News Highlights on July 14: India's first Monkeypox case in Kerala

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Live News Updates July 14: Yes Bank-DHFL case: Kapil Wadhawan sanctioned loans of over Rs 400 cr without following norms, says CBI

Loans of over Rs 400 crore were sanctioned by Kapil Wadhwan of DHFL to companies owned by co-accused Sanjay Chhabriaa without following the norms, the CBI has said in its supplementary charge-sheet.

The agency filed the additional charge sheet in the case of cheating against Yes Bank founder Rana Kapoor and Dewan Housing Finance Limited (DHFL) promoters Kapil and Dheeraj Wadhawan last month.

Live News Updates July 14: Our forex reserves depleting very fast: Yashwant Sinha

Joint opposition's presidential candidate Yashwant Sinha said India's economy will not go the Sri Lankan way, but expressed concern about the fast depleting foreign exchange reserves and the sliding value of the rupee against the US dollar.

The former Union finance minister said this during his visit to the Madhya Pradesh capital to meet the Congress MLAs as part of his campaign for the presidential election.

"India will not go the way Sri Lanka is going. Our economy is not based on one or two industries. Sri Lanka's economy was primarily based on tourism, which was hit by COVID-19. Tea market also got affected. That is not the situation with us," he said while addressing a press conference.

"But I want to give you one more figure. Some days ago, our foreign exchange reserve was USD 641 billion. In saving the rupee's downfall, the RBI has spent USD 45 billion...A grim situation is developing. Our huge foreign exchange reserves are depleting very fast," he added. The rupee is sliding down against the USD. It has already touched 79.86 mark against the dollar, Sinha said. The rupee is sliding down against the USD. It has already touched 79.86 mark against the dollar, Sinha said. (PTI)

Live News Updates July 14: Ajmer dargah cleric arrested from Hyderabad over hate speech

The Rajasthan Police arrested an Ajmer dargah cleric from Hyderabad for allegedly delivering a provocative speech at the main gate of the shrine last month.

Ajmer Additional Superintendent of Police Vikas Sangwan said an FIR was registered against Gohar Chishti on June 25 over the speech he delivered on June 17.

Chishti left Rajasthan on June 29 and had been on the run since then, he said.

Live News Updates July 14: Won't support any law on 2-child policy, says Owaisi

AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi said he would not support any law if the Centre brings in a two-child norm/policy in the country.

"The mistake China did, India should not. I will not support it (two-child law) at all because it will not be in India's interest.

Owaisi was reacting to a query whether he would support the Central government if it brings a law mandating two-children (for population control). (PTI)

Live News Updates July 14: AIMPL Board moves SC against plea to challenge Places of Worship Act

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board has moved the Supreme Court opposing a plea challenging the validity of certain sections of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991.

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) contended that the object of the Act is to prevent disturbances of public order, maintain peace and tranquility, and strengthen the basic feature of secularism.

Live News Updates July 14: Alt News co-founder Zubair moves SC for quashing of six FIRs against him in UP

Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair on Thursday moved the Supreme Court seeking quashing of the six FIRs lodged against him in several districts of Uttar Pradesh for allegedly hurting religious sentiments, and also sought interim bail in all the cases.

Live News Updates July 14: Fresh CBI FIR against Mehul Choksi in Canara Bank fraud of Rs 55.27 crore

The CBI has filed a fresh FIR against fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi for allegedly cheating a Canara Bank-led consortium to the tune of Rs 55.27 crore.

The agency has also booked Bezel Jewellery and its whole-time directors, including Choksi, Chetna Jhaveri, Dinesh Bhatia and Milind Limaye. The Canara Bank and the Bank of Maharashtra had sanctioned Rs 30 crore and Rs 25 crore respectively as working capital facility under a consortium agreement to Bezel Jewellery. (PTI)

Live News Updates July 14: Monkeypox scare: Union health ministry rushes team to Kerala

The Union health ministry has rushed a high-level multi-disciplinary team to Kerala to collaborate with the state health authorities in instituting public health measures in view of the confirmed case of monkeypox in Kollam district.

