US tariffs: Give utmost importance to protecting farmers and exporters, says govt

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New Delhi, Aug 11 (IANS) The government gives utmost importance to protecting and promoting the welfare of farmers, entrepreneurs, exporters and MSMEs, and will take all necessary steps to secure national interest, the Parliament was informed on Monday.It is estimated that around 55 per cent of the total value of India’s merchandise exports to the US will be subject to this reciprocal tariff, Minister of State for Finance, Pankaj Chaudhary, said in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha.Re…

Assam Police foil interstate drug peddling, one arrested

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Guwahati, Aug 11 (IANS) Assam Police have foiled an interstate drug peddling attempt, and a person was arrested, officials said on Monday. The operation was carried out in the Cachar district today after receiving intelligence input regarding the movement of the narcotics item. A senior police official said, “Based on our information regarding drug peddling, we have intercepted a vehicle that came from Tripura, and we have recovered at least 362 kg of cannabis from the narcotics peddler.” A …

FM Sitharaman tables revised Income Tax Bill in Parliament to improve fairness, clarity

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New Delhi, Aug 11 (IANS) Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday introduced a revised version of the Income Tax Bill, 2025, incorporating most of the recommendations made by the Parliamentary Select Committee headed by BJP leader Baijayant Panda, in the Lok Sabha amid Opposition uproar. Tabling the bill in Lok Sabha, FM Sitharaman said that suggestions have been received which are required to be incorporated to convey the correct legislative meaning.”There are corrections in the natu…

Dharmasthala mass grave: SIT gets complaint to reinvestigate 1986 Padmalatha death case

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Mangaluru, Aug 11 (IANS) In a major development, a complaint has been lodged with the Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating the alleged mass grave case, to probe the unnatural death of Padmalatha reported in 1986 in Dharmastahala. The family of Padmalatha alleges that she was kidnapped, raped, and murdered, and that the case was subsequently hushed up.Indravathi, a resident of Nelyadi and elder sister of the late Padmalatha, has filed the complaint urging the SIT to exhume Padmalatha’…

Rajasthan HC extends Asaram's bail till Aug 29

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Jaipur, Aug 11 (IANS) The 86-year-old self-styled godman, Asaram, who has been convicted of rape and is serving life imprisonment in Gujarat and Rajasthan, has once again received relief as the Rajasthan High Court, hearing his appeal filed on August 8, extended his interim bail till August 29.The decision came after medical reports were presented before the court.Appearing on behalf of Asaram, advocate Nishant Borda submitted recent medical reports highlighting his deteriorating health.Earlier,…

Delhi Police detain Rahul Gandhi, INDIA bloc MPs during protest march to ECI

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New Delhi, Aug 11 (IANS) The Delhi Police on Monday detained INDIA bloc leaders, including Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Trinamool Congress’ Sagarika Ghose and Shiv Sena(UBT’s) Sanjay Raut along with others, who were en route to the Election Commission of India (ECI). Leaders of the INDIA bloc, including Rahul Gandhi, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav and Priyanka Gandhi, staged a protest ma…

Bihar govt enhances security of six leaders, including Tejashwi Yadav, Samrat Choudhary

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Patna, Aug 11 (IANS) The Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government has upgraded the security cover of six prominent leaders of the state, including Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav and Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, following recommendations from the State Security Committee.According to an order issued by the Home Department, LoP Tejashwi Yadav will now receive Z-category security while Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary will get Z+ security.The decision was taken…

Kerala woman ends life after alleged pressure from lover to convert to Islam, accused in custody

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Kochi, Aug 11 (IANS) The local police at Kothamangalam in Kerala have taken into custody Ramees from Paravoor in connection with the suicide of 23-year-old Sona Eldhose, a Teacher’s Training Course student.The woman’s mother on Monday said that her daughter, Sona, was in love with Ramees for a while, and they were compelling her to change her religion.“She was locked up and beaten last week after she resisted their attempts to take her to Ponnani for converting her. They refused to heed her de…

March of despair by hopeless: BJP hits out at INDIA Bloc’s protest over SIR, 'vote theft'

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New Delhi, Aug 11 (IANS) BJP leaders launched a sharp attack on the INDIA Bloc’s protest march to the Election Commission on Monday, dismissing it as a politically-motivated stunt and a march of despair by hopeless people.“This march of despair, by those who are hopeless, frustrated, and depressed, who have lost three consecutive-times, is nothing but a farcical march. The public will not accept this march of despair,” said BJP MP Dinesh Sharma, reacting to the INDIA Bloc’s demonstration a…

SC refuses to interfere with Medha Patkar's conviction in defamation case

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New Delhi, Aug 11 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Monday refused to interfere with the conviction of activist Medha Patkar in the 2001 criminal defamation case filed against her by V.K. Saxena — the now Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. A Bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and N. Kotiswar Singh was dealing with a special leave petition (SLP) filed by Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) leader Medha Patkar, challenging a Delhi High Court order that had maintained her conviction in the matter.However, in a bit of …