814

“For the benefit of audiences unfamiliar with the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814, the opening disclaimer has been updated to include the real and code names of the hijackers. The code names in the series reflect those used during the actual event. India has a rich culture of storytelling — and we are committed to showcasing these stories and their authentic representation,” said Monika Shergill, Vice President, Content, Netflix India.

Netflix mentions real names of Hijackers 

PM Modi receives grand welcome in Brunei Darussalam

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday arrived in Brunei on the first leg of his two-nation trip during which he will hold talks with the country's top leadership and discuss ways to boost bilateral ties.

) PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday ruled out any tie-up with the BJP in Jammu and Kashmir, while asserting that government formation after the assembly polls would not be possible without the inclusion of her party.

Hitting out at the National Conference (NC), she claimed the party wants to contest elections just for the sake of government formation.

"They have been doing so since 1947. They do not have any aim other than that. They form alliances just for the sake of government formation, for ministerial berths," she said addressing workers at the party headquarters here.

Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday took a dig at the Congress over its 'Haryana Maange Hisab' campaign, saying the BJP government regularly gives an account of its works to the people and asked the opposition party to make known what it did while in power.

At a "Jan Ashirwad" rally in Karnal's Nilokheri, he alleged that during the Lok Sabha polls, the Congress took to "lying" and spreading "disinformation" that the Constitution would be changed if Prime Minister Narendra Modi becomes prime minister for the third time in a row.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu says, "There should be a discussion on financial mismanagement in the state...We want to explain how the financial mismanagement in the state happened. How did the double-engine government of the BJP loot the public's treasury...They provided free electricity and water, and almost 600 education and health institutions were opened...We want to inform the public about it..."

 Manipur DGP Rajiv Singh visits violence-affected areas at Kadangband and Koutruk in Imphal.  Visuals from Kadangband as the DGP interacts with the residents.

Launching a frontal attack on the BJP-led NDA government over the issue of the caste census, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad on Tuesday declared that the opposition will put pressure on the government so intensely that it will be compelled to conduct the census.

His comment came a day after the RSS said it would support caste census only if the data collected were used for the welfare of the underprivileged and not for political reasons.

Junior doctors of different medical colleges who took out a rally to Kolkata Police headquarters Lalbazar demanding the resignation of police commissioner Vineet Goyal, stayed put at nearby B B Ganguly street even on Tuesday, more than 23 hours after they were stopped from marching further.

 Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi will address two public rallies in Ramban and Anantnag districts on Wednesday, kickstarting the Congress' campaign for the Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls being held after a gap of 10 years.

These rallies are part of the campaign for the party's candidates contesting in the first phase of the elections on September 18.

ITLF denies US, China links to high-tech drone attacks in Manipur. It said, “The Kuki-Zo conflict has nothing to do with Myanmar, the US, or China. It is a purely ethnic cleansing program of the Meitei against the Kuki-Zo. After driving the Kuki-Zo people away from the Meitei areas, they destroyed all of the Kuki-Zo homes and churches, killing over 190 of them and leaving over 20,000 homeless in the process. The Kuki-Zo have no choice but to defend their territory and lives in response to Meitei’s declaration of war against them.”

Netflix India's content head Monika Shergill on Tuesday met Information and Broadcasting Secretary Sanjay Jaju here, amid a row over the web series 'IC-814: The Kandahar Hijack'.

The meeting at Jaju's office here lasted for about 40 minutes during which the OTT platform official was apprised of the sentiments expressed by a large section of the society and the need to be sensitive while handling such topics.

Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren along with his wife Kalpana Soren met Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi, in Delhi

'Based on the requests received from local Administration due to flood like situation after incessant rains in Andhra Pradesh, Indian Naval Aircraft, Flood Relief Teams (FRTs) and diving teams from Eastern Naval Command at Visakhapatnam have been deployed to augment the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) efforts in the state. 4 helicopters (02 ALH & 02 Chetak) and one Dornier aircraft have been deployed for providing Search and Rescue (SAR) cover. So far 22 stranded personnel have been rescued and more than 1000 kg of food was air-dropped for stranded individuals. 10 FRTs have also been deployed to augment the rescue efforts. Additional Naval assets and rescue teams with associated gears are kept standby to provide necessary assistance' stated Indian Navy in a Post on X

 Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, Deputy CMs Keshav Prasad Maurya, Brajesh Pathak and other leaders participate in BJP membership drive event in Lucknow.

 Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Tuesday condemned the drone bomb attacks on civilians as acts of terrorism and vowed a firm response.

Taking to X, Singh expressed his outrage, stating, "Dropping bombs on civilian populations and security forces using drones is an act of terrorism, and I condemn such cowardly acts in the strongest terms." Singh's comments followed two separate drone bomb attacks in Koutruk and Senjam Chirang in Imphal West district, which resulted in the deaths of two persons, including a woman, and injuries to 12 others.

 Former Additional Solicitor General (ASG)  and Senior Advocate Pinky Anand has written to Chief Justice DY Chandrachud suggesting the adoption of Sexual Assault Evidence Kits and the appointment of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners to facilitate swift action in cases of crimes against women. In her letter, Anand has shared several recommendations for consideration, noting that these suggestions are not exhaustive. She has also offered to provide additional information or literature on these recommendations if needed.

The Border Security Force on Tuesday destroyed a rusted mortar shell found in a border village in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.

Over 200 residents of a Noida society fell sick after allegedly consuming contaminated water on Monday. The residents of Supertech Eco Village 2, mostly children, said they experienced symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea.

