India criticises ‘working methods’ of UN Security Council Sanctions Committee

India on Thursday criticised the functioning of the United Nations Security Council’s Sanctions Committee, which took over 10 years to blacklist Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar. India’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador K Nagaraj Naidu said that the council has several subsidiary bodies that follow obscure practices that have no legal basis in the Charter or any of the Security Council’s resolutions.

Jammu and Kashmir: Two policemen injured in grenade attack in Sopore

Two policemen were injured on Friday after suspected militants hurled a grenade at a police station in Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district. Initial reports identified the wounded policemen as Abdul Aziz and Ali Mohammad. They have reportedly suffered splinter injuries and were shifted to district hospital Sopore for treatment.

‘When leadership does not act, these things will happen’: Veerappa Moily on infighting in Congress

Senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily on Friday told party President Rahul Gandhi to step in to curb dissidence in some state units. “We are all concerned in the party,” Moily said, referring to reports of desertions in Telangana and Maharashtra. There have also been several reports of infighting in Congress units in Punjab and Rajasthan. “When leadership does not act, all these things will happen.”

Delhi’s health scheme is ten times bigger than Ayushman Bharat, Arvind Kejriwal tells Centre

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday wrote to Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan saying his government’s health scheme was “ten times bigger and comprehensive” than the Centre’s Ayushman Bharat scheme. The Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, which is the health insurance programme under Ayushman Bharat, was launched in September. It aims to provide health insurance cover of upto Rs 5 lakh to 500 million poor families. Vardhan had written to the chief ministers of Delhi, West Bengal, Telangana and Odisha, urging them to join the central scheme.

Assam: Retired soldier held in detention centre for foreigners granted bail by Gauhati High Court

The Gauhati High Court on Friday ordered the release of a former Indian Army soldier who was declared a foreigner and sent to a detention centre in Assam on May 28. The court asked 52–year-old Mohammed Sanaullah to furnish bail bond of Rs 20,000 with two local sureties, and asked him not to move out of the territorial limits of Kamrup district without the permission of district superintendent of police.

RBI issues new guidelines on resolution of bad loans

The Reserve Bank of India on Friday issued fresh guidelines on bad loan recognition to replace the February 2018 circular struck down by the Supreme Court. On April 2, the top court had declared as ultra vires the notice that directed banks to classify a loan account as stressed if there was even a day of default.

Kerala: Rahul Gandhi begins three-day visit to his Lok Sabha constituency Wayanad

Congress President Rahul Gandhi arrived on a three-day visit to his Lok Sabha constituency of Wayanad in Kerala on Friday. He arrived at the Kozhikode airport around 2.00 pm and is scheduled to participate in over 15 public receptions across the constituency. Wayanad constituency is spread over three districts in northern Kerala – Wayanad, Malappuram and Kozhikode. He won the Wayanad seat against his closest rival, PP Suneer of the Communist Party of India, by over 4 lakh votes in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.

Aligarh: Special investigation team set up to look into child’s murder

The Uttar Pradesh Police has set up a special investigation team to look into the murder of a two-and-a-half-year-old girl in Aligarh on Friday. Two men have been arrested for the crime, while five police officials have been suspended. A manhunt had been launched to trace the rest of the accused.

Karnataka mining baron Janardhan Reddy allowed to visit Ballari district by Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Friday permitted former Karnataka Minister and mining baron Gali Janardhan Reddy to visit his ailing father-in law in Ballari district. The matter was heard by a vacation bench headed by Justice Indira Banerjee.He moved the top court on Thursday to seek permission to visit the district.

Saradha scam: Former Kolkata police chief Rajeev Kumar appears before CBI for questioning

Former Kolkata Commissioner of Police Rajeev Kumar on Friday appeared before the Central Bureau of Investigation for questioning in connection with the Saradha chit fund case. This is the first time he is being questioned in Kolkata as earlier he was interrogated by the investigating agency in Meghalaya’s capital Shillong as per Supreme Court’s order.

