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Fri, 17 June 2022
Pakistan stays on FATF 'Grey List'
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23:20 Pakistan stays on FATF 'Grey List'
Pakistan will continue to be on the 'Grey List' of countries under increased monitoring of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a statement from the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog said on Friday.
The watchdog said the country may be removed from the list after an on-site visit to verify the implementation of Pakistan's reform on countering terror financing mechanisms.
'At its June 2022 Plenary, the FATF made the initial determination that Pakistan has substantially completed its two action plans, covering 34 items, and warrants an on-site visit to verify that the implementation of Pakistan's AML/CFT reforms has begun and is being sustained and that the necessary political commitment remains in place to sustain implementation and improvement in the future,' it said.
Inclusion in the 'Grey List' implies 'strategic deficiencies' detected in a jurisdiction's policies to prevent money laundering and terror financing, according to an IMF working paper.
This makes it difficult for a country to get financial aid from world bodies like the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Not as severe as black-listing, the inclusion in the 'Grey List' shows that it is working to remove the deficiencies that have been flagged.
The FATF is a global body which focuses on 'setting standards and promoting effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system'. -- PTI
22:44 Agnipath: Student bodies call for bandh in Bihar
Students organisations in Bihar, protesting against the Centre's newly introduced Agnipath' recruitment scheme for armed forces, have found support in opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal as they called for a 24-hour state-wide bandh on June 18.
The organisations, led by Leftwing All India Students' Association (AISA), have sought immediate rollback of the scheme under which hiring has been proposed for a four-year-period in the armed forces followed by compulsory retirement for at least 75 per cent of the personnel without any pension benefits.
Announcing RJD's support to the bandh call, the president of its Bihar unit, Jagadanand Singh, said the short-term recruitment scheme is detrimental to the interests of the nation's youth.
"We support those who are agitating on streets in protest against Agnipath' recruitment. The new short-term recruitment scheme in the armed forces is not in interest of country's youth," he said at the party office in Patna, in the presence of other Left leaders.
Meanwhile, Chirag Paswan, president of Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), said that that he along with party workers would meet Governor Phagu Chouhan on Saturday and submit a memorandum, seeking the withdrawal of the scheme.
Talking to reporters here on Friday, Paswan said, "The Agnipath scheme will increase unemployment in the country. It will spread dissatisfaction among youths."
Paswan had on Thursday written to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, raising similar concerns. -- PTI
IMAGE: A firefighter tries to douse a fire in a train, set by people protesting against the Centre's Agnipath scheme, at Kulharia railway station, in Bhojpur, on Friday, June 17, 2022. Photograph: PTI Photo
22:03 Yati Narsinghanand put under 'house arrest'
Controversial priest Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati of the Dasna Devi temple here was put under 'house arrest' for a day on Friday, days after he declared to visit the Delhi's Jama Masjid.
The priest had said he would go to the mosque on June 17 and give a presentation on the Quran.
The Ghaziabad administration had earlier issued a notice to him, warning of legal action if he makes a statement which spreads communal hatred.
On his detention, SDM (Sadar) Vinay Kumar Singh told PTI, "The step was taken to maintain law and order in the district."
He said the priest will be kept under strict watch till midnight.
Meanwhile, a purported video clip of the priest surfaced on social media.
"Muslims are wandering on the road without any fear. Violence is spreading day by day in the country and Muslim leaders are releasing 'fatwa' for beheading the Hindus," he said in the video.
"In the British period, our saints used to visit the Jama Masjid under the security of the British to discuss scriptures. Present day rulers will not provide security to Hindus and are suppressing their genuine demands," he alleged.
"On the other hand, Muslim leaders like Owaisi and Madani have been given free hand to plan the strategy for slaughtering Hindus," the priest added.
He urged Hindus to save Hinduism. -- PTI
21:28 Didn't anticipate protests like this: Navy chief
Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar on Friday termed the Agniveer model as the single biggest human resources management transformation in the Indian military and said that protests in parts of the country over the newly launched Agnipath scheme are happening due to misinformation and misunderstanding.
"I didn't anticipate any protests like this. We worked on Agnipath scheme for almost a year and a half...," the Navy chief told ANI.
Calling the Agnipath scheme 'transformational', the Navy chief admiral said it is 'a made-in-India and a made-for-India' scheme.
"The Agnipath scheme is a transformational scheme. It is a made-in-India and a made-for-India scheme. No, I didn't anticipate protests like this. I want to tell those protesting that do not be violent and remain peaceful," Admiral R Hari Kumar told ANI.
As protests broke out in parts of the country by protestors demanding a roll back of the scheme, the Navy chief Admiral said: "I want to tell people to not protest and not be violent. They should understand the scheme and remain peaceful. This is a great opportunity for the youth to serve the country."
He also urged protesters to read and understand the Agnipath scheme and said that it is an opportunity to serve the nation.
Commenting further on the ongoing protest, the Admiral said that the agitation is taking place due to 'misinformation and misunderstanding' of the scheme.
"It is a scheme of which I was part of the initial planning team and worked on it for almost a year and a half. And, now we see the scheme coming to its completion and introduction into the armed forces," he added. -- ANI
20:48 Aadhaar-voter ID link: Govt issues notification
The government on Friday issued four notifications allowing linking of electoral roll data with Aadhaar, making electoral law gender neutral for service voters and enabling young citizens register as voters four times a year instead of the present one.
The notifications are part of the Election Laws (Amendment) Act, 2021 passed by Parliament late last year.
Law Minister Kiren Rijiju took to Twitter to announce that four notifications in this regard have been issued in consultation with the Election Commission.
The Union minister shared a chart to say that the notifications will enable 'linking of electoral roll data with the Aadhaar ecosystem to curb the menace of multiple enrolment of the same person in different places'.
He also said that now a citizen who turns 18 on the January 1 or April 1 or July 1 or October 1 in a calendar year can immediately apply for voter registration.
'The four qualifying dates will considerably enhance the voter base,' he said.
As of now, January 1 is the only cut off date to register as a voter.
Those turning 18 on or before January 1 can register as voters on day one of January.
Those turning 18 after that have to wait for one whole year.
On making electoral law gender neutral, he said the word 'wife' will be substituted with the word 'spouse' making the statutes gender neutral which shall allow the wife or husband of a service voter to avail the voting facility available.
Soldiers deployed in far flung areas or members of Indian missions abroad are some of the people considered as service voters.
He said the Election Commission can now requisition any premises for storage of poll related material and accommodation for security forces and polling personnel.
Rijiju described it as a 'historic step' of the Narendra Modi government to reform the electoral process. -- PTI
20:21 Mumbai records 2,255 COVID-19 cases, 2 deaths
Mumbai on Friday reported 2,255 new coronavirus infections, a dip from the daily cases reported in the last two days, and two pandemic-related deaths, a civic official said.
The financial capital of India has now 13,304 active cases, while its overall caseload rose to 10,90,503.
Two new deaths took the death toll in the city to 19,580, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation official said.
The metropolis had reported 2,366 new cases on Thursday and 2,293 on Wednesday.
For the third time this week, the test positivity rate in Mumbai was above 15 per cent at 15.39 per cent.
