LIVE! Flood alert in Godavari, Krishna basins

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Sun, 25 September 2016

Flood alert in Godavari, Krishna basins

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21:19 Flood alert in Godavari, Krishna basins

A flood alert has been issued by the Water Resources Ministry in the districts around Godavari and Krishna basins in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

"Respective state governments and district administrations have been advised to take highest level of precautionary measures...during the next three to seven days," the ministry said in a statement.

The districts which may see low to moderate floods are Nizamabad, Adilabad, Karimnagar in Telangana for next three to four days. This may further extend to Khammam district in Telangana and East and West Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh in the next four to six days, it said.

Beed, Latur and Nanded in Maharashtra; Bidar in Karnataka; Medak, Rangareddy and Nizamabad in Telangana are also likely to get affected with the release of water from small and medium tributaries into Godavari basin.

Similarly, the districts around Krishna basin which are likely to get affected are -- Kalaburagi, Yadgir, Vijayapura, Bagalkote, Raichur of Karnataka, Mahabubnagar of Telangana and Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh.

On the backfoot over Dalit issues as it heads into elections in Uttar Pradesh and other states, BJP has blamed Congress for the disparities faced by the community and pledged to work for promoting social harmony to achieve social justice for the marginalised sections.

Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Birth Centenary Year Resolution adopted at the party's National Council meeting pitched for realisation of objectives of social justice, saying all classes must get equal access to means, privileges and opportunities for individuals.

It also spoke about a number of schemes launched by the party-run central and state governments to achieve social, food and energy security.

Criticising the Congress, the resolution alleged that during its rule in the country, the weaker sections have been deprived of transparent allocation of basic amenities.

The result was that poor have become poorer in rural areas whereas in urban areas dalits, backwards and economically weaker sections have been reduced to a life in the slums, it said.

Bollywood celebrities including filmmaker Karan Johar and actor Suresh Oberoi, today expressed their anguish over MNS threat to Pakistani artists to leave India, saying ban is not a solution to terrorism.

Johar, whose upcoming directorial venture Ae Dil Hai Mushkil stars Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, said: "I understand the anger and the anguish that surround us and I empathise, my heart bleeds for the lost lives. There is nothing that can justify this terrible feeling of terror. Then you are faced in a situation such as this (asking for ban on Pak artistes). If this was truly a solution, one would take it," the director told a news channel.

"But this is not a solution. I don't believe it is. The larger forces have to come together and sort the situation and this cannot be banning talent or art," he added

Veteran actor Oberoi said, "Pakistani artists are also artists not terrorists. What is their fault in all this?

Voicing his opinion, filmmaker Vikram Bhatt said, "We should concentrate on making sure that Pakistan is declared a terrorist state. That should be our effort. This (asking Pak actors to leave) is like trivialising the issue -- whether artists or cricket should be allowed nor not... How does that matter? What matters is that people are dying, we have been constantly suffering... And the only thing we do is ban artists!"

India women's freestyle wrestling team coach Kuldeep Malik might have played a big role in Sakshi Malik's success at the Rio Olympics but he is yet to get any cash awards or recognition.

After he returned from Rio Games along with Sakshi, the Haryana government presented him with a photocopy of Rs 10 lakh cheque at a felicitation function in Bahadurgarh but more than a month later the SAI coach is yet to get a real cheque.

A "promise of promotion" by the Railway minister Suresh Prabhu on the day Sakshi was presented with Khel Ratna on August 29 has also remained only word of mouth, Kuldeep, a chief ticket inspector of Northern Railway revealed.

His attempts to get in touch with the Haryana government and the Railway Sports Promotion Board have went in vain in last one month.

"There may be fat cash awards and a super luxury BMW car for Sakshi but I've not got anything, even the promises are still to be met," Kuldeep, who has coached Sakshi since 2011, said.

"I'm yet to get a penny. I've repeatedly followed it up for the cheque but the officials have kept on dilly-dallying."

The US today said it strongly "encouraged" India and Pakistan to engage in direct dialogue to reduce tensions, as the war of words between the two neighbours escalated over the Kashmir issue.