The Central team to Kerala comprises of experts drawn from National Center for Disease Control, Dr. RML Hospital, New Delhi and senior official from the ministry along with experts from regional office of health & family welfare, Kerala.

The team has been asked to work closely with the state health departments and take a stock of on-ground situation and recommend necessary public health interventions.

“Government of India is taking proactive steps by monitoring the situation carefully and coordinating with states in case of any such possibility of outbreak occurs,” said the Centre in a state.

Live News Updates July 14: Rishi Sunak tops second round of voting in UK leadership contest

Former British finance minister Rishi Sunak won the most votes in the second round of voting to succeed Boris Johnson as leader of the Conservative Party and prime minister, as one candidate was eliminated.

Sunak came top with 101 votes, followed by junior trade minister and bookmakers' favourite Penny Mordaunt on 83 votes and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss on 64 votes. Attorney General Suella Braverman was eliminated with 27 votes.

Lawmaker Tom Tugendhat received 32 votes and Kemi Badenoch received 49 votes. (Reuters)

Live News Updates July 14: Sri Lanka president Gotabaya Rajapaksa resigns

Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa emailed a letter of resignation to the speaker of the country's parliament late on Thursday, a source familiar with the matter said.

It was not immediately clear if the letter, sent shortly after Rajapaksa arrived in Singapore, would be accepted in email form, the source added. (PTI)

Live News Updates July 14: Palaniswami expels Panneerselvam's sons from AIADMK

AIADMK interim general secretary K Palaniswami on Thursday expelled O Panneerselvam's sons, and 16 other supporters of the ousted leader, from the party.

Raveendranath, the party's Lok Sabha member from Theni constituency and Jeyapradeep, both sons of Panneerselvam and a former Minister, Vellamandi N Natarajan were expelled. (PTI)

Live News Updates July 14: Mahinda Rajapaksa, Basil won't leave Sri Lanka until SC hears petition, their lawyers say

Sri Lanka's former prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and ex-finance minister Basil Rajapaksa gave an undertaking to the Supreme Court through their lawyers that they will not leave the crisis-hit country until the Fundamental Rights petition filed against them is heard on Friday, a media report said.

A five-judge bench of Lankan Supreme Court are scheduled to hear on Friday the petition against the two members of the erstwhile powerful Rajapaksa family, the Daily Mirror Lanka website reported. (PTI)

Live News Updates July 14: Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa allowed entry on 'private visit': Singapore Govt

Singapore said it has allowed Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to enter the city-state on a "private visit" and there was no request for asylum from him, a day after he fled the country in the face of public revolt against his government's mishandling of the economy. (PTI)

Live News Updates July 14: No words banned, but members should maintain decorum: LS Speaker

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said no word has been banned from use in Parliament and members are free to express their views while maintaining decorum of the House.

Birla's comments came amid a controversy over publication of a booklet by the Lok Sabha Secretariat that listed words such as 'ashamed', 'jumlajeevi', 'taanashah', 'abused', 'betrayed', 'corrupt', 'drama', 'hypocrisy' and 'incompetent' as unparliamentary expressions. (PTI)

Live News Updates July 14: ED arrests ex-NSE chief Chitra Ramakrishna in PMLA case linked to 'illegal phone tapping'

The Enforcement Directorate arrested Chitra Ramakrishna, the former managing director and chief executive officer of the National Stock Exchange of India, in connection to a money laundering case linked to alleged illegal phone tapping and snooping. (PTI)

Live News Updates July 14: Trade deficit rises to $26.1 billion in June as imports surge

India's merchandise trade deficit rose to $26.1 billion in June 2022, 172% higher than in June 2021 as a continuing global commodity supercycle kept the prices of key energy and metal imports high.