Of 2,255 new cases, only 110 patients were admitted to hospitals, with 16 needing oxygen support.
Of total 13,304 active patients in the city, 76 are on oxygen support.
As per BMC data, the overall growth rate of cases between June 10 and 16 was 0.17 per cent, the caseload doubling time was 399 days and recovery rate stood at 97 per cent.
It also revealed that 14,463 samples were examined in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of tests carried out so far to 1,73,58,446.
Only 569 of the 24,818 beds earmarked for COVID-19 patients are currently occupied in the city. -- PTI
20:08
BSE Sensex today.
20:08
BSE Sensex: Top losers today.
Naveen Patnaik
19:25 Odisha CM asks officials to be ready for all possible disasters
Noting that the period between June and October is crucial for Odisha in terms of natural calamities, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Friday asked the state administration to follow the state's policy of every life is precious' while dealing with all possible disasters.
Patnaik said this every life is precious' policy has made Odisha a leading state in the field of disaster management and risk reduction.
The coastal state has emerged as a pioneer in managing disasters, especially cyclones, by reducing human loss during calamities.
In April 2018, Odisha become the first Indian state to have an early warning system in place for natural disasters such as cyclones and tsunamis for people living along its 480 km-long coast.
Natural disasters like floods, cyclones, and droughts occur in the June-October period every year, and therefore the state administration must strengthen its preparedness to handle such calamities, the chief minister said.
Patnaik issued the directions while presiding over the state-level Natural Disaster Management Committee Meeting in Bhubaneswar.
The entire administrative machinery, Patnaik said, should be ready with early information dissemination systems, rescue, and relief arrangements, drinking water supply systems, and health and animal care.
It is also essential that the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force and Fire Services personnel remain prepared.
The chief minister said officials must ensure the availability of enough food stocks in disaster-prone and remote areas, 24-hour functioning of district-level emergency centres, and opening of veterinary camps. -- PTI
Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi/ANI
19:20 Don't let your guard down: Lt Gen to troops at LoC
Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi on Friday asked troops deployed along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir to not let their guard down and remain prepared to meet any emerging security challenges effectively.
On the last day of his three-day visit to the Kashmir Valley, the Northern Army Commander reviewed the security situation along the LoC, PRO defence Col Emron Musavi said.
He said Lt Gen Dwivedi, accompanied by Chinar Corps Commander Lt Gen ADS Aujla, visited the formations and units wherein the local commanders briefed the Army commander on the existing security situation and the measures instituted to foil infiltration by terrorists from Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The Army commander interacted with the troops and complimented them for their high morale and the high state of operational preparedness, Col Musavi said.
While appreciating the current state of peace prevailing along the LoC, the Northern Army Commander cautioned all commanders and troops to not let their guard down and remain prepared to meet any emerging security challenges effectively, the public relations officer (defence) said. -- PTI
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19:03 Anti-Agnipath stir: Delhi police register case against unknown persons
The Delhi police on Friday registered a case against unknown persons for allegedly trying to block traffic and damage a bus during their protest against the Agnipath defence recruitment scheme in New Delhi, officials said.
The police said a few youngsters tried to block traffic on Wazirbad Road near the Khajuri Khas Flyover on Friday to protest against the 'Agnipath' scheme.
The windscreen of a mini bus was also damaged as someone from the group pelted stone towards the vehicle, a senior police officer said.
As precautionary arrangements were already in place across the district, a police team immediately reached the spot and the youngsters were removed, the officer said. A case under sections 147 (punishment for rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object) and 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees) of the Indian Penal Code has been registered at the Khajuri Khas police station, the officer said.
Police said that they are trying to identify those involved in the incident. Protests have erupted in several states since Wednesday against the Agnipath scheme to recruit jawans into the army, the navy and the air force for a four-year-period followed by compulsory retirement for most without gratuity and pension benefits. -- PTI
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18:42 K'taka plans to give preference to 'Agnipath' soldiers in police recruitment
Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra on Friday said the government has planned to give preference to 'agniveers' -- soldiers recruited in the Army, Navy and the Air Force on a short-term contract under the special 'Agnipath' scheme -- in recruitment to police services in the state.
He said he felt that the Centre and states should look into who are behind instigating military service aspirants to resort to a violent protest on the Agnipath issue in some parts of the country.
"Expressing fear that something might happen in the future one should not burn things like trains and public properties, it (Agnipath) is a new scheme. There are certain sections which don't want any change in this country, they are behind such things (violent protest)," Jnanendra said.
Speaking to reporters here, he termed the Agnipath scheme as 'good', and said in countries like Israel, military service is mandatory, while here the intention is to train (agniveers) for four years along with a salary, and to induct 25 per cent of them into the military services.
"We have planned to induct such personnel (agniveers) trained with the military into police services, as it will help us. They will also get various job opportunities, and in times of war or emergencies they can be pressed into service," he added. -- PTI
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18:33 J-K assembly polls likely by year-end: Rajnath
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday hinted at holding assembly elections in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir "by this year-end".
Addressing a function in Jammu, Singh, who is on a two-day visit to the Union Territory, said the delimitation exercise was completed recently following which the number of seats has increased to 90 with Kashmir having 47 seats and Jammu 43.
"By this year-end, there is a possibility that assembly elections can be held in Jammu and Kashmir," he said. -- PTI
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18:20 12 fishermen rescued off Odisha coast
At least 12 fishermen stranded in the sea for over 12 hours were rescued by the Coast Guard and Odisha police on Friday.
However, one crew member of the vessel they were in is still missing and a search operation is underway, said Inspector Srikant Barik of Talchua Marine Police Station in Kendrapara district.
The fishing vessel got drifted after it developed a technical snag on Thursday evening, following which an SOS was sent.
As the sea was rough, the vessel failed to negotiate the windy conditions, the officer said.
The vessel with its crew members was towed back safely to the fishing harbour in Kendrapara district, Barik added. -- PTI
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18:05 Earthquake of 5.2 magnitude hits J-K
An earthquake of magnitude 5.2 on the richter scale hit Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, officials said.
The tremor was recorded at 2:52 pm, the officials said.
The epicentre of the quake was at latitude of 36.46 degrees North and longitude of 71.09 degrees East in Afghanistan, the officials said.
It hit a depth of 260 km.
The tremors caused panic among the people who rushed outdoors for safety.
However, there were no reports so far of any injury or damage to property, the officials added. -- PTI
17:57 Agnipath: Intelligence agencies watch social media
Intelligence Agencies are keeping a close watch on social media, especially WhatsApp groups that are spreading misinformation and provoking students on the Agnipath recruitment scheme.
They have also asked state police to keep watch on anti-social elements joining the protest to target police and public property.
A senior official said that the staff working on the ground have been instructed to keep watch on social media accounts of coaching institutes for defence exam preparation and approach local police to talk to owners of these institutes and make them appeal to students to maintain peace and clarify their doubts on Agnipath recruitment scheme.
"Hundreds of WhatsApp groups have been created in the past few days where a lot of misinformation has been spread regarding the recruitment scheme. We are working closely with the state police and keeping them updated with any developing law and order situation," he said.
