Delhi

New Delhi, Aug 6 (PTI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will be on a two-day visit to Srinagar from Monday during which he will inaugurate the party's Jammu and Kashmir headquarters and meet Congress workers, sources said.

They said Gandhi is likely to reach Srinagar on August 9 and may attend the wedding of the son of J&K Congress chief Ghulam Ahmed Mir.

On August 10, he will inaugurate the headquarters of J&K unit of the Congress and address a meeting of party workers and leaders in the union territory.

New Delhi, Aug 5 (PTI) The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has gone past 49 crore, the Union health ministry said on Thursday.

More than 50.29 lakh (50,29,573) vaccine doses were administered on Thursday, according to a provisional report compiled at 7 pm.

The ministry said 27,26,494 beneficiaries in the age group of 18-44 years received the first dose, while 4,81,823 were administered the second dose of the vaccine on Thursday.

Delhi; 06 August 2021 (UMMN): BJP Gov in Centre has formally asked Rajya Sabha to disallow questions regarding snooping of the phones of journalists, activists, politicians and others, amid global controversy over the misuse of Pegasus spyware to hack phones.

New Delhi, Aug 5 (PTI) Hailing the Indian men's hockey team's bronze medal win in the Tokyo Olympics as historic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday that this day will be etched in the memory of every Indian.

With this feat, they have captured the imagination of the entire nation, especially the youth, Modi said, adding that India is proud of its hockey team.

Sources said the prime minister also spoke to the men's hockey team captain Manpreet Singh, head coach Graham Reid and Assistant Coach Piyush Dubey, after the win.

New Delhi, Aug 5 (PTI) Communication between two girls through exchange of letters form the subject of a new book which attempts to portray life in Kashmir from the perspective of its young minds and providing a context of understanding for the new generation in other parts of the country.

"Post Box Kashmir: Two Lives in Letters" provides an insight into the minds and hearts of teenage girls, one in Delhi and the other in Kashmir, undergoing momentous points in history.

New Delhi, Aug 5 (PTI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Thursday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Pegasus snooping row, saying the Israeli spyware was a tool to silence people.

Addressing a 'Sansad Gehrao' protest here by the Indian Youth Congress, he targeted the prime minister over the issue of employment too.

"Your mobile phone is your voice. Narendra Modi has put the idea of Pegasus in the mobile phone of every youth, not just mine. This idea is that if you speak the truth, Narendra Modi and Pegasus are there in your phones," he said.

New Delhi, Aug 3 (PTI) Indian rupee is likely to test 76-76.50 levels as a relatively strong greenback, boiling crude prices and COVID headwinds deepen the depreciation bias for the domestic currency, according to experts.

One of the significantly-hit Asian currency in recent months amid uncertain economic times, rupee is expected to see a consolidation in the vicinity of the current level before being pulled towards the depreciation bias.

New Delhi, Aug 3 (PTI) The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on Tuesday said it has issued a notification to exempt battery operated vehicles from the payment of fees for issue or renewal of registration certificate.

In a statement, the ministry said it has also exempted battery operated vehicles from the payment of fees for assignment of new registration marks.

This has been notified to encourage e-mobility, it added.

New Delhi, Aug 4 (PTI) Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday suspended six TMC MPs for the day for carrying placards while protesting along with other opposition MPs over the Pegasus spying issue.

Just as witnessed since the start of monsoon session, slogan-shouting TMC and other opposition MPs trooped into the well of the House, some holding placards, to demand a discussion on the issue of Israeli-made, military-grade Pegasus spyware allegedly being used to snoop on opposition leaders, government critics and journalists.

New Delhi, Aug 2 (PTI) Edible oil major Adani Wilmar Ltd (AWL) on Monday filed the draft red herring prospectus with markets regulator Sebi for an initial public offer to raise up to Rs 4,500 crore.

The company, which sells cooking oils under the Fortune brand, is a major player in the edible oil industry.

"The proposed listing of AWL on the stock exchanges will comprise an IPO in the form of fresh issue of new equity shares by AWL for an amount of up to INR 45,000 million (approximately USD 600 million).