Rediff

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is in Beijing for the 25th round of Special Representatives talks on the India-China boundary issue with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. These crucial discussions precede Chinese President Xi Jinping's anticipated visit to India for the BRICS summit, offering a potential opportunity for a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The talks aim to address the long-standing border dispute and recurring tensions, with both sides emphasising the importance of p

Bangladesh has stated there is o rush for Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's visit to India, emphasising that Dhaka will not compromise its national interests. State Minister Humaiun Kobir indicated the visit would occur after sufficient bilateral progress. The visit is crucial for mending India-Bangladesh ties, which have been strained, particularly following the ouster of former PM Sheikh Hasina and Bangladesh's subsequent extradition request.

A 30-year-old Assistant Section Officer in the Ministry of Defence died by suicide in Dwarka, Delhi. Her parents have subsequently alleged mental and physical harassment by her husband and in-laws, leading to an FIR being registered and an ongoing police investigation.

Fresh guidelines issued to the Delhi police by a central agency advise personnel to remain calm during protests, avoid rising to provocation and being pictured as villains by the demonstrators filming them, police sources said on Sunday.

The 12-year-old daughter of NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar's personal assistant was found dead under suspicious circumstances in Baramati, Maharashtra. Police have launched an investigation, examining all possible angles, after the girl went missing following an argument with her mother.

The Rajasthan government has announced that construction of a new building for a government primary school in Jaipur, which was at the centre of a recent confrontation between Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) members and villagers, will begin from September 1.

Uttar Pradesh assembly Speaker Satish Mahana has found himself at the centre of a controversy after he was seen walking away while the national anthem was played at an event in Unnao, drawing flak from the opposition. Mahana, however, claimed that the anthem was not played where he was given the guard of honour.

Congress MLA and former Haryana Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Sharma has urged Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to remove Rohtak MP Deepender Singh Hooda from the Congress Working Committee (CWC) over his remarks praising former party leader Sajjan Kumar.

Ten days after both Houses of Parliament were adjourned sine die, the Monsoon session is yet to end formally, giving rise to speculation that the government wants to pass a key legislation without convening a new session.

Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka assembly R Ashoka on Sunday announced that the Bharatiya Janata Party and its ally Janata Dal-Secular would lay siege to Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru on August 24 seeking the removal of planning and statistics minister B Nagendra from the cabinet.

Four individuals, including a student, were injured when a sound box system collapsed during the pre-release event for actor Yash's film 'Toxic' at Malla Reddy University in Hyderabad. The incident occurred after attendees climbed the structure, leading to a police case against the event organisers and university management.

A 62-year-old Gujarati businessman from Mehsana's Aakhaj village was shot dead inside his store in Jackson, Tennessee, USA, with his 19-year-old daughter present during the incident, a village resident said.

A consumer redressal commission in Pathanamthitta, Keralam, has ordered King's Biriyani Cafe to pay Rs 96,500 to a woman who suffered a Salmonella infection after consuming food from the eatery. The woman experienced severe illness and hospitalisation, leading to the commission's ruling against the cafe's proprietor and manager.

The death toll due to the consumption of spurious liquor in Gujarat's Bhavnagar district went up to 13 on Sunday after two more victims succumbed during treatment, officials said.

The Tamil Nadu government has mandated stringent quality testing across all distilleries in the state to ensure alcohol content compliance. This decision follows public concern over the temporary ban and swift clearance of products from a private manufacturer, Enrica Enterprises, by the state's liquor monopoly, TASMAC. The move aims to address suspicions and ensure public safety regarding alcoholic beverages.

The Supreme Court has overturned a 2017 National Green Tribunal (NGT) order that held Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Art of Living Foundation responsible for environmental damage to the Yamuna floodplains. The court directed the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to refund the Rs 5 crore environmental compensation deposited by the foundation and continue the floodplains' rehabilitation work.

