Parrikar moots the idea for raising all women battalion

Determined to break the gender barrier in the armed forces, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today mooted the idea of raising an all women battalion and stationing of women on warships besides opening the doors of the National Defence Academy and Sainik schools for them.

However, Parrikar made it clear that the "affirmative action" towards empowerment of women will be done gradually without compromising main task of armed forces which is national security.

He said the government has been successful in breaking the "psychological barrier" with the induction of women as female fighter pilots.

High alert on Indo-Bangladesh border after Dhaka carnage

In the wake of the deadly attack in Dhaka, the Border Security Force (BSF) of North Bengal Frontier has tightened security arrangements in 199 Border out Post (BOP)'s including Barun Indo-Bangladesh border near Mekhligunj in Cooochbehar district of West Bengal.

According to Suresh Kumar, the senior official of BSF, 13 Battalion, after the militants attack in Bangladesh security, has been tightened along the Indo-Bangladesh border.

Gowda lays thrust on debate before implementation of Uniform Civil Code

Responding to the implications of implementing the Uniform Civil Code across the country, Union Law and Justice Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda on Sunday said a wide range of debate and consultations are required for it, adding the government wants to study this sensitive matter in detail.

"We want to study the matter in detail because it is a very sensitive issue. Wide range of debates and consultations are required. A step has been taken forward to get a report. I can comment only after getting the report," Gowda told ANI.

NGT notice to UP government on green cover loss

The National Green Tribunal has sought the Uttar Pradesh government's response on a plea alleging loss of green cover in Mathura's Jawahar Bagh, where clashes between encroachers and security personnel left 29 people, including two policemen, dead recently.

A bench headed by Justice M S Nambiar issued notices to the Uttar Pradesh Principal Secretary, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Secretary at Horticulture Department, District Magistrate and others while seeking their reply by July 27.

U'khand cloudburst: Water level at major rivers rise above danger mark

 In Uttarakhand, almost all major rivers are flowing near the danger marks and in view of this, the authorities have asked the people living in low lying areas to move to safer places.

Meanwhile, the Rishikesh-Badrinath national highway is still blocked at some places. Gangotri and Yamunotri national highways have also been disrupted at several places in Uttarakashi district.

The BRO and PWD personnel are pressed into service to reopen all the three yatra routes.

Relief and rescue operations are underway at war footing in the villages following heavy rains and cloud burst.

Dhaka attacks a scheme to destabilize Bangladesh internally: Yechury

CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury has condemned the deadly attack in Dhaka and said that the entire episode was a scheme to destabilize Bangladesh internally.

Speaking to ANI here, Yechury strongly condemned the attacks and also requested the Bangladesh Government to ensure that such incidents do not take place.

He further added that this is a scheme to destabilize Bangladesh internally.

"The message that has been send to us is against the growing relations between the two countries. The closer India becomes to USA and becomes a junior strategic partner of the USA, we have to anticipate such threats will increase", he added.

Arrested suspects pledged allegiance to IS, Baghdadi: NIA

 In a major development since the arrest of five IS suspects in Hyderabad, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday revealed the suspects had money transactions from Middle East on several occasions through 'hawala' and that they also pledged their allegiance to the Islamic State.

It was during the ongoing investigation of the arrested persons that it was revealed that the suspects scouted for hideouts nearby Hyderabad for assembling the bombs and also for safe shelter after committing the bomb attack.

Uttarakhand cloudburst: Situation completely under control, assures Harish Rawat

Asserting that the situation was now under control and that there was no cause to panic, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Saturday said that the death toll following the cloudbursts in the state stood at 17 and that operations were underway to locate the missing 15 people.

Speaking to ANI here, Rawat said that the state government is completely mobilised to ensure that aid was provide to those affected by the natural calamity, adding that round the clock vigil was being maintained.

"We are using whatever facilities at our disposal to work swiftly and effectively. Choppers are ready, medical teams have been deployed. Long distance communication is a bit of an issue and we have spoken to the Centre for licenses for satellite phone. We have asked for free of cost, free of service charge wireless license," Rawat said.

Counting underway as voting closes in Australia

Australians casted their votes across the country today in a bid to choose their next Prime Minister.

The polling booths closed at 6pm (local time) and counting is under way across the eastern states.

According to the Australian Electoral Commission, there's been a swing of around three per cent against the coalition, reports News.com.au.

At 8 pm, the coalition government and Labor opposition had secured 55 seats each.

At least 76 seats are needed to form a majority government.

The Labor party has claimed seats such as Barton in Sydney, and the bellwether seat of Eden-Monaro in southern NSW.

Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanase says, the party is doing well in Tasmania, particularly in Bass and Lyons.
-Source ANI

PM Modi speaks to Sheikh Hasina, condemns 'despicable' attack in Dhaka

Condemning the deadly terror attack in Dhaka which killed 20 people including one Indian, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday spoke to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and expressed his condolences.

"The attack in Dhaka has pained us beyond words. I spoke to PM Sheikh Hasina & strongly condemned the despicable attack," the Prime Minister said in a series of tweets.

Asserting that India stands firmly with its sisters and brothers of Bangladesh in this hour of grief, he added that his thoughts are with the bereaved families.

"I pray that those who are injured recover quickly," Prime Minister Modi added.

