India

New Delhi, Apr 2 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday greeted people ahead of the beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramzan.

"May this holy month inspire people to serve the poor. May it also further enhance the spirit of peace, harmony and compassion in our society," he said.

The Ramzan moon was sighted this evening and Muslims in India will begin fasting from Sunday.

Pratapgarh (UP), Apr 3 (PTI) A case has been registered against four people, including a Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), for allegedly thrashing a tehsil official to death, police said on Sunday.

The FIR was registered on Saturday night at Lalganj police station against Lalganj SDM Gyanendra Vikram Singh and three others under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 302 (murder), Superintendent of Police Satpal Antil said.

Hyderabad, Apr 3 (PTI) The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed it has suspended the supply of Covaxin, produced by city-based Bharat Biotech, through UN procurement agencies and recommending to countries that received the covid vaccine to take actions as appropriate.

Ballia (UP), Apr 3 (PTI) The mastermind behind the leak of the Uttar Pradesh class 12 English paper was among 11 people arrested in connection with the case, police said on Sunday.

With their arrest, the total number of people held in connection with the exam paper leak on Wednesday climbed to 46. Following the leak, the exam was cancelled in 24 districts of the state including Ballia.

The District Inspector of Schools of Ballia was among those arrested.

New Delhi, Apr 3 (PTI) India is on the cusp of a major economic recovery and talks of possible stagflation are "overhyped" as a strong economic foundation is being laid with the reforms carried out by the government over the last seven years, Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar said on Sunday.

Notwithstanding economic uncertainties triggered by the Russia-Ukraine war that is also impacting global supply chains, Kumar asserted that it was quite clear from all accounts that India will remain the fastest growing economy in the world.

Kanpur: The new moon was clear in the sky. It was visible through the naked eyes. The thin line of the crescent moon was sparkling with whiteness. 

Those who desired to view the new moon of the Hijri calendar tried to climb on the uppermost storey of the residential houses in Jajmau. 

A kind of happiness was reflected on their faces as they found the sight of the sky. The presence of the new moon appeared to stay a little longer time, as was felt.

NEW DELHI (AP) — A recent court ruling upholding a ban on Muslim students wearing head coverings in schools has sparked criticism from constitutional scholars and rights activists who say that judicial overreach threatens religious freedoms in officially secular India.

Even though the ban is only imposed in the southern state of Karnataka, critics worry it could be used as a basis for wider curbs on Islamic expression in a country already witnessing a surge of Hindu nationalism under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s governing Bharatiya Janata Party.

New Delhi, Apr 2 (PTI) Petrol and diesel prices were on Saturday hiked by 80 paise a litre each, taking the total increase in rates in the last 12 days to Rs 7.20 per litre.

Petrol in Delhi will now cost Rs 102.61 per litre as against Rs 101.81 previously, while diesel rates have gone up from Rs 93.07 per litre to Rs 93.87, according to a price notification of state fuel retailers.

Rates have been increased across the country and vary from state to state depending upon the incidence of local taxation.

Chandigarh, Apr 1 (PTI) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "robbing" the state of its rights amid a political row over Union Home Minister Amit Shah's recent announcement that central service rules will apply to employees of Chandigarh.

Mann said this while winding up the discussion during the one-day special Assembly session, in which a resolution seeking immediate transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab was passed.

Ghaziabad, Apr 2 (PTI) Selling of raw meat will not be allowed in the open during the ongoing Navratra, Ghaziabad Mayor Asha Sharma said on Saturday.

The district magistrate clarified that licensed meat shops can run their business in covered kiosks during the nine-day-long festival.