"The United States strongly supports all efforts between India and Pakistan that can contribute to a more stable, democratic, and prosperous region, including meetings between the Indian and Pakistani officials," a senior State Department official said after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address in Kerala.

"Our longstanding position is that we believe India and Pakistan stand to benefit from the normalisation of relations and practical cooperation. We encourage India and Pakistan to continue to engage in direct dialogue aimed at reducing tensions," the official said.

18:10

Leander/Begemann lose to Inglot/Kontinen 4-6, 6-3, 12-10 in St Petersburg final. Paes hasn't won a title since January 2015

17:57 India to ratify Paris Climate Change agreement on Oct 2: PM

India will ratify the Paris Climate Change agreement on October 2, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday in a sudden announcement that will give momentum to implementation of measures at international level to control global warming.

"There is one work left in the CoP21 (Conference of Parties). Ratification is yet to be done and India too is yet to do it. Today on the birth anniversary of Deen Dayal Upadhyay, I announce that India will ratify the decisions on October 2, the birth anniversary of mahatma Gandhi," he said while addressing BJP's National Council meet.

Modi said he had chosen the date, which is next Sunday, as Mahatma Gandhi's life was an example of minimum carbon footprint.

During the Paris climate meet in December last, more than 190 nations had agreed on setting ambitious goals for capping global warming and funnelling trillions of dollars to poor countries facing climate catastrophe.

The pact will come into force after it is ratified by at least 55 countries that account for 55 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions.

While Western countries, including the US, had been supporting an early ratification of the pact, India had been seeking more time to complete its national processes as it fears that any hasty decision may impact its developmental projects.

17:19 Treat Muslims as your own, PM tells BJP meet

Contending that the definition of secularism has been distorted, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday invoked Jan Sangh ideologue Deendayal Upadhyay to say that Muslims should be treated as "your own" rather than seeing them as "items of vote market".

Addressing the BJP Council meeting in Kozhikode, Kerala, he said his government's mission of 'sabka sath, sabka vikas' is not a political slogan but a commitment to ensure welfare of the last man in the society.

In his speech, Modi spoke at length about secularism, balanced and inclusive growth and need for electoral reforms while paying tributes to Upadhyay on his 100th birth anniversary.

"These days, the definition has been distored. Even nationalism is cursed these days," he said.

While talking about life and contribution of Upadhyay, Modi quoted him as saying, "don't reward nor rebuke Muslims. Empower them. They are not items of vote market nor are they substance of hate. Treat them as your own."

17:17 New Zealand 93/4 at stumps on day 4

Chasing an improbable target of 434 runs, New Zealand were 93/4 at stumps in their second innings on day four of the first cricket Test against India in Kanpur today.

India declared their second innings at 377 for five.

New Zealand need another 341 runs with six wickets remaining.

Ravichandran Ashwin became the fastest from the country to pick 200 Test wickets when he scalped New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson on Day 4 of the ongoing 1st Test at the Green Park stadium in Kanpur.

At the time of Williamsons dismissal, Ashwin had already picked three wickets in the innings and made most of the biter on offer.

The offie first scalped New Zealand openers Martin Guptill and Tom Latham cheaply and then broke a steady stand.

Ashwin reached the milestone in only 37 Tests, faster than Harbhajan Singh who took 46 Tests to get there.

Ashwins feat is even better than Dennis Lillee, Waqar Younis and Dale Steyn, who reached their in 38, 38 and 39 Tests respectively.

While he is the fastest India to get there, he is the second fastest in the world, just behind Australia's Clarrie Grimmett who took 36 Tests for his 200th scalp.

16:02 Mulayam's Azamgarh rally cancelled

All is not still not well in ruling Samajwadi Party, hit by family feud, as reflected in its sudden decision to abruptly cancel the proposed rally of party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav in Azamgarh on October 6.

"The rally proposed on October 6 in Azamgarh is cancelled. The new dates will be finalised soon," a party leader said.

A decision in this regard was taken by Mulayam after meeting party's state president Shivpal Yadav and cabinet minister Balram Yadav, who represents Azamgarh in the assembly and was made in-charge of the rally.

