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Sun, 03 December 2017
Meghan set to be first royal fiance to spend Christmas with Queen

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20:58   Rajinikanth's 2.0 postponed, to hit screens in April 2018
Superstar Rajinikanth and Akshay Kumar's much awaited film "2.0" will now release in April.
The movie, which was initially scheduled to release this year on Diwali was earlier postponed to January 25, to avoid a clash with "Golmaal Again".
In a letter issued to the media, Lyca Productions announced that the release date of the 3D sci-fi film, directed by Shankar, has been pushed further.
The movie, which also features Amy Jackson, is currently in post production.
The Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman has scored the music for the project, which is a sequel to 2010 blockbuster "Enthiran."
National Award-winning visual effects supervisor Srinivas Mohan is working on the VFX for the film. -- PTI
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20:44   NIA-UP Police team carrying raids in Ghaziabad fired upon; cop injured
A joint team of the National Investigation Agency and the Uttar Pradesh Police, carrying out searches in Ghaziabad today in connection with the killing of an RSS leader in Punjab, was fired upon and pelted with stones by a mob, leading to injury to a policeman, the agency said.
Giving details, a NIA spokesperson said that during the course of investigation into the killing of RSS leader Ravinder Gosain in Ludhiana, investigators came across the names of certain suspected arm smugglers who had supplied firearms to the accused in Punjab.
An NIA team, with the assistance of the state police, conducted searches to apprehend the suspected arm suppliers in Meerut district during the intervening night of December 2 and 3, the spokesman said in a statement.
On getting more leads, further raids were conducted at the residence of suspect Malook at Nahali village in Ghaziabad this morning.
During the raid, a large crowd of men and women tried to obstruct the police and NIA team and some people opened fire on them, resulting in injury to Uttar Pradesh Police constable Tahjib Khan, besides damage to official vehicles, the spokesman said.
The firing was followed by stone pelting and the mob also staged multiple road blockades to obstruct the officials in discharge of their duties.
In self-defence, the UP Police and NIA personnel also fired in the air, the spokesman said, adding that two suspects are currently being questioned regarding their alleged involvement in the case.
Efforts are being made to locate Malook who is wanted in connection with the supply of arms and ammunition used in the killing in Punjab.
On November 30, the NIA registered the case to probe the killing of Gosain under various sections of the IPC and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Gosain, the 'Mukhya Shikshak' of the Mohan shakha of the RSS, was shot dead outside his residence in Ludhiana's Gagandeep Colony in the morning of October 17 by two unidentified assailants riding a motorbike.
The Punjab Police, which was earlier probing the case, arrested two people -- Ramandeep Singh and Hardeep Singh -- a few days after the incident. -- PTI
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20:31   Meghan set to be first royal fiance to spend Christmas with Queen
Meghan Markle, who is engaged to Britain's prince Harry, is to become the first royal fiance to spend Christmas with Queen Elizabeth II later this month.

The American actress, who is to get married to Prince Harry in May 2018, will join other members of the royal family at the traditional festivities, including the opening of presents on Christmas eve, 'The Sunday Times' reports.
The holiday festivities, which will include a black-tie dinner, a full English breakfast and a pheasant shoot, will include the 36-year-old bride-to-be after Harry reportedly requested the Queen to make an exception for Markle over Christmas.
The 33-year-old fifth in line to the throne had announced his marriage plans earlier this week.
The couple are to be wed at St Georges Chapel, Windsor Castle, in May next year although they have not decided on the exact date.
His fiance had relocated to London last month from Toronto, her home in Canada for the past seven years shooting for her long-running television legal drama 'Suits'.
According to the newspaper, her pre-wedding Christmas invitation signals how fully the actress has been welcomed into the royal family after her 16-month romance with the prince.
Kate Middleton was not invited to spend Christmas at the Queen's Sandringham estate in Norfolk, East Anglia, after her engagement to Prince William in November 2010 and instead had joined her parents at their home in Berkshire.
Harry and Meghan are expected to join the Queen from Christmas Eve until Boxing Day, the day after Christmas, before holidaying abroad for the New Year.
They are also understood to be planning to join Meghans mother, Doria Ragland, in California for part of the time.

