India

Kottayam (Ker), Jan 10 (PTI) A court here on Monday concluded hearing and reserved its verdict in the case of alleged rape of a nun by Bishop Franco Mulakkal.

The Additional Sessions Court is likely to pronounce the judgment on January 14. Trial in the case had started in November 2019.

The rape case against the Bishop was registered by police in Kottayam district in 2018.

New Delhi, Jan 10 (PTI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday said the upcoming assembly elections are a right time to defeat hatred.

Assembly elections in five states including in Uttar Pradesh will be held in seven phases starting February 10 to March 7. The counting shall take place on March 10, the Election Commission has announced.

"This is the right opportunity to defeat hatred.#Elections2022, " Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.

Panaji, Jan 10 (PTI) Goa minister and BJP MLA Michael Lobo on Monday resigned from the Pramod Sawant-led cabinet and also as member of the Legislative Assembly, ahead of the state polls scheduled next month.

The Goa BJP unit later said Lobo's move will not have any impact on the party's prospects in the state Assembly elections, to be held on February 14.

New Delhi, Jan 10 (PTI) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said he has tested positive for COVID-19.

In a tweet, he said he has "mild symptoms" and is under home quarantine.

"I have tested positive for Corona today with mild symptoms. I am under home quarantine. I request everyone who have recently come in my contact to isolate themselves and get tested," Singh said.

New Delhi, Jan 10 (PTI) India saw a single-day rise of 179,723 coronavirus infections taking the total tally to 35,707,727, including 4,033 cases of the Omicron variant reported across 27 states and union territories so far, according to data updated by the Union Health Ministry on Monday

The number of active cases has increased to 723,619, the highest in around 204 days, while the death toll has climbed to 483,936 with 146 fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated

Of the total 4,033 cases of Omicron variant,?1,552?have recovered or migrated

Chandigarh, Jan 8 (PTI) The Punjab government on Saturday transferred seven IPS officers including Senior Superintendent of Police, Ferozepur.

IPS officer Harmandeep Singh Hans, SSP Ferozepur, has been posted as Commandant 3rd IRB, Ludhiana.

Narinder Bhargav will be the new SSP Ferozepur.

Hans was Ferozepur SSP during the Wednesday security lapse in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi's convoy was stranded on a flyover.

New Delhi, Jan 8 (PTI) The use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) is no issue now, Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra said on Saturday, asserting that there is a sense of pride that India has developed a machine which gives accurate and faster results.

His remarks came at a press conference convened to announce the assembly election schedule for Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Manipur and Uttarakhand.

Responding to a question on parties losing elections questioning the credibility of EVMs, Chandra said, "EVM is no issue now."

Bulandshahr, Jan 8 (PTI) A 13-year-old girl here in a village was killed in an attack by a stray bull, police said on Saturday.

The incident took place in Nagla Garvi village under Ramghat Police Station and caused anger among the villagers, they said.

A few days ago a farmer too was killed in a similar attack, they said.

Chandigarh, Jan 8 (PTI) Insisting that there was no threat to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's life during his recent Ferozepur visit, Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Saturday sought to target him with a remark of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

One who cares for his life more than duty, he should not take big responsibilities in a country like India, Channi took to Twitter to quote Sardar Patel.

New Delhi, Jan 9 (PTI) The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Monday a plea on the recent breach in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's security in Punjab.

On January, the prime minister's convoy was stranded on a flyover due to a blockade by protesters in Ferozepur after which he returned from poll-bound Punjab without attending the planned events, including a rally.