Top stories on 16th August in a capsule
US declares Hizbul Mujahideen as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation
The Hizbul Mujahideen, also known as Hizb-ul-Mujahideen has been actively working in the Jammu and Kashmir area creating conflict with the Indian forces. Earlier this year, the US State Department had also declared Chief Syed Salahuddin as a ‘Specially Designated Global Terrorist”.
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Rahul Gandhi launches ‘Indira Canteen’ in poll bound Karnataka
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday launched a number of 101 Karnataka government subsidized food canteens named after his grandmother and 1st woman Prime Minister of India Mrs. Indira Gandhi with an aim to provide meals at minimal costs. The Indira canteen modelled on the lines of 'Amma'canteens started by late former Chief Minister Jayalalitha will provide breakfast at Rs 5, and lunch and dinner at Rs 10. Keeping an eye on elections, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah had initially mentioned about setting up ‘Namma Canteens’ while announcing the state budget of 2017-2018. The state budget had allotted Rs 100 crore to set up the canteens in 198 wards of Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). However, Gandhi in his inauguration speech got confused during his speech,“In a matter of a few months, the poor people across most cities in Karnataka will be able to eat in these Amma...er...Indira canteens”.
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Rahul Gandhi hits out at Modi, questions unemployment and J&K
As a reaction against Prime Minister Modi’s shortest I-Day speech, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday unleashed a string of criticisms against him at an event in Bengaluru. The Gandhi scion who was in the city to launch ‘Indira Canteens’ hit out at the PM for his shortest I-Day speech, saying he has “nothing to talk about.” Rahul condemned the Prime Minister for his healthcare policies and highlighted the Gorakhpur tragedy. Citing the high rates of unemployment, Gandhi also mentioned the alienation from the neighboring countries. Gandhi also slammed Modi government destroying peace in Jammu and Kashmir and compared it to the 'balanced situation'during the Congress’ term._____________________________________
Prasar Bharti refuses to air Tripura CM’s I-Day speech
The Left (Front) government of Tripura is not happy with the Prasar Bharti, after the latter decided not to air Chief Minister Manik Sarkar’s Independence Day address, asking him to ‘reshape’ his speech. Sarkar, who had recorded a 6 minute long speech was refused airtime by public broadcasters, Doordarshan and Air India, after his government refused agree to the changes advised by the Centre. The official letter which was sent by Prasar Bharti to Akashvani Agartala advises the Chief Minister to change the script of his speech “making it suitable to the solemnity of the occasion and sentiments of the people of India at large.”_____________________________________
Smriti Irani given clean chit in Rohit Vemula suicide case
The HRD Ministry led Commission, headed by Justice (Retd) A K Roopanwal, assigned to look into the suicide case of Rohith Vemula, on Wednesday gave a clean chit to former HRD Minister Smriti Irani, on the grounds that Vemula took his life due to personal reasons. The report also cleared University of Hyderabad V-C and BJP Labour Minister Bandaru Dattareya over Vemula’s death and termed the research scholar as a ‘troubled’ person by citing the suicide letter obtained from the spot the crime. Irani and Dattereya were controversially dragged into the case after they accused Vemula of anti-national activities and had sought his suspension from college. They even accused his family of falsifying events around his death._____________________________________
Robbery of Rs 12 lakh in Delhi bound Rajdhani, 11 passengers file FIR
At least 11 passengers travelling in the Delhi bound August Kranti Rajdhani Express from Mumbai filed an FIR after they were allegedly drugged and looted in the train, media reports said. Apparently, the robbery happened at the time when the train was left unguarded at Kota station after it halted for the change of staff. One of the passenger said, “Many of us felt that we suddenly fell asleep and woke up only to learn that our purses etc. had vanished. We called attendants but they did nothing.” The Railway Police Force (RPF) has confirmed the incident and said that it has information of at least six passengers being robbed and drugged and that the investigation is still on.
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Record overnight rains in Bengaluru, highest in 127 years
Bengaluru on Tuesday recorded the highest rainfall in a day since 1980 after it received 128.7 mm from a mere 44.8mm on Monday, the MeT department said on Wednesday. The total accumulated to nearly 88% of the rain expected over the entire month, which started from 11pm on Monday to 4am on Tuesday. Bilekahalli remained the most affected area in the city with 12.4cm of rain. Over 40 rescue boats were called to areas like Koramangala, while the fire department was called to flush out water from apartments in HSR Layout, Koramangala, Jayanagar and Bannerghatta Road.
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Sensex, Nifty gain the most since five weeks, rise by 1% each
A ay after Independence day, the Indian market indices gained for a second straight session on Wednesday after FMCG, banking and auto shares saw an increase in the day’s trade. Both the indices gained 1% on an average, with the Sensex closing 322 points higher at 31,770 and the Nifty closed at 9,897, just below the 9,900 mark. The gains followed strong movement by the market for the second consecutive session, after seeing a loss throughout last week.
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Bill Gates donates shares worth 5% of this fortune
The world’s richest man, Bill Gates recently donated 5% of his fortune to an unnamed recipient in June. He donated 64 million shares of Microsoft Corporation, which accounts for $4.6 billion according to a Securities & Exchange Commission filing released on Monday. The 61-year-old gave away $16 billion worth of Microsoft shares in 1999 and $5.1 billion a year later, media reports added. He has donated 700 million shares in total to its charity, the Melinda and Gates foundation whose value would be more than $50 billion dollars now.___________________________________
Government extends tax exemption limits in North-east and hilly areas
At least 4,200 industries will be exempted from tax as the government has extended the tax limit to 2027 in the North east and the Hilly areas of the country. Under the new GST act, there are no provisions for exemption, but there is one section in the act which permits refunds. These companies will get refunds for their taxes till 2027. Industries in the north eastern and Himalayan states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand under the previous excise regime used to get 10-year exemption.____________________________________