He added that they are in coordination with local police to identify anti-social elements joining the protest to create violence. -- ANI
Shattered glass pieces from a bus at Khazoori Khas in New Delhi
17:20 Agnipath protests: Internet, SMS blocked in Haryana
The Haryana government has ordered the suspension of mobile internet services, all SMS services in view of the potential law and order situation in the wake of new army recruitment policy. Order shall be in force for next 24 hours with immediate effect i.e. till 16:30 hours tomorrow.
The government on Tuesday unveiled a "transformative" scheme-- 'Agnipath'-- for the recruitment of soldiers in the Army, Navy and the Air Force largely on a four-year short-term contractual basis, in a major overhaul of the decades-old selection process which it believes will bring in fitter and younger troops to deal with future security challenges facing the nation.
However, the scheme has seen violent protests in over states across the country.
School teacher Rajni Bala's funeral
17:01 Terrorist who shot J-K teacher Rajni Bala killed
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, Vijay Kumar on Friday termed the Kulgam encounter an "important one" as the terrorists involved in the killing of school teacher Rajni Bala was neutralised in the operation.
"The Kulgam encounter is an important one, as the terrorists were involved in the killing of school teacher Rajni Bala on May 31 (in Gopalpora area of Kulgam). We were tracking the terrorist since then... Yesterday, two other terrorists were killed," said Vijay Kumar.
Bala was killed by terrorists in the High School Gopalpora area of Kulgam district of Kashmir on May 31.
"The common part about the Anantnag and Kulgam encounters held yesterday was that the victims were women; one a political activist and the other a teacher. Security forces neutralized the terrorists involved. Search for third terrorist underway in Kulgam," added IGP Kashmir.
Three terrorists affiliated with the terror outfit Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), including one involved in the killing of a teacher last month, were neutralised in twin anti-terrorist operations in Kulgam and Anantnag districts of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, said police.
"Two terrorists of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) terror outfit were killed in the Anantnag encounter... one of them, Junaid Bhat had been active since June 2018," said Kumar.
The other killed terrorist has been identified as Basit Bhat of the HM terror outfit. -- ANI
Several trains were cancelled and re-routed amid the protests
16:33 From Shah to Nadda, Modi's men defend Agnipath
Facing countrywide protests over the Agnipath scheme, the BJP on Friday rallied its leaders to put up a stout defence of the new recruitment initiative for the armed forces, with its senior leader and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh terming it as a "golden opportunity" for the youth to serve the country.
The party leaders also lauded the government's decision to raise the upper age limit for recruitment under the Agnipath scheme to 23 years from 21 for this year.
BJP president J P Nadda said it shows that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is fully seized of the concerns of the country's youth and is making efforts for their bright future.
The government on Thursday night increased the upper age limit for recruitment under the Agnipath scheme to 23 years from 21 for 2022 amid widespread protest against the new model for enrolment of soldiers into the three services.
Underlining that the intention of the government is very clear, and it is sensitive, Union Minister Giriraj Singh said that the recruitment process will start in a few days, and requested all youngsters to start preparing for it.
Appreciating the government's decision to raise the upper age limit under the Agnipath scheme, Union minister Pralhad Joshi said that this decision will inspire the youth of the country to show courage and serve the nation through Agnipath scheme.
"Our 'Agniveer', dedicated to the service of 'Bharat Mata', will prove to be an invaluable fund for the nation," he said. Amid protests, Union minister Anurag Thakur posted a video on his Twitter, in which he was seen interacting with a group of youngsters in his constituency Hamirpur and clearing their doubts about the scheme.
"Cleared the doubts and made youngsters aware of the vision of the Government of India behind this scheme," Thakur said while adding that he informed them the Agnivpath scheme is an innovative attempt to make youth serve the country through the army and provide them employment-skill opportunities.
During the four years of job under the Agnipath scheme, Agniveers would get around Rs 20 lakh in salary besides other benefits and a lump-sum amount of Rs 10-12 lakhs on completion of tenure, Thakur said.
Unveiling the scheme on Tuesday, the government said youths between the ages of 17-and-a-half and 21 years would be inducted for a four-year tenure while 25 per cent of the recruits will be retained for regular service.
The upper age limit was raised to 23 years on Thursday. The new scheme for the recruitment of soldiers in the Army, Navy and Air Force was projected by the government as a major overhaul of the decades-old selection process to enhance the youthful profile of the three services. PTI
rmy aspirants perform pushups on a railway track in Dhanbad
16:19 Agnipath protests: 1 dead, 13 injured in T'gana
One person has died and over 13 have been injured in Telangana's Secunderabad as violent protests against the Centre's Agnipath scheme.
"1 dead among 13 people who were brought to the hospital. Among the injured, 1 person in critical condition, he received a chest injury. We are examining the remaining," Raja Rao, Superintendent, Gandhi Hospital, on protest over the Agnipath scheme.
Telangana police resorted to aerial firing to disperse the angry crowd at the Secunderabad railway station as protests escalated into large-scale violence and arson.
Protestors are demonstrating on railway tracks and have halted all train movement for the last three hours. Security forces are outnumbered as the railway station has been overrun by angry youth, who have already set three trains on fire.
The railways are diverting trains so that they don't go through the Secunderabad station. The disruption began at 9 am when over 350 protestors took over the railway station.
16:00 Markets decline for 6th day
Benchmark indices extended their losing streak to the sixth straight session on Friday, with the Sensex declining 135 points in choppy trade amid mixed global markets, unabated foreign fund outflows, and rising crude oil prices.
The BSE benchmark declined 135.37 points or 0.26 per cent to settle at 51,360.42.
During the day, the benchmark faced volatility and tanked 574.57 points or 1.11 per cent to its one-year low of 50,921.22.
The NSE Nifty went lower by 67.10 points or 0.44 per cent to end at 15,293.50. From the Sensex pack, Titan, Wipro, Dr Reddy's, Asian Paints, Sun Pharma, PowerGrid, Larsen & Toubro, UltraTech Cement, Maruti, TCS and Hindustan Unilever were the biggest laggards. On the other hand, Bajaj Finance, Bajaj Finserv, Reliance Industries and ICICI Bank were among the gainers.
15:52 Meghalaya gets 972 mm of rain, highest in 27 yrs
Just two days after recording 811.6 mm of rainfall in a day, Cherrapunji in Meghalaya received a bountiful 972 mm of precipitation in 24 hours ending 8.30 am on Friday, the highest in June since 1995, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
One of the wettest places in the world, Cherrapunji has recorded more than 800 mm of precipitation on a June day on nine occasions since the IMD started keeping records, the IMD data showed. Till Friday, Cherrapunji has received a total of 4081.3 mm rainfall this month, Sunit Das, Scientist E at IMD's regional centre in Guwahati, said. In 24 hours ending 8:30 am on Wednesday, the town nestled in the East Khasi Hills gauged a copious 811.2 mm of rainfall.
On June 16, 1995, Cherrapunji logged 1563.3 mm of rainfall. A day before, on June 15, 1995, it received 930 mm of precipitation. "It doesn't always rain like this. 50-60 cm is normal (in Cherrapunji) once or twice every year. But 80 cm and above is certainly not usual," Das told PTI.