With the rally, SP was going to kickstart its 2017 assembly election campaign.

Earlier, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on September 17 postponed Samajwadi Vikas Rath Yatra, scheduled on October 3, saying the dates would be announced later.

"I will lay the foundation stone of metro works in Kanpur on October 4. The date of the yatra will be decided. Time has changed, now I will see from which 'disha' (direction) and time it should start," he had said.

A total of 17 National Disaster Response Force teams comprising over 550 personnel have been deployed by the Centre in the flood-affected regions of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka.

The central force has also deployed about 60 boats and teams of paramedics to help those stranded after the heavy rainfall in the last few days in these areas.

"Nine flood rescue teams comprising 309 rescuers and equipped with 32 inflatable rubber boats and communication equipment have been pre-positioned at various rain-affected areas of Andhra Pradesh.

"While three teams are pre-positioned at Peduguralu, Narsarapet and Amravati areas of Guntur district, one team each is pre-positioned at Hyderabad and Vizag and two teams each are pre-positioned at Srikakulam and Nellore districts," the NDRF said in a statement.

Similarly, it said, five flood rescue teams comprising 158 rescuers and 16 boats have been deployed at various flood prone areas of Telangana.

Asserting that all Pakistani artists have left Mumbai following their 48-hour ultimatum, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena on Sunday continued to stay firm on their stand that no artist from the neighbouring nation will be allowed to work in Mumbai, adding that if anyone is still "hiding" in the city, they will be hunted down.

Speaking to the media here, MNS leader Amey Khopkar, chief of the MNS's cinema workers' unit Chitrapat Karamchari Sena confirmed that all Pakistani artists have left the city.

"The 48 hours are over and the Pakistani artists are not in Mumbai anymore. Zee has decided to shut down its channel 'Zee Zindagi' where they show Pakistani shows and I want to thank them for that," he said.

Thanking various TV shows and radio channels for responding to their call by discontinuing Pakistani actors and artists from their shows, Khopkar further said that he will ensure that they do not return to the city.

"You can be rest assured that they have left, but if any Pakistani artist is still left in the city and is hiding, we will hunt them down and throw them out of Mumbai," he added.

The countdown for ISRO's first ever multiple launch of eight satellites in two different orbits is going on smoothly at the first launch pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikotta.

The countdown for the PSLV-C35 mission carrying Indian meteorological satellite SCATSAT-1 and seven other payloads belonging to three foreign customers and two Indian Universities began on Saturday.

"On Monday, we have a launch where PSLV is going to put satellites into two different orbits. We have our SCATSAT, which is going to be first released then after that is the launch vehicle, the fourth stage will put the remaining satellites into a lower orbit. 720 kms is the first one and around 650 is the second one. And this requires re-ignition of the fourth stage. And there will be two re-ignitions and the countdown started on Saturday," said ISRO chairman Kiran Kumar.

"So, at 9.12 in the morning is the launch," Kumar added.

This would be the 37th flight for the PSLV and the 15th time it will blast off in its extended version.

Describing the Uri terror strike a transit destination in the "war" forced on India by Pakistan, BJP President Amit Shah on Sunday said the attack was an outcome of frustration after security forces foiled 17 infiltration attempts and that the final victory will belong to India.

Echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's view that those responsible for the terror strike will surely be punished, Shah said the country is committed to giving a strong reply to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.

In his inaugural address at the party's National Council in Kozhikode, Shah said the party feels the widespread anger in the country as he hit out at Pakistan and supported the Modi government's diplomatic efforts to corner the neighbour. He later made a separate statement on the raging issue with the Prime Minister and entire top brass of the party present on the dais.

"BJP feels the widespread anger in the people against the conspirators behind the Uri terror attack. BJP and the central government have adopted the policy of zero tolerance against terrorism from the beginning. A strong reply to defeat such terror attempts will be given. 117 terrorists, which is the highest in recent times, have been killed in the last 8 months as the Centre started its strategic and strong fight against terrorism.

