Author: Agencies
An emotional PV Sindhu said her unwavering self-belief had finally paid off after claiming her biggest title in six years at the Japan Open, vowing to carry the same tempo and composure into next month’s World Championships, where she will bid for a record sixth medal. Sindhu produced a vintage display of attacking badminton to outclass local favourite and three-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-17 on Sunday. “Well, actually I had tears in my eyes because it was very important for me to win. Because I was really focusing hard and working hard on myself,” two-time Olympic medallist Sindhu…
SRINAGAR: Moderate rainfall was experienced in most parts of Kashmir on Sunday, bringing respite from the heatwave. The rains came a day after most weather stations in the valley recorded above normal maximum temperatures. Srinagar had on Saturday registered a maximum temperature of 35.9 degrees Celsius, which was the hottest day this year. The heatwave had forced extension of summer vacations in the valley schools till July 22, officials said here. The rainfall, however, led to waterlogging in several parts of Srinagar, with roads inundated and storm drains overflowing in areas such as Khanyar, the officials said.
KOLKATA: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday chaired a meeting with West Bengal officials here to discuss the law and order situation of the state, which shares a 2,217-km border with Bangladesh and also has frontiers with Nepal and Bhutan. Chief secretary Manoj Agarwal and state police chief Siddh Nath Gupta were among the senior officials who attended the meeting held in South Kolkata, sources said. The meeting also comes weeks after the passage of the stringent West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Act that substantially expanded the state’s powers to tackle organised crime, extortion, illegal…
JAMMU: At least 11 people were killed and seven others went missing as torrential rains triggered landslides and flash floods in the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, prompting a multi-agency rescue operation. The worst devastation was reported from Surankote tehsil in Poonch district, where most of the fatalities occurred, while rescue teams raced against time to trace the missing amid continuing rain and damaged roads, the officials said. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who was in Delhi for the proposed statehood protest, decided to cut short his stay in the national capital and…
NEW DELHI: Opposition parties on Sunday staged a “walkout” from the all-party meeting convened by the government ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament over Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju extending an invitation to the National Citizens Party of India to take part in the meeting. They said the move was against the norms and the TMC rebel MPs’ merger into “so-called NCPI” has not been approved by the Lok Sabha Speaker. Talking to reporters, TMC leader Mahua Moitra said that opposition parties registered their strong protest over the government decision. The opposition members staged a walkout soon after the…
JAMMU: As the flood situation continues to unfold in Jammu’s Rajouri district, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday launched a high-level review to oversee the emergency response following intense flash floods and heavy rainfall across Rajouri and its nearby areas. The Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir, in a post on X, detailed his active monitoring of the crisis, confirming that he is in constant contact with local MLAs to coordinate rescue and aid operations. Omar Abdullah wrote, “Since first light this morning, I’ve been closely monitoring the situation arising from the extremely heavy rain in parts…
NEW DELHI: Ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament beginning on Monday, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the government was prepared to hear the Opposition and expressed hope that the gesture would be reciprocated as an all-party floor leaders’ meeting convened in the national capital. Speaking to reporters before the meeting, Rijiju said the government had convened the meeting of floor leaders to ensure the smooth functioning of Parliament during the session. “The Monsoon Session of Parliament begins tomorrow. The government has convened a meeting of floor leaders from all parties today. We urge all political parties to…
NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday spoke to Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to take stock of the flood situation in Rajouri district following heavy overnight rainfall, officials said. The home minister, who is on a three-day visit to West Bengal, ensured all possible help for the safety and security of the affected people, they said. At least eight people were killed, and six others went missing as torrential rains triggered landslides and flash floods in the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday,…
NEW DELHI: Activist Sonam Wangchuk on Saturday described the proposed July 20 Parliament march as India’s “second freedom movement”, calling for “freedom from fear” and “freedom from injustice” while urging supporters to make the mobilisation a “big success”. In a handwritten message shared from Safdarjung Hospital through his wife Gitanjali J Angmo, Wangchuk linked “freedom from injustice” to alleged paper leaks and “freedom from fear” to what he described as his “illegal detention”. The note, shared on X through Wangchuk’s account, read: “20th July. India’s second freedom movement. Freedom from injustice (like paper leaks). Freedom from fear (my illegal detention).”…
NEW DELHI: The all-party meeting convened by the government on Sunday ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament has begun. The government is expected to outline its legislative agenda during the meeting. Opposition leaders indicated they would raise a host of issues, including the alleged Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Trust donation scam, exam paper leaks, delimitation, and the role of the Lok Sabha Speaker. Speaking to reporters on the issues the Congress plans to raise during the session, Rajya Sabha MP Pramod Tiwari alleged that the BJP had “betrayed Lord Ram” and accused the government of failing to safeguard public trust.…