News Live Updates: NMC withdraws competency-based Medical Education Curriculum (CBME) guidelines, 2024

The live blog session has concluded. For more news, views and updates, stay tuned with Moneycontrol.com.

"It’s disheartening to see Madhabi Puri Buch, head of SEBI, being cornered despite her strong moral values and integrity. Diplomacy may not be her strength, and it seems she’s made some enemies because of it. However, I’m confident she’ll rise above it all and come out stronger,"  wrote Harsh Goenka on X.

National Medical Commission withdraws competency-based Medical Education Curriculum (CBME) guidelines, 2024

The Gujarat government has extended its comprehensive ban on gutka and tobacco-laced paan masala in the state for another year to “maintain the health of citizens and future generations”, an official release said on Thursday.

The sale, storage and distribution of gutka and tobacco or nicotine-laced paan masala are currently banned in the state. These substances can cause cancer. The ban came into effect in 2012 under the Food Safety and Standards Act and rules and regulations formulated in 2011, the release said.

The Centre on Thursday extended the ceasefire agreement with a break-away faction of the Naga insurgency group NSCN for another year.

The NSCN (K) Niki group is led by Niki Sumi against whom the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for allegedly killing 18 Indian Army soldiers in Manipur in 2015.

The ceasefire agreement is in operation between the government and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (K) Niki group and it was decided to extend the pact for a period of one year with effect from September 8, 2024 to September 7, 2025, an official statement said

Despite global volatility, India is enjoying rare peace dividend; but we need to remain alert, says  Rajnath Singh at joint commanders conference.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday named the European Union's former Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier as new prime minister, following almost two months of political deadlock after snap polls, the presidency said.

Barnier, 73, the oldest premier in the history of modern France, has been tasked with forming "a unifying government in the service of the country", the presidency added.

Sindhudurg court remands sculptor-contractor, consultant to police custody till September 10.

JKNC Vice President Omar Abdullah said, "We want to say that the decision taken for J&K, people of J&K are not happy with that. A positive surrounding could be seen here for the National Conference.And we hope that wherever our alliance partners are there, they will be successful."

On the arrest of Jaydeep Apte, the sculptor of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's statue, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde said, "I had said this earlier, everyone is equal before the law and he was bound to get arrested. Jaydeep Apte will now be investigated. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is our god and what happened was very unfortunate. Politicing the matter is very unfortunate..."

On Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue collapse, Congress MP & LoP Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi said, "I give you a guarantee that Kadam ji's (late Congress minister Patangrao Kadam) statue installed will be here even after 50-70 years.Shivaji Maharaj's statue was installed but only a few days later the statue fell. This is an insult to Shivaji Maharaj. The PM should apologise not just to Shivaji Maharaj but also to every person of Maharashtra."

Kanhaiya Lal murder case: The division bench of the High Court grants bail to accused Mohammad Javed on a bail bond of Rs 2 lakh and surety of Rs 1 lakh each. Mohammad Javed is accused of doing recce in this case.

Three people died and three were injured after a part of the slab collapsed of the 20th floor of Gr + 23 floors under construction building. The incident took place while the labourers were working and suddenly the slab collapsed. All the injured have been admitted to the Hospital in Malad. The fire brigade team and the police reached the spot. Further investigation is underway.

On PM Modi's Singapore visit, Secretary East in the MEA, Jaideep Mazumdar said "The discussions between the leadership of Singapore and our Prime Minister focused on how India and ASEAN, and with Singapore as one of our most important partners in ASEAN, can play in making this an Asian century. There is so much that we have in common. We are two of the fastest-growing regions in the world. We have young populations, which is also so important. For both of us, peace is very important to grow together. We have very strong relations on the defence side as well, where we do joint exercises together. Singapore has been our biggest foreign investor. Since 2000, Singapore has invested nearly $160 billion in India. Last year, Singapore was the biggest foreign investor in India. We are going into the next stage of sustainable technologies, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing such as semiconductors and also in health and skilling. We complement each other and we need each other in order to develop further. I would say that Singapore has also been a safe, secure place for Indians and people of Indian origin to grow and prosper. So the more we get closer together, I think it will only benefit them..."

