Latest News: White House Says Threat From Russia Continues
Catch the latest updates of 18 July here.
8 Dead in Greater Noida Building Collapse
At least 8 bodies have been recovered after a six storey building collapsed on another four-storey residential building in Greater Noida’s Shah Beri village on Tuesday, 17 July, reported ANI. Search and rescue operation is still underway.
Four National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have reached the scene.
Opposition To File No Confidence Motion Against Modi Govt
The Congress is pressing to file a no-confidence motion against the Modi government ahead of the monsoon session of Parliament, Hindustan Times reported. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) served the notice to Lok Sabha on Tuesday, 17 July.
Congress’s Lok Sabha leader Mallikarjun Kharge said that the party is in talks with other like-minded parties to support the move, Hindustan Times added.
Sensex Hits All-Time High
The benchmark BSE Sensex jumped over 200 points to record a new high of 36,747.87 in early trade on Wednesday, 18 July, amid buying by domestic institutional investors and easing global crude oil prices.
The market rally was driven by strong buying on the oil & gas, banking, PSU and realty counters and strength in the rupee.
(Source: PTI)
Thailand's 'Wild Boars' Soccer Team To Make First Public Appearance
The 12 Thai boys and their soccer coach who were rescued from a cave in Thailand will be allowed to speak to the media on Wednesday, 18 July, in what will be their first public appearance since their rescue, Reuters reported.
A nationally-televised news conference will be held in Chiang Rai, Thailand.
Quoting AFP, NDTV reported that the boys will also be discharged from the hospital on Wednesday.
M Karunanidhi Hospitalised in Chennai for Medical Procedure
DMK President M Karunanidhi has been admitted to Kauvery Hospital in Chennai for a minor surgery, ANI reported.
The News Minute added that the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has been admitted as part of a routine medical check-up, though he may be hospitalised further based on test results.
Somnath Bharti Charged With Trespassing, Molestation in 2014 Case
A Delhi court on Tuesday, 17 July, framed charges of molestation, assault, and criminal trespassing against Delhi's former Law Minister Somnath Bharti in a 2014 case, IANS reported.
The MLA from Malviya Nagar was charged after he reportedly barged into the homes of nine Ugandan nationals in Delhi’s Khirki Extension in January 2014.
Prime Accused Arrested in SFI Activist Murder Case
The prime accused in the killing of Students Federation of India (SFI) leader Abhimanyu was arrested by Kerala Police on Wednesday, 18 July, PTI reported. The accused, Mohammad, was arrested from the Karnataka border, reported ANI.
The activist was killed in an alleged clash between SFI students and Campus Front of India (CFI) workers inside the Maharaja College campus in Kochi on 1 July, 2018.
SC to Hear Delhi Government's Control of Services Petition on 26 July
The Supreme Court will hear the Delhi Government’s petition pertaining to service transfers and postings under the government on 26 July, ANI reported. ANI added that Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram will be appearing on behalf of the Delhi government in the case.
No Action to be Taken Against JNU's Kanhaiya Kumar for 2 Days
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday, 18 July, directed JNU to not take any coercive steps against Kanhaiya Kumar for at least two days, ANI reported.
Kumar was fined in connection with a sedition case in 2016, and had moved to court against the order. The matter has been deferred to 20 July, ANI added.
CBI Court To Deliver Ishrat Jahan Case Discharge Plea Decision on 4 Aug
The Ahmedabad CBI court will deliver a judgment on the discharge plea moved by DG Vanzara and other accused in the Ishrat Jahan encounter case on 4 August, ANI reported.
Ishrat Jahan's mother had earlier objected to the discharge plea filed by the accused in the encounter case.
Naxal Commander Killed by Security Forces in Chhattisgarh
Naxal Commander Jarina Potai was killed on Wednesday, 18 July, in an encounter between naxals & security forces in Rajnandgaon district of Chhattisgarh, ANI reported.
The commander had a reward of Rs. 5 lakh on her head.
Asked to Pay Toll, Angered MLA Breaks Barrier
Angered at being asked to pay road toll, Kerala MLA PC George on Wednesday, 18 July, allegedly broke the stop barrier put up at a toll plaza in the state.
CCTV footage at the toll plaza purportedly shows the MLA getting out of the car and damaging the barrier, along with his aides.
