Mamata Banerjee denies discrimination in circular on dining halls in Muslim-majority schools

“This was supposed to be for schools which do not have dining halls and where students have to eat outside under the sun,” Banerjee said. “The idea is to pool in funds from different departments so that the scheme can be effectively implemented. It was not supposed to divide students in any way.”

Kerala local body bye-elections: LDF wins 22 of 44 seats, Congress-led UDF gets 17

The Left Democratic Front has taken control of six local body wards from the United Democratic Front, while losing seven to the UDF. In Kollam district, the UDF won three of the four wards that went to polls, whereas in Pathanamthitta and Kozhikode districts, it won all wards which were held by the Left alliance.

Money deposited by Indians in Swiss banks fell by nearly 6% in 2018: Report

The Swiss National Bank’s total liabilities towards Indian clients takes into account deposits from individuals, banks and enterprises in India. However, the official figures with the Swiss National Bank do not include money that Indians or NRIs might have invested in the names of entities from different countries.

Madhya Pradesh: Soldier arrested for allegedly kidnapping, raping five-year-old girl in Narsinghpur

The accused, identified as 24-year-old Santosh Markam, is a soldier of Sixth Battalion of the Special Armed Force. He was posted as a cook in local police lines, Narsinghpur senior police official Gurukaran Singh said. The Special Armed Force is a wing of the state police.

IMA ponzi scam: Enforcement Directorate issues summons to Karnataka minister BZ Zameer Khan

The agency said its Bengaluru zonal office issued a provisional order under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act to attach immovable assets worth Rs 197 crore and about Rs 12 crore deposits in bank accounts.

Andhra Pradesh government serves demolition notice for Chandrababu Naidu’s bungalow

The Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority asked the occupants to vacate the premises within seven days. The notice was issued as the bungalow had been constructed allegedly in violation of environmental norms.

Modi discusses climate change, counter-terrorism with China’s Xi Jinping, Russia’s Vladimir Putin

“As the world’s leading economies, the exchange of views between us, on the economic, political and security situation of the world, is important,” Modi said at the trilateral meeting. “Our trilateral meeting today is a useful medium of discussion and coordination on major global issues.”

Jharkhand: Pregnant woman carried on bike to hospital, family claims ambulance was not available

The woman, Shanti Devi, was taken to the Chandwa community health centre, where she was referred to the Sadar hospital in Latehar. Devi was then taken in an ambulance to the Sadar hospital, which referred her to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences in Ranchi, where she was finally admitted.

Mumbai: Heavy rain disrupts traffic, causes waterlogging in some areas

Mumbai on Friday witnessed the first spell of heavy rains this season leading to heavy traffic congestion and waterlogging in some areas. The Mumbai branch of the India Meteorological Department said there will be an intense spell of heavy rains in the districts of Greater Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Nasik and Pune.

Delhi pollution: Levels of PM 2.5 declined by 15% in last three years, Centre tells Parliament

Union Environment and Forest Minister Prakash Javadekar on Friday claimed that the level of pollutants such as PM 2.5 and PM 10 have decreased by nearly 15% in Delhi in the last three years. Javadekar added that the number of days with good air quality was also on the rise.

Bihar: Centre says it is working on long-term plan to tackle acute encephalitis syndrome

Minister Of State for Health and Family Welfare Ashwini Kumar Choubey on Friday said that the government has been working on a long-term plan to tackle acute encephalitis syndrome, which has claimed over 150 lives in Bihar this year. His remarks were in response to queries in the Lok Sabha during Question Hour.

#MeToo: Juggernaut Books defends move to publish Kiran Nagarkar’s novel despite misconduct claims

Publishing house Juggernaut Books on Thursday defended its decision to publish Kiran Nagarkar’s latest novel though the author is facing accusations of sexual misconduct. On Thursday, a Twitter user cited an interview of Nagarkar published in a newspaper, asking why Juggernaut Books had stepped in to publish The Arsonist when Penguin Random House had cancelled the contract.

Maratha reservation: Maharashtra files caveat in Supreme Court in connection with Bombay HC verdict

The Maharashtra government on Friday filed a caveat in the Supreme Court in connection with the Bombay High Court’s judgement on reservation for the Maratha community. The caveat was filed to ensure that no judgement is passed without hearing the state government if there are any appeals against the High Court verdict.

