New Delhi, Aug 3: The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has reported that its headquarters in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, was struck in an overnight attack, resulting in the death of one of its workers and injuries to three others. The strike reportedly caused a fire within the facility, which sustained significant damage.

The humanitarian agency, which operates widely across Gaza, claimed that the attack was deliberate, citing that the building is well-marked with Red Crescent insignia and that its coordinates are known to Israeli forces.

Images and video shared on social media showed large sections of the building engulfed in smoke and flames, with visible structural damage and traces of blood inside. The incident occurs amid mounting concern over the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza. According to United Nations data, at least 1,373 Palestinians have been killed since late May while attempting to access food. A significant number of these fatalities reportedly occurred near distribution centres linked to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), although the organisation disputes the UN’s figures. Medical facilities remain critically under-resourced, and the Gaza health ministry claims that 175 people, including 93 children, have died from malnutrition.

New Delhi, Aug 3: The Election Commission of India has asked RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav to submit details of his voter ID after he claimed his name was missing from the draft electoral rolls.

The poll body later said his name was found under a different EPIC number in the Digha constituency.

Officials stated that the EPIC number cited by Yadav does not appear to be officially issued and has requested verification. So far, no political party has submitted claims or objections on the draft roll, though 941 such requests have been received from individual voters.

New Delhi, Aug 03: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday called on President Droupadi Murmu separately within hours at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here.

It was not known the reasons behind the subsequent meetings of the prime minister and the home minister with the President.

“Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan,” the Rashtrapati Bhavan said on ‘X’.

Hours later, the Rashtrapati Bhavan again wrote on ‘X’, “Union Minister for Home Affairs and Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan.”

The home minister also wrote on ‘X’ sharing a picture of his meeting with President Murmu. “Called on Hon’ble President Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji at Rashtrapati Bhavan.”

However, there is no words so far from the prime minister’s office.

This was the first meeting of the prime minister with the President after his recent visit to the United Kingdom and the Maldives.

The meetings came against the backdrop of the logjam in Parliament over the Opposition’s demand for a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar ahead of the assembly elections in the state. Except discussions in both Houses on Operation Sindoor, Parliament has seen little business ever since the Monsoon session began on July 21.

Also, the Lok Sabha last week approved the extension of the President’s rule in Manipur for six more months, while the Rajya Sabha is yet to take up the motion for discussion. The President’s rule was imposed in the Northeastern state on February 13.

The prime minister’s meeting with the President also came days after US President Donald Trump announced 25 per cent tariffs on exports from India and an unspecified penalty because of New Delhi’s purchases of Russian military equipment and oil.

The meetings also came nearly two weeks after Jagdeep Dhankhar on July 21 tendered his resignation as vice president to the President citing health grounds.

The vice president also functions as the chairman of Rajya Sabha.

The Election Commission last week announced that election of vice president will take place on September 9.

The electoral college for the vice-presidential election comprises all elected and nominated members of the Rajya Sabha and all members of the Lok Sabha.

New Delhi, Aug 03: In a move to make medicines more affordable for patients, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has reduced the retail prices of 35 essential drugs sold by leading pharmaceutical companies.

The formulations, which will now cost less, span a wide range of medicines including anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular, antibiotic, anti-diabetic and psychiatric medicines.

The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers notified the order based on price regulation by the NPPA. The price reductions, which apply across drugs, are expected to bring relief to consumers, particularly those managing chronic conditions.

The key formulations covered by the price control order include fixed-dose combinations of Aceclofenac, Paracetamol and Trypsin Chymotrypsin, Amoxycillin and Potassium Clavulanate, Atorvastatin combinations and newer oral anti-diabetic combinations like Empagliflozin, Sitagliptin, and Metformin.

The price of one Aceclofenac-Paracetamol-Trypsin Chymotrypsin tablet manufactured by Akums Drugs & Pharmaceuticals and marketed by Dr Reddy’s Laboratories has now been fixed at Rs 13, while the same formulation marketed by Cadila Pharmaceuticals is now priced at Rs 15.01.

Similarly, a tablet containing Atorvastatin 40 mg and Clopidogrel 75 mg, widely used for cardiovascular conditions, is priced at Rs 25.61.

Oral suspensions for paediatric use – Cefixime and Paracetamol combinations  – have also been included, along with critical medications like Cholecalciferol drops for Vitamin D supplementation and Diclofenac Injection, which has been priced at Rs 31.77 per ml.

The official order states that retailers and dealers must display these updated price lists prominently in their premises. Failure to comply with the notified prices may attract penal provisions under the DPCO, 2013, and the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, including recovery of overcharged amounts with interest.

The NPPA clarified that the prices fixed were exclusive of Goods and Services Tax (GST), which may be added, if applicable. Manufacturers are required to comply with all statutory requirements, issue updated price lists in Form V through the Integrated Pharmaceutical Database Management System and submit the information to the NPPA and state drug controllers.

Any prior price orders issued for the specified formulations and manufacturers stand superseded by this latest notification.

The NPPA, which functions under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers, is the drug price regulator in India, responsible for fixing and revising prices of pharmaceutical products and monitoring the prices of both controlled and decontrolled drugs.