A friend of Harrys told the newspaper: "Now they are engaged it was unthinkable that they would be apart for Christmas. The royal family have fully welcomed Meghan into the fold."
It is thought the couple may stay with Prince William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte at their family home of Anmer Hall on the Sandringham estate.
The royal family traditionally gathers on Christmas Eve for tea with the Queen, before the younger members are encouraged to put the finishing touches to the Christmas tree in the white drawing room.
Later the Queens guests exchange gifts before a formal black-tie dinner.
On Christmas morning, after a full English breakfast, the royal family attend St Mary Magdalene Church on the estate, before returning to Sandringham House for Christmas lunch.

Guests then gather to watch the Queens Christmas broadcast to the rest of the country at 3pm, which this year is expected to see her offer congratulations to Harry and his future bride.
On Boxing Day, guests traditionally take part in a pheasant shoot on the 20,000-acre estate, although Markle, who is thought to be opposed to blood sports, is unlikely to join in. -- PTI 
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19:55   Cyclone Ockhi cannot be declared national calamity: Centre
The centre today said Cyclone Ockhi, which wrecked havoc in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Lakshadweep, cannot be declared a national calamity as there is no such scheme, but assured all necessary assistance to tackle the situation.
Speaking to reporters after attending a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in Thiruvananthapuram, Union Minister Alphons Kannanthanam said the centre has already given necessary relief funds to the state government.
"We have received a memorandum from the state government requesting to declare Cyclone Ockhi as a national calamity. But, there is no such scheme for the Centre to do the same," he said.
Though the Union Tourism Minister earlier backed the Kerala government's contention that they had not received any prior warning about the cyclone, he later clarified that the central agencies had given necessary alerts on November 28 and 29 itself.
Kannanthanam, in the presence of Vijayan, earlier had stated that the state had received the cyclone alert only on November 30 and a clear prior warning had not been issued before that.
The Union Minister later visited nearby Punthura, a coastal hamlet where fishermen are protesting alleging delay in rescue of their kin, who had ventured into sea days ago.
He also said that 90 fishermen from the state were yet to be brought back to the shores. -- PTI 

IMAGE: A man watches a road that has been cut off due to floods following the heavy rainfall caused by the cyclone which left heavy damage in the Kanyakumari district. Photograph: PTI Photo
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19:53   Modi has failed on foreign diplomacy front: Veerappa Moily
Senior Congress leader and former Karnataka chief minister Veerappa Moily today claimed Prime Minister Narendra Modi has failed on the foreign diplomacy front though he had been touring countries frequently. 

Addressing reporters in Mangaluru, he said Modi "is only busy with frequent foreign tours. He cannot stop cross-border terrorism from Pakistan. China is exporting its goods to India, but they do not import from India.

Besides, the visa issue with the United states could not be resolved yet. "Despite all these, Modi is projecting himself as a troubleshooter of issues on the foreign front," he said. 

 He charged the prime minister and his cabinet colleagues with merely delivering promises and not taking any concrete step to implement their words. 

Moily, a former union minister, also claimed BJP-led governments in different states were lagging behind on the development front. 

He commended the Siddaramaiah government in Karnataka for "implementing development programmes". 

Moily, who is the chairman of the Congress manifesto committee for the coming assembly elections, said he would meet party leaders, workers, stakeholders and representatives of various organisations before finalising a report on the contents of the manifesto. 

