India

Washington, Jun 1 (PTI) A disgruntled veteran public utilities employee stormed a government building in the US State of Virginia and fired indiscriminately at his co-workers, killing at least 12 people and wounding six others, police said Saturday.

The gunman, whose identity has not been released, was killed when police responded to the shooting in the southeastern coastal city of Virginia Beach.

Srinagar, Jun 1 (PTI) One of the two separatists killed by Indian security forces in Pulwama district of Indian administered Kashmir on Friday was a Pakistani, J&K police said on Saturday.

A total of four separatists and an "active associate" were killed on Friday in two alleged encounters with Indian security forces in Shopian and Pulwama districts of Indian administered Kashmir.

Akola, May 31 (PTI) Bodies of a farmer couple were found in a well at a village in Akola district of Maharashtra early on Friday, police said.

Police suspect that the couple committed suicide by jumping into the well.

The couple - Samadhan Varule (42) and his wife Bebitai (38) - had gone to their farm in Mahagaon village in Akot taluka on Thursday morning. When they did not return home till late night, a search was launched, police said.

New Delhi, May 31 (PTI) India's economic growth rate slowed to five-year low of 5.8 per cent in January-March 2018-19, due to poor performance in agriculture and manufacturing sectors, official data released Friday said.

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) also revealed that GDP growth during 2018-19 fiscal stood at 6.8 per cent, lower than 7.2 per cent in the previous financial year.

The growth in gross domestic product (GDP) was slowest since 2014-15. The previous low was 6.4 per cent in 2013-14.

New Delhi, May 31 (PTI) The budget session of Parliament is likely to be held from June 17 till July 26, in which regular budget will be presented, a senior official said on Friday.

The dates of the session were discussed at the first cabinet meeting of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government which was sworn in on Thursday.

The interim budget for the year 2019-20 was presented by then Finance Minister Piyush Goyal on February 1, 2019.

Shimla, May 31 (PTI) Fishing will be banned in all the reservoirs of Himachal Pradesh for June and July, a state minister said Friday.

The ban for the two months every year is a routine process, Himachal Pradesh Fisheries Minister Virender Kanwar said.

Chennai,May 31 (PTI) A local BJP functionary was Friday arrested for allegedly assaulting his relative here in full public view over a petty issue, police said.

A case has been registered against Gunasekaran, who is associated with the party's SC/ST wing, under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, including attempt to murder and use of weapon, they said.

The incident occurred on Thursday after the victim, Ramesh, who was disturbed by bird droppings, had an altercation with Gunasekaran's son, an avian breeder.

New Delhi, May 31 (PTI) The Modi 2.0 government in its first Cabinet meeting Friday approved a new scheme, which assures minimum monthly pension of Rs 3,000 to all shopkeepers, retail traders and self employed persons after attaining the age of 60 years, fulfilling its poll promise.

The decision taken at the Union Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi here will benefit 3 crore retail traders and shopkeepers.

Meerut (UP), May 31 (PTI) A 14-year-old girl is battling for life after being allegedly set on fire in Uttar Pradesh's Meerut district by a man who was upset over a past relationship between his sister and the victim's brother, police said.

The attack created tension between the Hindu and Muslim communities at a village in Daurala area, 15 km north of Meerut city, as the victim and the accused belong to two different communities, the police said.

New Delhi, May 31 (PTI) The newly appointed Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the full Budget for 2019-20 on July 5 in the Lok Sabha.

This will be first full Budget of Modi 2.0 government.

In view of the general elections, the interim Budget for the current fiscal was presented by the then Finance Minister Piyush Goyal.