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced his willingness to resume negotiations with Ukraine, referencing a deal that was nearly finalized between Moscow and Kyiv in Istanbul last year. Speaking at a forum in Vladivostok, Putin stated, "We have never refused to negotiate, but it should be based on the documents agreed upon and initialled in Istanbul, not on ephemeral demands."

Previously, Russia had cited Ukraine's military actions in the Kursk region as an obstacle to further discussions.

A terrifying video capturing an intense exchange of gunfire outside the Israeli consulate in Germany has surfaced, showing heavy firing between unknown assailants. The alarming incident occurred near the consulate, sending shockwaves through the area as authorities rushed to the scene. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, and no casualties have been confirmed yet.

Local police have cordoned off the area, and an investigation is underway to determine the details surrounding the event.

The Bench will reconvene at 2 pm post lunch.

During the Supreme Court hearing on Arvind Kejriwal's bail plea, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju raised a preliminary objection, questioning the jurisdiction of the apex court. He argued that the bail application should have been first heard by the sessions court, as per legal protocol.

However, the Bench asked ASG Raju to present all his arguments totally rather than addressing issues separately, ensuring a thorough consideration of the case's merits.

In the Supreme Court hearing, the Additional Solicitor General (ASG) for the CBI argued that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is seeking bail from the Supreme Court without considering the chargesheet, which was filed by the CBI. The ASG criticized this approach as an example of "legal adventurism," asserting that the High Court's order on bail is well-reasoned and does not warrant interference.

Justice Kant observed that a chargesheet typically represents a change in circumstances that might affect bail considerations. The ASG countered that the usual legal process involves reviewing the chargesheet and questioned whether the High Court should decide on bail without evaluating these documents.

In the Supreme Court hearing, the Additional Solicitor General (ASG) representing the CBI argued that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal should have first approached the Sessions Court before directly seeking relief from the High Court. Under Section 439, both courts have concurrent jurisdiction, but the ASG contended that the trial court is the appropriate venue to assess the merits of the case.

The ASG noted that other co-accused, such as Manish Sisodia and K Kavitha, followed the proper procedure by first approaching the trial court. Justice Bhuyan remarked that the "snakes and ladders" analogy used in the Manish Sisodia judgment was not a favorable observation for the prosecution.

Justice Ujjal Bhuyan comments that the ‘snakes and ladders’ observation in the Manish Sisodia judgment is not a “charitable observation” for the prosecution.

Mr. Singhvi refers to the Supreme Court’s judgment granting bail to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s aide, Prem Prakash, in an illegal mining-related case registered by the ED. He points out that the top court had underscored that bail is the rule and jail is an exception even in money laundering cases.

Mr. Singhvi refers to the Supreme Court’s judgment granting bail to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s aide, Prem Prakash, in an illegal mining-related case registered by the ED. He points out that the top court had underscored that bail is the rule and jail is an exception even in money laundering cases.

Singhvi points out that the “triple test for bail” in corruption cases is completely in the favor of the Delhi Chief Minister. He also highlights that most other co-accused, such as former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, BRS leader K Kavitha, and former AAP communication in-charge Vijay Nair, have already been granted bail by the top court.

Arvind Kejriwal live updates: Advocate Singhvi, representing Kejriwal during the Supreme Court hearing of his bail plea in the excise policy case against the CBI, argued, “The likelihood of me committing another offence was not just zero—it was negative. He was deemed fit for release by the Supreme Court on two occasions!”

Singhvi: "My lords are absolutely right. No notice to me or court. This is ex parte between court and them (CBI). No application served, they filed application saying we will give the documents later. Insurance arrest surely!"

ASG: "No question of notice here. As per technicality."

Singhvi: "Even for the prosecutor, you do not defeat liberty with technicality. What you call technicality are procedural safeguards at heart of liberty."

