India

Washington, Apr 6 (PTI) India is unlikely to follow the American advice on pursuing an alternative option to defence and energy procurement from Russia, a leading American global strategy and commercial diplomacy firm said Tuesday.

In a report on India, the prestigious Albright Stonebridge Group (ASG) said that it has heard from involved officials that there is disappointment with India's neutral approach to Russia.

Lucknow, Apr 5 (PTI) Asserting that Uttar Pradesh has huge potential for development, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday said his government's aim is to make it the number one state in the country.

At the presentation of a 100-day action plan of the government, the chief minister said that a comprehensive framework should be made for achieving this target, according to an official release issued here.

He asked all departments to prepare a detailed and practical action plan by setting the targets for 100 days, six months and a year.

Bengaluru, Apr 6 (PTI) More than four years after journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh was shot dead by motorcycle-borne men outside her house here, the trial in the case is set to start from May 27, the prosecution lawyer said.

The hearing of the case had not started yet. It will start now from May 27, senior advocate S Balan told PTI.

According to him, more than 60 lawyers were engaged initially by the accused, and their petitions delayed commencement of the trial.

New Delhi, Apr 6 (PTI) CNG prices in Delhi, Mumbai and Gujarat on Wednesday saw steep hikes after the government raised input natural gas prices to record levels.

Mahanagar Gas Limited (MGL) raised compressed natural gas (CNG) price by Rs 7 per kg to Rs 67 per kg in Mumbai while Gujarat Gas hiked rates by Rs 6.5 per kg to Rs 76.98.

In the national capital, Indraprastha Gas Ltd (IGL) raised CNG price by another Rs 2.5 per kg, taking the total increase in rates in the last one month to about Rs 10 per kg.

New Delhi, Apr 6 (PTI) Asserting that India is strongly against the Russia-Ukraine conflict, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday said if New Delhi has chosen a side, it is the side of peace and for an immediate end to violence.

Replying to the discussion in the Lok Sabha on the situation in Ukraine, Jaishankar said all members would agree that India's approach should be guided by its national beliefs and values, national interest and by its national strategy.

Kanpur: An FIR has been registered here against the Mahamandaleshwar of Nirvana Akhara for allegedly raping and molesting a girl on the pretext of performing initiation of the rituals.

The victim met godman Prakhar Ji Maharaj at a religious event in February 2020 to which she had flown from Bengaluru, along with her parents.

Mahamandaleshwar Prakhar Ji Maharaj of Nirvana Akhara was also present at the same event.

Kanpur: A chartered accountant, SK Poddar, reached the Central Bank of India (Karachi Khana branch) on Monday noon to check on his ₹35-lakh jewellery kept in the locker.

Poddar could not open it with his keys, but after efforts by bank officials, he could do so, only to find the valuables missing.

The victim had operated the locker after a gap of two years due to the pandemic.

In the last two months, this was the third such incident when a customer of this bank complained to the police about missing jewellery and valuables, said the police.

Kanpur: A couple in Kanpur has accused a seer and his disciple in Haridwar of brainwashing their daughter with the help of black magic and keeping her in their ashram forcibly.

The couple appealed to the State Women Commission and has given an application in this regard.

The Kanpur Police Commissioner has entrusted the investigation of the case to ACP Babu Purwa.

Kanpur: Stray animals roaming on the roads are increasingly becoming a cause of accidents. There were reported as many as two mishaps in Panki and Kalyanpur here. Two have lost their lives as a result.

In Panki a speeding car after losing balance collided with a tempo owing to a bull coming in front of the car.

The accident occurred near the railway Pul Turn at Panki Bhatia Tiraha.

Three passengers in the tempo got injured badly. One seriously injured passenger got admitted to a private nursing home.

New Delhi, Apr 5 (PTI) The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has directed the blocking of 22 YouTube-based news channels, of which four are from Pakistan, for allegedly spreading fake news to mislead viewers.

This is the first time that action has been taken against the Indian YouTube-based news publishers since the notification of the IT Rules, 2021 in February last year, it said.