 The report would be submitted to Siddaramaiah by the end of January next, he said. Assembly elections are to be held in early 2018 in the state. -- PTI
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18:54   CBFC is the right authority to take a call on 'Padmavati': Shahid
The fate of Padmavati rests in the hands of the Central Board of Film Certification and actor Shahid Kapoor said now as the film is with the right authority, he hopes the period drama will release soon.
The Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed film was slated to be released on December 1, but the makers "voluntarily" deferred the release after the CBFC asked them to reapply for certification with complete details.
They recently applied for 3D certification.
"It is a nice big circle. It is back to where we started, which is where it should have been. The CBFC should have been the right body to take a decision. I am hoping that sooner, not later, it is already pretty being long, we will get a decision.
"... I saw lot of problem with Udta Punjab and eventually the film released and everybody saw it. The film was loved by the people. And I do believe that it will be similar for Padmavati," Shahid said at an event in Mumbai.
The actor is unfazed by the film being pushed and said Padmavati will do well if the team has done a good job.
"... Whenever the film comes out, people will react the way they would to a story that is being told. If the film has the dignity, strength, originality and cinematic effect that a good film should have, the people will speak well of it. I believe that it is a good film," he said.
Padmavati is facing trouble with several Rajput groups and political leaders, alleging that Bhansali has tampered with "historical facts" in the movie.
The director has been accused of using a romantic dream sequence between Rajput queen Padmini (Deepika) and Sultan Alauddin Khilji (Ranveer Singh), a claim repeatedly denied by him.
Historians are divided over whether Padmini actually existed.
Chief ministers of BJP-ruled states such as Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat have also called for a ban on the period drama. --  PTI 
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18:51   357 fishermen from TN and Kerala rescued: Defence minister
A total of 357 fishermen, including 71 from Tamil Nadu, stranded in sea due to Cyclone Ockhi, were rescued this morning, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said today.
In addition to the fishermen from Tamil Nadu, 248 from Kerala and 38 from Lakshadweep Islands, were rescued by Airforce, Navy and Coast Guard personnel, she said in a tweet.
"An update on the search and rescue efforts being done by the Indian Navy, Coast Guard and Air Force to save the lives of fishermen affected by #CycloneOckhi : 357 fishermen have been saved as of 10 am today," she said in her official Twitter handle.
Sitharaman will visit cyclone-hit Kanyakumari later today to take stock of the situation.
Posting a fact-sheet, Sitharaman said since November 30, the Coast Guard (CG) deployed two ships, an equal number of fixed wing aircraft and one helicopter for search and rescue of Tamil Nadu fishermen.
Similarly, the Coast Guard deployed seven ships in Kerala and one in Lakshadweep islands.
The Navy deployed six ships, two fixed wing aircraft and two helicopters in Kerala while the Air Force deployed one aircraft and two helicopters for Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
On December 2, the Coast Guard deployed one each ship and fixed wing aircraft in Tamil Nadu and eight ships and two fixed wing aircraft (FWA which also took care of Lakshadweep Islands) besides one helicopter for Kerala. -- PTI
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18:02   First phase of Chabahar port opens, to boost trade between India and Iran
The first phase of the Chabahar port was inaugurated on Sunday by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, opening up a new strategic transit route between Iran, India and Afghanistan, bypassing Pakistan.
The port in the Sistan-Balochistan province on the energy-rich nation's southern coast lies outside the Persian Gulf and is easily accessed from India's western coast and is considered as a "gateway to golden opportunities" for trade with central Asian countries.
The first phase of the Chabahar port project is known as the Shahid Beheshti port and it was inaugurated by Rouhani in the presence of representatives of several countries of the region.
According to the ministry of external affairs, Minister of State for Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan represented India at the inauguration.
"The routes of the region should be connected on land, sea and air," Rouhani said at the inauguration ceremony, according to his office.
The port is likely to ramp up trade between India, Afghanistan and Iran in the wake of Pakistan denying transit access to New Delhi for trade with the two countries. India has been closely working with Afghanistan to create
alternative, reliable access routes, bypassing Pakistan.
Under the agreement signed between India and Iran in May last year, India is to equip and operate two berths in the Chabahar Port Phase-I with capital investment of USD 85.21 million and annual revenue expenditure of USD 22.95 million on a 10-year lease.
Rouhani's office said the president noted that transit is the best communication tool for nations, adding "the routes of the region should be connected on land, sea and air".
Ahead of the inauguration of the port, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Saturday met her Iranian counterpart Javed Zarif in Tehran during which the implementation of the Chabahar port project was discussed among other issues.
Swaraj made a stopover at Tehran on her return from Russian city of Sochi where she had attended the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
The port is likely to ramp up trade between India, Afghanistan and Iran in the wake of Pakistan denying transit access to New Delhi for trade with the two countries.
Over a month ago, India sent its first consignment of wheat to Afghanistan by sea through the Chabahar port, marking opening of the new strategic transit route. -- PTI