"A trough has been persisting over the region for some days and southwesterly winds have been continuously bringing a lot of moisture from the Bay of Bengal. These winds smash against the cliffs of the Khai hills and give rainfall," he said.
Cherrapunji recorded 673.6 mm of rainfall on Thursday, 811.6 mm on Wednesday, 62.6 mm on Tuesday, 293 mm on Monday and 354 mm on Sunday. The spell of extreme rainfall is likely to continue for one or two days. Thereafter, the intensity will decrease, the scientist said. At an aerial distance of 10 km from Cherrapunji, Mawsynram, the wettest place in India, gauged 710.6 mm of rainfall in 24 hours ending 8:30 am Wednesday, the maximum since June 1966.
On June 10, 1966, Mawsynram had recorded 717.6 mm of rainfall. On June 7, 1966, it had received 944.7 mm of precipitation, the highest on a June day since the IMD began maintaining records. The town had gauged a 24-hour rainfall of 623.4 mm on June 8, 2015.
15:14 NE floods: 11 lakh affected in Assam alone
The flood situation in the northeast remained grim on Friday as incessant rainfall continued to pound parts of the region for the fourth consecutive day, leaving major rivers in spate, officials said.
According to Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), over 11 lakh people have been impacted due to rain and floods in 25 districts of the state.
The situation is no better in Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh, where roads have been damaged due to landslides and villages are largely flooded.
Sohra (erstwhile Cherrapunji) in Meghalaya's East Khasi Hills received 972 mm of rainfall in 24 hours ending 8:30 am on Friday -- highest in June since 1995 -- the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Friday.
A man went missing in Assam's Sonitpur district after a boat carrying him and three others overturned in Jia Bhoroli river. Three persons were rescued, but the fourth individual could not be traced, a district official said.
Fresh landslides were reported in several areas of Guwahati and parts of Dima-Hasao, Goalpara, Hojai, Kamrup and Kamrup (M). The toll due to flood and landslides in Assam this year rose to 46 on Thursday, after two children were buried alive when their house collapsed.
Union Minister for Shipping, Ports, Waterways and Ayush Sarbananda Sonowal, during the day, called Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, and discussed the grim flood and landslide situation that crippled life in the state, an official said.
The CM apprised the Union minister of the prevailing situation and how the various departments are working round the clock to help people in the affected areas, he said.
Several rivers are flowing above the danger mark in Assam, including Brahmaputra at Nimatighat and Dhubri, Kopili at Nagaon, Puthimari at Kamrup, Pagaladiya at Nalbari, , Manas and Beki at Barpeta, a bulletin issued by the Central Water Commission (CWC) maintained. Heavy erosion has been reported from districts such as Bongaigaon, Dibrugarh, Goalpara, Kamrup, Kokrajhar, Morigaon, Nalbari, Sonitpur and South Salmara.
The floods have impacted 1,702 villages, and forced more than 68,000 people to take shelter in 150 relief camps.
Besides, 46 relief centres have been opened in various places for distribution of food and medicines. NDRF, SDRF, Fire and Emergency Service personnel, the police and ASDMA volunteers are carrying out evacuative drive in the affected areas on war-footing.
So far, 5,840 people have been safely evacuated, ASDMA officials stated. Lakhs of animals and a total crop area of 20,142 hectares have been affected by the rain that began earlier in the week and subsequent flood.
An alert was sounded in Karbi Anglong, Morigaon and Nagaon districts as four sluice gates of NEEPCO's hydroelectric project were opened in Dima Hasao. Guwahati has been severely affected due to continued waterlogging in most parts of the city, with areas such as Anil Nagar, Nabin Nagar, Zoo Road, Six Mile, Noonmati and Bhootnath figuring among the worst affected. In neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh, water from river Subansiri has submerged the under-construction dam site of a hydroelectric power project.
15:03 UK nod for extradition of WikiLeaks founder Assange
The British government has approved the extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the United States to face spying charges.
The government said Friday that Home Secretary Priti Patel had signed the extradition order.
It follows a British court ruling that he could be sent to the U.S.
The decision is a big moment in Assange's years-long battle to avoid being sent to the U.S. though not necessarily the end of the tale. Assange has 14 days to appeal.
Charred remains of a train coach in Lakhisarai, Bihar
14:35 VK Singh blames Oppn for Agnipath protests
Union minister and former Army chief General V K Singh (retd) on Friday accused the opposition parties of creating a controversy over the Centre's Agnipath scheme for short-term recruitment in the defence forces by "provoking" people.
"Since the Opposition has nothing else to do, it is stoking a controversy over the scheme even before its implementation has started," he alleged.
Speaking to reporters at the Nagpur airport over the violent protests and opposition to the new recruitment scheme, he said, "There is no controversy in the scheme, but a controversy is being created by the opposition, which has nothing else to do. They are being surrounded by the ED..."
"People are being told wrong things and being provoked. Where is the controversy when the scheme is yet to get started?" he added.
The minister said the Army has never been a large-scale provider of jobs. "People get jobs in Army and other forces after fulfilling certain conditions, wherein a lot of things have to be done. If they (Agniveers) perform well, then 25 per cent of them will be retained in the service. Besides, the remaining will get a good financial package. States like Haryana, Uttar Pradesh as well as the Home ministry have assured to give priority in the forces," he said. -- PTI
Rajiv Gandhi assassin, Nalini Sriharan
14:22 HC rejects plea from Rajiv assassination convicts on release
Holding that High Courts do not have the special power of the Supreme Court, the Madras High Court on Friday rejected a plea from Nalini Sriharan and Ravichandran, both convicted in the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, to order their release without even the consent of the State Governor.
The High Courts do not have the power under Article 226 of the Constitution to do so, unlike the Supreme Court which enjoyed the special power under Article 142, the first bench of Chief Justice M N Bhandari and Justice N Mala said.
The bench was dismissing two writ petitions from Nalini and Ravichandran, today. The Supreme Court had ordered the release of A G Perarivalan, another convict in the same case on May 18 after using the special power available to it under Article 142 of the Constitution.
The same yardstick should be applied by the High Court also in the their case, the duo contended. The previous AIADMK cabinet had recommended for the premature release of all the seven accused in the case in September, 2018 and forwarded the same to then State Governor Banwarilal Purohit. As there was no response from the Governor, the convicts had moved the Madras High Court for a direction to the Governor to order their release.
As their plea was rejected by the High Court, they had filed the present petitions to order their release even without the consent of the Governor. The Supreme Court had categorically held that the Governor was bound by the recommendations of the State cabinet, they contended. Besides Perarivalan, Murugan, Santhan, Robert Payas, Ravichandran, Jayakumar and Nalini were convicted in the former PM's assassination and are serving respective life terms. PTI
People in Gurugram protests the Agnipath scheme
14:14 Agnipath protests: Sec 144 imposed in Gurugram
The Gurugram district administration has imposed Section 144 as a precautionary measure even though no fresh protest was reported there on Friday against the Centre's Agnipath scheme to recruit soldiers.
Deputy Commissioner Nishant Yadav said the order was issued as protests were likely to spread to the second day here and that the administraton anticipated angry crowd at railway stations, bus stands, markets, national highways and power grids among other places in the district.
