Evening news wrap: PM Modi delivers 12th consecutive I-Day address from Red Fort; Kishtwar death toll rises to 60; & more
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, delivering his 12th consecutive Independence Day address from the Red Fort, announced initiatives to make India self-reliant, technologically advanced, and economically stronger, with the aim of becoming a developed nation by 2047.
He also said a new two-slab Goods and Services Tax structure will replace the current 5-28% rates. In other developments, Cristiano Ronaldo's club Al Nassr has been drawn in the same AFC Champions League Two group as FC Goa, potentially setting up his first match against an Indian club.
Here are the top 5 stories of the day
PM addresses nation on Independence Day
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday marked his 12th consecutive Independence Day address from the Red Fort ramparts. On the 79th Independence Day, he unveiled a series of initiatives aimed at making India self-reliant, technologically advanced, and economically stronger -- with the clear goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047.
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Kishtwar cloudburst
: Death toll rises to 60
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah and lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha about the cloudburst tragedy in Kishtwar. He reviewed the situation and assured all possible help.
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Two-slab tax structure to replace 5-28% GST rates
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech announced that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) burden on the common man is set to come down from this Diwali with next-generation reforms slated to be rolled out.
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Cristiano Ronaldo to play in India?
Cristiano Ronaldo could face an Indian club for the first time in his career, with his team Al Nassr drawn in the same AFC Champions League Two group as FC Goa. The group stage draw, held on August 15, placed the Saudi side in Group D alongside Goa, Iraq's Al Zawra'a, and Tajikistan's FC Istiklol.
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IDF says Hamas military control department head killed
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it has killed a senior Hamas figure in an airstrike in southern Gaza, releasing video footage of the operation.
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First Post
23 minutes ago
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ISL clubs sound alarm to AIFF of facing 'real possibility of shutting down entirely' due to ongoing crisis
A total of 11 Indian Super League clubs, including former champions Mumbai City FC and Bengaluru FC, signed a letter to AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey which urged the national federation to quickly resolve the ongoing impasse over the league's Master Rights Agreement with the Football Sports Development Limited. The 2025-26 season of the Indian Super League, India's top-flight competition since 2019, could be called off entirely if the Kalyan Chaubey-led AIFF is not able to arrive at an agreement with the FSDL over the league's rights agreement soon. PTI The crisis that Indian football currently finds itself mired in threatens to take an even darker turn in the coming days, with eleven Indian Super League (ISL) clubs warning the All India Football Federation (AIFF) that they face 'the real possibility of shutting down entirely'. That is unless the AIFF is able to end its ongoing deadlock with the Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) over the ISL's Master Rights Agreement (MRA) soon. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The clubs wrote a letter to AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey on Friday in which they added that the impasse between the national federation and ISL organisers FSDL over the non-renewal of the MRA has 'paralysed professional football in India'. More from Football 'Over past 11 years, through sustained investment and coordinated effort, clubs have built youth development systems, training infrastructure, community outreach programmes, and professional teams that have elevated India's footballing credibility both domestically and internationally,' read the letter from the 11 clubs. 'This progress is now in imminent danger of collapse. The current standstill has created immediate and severe consequences. With operations suspended and no certainty on league continuity, several clubs face the real possibility of shutting down entirely.' The crisis surfaced after FSDL, the ISL organisers as well as AIFF's commercial partner, put the 2025-26 season 'on hold' on July 11 due to uncertainty over the renewal of the MRA, prompting at least three clubs to either pause first-team operations or suspend player and staff salaries. 'The 2025-26 ISL season is at risk of not taking place at all. This is not merely an administrative deadlock – it is an existential crisis for Indian football. We write to you in the gravest of circumstances,' the clubs wrote. 'The trust painstakingly built with fans, sponsors, investors, international footballing bodies over the past decade will be irreparably damaged if the league remains in limbo.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Mohun Bagan, East Bengal decide against signing letter to AIFF The letter was signed by Bengaluru FC, Hyderabad FC, Odisha FC, Chennaiyin FC, Jamshedpur FC, FC Goa, Kerala Blasters FC, Punjab FC, NorthEast United FC, Mumbai City FC and Mohammedan Sporting. Kolkata heavyweights Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal did not the sign the letter. Detailing the risk of club closures and livelihood loss, the letter said, 'More than 2000 direct livelihoods – players, coaches, medical staff, analysts, kit managers, groundsmen, administrative staff – hang in the balance, alongside countless indirect livelihoods dependent on the league. 'Clubs face a season where revenue from tickets, merchandise and other avenues will be reduced to zero. Potential sponsors have already started backing out, looking at the scenario that the ISL is in. 'This is a huge financial blow that clubs will not recover from this year and it will affect payout of salaries to players and staff in the immediate future, besides making several stakeholders contemplate a complete and permanent shut-down of their respective clubs.' The clubs said the impasse will also impact India's readiness for international matches, saying 'without a functioning league, our national team will be severely disadvantaged in upcoming AFC and FIFA tournaments'. Why Indian clubs could face ban in continental events They also said that without the ISL, they will not be able to play a minimum number of competitive matches for participation in continental competitions, thereby risking suspension of Indian clubs from AFC tournaments. 