Photograph: http://www.president.ir
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17:47   Congress has a history of rigging party elections: PM
Mocking the Congress over the upcoming election of its president, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today alleged the party had a history of rigging organisational polls.
The outcome of the election to the top post in the Congress was a foregone conclusion, Modi said while addressing a rally in Gujarat's Surendranagar district.
"If you do not have democracy in your home (party) how can you practise it in the country," Modi asked.
Modi told the crowd that had gathered for the Gujarat assembly election rally that an election was to be held in the Congress party for its president.
"What is the result everybody knows," he said, prompting the crowd to reply that the post would go to (Congress vice president) Rahul Gandhi.
Gandhi is likely to be elected Congress president in the ongoing organisational polls.
Modi went on to claim that this was a practice in the Congress party.
"Sardar Patel got more votes than Jawharlal Nehru when the Congress party had (then) met to decide who would be the prime minster of the country. But that election was rigged and Nehru won," he alleged.
This is what happened with Morarji Desai, too, Modi said.
"They have a history of rigging elections," he charged.
Referring to Congressman Shehzad Poonawalla by his first name, Modi said he had raised questions over the process of elections and had alleged it was being rigged. 

"They keep on muttering words like tolerance, tolerance, tolerance... But the party has brought out a diktat to silence this youth. The party has gagged him from all WhatsApp groups; he has been collectively boycotted by that party," the prime minister claimed. -- PTI
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17:34   Meghan Markle's bag sells out in 7 mins
A tricolour Edinburgh-based Strathberry handbag resembling that carried by actor Meghan Markle on her first official outing with her fiance, Prince Harry was sold out within a record time of seven minutes.
The Tricolor Midi Tote combination, which is only sold at the department store Saks on New York's Fifth Avenue, starting price 300 pounds (approximately) for their luxury leather bags, was lapped up by the "Suits" actor's fans, reported The Telegraph.
A spokesperson for the brand said they sent Markle the style a few weeks ago and it was a pleasant surprise for them to see her flaunt the bag on one of her first appearances after the royal engagement.
"We are thrilled and honoured to see Meghan Markle carrying our Strathberry Midi Tote. It was a fantastic surprise to see that Meghan selected one of our core Strathberry styles to carry on her first royal engagement.
"We are delighted at the news of her and Harry's engagement and wish them all the best for this exciting period," the spokesperson said. -- PTI

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16:50   R K Nagar bypoll: After over a decade, MDMK to support DMK
Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief Vaiko today announced his party's support to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in the R K Nagar assembly bypoll scheduled on December 21, the first such gesture after over a decade.
After a high-level party meet in Chennai, Vaiko said his party has unanimously decided to support the DMK in the by-election.
"It is a well thought-out decision considering the interests of Tamil Nadu and the Dravidian movement," he told reporters.
Asked if the alliance will continue, he said, "This can be taken as a starting point" in view of the cordial atmosphere between the two parties.
Vaiko further said, "There is a need to teach a lesson to the AIADMK regime which has lost the trust of the people."
He hit out at the BJP-led centre over "Hindutva and weakening federalism" besides lashing out at the ruling party for hobnobbing with the saffron party.
DMK working president M K Stalin welcomed the decision, saying when all opposition parties were joining hands with it to end "this horse-trading regime," the MDMK has done its part.

