Chennai, Aug 14 (IANS) The Tamil Nadu government is set to expand the buy-back scheme for empty liquor bottles to all Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (Tasmac) outlets across the state, as part of a broader initiative to promote environmental responsibility and strengthen retail practices in the liquor sector. The scheme was initially rolled out in the Nilgiris district following a court directive aimed at addressing environmental concerns caused by discarded bottles.It was subsequently im…

Nairobi, Aug 14 (IANS) A two-day meeting began in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, with discussions underway to enhance youth participation in peace and security initiatives in the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) region.Addressing the IGAD Youth Peace and Security Conference on Wednesday, Workneh Gebeyehu, executive secretary of the East African bloc, said the region is home to one of the youngest populations in the world, with youth under the age of 30 making up more than 60 per…

Seoul, Aug 14 (IANS) South Korea’s jailed former first lady Kim Keon Hee appeared at a special counsel’s office on Thursday to undergo questioning for the first time since her arrest earlier this week over corruption charges.Kim was brought to special counsel Min Joong-ki’s office in central Seoul in a prison van after departing Seoul Southern Detention Centre in handcuffs, according to correctional authorities.She was hidden from public view as the van used the underground parking route.The wif…

New Delhi, Aug 14 (IANS) Light rainfall was recorded in parts of Delhi-NCR on Thursday morning, as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) elevated the ‘yellow’ alert to a ‘red’ warning for the day. Visuals from early morning showed steady rain drenching areas of the National Capital, Noida, and Gurugram.These fresh spells come just days after heavy downpours across Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, and other parts of the National Capital Region earlier this week, which had led to several flight delays…

Chennai, Aug 14 (IANS) In a late-night operation, police detained hundreds of Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) conservancy workers who had been staging a sit-in protest for 13 days, demanding the withdrawal of privatisation plans in two city zones. Around 400 police personnel were deployed at about 11.30 p.m. on Wednesday to clear the demonstration site outside the Ripon Buildings. Nearly 600 protesters, including sanitation workers, advocates, and members of Communist parties, were removed fro…

New Delhi, Aug 14 (IANS) The Supreme Court will on Thursday take up a set of applications seeking the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir within a fixed timeframe. According to the causelist published on the apex court’s website, a Bench comprising Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran will hear the matter on Thursday, a day ahead of Independence Day.Last week, CJI Gavai agreed to retain the petitions on the hearing board after they were mentioned by senior ad…

Shimla, Aug 14 (IANS) Braving darkness, fast currents and unstable terrain, the Indian Army on Thursday said its swift response averted a potential tragedy when a sudden flash flood struck Hojis Lungpa Nala in Himachal Pradesh’s mountainous Kinnaur district. The incident happened at around 7 p.m. on Wednesday. Triggered by a cloudburst in the higher reaches of the Rishi Dogri Valley, the deluge engulfed the bridge across the Sutlej River and injured one individual.The site was an active road c…

Karachi, Aug 14 (IANS) Three people, including a senior citizen and an eight-year-old girl, lost their lives during Independence Day celebrations in Pakistan’s Karachi due to “reckless” aerial firing, while more than 60 others sustained gunshot injuries, according to local media reports.The incidents occurred in different parts of the city. In Azizabad Block-8, an eight-year-old girl was struck by a stray bullet and died before she could be taken to the hospital, reports Dunya News.In Korangi, a…

Cairo, Aug 14 (IANS) Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty has held separate phone calls with his Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said.Egypt is stepping up efforts to revive cooperation between Iran and the IAEA and restart negotiations on Tehran’s nuclear program, the ministry said on Wednesday.In his talks with Araghchi, Abdelatty emphasised the importance of adhering to diplomatic chann…

Mumbai, Aug 14 (IANS) Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty Kundra, her businessman husband Raj Kundra, and an unidentified individual have been booked by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) for allegedly defrauding a Mumbai-based businessman of Rs 60.4 crore in a loan-cum-investment deal linked to their now-defunct company, Best Deal TV Pvt Ltd, police said on Thursday.According to Mumbai Police, businessman Deepak Kothari has accused the couple of jointly cheating him of more than Rs 60 crore.He alleged …