Union ministers meet UPA chief Sonia Gandhi ahead of new parliamentary session

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi and two other Union ministers met United Progressive Alliance Chairperson and senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on Friday to discuss the upcoming Parliament session. Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal and Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar also met Gandhi at her home in Delhi.

Uttar Pradesh: At least 19 people killed, 48 injured in dust storm

At least 19 people died in many parts of Uttar Pradesh following a dust storm and lightning on Thursday, PTI reported. At least 48 people were injured in these incidents.

Mamata Banerjee bans BJP’s victory processions in West Bengal, asks police to take strong action

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday banned victory processions in the state, reports said. Alleging that these processions were creating law and order problem, Banerjee asked the police to take “strong action against BJP [Bharatiya Janata Party] leaders if they try to create trouble”.

‘Scorpion on a shivling’ comment: Delhi court grants bail to Shashi Tharoor for remark on Modi

A Delhi court on Friday granted bail to Congress MP Shashi Tharoor in connection with his remarks comparing Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a “scorpion sitting on a Shivling”, which he had attributed to a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader. Tharoor was asked to deposit a personal bond of Rs 20,000.

Malegaon blasts case: Pragya Thakur appears in court, claims she has no knowledge of explosions

Bharatiya Janata Party MP Pragya Singh Thakur on Friday appeared before a special National Investigation Agency court in Mumbai in connection with the Malegaon blasts case.

Delhi court asks Arvind Kejriwal to appear before it on July 16 for defamation case hearing

A Delhi court on Friday asked Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to appear before it on July 16 in connection with a defamation case. The defamation complaint was filed by Bharatiya Janata Party leader Rajiv Babbar over Kejriwal’s reported remark on the alleged tampering with voters’ list.

Nipah: Sample of seventh patient tests negative for virus, Kerala to remain alert till July 15

Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja on Friday said the sample of one more person who was suspected to be infected with the Nipah virus has tested negative. Shailaja, who is in Delhi to meet Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, said the patient was being treated at the isolation ward of the Medical College Hospital in Kochi.

Dubai: Twelve Indians among 17 killed after bus overruns traffic signal

Twelve Indians were among 17 killed in a bus accident in Dubai on Thursday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said. Five persons were critically injured in the accident. The bus had come from Oman.

Gujarat IPS officer, accused in Bilkis Bano case, dismissed a day before retirement: Times of India

Ahmedabad Deputy Commissioner of Traffic (West) RS Bhagora was dismissed from service by the Union Home Ministry a day before his retirement. Joint Commissioner of Police (traffic), Ahmedabad city, JR Mothalia, confirmed the development, but refused to give further details.

‘Horrific murder, unspeakable crime’: Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi condemn child’s murder in Aligarh

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi on Thursday joined the chorus seeking action against those who murdered a two-and-a-half-year-old girl in Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh. “How can any human being treat a child with such brutality? This terrible crime must not go unpunished. The UP police must act swiftly to bring the killers to justice,” Congress President Rahul Gandhi wrote on Twitter.

Centre says Delhi government has sent no proposal yet on free metro, bus travel for women

Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs (Independent Charge) Hardeep Singh Puri said on Thursday that neither the ministry nor the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has so far received any proposal from the Delhi government for free travel for women in metro trains.

Andhra Pradesh CM Jaganmohan Reddy to have five deputy chief ministers

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy on Friday announced that his Cabinet will have five deputy chief ministers. The deputy chief ministers will be one each from the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Castes, minority and Kapu communities.

Odisha: BJD MLA apologises for making engineer do sit-ups, cites public anger to defend action

Newly-elected Biju Janata Dal MLA Saroj Kumar Meher on Thursday apologised to a junior engineer for forcing him to do sit-ups in public the previous day. The engineer initially only apologised for his alleged laxity that led to the poor construction. But after Meher threatened him with “mob thrashing”, the engineer did some sit-ups on the road.