Security forces launch offensive to end hostage crisis in Dhaka restaurant

The security forces on Saturday morning stormed into the Dhaka restaurant to end an unprecedented hostage crisis, where it is believed that around 20 people are kept as hostage since last night.

According to the Daily Star, heavy sound of explosion started to rock the area at 7:40 a.m. this morning.

DU teachers protest Irani's visit to Khalsa College, detained

HRD Minister Smriti Irani today faced protest by teachers at Delhi University's Khalsa College when she went there to inaugurate a teaching-learning centre, following which 45 of them were detained by police.

DU teachers, protesting against the new UGC norms to ascertain their academic performance, gathered outside the gate and tried to block the entry of Irani into the college.

Ready to discuss all outstanding issues in 'terror-free' atmosphere: India tells Pak

With Prime Minister's Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz asserting that New Delhi was avoiding dialogue with Islamabad, India on Friday responded strongly saying that it has never shied away from any engagement with the hostile neighbour and is prepared to discuss any issue in an atmosphere free from terror and violence.

"As far as the comments of Sartaj Aziz are concerned, I would say that India has never ever shied away from any engagement with Pakistan and is prepared to discuss all outstanding issues with Pakistan bilaterally, in an atmosphere free from terror and violence," Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Vikas Swarup told the media here.

RBI official asks rating agency to be more transparent

Rating agencies need to be more transparent in disclosures on stressed companies and assets so that both the lenders as well as asset reconstruction companies can arrive at the right valuation, a senior Reserve Bank official said today.

"We need better disclosures by credit rating agencies when it comes to stressed companies. Rating agencies must be more transparent in their disclosure about stressed assets and their owners," RBI Chief General Manager Ajay K Choudhary said here at a seminar on ARCs (asset reconstruction companies) organised by an industry body and Association of ARCs.

Sheena Bora case: Driver claims Indrani planted a gun on him

 Key accused Indrani Mukerjea's former driver Shyamvar Rai, who has turned approver in the Sheena Bora murder case, has submitted that his 43-year-old employer 'implicated' him in an arms case by planting a gun on him soon after allegedly killing her daughter.

He has made this claim in his confessional statement, which was unsealed by the special CBI court today following a Bombay High Court directive yesterday.

Rai was the first to be arrested in the case in August 2015, taking the lid off the murder, after he was picked up in connection with an arms case.

The trial court recently allowed Rai to turn approver in the case and become a prosecution witness.

Congress snubs Dhingra Commission, asks BJP to stop 'political witch-hunt'

Adamant on the removal of Justice (Retd.) S.N. Dhingra, who has been given an extension of eight weeks to probe the alleged murky land deals to developers in about a dozen sectors in Gurgaon, the Congress Party on Friday alleged that it was a political witch-hunt on part of the BJP-led Haryana Government to assassinate Robert Vadra's character.

Addressing a press conference, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala accused this is an attempt to politically exploit a person and to assassinate his character.

"This move by the government to provide extension to the Dhingra Commission only proves that this is a political witch-hunt to assassinate the character (of Robert Vadra)," Surjewala told the media.

Pashtun nationalist leader says Khyber Pakhtunkhwa belongs to Afghans

Pashtun nationalist leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai's statement that Pakistan's Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) province 'belongs to Afghans' has stoked a fresh controversy.

In an interview on Thursday with a Kabul-based English daily, Pushtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Chief Achakzai said that "K-P belongs to Afghans and they can live there without fear and irritation".

Achakzai added "I will not allow anyone to harass Afghan refugees in their own land. If Afghans are harassed in other parts of Pakistan, they should come to K-P where no one can ask them for refugee cards, because it also belongs to them," reports the Express Tribune.

Human Rights Watch urges Pakistan to further extend stay of Afghan refugees

Pakistan should reduce rights violations against Afghan refugees by extending their legal residency status until at least December 31, 2017, Human Rights Watch said on Friday.

Yesterday, Pakistan has extended registered Afghan refugees' Proof of Residency (PoR) cards for six months, until December 2016.

The uncertain residency status of Afghan refugees living in Pakistan has encouraged police harassment, threats, and extortion, said the Human Rights Watch report.

"The Pakistani government's move to extend Afghan refugees' residency until the end of 2016 sends an important signal to police and local officials not to harass or coerce Afghan refugees to leave," said Phelim Kine, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch adding that an extension to the end of 2017 would allow more time for the situation in Afghanistan to stabilize, so that the refugees can return in safety.

RBI sets rupee reference rate at 67.44 against US dollar

The Reserve Bank of India today fixed the reference rate of the rupee at 67.44 against the US dollar and 74.74 for the euro.

These rates were 67.61 and 75 respectively, yesterday.

According to an RBI statement, the exchange rates for the pound and the yen against the rupee were quoted at 89.54 and 65.67 per 100 yens respectively, based on reference rates for the dollar and cross-currency quotes at noon.

The SDR-rupee figure will be based on this rate, the statement added.
-Source PTI

Haryana land scam: Extended inquiry time for fair probe, says M.L. Khattar

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Friday said that he extended the tenure of the S.N. Dhingra Commission of enquiry so that it could look in to all the aspects thoroughly.

"Justice Dhingra would know the reason, he asked me for some more time, and following my duties, I gave him time. I gave him time so that he could properly look into all aspects, because it would create problem if any new issue comes up in the end," said Khattar.

Khattar rejected Robert Vadra's allegation that the Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP) is targeting him for political gain.