"Terrorists have made 17 attempts to infiltrate across the border in the last eight months but our brave soldiers have foiled them. The Uri attack has been carried out due to this frustration. This is a long war which has been forced on us by our neighbour. Uri is only its transit destination and not the final outcome. The final victory will be ours," he said.

The United States-led coalition's warplanes have reportedly sunk over 100 Islamic State boats, destroying 65 of them this month, as part of efforts to blunt the terror group's use of watercraft to transport fighters and conduct attacks.

While Iraq is nearly entirely land-locked, the Tigris and Euphrates rivers that cross that country are navigable, and IS has been using watercraft for a variety of purposes, including transporting fighters and conducting improvised explosive attacks.

US and allied warplanes have destroyed 65 of them in September alone, according to the international military coalition.

The US-led anti-ISIS coalition provided CNN with video of a September 10 airstrike against an IS tactical unit aboard a boat near Bayji, Iraq.

Barges, skiffs and motorised watercraft have been observed operating along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers for the purpose of ferrying IS fighters and equipment across the rivers, Operation Inherent Resolve spokesperson Colonel Joseph Scrocca was quoted as saying.

It happens often when anti-IS Iraqi troops control the area's bridges, he said.

Coalition bombs have also targeted bridges used by IS, thereby further necessitating the terror group's reliance on boats.

15:00 India set New Zealand 434-run target

Negotiating a spin-friendly track with aplomb, Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja scored fifties before India declared their second innings at 377 for five to set New Zealand a stiff 434-run target to win the first cricket Test, in Nagpur today.

After losing three wickets in the opening session, India also lost Ajinkya Rahane (40) but Rohit (68 not out) and Jadeja (50 not out) ensured that the hosts did not suffer any more reversal after that.

They raised an unconquered 100-run stand for the sixth wicket and the moment Jadeja got a single off Mitchell Santner to get to his half-century, Indian captain Virat Kohli declared and umpires called the tea break.

Jadeja celebrated his milestone by wielding his bat like a sword before the two batsmen walked off the field.

An FIR has been filed in connection with the missing files pertaining to the Ishrat Jahan encounter case by the Under Secretary, Government of India, at the Sansad Marg police station in Delhi.

According to reports, the Delhi Police has initiated a probe into the case of missing documents on the sensational 2004 encounter.

Earlier in March this year, a team of the Ministry of Home Affairs had found that around five different documents, including two affidavits, were missing.

Earlier, it was decided that the probe will be handed over to the CBI but later the MHA directed the Delhi Police to probe the matter.

Filmmaker Karan Johar says his heart bleeds for the lives lost in the Uri terror attack and he understands the anger in the country but boycotting artistes from Pakistan is no solution to terrorism.

Johar's comment comes after MNS threatened Pakistani artistes like Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan to leave India, failing which the shooting of their films would be stalled.

Fawad stars in Johar's upcoming film "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil", which is slated to release this Diwali.

"I understand the anger and the anguish that surround us and I empathise, my heart bleeds for the lost lives. There is nothing that can justify this terrible feeling of terror. Then you are faced in a situation such as this (asking for ban on Pak artistes). If this was truly a solution, one would take it," the director told a news channel.

"But this is not a solution. I don't believe it is. The larger forces have to come together and sort the situation and this cannot be banning talent or art."

The 44-year-old filmmaker said he feels "vulnerable" while speaking about it publicly.

The Congress Party on Sunday did not appear to be in tune with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'let's fight battle against poverty' assertion and said that it was not in good taste as one does not have to battle its own problems with regard to other nation.

Taking a jibe at Prime Minister Modi, Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit told ANI that his speech made no sense.

"To say that we won't forget the martyrs is fair enough, but it is important what the government is doing. Are we doing something to strengthen our defense establishments, which are being constantly breached? Are we helping the Army, military and others to become more secure and get whatever they require to be safer? Are we putting adequate pressure on the people, who are supporting Pakistan to drop their terror tactics?" Dikshit said.

"As far as challenging another country to win the war against unemployment and see who wins. I mean the war against poverty and unemployment is not a race, it is a commitment to our people. I think to say that it's a race against misery, against deprivation with some other country that doesn't make any sense," he added.