The MDMK's decision to support the DMK comes after recent meetings between Vaiko and DMK working president M K Stalin.
Also, Vaiko recently had met DMK chief and former mentor M Karunanidhi at the latter's Gopalapuram residence.
Karunanidhi, who was ill for about a year and confined to his residence is now recuperating following treatment.
The MDMK, which was part of the DMK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu, parted ways from it to support late J Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK in the 2006 assembly election.
Vaiko had been detained under the now defunct Prevention of Terrorism Act by the then AIADMK regime in July 2002. After spending about 19 months in prison, he was released in February 2004.
He was arrested for allegedly making pro-Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam speeches. The Vaiko-led party had last fought the 2004 Parliamentary election in the DMK-led front. -- PTI
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16:14   Prithvi Shaw to lead India in 2018 U-19 World Cup
Promising Mumbai batsman Prithvi Shaw will lead a 16-member Indian team in next year's ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup, the BCCI said today.
"The All-India Junior Selection Committee has picked the India U19 team for the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2018. The 16 -team event will be held in New Zealand from 13th January to 3rd February 2018," BCCI acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary said in a release.
Last edition's runners-up India have won the U-19 World Cup title thrice in 2000, 2008 and 2012. India lost in the final against the West Indies in Bangladesh last year.
India are the joint-most successful team in the history of the tournament along with Australia (1988, 2002 & 2010).
As part of India's preparation for the coveted tournament, a camp will be held in Bengaluru starting on Friday.
"A preparatory camp will be held in Bengaluru from Dec 8 -22, 2017," Choudhary said.
"Mumbai's Shaw and Bengal's Porel have been permitted to join their respective Ranji Trophy sides for the quarterfinal stage and will join the camp on 12th December."
The India U-19 team:
Prithvi Shaw (Captain), Shubman Gill (vice-captain), Manjot Kalra, Himanshu Rana, Abhishek Sharma, Riyan Parag, Aryan Juyal (wicket-keeper), Harvik Desai (wicket-keeper), Shivam Mavi, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Ishan Porel, Arshdeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Shiva Singh, Pankaj Yadav.
The list of standby players: Om Bhosle, Rahul Chahar, Ninad Rathva, Urvil Patel and Aditya Thakare. -- PTI
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15:08   Work in progress for biopic on Bruce Lee: Shekhar Kapur
Veteran director Shekhar Kapur said the script of the biopic on iconic Chinese-American star, Bruce Lee, is a work in progress.
The 71-year-old filmmaker has signed up to co-write and direct the film titled, "Little Dragon", his first China project.
"We are working on the script," Shekhar said, adding that the first script draft was written by Bruce's daughter, Shannon Lee.
"Little Dragon" is being planned as an official US-China co-production, with several Chinese companies expected to co-finance and co-produce the film.
The feature film will chronicle Bruce's early life before he left Hong Kong for Hollywood and went on to become an icon and Kung-Fu movie master in the 1970s.
Shekhar also believes Indian films have a big market in China.
"I used to say Indian films will definitely be very popular in China and yes, they are. 'Dangal' has proved what I said," he told PTI, after completing his chief judge assignment at the 28th Singapore International Film Festival
yesterday.
Aamir Khan's "Dangal" or "Let's Wrestle, Dad" raked in more than USD 93.3 million within a month, when it released in China in May this year.
Shekhar's said his ambitious project, "Paani" is ready for take-off again and awaits investors' commitment.
He said the film will have new artistes as those who worked in the film, including Sushant Singh Rajput, were much older than the age of actors required for the roles. 
Shekhar, who worked on the film for 15 years, conceded "Paani" is an expensive project and would cost about USD 30 million.
The director said he is dedicated to the art of filmmaking.
"Every morning when I wake up, I say to myself I should be working more," he added. -- PTI
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14:45   UP knows Congress well and so does Gujarat: PM Modi
Boosted by the Bharatiya Janata Party's win in civic polls in Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today suggested a repeat in assembly polls in Gujarat where the BJP has ruled for 22 straight years.

"In Uttar Pradesh, where the Congress ruled for decades, the state from where generations of top Congress leaders belong...we saw what happened there in the local elections. The Congress was wiped out. UP knows the Congress well and so does Gujarat," he said during a public rally in Gujarat's Bharuch.

The PM said that the Congress opposed his government just for the sake of it.

"My problem with Congress politics is simple - they oppose us just for the sake of opposing. They oppose things like bullet train only because they could not take this initiative forward and are envious someone else is," he said.

Modi also questioned the secular credentials of the Congress and said the party relied on divisive politics in its quest for power.

"The Congress strategy is to divide people -- divide people on lines of caste, community, urban-rural...all this just for power," he said 

Later today, the PM will address rallies in Surendranagar and Rajkot in Saurashtra. 

