Latest news today (August 5): Presenting FE’s Breaking News today. We will keep you updated on all major news, views and much more throughout the day.
Earthquake in Hindukush region, strong tremors felt in Delhi-NCR
An earthquake of magnitude 5.8 hit Hindukush region in Afghanistan at 9 pm today. Strong tremors were felt in Delhi-NCR and Jammu and Kashmir. Initial reports say that the earthquake was at the depth of 196 km. According to USGS official site, the epicenter of the Saturday earthquake was at 47 km south south-west of Jurm, Afghanistan. (READ MORE)
Cabinet approves Rs 1.39 lakh cr for connecting 6.4 lakh villages with broadband
The Union Cabinet has approved a last-mile broadband connectivity plan for 6.4 lakh villages across the country under the BharatNet project with an outlay of Rs 1.39 lakh crore, according to sources. Around 1.94 lakh villages have been connected under the BharatNet project at present, and the balance is likely to be connected in two and a half years, they added. (PTI)
Three killed, three injured in fresh violence in Manipur, curfew relaxation hours slashed
Three persons including a father-son duo were killed by militants in Manipur’s Bishnupur district on Friday night while another three sustained bullet wounds following heavy exchange of fire between state forces and armed men in the same district even as the 24-hour general strike called by the coordinating committee of 27 assembly constituencies paralysed normal life in Imphal valley, police said. (PTI)
UK aid cuts 59 percent of funds for Afghanistan
In an official statement by the UK parliament that the humanitarian fund provided to Afghanistan by Official Development Assistance has been cut by 59 percent. The statement reported, “The Equality Impact Assessment sets out what this means in reality for some of the poorest countries in the world, experiencing the worst humanitarian crises: Yemen saw its UK ODA allocation cut by 45 per cent; Afghanistan by an incredible 76 per cent.”
Earthquake of magnitude 4.4 hits Bay of Bengal
An earthquake of magnitude 4.4 on the Richter scale jolted the Bay of Bengal on Saturday afternoon, according to the National Center for Seismology (NSC). According to NCS, the earthquake occurred at 2:39 pm on Saturday and at a depth of 10 Km. (ANI)
10 people held for animal hunting in Kuno National Park
Kuno National Park reported 8 deaths of African cheetahs in 2023 recently, after the investigation, the Forest department has said in a press release, ten persons have been arrested for their alleged involvement in forest crimes, including four from Rajasthan.
Ukrainian drones hit a Russian tanker transporting fuel near Crimea
Ukrainian drones hit a Russian tanker in the Black Sea near Crimea, according to Russian officials. They said that the vessel’s engine room sustained damage in the strike late Friday night in the Kerch Strait. “The Sig tanker…suffered a hole in the engine room near the waterline on the starboard side, presumably as a result of a sea drone attack,” Russia’s Federal Agency for Marine and River Transport wrote on Telegram, adding that there were no casualties among the 11 crew members. (AP)
A JEE aspirant commits suicide in Kota, 18th case this year
A 17-years-old boy from Bihar, appearing for a competitive exam JEE in Kota, Rajasthan, commits suicide allegedly by hanging himself in his hostel room on Friday. It is the eighteenth case of suicide in Kota in 2023.
Pakistani police arrest former Prime Minister Imran Khan
Pakistani police on Saturday arrested former Prime Minister Khan at his home in the eastern city of Lahore. It’s the second time the popular opposition leader has been detained this year. Earlier Saturday, a court convicted him in an asset concealment case, handing down a prison sentence that could see him barred from politics. The Islamabad court issued the arrest warrant after convicting Khan, with police in Lahore moving quickly to take him from his home to the Pakistani capital. (PTI)
Nirmala Sitharaman lays foundation stone for archeological museum in Tamil Nadu’s Adichanallur Tuticorin
The Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman laid the foundation stone for an archeological museum in Adichanallur, declared as ‘Iconic Sites’ in the Union Budget 2020-21. In the recent tweet by Sitharaman says, “The main objective of the museum would be to focus on establishing the significance of the archaeological sites identified as part of the cultural landscape of the Tamirabharani valley, not limiting to the site of Adichanallur. The museum will be built as a tribute to the history of Iron Age culture in southern India, in the context of Adichanallur.”
Australia court overturns law banning Sikhs from carrying kirpans in schools
A court in Australia’s Queensland state has overturned a law that banned Sikh students to wear a kirpan, a religious article in Sikhism, on campus, calling the legislation “unconstitutional”, according to media reports. The ruling by the state’s highest court came after Kamaljit Kaur Athwal took the state government to court last year, claiming that the ban discriminated against the kirpan — one of five religious symbols that Sikhs are supposed to carry at all times as part of their faith, 9news.com reported. (PTI)
Assam CM initiates rural outreach, visits over 25,000 village in 15 days
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of Assam has planned an initiative to visit 25,501 villages across the state over a period of 15 days to understand the social infrastructure gaps and development schemes implementation levels.
Godhan Nyay Yojna corruption: BJP blames Congress-led govt, claim to use MNREGA funds
Former Minister and BJP MLA Brijmohan Agrawal has accused the current government in Chhattisgarh for the corruption of Godhan Nyay Yojna which aimed to support farmers and cattle rearers by buying cow dung at low cost. On Friday, the minister alleged that the state government has spent the fund of MNREGA.
24-hrs general strike in Manipur
The state, Manipur, went on a general strike for 24 hours by the co-ordinating committee of 27 assembly constituencies, making public transport, schools, offices and market places closed since last midnight. The committee has called the strike to not make it harder for normal people but with the aim to pressure the government according to the committee’s convenor L Binod.