India

New Delhi, Dec 27(PTI) Train 18, India's fastest train, will begin operations in January 2019 at a curtailed speed of 130 kmph, sources said Thursday.

Train 18, which is set to replace the Shatabdi series, has the potential to run between 160 kmph to 200 kmph. At trials, it breached the 180-kmph mark.

Noida (UP), Dec 27 (PTI) A 30-year-old woman received severe burn injuries after she was allegedly set on fire by her in-laws over dowry in Greater Noida, police said Thursday.

The incident took place on Wednesday at Kalupura village under Rabupura police station limits, a police official said.

"A complaint was made by the woman's brother, who has alleged that her in-laws tried to kill her for dowry," the official said.

Mumbai, Dec 27 (PTI) Senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy said Thursday he was hopeful of the contentious triple talaq bill getting passed in the Rajya Sabha though the NDA government did not have a majority in the Upper House.

His comments come after the bill criminalising instant divorce by Muslim men was passed by the Lok Sabha after a heated debate on Thursday, with the government projecting it as a matter of "insaaniyat aur insaaf" for Muslim women, and rejecting the contention that it was aimed at targeting a particular community.

KANPUR: Since the flooring of Astroturf on Green Park ground for playing hockey, it has turned into a bone of contention. Previously it was opposed for its non-compliance of the standard set for the size of the hockey field. Now the Football Federation has taken up the cudgel.

KANPUR: Two cases of swindling have been reported. One man was swindled in Maharajpur of Sarsaul Block while a Munshi’s bag was divested of money in Cooper Ganj here.

New Delhi, Dec 27 (PTI) Lok Sabha proceedings were again disrupted on Thursday as vociferous protests and sloganeering over various issues forced Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to adjourn the House till noon.

Despite repeated warnings from Mahajan, Congress, AIADMK and TDP members continued to stand in the Well of the House and sought to raise various issues, including Rafale deal.

Soon after the Question Hour began, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge wanted to raise the issue of Rafale deal but Mahajan said the matter can be raised during the Zero Hour.

NEW DELHI (AP) — Indian authorities have ordered firefighters in the capital to sprinkle water from high-rise buildings to settle dust and stop garbage fires and have banned construction activity as hazardous air quality affects millions of people.

New Delhi recorded one of the highest pollution levels of the year on Sunday with the air quality index, measuring sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide, touching 450.

KANPUR: Two touts were arrested with dozens of reservation tickets here on Tuesday. The Railway Police Force team confiscated 15 reservation tickets, 20 thousand cash, 30 e-ticket, one laptop and three mobiles from their possession.

New Delhi, December 26; GANASHAKTI: The National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD) strongly condemns the thrashing of a disabled youth by a BJP leader in Uttar Pradesh.

The beating up of the youth merely because he did not subscribe to the BJP’s ideology and voiced his opinion openly, is a reflection of the times that we are living in – in a climate of increasing intolerance and hate. By this wanton act they have made it abundantly clear that anyone challenging their views and defying their diktats will be “punished”.

Mumbai, Dec 26; PTI:  Banking services were affected Wednesday after close to 1 million workers of all state-run, old-generation private sector and some foreign banks went on a one-day strike opposing merger of Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank with stronger peer Bank of Baroda.