Rajnath Singh Visits Top Naval Facilities, Holds Discussions to Bolster US-India Defence Tie

The Maharashtra cabinet on Sunday decided to implement for state government employees the Unified Pension Scheme announced by the Union government a day earlier.

On Saturday, the Narendra Modi-led Centre approved the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) for central government employees who joined service after January 1, 2004. Employees under the National Pension Scheme opting for UPS will be eligible for an assured pension of 50 per cent of the average basic pay drawn over the last 12 months before superannuation. The minimum qualifying service has been kept at 25 years.

As per the Maharashtra cabinet's decision, UPS will be effective from March this year and will benefit all state government employees, an official said here.

The tenure of the Maharashtra assembly ends in November this year, and polls are likely to be held in October-November.

"The cabinet also cleared the proposal to expand the uninterrupted power supply scheme to more farmers in the state. They would get supply during the day. It cleared the Rs 7,000 crore Nar-Par-Girna river linking scheme that would primarily benefit north Maharashtra districts like Nashik and Jalgaon," he said.

The project involves lifting 9.19 TMC of water from the Nar, Par, and Auranga rivers, carrying it through a 14.56-kilometre tunnel, and releasing it in the Girna river basin near the Chankapur dam.

The cabinet statement said it would benefit around 50,000 hectares of agricultural land under irrigation.

"The state government will raise Rs 5000 crore through equity and bonds under Mahatma Phule Renewable Energy and Infrastructure Technology Ltd for an ambitious project in Thane district. The total cost is expected to be Rs 6,049 crore. It includes cluster housing projects at Tekdi Bungalow, Hajuri and Kisan Nagar. Similar projects would come up at Chavindre and Pogaon in Bhiwandi, and Kosara under Chandrapur Municipal Corporation," the official said.

Thane is the home turf of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Projects like medicity, mangrove park, chemical hub and digital university that have been approved would require a cumulative expenditure of Rs 10,000 crore, the official added.

The revenue relief in force for land owned by BJP Lok Sabha member and royal scion Udayanraje Bhosale will continue for his successors as well, as per a decision cleared by the cabinet, the official added.

The cabinet also cleared the proposal to issue government guarantee for payment of Rs 29,000 crore to the state-run Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) to clear its dues, he said.

"The state will borrow from financial institutions like RECL and PFC. Of the total dues, Rs 20,388 crore is the loan amount, while Rs 9,670 crore is the interest on outstanding loan," he added.

"The proposal to increase the wages of ASHA facilitators by Rs 4000, which will come into effect from April this year, has also been approved. The state government would need Rs 17.59 crore additional outlay for its implementation," the official said.

A proposal which puts the onus of loan repayment by a cooperative sugar mill on the entire board of directors individually as well as collectively has also been cleared, he said.

The board of directors of such sugar mills have been asked to submit bond letters to the cooperation department within 30 days of the elected members accepting the post.

"The cabinet cleared the proposal to give 100 per cent scholarship to 763 eligible students of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Research and Training Institute. The proposal also includes payment of Rs 37 crore for its implementation," he said.

The plan to expedite 228 slum rehabilitation projects in Mumbai, which will result in the construction of 2,18,931 houses, was also approved, the official said, adding various corporations apart from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation can jointly undertake rehabilitation projects in the metropolis. 

 Senior leaders of the BJP met in Bhubaneswar on Sunday and held discussions on a roadmap for the party in Odisha where it stormed to power around two and a half months back, routing the Naveen Patnaik government of 24 years.

The core committee meeting was presided over by state BJP president Manmohan Samal, and attended by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Deputy CMs KV Singh Deo and Pravati Parida, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, MPs Baijayant Panda, Sambit Patra and Pratap Sarangi, besides the party's in-charges Viay Pal Singh Tomar and Lata Usendi.

Tomar said a political roadmap ahead of the membership drive, which would start on September 1, was discussed at the meeting.

The state BJP was targetting 1 crore memberships during the drive, party leaders said.

 Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday accused the opposition of being more concerned about its vote banks than the plight of Hindus in the strife-torn Bangladesh, which recently saw its Prime Minister fleeing the country amid violent mass protests.

Adityanath made the remark during his address at a Sri Krishna Janmotsav in the city, an official statement issued from his Lucknow office said.

"While the opposition is quick to speak out on global issues, it has remained conspicuously silent about the persecution of Hindus and the demolition of temples in Bangladesh. They see Palestine but turn a blind eye to Bangladesh because its fears losing their vote bank," he said.