In the Supreme Court, Arvind Kejriwal’s lawyer, A M Singhvi, emphasized that Kejriwal’s case is exceptional. He noted, "Mr. Kejriwal’s case is exceptional; he was granted bail three times in the ED case under the stringent bail provision of the PMLA." Singhvi highlighted that the Supreme Court granted him bail twice, and the trial court granted him bail once.

Dr. Singhvi highlights that the CBI did not arrest Kejriwal for two years after the ED first registered the case in August 2022. He is only arrested on June 25, while already in judicial custody in the ED case.

During the two-year period, the only significant development is a statement from co-accused Magunta Reddy made in January, the senior counsel asserts.

Mr. Singhvi further highlights the only justification given by the CBI for the arrest is Mr. Kejriwal’s alleged non-cooperation. “There are Supreme Court judgments affirming that a person is not required to self-incriminate”, he adds.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s lawyer, A M Singhvi, informed the Supreme Court that the CBI had filed an application with the Special Court to interrogate Kejriwal, which was approved. Singhvi claimed that the CBI introduced a new statement in court, recorded in January, and subsequently interrogated Kejriwal in Tihar Jail. Following this, the CBI submitted an application for his arrest.

The Supreme Court queried why Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal was granted bail twice. Senior Advocate Dr. AM Singhvi explained that the initial bail was for 21 days to allow Kejriwal to campaign for the Lok Sabha elections. After surrendering on June 2, he was granted bail by the Special Court on June 20. The Supreme Court then granted him interim bail again on July 12, while referring the matter to a larger Bench to address the necessity and justification of his arrest under the PMLA.

In the Supreme Court, Senior Advocate Dr. AM Singhvi detailed the timeline of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s case. Singhvi noted that the ED registered the case in August 2022 but arrested Kejriwal only on March 21, 2024—shortly after the Model Code of Conduct for the 2024 General Elections came into effect. He emphasized that the Supreme Court granted interim bail on May 10, acknowledging Kejriwal posed no threat, and extended it on July 12, affirming his rights. Despite these rulings, Kejriwal was detained for over 90 days, marking three instances of bail.

Singhvi: What started in August 2023 led to arrest in March 2024. in ED case, there are two significant release orders. In one, SC noted he is not a threat to the society, and it was an interim release. It was held not a threat in an ED case.

Singhvi: Please see the CBI FIR. I am not named. Then there is ECIR by ED. Then comes when i was called by CBI for questioning for about 8 to 9 hours as a witness. In March 24, I am arrested by the ED and not CBI.

Senior Advocate Dr. A.M. Singhvi is representing Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the Supreme Court. Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju is representing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The hearing on Kejriwal’s bail petition is set to begin shortly.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has accused Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of benefiting from illicit funds linked to the excise policy case. In its supplementary chargesheet, the CBI alleges that the AAP was involved in a criminal conspiracy surrounding the now-scrapped excise policy. The agency claims that Kejriwal was implicated from the beginning in the conspiracy related to the formulation and implementation of the policy.

The CBI further alleges that there was a premeditated plan to privatize aspects of the policy in exchange for financial support. Additionally, the agency asserts that Vijay Nair, a close associate of Kejriwal who received bail earlier this week, was involved in soliciting illegal bribes for favorable policy adjustments.

A bench comprising of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan will hear Delhi CM Kejriwal's bail plea

Arvind Kejriwal bail hearing live updates: Earlier, on August 16, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann stated that Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal would soon be released from jail and would emerge mentally stronger, as federal agencies lack evidence against him or other party leaders. During a meeting with senior AAP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in Delhi, Mann also asserted that the AAP represents the future of the country.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was initially arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21, 2024, in connection with the alleged excise policy case. After the Delhi High Court denied his request for interim protection, he was later taken into custody by the CBI on June 26, 2024, at the Delhi Rouse Avenue Court. He was placed in judicial custody on June 29, 2024.