Tomorrow, he is scheduled to address rallies at four places -- Dharampur in Valsad, followed by Bhavnagar and in Junagadh and Jamnagar in Saurashtra.
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14:14   Muslim teen with hijab stopped in UK McDonald's restaurant
A 19-year-old Muslim student with hijab was stopped from placing an order in a McDonald's restaurant in north London, according to a media report.
The girl was in the McDonald's outlet on Seven Sister's road in Holloway when a guard asked her to take off the hijab if she wanted to queue up for ordering food, The Independent reported.
"It's just a matter of taking it (hijab) off," the guard told the girl.
She responded: "It's not just a matter of taking it off. I wear this for religious reasons and I'm not ashamed of it, and I will stand in line and I will get the food I want, because this isn't okay."
Another customer intervened to defend the girl, a British Muslim of Middle Eastern descent, but was told by the guard: "It's none of your business."
The restaurant later issued an apology and said it has suspended the security guard involved in the incident.
In a statement, McDonald's said it has no policy which restricts or prevents anyone wearing a hijab, or any other religious attire, from entering our restaurants.
"We welcome customers of all faiths and sincerely apologise for this situation. We are taking this matter very seriously and are addressing the situation with the individuals involved; the security guard, from a third party
company, has been suspended," it said. -- PTI
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13:42   Delhi hospital which declared newborn as dead gets notice from police

The Delhi Police today sent notice to the administration of Max hospital which incorrectly declared a baby dead along with his still-born twin and handed over the bodies to the parents in plastic bags last week.

The hospital administration has been asked to be present for an interrogation.

Earlier on Saturday, Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Kumar Jain said if the Max hospital continued with the negligence, the state government would cancel their licence.

The family members of the newborn staged a sit-in protest outside the hospital yesterday demanding a strict action against them.

The Shalimar Bagh Max Hospital on Friday handed over the twins, thinking both to be dead, to the family in plastic bags.

When the twins were brought to the burial ground, the parents just before performing the last rites realised that one of them showed movements inside the bag.

They immediately rushed to a nearby hospital where the doctors informed one of them to be alive.

A medical negligence case has been registered under section 308 of Indian Penal Code against the hospital. -- ANI
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13:14   Pak violates ceasefire in J&K's Poonch
After a brief lull, Pakistani troops today again violated the ceasefire with India along the Line of Control in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir and shelled the forward areas, a police official said.
The shelling from across the border began in Khari Karmara area at 10.55am and continued for about an hour, the official said.
He said the Indian security forces along the LoC retaliated effectively to the Pakistani firing and shelling.
"There was no report of any casualty in the latest ceasefire violation," he said.
Pakistani troops resorted to firing and shelling along the LoC after a gap of three days.
Last week, Pakistani troops shelled various sectors in the twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri between November 27 and 29. -- PTI
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12:43   Economy may grow by over 6.5% in FY'18, says Panagariya
Noted economist and former vice chairman of Niti Aayog Arvind Panagariya expects the economy to grow by over 6.5 per cent in the current financial year. 
     
He said the macro-economic indicators have remained stable for the past 3 years with current account deficit hovering around 1 per cent and inflation moderating.
     
"Expectations of implementation of the GST beginning July 1, 2017 led to some disruptions in supply during the April- June quarter with the quarterly growth rate declining to 5.7 per cent.
     
"But we should see recovery coming our way with the growth rate during 2017-18 reaching 6.5 per cent or higher," he told PTI in an interview.
     
Panagariya pointed out that a recently released Goldman Sachs report makes a plausible case that the economy will accelerate to 8 per cent growth in 2018-19.
     
Reversing a five-quarter slide in GDP growth, the Indian economy bounced back from a three-year low to expand by 6.3 per cent in July-September as manufacturing revved up and businesses adjusted to the new GST tax regime.
     
On whether the government could relax fiscal deficit target to boost economy, Panagariya said: "Personally, I do not believe that the Finance Minister and the Prime Minister would let their hard-fought success in achieving significant progress in fiscal consolidation slip past them at this late stage in the game."
     
When asked whether the Modi government would go populist in its last regular budget to be presented in February next year, Panagariya said he hoped that populism, if any, takes the form of one-time sops and not long-term programmes that are against national interest and politically risky to withdraw afterwards.
     
"In this respect, the extension of the NREGA from 200 poorest districts to all districts and the hike in government salaries prior to the 2009 parliamentary elections, and the passage of populist legislations such as the Land Acquisition Act and the Food Security Act...were quite damaging in the long run," Panagariya said.
     