Pakistan's former president Asif Ali Zardari has been assured by United States Senator John McCain that the bill to designate Islamabad as a state sponsor for terrorism will not be successful.

McCain is said to have pointed out that the bill had been moved by a small minority in Congress and would not garner support, reports the Express Tribune.

During telephonic conversation with Zardari on Friday, both the leaders also discussed bilateral and international issues.

While the former president insisting that Pakistan is a victim of terrorism itself and will never support it, McCain reportedly acknowledged the sacrifices made by Pakistan in the fight against terrorism.

The duo also agreed that it is in the interest of peace and stability that Pakistan continues to play its part in the fight against the global threat of terrorism.

13:24 Curfew lifted from all parts of Kashmir

Curfew was lifted from all parts of Kashmir today but restrictions on assembly of people remained in force in most areas as a precautionary measures.

"The entire Kashmir Valley is curfew-free today but restrictions are in place in many parts as a precautionary measure," a police official said.

He said the curfew was lifted following improvement in the situation yesterday.

Shops and other business establishments remained closed due to separatist call for shut down for the 79th straight day while public transport remained off the roads.

However, markets are expected to open at 2pm as the separatist groups have announced a 16-hour relaxation in the shutdown till 6am tomorrow.

As many as 82 persons including two cops have been killed and thousands of others have been injured in the ongoing unrest that started after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces on July 8.

12:05

Delhi: FIR lodged at the Sansad Marg police station against missing of the files pertaining to the Ishrat Jahan encounter case, reports ANI

12:02 India reach 252/4 at lunch on Day 4

India were 252 for four in their second innings at lunch on the fourth day of the first cricket Test against New Zealand at the Green Park stadium, in Kanpur today.

India, thus, took an overall lead of 308 runs over New Zealand.

The flood situation has deteriorated in Telangana as water levels continued to rise in Godavari river following heavy rainfall in upper catchment areas and release of water from Maharashtra dams.

Several places across Telangana continue to receive heavy rainfall paralyzing normal life.

People in low lying areas on the banks Godavari are have been put on high alert and being evacuated to safer places and relief camps are being opened.

Rivers, rivulets and streams are flowing at dangerous levels with water levels reaching their peaks.

To control flood situation in Godavari and Krishna rivers, the state irrigation authorities have released downstream huge quantities of water from the projects.

There is lot of anger in the country over the Uri attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday during his Mann ki Baat radio programme.

Here are highlights of his speech:

* I pay my tribute to soldiers who lost their lives in Uri terror attack, the culprits will be punished for sure.

* For us citizens, political leaders there are many opportunities to talk and we do talk

* But the Army doesn't talk. They speak through their valour.

* Today, I want to speak to the people of Kashmir. They have started to recognise elements who oppose our country

* They want their life to get back on track. Studies, trade should normalise. The process has started.

* The security of the people of Kashmir is the responsibility of the administration.

* The administration has to take steps to maintain that.

* Next week we will be celebrating Durga Puja and Navratri. These festivals are a symbol of our unity, harmony and strength

* It was my endeavour that Mann Ki Baat should not talk about blame game, politics, praising govt work.

* I urge youth to come up with relevant new startups about "Waste to Wealth" Model.

Film stars joined the army to do their bit in providing food and essential supplies to people in flooded areas in the city.

Four columns of Army have been deployed at Begumpet, Nizampet, Hakimpet and Alwal of Greater Hyderabad. Several colonies have been marooned in these areas on account of heavy rains that have been pounding the city.

With roads and cellars having been flooded, people have been forced to stay indoors resulting in their being deprived of their basic needs like food and water. Some local organisations and civic authorities have been reaching out to as many as they can.

The Movie Artistes' Association and individual film stars took the initiative to reach out to flood-affected people. MAA president G Rajendra Prasad, vice-president Shivaji Rao and others went to Alwyn colony and distributed food packets and water to people. Actors Rana Daggubati, Navdeep, Manchu Lakshmi and Manchu Manoj also reached out to the victims.

Like they did during the Chennai floods by collecting relief material and sending them to the victims in November last year, Rana Daggubati said the Rama Naidu Film Studios would be open round the clock for people to bring relief material. This would be distributed to various parts of the city by film stars.

