Cong appoints 37 observers for Gujarat Assembly polls
Ahead of the Gujarat Assembly elections, the Congress has appointed segment-wise observers in all the 26 parliamentary constituencies. A total of 37 leaders, including MLAs from various states, have been drafted to the party work. The leaders are mostly from Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. The Congress has held meetings in Delhi to prepare for […]
Afghan Taliban chief seeks ‘good relations’ with US
The supreme leader of the Afghan Taliban, Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada, on Wednesday said that his government desires to have “good relations” with the United States, and reiterated that Afghanistan will not allow anyone to “use its territory against its neighbours”. The Taliban chief’s latest statement is thought to be softer than his remarks at last […]
Floods, landslides across Maharashtra, IMD warns of 48-hour downpour
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a heavy rainfall alert for Maharashtra on Wednesday and the next two days, as state capital Mumbai continued to witness heavy downpour for the third consecutive day, resulting in a landslide near a chawl, water-logging at many places and traffic disruptions. Three persons were injured in the landslide, an […]
China announces Afghan trade and investment plans after quake
China’s ambassador announced trade and investment plans for Afghanistan on Tuesday, a public endorsement for doing business in the Taliban-controlled country after an earthquake drew attention to the humanitarian consequences of Western sanctions. At a rare press conference alongside the Taliban administration’s acting minister for disaster management, Ambassador Wang Yu announced $8 million in aid for relief […]
No hotels or restaurants can add service charge automatically in food bill: Consumer Affairs Ministry
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has issued guidelines for preventing unfair trade practices and violation of consumer rights with regard to levying of service charge in hotels and restaurants. The guidelines issued by CCPA stipulate that hotels or restaurant shall not add service charge automatically or by default in the food bill. No collection […]
Saudi Arabia arrests 300 pilgrims without permits
MAKKAH: Saudi authorities have arrested and fined nearly 300 people caught trying to perform Haj without permits, an official said on Monday, as the kingdom prepares to receive one million people for the annual pilgrimage. Some 288 “citizens and residents were arrested for violating Haj regulations,” Lieutenant General Mohammed al-Basami, head of Haj security, told […]
Lalu Prasad hospitalised after falling from stairs
Rashtriya Janata Dal president and former Chief Minister Lalu Prasad was admitted to Patna’s Paras hospital on Monday morning after his condition worsened following a fall from the stairs. RJD sources have said he was in the ICU and was having breathing problems, adding that his condition was serious. Lalu Prasad on Sunday evening fell […]
Floods hit southeast Australia, forcing evacuations
MELBOURNE: Thousands of residents were ordered to evacuate southwest Sydney, Australia’s biggest city, on Sunday with torrential rain and damaging winds pounding the east coast and floods expected to be worse than those that hit the region in the past year. Heavy rain and overflowing dams and rivers all combined to threaten flash floods and […]
Russia kills 19 with missiles near Ukraine’s Odesa
SERHIIVKA: Russia rained missiles near Ukraine’s Black Sea port of Odesa on Friday, hitting an apartment building and a resort and killing at least 19 people, Ukrainian officials said, hours after Russian troops were driven off the nearby Snake Island. One section of a nine-storey apartment block was completely destroyed by a missile that struck […]
India reports 17,070 fresh Covid cases, 23 deaths in last 24 hours
India reported 17,070 fresh Covid infections and 23 deaths in the last 24 hours, stated the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Friday. With this, India’s active caseload now stands at 1,07,189 with active cases now constituting 0.25% of the country’s total positive cases. As per the data shared by the ministry, India’s […]