Cuba struggling to contain worst fire in island's history
Cubans awoke to massive blackouts Tuesday morning with 40 per centof the country's main fuel storage facility destroyed by what officials said was the worst fire in its history.
Lightning struck one fuel storage tank Friday evening. The fire spread to a second by Sunday and engulfed the four-tank area Monday, accompanied by huge explosions and despite efforts by local firefighters supported by more than 100 Mexican and Venezuelan reinforcements.
Officials have not said how much fuel has been lost in the fire which destroyed all four tanks. Authorities stated that no oil had contaminated the nearby Matanzas Bay. Still they warned residents as far away as Havana to wear face masks and avoid acid rain due to the massive plume of smoke the fire generated. (Reuters)
Houses close to rivers flooded in Idukki, Kerala after dams release water
With many rivers in Keralaoverflowing following the release of water from dams, houses close to rivers were flooded in Idukki district of the state.
As many as 30 dams in the state were reported to have released water on Tuesday owing to heavy rains in catchment areas. A high alert continued to remain in place at all areas close to dams. People living near flood prone areas near rivers were shifted to relief camps.
A minor landslide was also reported from Idukki district on Kerala.
Nitish won't get respect from RJD: BJP RS MP Sushil Modi
"He (Nitish Kumar) won't get that respect with RJD that he got while being with BJP. We made him CM despite having more seats and never tried to break his party. We broke only those who betrayed us. In Maharashtra, Shiv Sena betrayed us and faced consequences," said BJP Rajya Sabha MP Sushil Modi. (ANI)
Bihar CM, Deputy CM swearing in to take place at 2 pm tomorrow
Lalu's daughters put out amusing tweets, taunt BJP after Nitish severs ties
As Chief Minister Nitish Kumar severed ties with ally BJP on a day filled with high drama, two of RJD supremo Lalu Yadav's daughters put out amusing and sarcastic tweets, with one signalling a change of guard in Bihar and another describing the state as synonymous with legendary Chanakya.
Rohini Acharya even shared a video of a Bhojpuri singer featuring his catchy number 'Lalu Bina Chalu Bihar Na Hoi' in one of her tweets with a caption: "Rajtilak ki karo tayyari, aa rahe hain laltendhari."
She also mocked the saffron party, in a tweet in Hindi which said: "People in BJP had told us to change DP, we Laluvadis changed the government only." (PTI)
Last month one of the hottest Julys on record: UN
Temperatures globally last month were 0.4 degrees Celsius above the 1991-2020 average, the UN's weather agency, the WMO, said.
And this despite the fact that the weather phenomenon La Nina, which has held the globe in its clutches almost uninterrupted since September 2020, "is meant to have a cooling influence."
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Serena Williams plans to retire after US Open
SerenaWilliams, the 23-time Grand Slam champion who has been the face of tennis since winning her first US Open in 1999, said in a magazine article published online Tuesday that she planned to retire from the sport after playing again in the tournament, which begins this month. (AFP)
People may lose voting rights if BJP grows stronger: SP chief Akhilesh
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav here on Tuesday alleged that people may lose their right to vote if the BJP is allowed to become stronger as he accused the ruling party of undermining the country’s democratic institutions and the Constitution.
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BJP's agenda shouldn't be implemented in Bihar: RJD's Tejashwi on joining hands with Nitish
'Mahagathbandhan' is the people's mandate: Sharad Yadav
Nitish Kumar reaches Governor's house to stake claim as 'Mahagathbandhan' CM
Nitish Kumar reaches Governor's house to stake claim as Chief Minister of 'Mahagathbandhan': JD(U) sources
Nitish Kumar elected leader of 'Mahagathbandhan'
Nitish Kumar elected leader of 'Mahagathbandhan' as prelude to staking claim to form new govt in Bihar:JD(U) sources
Nitish's actions a betrayal of Bihar's people and BJP: State BJP chief
The slogan of 'BJP Bhagaon' is coming from Bihar; soon others will join: Akhilesh
"It's a good start. On this day the slogan of 'Angrezo Bharat Chhodo' was given and today the slogan of 'BJP Bhagaon' is coming from Bihar. I think soon political parties and people in different states will stand against BJP," Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav said on the political situation in Bihar. (ANI)
All MPs, MLAs reached consensus to leave the NDA: Nitish
Nitish Kumar arrives at the residence of Rabri Devi after resigning as CM
Our government will give first priority to unemployed youth: RJD Sources
RJD likely to extend support to Nitish Kumar
RJD is likely to extend support to Nitish Kumar. There'll be no differences in the allotment of portfolios. Tejashwi Yadav said that they have a strength of 160. If BJP attempts to create instability or tries to push for President's Rule, we'll give them a "befitting reply": RJD Sources
BJP wants Nitish Kumar to continue as CM, says Union Minister Kaushal Kishor
We strengthen our own party, we don't weaken any other party: Bihar BJP leader
Many JD(U) MLAs, MLCs told CM Nitish Kumar in the meeting that their present alliance is trying to weaken them since 2020. Without naming Chirag Paswan, they said he was one such example; also said they if they're not alert now, it won't be good for the party: Sources
Upendra Kushwaha, National Parliamentary Board President of JD(U) tweets, "Congratulations Nitish Kumar for the leadership of a new alliance in a new form..."