Retired police dogs in Maharashtra will now be allowed to stay with the security force for life rather than being sent to adoptive homes, following a directive by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, officials said on Sunday.

A special NIA court in Jammu has rejected the bail plea of Insha Jan alias Insha Tariq, an accused in the 2019 Pulwama suicide attack that killed 40 Central Reserve Police Force personnel, observing that sufficient material existed on record to presume that the accusations against her were prima facie true.

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak met with students leading a eservation reform movement, assuring them that their demands would be presented to the BJP's central leadership and a Union minister. The movement, led by anti-reservation activists, seeks equal opportunities, while Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav criticised the eform as a plot against the PDA community, asserting the permanence of reservation rights.

The Indian Coast Guard has launched a major search and rescue operation after a Panama-flagged bulk carrier, MV Ocean Winner, carrying 24 crew members, sank in the Bay of Bengal off the Odisha coast. Two survivors have been rescued so far, with three ICG ships and the Indian Navy involved in the ongoing efforts.

Women students, during an interaction with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, voiced concerns about sexual harassment, personal safety, inadequate public transport, and financial obstacles that impede their access to education and economic independence. They emphasized the need for safer environments and affordable educational opportunities.

Saransh Jain, the 33-year-old Madhya Pradesh all-rounder, made his India Test debut against Sri Lanka, replacing the injured Kuldeep Yadav, a testament to his consistent domestic performances.

Two individuals died and five others, including two children, sustained injuries after a large Ganesh idol of 'Bhuleshwaracha Raja' collapsed during its arrival ceremony in south Mumbai. The incident occurred on Saturday night, prompting immediate rescue efforts and hospitalisation of the injured.

Bangladesh is considering joining a newly formed defence alliance between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkiye, with junior ministers stating that any decision would be based on national interests and a Bangladesh First policy. The pact, signed in Makkah, aims for collective deterrence.

A Panama-flagged cargo ship, carrying iron ore and 24 crew members, sank in the Bay of Bengal approximately 240 nautical miles from the Paradip coast in Odisha, prompting a joint rescue operation by the Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy.

Interpol has issued a Red Corner Notice against fugitive gangster Shariq Sata, the alleged mastermind behind the November 2024 violence in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal, following a request from the Uttar Pradesh Police via the CBI.

A Niti Aayog report reveals that an estimated 8.7 crore Indian youth aged 15 to 29 are not engaged in education, employment, or training (NEET), underscoring the critical need for subsidised training programmes focused on self-employment and emerging sectors.

More than half of the bills introduced in the 18th Lok Sabha have been passed by both Houses in the same session, a significant acceleration compared to previous terms, raising concerns about the time available for legislative scrutiny and stakeholder consultations.

YR Sadashiva Reddy, Co-Chairman of the Bar Council of India (BCI), has called for the immediate resignation of BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra, citing alleged irregularities in appointments, diversion of Council funds, financial dealings with law colleges, and other governance issues. Mishra has dismissed the allegations as 'baseless'.

Indian immigration authorities are eliminating the mandatory physical stamping of boarding passes for international travellers from September 1, allowing e-boarding passes on smartphones for clearance. This move by the Bureau of Immigration aims to reduce passenger inconvenience and errors, with physical passes still accepted but not stamped. A pilot project for digital immigration entry/exit for Indian passport holders is also underway.

Heavy monsoon rains have triggered flooding across Varanasi, Guwahati, Patna, and Reasi, disrupting daily life and prompting rescue operations.

Karnataka home minister Priyank Kharge on Saturday rejected Bharatiya Janata Party leader B L Santhosh's claim that Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh workers had protected his (Kharge's) family from Razakars during Hyderabad state's integration with India, saying that his family and people of the region were protected by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Jawaharlal Nehru and the Indian Army.

Chandigarh police on Saturday used tear gas shells and water cannons to disperse protesters who tried to breach barricades during a march towards Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria's residence, seeking the release of Sikh prisoners, including Jagtar Singh Hawara, who is serving a life sentence for the assassination of then Punjab chief minister Beant Singh in 1995.

