Indian Sub-continent

New Delhi, Jun 25 (PTI) Notwithstanding his decision to resign as Congress president after the party's Lok Sabha election debacle, Rahul Gandhi will meet leaders from various poll-bound states to discuss the party's preparedness.

According to sources, Gandhi, who has not been meeting the leaders of various parties ever since he offered to resign as the party chief at the May 25 meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), is slated to meet party leaders from Maharashtra, Haryana and Delhi.

New Delhi, Jun 25 (PTI) The Election Commission came under sharp criticsm from the BSP and TMC in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, with its members demanding electoral reforms and future elections on ballot paper and not EVMs.

The BJP, however, countered those opposing the EC saying raising questions on the poll body was like pointing fingers at the Constitution.

BSP member Satish Chandra Misra accused the EC of allying with the NDA and said the ruling dispensation in the President's speech has rightly thanked the EC.

Jalna, Jun 25 (PTI) A 40-year-old man was arrested in Maharashtra's Jalna district Tuesday for allegedly raping an 85-year-old woman.

Abasaheb Tanpure, the accused, allegedly raped the woman who lives alone at her house in Wadona village in Partur tehsil Monday night.

After she filed a complaint in the morning, Tanpure was arrested.

The victim was admitted to agovernment hospital in Aurangabad. Further probe is on.

Jamshedpur, Jun 25 (PTI) A convict serving a 10-year sentence in a dowry case was beaten to death by other inmates following a clash inside the Ghaghidih Central Jail here Tuesday, police said.

Manoj Singh was beaten to death by some jail inmates belonging to one Pankaj Dubey gang following an altercation, East Singhbhum district Senior Superintendent of Police Anoop Birtheray said.

He said the clash broke out after Manoj Singh beat up some inmates belonging to the gang and in retaliation, the gang members lynched Singh.

Gurgaon, Jun 25 (PTI) Two persons were allegedly assaulted by a mob in Haryana's Gurgaon district on Tuesday on the suspicion of smuggling cattle.

Two pickup vans were intercepted by a group of "cow protection unit" near Islampur village, 3 km from here, in the morning, said Savita Kataria -- the person who led the group.

Shathil Ahmad, a resident of Palwal district, and Tayaid were arrested and a search is on for two others who fled the spot, said Gurgaon police PRO Subhash Bokan.

New Delhi, Jun 26 (PTI) US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday and discussed various aspects of the bilateral relationship to strengthen the India-US strategic partnership.

Pompeo, who arrived here last night, will hold detailed discussions with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in the afternoon and have a working lunch with him

ISLAMABAD, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Two policemen were killed and four others injured when some unknown insurgents fired at a police vehicle in Pakistan's northwest Nowshera district, local media reported Tuesday evening.

The policemen were on their routine patrol in the city when their vehicle was attacked by the assailants in the country's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the reports said.

Kanpur: To improve city's traffic system as many as 26 crossings have been chosen for issuance of the Challan directly. The work on fixing timer has also been ordered. The KDA will bear the expenses on this facility. No anarchy will be allowed on the roads.  Encroachment will not be tolerated at any cost. Helmet for the two-wheelers and seat belt for the cars will remain a must.

New Delhi, Jun 24 (PTI) The Union Cabinet Monday cleared a DNA profiling bill, which seeks to control the use of DNA technology for establishing the identity of a person.

The bill was passed in the Lok Sabha in January, but lapsed as it could not be cleared in the Rajya Sabha due to lack of support from the opposition.

Now, after the Cabinet's nod, a fresh bill will be brought in Parliament in the next few days, sources aware of the development said.

New Delhi, Jun 24 (PTI) Former prime minister Manmohan Singh said on Monday rising inequality was a concern and the country cannot allow extreme poverty or economic disparity as it is a welfare state.

Speaking at the release of a social development report titled 'Rising Inequalities in India, 2018', Singh said some regions and social groups were extremely poor and vulnerable despite various anti-poverty programmes and affirmative policies being followed.