Live News Updates July 14: Japan's prime minister blames inadequate police security for death of former leader Shinzo Abe, reports AP

Live News Updates July 15: Rupee falls 7 paise to close at a record low of 79.88 (provisional) against the US dollar

Live News Updates July 14: Japan's prime minister blames inadequate police security for death of former leader Shinzo Abe, reports AP

Live News Updates July 14: Delhi HC dismisses plea seeking postponement of NEET-UG scheduled to be held on July 17

Live News Updates July 14: Ukraine's Emergency Services agency says a Russian missile strike has killed 12 people in a city southwest of Kyiv, reports AP

Live News Updates July 14: Sri Lanka soldiers authorised to use necessary force to prevent the destruction of property and life, reports Reuters quoting Army statement 

Live News Updates July 14: Rishi Sunak hits back at critics, says 'I win elections to cut taxes'

Former British finance minister Rishi Sunak enters a second round of voting on Thursday in the Conservative Party leadership election to determine the next British Prime Minister with a comfortable lead and has hit back at critics of his tax plans. Read more.

Live News Updates July 14: Some Chinese hardliners consider me a separatist: Dalai Lama in Jammu

- Not Chinese people, but some Chinese hardliners consider me a separatist, said Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama in Jammu.

-Now, more andmore Chinese are realising that Dalai Lama not seeking independence but, within China, ameaningful autonomy andto preserve Tibetan Buddhist culture, he added. (ANI)

Live News Updates July 14: European Union predicts economic growth will slow

- European Union predicts economic growth will slow, inflation is predicted to go higher this year as Russia's war darkens outlook, reported AP. (PTI)

Live News Updates July 14: Illegal phone tapping: ED files PMLA case against ex-Mumbai CP, former NSE top brass Chitra Ramkrishna, Ravi Narain

Live News Updates July 14: Those who went to jail during 1975 Emergency to be given a pension by the Maharashtra govt: Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis

- All those people who went to jail during the 1975 Emergency to be given a pension by the Maharashtra government, said Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis.

- This decision was taken in 2018 but the last govt shut it down, he added. (ANI)

Live News Updates July 14: Sri Lanka: Military armoured vehicles seen on the roads of Colombo as massive protests continue to simmer in the island-nation

Live News Updates July 14: Delhi court adjourned the judgment in the bail matter of JNU student Sharjeel Imam

- Delhi court adjourned the judgment in the bail matter of JNU student Sharjeel Imam, in the 2019 sedition case against him.

- Prosecution is to file written and sought time.

- The matter is now listed for July 20. (ANI)

Live News Updates July 14: Maharashtra cuts VAT on petrol by Rs 5/litre, on diesel by Rs 3/litre

- Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has announced a cut in value added tax (VAT) of Rs 5 per litre on petrol and of Rs 3 per litre for diesel.

- The price cut was announced by the CM on July 14, ANI reported. Read more.

Live News Updates July 14: Sri Lanka's President Gotabaya Rajapaksa leaves for Singapore

-Sri Lanka's embattled President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Thursday left the Maldives for Singapore after fleeing his country amid an economic crisis, sources said.

- Rajapaksa has departed from the Maldives on Saudi Airline flight SV 788 to Singapore, they said.

- Rajapaksa, the 73-year-old leader who had promised to resign on Wednesday, appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as the acting President hours after he fled the country, escalating the political crisis and triggering a fresh wave of protests. (PTI)

Live News Updates July 14: Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin hospitalised

-Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, who tested positive for Coronavirus on July 12, was on Thursday admitted to a hospital for investigations and observation.

- Stalin was admitted in the Kauvery Hospital at Alwarpet here for investigations and observation for covid related symptoms, a hospital bulletin said.

- Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi and leaders have wished him a speedy recovery. (PTI)

Live News Updates July 14: Ahead of Asia Cup, BCCI monitoring situation in Sri Lanka: Sourav Ganguly

- Ahead of the Asia Cup scheduled to be held in August in Sri Lanka, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly on Thursday said that the board will keep monitoring the situation in the island nation amid the ongoing political and economic crisis there.

- "I cannot comment at the moment (about the possibility of India hosting the event). We will keep monitoring (the situation in Sri Lanka). Australia is playing there. The Sri Lankan team is also doing well. I cannot comment at the moment. Let us wait for a month," the BCCI president told ANI.

