Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced a high powered committee, comprising Chief Ministers, to recommend structural reforms in agriculture, while urging the states to contribute in making India a $5 trillion economy by 2024.


High-powered panel for structural reforms in agriculture: Modi


IANS Automatic

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday demanded that natural calamities should be included as a criteria for according Special Category Status to states.


Make natural calamity criteria for special status: Naveen


West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi on Saturday wrote to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, advising her to take immediate steps to provide security to the doctors and to take the medicos into confidence.


Bengal Governor advises Mamata to provide security to doctors


Under fire from various quarters, the Western Railway (WR) on Saturday dropped its proposal for providing 'head and foot' massage services to passengers on trains originating from Indore, an official said here.


WR drops controversial 'head-foot' massage proposal


Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Saturday called for punitive action against those attacking healthcare professionals, saying "strict action must be taken against any one who assaults them."


Harsh Vardhan for action against doctors' assaulters


Expressing concern over the water crisis in north India, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Saturday sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's support for upgradation of his state's water distribution infrastructure, while calling for a fresh river waters tribunal to address inter-state disputes.


Punjab CM seeks fresh river water tribunal


West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday again appealed to the agitating junior doctors in the state-run hospitals to end their strike and normalise medical services.


Mamata again appeals Bengal doctors to end strike


Doctors in Ghaziabad will go on a one-day strike from Monday to express solidarity with their colleagues in West Bengal, it was announced on Saturday.


Ghaziabad doctors to hold one-day strike on Monday


Four youth, arrested from the Uri sector of the Line of Control (LOC) while trying to cross over into Pakistan-administered Kashmir, were handed back to their families on Saturday after counselling, an official said.


Four youth held trying to cross LoC handed back to families


Punjab has prohibited the sale of uniforms and textbooks in school premises, state Education Minister Inder Singla said on Saturday.


Punjab prohibits sale of uniform, books in schools


Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced on Saturday the "suspension" of her controversial proposed extradition bill which has generated massive opposition in the streets.


HK suspends controversial extradition bill


Pakistan wants talks with India on the "basis of equality" and in a "dignified manner" and has said it's up to New Delhi to decide whether it wants to engage with Islamabad to reconcile issues.


Pakistan for talks with India on equality: Qureshi


Striking junior doctors in West Bengal on Saturday once again turned down Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's proposal for talks at the state secretariat - Nabanna, and stuck to their stand that she would have to come down to NRS Medical College and Hospital to listen to their grievances.


Striking doctors reject Mamata's call for talks


A press conference called by a Pakistani Minister soon turned into a 'comedy of errors' after the person running its live broadcast on Facebook accidentally activated the cat filter, a media report said on Saturday.


Cat filter accidentally used at Pakistan Ministers' live meet


Nearly 400 current and former police officers read and contribute to Facebook groups that promote a range of extremist ideologies including Islamophobia and racism, according to a new investigation by non-profit news organisation Reveal.


Hundreds of US police officers part of hate groups on FB


The Russian Foreign Ministry has condemned the attack against two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman and called for refraining from making hasty accusations.


Russia condemns attack on oil tankers in Gulf of Oman


Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced on Saturday the "suspension" of her controversial proposed extradition law, which has generated massive opposition in the streets.


HK Chief Executive postpones controversial bill


G20 energy and environment ministers gathered in Japan on Saturday for talks likely to focus on energy security concerns following the attacks on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman, as well as environmental issues.


G-20 energy, environment chiefs meet amid M-E tensions


The Resident Doctors Association (RDA) of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi on Saturday called off its day-long strike announced in support of the protesting medicos in West Bengal


Doctors at Delhi's AIIMS, Safdarjung Hospital call off strike


Three Trinamool Congress workers were allegedly shot dead in West Bengal's Murshidabad district on Saturday, police said.


3 Trinamool workers killed in Bengal's Murshidabad


How does one determine the finances of a country where the growth rate is slowing, banks are sceptical to lend and tightening fiscal space leaves little scope for adventurism? That is the impossible conundrum facing Nirmala Sitharaman, Indias first woman Finance Minister in the Modi governments new Cabinet. It will be interesting to note how she addresses these pertinent issues facing the Indian economy when she rises up in Parliament on July 5 to deliver her Budget address.

Page 5 -