Both Navdeep and Rana were instrumental in sending relief to Chennai last year. In a tweet intended to spur other film stars to chip in, Navdeep said the word `big' would mean nothing if it was not used before the `heart'.

Navdeep said water and food packets were distributed at Malkajgiri, Alwal, A S Rao Nagar, Kukatpally , Madhapur, Jawaharnagar and Secunderabad. In phase 2, new or used blankets, rugs, bedsheets, clothes, footwear and non-perishable food items like biscuits and rusk would be distributed, he said.

10:25 Out of my mind: The Chinese way

Open democratic societies have a perennial problem. That is to resolve quickly, in the face of an attack, what needs to be done. The news of the attack cannot be kept secret. Debates and discussions break out. Amateur armchair strategists expound their views. The amateur does not have to think beyond the next step. At the next step, he can forget what he said and take up the matter as if it is a new challenge.

Even responsible governments have problems. No one controls or coordinates the responses. If it is sudden, then there is a simultaneous, often contradictory, cacophony of views expressed. Why do three members of the Cabinet the home and the defence ministers as well as the prime minister need to pronounce, and if so, why the banalities such as the guilty will be punished? Surely that is obvious. Does it need saying?

Read full HERE

Little Princess Charlotte, Prince George and their parents, Prince William and Kate, have arrived in Canada for their first official trip overseas as a

family of four.

The eight-day trip marks the first overseas jaunt for 1-year-old Charlotte. Her brother, 3-year-old George, has visited Australia and New Zealand on an official tour.

The public will only see the children once at their departure on October 1 and the media will only see the kids a few times during an eight-day visit.

The airport welcoming ceremony was closed to the public.

Royal watcher Debbie Burnham expressed disappointment but said she understands considering the distance travelled and all the attention. "It would have been overwhelming for them," she said.

"This allows the parents to relax."

Kate wore a blue Jenny Packham dress with a hat by Lock and Co and a maple leaf broach lent to her by Queen Elizabeth II for the Canada trip.

In fresh trouble for Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Mohd Shahabuddin, the mother of three youths who were brutally killed by henchmen of the controversial politician has moved the Supreme Court seeking cancellation of bail granted to him in the case in which he has already been sentenced to life.

The woman, whose two sons were killed and her third son, who was an eye witness to the incident, later on murdered allegedly at the instance of Shahabuddin, has challenged the Patna high court's March 2 this year order granting regular bail to him during pendency of his appeal.

While a sessions court in Siwan had convicted Shahabuddin for the offence of murder and kidnapping for ransom in the twin murder case and had awarded life imprisonment to him, the trial in the murder case of the eyewitness son is going on.

In her plea, Kalawati Devi has claimed that the high court had "completely lost sight" of the fact that Shahabuddin was a "dreaded criminal, who has absolutely no regard for the law, and granting bail to him even though he has been convicted for heinous offences like murder, abduction etc and is still facing trial in many of the cases lodged against him would be travesty of justice".

Who is going to win? Who is going to choke? The pressure is intense for Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton -- phenomenally different candidates -- who clash in their first debate on Monday.

Stakes are as high as they get since there are just six weeks until the November 8 election. Polls show a close race, with Clinton, 68, enjoying an edge.

As many as 90 million Americans, some estimate, will be glued to their television to catch the showdown.

Many analysts say debates usually don`t win a candidate the election but can well lose it for them. A single sentence, or the slightest slip, can do serious damage.

On Saturday, the New York Times endorsed Clinton, who ahead of the debates has been cloistered with aides and her papers at home in Chappaqua, north of New York, even practising with relatives playing Trump.

She has been focusing on his psychological profile, with a goal to get Trump to crack, to show that he can`t control himself and lacks the even-handed temperament a president needs.

Baltimore Police say multiple people have been shot in east Baltimore, including a young girl. The shooting happened around at Greenmount Avenue and East Preston Street, near Greenmount Cemetary.

Baltimore police say eight people have shot and taken to local hospitals. One of those shot is reported to be a father and his 3-year-old daughter. Police say all injuries are non-life threatening.