Brazil Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira arrives in Delhi to co-chair the 9th Joint Commission Meeting.

BJP CEC meeting concludes. Discussion on all 90 seats of Jammu and Kashmir took place in the meeting. The next CEC meet is scheduled for August 29th. 

 Stepping up the attack on the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar on Sunday announced a series of programmes to protest against the alleged rape and murder of a woman doctor at a state-run hospital here over two weeks back.

The programmes will be held across the state between August 28 and September 4, said Majumdar, also a Union minister.

Demanding Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s resignation for her alleged failure to address the core issue of women's safety, Majumdar said the party will begin a sit-in at Esplanade area of Kolkata from August 28 while the party's women's wing will lock the gate of the state women’s commission.

"The state women's commission seems to have gone into a stupor," Majumdar told reporters on the sidelines of a demonstration by BJP at Shyambazar area of the city.

Unidentified activists of Bajrang Dal allegedly blocked the motorcade of former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel in Durg district, leading to the registration of a case, police said on Sunday.

They were booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita following a complaint lodged by Baghel's personal security officer, the official said, adding that nobody was arrested so far.

Baghel stated that members of Bajrang Dal surrounded his convoy when he was on his way to Durg to protest against the arrest of Congress' Bhilai MLA Devendra Yadav on Saturday.

"They hurled profanities and slogans at the security personnel and pushed them," he states on X on Saturday.

CBI sleuths on Sunday conducted searches on the premises of former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital Sandip Ghosh, ex-medical superintendent Sanjay Vashisth and 13 others in and around Kolkata in connection with their probe into alleged financial irregularities at the institute, officials said.

The anti-corruption unit of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) also searched the residences and offices of those engaged in supplying materials for the management and care of patients.

In its FIR registered on the directions of the Calcutta High Court, the CBI has booked Ghosh and three Kolkata-based private entities Ma Tara Traders of Madhya Jhorehat, Banipur, Howrah; Eshan CafA of 4/1, Belgachia and Khama Louha.

Union minister Chirag Paswan was on Sunday re-elected as Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president for five years at its national executive meeting here.

The decision was taken unanimously at the meeting, Paswan said.

"The national executive, in its meeting here, has re-elected me for the next five years," he said.

Paswan, the Minister of Food Processing Industries, said the upcoming assembly elections in Haryana, Jammu Kashmir and Jharkhand were also discussed in the meeting.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday demanded the resignation of his Jharkhand counterpart Hemant Soren for "failing" to fulfil promises made to people during the 2019 assembly elections.

The Jharkhand government has “failed on all fronts”, including checking infiltration, alleged Sarma who is the election co-incharge of the BJP in the state.

"Your (Hemant Soren's) father Shibu Soren is an acclaimed national-level leader unlike mine. If the son of Shibu Soren is not able to fulfil his promises, who would? ... Time has come for you to resign and quit politics for failing to fulfil promises made to youths during elections," he said.

Soren has only one month, September, to resign, the BJP leader said claiming that the assembly elections will be held in November.

 The BJP's Central Election Committee (CEC) met here on Sunday evening to finalise the party's candidates for the upcoming assembly polls.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president J P Nadda were joined by other CEC members, including Home Minister Amit Shah, as they deliberated with party leaders from Jammu and Kashmir.

Last week, the J&K leaders had held a long meeting with Nadda and Shah, among others, to narrow down the list of probable candidates and strategise for the polls.

The CEC will later be holding meeting with Haryana leaders to finalise party candidates for the assembly polls.

The 90-member assembly of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is going to the polls in three phases on September 18 and 25 and October 1.

The 90-member assembly of Haryana will go to the polls on October 1.

The counting of votes is scheduled for October 4.

In the last assembly elections held in 2014, when Jammu and Kashmir was a full-fledged state, the BJP had won 25 seats.

The party is making all out efforts to fend off the challenge from a resurgent Congress, which has tied up with the National Conference, especially in the Jammu region, a BJP bastion since 2014.

The BJP is also facing a strong challenge from the Congress in Haryana where it is in power since 2014.

Key BJP CEC meeting at party headquarters begins 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at the party headquarters to attend the BJP Central Election Committee meeting 

Kerala govt forms special team to probe alleged sexual abuse in Malayalam film industry.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has visited one of the world's largest and most technically advanced water tunnel facilities for testing submarines and other naval weapons in the US, amidst a proposal for the establishment of a similar facility for indigenous design and development in India.

