INDIA
On its maiden flight India's small rocket keeps the nation in suspense
Hoping to celebrate in advance the country's 75th anniversary of Independence in style the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched its freshly minted rocket Small Satellite Launch Vehicle - Developmental Flight (SSLV-D1). On its first developmental flight, the SSLV-D1 carried an earth observation satellite-02 (EOS-02), formerly known as Microsatellite-2, weighing about 145 kg and the eight kg AZAADISAT built by 750 students of government schools facilitated by SpaceKidz India.
India reports 18,738 new Covid cases, 40 deaths
In the same period, the India reported 40 more Covid deaths, taking the nationwide death toll to 5,26,689. Meanwhile, the active caseload has marginally risen to 1,34,933 cases, accounting for 0.31 per cent of the country's total positive cases. The recovery of 18,558 patients in the last 24 hours took the cumulative tally to 4,34,84,110. Consequently, India's recovery rate stands at 98.50 per cent.
Afghan Sikh returnees narrate their tales of horror under Taliban rule
On August 3, a group of 30 Sikhs from Afghanistan arrived India. Several Sikh families who arrived from Afghanistan since 2021 have been accommodated in Guru Arjun Dev Gurdwara in Delhi's Tilak Nagar, and are being assisted by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). Many of them were brought from Kabul to Delhi in private planes of Afghanistan's Kam Airlines.
Jagdeep Dhankhar elected 16th Vice-President
The Election Commission announced that Dhankhar -- the NDA nominee, emerged victorious in the Vice Presidential election in which he was pitted against the Opposition's candidate Margaret Alva. As the term of incumbent Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu ends on August 10, the members of both houses of the Parliament on Saturday voted to elect the next Vice-President.
Voting on in Vice-Presidential poll; Modi, Shah, Manmohan Singh cast their votes
Modi exercised his franchise by reaching Parliament at 10 a.m. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh came in a wheelchair since he is unwell and cast his vote. Several members of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, including Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh also cast their votes.
Rs 50 cr SSLV rocket by India, for India
The countdown down for the SSLV-D1 launch will begin about six-and-half-hours before the lift off which is scheduled at 9.18 a.m. on Sunday, said a senior ISRO official. During the countdown, all the rocket and satellite systems will be checked. India's newest rocket, the 34-metre tall and weighing 120 ton SSLV-D1 will fly off from the first launch pad at the Sriharikota rocket port on its maiden flight. The three staged SSLV-D1 is primarily powered by solid fuel (total 99.2 ton) and also has a velocity trimming module (VTM) powered by 0.05 ton of liquid fuel for precise injection of satellites.
ED to grill first woman in Patra Chawl money laundering case
Varsha Raut was issued summons on Thursday after her husband was sent to ED custody till August 8 in the same case by a Special PMLA Court. During her interrogation on Saturday, Varsha Raut is likely to be confronted with her husband by the ED which had informed the Special Court that it wants to verify certain bank transactions and other related issues pertaining to the allegedly murky deals. Varsha Raut will be the first woman under the ED scanner to face the investigators in the Patra Chawl case which had erupted in 2018, while another woman whose name figures in the case turned a witness.
Voting underway to elect India's next Vice President
The voting, which began at 10 a.m., will conclude at 5 p.m. After counting of votes in the evening, the next Vice President will be elected. The Vice President will take the oath of office on August 11, as the term of the incumbent Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu ends on August 10. Meanwhile, India's second largest Opposition party after the Congress, the Trinamool Congress had decided to abstain from the voting, saying it 'not been consulted' on Margaret Alva's candidature.
VP election today to witness fight between Dhankar, Alva
While the number jacks up in favour of the NDA candidate, Alva, a senior politician, has pitched for a conscious vote. The voting will begin in Parliament House complex and MPs will cast their ballots. The Vice President is elected by an electoral college consisting of members of both Houses of Parliament, in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote and the voting in such election is by secret ballot.
India reports 19,406 fresh Covid cases, 49 deaths
With the fresh fatalities, the death toll mounted to 5,26,649. Active caseload the country has marginally declined to 1,34,793 cases, accounting for 0.31 per cent of the country's total positive cases. The recovery of 19,928 patients in the last 24 hours took the cumulative tally to 4,34,65,552. Consequently, the recovery rate stands at 98.50 per cent. Meanwhile, Daily Positivity rate has marginally declined to 4.96 per cent, while the Weekly Positivity Rate currently also stands at 4.63 per cent.
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