- Ganguly also spoke about the challenges posed by the Covid 19 pandemic during his tenure as BCCI president. (ANI)

Live News Updates July 14: Opposition flays 'gag order' on some terms used in Parliament

- The Congress and Trinamool Congress on Thursday slammed the "gag order" on usage of certain words in Parliament, saying all terms used by the Opposition to describe the Modi dispensation will now to be considered "unparliamentary".

- According to a new booklet by the Lok Sabha Secretariat, use of terms like 'jumlajeevi', 'baal buddhi', 'Covid spreader' and 'Snoopgate' and even commonly used words like 'ashamed', 'abused, 'betrayed', 'corrupt', 'drama', 'hypocrisy' and 'incompetent' will henceforth be considered unparliamentary in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

- Slamming the move, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "All words used by the Opposition to describe the reality of Modi Sarkar now to be considered 'unparliamentary'. What next Vishguru". Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala also said, "Saheb knows his qualities very well". He also shared a copy of the news report. Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala also said, "Saheb knows his qualities very well". (PTI)

ive News Updates July 14: Curfew imposed in Colombo till Friday morning

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-Sri Lankan government has imposed a curfew in Colombo from 12pm on July 14 to 5am on July 15, reports Reuters citing Sri Lankan Government.

Live News Updates July 14: Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair sent to 14-day judicial custody

-Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair has been sent to 14-day judicial custody after he appeared before Hathras court after 2 cases were registered against him in the district in the year 2018. (ANI)

Live News Updates July 14: Sri Lanka's Speaker seeks Prez Rajapaksa's resignation; says other options to be considered

- Sri Lankan Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena on Thursday informed Gotabaya Rajapaksa that he should submit his letter of resignation as the President as soon as possible or else he will consider other options to remove him from the office, according to a media report.

- On Wednesday, the Parliament Speaker said that the President in a telephone conversation had informed that he would tender his letter of resignation during the day, before midnight. However, he has not done it yet.

Speaker Abeywardena said that he informed President Rajapaksa to submit his letter of resignation as soon as possible, citing that he too is under pressure, News First Lanka reported on Thursday.

- He said that since an acting President has been appointed, the Office of the Speaker is exploring the legal provisions to consider the option of "have vacated his post" if the President does not tender in his letter of resignation, the report added. (PTI)

Live News Updates July 14: Suspected monkeypox case found in Kerala

- A person who returned from abroad has been admitted to a hospital in Kerala after he showed symptoms of monkeypox, state Health Minister Veena George said here on Thursday.

- The minister said his samples have been collected and sent to the National Institute of Virology for testing.

- She said the disease could be confirmed only after getting the test results. Without revealing more details, George said the person showed symptoms of monkeypox and he was in close contact with a monkeypox patient abroad. (PTI)

Live News Updates July 14: Prez Polls | NDA nominee Droupadi Murmu to meet MPs, MLAs in Mumbai today

- The National Democratic Alliance's presidential election nominee Droupadi Murmu will meet the ruling alliance MPs and MLAs here on Thursday as part of the campaign to seek support for her candidature.

- The meeting is scheduled at a suburban hotel, before which a luncheon has been organised with the parliamentarians and legislators, sources said.

- Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis will welcome Murmu on her arrival at the airport in Mumbai.

Live News Updates July 14: Private jet arrives in Maldives to transport Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to Singapore, reports Sri Lanka's Daily Mirror

- A private jet has landed in the Maldives capital Male a short while ago and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is all set to depart the island country for Singapore, the Daily Mirror learns.

- Rajapaksa, his wife Ioma Rajapaksa and two security officials were to board a Singapore Airlines flight last night from Male to Singapore but did not go ahead as scheduled due to security concerns.

- Rajapaksa had then requested for a private jet to depart the Maldives and discussions had begun by the Maldives authorities late night.

- The President is expected to announce his resignation after he reaches Singapore later today. (Daily Mirror)

Live News Updates July 14: Important to address Sri Lanka conflict, protestors' grievances: UN Chief

- Amid the unrest in Sri Lanka, the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday said it is important to address the conflict and grievances of protestors.

