New Delhi, June 19

The IMD on Sunday said conditions are favourable for the Southwest Monsoon to reach northeast Uttar Pradesh in 2-3 days.

The seasonal rains today further advanced into some more parts of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, remaining parts of Vidarbha, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand and Bihar.

The Northern Limit of Monsoon (NLM) is currently passing through Porbandar, Baroda, Indore, Umaria, Pendra Road Bhawanipatna, Kalingapatnam, Digha, Giridih and Patna, the weather office said

Conditions are favourable for its further advance into some more parts of Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, northwest Bay of Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Bihar and Odisha, remaining parts of Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand and some parts of northeast Uttar Pradesh during next 2-3 days, it added.

Mumbai, June 19

A fire broke out at a 16-floor residential building in north Mumbai on Sunday, a fire official said, adding that 11 people were later safely rescued from the premises and no one was injured.

The fire control room got a call around 12.25 am about the blaze in 'Dheeraj Savera' building located in Borivli suburb, the said.

The blaze erupted in two flats on the building's 14th floor and their scared residents then rushed to the 15th floor to save themselves, the official from the fire control room said.

Seven fire engines, eight jumbo tankers, ambulance and other assistance were rushed to the spot, he said.

"Three women and eight other people (residents of flats affected by the fire) were safely rescued from the building. No one was injured," the official said.

The blaze was completely doused by around 6.30 am, he said, adding that the cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained.

London, June 18

Indian-origin architect and design advocate Nairita Chakraborty has been appointed to the prestigious role of Commissioner of Historic England, the public body championing the country's historic environment and heritage.

Chakraborty, who grew up in Delhi and studied at the School of Planning and Architecture before moving to the UK, has over 16 years of experience in heritage, townscape and design. She is already a member of Historic England's Advisory Committee and will start her new role from July 1 for four years.

New Delhi, June 18

A new form '6B' has been introduced to allow voters to share their Aadhaar number with the Election Commission.

The government has notified the Registration of Electors Rules to allow linking Aadhaar details with the voters' list to weed out duplicate entries and making election law gender neutral for service voters.

New Delhi, June 18

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and European Commission Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis formally re-launched EU-India free trade negotiations.

Goyal and the EC official also launched EU-India negotiations on an investment protection agreement and another on geographical indications.

A first round of negotiations covering the three areas of work will be hosted by India from June 27 to July 1. The two sides agreed to fast-track the talks with the aim of concluding them by the end of 2023, the EU said in a press release.

The EU and India had first launched negotiations for a free trade agreement in 2007, before the talks were suspended in 2013 due to a gap in ambition.

The EU is India's third largest trade partner, accounting for almost 11 per cent of Indian trade in 2021. India is the EU's tenth most important trading partner, accounting for just over two per cent of EU trade in 2021.

New Delhi, June 18

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday asked party workers not to celebrate his birthday which falls on Sunday.

In a message posted by AICC general secretary communication Jairam Ramesh tonight, Gandhi said the atmosphere in the country was worrisome.

"The youth are anguished. We should stand with them and their families at this time," said Gandhi in reference to Agnipath protests.

Gandhi turns 52 tomorrow.

New Delhi, June 18

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today condemned the attack on Kabul Gurdwara and prayed for the well-being of devotees.

"Shocked by the cowardly terrorist attack against the Karte Parwan Gurudwara in Kabul. I condemn this barbaric attack, and pray for the safety and well-being of the devotees," the PM tweeted.

Prayagraj (UP), June 18

A total of 163 inmates lodged in various prisons of the state cleared the UP board exams conducted by Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad (UPMSP), official said on Saturday.

Results for both Class 10th and 12th were declared at 2 and 4 pm, respectively, on Saturday.

Total 95 inmates cleared the Class 10th board exam while 68 cleared the Class 12th exam.

As per UP board officials, a total of 103 inmates appeared in the Class 10th exam from 12 district jails, 95 of which cleared the exam with a pass percentage of 92.23.

Total 96 inmates from 16 district jails appeared in the exam of which 68 cleared the exam, making a pass percentage of 70.83, officials said.

Majority of the inmates who appeared in the board exams were from Ghaziabad district jail. While 33 inmates of the jail appeared in class 10th exam of which 31 cleared it. 25 other inmates appeared in the class 12th exam and cleared it, officials added.