(Source: PTI)
Sealing Won't Be Stopped in Delhi: Supreme Court
The Supreme Court on Wednesday, 18 July, said there would be "no stopping of sealing or demolition" of unauthorised constructions in Delhi. The apex court's direction came after the Centre told the bench that it had not given any instructions to authorities in Delhi to stop the sealing drive against illegal constructions.
(Source: PTI)
MiG-21 Fighter Jet Crashes in Himachal Pradesh, Pilot Dead
A MiG-21 fighter jet crashed in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday, 18 July, PTI reported quoting police. The aircraft was flying from Pathankot. The pilot died in the crash.
(Source: ANI)
Goa Government Bans Fish Import Till 1 August
The Goa government on Wednesday, 18 July, banned the import of fish from outside the state till 1 August, in view of the scare of formalin being found in it.
"Instructions would be issued at Goa's borders not to allow fish-laden trucks from outside the state," Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar told reporters. Restrictions will be imposed on fishing along the western coast end as well.
(Source: PTI)
NGT to Resume Hearing on Sterlite on 30 July
National Green Tribunal (NGT) adjourns hearing on the petition seeking reopening of the Sterlite plant, next hearing on 30th July. The Tamil Nadu government on 28 May ordered the closure of the Sterlite Copper factory in Thoothukudi.
(Source: ANI)
Thai Cave Boys Discharged from Hospital, Will Speak to the Media
12 boys and their football coach who were rescued from a flooded cave in Thailand are preparing to leave hospital and speak to the media for the first time. The reason to hold this evening press conference is so media can ask them questions and after that they can go back to live their normal lives without media bothering them.
(Source: AFP)
Sensex, Nifty End Lower As Government Gets No-Confidence Motion
Indian equity benchmarks ended lower as the central government received a no-confidence motion today. The S&P BSE Sensex Index closed 0.4 percent lower at 36,373.44 and the NSE Nifty 50 Index closed at 10,980.45, down 0.3 percent.
The market breadth was firmly tilted in favour of sellers. Ten out of 11 sectoral gauges compiled by NSE fell, led by NSE Nifty Metal Index's 3.2 percent decline. On the flipside, NSE Nifty IT Index was the only sectoral gainer, up 0.1 percent.
(Source: BloombergQuint)
Pioneer Editor-in-Chief & Former Rajya Sabha MP, Chandan Mitra Quit BJP
Editor-in-Chief and the Managing Director of Pioneer newspaper and former Rajya Sabha member, Chandan Mitra quit BJP. 'I have given resignation. I have not decided when or where I will join, I am not going to disclose it'.
(Source: ANI)
Google Faces Record 4.3-n-euro EU Fine Over Android Smartphone System
Google faced a record European Union anti-trust fine of 4.3 billion euros today over its Android smartphone system. The US tech giant abused Android's dominant market position to boost usage of its own search engine and browser.
The new sanction would nearly double the previous record EU anti-trust fine of 2.4 billion euros, which also targeted Google, in that case for the Silicon Valley titan's shopping comparison service in 2017.
(Source: PTI)
All Vehicles, Including Those of Top Constitutional Authorities, Should Display Registration Number: HC
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday, 18 July, said that every vehicle, including that of top constitutional authorities, running on the national capital roads has to abide by the law and have a registration number that should be displayed.
A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar said every vehicle in Delhi has to comport to the motor vehicle law, and directed the Centre and the AAP government to ensure all the official cars used by them are registered at the earliest.
"There can be no manner of doubt that every vehicle has to comport to the Motor Vehicle Act and has to be registered with a registering authority and must display the registration number," the bench said.
The directions by the court came while disposing of an NGO's plea seeking to enforce the display of registration number on cars of constitutional authorities like President, the Vice President, Governors and Lieutenant Governors, and dignitaries.
(PTI)
White House Believes Threat From Russia Still Looms
The White House denied that US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday, 18 July that Russia was no longer targeting the United States, saying his answer “no” was about taking further questions not about potential interference in US elections.
Asked by reporters before a Cabinet meeting earlier on Wednesday whether Moscow was still targeting the United States, Trump shook his head and said, “No”.
“The president was saying ‘No’ to answering questions,” White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said at a news briefing later.
Explosion in Northern Iraqi City of Kirkuk
Several explosions were heard in the northern Iraqi oil city of Kirkuk on Wednesday, 18 July, reported Reuters quoting witnesses.
The cause of the blasts has not been known.
Catch all the latest news and updates of the day here.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)