"This may have created obstruction, disturbance or interference in the maintenance of law and order," he said.
"Under Criminal Procedure-1973, I, Nishant Kumar Yadav, 1.A.S., District Magistrate, Gurugram hereby prohibit the free movement of persons and gathering more than four persons within Gurugram," the order said.
Any person found guilty of violation shall be prosecuted and punished as per law, the order mentioned. Some youths reportedly tried to interrupt rail service near Haily Mandi, but were stopped by the police before they could reach the railway track, officials said.
Earlier in the day, there was a call for demonstration at Rajiv Chowk, following which police force was deployed. The protesters went back on seeing the force, police said.
"Over 200 policemen have been deployed at Rajiv Chowk. The force is also installed at other main chowks in the district. We appeal to the youths that if they do not agree with the scheme, they can protest, but with responsibility," Sadar Assistant Commissioner of Police Aman Yadav said. On the other hand, security at the Deputy Commissioner's residence in Palwal has been stepped up in view of the stone pelting on Thursday.
Protests have erupted in several states since Wednesday against the Agnipath scheme to recruit jawans into the army, the navy and the air force for a four-year-period followed by compulsory retirement for most without gratuity and pension benefits. PTI
14:02 With Agnipath, Modi repeats mistakes made with farm laws
To know why protests against the Modi government's new "Agnipath" (armed forces recruitment) scheme have become the angriest in Bihar, it is instructive to take a morning walk in the historic Gandhi Maidan in Patna.
Birthplace of the "JP Movement" in the early 1970s, in which venerable Jayaprakash Narayan led a mighty struggle of students and youth against Indira Gandhi's authoritarian rule, this sprawling ground visually illustrates two contrasting truths about today's Young India - hope and frustration.
Read the column by Sudheendra Kulkarni here.
13:53 Agnipath protests: 200 trains affected, 35 cancelled
Over 200 trains have been affected so far due to the protests against the Agnipath scheme for recruitment in the armed forces, the Railways said Friday.
Around 35 trains have been cancelled while 13 short-terminated since the protests erupted on Wednesday, the national carrier said.
The worst-hit East Central Railways -- which covers Bihar, Jharkhand and parts of Uttar Pradesh, the states which have witnessed widespread protests -- has also decided to "monitor" the operations of eight trains due to the agitations.
The officials said they are keeping an eye on the movement of these trains and will take decision on their operation as the situation evolves.
These trains include: 12303 Howrah - New Delhi Poorva Express, 12353 Howrah - Lalkuan Express , 18622 Ranchi - Patna Patliputra Express, 18182 Danapur - Tata Express, 22387 Howrah - Dhanbad Black Diamond Express, 13512 Asansol - Tata Express, 13032 Jaynagar - Howrah Express and the 13409 Malda Town - Kiul Express. Two ECR trains that have been cancelled are -- 12335 Malda Town - Lokmanya Tilak (T) Express and the 12273 Howrah - New Delhi Duronto Express.
Details about other cancelled trains were not immediately available. Several trains run by the North Frontier Railways also pass through the ECR jurisdiction and three of them are also hit, the railways said.
Angry mobs have targeted trains and railway property in their protests against the Centre's Agnipath scheme for recruitment in the armed forces on a short-term contractual basis.
Coaches of three running trains in the ECR and one empty rake in Kulharia (also in the ECR) were damaged by violent protestors.
One coach of a stationary train was also damaged in the washing line at Uttar Pradesh' Balia. Damages to fixed asset are difficult to be assessed at the moment, railway officials said. I
In Balia, raising slogans 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' and 'Agnipath Wapas Lo (withdraw Agnipath scheme)', protesting youths set an empty train on fire and vandalised a few other trains, prompting the police to lathicharge them. Reports of agitators vandalising the Secunderabad Railway Station and setting a trainset ablaze have also come in. PTI
Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw
13:50 This is BJP's team for handling Prez polls
BJP includes Union Ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, G Kishan Reddy, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Sarbananda Sonowal, Arjun Ram Meghwal, and Bharati Pawar, in the management team for the upcoming Presidential elections.
13:26 Army chief: Youth don't have info on Agnipath
Army chief General Manoj Pande on the protests around the Agnipath scheme. "I feel that the youth does not know all the proper information on the Agnipath Scheme. Once they get to know about the scheme, they will have faith that this scheme is not only for the youth but is also beneficial to all.
"As far as the question of agniveers going to recruitment training centres is concerned, the training of first agniveers will begin this December (in 2022) at the centres."
Protests are raging around the country over the Agnipath scheme.
Section 144 imposed has in Gurugram district as a precautionary measure; police on high alert, say officials.
The agitation against the Agnipath scheme turned violent as it continued for a third straight day in Bihar with protesters allegedly attacking the houses of Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Renu Devi and Bihar BJP president and West Champaran MP Sanjay Jaiswal.
12:59 'Military is too serious a matter to be taken as a tour'
"The most important factor to be considered is whether this policy will make our soldiers fight better -- or not."
"What impact will it have on operational preparedness and efficiency against our present and future adversaries?"
"These should be the first priority. Everything else is secondary," says Lieutenant General K Himalay Singh (retd), former general officer commanding, 16 Corps in Kashmir.
The general, speaks to Rediff.com's Archana Masih about apprehensions about the newly launched Agnipath scheme for recruitment of soldiers in India's armed forces.
Read the interview here.
12:52 Brothers in arms
In Ukraine, people can poke fun at their leader and not get thrown in jail. Lesia Vasylenko, an Ukranian MP, tweets this picture of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with French President Emmanuel Macron, and writes, "After this happened today, #Ukraine is sure to get EU candidate status."
Mamata Banerjee with PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti at the Oppn meet
12:46 Farooq, Gandhi, lack personality for Prez: Sena
The Shiv Sena on Friday said people may ask how the Opposition will give a capable prime minister if it cannot field a strong candidate for the upcoming presidential polls, stressing that it needs to take the elections for the next president seriously.
In an editorial in its mouthpiece 'Saamana', the party said Mahatma Gandhi's grandson Gopalkrishna Gandhi and National Conference's Farooq Abdullah, the "regular names that crop up during the presidential polls", don't have the personality or heft to make it a tightly-contested battle.
On the other hand, the government is not also likely to come up with a "bright" candidate, the party said, adding that five years back, two-three people shortlisted President Ram Nath Kovind's name and even this year they are likely to do the same.
The term of president Kovind ends on July 24 and an election to find his successor is scheduled to be held on July 18. The process to file nominations for the presidential polls began on Wednesday.
Seventeen opposition parties, including the Congress, DMK, NCP and Samajwadi Party, attended the crucial meeting in Delhi on June 15, convened by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to build a consensus on fielding a joint candidate against the BJP-led NDA in the presidential elections.
Leaders of these parties also urged NCP supremo Sharad Pawar to be their joint candidate for the presidential election, but the veteran leader declined the offer at the meeting. A second meeting of the opposition parties will be convened by Pawar in Mumbai on June 20 or 21, sources said.
"If not Pawar, then who? Had the work to find answers to this question done six months back, then that would have displayed the Opposition's seriousness for this election," the party said.