Rajasthan: Journalists in Jaipur protest against new rules curtailing access to Assembly premises

Journalists in Rajasthan’s capital Jaipur staged a protest on Thursday after Assembly Speaker CP Joshi curtailed the movement of journalists in the Vidhan Sabha premises. Press club members boycotted proceedings on Friday as well.

Chhattisgarh: Two CRPF jawans killed in gunfight with suspected Maoists in Bijapur district

Two Central Reserve Police Force personnel were killed in a gunfight with suspected Maoists in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district on Friday. A girl was killed in the crossfire and another one was injured.

Uttar Pradesh: After BJP leader’s complaint, Meerut Police deny Hindus are migrating out of fear

Police officials in a town in Meerut have denied that Hindu families were moving out in fear, as alleged by a local Bharatiya Janata Party leader. The local leader had lodged a complaint on the NaMo app on June 11, claiming that 125 Hindu families “were forced to move out” of Prahlad Nagar town due to harassment of women by people from another community.

Parliament: Amit Shah seeks six-month extension of President’s Rule in J&K, Opposition protests

Union Minister Amit Shah on Friday sought an extension of President’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir. He said it was not possible to hold elections in the state at present. Shah claimed that the state administration had managed to combat the “roots of terrorism” during the Governor’s Rule, which was imposed after the Bharatiya Janata Party walked out of the alliance with the Peoples Democratic Party in June 2018, and subsequently President’s Rule.

Centre planning to roll out ‘One Nation, One Ration Card’ scheme within a year

The Centre is working on a plan to launch a “One Nation, One Ration Card” scheme for beneficiaries so that they can access the public distribution system from any ration shop in the country. This scheme will benefit migrant workers. “They will have full food security,” Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan said. “This will also provide freedom to the beneficiaries as they will not be tied to any one PDS shop. It will curtail instances of corruption.”

SC refuses to hear plea of rebel AAP MLA Devinder Sehrawat’s plea on disqualification notice

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a petition filed by rebel Aam Aadmi Party MLA Devinder Sehrawat. The lawmaker had challenged a disqualification notice sent to him by the Delhi Assembly Secretariat under the anti-defection law for joining the Bharatiya Janata Party. A vacation bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and BR Gavai told Sehrawat’s lawyer that the lawmaker can voice his grievances during the proceedings on the disqualification notice before the Assembly speaker.

Bihar: Women and her daughter beaten and tonsured for resisting rape attempt, three men arrested

The police in Bihar have arrested three people in a village in Vaishali district after a 48-year-old woman and her newly wed 19-year-old daughter were beaten, paraded and had their heads shaved on Wednesday. The accused were arrested on Thursday after a video of the incident started doing the rounds on social media. According to unidentified officials, ward Councillor Mohammad Khurshid and his supporters were involved in the incident.

Jammu and Kashmir: Suspected militant killed in gunfight in Budgam

Security forces personnel killed a suspected militant in Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam district on Friday morning. Officials have not yet identified the person or his affiliation, the Jammu and Kashmir Police said on Twitter. “Arms and ammunition recovered...search continues,” the police said. Authorities have suspended mobile internet services in the area.

G20 summit: Terrorism is the biggest threat to humanity, PM Modi says at BRICS meeting

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said terrorism was the biggest threat to humanity as it not only kills innocents but also severely affects economic development and social stability. Modi was addressing an informal meeting of the BRICS bloc – comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – on the sidelines of the G20 summit in the Japanese city of Osaka.

Thane: Muslim cab driver allegedly thrashed and forced to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’, three arrested

The Muslim cab driver was making his way to Mumbai around 3 am on Monday after he picked up passengers from Thane’s Diva area. The accused allegedly took Khan’s car keys, dragged him and one of the passengers out and started abusing both of them.

Dalai Lama expresses worry over Europe becoming ‘Muslim country’, says Trump lacks ‘moral principle’

The Dalai Lama has expressed concern over Europe becoming a “Muslim country” or an “African country”. In a wide-ranging interview to BBC, the Tibetan spiritual leader also made remarks about the possibility of a woman successor and United States President Donald Trump’s lack of “moral principle”.

G20 summit: PM Modi and Donald Trump discuss trade, 5G networks, defence ties and Iran

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met United States President Donald Trump ahead of the opening of the G20 summit in the city of Osaka in Japan on Friday to discuss bilateral and global matters. This was the first meeting between the leaders since Modi’s re-election last month.