In the Mahagathbandhan meeting today, RJD MLAs, MLCs and Rajya Sabha MP authorised party leader Tejashwi Yadav to take a decision and said that they are with him. Congress and Left parties MLAs have already said that they are with Tejashwi Yadav
Lalu Prasad Yadav is also closely watching every movement but everything is being done by Tejashwi Yadav: ANI citing RJD sources
BJP never initiated anything that may stir up a controversy or create a situation of uncertainty among them. JD(U) will make a decision but BJP definitely wants Nitish Kumar to continue as CM: Union Minister Kaushal Kishore
Nitish tells JD(U) MLAs that alliance is over: Media reports
Police personnel deployed outside the residence of Bihar CM and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar in Patna
Bihar CM and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar to meet Governor Phagu Chauhan today at 4 pm, at Raj Bhavan.
Ruling party sources confirmed to Deccan Herald on Tuesday that JD (U) will not dilute its stand on having its own Chief Minister as there is no towering leader like Nitish, notwithstanding the numbers’ game.
“Nitish Kumar will be the Chief Minister if and when there is fresh political realignment, hopefully in a day or two,” said the source, wishing not to be identified till the new permutation and combination is in place.
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JD(U) seeks an appointment from Bihar Governor Phagu Chauhan
Meetings of Mahagathbandhan MLAs at RJD chief Lalu Yadavs' residence & JD(U) leaders at CM's residence are under way in Patna.
If Nitish Kumar comes, we'll welcome him. If he comes we will support him.A meeting of Mahagathbandhan is being held: Congress leader
We should take a decision to support (him) by considering Nitish Kumar as the CM but we'll be able to tell you only after the meeting: Ajit Sharma, Congress, Bihar
Bihar political crisis: BJP treads cautiously ahead of JD(U) meeting
With the JD(U) leadership taking aim at the BJP over a host of issues, a senior leader of the country's ruling party claimed on Monday that his party has adhered to "coalition dharma" in its alliance with the Bihar party and will continue to do so.
"We will discharge our coalition dharma," he said as Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar called a meeting of Janata Dal (United) MPs and MLAs on Tuesday amid his party's worsening ties with the BJP.
Amid speculation that the JD(U) is reconsidering the alliance, senior BJP leaders have maintained a studied silence on the ally's accusation related to the fallout of R C P Singh, once the closest aide of the Bihar chief minister, with Kumar and also Chirag Paswan.
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All major players, except the BJP, have convened their legislature party meeting on Tuesday though there is no Assembly session going on here.
Till a day ago, it looked more like wide speculation. But on Monday, in a significant development, which could have wide political ramifications, Bihar appeared to be heading towards an imminent change of political allegiances.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has convened a meeting of his party MPs (Lok Sabha as well as Rajya Sabha), MLAs and MLCs on Tuesday. Officially, it has been said that Nitish wants to have their feedback on caste census, but those in the know of things averred that he would gauge their mind to know whether the JD(U) should shift its political allegiance, dump the NDA and rejoin the Mahagatbandhan.
This comes close on the heels of RJD vice president Shivanand Tiwary’s assertion on Monday: “Gale lagaiyenge (Will embrace him), if Nitish dumps the NDA and joins us.”
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Bihar Assembly Speaker Vijay Kumar Sinha has turned Covid positive to Covid negative in just one day.
Sinha, on his official Twitter handle, had on Sunday posted that he had tested positive for Corona, and appealed to everybody who was in contact with him to follow Covid protocols and get themselves tested. He also announced that he was going into isolation.
On Monday, he again uploaded a message on his official Twitter handle, saying that he turned corona negative "with the blessings of god".
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Will Nitish Kumar do a volte-face again? All eyes on Bihar
All eyes in Bihar are now on the meetings called by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JD(U) and the opposition RJD, of their respective legislators, which have triggered speculations of seismic political developments in the state.
However, those appearing to be in the know of things in both parties insisted that notwithstanding hectic political activity that continued till late Monday evening, a dramatic realignment was not on the agenda of the meetings that will commence simultaneously, right across the street from each other.
Our meeting is on the issue of Census...Everything is alright...We are happy (when asked if JDU is not happy in alliance with BJP in the state): JD(U) MLC Kumud Verma
JD(U) to hold a meeting today at 11 am, amid reports of the party's rift with ally BJP in the state.
JD(U) MLC Kumud Verma and party MP Sunil Kumar arrive at the residence of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna; other leaders of the party are also arriving here.
Vehicular movement gets disrupted in the Andheri subway amid waterlogging; Bhiwandi inundated
Assam Rifles JCO injured in militant attacks near Myanmar border in Arunachal Pradesh
One JCO of Assam Rifles was injured after suspected militants fired at an Assam Rilfes team in Arunachal Pradesh's Changlang district on Tuesday morning. Defence Spokesperson based in Guwahati, Lt. Col. Mahender Rawat told DH that the militants fired from across Myanmar border when the Assam Rifles team was carrying out patrolling near the border in view of Independence Day celebrations.
Single day rise of 12,751 new coronavirus infections push India's COVID-19 tally to 4,41,74,650, death toll climbs to 5,26,772
RJD MLAs & leaders arrive at the residence of party chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, in Patna. The party will hold a meeting at 11 am today amid reports of rifts b/w JD(U) & BJP in the state.
Mobile phones of all MLAs are being kept outside the meeting room.
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