In contrast, he said, measures such as the distribution of goodies that political parties routinely resort to in Tamil Nadu are far less damaging because they are a one-time affair. -- PTI
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12:00   Not satisfied with Pak's co-operation in war against terror: US
The United State is not satisfied with Pakistan's co-operation in the war against terror as part of its South Asia strategy and yet to see Islamabad taking steps to "rein in" the Taliban and the Haqqani network, a senior Trump administration official has said.
He also termed the release of Mumbai-terror attack accused Hafiz Saeed as "a step backward" in that direction.
The official said that the release of the Coleman family, held captive for five years by the Haqqani network, from inside Pakistan was "not an indication" of Islamabad's co-operation with the US in the war against terrorism.
"Our diplomatic pressure, as well as our own intelligence agencies diligent work led to the release of the Coleman family. So, I am not sure if that qualifies as step forward (by Pakistan as part of the South Asia Strategy announced by President Donald Trump in August)," the official told PTI.
"We are happy that the Colemans are free and that they have been released. But we are still waiting to see Pakistan take steps to reign in the Taliban and the Haqqani network. We are not satisfied that they have done anything significant on this front," he said.
The US, the official said, has now a different approach to Pakistan. "We expect, Pakistan to take steps against terror sanctuary on its territory".
Acknowledging that Pakistan has not taken steps it promised after the announcement of the South Asia Strategy, the senior administration official said that the White House is still hopeful that Pakistan sees that it is in its interest to co-operate on the US strategy in Afghanistan.
"But we have not yet seen any significant changes. We still remain hopeful. And we recognise that some of these changes take a bit of time and wouldn't necessarily occur overnight.
"But we will expect to see these changes within a certain time-frame. Our patience is not unlimited when it comes to the steps that we expect them to take," he said. 
The Trump Administration has been very specific with Pakistan on the steps that it needs to take, we have laid out very specific steps that they need to take to degrade these groups activities and to facilitate a genuine dialogue, the official said. -- PTI
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11:05   Cyclone Ockhi: Intensity likely to weaken in next 48 hours
Cyclone Ockhi, after causing significant damage in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, is likely to weaken in the next couple of days, sources at the Regional Specialized Meteorological Center said. 

 An IMD forecast said the scale of Cylone Ockhi has been reduced from 'very severe' to 'severe' for Monday. The cyclone is reportedly on a north-western course, drifting towards the Indian coastlines of Maharashtra and Gujarat at a speed of fourteen kilometres per hour.

Meanwhile, the death toll rose to nine in Kerala last night. Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan has appealed to the central government to declare cyclone Ockhi as a 'national calamity'.

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea along & off South Gujarat and north Maharashtra coasts from the night of December 4 for  subsequent 48 hours.
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11:05   First post-GST budget likely on Feb 1
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is likely to present India's first post-GST and the current government's last full Budget on February 1 next year.

The Budget session of Parliament may begin on January 30 with President Ram Nath Kovind addressing the Joint Session of both the Houses of Parliament, a senior government official said.

The Economic Survey, detailing the state of the economy, is likely to be tabled on January 31 and the Union Budget may be presented the following day, he said.

-- PTI
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10:30   Surge in human trafficking; average 63 victims rescued a day in 2016
More than 8,000 cases of human trafficking were reported in India in 2016, while 23,000 victims, including 182 foreigners, were rescued during the year, according to National Crime Records Bureau data.

Last year, a total of 8,132 cases were reported from across the country compared to the 6,877 cases in 2015.

Of the total 15,379 victims in these cases, 9,034 (58 per cent) were below the age of 18 years, according to the latest NCRB statistics on crime released for 2016.

West Bengal topped the list in reported cases of human trafficking at 3,579, accounting for 44 per cent of total cases in the country. The state had reported 1,255 (18.2 per cent) such cases in 2015, when it ranked second only to Assam.

Assam reported 91 cases (1.12 per cent) of human trafficking in 2016, witnessing a drastic reduction since 2015 when it ranked first in the country with 1,494 (21.7 per cent) such incidents.

Rajasthan with 1,422 (17,5 per cent) cases was second on the list for reported human trafficking incidents in 2016, followed by Gujarat (548), Maharashtra (517) and Tamil Nadu (434).

-- PTI
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10:13   Rahul's poetic dig at PM Modi, questions condition of women in Gujarat
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not providing basic necessities to the women of poll bound Gujarat.

The Congress vice president took to Twitter and expressed his concern.

