LIVE News Updates: Union Minister Harsimrat Badal quits over Centre’s new bills for farmers

Massive unemployment has forced the youth to call today #NationalUnemploymentDay. Employment is dignity. For how long will the Govt deny it, tweeted Rahul Gandhi

The Shiromani Akali Dal's Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal has resigned from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, hours ahead of the voting in Lok Sabha on the contentious farm sector bills the party is opposing., reports NDTV.

Pulwama-Type Attack Averted, 52 kg Explosives Found Near J&K Highway: Army, reports NDTV.

Rajasthan boat tragedy: Two more bodies recovered from Chambal river in Kota; death toll rises to 13

Modi ji promised to double the income of farmers.

But the 'black' laws of the Modi government are being made for economic exploitation of the farmers-agricultural laborers

This is a new form of 'Zamindari' and some 'friends' of Modi ji will be 'Zamindars' of New India.

If krishi mandis are removed, food security will be erased from our country, tweeted Rahul Gandhi

Union Home Minister Amit Shah was discharged from Delhi's All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) hospital on Thursday, four days after he was re-admitted for a check-up after recovering from COVID-19, reports NDTV

We hope China will strictly respect and observe LAC and not make further attempts to unilaterally change status quo: MEA on standoff in Ladakh

Manipur reports 110 new COVID-19 cases, taking total to 8,430, including 1,840 active cases, A total of 51 deaths reported in the state.

3 terrorists killed in encounter in Batamaloo area of Srinagar during a joint cordon & search operation by Srinagar Police & CRPF. Terrorists were affiliated with proscribed terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen. Incriminating materials including arms & ammunition recovered: J&K Police.

Actress Rajeshwari Sachdev on Thursday announced on Instagram she has tested COVID-19 positive.

"Hello Everyone! Ho gaya ji humko bhi ...I' ve tested positive for COVID 19. Got myself tested when I started showing a few symptoms and have isolated plus quarantined myself at home. I am under the doctor's Supervision and all seems in control," she wrote.

She also requested that those who had come in her proximity in recent days should get themselves tested.

"I request all who might have come in contact with me in the last few days to get themselves tested and be safe. For now sab dua karein ki jaldi se theek ho jaaoon (pray for my speedy recovery). I pray that all stay safe and Covid free," she added.

PDP leader and former minister Naeem Akhtar on Thursday said he has been set free by Jammu and Kashmir authorities after 407 days in custody since the abrogation of Article 370 in August last year.

"After 407 days of detention am informed that I am free to move about. Thank you rulers for small mercies while you inflict larger tragedies on our land," the PDP leader said in a sarcastic tweet.

Akhtar was among several mainstream politicians, including three former chief ministers of the erstwhile state -- Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti -- detained on the eve of the Centre's decision on August 5 last year.

Delhi international airport on Thursday opened an exclusive terminal to handle the flight operations of private jets.

The terminal has 57 parking bays and can handle up to 150 private jet flights per day. It was inaugurated by Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Thursday afternoon.

The minister said the Delhi airport was handling around 40 "general aviation" flights per day before the pandemic, and it is currently handling around 20 such flights per day.

Russia registered 5,762 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, taking its total number of cases to 1,085,281, the country's coronavirus response centre said in a statement on Thursday.

Meanwhile, 144 new deaths were reported, taking the death toll to 19,061, Xinhua reported citing the statement.

Moscow reported 730 new cases, bringing its tally of infections to 274,003, the centre said.

According to the statement, 895,868 patients have recovered so far, including 5,754 over the past day.

As of Wednesday, 230,069 people were under medical observation, while over 41.7 million tests have been conducted across the country, the centre said.

National Green Tribunal directs Environment Ministry, Gujarat govt to recover fine from violators responsible for destruction of mangroves in Kutch district.

Congress MP K C Venugopal demands parliamentary probe into Facebook's alleged interference in country's electoral process, says the firm should 'publish, make transparent' all hate speech posts that were allowed since 2014.

If Moderna Inc's COVID-19 vaccine proves to be at least 70% effective, the company plans to seek emergency authorization for its use in high-risk groups, the company's chief executive said, reports Live Minit

6,029 new Coronavirus cases in UP, tally 3.36 lakh, active cases 68,235; toll rises to 4,771 with 81 more deaths: Health official

COVID-19 tally in Puducherry rises to 21,428, including 16,253 recoveries and 431 deaths. Active cases stand at 4,744: Government of Puducherry

Delhi: TRS, TMC, DMK, RJD, AAP, NCP, Samajwadi Party and Shiv Sena MPs protest in front of Mahatma Gandhi statue at the Parliament premises, demanding GST payments to states.

Petrol and diesel prices in the country have fallen again in the wake of softening of global oil prices as an extended run of Covid-19 has depressed demand and created a glut in the market.

On Thursday, the pump price of petrol and diesel fell by 15 and 19 paisa per litre respectively in the national capital.

Accordingly, petrol is now being retailed at Rs 81.40 a litre and diesel at Rs 72.37 a litre in Delhi.

This is the third fall in petrol price and seventh reduction in diesel price this month. Prior to this month, while petrol price had risen, the diesel price remained steady or fell for a few days.

Forensic team to submit final medical opinion in SSR death case to CBI next week, says AIIMS forensic head, reports ANI.

New Zealand on Thursday reported seven new coronavirus cases, all detected in a managed isolation facility, taking the total to 1,458, said the Ministry of Health.