- "I continue to follow the situation in Sri Lanka very closely. It is important that the root causes of the conflict and protestors’ grievances are addressed. I urge all party leaders to embrace the spirit of compromise for a peaceful and democratic transition," he tweeted. (ANI)

Live News Today July 14: Dalai Lama to reach Ladakh on July 15 after one-day stay in Jammu today

Live News Updates July 14: Government calls all-party meet on July 17 ahead of monsoon session

-The Central Government has called for an all-party meeting on Sunday morning ahead of the start of the Monsoon Session of Parliament. This meeting which is slated to take place at 11 AM on July 17, 2022 has been called by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi.

-The floor leaders of all political parties have been invited for this meeting. What discussion will take place on the upcoming session and how to maximise productivity, all concerns will be taken into account in this meeting.

Live News Updates July 14: Opposition leaders to discuss joint Vice Presidential candidate on July 17: ANI

-Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday said that the leaders of Opposition parties will meet on July 17 to discuss the candidate for the upcoming Vice Presidential election.

-"Meeting on 17th July and all Opposition leaders will attend it. Parliamentary Affairs Minister has also called an all-party meet. So, we'll hold a discussion with everyone on the 17th that what kind of a candidate we should have," said Mallikarjun Kharge on the candidate for the Vice Presidential polls.

Live News Updates July 14: At 79.77, rupee hits fresh record low for 4th straight session against US dollar

-Indian rupee hit a fresh record low against the US dollar for the fourth straight session on July 14 after faster-than-expected June inflation data fueled the speculations that the Federal Reserve may raise key interest rates by as much as one percentage point in the upcoming meeting. This month, the domestic currency has dropped to record lows seven times.

-At 9.20 am, the rupee was trading at life low of 79.77, down 0.17 per centfrom its previous close of 79.64. On the other hand, the 10 year bond yield rose fourbasis points to 7.38 per cent from its previous close of 7.338 per cent. Read More

Live News Updates July 14: Mining lease case: EC to hear Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren's counsel today

-The Election Commission (EC) is likely to hear the legal counsel for Jharkhand Chief Minister and JMM leader Hemant Soren on Thursday in the mine lease case in which the BJP has sought his disqualification as an MLA under electoral law.

-When the EC had commenced hearing in the matter on June 28, the BJP counsel had sought his disqualification under Section 9A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which deals with "Disqualification for Government contracts, etc." Read More

Live News Updates July 14: UN Secy Gen urges Sri Lanka leaders to 'embrace spirit of compromise'

-''I continue to follow the situation in Sri Lanka very closely. It is important that the root causes of the conflict and protestors’ grievances are addressed. I urge all party leaders to embrace the spirit of compromise for a peaceful and democratic transition'', said UN Secretary General António Guterres.

Live News Updates July 14: Security tightened in Ladakh for Dalai Lama's one-month stay; China upset

-In his first major tour in two years since the COVID-19 pandemic, Tibetan spiritual Leader the Dalai Lama will be in Leh from July 15, according to media reports

-According to Hindustan Times, Tenzin Taklha, the Dalai Lama’s private secretary, said on Wednesday, that he will leave for Leh on Thursday. “He will be staying at Choglamsar village on the banks of the Indus river and impart teaching to Buddhists and local communities. So far, it has not been decided how long he will stay there. We will know about that after he reaches the village that is at a high altitude. It depends on how he feels there.”

Live News Updates July 14: Rishi Sunak tops first round of voting in UK leadership contest: Reuters

-Former British finance minister Rishi Sunak won the most votes in the first round of voting to succeed Boris Johnson as leader of the Conservative Party and prime minister, as two candidates were eliminated.

-Sunak scored 88 votes, ahead of junior trade minister Penny Mordaunt on 67 and foreign Secretary Liz Truss on 50. Finance minister Nadhim Zahawi and former cabinet minister Jeremy Hunt were eliminated.