Indian Sub-continent

New Delhi, Nov 22 (PTI) A Delhi court has framed charges of arson and rioting against a father-son duo for allegedly damaging and setting a Mosque on fire, vandalism, and stone-pelting during the February 2020 riots.

Mithhan Singh and his son Jony Kumar are accused of allegedly being part of a violent mob that raised slogans Jai Shree Ram and damaged the mosque in Delhi's Khajuri Khas area on February 25, 2020, as per the complainant.

Jammu, Nov 22 (PTI) The Jammu and Kashmir unit of CPI(M) on Monday asked the civil society of Ramban and adjoining areas to come forward and demand the return of the body of Amir Magray -- the third person killed in the Hyderpora encounter last week -- and whose kin claim he was innocent.

The Left party has been pressing for a judicial probe into the controversial encounter in Srinagar and return of the body of Magray, a resident of Gool area of Ramban, who was among four persons killed in the incident on November 15.

Ballia (UP), Nov 23 (PTI) A 13-year-old girl was allegedly raped by two men in a village here, police said on Tuesday.

Both the accused have been arrested, police said.

SHO, Gadwar police station, Durgeshwar Mishra, said the minor had gone out to relieve herself on Monday evening when the two accused hailing from a neighbouring village caught hold of her and allegedly raped her.

On the complaint of the father of the victim, an FIR has been lodged against the accused, the SHO said.

New Delhi, Nov 23 (PTI) Congress leader Kirti Azad will join the Trinamool Congress in Delhi on Tuesday, sources in the Mamata Banerjee-led party said.

Ashok Tanwar, who quit the Congress in October 2019 and launched his own party, and former JD(U) general secretary Pavan Varma will also join the TMC, they said.

Banerjee, who is in Delhi, always meets Congress president Sonia Gandhi during her visits. However, the TMC sources indicated that the West Bengal chief minister may give it a miss this time.

Kolkata, Nov 23 (PTI) The Tea Association of India (TAI) has expressed concern over decline in prices and drop in production, and cautioned that the industry could be heading towards a crisis.

Secretary General of TAI, P K Bhattacharya, said there has been a substantial drop in tea prices during November, both in Assam and West Bengal.

Input prices have also seen a steep rise, the planters' body said.

Banda (UP), Nov 23 (PTI) A 13-year-old girl was allegedly abducted and raped in a village here, police said on Tuesday.

The minor was working at a farm on Monday evening when a 21-year-old man from a nearby village allegedly dragged her to a forest area and raped her, local Pailani police station SHO Umesh Kumar Singh said.

The man also threatened to kill her, he added.

A case of rape, attempt to murder and also under provisions of the POCSO Act was registered against the accused based on a statement by the girl, the SHO said.

New Delhi, Nov 23 (PTI) Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and US Trade Representative Katherine Tai on Tuesday relaunched the Trade Policy Forum (TPF) and agreed to engage on issues which are affecting the trade between the two countries.

The bilateral commerce between India and the US is expected to cross USD 100 billion this year.

Kanpur: India will look to avenge their defeat in the World Test Championship final when they host New Zealand in the first Test in Kanpur from Thursday.

Dravid joined the Test side after India's clean sweep over New Zealand in the three-match T20I series recently.

According to Pujara, the former Indian skipper, who has played 164 Tests for India, will share a great amount of guidance with the young players.

"It will help most of the players, especially young players who have worked with Rahul bhai during U-19 and India A days.

Kanpur: The scene outside the school gate remains very much queer till the waiting  guardians do not find their wards. 

They stay silent though some are seen talking. A very different spectacle arises by their presence. A sort of anxiety writs large on their faces. 

Some uniqueness is also found there. A pot-bellied and bespectacled father follows a different method to take her daughter to the parking space on the road.

LUCKNOW, India, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Flushed with victory after Prime Minister Narendra Modi caved into demands for agricultural reform laws to be repealed, Indian farmers held a mass rally on Monday to demand minimum support prices be extended to all produce, not just rice and wheat.

The protest movement launched by farmers more than a year ago became the most serious political challenge to the government, and resulted in Modi making a surprise commitment on Friday to roll back the reforms.