Singh is in the US on a four-day official visit to further boost the comprehensive global strategic partnership between the US and India.

Singh, as a part of his ongoing tour to the US, visited the William B Morgan Large Cavitation Channel (LCC) in the Naval Surface Warfare Centre (NSWC) in Memphis, Tennessee.

The LCC is one of the world's largest and most technically advanced water tunnel facilities for testing submarines, torpedoes, naval surface ships and propellers.

Singh was briefed at the facility and he witnessed an actual tunnel experiment. The discussions also intend to support the ongoing proposal for the establishment of a similar facility for indigenous design and development in India, the Press Information Bureau said in an official press release on Singh's visit to the LLC.

The LLC is capable of testing all types of ship and submarine propellers and propeller-hull interactions with model scales sufficiently large to match the largest towing and turning basins in the world.

The LCC is part of the Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division, one of the Navy’s preeminent research and development facilities that specialises in critical ship and submarine design.

The Indian delegation was greeted by Deputy Under Secretary of the Navy for Policy Anne Gebhards and Naval Surface Warfare Center and Undersea Warfare Center Commander Rear Adm. Todd Evans.

Earlier, Singh visited the Naval Surface Warfare Centre at Carderock, Maryland.

Singh, in a post on X, said that he witnessed the pathbreaking experiments at the facility.

"India and the US look forward to work together and benefit from each other’s experiences," he wrote after he visited the top American naval facility on Saturday.

Located in West Bethesda, NSWC Carderock Division's Headquarters hosts world-class laboratories, modelling, and simulation facilities that are vital to the success of the Navy and maritime industry.

Activities at NSWC Carderock Division include research, engineering, modelling, and testing for the Navy's ships and their operating systems.

Earlier during the visit, Singh met the US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin.

Austin praised the momentum behind the US-India relationship during the meeting with Singh.

He noted the countries' increased cooperation on a range of defence issues, including efforts to strengthen critical supply chains and interoperability between their militaries.

"We share a vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific, and our defence cooperation continues to grow stronger and stronger," Austin said, amidst China's assertive moves in the Indo-Pacific region.

"We're expanding our defence industrial ties and working to co-produce more capabilities and strengthen supply chain resilience," he said.

A cooperative society is being formed in every panchayat in the country to realise Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dream of 'sahkar se samriddhi' (prosperity through cooperatives), Union Minister Amit Shah said here on Sunday.

Chairing a meeting in Nava Raipur on the expansion of the cooperative sector in Chhattisgarh, Shah, who holds the home and cooperation portfolios in the Modi cabinet, also said the state government must set up multi-feed ethanol production plants in its three cooperative sugar mills within the next six months.

"A cooperative society is being formed in every panchayat of the country to realize Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dream of 'Sahkar Se Samriddhi'," he said.

"Chhattisgarh has four cooperative sugar mills, of which only one has an ethanol production unit. On the same lines, multi-feed ethanol production plants should be set up in the remaining three cooperative sugar mills within six months so that ethanol can be produced from maize and sugarcane," he said while assuring the Centre's full assistance.

He also emphasized on an agreement between National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED), National Cooperative Consumers Federation (NCCF) and the state for ethanol production so that farmers can be encouraged towards maize cultivation.

He stressed on the need to promote the cultivation of maize and pulses in Chhattisgarh.

Shah said the Chhattisgarh government should come up with a new public dairy scheme with focus on tribal development, adding the initiative should envisage Primary Agricultural Credit Society (PACS) to work like multi-purpose units that also act as dairy and fisheries cooperative institutions.

With computerisation, every PACS must become a 'Common Service Centre' (CSC) so that benefits can reach rural masses, a state government release quoted Shah as saying.

All 2058 PACS of Chhattisgarh have adopted the Model Bye-Laws and the National Cooperative Database should be used to find the dry area in Chhattisgarh that will help in the expansion of cooperatives, the Union minister said.

There are a six District Cooperative Central Banks (DCCBs) in 33 districts of Chhattisgarh and at least four more should be established, he added.

"There should be cent per cent registration by PACS on NAFED and NCCF portal for the sale of agricultural products. It should be mandatory for every trader, PACS and cooperative society of every market to open an account in the DCCB," Shah asserted.

Union Home and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Sunday laid out a comprehensive plan to boost the cooperative sector in Chhattisgarh, focusing on ethanol production, maize cultivation, and expansion of cooperative societies.

Chairing a review meeting in Raipur, Shah emphasised the need for contracts between NCCF, NAFED, and the state government to promote maize cultivation, an official statement said.

