Bengal’s DA crisis: Questions over differential rates for state govt employees

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Kolkata, Aug 7 (IANS) As the Supreme Court hears the case on whether West Bengal government employees should receive dearness allowance (DA) at par with their central government counterparts, a fresh controversy has surfaced over the existence of two separate DA rates for employees of the same state government.The first category includes those West Bengal government employees who are posted in other states on behalf of the state government. This category receives dearness allowance at par with t…

If US goes ahead with this, India should also impose 50 pc: Tharoor on Trump's tariff threat

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New Delhi, Aug 7 (IANS) Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Thursday strongly advocated for a reciprocal tariff regime in response to US President Donald Trump’s recent threat of imposing steep import duties on Indian goods, suggesting that New Delhi should consider a 50 per cent tariff on American imports if diplomatic negotiations with Washington fail to yield results.Trump was singling out India, even though countries like China and Turkey continue to import oil from Russia.India officially describ…

Bringing a 17th-century garden to life: How ‘Hortus Malabaricus’ blooms again in modern Kerala

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Thrissur (Kerala), Aug 7 (IANS) Nestled in the lush green expanse of Nedumpura in Kerala’s Thrissur district lies a remarkable garden where centuries-old knowledge meets modern conservation.The Hortus Malabaricus Botanical Garden and Research Institute is not just a haven for biodiversity; it is a living tribute to a historic botanical treatise that once changed the way the world understood plants.Opened in January this year after a decade-long work for its development, it’s spread over 27 a…

BJP backs PM Modi’s China visit; Oppn questions outcomes

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New Delhi, Aug 7 (IANS) As Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit China from August 31 to September 1 to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, the BJP on Thursday welcomed the move as a diplomatic necessity to maintain stable relations with India’s neighbours, while the Opposition has raised questions about its purpose and potential benefits. Speaking to IANS, BJP MP Ghulam Ali Khatana said, “China is our neighbouring country, and it’s important to maint…

Telangana CM, ministers wait for audience with President over BC reservation issue

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New Delhi, Aug 7 (IANS) Telangana Congress leaders led by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy continued to camp in New Delhi for the third day on Thursday, demanding Presidential assent for the two Bills passed by the state legislature for 42 per cent reservation for the Backward Classes. The Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, ministers, MPs and MLAs, who staged a dharna at Jantar Mantar, have sought an appointment with President Droupadi Murmu.However, they have not rece…

Australian Army Chief’s visit to India from Aug 10 to focus on Defence ties, Indo-Pacific

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New Delhi, Aug 7 (IANS) In a significant development for Indo-Pacific military cooperation, Lieutenant General Simon Stuart, Chief of the Australian Army, will undertake a strategic visit to India from August 10 to 14. He is scheduled to hold high-level discussions with Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi and senior Ministry of Defence officials. The visit underscores the growing strength of the India–Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, particularly in the Defence domain.It co…

TN BJP slams DMK govt over damaged check dam in Tiruchirapalli

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Chennai, Aug 7 (IANS ) Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagendran has strongly criticised the DMK government for its alleged negligence in repairing a damaged check dam near Alagiri Puram in Tiruchirapalli district. The check dam, constructed across the Kollidam river at an estimated cost of Rs 7 crore last year, has been damaged and left unattended, leading to significant hardship for local farmers.In a statement issued on Thursday, Nagendran said that the state government’s “apathy” has resulte…

India’s power generation capacity likely to jump to 870 GW in 2031-32: Minister

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New Delhi, Aug 7 (IANS) India’s installed electricity generation capacity is 485 GW as of June 2025, and the government plans to increase it to about 870 GW in 2031-32 to meet the growing demand for power in the country, the Parliament was informed on Thursday.There has been an increase in electricity demand in the country due to rapid economic growth, expanded household electrification, increasing urbanisation, rising living standards, and the growing use of energy-intensive technologies like…

Uttarkashi cloudburst: 409 rescued so far from flood-hit areas; more rescue officials rushed in

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Uttarkashi, Aug 7 (IANS) As many as 274 individuals stranded in disaster-hit areas of Uttarkashi have been rescued and brought to Harsil on Thursday, bringing the total number of rescued people to 409, officials involved in the ongoing relief and rescue efforts confirmed.Apart from these, 135 people have already been evacuated to safer destinations, as operations intensify in the aftermath of the devastating flash floods triggered by cloudbursts. In total, 409 people have been rescued so far.Two…

Stalin leads silent march on Karunanidhi's seventh death anniversary, launches new welfare schemes

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Chennai, Aug 7 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President M.K. Stalin on Thursday led a silent march here to mark the seventh death anniversary of party patriarch and former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi. The march culminated at Karunanidhi’s memorial on the Marina beachfront, where Stalin and other party leaders paid floral tributes to the late leader.Thousands of party workers, ministers, MPs, MLAs, and senior DMK functionaries, including T.R. Baalu and A. Raja, participated in the m…