India

Kottayam(Ker), Jul 27 (PTI) A Catholic church in central Kerala has announced a welfare scheme for families having five or more children, a move seen as encouraging their community to boost its numbers in the state.

The initiative, launched by the Family Apostolate under the Pala diocese of the Syro-Malabar church, has decided to offer a monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,500 to the couples who got married after 2000 and have five or more children.

GAUHATI, India (AP) — The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan has fully vaccinated 90% of its eligible adult population within just seven days, its health ministry said Tuesday.

The tiny country, wedged between India and China and home to nearly 800,000 people, began giving out second doses on July 20 in a mass drive that has been hailed by UNICEF as “arguably the fastest vaccination campaign to be executed during a pandemic.”

New Delhi, Jul 27 (PTI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday attacked Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the violence at the Assam-Mizoram border, alleging that he has "failed" the country by "sowing hatred and distrust" into the lives of people and India is now reaping its "dreadful consequences".

New Delhi, Jul 26 (PTI) The armed forces are reeling under a shortage of 9,712 officers and around 1.09 lakh soldiers, airmen and sailors, according to details provided by the government on Monday.

In response to a question in Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt said that the Army has a shortage of 7,912 officers and 90,640 soldiers.

In the Indian Navy, the number of posts of officers lying vacant is 1,190, while it is 11,927 for sailors.

New Delhi, Jul 27 (PTI) The Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the ninth time till 4.30 pm on Tuesday amid continuous protests by Opposition members over the Pegasus snooping row and farm laws.

After the House reassembled at 4 pm, Rajendra Agrawal, who was in the Chair, took up matters of urgent public importance.

He asked the members to raise their issues in the House. A few members managed to speak amid the sloganeering by the opposition MPs.

New Delhi, Jul 27 (PTI) India recorded less than 30,000 fresh COVID-19 cases after 132 days while its active caseload fell below 4,00,000 after 124 days on Tuesday, according to Union health ministry data

As many as 29,689 new coronavirus infections took the country's tally of COVID-19 cases to 3,14,40,951 while 415 fresh fatalities pushed the death toll to 4,21,382, the data updated at 8 am showed

New Delhi, Jul 26 (PTI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday alleged that the government is clueless on how to handle China, and said ignoring its actions now will cause problems later.

He cited a media report which claimed that in Demchok in Eastern Ladakh, China's tents are still on the Indian side and there is no date yet for talks between core commanders of the two countries.

"GOI is clueless on how to handle China. Ignoring their actions now will cause huge problems in the future," Gandhi said on Twitter.

NEW DELHI, July 26 (Reuters) - India is proud of its pluralistic traditions and happy to discuss the issue with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his visit beginning on Tuesday, foreign ministry sources said after Washington said he planned to raise New Delhi's human rights record.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has faced allegations it has suppressed dissent, pursued divisive policies to appeal to its Hindu nationalist base and alienated Muslims, the country's biggest minority.

New Delhi, Jul 25 (PTI) The Ramappa temple at Palampet in Telangana's Warangal has been conferred the tag of UNESCO World Heritage site, the Culture Ministry said on Sunday.

"It gives me immense pleasure to share that @UNESCO has conferred the World Heritage tag to Ramappa Temple at Palampet, Warangal, Telangana. On behalf of the nation, particularly from people of Telangana, I express my gratitude to Hon PM @narendramodi for his guidance and support," Union Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy said in a tweet.

Muzaffarnagar (UP), Jul 26 (PTI) Three people were arrested for the alleged abduction and gangrape of 15-year-old girl, police said on Monday.

The incident took place on Sunday and the accused -- Shiva, Vishal and Ankit have been booked under the POCSO act. The accused and the victim belong to the same village, police said.