"If the Opposition cannot field a strong candidate for the presidential polls, then how can it give a capable prime minister in 2024. This question will come to people's mind," it said. The party said if the numbers add up for an opposition prime minister in 2024, then there will be many grooms in the queue, but they avoid the presidential polls. It said according to Mamata Banerjee, the presidential polls is the warm up contest for the 2024 general elections.
"The Opposition must take it (the presidential polls contest) seriously," it said. The party said the president is not a mere rubber stamp, but the protector of the Constitution and custodian of the judiciary.
"The Parliament, the press, the judiciary and the administration are kneeling before those in power. There is a rise in communal fissures in the country. In such a case, can the president keep quiet? But the president does not take a stand on this. This is dangerous for the integrity of the country," the editorial said without taking Kovind's name.
The party said the president is the Supreme Commander of the three armed forces, head of the judiciary and the one occupying the chair has to give direction to the country, but for past some time, he has not been been able to do anything as per his will. PTI
12:38 Army chief lauds Agnipath age limit decision
Army Chief General Manoj Pande on Friday said the government's decision to raise the upper age limit to 23 years from 21 under the 'Agnipath' scheme in 2022 will provide an opportunity to the youths who were preparing to join the force but couldn't do so in the last two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
General Pande said the decision of the government has been received by the Army to grant the one-time waiver in the age and that the recruitment process will be announced shortly.
The Chief of Army Staff also called upon the youth to avail the opportunity to join the Indian Army as 'Agniveers'.
"The decision of the government has been received to grant a one-time waiver, increasing the entry age of recruitment to 23 years, for the recruitment cycle of 2022," the Army Chief said in a statement.
"This decision will provide an opportunity for many of our young, energetic and patriotic youth who, despite the Covid-19 pandemic, were preparing to join the recruitment rallies, which couldn't be completed in the last two years due to Covid restrictions," he said.
"The schedule of recruitment process will be announced shortly. We call upon our youth to avail this opportunity for joining the Indian Army as Agniveers," Gen Pande said. PTI
12:31 Agnipath protests: Bihar BJP chief's house attacked
Update on Agnipath protests:
-- The residence of Bihar BJP chief Sanjay Jaiswal, in Bettiah, attacked by agitators protesting against Agnipath Recruitment Scheme. At least one policeman injured.
-- The residence of Bihar BJP chief Sanjay Jaiswal, in Bettiah, attacked by agitators protesting against Agnipath Recruitment Scheme. At least one policeman injured.
-- A total of 200 train services have been affected due to the ongoing agitation; 35 train services stand cancelled while 13 have been short terminated, throughout the country.
Protesters set two trains on fire in Bihar
12:27 Agnipath protestors set 20 bogies afire in Bihar
Protests against the Center's 'Agnipath' recruitment scheme intensified in Bihar on Friday as angry aspirants set fire to at least 20 bogies of the New Delhi-Bhagalpur Vikramshila Express and New Delhi-Darbhanga Bihar Sampark Kranti Express at Lakhisarai and Samastipur stations and blocked highways in the state.
The demonstrators blocked highways at several places in Buxar, Bhagalpur and Samastipur and burnt tyres as a mark of protest, officials said.
The protests, which is into its third day in the state, caused massive disruption of railway services at Buxar and Kahalgaon, officials of East Central Railways said.
Jamalpur superintendent of railway, Umer Javed said the protestors set on fire 12 bogies of Vikramshila Express. However, there was no casualty. Protestors also set eight bogies of Bihar Sampark Kranti on fire at Samastipur railway station demanding scrapping of the Agnipath scheme for recruitment in the Armed Forces, a Railway official said.
An ECR official said around 20 trains were cancelled due to the arson, while many others were either short-terminated or run on alternate routes.
At Lakhisarai station a large number of protestors lay down on the railway tracks to block the movement of trains. They were dispersed by Railway police with the help of the local police.
Bihar had witnessed large scale protest on Thursday too against the central scheme, under which hiring in the Armed Forces has been for a four-year period followed by compulsory retirement for at least 75 per cent of the personnel, without any pension benefits.
Hordes of aspirants had hit the streets, vandalised buildings and vehicles, stormed railway stations and set fire to train coaches demanding immediate roll back of 'Agnipath'.
With protests against 'Agnipath' reported from various parts of the country, the Centre on Thursday granted a one-time waiver in the upper age limit for recruitment under the scheme by extending it to 23 years from 21 years for 2022. PTI
Hrithik's grandmother
12:19 Hrithik Roshan's grandmother passes away
Actor Hrithik Roshan's maternal grandmother Padma Rani Om Prakash, who's the wife of late film producer J Om Prakash, has passed away.
She was 91.
"My mother Padma rani Omprakash left us for her onward journey to reunite with daddy..love peace gratitude," Hrithik's mother Pinkie Roshan wrote on Instagram, adding a picture of her late mother.
12:12 14th BRICS summit to be held on Jun 23 in Beijing
The 14th summit of BRICS nations -- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa -- will be hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on June 23 via video link, the Foreign Ministry announced on Friday.
China is this year's chair of the BRICS.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa are expected to take part in the summit hosted by Chinese President Xi.
The Summit will be held in virtual format under the theme of "Foster High-quality BRICS Partnership, Usher in a New Era for Global Development", Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said in a statement.
Also, BRICS leaders and leaders of "relevant" emerging markets and developing countries will attend the High-level Dialogue on Global Development in Beijing on June 24 to be hosted by Xi, Hua said.
The dialogue will be held in virtual format under the theme of "Foster a Global Development Partnership for the New Era to Jointly Implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development".
Xi will also take part in the opening ceremony of the BRICS Business Forum in virtual format on June 22 and deliver a keynote speech, she said.
In the run-up to the summit, China held a series of preparatory meetings, including the BRICS Foreign Ministers meeting followed by a meeting of the National Security Advisors meeting.
India's NSA Ajit Doval took part in the BRICS top security officials meeting held on Wednesday via video link.
The top security officials of the five countries held an in-depth exchange of views and reached a consensus on issues such as strengthening multilateralism and global governance and responding to new threats and challenges to national security, according to the Chinese official media report.
Doval called for bolstering cooperation against terrorism without any reservations as he addressed a virtual meeting of the five-nation grouping.
12:08 Sonia treated for fungal infection, nose bleed: Cong
Congress president Sonia Gandhi is being treated for respiratory infection along with post-Covid symptoms, said the Congress in a statement.
"Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi was admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi on the afternoon of June 12, 2022 when she developed profuse bleeding from the nose following a recent Covid infection. She was immediately put under treatment and underwent a related follow-up procedure yesterday morning," the statement stated.
"A fungal infection in her lower respiratory tract was also detected upon admission. She is currently being treated for it along with other post-Covid symptoms. She continues to be under close observation and treatment," it added.
Sonia Gandhi, 75, had tested positive for COVID-19 on June 2 and was recuperating.
She was admitted to the hospital on Sunday, owing to post-Covid issues.
11:15 Modi can't hear anything except...: Rahul on Agnipath
Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not understand what the people of the country want as he cannot hear anything except the voice of his "friends".
