New Delhi, Aug 6 (IANS) The Parliament on Wednesday passed two landmark maritime bills, in a first for the Shipping Ministry, paving the way for a modern, efficient and globally aligned maritime policy framework in India.While the Lok Sabha cleared The Merchant Shipping Bill, 2024, aimed at streamlining maritime governance with a modern and internationally compliant approach, the Rajya Sabha passed The Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025, replacing a century-old colonial-era law with updated leg…

New Delhi, Aug 6 (IANS) In a swift and courageous operation, the Indian Army sprang into action to contain a massive fire that broke out in Menchuka town of Shi Yomi district in Arunachal Pradesh, preventing a potential large-scale disaster in the remote region. The fire, which threatened to engulf residential areas in the town, prompted an immediate response from the Army. Upon receiving a distress call, a well-equipped relief column consisting of two officers, five Junior Commissioned Officers…

Srinagar, Aug 6 (IANS) Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Manoj Sinha said on Wednesday that the young generation must be inspired to preserve and cherish the values, knowledge and traditions of the tribal communities. Taking to social media platform X after inaugurating the national tribal festival in Gurez border town of Bandipora district, the L-G said: “Inaugurated National Tribal Festival at Gurez. It is celebration of culture & tradition of Dard-Shina tribal community.””A comm…

Kolkata, Aug 6 (IANS) The West Bengal Police, on Wednesday, arrested a 32-year-old man for raping a young girl multiple times on the false promise of marriage at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district, which was rocked last year after protests by local women over their prolonged sexual exploitation by now-suspended Trinamool Congress leader and a strongman, Sheikh Shahjahan, police said. A district police officer told that the arrest was made after the girl’s family lodged a written complain…

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 6 (IANS) Legendary filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan, presently under fire for his controversial remarks at a film conclave recently, can now breathe easy as the Kerala Police have received legal advice stating that no case can be filed against him in the matter.According to the legal opinion, Gopalakrishnan’s speech did not contain any derogatory statements against SC/ST communities, nor did it suggest that government funds should be stopped or that the disbursement of such…

Delhi/Imphal, Aug 6 (IANS) An important meeting between the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) was held in New Delhi on Wednesday and discussed the situation in Manipur, a Kuki-Zo leader said in Imphal. KZC spokesman Ginza Vualzong termed Wednesday’s meeting as positive and constructive, and said that the two-hour-long discussion focused on key issues concerning the ongoing movement and aspirations of the Kuki-Zo people in Manipur. He said that during the deliberations, K…

Washington/New York, Aug 6 (IANS) Hours after his 24-hour deadline passed, US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday a punitive 25 per cent tariff on India for buying Russian oil, which would raise the total tariffs on India to 50 per cent. He is singling out India for the additional tariff, even though China, Turkey, and other countries also buy Russian oil.India said it was extremely “extremely unfortunate” that the US was imposing “additional tariffs on India for actions that several o…

Chandigarh, Aug 6 (IANS) Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister, Balbir Singh, on Wednesday exhorted the public to make maximum use of the ‘Food Safety on Wheels’ initiative, which has now expanded to all the districts of the Aam Aadmi Party-ruled state. Notably, ‘Food Safety on Wheels’ are mobile food testing vans, which are equipped to screen adulteration among major categories of food including milk, paneer (cottage cheese), water, and other daily consumables.“These vans are a cr…

New Delhi, Aug 6 (IANS) Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, his entire Cabinet, Congress MPs and state legislators on Wednesday staged a day-long dharna at Jantar Mantar, demanding Presidential assent for two Bills passed by the state legislature for enhancing reservation for backward classes to 42 per cent in education, employment and local bodies.Top Congress leadership stayed away from the protest but leaders of INDIA partners extended their support.AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge an…

Kolkata, Aug 6 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Wednesday that her administration will not take any action against the four election officers in the state against whom the Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed immediate suspension and lodging of affairs for their involvement in the wrongful addition of names in the electoral rolls of two Assembly seats should be considered as the commission’s first note of caution for all involved in the electoral process in th…