India

New Delhi, Sep 25; PTI:  The Kerala government Tuesday sought a special grant of Rs 5,000 crore from the Centre for livelihood development in the flood-ravaged state.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan met Prime Minister Narendra Modi here and submitted a memorandum listing the devastation in the state, rehabilitation works done and the assistance required for rebuilding Kerala after the deluge last month.

Vijayan, however, said that there is no change in the Centre's stand over the issue of accepting assistance from any overseas government.

New Delhi, Sep 26, (PTI) The Supreme Court Wednesday agreed to live-streaming and video recording of court proceedings.

The apex court said that necessary rules for balancing rights of public and protecting dignity of litigants will be placed soon.

"Sunlight is the best disinfectant", the bench said while allowing live streaming of court proceedings.

Live-streaming of court proceedings will effectuate the "public right to know" and bring in more transparency in judicial proceedings, the court said.

New Delhi, Sep 26 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed a plea challenging the appointment of Justice Ranjan Gogoi as the next Chief Justice of India, saying the petition was "devoid of merits".

A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud said "We are of the view that it is not the stage to interfere (with the appointment)."

The petition against Justice Gogoi's appointment as the next CJI was filed by two lawyers.

Guwahati, Sep 26 (PTI) The Assam government on Wednesday said it has purchased 60,000 books of the 15-volume biography of BJP ideologue Deendayal Upadhyaya worth Rs 1.6 crore.

In a written reply to a query by the Leader of the Opposition, Debabrata Saikia, Cultural Affairs (Library and Archeology) Minister Keshab Mahanta said the government has purchased the books for different libraries, educational and other institutes.

New Delhi, Sep 26 (PTI) The Supreme Court Wednesday declared the Centre's flagship Aadhaar scheme as constitutionally valid but struck down some of its provisions including its linking with bank accounts, mobile phones and school admissions.

Donald Trump appears to be a bigger risk for Narendra Modi than Rahul Gandhi for 2019 elections.

Trump’s America first policy and his trade war with most of the world has caused Indian Rupees to fall from 63 in the beginning of year 2018 to about 73 now. Indian Rs have been hit harder when compared to Pakistani Rs and Bangla Deshi Taka.

Petrol price has increased to about Rs 90/litre in Mumbai affecting prices of other commodities.

Mumbai, Sep 25 (PTI) Attacking its ally for retaining an "ailing" Manohar Parrikar as Goa chief minister, the Shiv Sena Tuesday criticised the "cruel and inhuman politics" of the BJP and alleged the party was scared about losing the state.

There is "anarchy" prevailing in the coastal state in Parrikar's absence, the Sena claimed, adding the party was grappling with the problem of who could replace Parrikar as it does not have anyone "suitable" for the top post.

New Delhi, Sep 24; PTI: A delegation of senior Congress leaders met the Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) on Monday and demanded registration of a case in alleged corruption in the Rafale fighter jet deal.

The meeting comes days after a Congress delegation met the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) and urged the apex auditor to prepare a report on the alleged irregularities in the deal and present it in Parliament.

Kolkata, Sep 24; PTI: The All India Minority Forum moved Monday a PIL before the Calcutta High Court seeking direction to the BJP to withdraw its West Bengal bandh call on Wednesday to protest the killing of two students in North Dinajpur district.

Trinamool Congress MP Idris Ali, a practising lawyer, prayed before a division bench presided by Chief Justice J Bhattacharya for an injunction restraining the BJP from giving effect to the bandh call.

New Delhi, Sep 24; PTI: Petrol Friday crossed the Rs 90-mark in Mumbai as a dip in the value of rupee and rise in international oil prices pushed rates across the country to new all-time high.

Petrol prices were hiked by 11 paise per litre and diesel by 5 paise, according to price notification of state-owned oil firms.

The hike pushed petrol price in Delhi to Rs 82.72 per litre and diesel to Rs 74.02.