India launched 'Suryapath Tiranga', a unique initiative involving over 50 Indian missions globally, to digitally relay images of the tricolour across multiple time zones, starting from Fiji, to mark the country's 80th Independence Day.

At least 38 people were killed after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Indonesia on Saturday, triggering a tsunami warning that was later lifted, CBS News reported.

The official Instagram account of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) was temporarily taken down on Independence Day, prompting the outfit to allege an attempt to silence its voice. The account was later restored, and the CJP, known for its student-centric campaigns, vowed not to be intimidated.

West Bengal's Special Task Force has arrested three individuals in Cooch Behar for alleged involvement in espionage activities linked to Pakistan's ISI. The trio is suspected of smuggling Indian SIM cards to Pakistan via Bangladesh and producing counterfeit currency. These arrests follow a series of apprehensions in Bengal related to suspected terror links, including a Pakistani national believed to be a spy.

Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) leader Devendra Nath Mahto was allegedly prevented by police from joining a Tiranga Yatra while on his 14th day of an indefinite hunger strike against alleged irregularities in state recruitment examinations. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Hemant Soren assured the public that his government is committed to ensuring transparency in examinations conducted by the JPSC and JSSC.

Abhijeet Dipke, convenor of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), has initiated the 'School Thik Karo' campaign from his native village in Hingoli, Maharashtra, to address the alleged neglect of government schools and advocate for a fee cap on private educational institutions.

TMC MP Mahua Moitra has written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, seeking his intervention after she was allegedly forced to vacate a circuit house in Nadia district, claiming harassment and threatening legal action. She reported a crowd shouting 'Jai Shree Ram' slogans outside the premises after her refusal to leave.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has renewed his call for the restoration of special status and statehood to the region, asserting that the decision to accede to India 80 years ago was correct. He highlighted the importance of upholding India's federal structure and suggested that if Article 370 hadn't been revoked, PoK residents might be seeking reunification. Abdullah also criticised centralised governance models, arguing they erode state autonomy.

Goa has successfully completed its first pilot drone-skilling workshop for 12 women and plans to train 100 women annually under the Goa Drone Didi Training Scheme. This initiative aims to promote drone technology, rural livelihoods, and women-led entrepreneurship, aligning with the Centre's Namo Drone Didi programme.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called upon India's youth to dream big, assuring them of government support and resources, including a Rs 1 lakh crore Innovation Fund, to bolster the country's burgeoning startup ecosystem and drive its journey towards becoming a developed nation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a new target of creating six crore 'Lakhpati Didis' to empower women and transform the rural economy. He highlighted the success of the existing initiative and the growing contribution of women in various sectors, from defence to technology.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced plans to modernise India's civil defence volunteer force, stating that the existing system, designed for conventional wars, is inadequate against contemporary threats targeting critical infrastructure like refineries, banks, and data centres.

The BJP accused Congress leader Sonia Gandhi of objecting to the full version of Vande Mataram at an Independence Day event, sparking a political row. The Congress denied the charge, stating Gandhi was only seeking a chair for party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and clarified the historical context of the song's usage.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day speeches consistently feature specific terms of address like 'Mere pyare deshwasiyon' and 'sathiyon', offering insights into his communication strategy and connection with the Indian populace.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed to opposition parties to support the delimitation-linked Women's Reservation Bill, highlighting its 40-year struggle. The bill aims to provide 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures and increase Lok Sabha seats, requiring a two-thirds majority for passage. Despite previous setbacks and ongoing efforts to secure numbers, the government continues to push for this crucial legislation.

'Chal bhai, uth.' Get up. He said it to the politicians like they worked for him. International press has come, he announced. Rotters, BBC, Newsweek.

'Ultimately, everything has to be shared. That's why you have that talent. To share it. Unless you share, it won't continue.'