Police say they are three suspects that all fled the scene on foot. One is reported to have used a shotgun, two with handguns. No suspects have been identified at this time, but anyone with information is asked to contact authorities.

External Affairs Minister of India Sushma Swaraj arrived in New York to address the 71st session of the UN General Assembly, with all eyes and ears set on her speech tomorrow which is expected to give a stinging response to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's "tirade" on Kashmir.

Swaraj arrived yesterday afternoon and will address the UN General Debate tomorrow morning.

"Leading India's delegation to the 71st UNGA. EAM @SushmaSwaraj arrives in New York," ministry of external affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup said in a tweet.

Swaraj is expected to give a stinging response to Sharif's UNGA speech, in which he had focused elaborately on Kashmir.

India's strong Right of Reply to his speech called Pakistan home to the "Ivy League of Terrorism" and a "terrorist state" that commits "war crimes" by using terrorism as an instrument of state policy.

The suspect in Saturday's deadly Cascade Mall shooting in Washington state is in custody, the authorities announced today.

On Saturday, the suspect had gone on a rampage inside the mall killing 4 women and a man and then fleeing before the cops could nab him.

KING-TV in Seattle reported that the 20-year-old man was taken into custody in Oak Harbor, about 29 miles southwest of Burlington.

The man's identity and other details about the arrest were not immediately available.

Police had been searching for a gunman dressed in black who fled on foot toward an interstate highway after opening fire in the makeup department at a Macy's store in Burlington.

Initial surveillance footage from the Cascade Mall showed the suspect entering the building late Friday without a weapon but walking into Macy's about 10 minutes later carrying a "hunting-style" a rifle, police said.

The suspect, described as in his teens or early 20s, went into the store's makeup area where he shot four women and a man, Lt. Chris Cammock of the Mount Vernon Police Department said at a news conference.

He then left on foot, out of range of cameras.

The four terrorists who attacked the Army's 12th Infantry Brigade headquarters in Uri last Sunday had brought with them two sets of Japan-made wireless sets that stand testimony to the attackers' Pakistan link. The wireless sets are inscribed with the words 'bilkul naya (brand new)' in Urdu and 'new' in English.

the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is investigating the terror attack, has procured the details of the sets' sale from the manufacturer ICOM. "The wireless sets in any country are sold to a security agency. We are already in the process of confirming the sale of these models in Pakistan. We will send the details to Pakistan officials through our formal channel," a home ministry officer said.

The wireless sets are among 48 items, including two map sheets, seized from the attack site, all of which have been handed over by the Army to NIA investigators. While one of the map sheets is burnt, the National Technical Research Labotarory is busy deciphering four coordinates mentioned on the other 8440, 8605, 2842 and 3007.

After holding protests in various districts of Maharashtra, members of the Maratha community will organise a silent march in Pune today to press for their demands.

The protest is scheduled to begin in the morning and is likely to go on till late afternoon. The organisers say they expect around 10-15 lakh people to turn up.

"The march will start from Deccan Gymkhana and will traverse through Alka Talkies chowk, Laxmi Road, Nana Peth, and will end at the Council Hall," one of the organisers said.

Under the banner of 'Maratha Kranti Morcha', the community has so far held rallies in various cities in Maharastra, including Akola, Jalna, Latur, Nanded, Nashik, Osmanabad, Ahmednagar and Navi Mumbai. Each protest has drawn huge crowd from the community.

The Maratha community, which forms nearly one third of the state population, launched these protests following the rape and murder of a Maratha girl at Kopardi village in Ahmednagar.

These marches are aimed at pressing for the community's demands, including justice to the victim, reservation for Maratha community in education and government jobs and scrapping of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

00:07 Top headlines at this hour

One country exports terror everywhere: PM on Pak

2 from PoK arrested for helping Uri attackers cross LoC

Pak calls off key trade exhibition in India

Pregnant Dalit woman, family thrashed for not disposing cow carcass

IS releases new video featuring Dhaka cafe attackers

Congress critical of Rafale deal, wants contract to be made public

Read yesterday's live commentary HERE

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