'The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) mandates a minimum number of competitive matches for participation in continental competitions. Without ISL, this requirement cannot be met, putting India at risk of suspension from all AFC and FIFA tournaments,' the clubs said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'FIFPRO, the global players' union, has already apprised FIFA of the situation, increasing the likelihood of external scrutiny and possible sanctions.' Also Read | On Thursday, the AIFF had agreed to mention the raging issue concerning the ISL on Monday. The apex court has reserved its judgement in the case relating to the draft constitution of the AIFF. The decision to apprise the SC of the crisis situation was taken after a . In fact, a reliable source said that the AIFF is willing to file a written application if the Supreme Court asks for one. 'We fully appreciate that related matters are before the Hon'ble Supreme Court. However, from the record of recent hearings, it appears that the immediacy and scale of the crisis have not been clearly conveyed to the Hon'ble Court,' the clubs said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'The human cost, the threat of clubs folding, the risk of losing our place in AFC/FIFA competitions, and the reputational harm to India's footballing image demand urgent action on our part. 'We therefore respectfully request the AIFF, as the regulator of Indian football, to urgently mention this matter before the Hon'ble Supreme Court on Monday, 18 August 2025, and to append this letter to present the unified concerns of all ISL clubs before the Hon'ble Court.' The clubs said they are ready to support the AIFF in the case through their counsels though they are not parties to the proceedings before the SC. 'Immediate collective action is the only way to preserve Indian football's future, safeguard livelihoods, and protect the country's standing in the global football community. We remain committed to working alongside the AIFF to achieve a resolution.' With PTI inputs
The Hindu
23 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Farmers to lay siege to Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru on August 20
Members of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Karnataka State Sugarcane Growers' Association will lay siege to the Vidhana Soudha on August 20, seeking the implementation of their long-pending demands. At a press conference here on Saturday, H. Bhagyaraj, president of the sugarcane growers' association, said that farmers will also hold a 'satyagraha' at Freedom Park in Bengaluru. Though the country celebrated Independence Day on August 15,there was little for farmers to celebrate as the government had failed to ensure scientific pricing for agricultural produce, he said. Mr. Bhagyaraj said that the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for 2025-26 should be fixed at ₹4,500 per ton, and harvesting and transportation costs must be borne by the sugar factories. The farmers also expressed concern that the weighing scales are not scientifically calibrated, as a result of which they suffer losses. This should be avoided by installing the weighing scales in front of the factories so that the farmers can monitor the process as well, they said. Mr. Bhagyaraj pointed out that the factories owed dues to the tune of ₹950 crores to sugarcane farmers, and added that this should be cleared immediately. Drawing attention to the shortage of fertilizers, the association said that the issue has been politicised by both the State and the Centre, and that it was the responsibility of the governments to ensure the availability of fertilizers and its smooth distribution. The authorities were urged to crack down on traders creating artificial scarcity by hoarding fertilizer stocks or selling them at a price higher than the rates fixed by the government. Mr. Bhagyaraj urged the government to implement the Mekedatu project without further delay, and blamed the Centre and the State for failing to expedite the works. The farmers stated that banks tend to insist on CIBIL scores before releasing agricultural loans, and hence urged the government to change the policy and delink CIBIL scores from farm loans. Any delay in repayment of loan due to crop failure or vagaries of nature has a negative bearing on the CIBIL score and affects the farmers, the association said. Drawing attention to the low penetration of crop insurance among farmers, the association said that the policy and insurance schemes should be tweaked to make a particular land of the farmer concerned as the unit area of insurance. When the unit area for crop insurance is too large, individual farmers suffer because damage to their crops may be overlooked and their claims rejected, if conditions in other parts of the area are considered normal, it added. Other demands included immediate release of ₹1,000 crore by way of incentives which is pending for dairy farmers, establishment of crop and milk procurement centres at the gram panchayat level, rescinding the Land Reforms Act and APMC (Amendment) Act, implementation of the recommendations of M.S. Swaminathan Committee, a law ensuring statutory guarantee of Minimum Support Price for farmers' produce, etc.
Time of India
32 minutes ago
- Time of India
Girl dies, one hurt as school balcony collapses in Udaipur
Udaipur: In a grim reminder of the Jhalawar school tragedy, a 12-year-old girl died and another was injured when a balcony of the under-renovation PM Shree Govt Higher Primary School in Patharwadi village near Kotra in Udaipur district, collapsed on Independence Day, Friday. Earlier, on July 25, seven school children had died and several others were injured when a classroom roof and wall of a govt school collapsed due to rains at Piplodi village in Jhalawar district. In the latest mishap at Udaipur's Patharwadi village, the two girls, who were not students at the school, were playing nearby when the balcony gave way. Moli, visiting her uncle in the village, was crushed under the debris and died on the spot, while 11-year-old Payal sustained injuries and was subsequently hospitalized in Gujarat, police said. The mishap ignited protests among villagers, who alleged use of substandard materials in the school's renovation. "It is a tragic incident. One girl who was not a student at the school has died, while another girl, who was, is critically injured. I have asked the authorities to inquire about the matter," said school education minister Madan Dilawar. Kotra SHO Moongla Ram confirmed that the school's Independence Day celebrations were being held at a different location due to ongoing construction work. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Could This NEW Collagen Blend Finally Reduce Your Cellulite? Vitauthority Learn More Undo by Taboola by Taboola Dy SP Rajendra Singh Rathore noted that the renovation was part of the PM Shree scheme aimed at improving the school's dilapidated condition. In response to the mishap, the education department Saturday suspended acting assistant engineer Hem Singh and terminated the services of a civil consultant, holding them accountable for negligence. Their suspension will remain in effect pending the outcome of an investigation. Authorities have also ordered the registration of an FIR against the contractor firm, Messrs Divyanshi Enterprises, for lapses in the approved construction work. A high-level investigation has been initiated to determine the causes of the collapse and to fix accountability. As the inquiry unfolds, the office of the suspended AEN will be overseen by the additional district project coordinator of Samagra Shiksha, Udaipur. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
