Pakistan urges UNICEF to remove Priyanka Chopra as goodwill ambassador for peace

Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari wrote that Chopra had publicly endorsed the Indian government’s positions and backed Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s “nuclear threat” to Pakistan. Mazari said the “entire policy” of the Bharatiya Janata Party government of India was “similar to the Nazi doctrine of ethnic cleansing, racism, fascism and genocide”.

Rahul Gandhi claims Centre is misusing agencies after ED issues lookout notice for P Chidambaram

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday joined several of his party leaders in condemning the investigative agencies’ action against former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram in connection with the INX Media case.

CBI books NDTV founders Prannoy Roy, Radhika Roy and others for alleged violation of FDI norms

The Central Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday booked news television network NDTV’s founders Prannoy Roy and Radhika Roy and former Chief Executive Officer Vikram Chandra in a new case for alleged violation of foreign direct investment rules.

ABVP leaders install busts of Savarkar, Bhagat Singh and Bose in DU, now asked to get permission

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad on Wednesday claimed it had asked its office-bearers in the Delhi University Students’ Union to remove the busts of VD Savarkar, Bhagat Singh and Subhash Chandra Bose from the campus till they get permission from the authorities. Leaders of the organisation in the students’ union had installed the busts in the early hours of Tuesday.

Uttar Pradesh CM Adityanath expands Cabinet, 23 ministers take oath

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath on Wednesday inducted 23 ministers in the state Cabinet. Governor Anandiben Patel administered the oath of office at Raj Bhavan in Lucknow.

Biscuit-maker Parle says it may have to sack 8,000 to 10,000 workers amid slowdown in sales

Biscuit maker Parle Products Private Limited on Tuesday said it may lay off almost 10,000 employees if the demand slowdown continues. The company said higher taxes in the GST system had forced it to increase prices. It caused consumer demand to fall.

Jammu and Kashmir: Ready to tackle Pakistan in any arena it wants, says India’s envoy to UN

India’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Syed Akbaruddin on Tuesday said the country was ready to fight Pakistan in any arena of its choice. He was responding to Pakistan’s comments that it would approach the International Court of Justice against the Narendra Modi-led administration’s decision to revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.

Uttarakhand: Three dead after helicopter carrying relief material crashes in Uttarkashi district

A helicopter carrying relief material to people affected by floods in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district crashed on Wednesday. Three people – pilot Rajpal, co-pilot Kaptal Lal and local resident Ramesh Sawar – were on board the helicopter, which was on its way from Mori to Moldi.

Karnataka: HD Deve Gowda blames Siddaramaiah for collapse of Congress-JD(S) coalition

Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda alleged that Congress leader Siddaramaiah was responsible for the collapse of the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) coalition government in Karnataka. The Janata Dal (Secular) leader made the comments in an interview published by The Hindu on Wednesday.

Hyderabad Police stop university students from screening documentary on Ayodhya dispute

Protests broke out at University of Hyderabad on Tuesday after the police barged into the campus and allegedly detained at least six students before the screening of a documentary, The News Minute reported. The police claimed the students had not taken the university administration’s permission to screen Raam ke Naam (In the name of God) by Anand Patwardhan.

Centre is working on ways to stop water from flowing to Pakistan, says Jal Shakti minister

Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Tuesday said the Centre had started the process of stopping water from flowing to Pakistan without flouting the rules of the long-standing Indus Water Treaty. “If you are talking about our top priorities, then work has begun on how to stop water that flows into Pakistan,” said Shekhawat. “I am talking about the water which is going to Pakistan, I am not talking about breaking the Indus Treaty.”

INX Media case: Chidambaram’s plea for anticipatory bail to be placed before CJI Ranjan Gogoi

A Supreme Court bench headed by Justice NV Ramana on Wednesday refused to pass an interim order on former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram’s petition challenging the Delhi High Court’s cancellation of his anticipatory bail plea in the INX Media case. Instead, the bench said the case will be heard on Friday.

Ramana told Chidambaram’s lawyers to place the matter in front of Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi for urgent listing. Reports, meanwhile, said the Enforcement Directorate has issued a lookout notice against the Congress leader.

Jammu and Kashmir: Police officer and suspected militant killed in Baramulla gunfight

A special police officer and a suspected militant were killed in a gunfight in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Tuesday night. A sub-inspector was also injured. This is the first encounter in Jammu and Kashmir since the Centre revoked its special status and decided to split it into two Union territories. The state has been under a security lockdown and a communications blackout since August 5.

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PM Narendra Modi calls Boris Johnson to discuss anti-India protests outside embassy in London

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday called up his British counterpart Boris Johnson to discuss the anti-India protests outside the Indian High Commission in London on August 15. The protests broke out during Independence Day celebrations and were reportedly organised by Pakistani groups, and Sikh and Kashmiri separatist outfits. The Metropolitan Police arrested four people for affray (public brawl), obstruction of police, and possession of a knife.

Former Madhya Pradesh CM Babulal Gaur dies at 89

Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Babulal Gaur died of cardiac arrest in Bhopal on Wednesday morning. He was 89. The Bharatiya Janata Party leader had several old age-related ailments and was at the Narmada Hospital for some time. Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes.

INX Media case: Chidambaram’s lawyer questions CBI notice, SC likely to take up matter today

Former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram’s lawyer on Wednesday asked the Central Bureau of Investigation under what law it had summoned the Congress parliamentarian the previous day within two hours of receipt of a notice in connection with the INX media case, ANI reported.

J&K: Donald Trump reiterates offer to resolve ‘explosive situation’ between India and Pakistan

United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday reiterated his offer to mediate in the Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan. The crisis between in Kashmir “is a big deal”, Trump said, adding that it was an “explosive situation”.

Kashmir is India’s internal matter, Rajnath Singh tells US defence secretary

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday told United States Secretary of Defense Mark T Esper that Jammu and Kashmir was an internal matter of India. A statement by the Ministry of Defence said Esper appreciated New Delhi’s stance on the troubled region.

Former TMC leader Sovan Chatterjee says he is ready to contest polls against Mamata Banerjee

Former Kolkata Mayor Sovan Chatterjee, who switched to the Bharatiya Janata Party last week, on Tuesday said he was ready to contest against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the 2021 Assembly elections. The former Trinamool Congress MLA was considered a close aide of Banerjee.

Madras HC judge withdraws controversial remarks against Christian educational institutes

Madras High Court Judge S Vaidyanathan on Tuesday withdrew his controversial remarks against Christian educational institutes amid protests from several groups. The judge had said the institutes were “highly unsafe” for the future of children, especially girls.