With the exception of one arrival from Uzbekistan, the new cases were detected as a result of day 3 testing and are now in quarantine, reports Xinhua news agency.

There were no new community cases, said the Ministry.

Currently, there are four people hospitalized with COVID-19, with no cases in ICU.

Mizoram's COVID-19 tally crosses 1,500-mark as 26 more people, including an 83 -year-old man, are found to be positive: official

Madhya Pradesh: Congress workers in Bhopal fry 'pakoras', as part of their protest over unemployment in the country.

Himachal Pradesh records 77 new COVID-19 cases today, taking the total positive cases in the state to 10,886 so far, including 4,143 active cases, 6,620 recoveries and 94 deaths: State Health Department

In the present situation, there are sensitive operational issues which I cannot detail. I hope the House will understand the sensitivity of the matter: Defence Minister Rajanth Singh on India-China border issue

The situation this year is very different both in terms of scale of troops involved & no. of friction points. We do remain committed to peaceful resolution of the current situation. At the same time, we remain prepared to deal with all contingencies: Rajnath Singh in Rajya Sabha.

China, in last many decades undertook significant infrastructure construction activity to enhance their deployment capabilities in the border areas. Our Govt too has stepped up the budget for border infrastructure development to about double the previous levels: Rajnath Singh.

"India, China's Perception Of LAC Different," Rajnath Singh Tells Parliament, reports NDTV

Chinese actions reflect a disregard of our various bilateral agreements. The amassing of the troops by China goes against the 1993 & 1996 Agreements. Respecting and strictly observing Line of Actual Control is the basis for peace &tranquility in the border areas: Defence Minister.

Conduct of our armed forces throughout these incidents shows that while they maintained 'Sayyam' in face of provocative actions, they also equally displayed 'Shaurya' when required to protect territorial integrity of India: Defence Minister in Rajya Sabha on India-China face-off

China continues to be in illegal occupation of approx 38,000 sq. kms in the Union Territory of Ladakh. In addition, under the so-called Sino-Pakistan 'Boundary Agreement' of 1963, Pakistan illegally ceded 5,180 sq. km. of Indian territory in PoK to China: Defence Minister in RS

China also claims approximately 90,000 sq. kms. of Indian territory in the Eastern Sector of the India-China boundary in Arunachal Pradesh: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Rajya Sabha

On 15 June, Col Santosh Babu, along with his 19 brave soldiers, made the supreme sacrifice in Galwan Valley towards the cause of defending the territorial integrity of India. Our PM himself went to Ladakh to boost morale of forces: Defence Minister in Rajya Sabha

Jharkhand's COVID-19 caseload rises to 66,074 as 1,618 more people test positive, while eight fresh fatalities pushed state's coronavirus death toll to 579: health bulletin

The Govt wasted the golden months to stop COVID-19. WHO had sounded a warning in Dec 2019. As China is our neighbouring country, we should have been alert first. Congress's Rahul Gandhi had also alerted that an epidemic was looming over us, says Congress MP GN Azad in Rajya Sabha

Telangana reports 2,159 new COVID-19 cases, taking tally to 1,65,003, while nine more deaths push toll to 1,005: state government

I want to ask the members how did so many people recover? Kya log bhabhi ji ke papad kha karke theek ho gaye? This isn't a political fight but a fight to save the lives of people, said Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut during a discussion on the Statement made by Health Minister on COVID19.

My mother & my brother are infected with COVID. Many people in Maharashtra are recovering also. Today, the situation in Dharavi is under control. WHO has appreciated efforts of BMC. I want to state these facts as some members here were criticising Maharashtra govt y'day, said Raut.

Raut also says that the Maharashtra government has followed the protocol of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "The Centre has stopped funds for PPE kits, masks and other materials from September 1. It will cost Maharashtra government Rs50 crore a day. What is the PM CARES fund for if not for States?," he asks.

Forests in West Bengal will be opened for tourists from September 23, officials said on Thursday.

The Pakistan Army opened heavy fire and shelled mortars targeting forward areas along the LoC in two sectors of Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, officials said.

India's COVID-19 case tally crosses 51-lakh mark with a spike of 97,894 new cases & 1,132 deaths in last 24 hours. The total case tally stands at 51,18,254 including 10,09,976 active cases, 40,25,080 cured/discharged/migrated & 83,198 deaths: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare

Bharatiya Janata Party MP Mahesh Poddar has given Zero Hour notice in Rajya Sabha over "cow smuggling in the country especially in the Eastern states."

Shiromani Akali Dal MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa has given Zero Hour notice in Rajya Sabha over the demand to declare Punjabi language 6th official language of Jammu and Kashmir

The Supreme Court must look into regulating digital media before electronic media when it comes to laying down standards, as it has far more impact, the government said.

In a statement to the Supreme Court on laying down standards for electronic media, Centre informed SC that it should first regulate digital media as it has a wider reach. Next it contends that SC should not lay down standards without an amicus or committee of amicus since its one show or a few episodes

"Digital media has faster reach, potential to become viral due to apps like WhatsApp and Facebook," says the Centre's affidavit.

"Digital media has serious impact and because of its potential, the court must first take up digital media," it says.

News Broadcasters Association, on the other hand says their regulations are referred to by various HCs and that they have rules and an authority in place to receive complaints against electronic media, impose cost on them or even refer them to Ministry for Information and Broadcast for license revocation.

Sudarshan TV has informed SC that UPSC Jihad was used as a terminology in the show owing to the foreign funding pooled in by the Zakat Foundation and how "infiltration was happening in the UPSC"