He said this a day after the government raised the upper age limit to 23 years from 21 years for recruitment under 'Agnipath', amid protests by youth in several parts of the country against the scheme.
Gandhi also cited schemes such as GST, noteban, farm laws and now Agnipath, saying they were projected to be for the welfare of the people but were rejected by the citizens.
"Agnipath - youth rejected. Farm laws - farmers rejected. Noteban - economists rejected. GST - traders rejected.
"The prime minister does not understand what the people of the country want, as he cannot hear anything except the voice of his 'friends'," Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, too, urged the prime minister to withdraw the scheme as the youth are opposing it with protests.
She said that the BJP government had to change the rules of the new army recruitment scheme within 24 hours.
"This means that the plan has been imposed on the youth in a hurry," she said.
"Narendra Modi ji, please withdraw the scheme immediately," she said in a tweet in Hindi and urged him to recruit people in the air force, which has been held back.
"Make the army recruitment the same as before by giving relief in the age limit," she said.
The Congress has demanded that the short service recruitment in the armed forces under Agnipath scheme be kept in abeyance and wider consultations be held with experts before taking further action on it. -- PTI
Army aspirants demonstrate against Agnipath in Gwalior. Pic: ANI
10:52 Agnipath amendment shows haste in draft: Priyanka
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Friday attacked the government over the Agnipath scheme, saying the BJP dispensation requiring to amend rules under the scheme soon after its announcement indicates it was imposed on the youth in "haste", and demanded its immediate withdrawal.
The government on Thursday increased the upper-age limit for recruitment of soldiers under the Agnipath scheme to 23 years from 21 years for the first year, amid widespread protests against the new model for enrolment of soldiers into the three services.
In a tweet in Hindi, Priyanka Gandhi said "not even 24 hours had passed" that the BJP government had to change the rules of the new army recruitment scheme. This means the scheme is being imposed on the youth in haste," the Congress general secretary said.
"Narendra Modi ji, withdraw this scheme immediately. Give appointments and put out the result of the stalled recruitment in Air Force," Priyanka Gandhi said.
"Conduct army recruitment (with age relaxation) as before," she demanded. Trains were set afire, public and police vehicles attacked and personnel injured as protests over 'Agnipath' snowballed and swept across several states on Thursday.
A number of opposition political parties and a significant number of military experts have also slammed the scheme, saying it will adversely impact the functioning of the armed forces. -- PTI
Smoke billows from bikes set on fire at a railway track in Bhojpur district. Pic: ANI
10:40 Agnipath: Internet, SMS suspended in Haryana
Following violent protests in Palwal against the Agnipath scheme, Haryana government has suspended mobile internet and SMS services for 24 hours in Ballabhgarh area of Faridabad district as a precautionary measure.
The order, which was issued by the Home department and came into effect after 12 am on Friday, led to the suspension of mobile internet services, all SMS services, including bulk SMS (excluding banking and mobile recharge), and all dongle services provided on mobile networks to maintain law and order and prevent the spread of rumours, officials said.
The department in a statement said that there is a likelihood of "tension, annoyance, obstruction or injury to persons, danger to human life and property, disturbance of public peace and tranquillity" in Ballabgarh sub-division by the agitated protesters, in view of the potential law and order situation in the adjourning Palwal district over the Agnipath scheme.
"In order to stop the spread of disinformation and rumours through various social media platforms, on mobile phones and SMS, for facilitation and mobilisation of mobs... in the exercise of powers conferred upon me by virtue of Section 5 of Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 to be read along with Rule (2) of Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety ) Rules, 2017, Home Secretary, Haryana, I do hereby order the suspension of mobile internet services... all SMS services... and all dongle services etc. provided on mobile networks except the voice call in the territorial jurisdiction of Sub Division Ballabgarh," the order read.
"All telecom service providers of Haryana are hereby directed to ensure the compliance of this order," it said. -- PTI
10:23 CBI raids Raj CM's brother's house
CBI raids the house of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's brother Agrasen Gehlot in Mandore. He has been raided by the ED in the past.
Fr Stan Swamy
10:16 Police linked to hacking campaign to frame activists
New details connect police in India to a plot to plant evidence on victims' computers that led to their arrest. Read the report here.
A train set afire in Chhapra. Pic: ANI
10:08 Agnipath protests intensify; road, rail affected
Protests against 'Agnipath', a recruitment scheme introduced by the Central government for Indian youth to serve in the Armed Forces, in Bihar continued for the second consecutive day as protestors on Friday disrupted the movement of trains in various districts of Bihar.
In the Begusarai district, the agitated youth blocked the Rajbara Gumti road.
The movement of trains was affected as agitating protestors chose to voice their concerns by sitting on the railway tracks. Roads were also blocked at many places.
During the protest, a tire was burnt on the railway track. Students created a huge ruckus at Sahebpurkamal railway station in the district as well as arson and stone-pelting. Lakhisarai district witnessed a similar furore.
A huge group of protestors jointly marched in the district against the scheme by the Central government. During the protest, slogans were also raised against the Central government.
Local police officials who were present at the spot told ANI, "They were stopping me from shooting a video and even snatched away my phone. About 4-5 compartments are affected. Passengers alighted and managed to proceed on their own."
A similar protest against the scheme was witnessed in Uttar Pradesh's Balia. A huge crowd gathered at Ballia Railway Station in protest against the Agnipath scheme.
"Forces have been deployed at the station since morning. A few hooligans reached there but they were stopped from damaging much of the public property. They attempted stone-pelting. Action being taken," Ballia District Magistrate Saumya Agarwal said.
Violent protest over the Central government's 'Agnipath' scheme for recruitment in armed forces continued across Bihar on Thursday with hundreds of aspirants disrupting rail and road traffic while police fired tear gas shells to disperse them. -- ANI
10:01 14 Covid deaths, 12,847 cases in a day in India
India reported a single-day rise of 12,847 coronavirus infections, taking the overall tally of cases to 4,32,70,577, while active cases also went up by over 4,800, according to the Union Health Ministry data issued on Friday.
The data updated at 8 am also recorded 14 fresh fatalities, pushing the overall death figure to 5,24,817.
The active cases now constitute 0.15 per cent of the total infections, while the country's Covid-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.64 per cent, the health ministry said. The case fatality rate was 1.21 per cent.
An increase of 4,848 cases has been recorded in the active Covid-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. The daily positivity rate was recorded at 2.47 per cent, and the weekly positivity rate at 2.41 per cent, according to the health ministry. The number of people who have recovered from the disease rose to 4,26,82,697.
On the vaccination front, according to the ministry cumulatively 195.84 doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far. India's Covid-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020. It went past the four-crore mark on January 25 this year. PTI
09:48 Cong leaders to meet Prez over police misbehaviour
A delegation of Congress leaders is likely to meet President Ram Nath Kovind on June 20 and submit a memorandum on the issue of entry of police into party headquarters and allegedly misbehaving with party MPs during protests against the Enforcement Directorate probe on party leader Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case.
The Wayanad MP was questioned by the ED for three consecutive days, sparking protests by Congress leaders across the country.
The Congress on Wednesday filed a complaint against the Delhi Police for entering and attacking party workers, without provocation, at 24 Akbar Road.
