BJP leader Sonali Phogat dies of heart attack in Goa

Panaji/Chandigarh: BJP leader from Haryana and actor Sonali Phogat died of a heart attack in Goa, police said on Tuesday. Phogat, a former Tik Tok star who had joined the BJP in 2019, was on a visit to Goa along with some of her staff members. On Monday night, she was brought to St Anthony Hospital at Anjuna in North Goa district after she complained of uneasiness, sources said. Deputy Superintendent of Police (Mapusa) Jivba Dalvi said she was brought dead to the hospital. Prime facie, the cause of death is established as heart attack, but further medical examination is on, he said. The postmortem would be conducted at the state-run Goa Medical College and Hospital at Bambolim, the official said.

World Bank, Assam govt discuss ways to fast track projects

Guwahati: Assam government and the World Bank have decided to fast track the completion of ongoing projects and expedite the approval procedure for those in the pipeline, an official release said. A meeting of delegates of World Bank and state government delegates chaired by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was held here on Monday night during which the ongoing external aided projects (EAPs) and the proposed projects to be financed by the international financial institution was discussed, it said. Sarma praised the World Bank for its wholehearted support in realising the growth potential of Assam and hoped that the relationship between the two will grow stronger as they embark on new projects and schemes in the state. He also inaugurated the ‘State Public Procurement Portal’ which will be a one stop solution to public procurements of various magnitudes and varieties. The portal is aimed at ensuring transparency in the public procurement process and is the second of its kind to be launched by a state government, Sarma added.

UNSC meeting: India asks countries to respect sovereignty, territorial integrity and international agreements

United Nations: In an apparent jibe at China, India has cautioned against any “double standards” on the issue of combating terrorism and emphasised that any “coercive or unilateral” action that seeks to change the status quo by force is an affront to the principle of common security. India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ruchira Kamboj, addressing a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting on the topic Promote Common Security Through Dialogue and Cooperation’ on Monday said that all countries should respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and respect international agreements. “Common security is also only feasible when all countries stand together against common threats such as terrorism and do not engage in double standards while preaching otherwise.” Kamboj said in an apparent jibe towards China and its close ally, Pakistan.

Army foils infiltration bid in J-K’s Rajouri, two suspected terrorists killed

Jammu: Two suspected terrorists were killed as the Army foiled an infiltration attempt along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Tuesday. The infiltration attempt in Naushera sector was made on the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday, a defence spokesman said. According to officials, a group of suspected terrorists tried to sneak into Pukharni village of Laam in Naushera under the cover of darkness from across the border. One of the terrorists stepped over a landmine causing an explosion around 10 pm on Monday, they said. The latest infiltration bid in Naushera sector comes close on the heels of the arrest of a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) guide, who also worked for an intelligence unit of the Pakistani army, in an injured condition on Sunday.

Sitharaman launches 52 projects sponsored by firms as CSR in Nagaland

Kohima: Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday inaugurated 52 projects to be sponsored by various companies in Nagaland as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Most of the projects are related to health, education and skill and entrepreneurship development. Lamenting that Nagaland has not been getting enough CSR investment and not drawing investors, she said the North-eastern state should be the natural choice of companies and industries. The conclave being held on the theme, Partnership for strengthening sustainable development Naturally Nagaland, has been organised by the Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland and supported by the Union government’s Department of Financial Services, Department of Public Enterprises and Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

Congress ‘unanimously’ in favour of Rahul for party president post: Rajasthan CM Gehlot

Jaipur: As the countdown began for the election of Congress president, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Monday said the party is “unanimously” in favour of Rahul Gandhi for the post. The party’s election authority has said it will stick to the schedule of electing a new chief by 20 September. “If Rahul Gandhi does not become the party president, it will be a disappointment for the Congressmen in the country. Many people will sit at home, and we will suffer. He (Rahul Gandhi) should accept this post by himself, understanding the sentiments of the common Congress people in the country.” Gehlot told reporters.

Punjab: ‘Ghar ghar ration’ scheme to start from Oct 2; 1.54 crore people to benefit

Chandigarh: The Punjab government’s ‘ghar ghar ration’ scheme will be implemented from 2 October and about 1.54 crore people will benefit from it, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak said on Monday. Under the doorstep ration delivery scheme, the Aam Aadmi Party government would deliver wheat flour, packed in bags, at the beneficiaries’ doorstep. The minister said it is the government’s endeavour that within seven days of grinding wheat in the mill, the flour should be delivered to all the houses, which will have a good effect on their health. Kataruchak said earlier people had to stand in the scorching heat or inclement weather for hours to get food grains under the food security scheme, according to an official statement.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to leave for Tashkent to attend SCO meet

New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will travel to the Uzbek capital, Tashkent, on Tuesday on a three-day visit to attend a defence ministerial conclave of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). Chinese Defence Minister General Wei Fenghe and Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu are also expected to attend the SCO meet, besides their counterparts from other member countries of the grouping. The SCO meeting is expected to deliberate on regional security challenges, including the situation in Ukraine and Afghanistan. The SCO is an influential economic and security bloc and has emerged as one of the largest transregional international organisations. The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Odisha: 150 Maoist supporters demolish martyrs’ column in former hotbed, surrender

Malkangiri: Around 150 Maoist supporters demolished a martyrs’ column erected by the red rebels and surrendered before the police and BSF in Odisha’s Malkangiri district, officials said. The incident occurred in Rallegada Gram Panchayat located in Swabhiman Anchal, which was earlier a Maoist hotbed. The Maoist supporters on Monday also took pledges not to further help members of the outlawed CPI (Maoist). This is part of Odisha Police’s Ghar Wapasi’ initiative. The interior and Maoist-infected villages are being brought to the mainstream. We are instilling confidence in people to ensure they approach the police and administration to help speed up development, Malkangiri SP Nitesh Wadhwani said. The police and BSF distributed sports kits, sarees and other clothing items among the people who pledged to return to the mainstream. The district administration has provided them with job cards, too.

NCM urges EAM to take up forced religious conversion of Sikh woman with Pak

New Delhi: The National Commission for Minorities has urged External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to take up with Pakistan the forced religious conversion of a Sikh woman there to ensure that such incidents are not repeated in future and appropriate steps are taken to prevent and combat hate and ensure the safety of Sikhs in Pakistan. The Sikh woman, a teacher, from Buner district of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province was reportedly abducted at gunpoint on 20 August and forcibly married to her abductor. In a statement issued on Monday, the NCM said it has taken cognizance of media reports about the abduction and forcible conversion of a Sikh woman in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa area.

Thor: Love and Thunder coming to Disney+ Hotstar on 8 Sept

Mumbai: Hollywood star Chris Hemsworth’s superhero film Thor: Love and Thunder will be available to Disney+ Hotstar subscribers in India from 8 September, the streamer has announced. The Marvel Studios movie, also starring Natalie Portman, was released in Indian theatres on 7 July. In Thor: Love and Thunder, Hemsworth returns as the titular superhero, a role he previously played in three solo and four Avengers films. Portman also returns as Jane Foster from Thor (2011) and Thor: The Dark World (2013). Filmmaker Taika Waititi, who directed the 2017 blockbuster Thor: Ragnarok, has also helmed the fourth installment in the series. Waititi reprises his role as Korg, a Kronan gladiator who befriended Thor in Ragnarok. Thor: Love and Thunder marks the debut of Christian Bale in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The Batman star plays Gorr the God Butcher in the movie.