‘Fruitless to attend NITI Aayog meeting’: Mamata Banerjee writes to Narendra Modi

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inform him that she will not attend the meeting of the governing council of NITI Aayog on June 15. Banerjee said it was “fruitless” for her to attend the meeting since “the NITI Aayog has no financial powers and the power to support state plans”.

UP: Two arrested for allegedly killing child in Aligarh, will be booked under National Security Act

According to police, the girl was kidnapped on May 31 and a first information report was filed at the Tappal police station in Aligarh district the same day. The child’s body was found two days later in a garbage dump.

BJP MP Pragya Thakur spotted at Bhopal event on the day she cited poor health to skip court hearing

Thakur garlanded the statue of Maharana Pratap at the event. She was accompanied by scores of party workers, including BJP district president Vikas Virani and Mayor Alok Sharma. The event was organised by the Rajput Samaj.

Amit Shah named ex-officio member of NITI Aayog as Centre reconstitutes think tank

Apart from Rajiv Kumar, the other full-time members of the panel are its chairperson Prime Minister Narendra Modi, VK Saraswat, Ramesh Chand and VK Paul.

Jammu and Kashmir: Four suspected militants killed in gunfight with security forces in Pulwama

Among the four militants killed, two were special police officers who went missing a day before. They were identified as Shabir Ahmad and Suliman Ahmad. The two went missing with their service rifles from the District Police Lines on Thursday morning.

J&K: Militants kill Territorial Army soldier on leave for Eid in Anantnag

“Havaldar Manzoor Ahmad Beigh, serving with the Territorial Army unit, was shot at by terrorists and grievously injured at his residence today evening,” Srinagar-based Defence spokesperson Colonel Rajesh Kalia said in a statement. He said the soldier, who was unarmed, was on 12 days’ leave from June 4.

Akbar was not ‘great’, used to misbehave with women, claims Rajasthan BJP chief

“A person who fights to protect his self-respect, culture and religion is great,” Saini said while paying his tributes to Maharana Pratap on his birth anniversary. “Pratap never grabbed anyone’s land. He fought for the security and respect of the country. He never accepted to be ruled by those who invaded this country and tried to enslave it. So he is great.”

Centre revamps Cabinet Committees, adds Rajnath Singh to four more panels

The government revamped the Cabinet Committees to include Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in four more panels. Singh was part of only two Cabinet Committees – security and economic affairs – in an order issued on Wednesday. In a fresh order, Singh was added to four more committees – the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, the Cabinet Committee on Investment and Growth, and the Cabinet Committee on Employment and Skill Development.

Kerala: Orange alert issued for two districts on June 9, four on June 10 as heavy rainfall likely

The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority issued an orange alert in Kollam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam and Thiruvanathapuram district on June 10. The KSDMA said there was a possibility of heavy to very heavy rainfall, between 115 mm to 204.5 mm, in these places. The KSDMA also issued an orange alert for Kollam and Alappuzha districts for June 9, a yellow alert for seven districts on the same day, and for five districts on June 10.

Missing IAF plane: Air Force intensifies search operation, to deploy Cheetah helicopters

The Indian Air Force on Thursday said the search operation to locate a missing AN-32 aircraft has been intensified with more assets. Two Cheetah helicopters will join the search operations on Friday while local civic volunteers and the police have been roped in as well, the Air Force said.

Tamil Nadu: Three students commit suicide after failing NEET examination

Three women students in Tamil Nadu committed suicide after they failed to clear the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test, The Indian Express reported on Thursday. While two of the students ended their lives hours after the results were declared on Wednesday, one woman killed herself the following day.

Narendra Modi and Imran Khan are not planning to meet in Bishkek, says MEA

The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday said bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistan counterpart Imran Khan has not been planned at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Kyrgyzstan’s Capital Bishkek. The annual summit will be held on June 13 and 14.