The Supreme Court had granted him interim bail on May 10, 2024, to allow him to campaign for the Lok Sabha elections. However, Kejriwal had to surrender to Tihar officials on June 2, 2024, following the end of his bail period.

The CBI has uncovered both oral and documentary evidence indicating that AAP leader Durgesh Pathak, who managed the party’s Goa Assembly election finances, oversaw illegal funds during the campaign. According to the CBI, Chanpreet Singh Rayat handled these illicit funds through hawala channels, using them for cash payments to vendors, booth managers, and volunteers. Rayat acted under Pathak's guidance, confirming that Pathak was aware of both the amount and source of the money being utilized in the election expenses.

In a tweet, Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared details of his continued discussions with Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong, stating, "Our talks focused on boosting cooperation in areas like skilling, technology, healthcare, AI and more. We both agreed on the need to boost trade relations." The leaders discussed strengthening ties in key sectors and enhancing collaboration between the two nations.

The Supreme Court is set to hear Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s petitions challenging the legality of his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and seeking bail in the Delhi excise policy case at 10:30 am today.

Fans of actor Thalapathy Vijay celebrated the release of his film 'GOAT' by offering milk to his poster outside a theatre in Chennai. The jubilant crowd gathered to show their love and support for the superstar as the film hit screens.

A 31-year-old doctor, Dr. S Samson Daniel, was arrested for sexually assaulting minor girls at a hostel affiliated with a government-aided school in Trichy. His mother, S Grace Sagayarani, the school's headmistress, was also arrested for allegedly covering up the crimes. Both have been booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act and sent to 3-day judicial custody, confirmed Trichy City Police.

India and Singapore signed key MoUs to boost collaboration in digital technologies and semiconductors. The first MoU, between India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and Singapore's Ministry of Digital Development and Information, focuses on areas like DPI, cybersecurity, 5G, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence. This agreement also promotes upskilling and reskilling workers in the digital space, fostering deeper bilateral cooperation in emerging technologies.

BJP Ratia MLA Lakshman Napa has resigned from the party's primary membership. In a strategic move ahead of the upcoming Haryana Assembly Elections, the BJP has selected former Sirsa MP Sunita Duggal to contest from the Ratia Assembly Constituency.

Sindhudurg Police have arrested sculptor Jaydeep Apte for his alleged involvement in the collapse of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s statue. Apte has been taken from Thane to Sindhudurg and will be presented in court today.

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde announced a ₹6,500 pay increase for Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation employees. While the decision was welcomed, Shinde criticized the unions for causing hardships to the public during the Ganapati festival strike.

During PM Modi's visit, India and Singapore signed four MoUs in areas like digital technologies, healthcare, education, and a key India-Singapore Semiconductor Ecosystem Partnership, in the presence of Singapore PM Lawrence Wong.

Dharambir set a new Asian record with a 34.92m throw to win gold, while Pranav Soorma secured silver with a 34.59m throw, marking a dominant one-two finish for India in the men’s F51 club throw at the Paralympics.

Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, is set to visit Maharashtra today for a public meeting. This visit follows his departure from Delhi.

At least four people, including two students, were killed and nine others injured when 14-year-old student Colt Cray opened fire at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, on Wednesday. Cray, who surrendered and is cooperating with authorities, will be charged as an adult. The victims include two students and two teachers. Following the tragedy, the White House renewed calls for stricter gun control measures, while President Biden and Vice President Harris condemned the ongoing gun violence. This shooting adds to the growing crisis, with over 385 mass shootings reported in the U.S. this year.

President Joe Biden condemned the Georgia school shooting, urging bipartisan support for gun safety legislation. The tragic incident left four dead and nine injured, with Biden calling it a "horrific reminder" of escalating gun violence.

PM Modi and Singapore’s Lawrence Wong discussed strengthening cooperation in semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, and other sectors. An MoU is expected, focusing on talent development and Singapore’s expertise in semiconductor park management.

Good morning! Welcome to Moneycontrol's live coverage of top news and headlines. Stay tuned for further updates.