Heavy rain in Kerala
Unabated rains over the past few days have badly affected normal life in Kottayam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam and Idukki districts in Kerala. At least 14 people have died in the past 10 days.
With the Met predicting more rains in the next four-five days that may advance towards the northern part of the state, the authorities are carrying out relief on an aggressive footing.
Around 10,000 people have been put up in relief camps.
SSS activists block train in Maharashtra
Members of Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana try to stop Mumbai-Ahmadabad train from Anand, at Dahanu Road railway station, Maharashtra on Wednesday.
The ‘milk blockade’ was called by the Raju Shetti-led Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana (SSS) across Maharashtra in demand of higher milk procurement prices.
Raju Shetti, leader of the SSS, who has been demanding that the Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP government give milk farmers a subsidy of ₹5 a litre, kickstarted the agitation from the temple town of Pandharpur, in Solapur district on Monday.
Govt suspends classes in schools and work in offices
Commuters go on their daily business through floodwaters following monsoon rains brought on by a tropical storm for the second day on July 18, 2018, in Bacoor, south of Manila, Philippines.
Commuters go on their daily business through floodwaters following monsoon rains brought on by a tropical storm for the second day on July 18, 2018, in Bacoor, south of Manila, Philippines.
Southwest monsoon rains, enhanced by typhoon Henry, left areas in Metro Manila and surrounding provinces underwater on Tuesday. Floodwaters receded on Wednesday in Manila but local authorities still suspended classes as well as some work in government offices.
Monsoon session of Parliament
Prime Minister Narendra Modi being greeted by his ministerial colleagues on the first day of the monsoon session at Parliament House in New Delhi on Wednesday.
The monsoon session of parliament is began on Wednesday. ( Click here for live updates ). The session will have 18 working days before ending on August 10. And the government has listed as many as 45 Bills, including pending Bills for introduction and passage. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought the cooperation of all parties for the smooth functioning of Parliament, and told an all-party meeting that issues raised by the Opposition gave the government an opportunity to re-evaluate its policy decisions.
S.Korea downgrades growth forecast
South Korean Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon (second from left) speaks during a briefing at the government complex in Seoul, South Korea on Wednesday. Kim said that South Korea's economy will create only 180,000 jobs this year, down from the 320,000 jobs it forecast in December.
South Korea’s government dramatically cut its outlook on the job market while downgrading its growth forecast Wednesday, boding ill for President Moon Jae-in’s jobs-first agenda. The Finance Ministry said South Korea’s economy will create a mere 180,000 jobs this year, down from the 320,000 jobs it forecast in December. That’s the lowest annual increase in years. “If we do not make efforts to solve the current situation, difficulties in growth and jobs will continue,” the Ministry said in a statement. It announced a set of measures to help generate jobs and raise income for the poor, who along with the elderly have suffered most from the sluggish hiring environment. That includes increasing benefits, welfare and jobs for senior citizens, expanding unemployment benefits and boosting stipends for young people looking for their first jobs. - AP
Several trapped in debris
Rescue workers carry the body of a victim from the site of a collapsed building in Shahberi village, east of New Delhi on Wednesday.
At least three bodies have been recovered and three others were rushed to hospital after two buildings collapsed in Greater Noida’s Shahberi village on Tuesday night. A six-storey under-construction building collapsed on an adjacent building around 9.30 p.m on July 17. The second building also collapsed under the impact. The police have detained the builder and property dealer for questioning.
Rescuers work at the site of a building collapse in Shahberi village, east of New Delhi on Wednesday,