"The central government will purchase all maize from farmers at Minimum Support Price," Shah said, noting the crop's low cultivation cost.

The minister called for complete registration of Primary Agriculture Credit Societies (PACS) on NAFED and NCCF portals for agricultural produce sales.

Shah proposed mandatory accounts for traders, PACS, and cooperative societies in District Cooperative Central Banks.

On ethanol production, he said, "Multi-feed ethanol production plants should be set up in the remaining three cooperative sugar mills within six months," assuring central government support.

The Union minister launched PACS as water committees in 33 districts and urged the state to develop a new public dairy scheme focusing on tribal development.

"PACS should function as multi-purpose units, catering to dairy and fisheries cooperatives as well," he added.

Shah stressed the government's commitment to cooperative expansion, saying, "A cooperative society is being formed in every panchayat to realise Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dream of 'Sahkar Se Samriddhi' (prosperity through cooperation)." Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao, and other officials attended the event.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the guarantee of simple and accessible justice to all is important as the country moves towards the dream of a developed India.

Speaking at the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations of Rajasthan High Court in Jodhpur, Modi also referred to his Independence Day remark on 'secular civil code' and said that the judiciary has been advocating this for decades.

"As we move forward with the dream of a developed India, there should be a guarantee of simple, easy and accessible justice for everyone. This is very important," he said.

The prime minister said that today the people's dreams, their aspirations are bigger, "so it is important that our systems are modernized".

"Innovation and modernisation of the system is equally important for providing justice for all," he added.

The Dhaka Metro resumed services on Sunday over a month after it was shut for passengers during the unprecedented anti-government protests in Bangladesh with two of its stations bearing the brunt of vandalism.

These two stations—Mirpur-10 and Kazipara—will however remain closed, according to an official notification.

Commuters, especially students and office-goers, heaved a sigh of relief as they had to travel through Dhaka’s notorious traffic congestions daily to reach their destinations.

According to the official notification, the services resumed in the morning around 7 am.

The Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) Sunday released its first list of 13 candidates for the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

This will be the maiden assembly elections for the party floated by the former chief minister of the erstwhile state of J&K Ghulam Nabi Azad. The party's general secretary (organisation) R S Chib released the list.

The party has decided to field former J&K minister Abdul Majeed Wani from the Doda East assembly constituency, former MLA Mohammad Amin Bhat from Devsar, former J&K advocate general Mohammad Aslam Goni from Bhaderwah, DDC member Saleem Parray from Dooru and Muneer Ahmed Mir from Lolab.

“Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita has freed us from colonial mindset”, said PM Modi in Jodhpur. 

At the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of Rajasthan High Court in Jodhpur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “I firmly believe that justice is simple and clear. It is our collective responsibility to ensure justice to all. We repealed archaic criminal laws and adopted new criminal laws.”

At the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of Rajasthan High Court in Jodhpur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says "I am happy that I got the opportunity to be with you all at the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of Rajasthan High Court. Rajasthan HC has completed 75 years at a time when our Constitution is also going to complete 75 years. This is also a moment to celebrate the integrity and contributions of many great people. This is also an example of our faith in the Constitution. I congratulate all of you jurists and the people of Rajasthan on this occasion..."

PM Modi addresses the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of the Rajasthan HC 

BJP CEC meet to be held today at 7 pm in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Union Health Minister JP Nadda will chair the meeting. 

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde and Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis arrive at Sahyadri Guest House in Mumbai, for a meeting.

Sanjoy Roy's polygraph test has ended. According to officials, four individuals, including former principal Sandip Ghosh, underwent polygraph tests on Saturday.

Incessant rainfall in Thoubal District causes severe flooding in Khangabok and neighbouring villages

Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar, along with other BJP workers, protested at Shyambazar against the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape and murder case.

PM Modi gets invitation from Pakistan to attend SCO Summit amid strained relations between two nations

On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sorrow over the loss of lives, including the deaths of at least 27 Indian pilgrims, in a road accident in Nepal.

The United Nations Special Coordinator’s office in Lebanon and peacekeepers are urging all parties to "cease fire" following Israel's preemptive strike on Hezbollah and the subsequent rocket attacks by Hezbollah on northern Israel.

In a joint statement, the office of the Special Coordinator and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) called for an immediate halt to hostilities and urged all parties to avoid further escalation.

A man has been arrested in Maharashtra's Thane district for allegedly beating his 21-year-old daughter with a metal pipe over her love affair, police said on Sunday.

