Morning Digest: SC to pronounce verdict in Prashant Bhushan contempt case; ED pushes plea against acquittals in 2G case, and more

A select list of stories to read before you start your day

Prashant Bhushan. File

Prashant Bhushan contempt case | Supreme Court to pronounce judgment on August 14

A three-judge Bench led by Justice Arun Mishra is scheduled to pronounce its judgment on Friday in a  suo motu  contempt case  against noted civil rights lawyer Prashant Bhushan for his tweet on a photograph  of Chief Justice Sharad A. Bobde astride a bike and another on the role of the apex court in the past six years.

2G case verdict | Enforcement Directorate pushes plea against acquittals

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday asked the Delhi High Court for an expeditious hearing of its appeal against the  2G case  verdict  acquitting former Union Minister A. Raja and other accused .

Supreme Court refuses to stay Rajasthan Speaker’s decision on BSP MLAs

The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to stay Rajasthan Assembly Speaker C.P. Joshi’s September 18, 2019 decision to recognise the

merger of six BSP MLAs with the Congress party .

Resolution to condemn Chinese aggression against India introduced in U.S. Senate

A bipartisan group of two powerful American senators on Thursday introduced a resolution in the Senate condemning China’s aggression towards India to change the status quo at the Line of Actual Control between the two Asian giants.

Consider including more languages in governance: CJI S.A. Bobde

Chief Justice of India Sharad A. Bobde has said that the government should consider amending the Official Languages Act of 1963 to include more vernacular languages in governance, and not just confine it to Hindi and English.

India, Australia share views on protecting critical infra, including 5G network

India and Australia are sharing experiences on protecting critical infrastructure, including 5G networks, said a senior Australian High Commission official on Thursday while talking of the huge increase in cybersecurity cooperation between the two countries. However, Australia has no intention of banning Chinese apps like India has done, said Minister-Counsellor, Home Affairs, Tara Cavanagh.

Cancellation of exams will hit future of students: UGC

The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Thursday questioned the logic of States like Maharashtra and Delhi cancelling the final term exams for fear of COVID-19, but at the same time willing to open up varsities and educational institutions for the next academic session.

Editors Guild condemns violence against journalists

Condemning the recent incidents of attacks on journalists in Delhi and Bengaluru, the Editors Guild of India said that freedom of press is an “indispensable attribute of a functioning democracy”.

Coronavirus | 20 trained nurses dead, 509 infected, says TNAI

Maharashtra, Gujarat and West Bengal have the maximum number of COVID positive staff nurses in the country and also the highest fatality rate, the Trained Nurses Association of India (TNAI) said on Thursday.

R.N. Ravi no show at NSCN-IM informal talks

Naga interlocutor R.N Ravi kept the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-IM (NSCN-IM) leadership waiting as he did not turn up for the scheduled informal talks in New Delhi on Thursday.

Kamal Harris' Indian heritage could boost Joe Biden with Asian-American voters

Joe Biden's presidential campaign plans to step up engagement with Asian-American voters this fall and is betting running mate Kamala Ms. Harris' experience as the daughter of an Indian immigrant will resonate with the fastest-growing U.S. minority population.

Eng vs Pak second Test | England on top despite Abid Ali half century for Pakistan

Pakistan opener Abid Ali scored a half-century but Englands seam bowlers used the muggy conditions to their advantage to restrict the tourists to 126 for five at the close of a rain-hit opening day of the second test at the Rose Bowl on Thursday.