1. J&K administration removes four government staff: The Jammu and Kashmir administration has fired four government staff under Article 311 of the constitution, for allegedly carrying out or acting in support of terror activities. Among the removed include, Syed Abdul Mueed, the third son of India’s most-wanted terrorist Syed Salahuddin.
2. New cabinet in Maharashtra, key portfolios with Fadnavis: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde set aside finance and home ministries for Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, keeping urban development and public works under him.
3. Automatic monthly power tariff revision at ideation stage: The draft amendment to Electricity Regulations 2006 by the power ministry proposes automatic power tariff revision every month, just like petrol and diesel pricing.
4. Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi in home isolation after testing positive for Covid again: Congress President Sonia Gandhi has tested positive for Cornovirus for the second time. Party general secretary Jairam Ramesh tweeted that the leader would remain in home isolation as mandated by government protocol.
5. India will upgrade its diplomatic mission in Kabul: India and the Taliban government in Afghanistan are slowly warming up to each other. The two governments are inching closer with India, ready to upgrade its diplomatic presence in Afghanistan, a move Kabul has welcomed.
6. Hadi Matar, the man who attacked Salman Rushdie, receives praise from Iranian newspapers: Hardline Iranian newspapers heaped praise on Hadi Matar, the 24-year-old-man from New Jersey, who stabbed Author Salman Rushdie. Social media accounts of Hadi Matar have revealed that he is sympathetic to Shia extremism.
7. Chinese spy vessel to dock at Hambantota port from August 16: Despite India’s concerns over the docking of the Chinese Spy-ship, Sri Lanka said the vessel will be docking for a week at the Hambantota port from August 16.
8. Russia says it will end the bilateral relationship with the US if it seizes Russia’s assets: Amid a deteriorating relationship with the west, Russia’s foreign minister said on Saturday that any attempts by the United States to seize Russian assets in the country would destroy bilateral relations between the nations.
9. HC reprieve for the woman born in Lankan refugee camp: The Madras High court has said that the woman born in the Sri Lankan Refugee camp in 1986 is an Indian. The court cited section 3 of the Citizen Ship Act 1955, which says any person born in India between January 1950 and July 1987 is an Indian.
10. Foreign minister S Jaishankar was lauded by Imran Khan: Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar received praise from an unexpected person, the former PM of Pakistan, Imran Khan. At a gathering in Lahore, Khan played Jaishankar’s video, appreciating India’s independent foreign policy.
Image: The Hindu