According to the police, the woman filed a complaint on Saturday, leading to the arrest of Bablu Rathod Mandal (45) under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for assault and kidnapping, said Assistant Police Inspector Sampat Phadol.

The woman claimed that on Friday morning, Mandal and another man abducted her while she was with her boyfriend in Kolegaon, Dombivli. They transported her to their home in Vashi by autorickshaw, where Mandal reportedly assaulted her with a metal pipe. She suffered fractures to her hands and legs, the official added.

Health Minister Uriel Buso convened an emergency meeting with Ministry Director-General Moshe Bar Siman-Tov and senior health officials.

In a statement, the Health Ministry announced that Buso has directed officials to stay on high alert and prepare for ongoing rocket attacks and other incidents.

The ministry also affirmed that it is ready to maintain regular operations in the event of a war.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the Narcotics Control Bureau’s zonal office in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, on Sunday. He also attended a review meeting for the NCB in the city.

At the event, Shah emphasized the need for a zero-tolerance approach to drug issues, saying, “We all have a responsibility to make the country drug-free and support the Prime Minister’s goal. I believe this new zonal office will be crucial in controlling narcotics. We aim to set up an NCB office in every state across the country.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a large gathering in Jalgaon, Maharashtra, to honor 11 lakh new 'Lakhpati Didis' who reached this milestone during his government’s third term.

According to a statement on Saturday, PM Modi will also unveil a revolving fund of ₹2,500 crore, which will support approximately 48 lakh members of 4.3 lakh self-help groups (SHGs). Additionally, he will distribute bank loans totaling ₹5,000 crore, benefiting 25.8 lakh members of 2.35 lakh SHGs.

According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Hezbollah launched at least 210 rockets and nearly 20 drones from Lebanon at northern Israel this morning.

During the ongoing Lakhpati Didi Sammelan on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged with women beneficiaries from across the country.

The event, held in Jalgaon, featured a personal interaction between the Prime Minister and each woman attendee. Before the interaction, PM Modi was ceremoniously welcomed by four women holding a traditional Thali, and in return, he performed an Aarati.

Police have filed a case against nearly 300 individuals following the alleged chanting of objectionable slogans during a protest outside the Pune District Collectorate, an official said on Sunday.

The protest, called the 'Sarvdharm Sambhav Mahamorcha,' took place on Friday in response to recent remarks by religious leader Ramgiri Maharaj against Islam. During the demonstration, slogans were reportedly chanted that stirred communal tension, according to the police.

The protest was held without proper authorization, and the slogans led to increased communal discord. A case has been registered at the Bundgarden police station against 200-300 participants. The charges include unlawful assembly, promoting religious enmity, and actions prejudicial to communal harmony under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Maharashtra Police Act.

Ramgiri Maharaj had previously made controversial remarks about Islam at a religious event in Shah Panchale village, Sinnar taluka, Nashik district, Maharashtra. Multiple cases have already been filed against him in connection with these remarks.

On Sunday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) zonal office in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. The new office is situated on the third floor of the Central Secretariat building in Sector 24, Nava Raipur Atal Nagar.

Shah conducted the inauguration virtually from a hotel in Nava Raipur. The event was attended by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, and officials from various departments.

Air raid sirens were reported throughout northern Israel, and Israel's Ben-Gurion international airport diverted incoming flights and delayed takeoffs for a time. Israel's Airports Authority said flights resumed at 7 am local time.

Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the top Israeli military spokesman, said “dozens” of warplanes were striking targets in southern Lebanon. He said air defences, warships and warplanes were defending Israel's skies and involved in the operation.

On Sunday, PM Modi addressed the nation in the 113th episode of his monthly radio program, 'Mann Ki Baat.' He praised the success of the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign, noting that it had been particularly successful.

He highlighted  Reasi, Jammu & Kashmir, Tiranga rally featuring a 750-meter flag. PM Modi also mentioned that over 5 crore selfies had been posted as part of the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is addressing the nation with the 113th episode of his monthly radio show, 'Mann Ki Baat,' today (August 25). During this episode, he highlighted that August 23 marked the inaugural National Space Day, celebrating Chandrayaan-3's success. He noted that on this date last year, Chandrayaan-3 achieved a historic landing on the moon's southern pole at the Shiv-Shakti point.

IDF issued a statement further following the attack in which several guidelines were made and it was decided that partial restrictions will be imposed across the region.

Senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia will visit the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab, on Sunday. He will be joined by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

Sisodia, the former Delhi deputy chief minister, was recently granted bail by the Supreme Court in the excise policy case.

CBI Anti-Corruption Branch Arrives at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital's Administrative Block

The CBI has initiated a corruption investigation against former principal Sandeep Ghosh, filing an FIR yesterday.

On Sunday, acclaimed Malayalam filmmaker Ranjith resigned as chairman of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy in response to allegations of misconduct made by a Bengali actor.

In an audio clip shared with a television channel, Ranjith stated that he chose to step down to prevent any negative impact on the reputation of the Left government in Kerala. He also vowed to address and contest the accusations against him through legal means.

Early Sunday, some bogies of the Dhanbad-bound Ganga Sutlej Express train became uncoupled near Chakraj Mal area, according to officials.

No casualties have been reported. Additional Superintendent of Police Dharam Singh Marchal informed reporters that the bogies detached from the engine and other carriages due to a technical issue around 4 AM. The train has been halted at Seohara railway station, and no injuries to passengers have been reported.

On Sunday, Delhi's minimum temperature was recorded at 25.4°C, one degree below the average, according to the Met office.

Humidity was at 86% at 8:30 AM. The weather forecast predicts generally cloudy skies with light rain throughout the day, with the maximum temperature expected to reach around 35°C.

CBI is conducting raids at a total of 15 locations across Kolkata including Sandip Ghosh's residence and that of his close aide, Dr Debashish.

CBI team reached outside the residence of RG Kar Hospital's former principal Sandip Ghosh in Kolkata in connection with the probe of financial irregularities in the medical college and hospital. 

This week, Indian stock indices gained between 0.7% and 1.0% cumulatively, marking their longest rally of 2024 with a seventh consecutive rise on Friday.

However, during the final trading session of the week, the indices proceeded with caution as investors awaited Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s highly anticipated speech at the Jackson Hole Symposium, which has global implications. The stock market indices closed mostly flat on Friday, gradually approaching their previous highs.

Veteran actor Siddique resigned as the general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (A.M.M.A.) on Sunday, following sexual assault allegations made by a woman actor on August 24. In a statement to a television channel, Siddique confirmed that he had submitted his resignation letter to the organization's President, Mohanlal.

The CBI Anti-Corruption Branch arrives at the residence of Dr. Debashish Som, Demonstrator in Forensic Medicine and Toxicology at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The visit follows a complaint by Akhtar Ali, a former deputy superintendent at the hospital, who alleged corruption and irregularities at the institution and named Dr. Som in the complaint.

The former principal of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Sandip Ghosh has gone ‘missing’ and his whereabouts are unknown.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had conducted the ex-principal's polygraph test yesterday.

Special police units join the search on Saturday for an unidentified knifeman who attacks festival-goers in the western German city of Solingen, killing three people and injuring at least eight others, four of them seriously.

A 15-year-old boy is arrested early Saturday. Police suspect he knew about the planned attack but did not report it; however, he is not believed to be the attacker.

Rain lashed parts of Mumbai on Sunday morning, bringing relief from heat.

RG Kar Medical College former principal went missing hours after CBI registers FIR. A CBI team has reached  Ghosh's house in Belghat.

Sandeep Ghosh's polygraphic test was conducted on Saturday itself.

Government employees praised the decision to guarantee pensions on Saturday and expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for addressing their concerns. Shiv Gopal Mishra, Secretary of the Joint Consultative Machinery (JCM), a coalition of government employees' organizations, mentioned that they had been invited by the Prime Minister for the discussion.

The West Bengal Motion Picture Artists’ Forum held a protest in Tollygunge, calling for justice for the victim of the RG Kar Medical College rape-murder case and urging the Kolkata administration to take accountability.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin released a book authored by state Public Works Minister E V Velu on Dravidian stalwart and former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, here on Saturday.

Tamil film superstar Rajinikanth received the first copy of the book titled: Kalaignar Ennum Thaai.

Kolkata Police have extended the prohibitory orders around RG Kar Medical College and Hospital for another week, until August 31. Initially imposed on August 18, these orders restrict gatherings of more than five people in the area. Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal announced the extension of Section 163(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) on Saturday. The restricted zone includes the area from Belgachia Road-J K Mitra crossing to parts of the Shyambazar five-point crossing in North Kolkata.

With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicting heavy to very heavy rain in several parts of Odisha over the next three days as the low pressure area over Jharkhand moved westward and turned well marked, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) has issued a high alert for all the districts.