India should be treated as a partner, not rival: Experts warn against US tariff gamble

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New Delhi, Aug 18 (IANS) As President Donald Trump is likely to impose 50 per cent tariffs on Indian imports from August 27, foreign policy experts have cautioned that treating India as a trade adversary could backfire on the United States. A new report by the Australian Institute of International Affairs (AIIA) argues that coercive measures risk undermining decades of trust built between Washington and New Delhi, while also pushing India closer to China.The US move comes after Trump announced o…

Widespread rainfall fills 76 dams across Gujarat, boosts kharif sowing to 87 pc

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Ahmedabad, Aug 18 (IANS) Heavy monsoon showers across Gujarat have led to a significant rise in water levels across the state’s reservoirs. As of August 18, 76 out of the state’s 207 dams — including the lifeline Sardar Sarovar — have reached between 70 per cent and 100 per cent of their storage capacity, placing them on ‘high alert.’Additionally, 26 dams are on ‘alert’ and 22 are on ‘warning.’ The Sardar Sarovar Dam alone is currently holding 76.40 per cent of its full capacit…

SC stays Madras HC order against TN minister Periyasamy in Disproportionate Assets case

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New Delhi, Aug 18 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Monday stayed a Madras High Court order that had overturned the discharge of Tamil Nadu Rural Development Minister I. Periyasamy, his wife P. Suseela, and their sons, P. Prabhu and P. Senthilkumar, from a disproportionate assets case filed in 2012. The apex court directed the Minister and his family to face trial in the case.A Bench led by Justice Dipankar Datta issued notice to the Tamil Nadu government on the petition filed by Periyasamy and his fa…

No proposal to impose transaction charges on UPI payments, reiterates Centre

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New Delhi, Aug 18 (IANS) There is no proposal to impose transaction charges on unified payments interface (UPI) based digital payments, the government reiterated on Monday.Unified Payment Interface (UPI) transactions are facilitated by the National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI), and its circular (dated 30.08.2019) had permitted the acquiring banks to charge Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) at 0.30 per cent of the transaction value.”However, section 10A of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act…

Heavy rain in 7 Karnataka districts, holiday declared for schools

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Bengaluru, Aug 18 (IANS) The administrations of seven districts in Karnataka declared a holiday on Monday for schools and colleges in various taluks following heavy and incessant rain. The precautionary measures were taken in Mangaluru, Udupi, Karwar, Chikkamagaluru, Hassan, Madikeri and Davanagere districts.The rain has been lashing coastal Karnataka and the hilly regions of the state, disrupting normal life. The parched lands of north Karnataka are also receiving heavy rainfall. Meanwhile, the…

CM Mamata unlikely to share dais with PM Modi in Bengal on Aug 22

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Kolkata, Aug 18 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is unlikely to share the dais with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an official program of the latter scheduled to be held on the northern outskirts of Kolkata on August 22.The Prime Minister will first reach Jessore Road Metro station by road from Kolkata Airport. There, he will inaugurate three new city metro railway routes, namely the Noapara to Jai Hind Airport Station, Ruby to Beliaghata, and Esplanade to Sealdah.An official i…

Red alert issued as heavy rain batters Mumbai, schools and colleges closed due to waterlogging

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Mumbai, Aug 18 (IANS) Relentless rainfall pounded Mumbai on Monday, throwing the city into disarray with widespread waterlogging, traffic gridlocks, and public service disruptions even as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for the city, warning of extremely heavy rain over the next 48 hours. The downpour brought several key areas of Mumbai to a standstill, including the Western Express Highway near Vile Parle and the Gandhi Market area in Sion, where waterlogging di…

Bengal Police detain leader of unemployed teachers ahead of march to SSC office

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Kolkata, Aug 18 (IANS) The police on Monday detained the convenor of the Unemployed Teachers’ March to the School Service Commission (SSC) office in Kolkata’s Salt Lake area, a day after the police said the organisers of the march were planning to launch a violent movement. Suman Biswas was detained at Adisaptagram station in Hooghly district by officers of the Chandannagar Police Commissionerate.According to sources, the personnel of Chinsurah police station searched the house of Suman Biswas i…

Only 1.69 pc of Rs 2,000 banknotes worth Rs 6,017 crore yet to return to RBI: Minister

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New Delhi, Aug 18 (IANS) Only 1.69 per cent of the Rs 2,000 banknotes were yet to be returned to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) from circulation (as on July 31), the Parliament was informed on Monday.As per the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the total value of Rs 2,000 banknotes in circulation, which was Rs 3.56 lakh crore at the close of business on May 19, 2023, has declined to Rs 6,017 crore as on July 31.Before undertaking the exercise of withdrawal of Rs 2,000 banknotes, it was ensured that …