Kolkata doctor rape-murder case: Junior doctors continue to protest in the Lalbazar area of the city.

 As he embarked on a visit to Brunei and Singapore, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday that the two nations are "important partners" in India's 'Act East' policy and asserted that his visits would further strengthen the partnership with the two countries and the larger ASEAN region.

More than 50 people fell sick after drinking contaminated water in Eco Village 2 housing society of Greater Noida West. Many including, women and children, were hospitalised for treatment. 

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy will be visiting flood-affected areas in Mahabubabad district on Tuesday, the second day of his tour to rain-hit places.

According to official sources, Reddy stayed overnight in Khammam after visiting several places in the town accompanied by some of his cabinet colleagues.

 "All of you are aware it is a big devastation, we all are feeling very bad. The Krishna River behaved very differently this time. In the history of the River, this is the of its kind, this type of flood occurred...Since yesterday, I'm also doing my level best..." said Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu while speaking to Republic as rains wreak havoc in the state

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's arrival on an official visit to Singapore, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday said the time is ripe for the two countries to take their bilateral relationship to the next level.

"Given the transformation underway in India and the changes in the world, they need to become more contemporary. In many ways, that is why Prime Minister Narendra Modi has chosen to visit Singapore so early in his third term,” The Straits Times quoted Jaishankar as saying in an interview.

 The Karnataka government has suspended G.T. Dinesh Kumar, the former Commissioner of the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA), who was recently appointed as the Registrar of Haveri University

The suspension, ordered by Uma Devi, Under Secretary to the Department of Personnel and Training, is effective immediately.

Three persons including a 23-year-old-woman were injured after suspected militants launched a fresh bomb attack using a drone in Manipur's Imphal West district, police said on Tuesday.

"At least two explosives were dropped from a drone on Monday evening around 6.20 pm at a residential locality in which a woman and two others were injured," they said.

The Mamata Banerjee government will table the anti-rape bill in the West Bengal Assembly on Tuesday.

The proposed legislation seeks capital punishment for persons convicted of rape if their actions result in the victim's death or leave her in a vegetative state.

Junior Doctors continue to sit at the protest site in the Lalbazar area. They have been demanding justice for a woman doctor who was raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9.

The NDRF team providing food, drinking water and other relief materials to the flood victims in Vijayawada inundated due to the heavy rains

The NDRF team, along with Central forces and district officials provided food, drinking water, and other essential items to the flood-affected areas in Vijayawada through helicopters.

ED conducts raid at various places in Kolkata following a financial scam of the trustee fund of a renowned private school in Kolkata.
 

The water level at Prakasam barrage in Vijayawada increases due to incessant rainfall in the region.

 Five-year-old girl injured in 'wolf attack' in Bahraich

In view of the situation after the incident in Nandanagar of Chamoli district, the district administration has imposed section 163 of the Civil Defence Code 2023.

BJP releases 4th list for J-K assembly polls, fields party chief Ravinder Raina from Nowshera
 

"Over the next two days, will be visiting Brunei Darussalam and Singapore. During the various engagements in these nations, the focus will be on further deepening India’s ties with them.   India-Brunei Darussalam diplomatic ties complete 40 glorious years. I look forward to meeting His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah.   In Singapore, I will hold talks with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong. We are eager to further cement ties in key sectors," posts PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarks on a three-day official visit to Brunei Darussalam and Singapore. At the invitation of Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, PM Modi is visiting Brunei Darussalam. 

PM Modi's Brunei visit will be the first-ever bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister.  After that, he will travel to Singapore at the invitation of Lawrence Wong, Prime Minister of Singapore. It is scheduled between 4-5 September.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), who is currently investigating the Kolkata Rape and Murder Case, in a major development, has arrested Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. Along with Ghosh, three other people have been arrested in connection with the financial irregularities case which include the ex-principal's bodyguard.

 Inspired by the country's armed forces and cricket star Virat Kohli, a determined Kumar Nitesh sparkled with a gold medal on debut before javelin throw champion Sumit Antil joined India's para-badminton players in ensuring that the nation celebrated its best day at the ongoing Paralympic Games.

Training of polling staff carried out at Govt. Degree College in Udhampur, ahead of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections will be held in three phases- September 18, September 25, and October 1; counting of votes will take place on October 8

The Trinamool Congress students' wing on Monday suspended a senior member of the organisation following allegations that he was seen, along with the police, in a room in a state-run hospital where the body of a woman doctor was found on August 9.

Trinamool Chhatra Parishad state president Trinankur Bhattacharya said in a statement that Avik Dey, who is also a post-graduate trainee of SSKM Hospital, has been suspended from the organisation with immediate effect in the wake of "certain allegations against him regarding the crime scene following the unfortunate incident at R G Kar".

 A Delhi court on Monday night remanded AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan to four-day ED custody in a money laundering case, observing that the material placed on record showed that offence was committed under the PMLA.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) produced Khan before Special Judge Rakesh Syal hours after he was arrested from his home and sought his 10-day custody, stating he was required to be confronted with other accused and evidence in the case.

 A five-year-old girl injured in a wolf attack in Bahraich late last night. The girl was sent to CHC Mahsi for treatment

 Junior Doctors continue to sit at the protest site in the Lalbazar area. They have been demanding justice for woman doctor who was raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital

 West Bengal Governor Dr CV Ananda Bose on Monday night described the arrest of ex-principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital Sandip Ghosh as the beginning of the end.