The complaint was registered at Tughlak Road Police Station, New Delhi.
The Congress has alleged that its leaders have been manhandled during protests.
Congress MPs on Thursday met the LoK Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu and raised the issue of alleged ill-treatment of party lawmakers, including some women, by the Delhi police.
The Congress has accused the Delhi police of violating the privileges of MPs during protests against the ED and the Modi government.
The party has also accused the Delhi Police of criminal trespass by entering the AICC office and beating up its leaders, a charge denied by the force.
09:36 ED raids multiple locations in Delhi linked to Satyendar Jain
The Enforcement Directorate is conducting raids at multiple locations in the national capital region in connection with a money laundering case against Delhi minister Satyendar Jain and his associates, officials said Friday morning.
At least 10 residential and business locations are being covered by the officials of the federal probe agency under the searches.
Jain, 57, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on May 30 under the criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and is in judicial custody at present.
The agency had claimed to have seized "unexplained" cash worth Rs 2.85 crore and 133 gold coins after similar raids were conducted against Jain's family and others after his arrest.
Jain, a minister without portfolio in the Kejriwal government, is being probed by the agency under the PMLA on charges of alleged hawala dealings. -- PTI
09:24 Indians' money in Swiss banks jump to 14-year high
Funds parked by Indian individuals and firms in Swiss banks, including through India-based branches and other financial institutions, jumped to a 14-year-high of 3.83 billion Swiss francs (over Rs 30,500 crore) in 2021 on a sharp surge in holdings via securities and similar instruments while customer deposits rose as well, annual data from Switzerland's central bank showed on Thursday.
The rise in aggregate funds of Indian clients with Swiss banks, from 2.55 billion Swiss francs (Rs 20,700 crore) at the end of 2020, marks the second consecutive year of increase.
Besides, the money held in Indian customers' savings or deposit accounts rose to a seven-year high of about Rs 4,800 crore, reversing a two-year declining trend.
The total amount of CHF 3,831.91 million, described by the SNB as 'total liabilities' of Swiss banks or 'amounts due to' their Indian clients at the end of 2021, included CHF 602.03 million in customer deposits (up from CHF 504 million at 2020-end), CHF 1,225 million held via other banks (up from CHF 383 million), and CHF 3 million through fiduciaries or trusts (up from CHF 2 million).
The highest component of CHF 2,002 million (up from CHF 1,665 million) was 'other amounts due to customers' in form of bonds, securities and various other financial instruments.
The total amount stood at a record high of nearly 6.5 billion Swiss francs in 2006, after which it has been mostly on a downward path, except for a few years including in 2011, 2013, 2017, 2020 and now in 2021, as per the Swiss National Bank data.
While all four components had declined during 2019, the year 2020 saw a significant plunge in customer deposits, while there has been a surge across all categories in 2021.
These are official figures reported by banks to the SNB and do not indicate the quantum of the much-debated alleged black money held by Indians in Switzerland. These figures also do not include the money that Indians, NRIs or others might have in Swiss banks in the names of third-country entities.
According to the SNB, its data for 'total liabilities' of Swiss banks towards Indian clients takes into account all types of funds of Indian customers at Swiss banks, including deposits from individuals, banks and enterprises. This includes data for branches of Swiss banks in India, as also non-deposit liabilities. -- PTI
08:34 US condemns BJP leaders' remarks on Prophet
The United States encourages India to promote respect for human rights, the Biden Administration said here.
"We've condemned the offensive comments made by two BJP functionaries, and we were glad to see that the party publicly condemned their statements," State department spokesperson Ned Price told reporters at his daily news conference on Thursday.
"We regularly engage with the Indian government at senior levels on human rights concerns, including freedom of religion or belief," he said.
"We encourage India to promote respect for human rights. The Secretary (of State) said, when he was in New Delhi last year, that the Indian people and the American people believe in the same values: human dignity, human respect, equality of opportunity, and the freedom of religion or belief," Price said in response to a question.
These are fundamental tenets, he added.
"These are fundamental values within any democracy, and we speak up for them around the world," Price said. -- PTI
Representative image
08:14 5 mn Indians forced to flee their homes in 2021: UN
Nearly five million people in India were internally displaced due to climate change and disasters in 2021, the United Nations has said in a report.
The annual Global Trends Report by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) highlighted that globally 100 million people were forced to flee their homes last year due to violence, human rights abuses, food insecurity, the climate crisis, war in Ukraine and other emergencies from Africa to Afghanistan.
According to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), in 2021, there were 23.7 million new internal displacements globally due to disasters (these are in addition to those internally displaced due to conflict and violence). This represented a decrease of seven million, or 23 per cent, compared to the previous year, the report said.
"The largest displacements in the context of disasters in 2021 occurred in China (6.0 million), the Philippines (5.7 million) and India (4.9 million). Most disaster displacements during the year were temporary," it said.
The majority of the internally displaced persons returned to their home areas, but 5.9 million people worldwide remained displaced at the end of the year due to disasters, the report added.
The UN agency said that the number of people forced to flee their homes has increased every year over the past decade and stands at the highest level since records began, a trend that can be only reversed by a new, concerted push towards peacemaking.
By the end of 2021, those displaced by war, violence, persecution, and human rights abuses stood at 89.3 million, up eight per cent on a year earlier and well over double the figure of 10 years ago, the report said.
While the latest global trends report reflects the period of January 2021 to December 2021, the UN agency said it is impossible to ignore the developments that have happened in early 2022, including the Russian war against Ukraine.
"Since then, the Russian invasion of Ukraine causing the fastest and one of the largest forced displacement crises since World War II and other emergencies, from Africa to Afghanistan and beyond, pushed the figure over the dramatic milestone of 100 million," the report said.
The report said that at the end of 2021, 89.3 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide, including 27.1 million refugees, 21.3 million refugees under UNHCR's mandate, 5.8 million Palestine refugees under United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East's (UNRWA) mandate, 53.2 million internally displaced people, 4.6 million asylum seekers and 4.4 million Venezuelans displaced abroad.
Asylum seekers submitted 1.4 million new claims. The United States of America was the world's largest recipient of new individual applications (188,900), followed by Germany (148,200), Mexico (132,700), Costa Rica (108,500) and France (90,200). -- PTI
00:05 Protest in Sri Lanka against Adani project
A demonstration was held in Colombo on Thursday against the proposed wind mill project to be undertaken by India's Adani group in the northeastern region of Mannar.
The protesters from the Gotagogama (President Gotabaya go home) gathered at the busy Bambalapitiya sector south of Colombo.
They held placards questioning the lack of transparency in the awarding of the project to the Adani Group while shouting slogans against the Indian business conglomerate.
The 500 MW wind mill project caused much storm after last week's parliamentary oversight committee proceedings.
The remarks made at the committee hearing and later action by MMC Ferdinando, the state power entity's chair to retract them forced his resignation.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa himself had to issue a counter to Ferdinando's comments on the project.
The Adani Group spokesperson issued a statement on Monday on the controversy, saying: 'Our intent in investing in Sri Lanka is to address the needs of a valued neighbour. As a responsible corporate, we see this as a necessary part of the partnership that our two nations have always shared.' -- PTI
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