Indian Sub-continent

Mumbai, Jun 16 (PTI) Police here have managed to recover a missing bag containing gold jewellery from a rat hole.

The four-legged thieves who `stole' it were probably more interested in vada-pav, Mumbai's favourite snack, than the shiny metal.

Haridwar, Jun 16 (PTI) Bhartiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait on Thursday opposed the Centre's "Agnipath" scheme for recruitment to the armed forces, saying a countrywide movement is needed to stall it.

On farmers' issues, Tikait said the country now needs another big movement.

"Till now, the youth were getting at least 15 years' service in the armed forces and a pension post-retirement but after the implementation of this scheme, when they retire from the services of the armed forces, they will return home without pension," Tikait said.

Noida, Jun 17 (PTI) Protests against the Centre's Agnipath scheme continued on Friday as scores of youngsters descended on Yamuna Expressway and blocked traffic movement briefly, officials said.

The movement through Jewar toll plaza between Greater Noida and Mathura-Agra was blocked for around an hour from 12 pm, the officials said.

New Delhi, Jun 15 (PTI) The Congress Wednesday said it will play a constructive role in ensuring all opposition parties arrive at a consensus candidate for the presidential poll, and urged them to be proactive rather than reactive in making the decision

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge made the remarks after attending a meeting of opposition parties called by TMC chief Mamata Banerjee.

Kanpur: Amid riots starting from Bihar in protest against the Agneepath scheme have reached some districts of Uttar Pradesh.

On the Delhi-Howrah rail route, after protests at several stations in the state, the Railways have cancelled many trains.

The cancellation of trains led passengers facing problems at Kanpur.

Some passengers are reportedly taking tickets for other trains.

While other passengers were reported to travel their respective trips by road.

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Thousands of people marched in Bangladesh’s capital on Thursday to demand the governments of Bangladesh and India officially condemn comments by two Indian governing party officials deemed derogatory to Islam’s Prophet Muhammad.

The march began at the country’s main Baitul Mukarram Mosque but was blocked by police as it headed toward India’s Embassy, a few kilometers (miles) away.

NEW DELHI (AP) — Violence erupted in parts of India on Thursday with thousands of angry youths setting train coaches and vehicles on fire, blocking highways and attacking police with rocks to protest a new short-term government recruitment policy for the military.

Police used batons and tear gas to disperse the protesters in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan states where they took to the streets and damaged government buildings.

Kanpur: The fire broke out this morning in slums spread near the one petrol pump in the Gujaini area along the Barra-8 Highway.

Seeing the eruption of smoke and flames, there was a stampede.

At first, the unit people tried to control the fire from their level, but the fire took an alarming form. Gradually the fire engulfed several huts.

Police and the fire department were informed of this incident.

The fire was brought under control with the help of two fire tenders that reached the spot. 

COLOMBO, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), with support from the Chinese government, donated essential medical equipment and supplies worth 800,000 U.S. dollars to Sri Lanka's Ministry of Health on Wednesday.

A total of 328,660 packs of supplies were handed over to the Family Health Bureau through the Ministry of Health, which will be used to equip public health staff actively working at the grassroot level.

LUCKNOW, India (AP) — Protests have been erupting in many Indian cities to condemn the demolition of homes and businesses belonging to Muslims, in what critics call a growing pattern of “bulldozer justice” aimed at punishing activists from the minority group.

On Sunday, authorities in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh rode on a bulldozer to raze the home of Javed Ahmad, who they said was connected to Muslim religious protests that turned violent last Friday. Police arrested Ahmad on Saturday.