India

Mathura, Jun 5 (PTI) A married woman was allegedly raped by a 'tantrik' in a village in Barsana area, police said on Saturday.

'Tantrik' Narendra visited the village along with his associate, Sandeep Tomar, and on Thursday practised 'jhaadphoonk' (witchcraft) on villagers. He asked the woman to visit him later in the night, they said.

Instead of treating her, the 'tantrik' raped her, the police said.

Kanpur: Although the UP Board has cancelled its examinations amid dread of coronavirus, yet the studious students are dismayed.

The front benchers are of the opinion if the situations are not adverse they should be given a chance to appear at examinations.

Why so? they were asked to comment. They think valuation will be influenced in the absence of exams. The backbenchers are pleased to know of this news.

New Delhi, Jun 4 (PTI) The visas of foreign nationals, stranded in India due to the COVID-19 pandemic, have been extended by the government till August 31 on gratis basis or free of charge.

The Union Home Ministry said that due to the non-availability of normal commercial flight operations on account of the pandemic since March, 2020, a number of foreign nationals who came to India prior to that date on valid Indian visas got stranded in the country.

Mumbai, Jun 4 (PTI) The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday left key interest rates unchanged at record lows as it reiterated its commitment to keep its monetary policy accommodative, to help the economy recover from the world's worst outbreak of COVID-19 infections.

It also lowered its forecast for the country's economic growth to 9.5 per cent for the current financial year ending March 31, 2022, from the previous estimate of 10.5 per cent.

New Delhi, Jun 4 (PTI) The Defence Ministry on Friday cleared a mega project to build six conventional submarines for the Indian Navy at a cost of around Rs 43,000 crore, a decision aimed at narrowing the gap with growing naval prowess of China, government sources said.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

The DAC is the Defence Ministry's highest decision-making body on procurement.

New Delhi, Jun 4 (PTI) The Qatar Airways' private jet that was sent by India to bring back fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi from Dominica has left the Caribbean island country after nearly seven days, according to public flight data.

The Qatar Executive flight A7CEE had left the Delhi International Airport at 3.44 AM on May 28 carrying necessary documents related to cases against Choksi. It had travelled to Marigot in Dominica via Madrid as Choksi's lawyers filed a habeas corpus petition before the Dominica High Court.

New Delhi, June 4 (PTI) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has called two meetings on Friday to discuss preparations for the possible third wave of coronavirus.

"The CM will meet the expert committee at 11 and the preparation committee at 3, the CM's office said in a tweet.

New Delhi, Jun 3 (PTI) Every need of India's sportspersons, from vaccination to training facilities, must be fulfilled as a top priority, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday at a meeting to review the country's preparations for the Tokyo Olympics that begins in 50 days.

Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 4 (PTI): Announcing a Rs 20,000 crore package to tide over the crisis induced by the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kerala Finance Minister K N Balagopal presented the maiden budget of the second Pinarayi Vijayan government here on Friday.

Besides the financial package, he also set aside Rs 1,000 crore to provide free vaccination for everyone aged above 18 years.

An additional 500 crore would be spent to ensure related equipment and facilities for free vaccination, he said.

Amethi (UP), Jun 4 (PTI) A 35-year-old man was allegedly killed by his neighbours who beat him up and forcibly gave him poison in Amethi area, police said on Friday.

Ram Bharat Srivastava was on Thursday beaten with sticks by Umesh Pandey and Nilesh, who dragged him to their house in Ganesh Lal Bharetha village, the deceased's brother Shiv Bharat said.

He was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition from where he was referred to Lucknow but he died on the way, the brother added.