A political slugfest has erupted ahead of the elections, as the Congress is continuously attacking the Bharatiya Janata Party and vice-e-versa on several issues like development in Gujarat, the demonestisation, the Goods and Service Tax etc.

In his tweet, Rahul took a dig at Prime Minister Modi and the BJP-led state government for depriving Gujarati women of basic facilities like health care, education and safety.

Rahul Gandhi said, "No security, nutrition and education was provided to the women. The only thing which took place was their exploitation."

The Congress leader also accused the BJP leadership for disappointing Anganwadi and Aasha workers.

The two-phase Gujarat assembly elections will take place on December 9 and 14, while the results will be out on December 18.
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09:37   Japanese Emperor to abdicate in April 2019
Japanese Emperor Akihito is set to abdicate on April 30, 2019, after a nearly 30-year reign and marking the end of an imperial era. 

Akihitos elder son Crown Prince Naruhitos succession will take place on May 1, 2019.

The 83-year-old's retirement is the first abdication by a Japanese emperor for 200 years. 

Akihito has become an enormously popular figure since succeeding his father, Hirohito, Japans wartime emperor, in January 1989.

Akihito has used his role to promote reconciliation with former victims of Japanese wartime aggression. On a visit to China in 1992, he said he deeply deplored an unfortunate period in which my country inflicted great suffering on the people of China. 

He and Empress Michiko, a commoner whom he met while playing tennis, have also had a prominent role in helping the victims of natural disasters, making several visits to the region devastated by the 2011 tsunami.

The name given to his reign Heisei (achieving peace) will be replaced when Naruhito becomes emperor at the age of 59, though a new name has yet to be decided. Akihito and Michiko will move into a new home after they vacate the imperial palace.

Akihitos retirement and the engagement of his eldest grandchild, Princess Mako, have reignited the debate about the shortage of male heirs and a possible succession crisis in an imperial line that, if legendary monarchs are included, stretches back 2,600 years.
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09:11   Vijay Rupani's Congress challenger detained after scuffle
Police detained three Congress workers outside the residence of Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani when a mob of opposition party workers rushed there, after brother of Congress candidate Indranil Rajyaguru was injured in scuffle with BJP workers.

Those detained include Rajkot West Congress candidate Rajyaguru, Rajkot East Congress candidate Mitul Donga and another party worker, police said.

Police also indulged in baton charge to disperse the mob. Rupani is contesting polls from his Rajkot West seat against Rajyaguru. Elections will be held in Rajkot on December 9.

"A scuffle broke out between Congress and BJP workers over the issue of tearing of posters. Brother of Rajyaguru, Deep was injured in the the scuffle," Joint Commissioner of police Dipak Bhatt told reporters.

Injured Congress workers were taken to a private hospital.

"Rajyaguru with a large group of Congress workers rushed to the residence of Rupani. We tried to reason it out with him but they wanted to take law in their hand," Bhatt said.

"We have detained three people so far", he said adding that they used necessary force to control the situation.

Rupani was at his residence when the incident took place. Heavy police security has been put in place at the residence of the chief minister. 

-- PTI
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08:57   33rd year of Bhopal gas tragedy; city still cries foul
As the Bhopal gas tragedy marks 33rd year today, the people of the state still cry foul.

The tragedy that struck the Bhopal city three decades ago occurred on the intervening night of December 2 and 3, 1984.

Even after 33 years, the victims of Bhopal gas tragedy are still complaining of not being provided with proper medical facilities, better living conditions and employment.

Also, the toxic waste lying in the defunct Union Carbide is yet to be disposed off.

Bhopal`s third generation, born after the disaster that took place in 1984, is also suffering from ailments.

There are children who cannot sit or speak or hear, while many women are not able to conceive again.

"It is 33 years since the gas tragedy took place but we are still facing problems. We haven't even received any kind of facilities from the government. The ministers in Bhopal do not care about us. They are busy having fun," a victim said.

A large number of tragedy survivors last night marched, holding burning torches in their hand, to a memorial of the world's worst industrial disaster.

They paid homage to those who lost their lives in the calamity at the memorial statue in front of the now-defunct Union Carbide factory.

"Besides giving an ex-gratia of Rs 25, 000 we were not given anything. We are not even provided treatment in hospitals," said another victim.

-- ANI
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08:37   First phase of Chabahar port to be inaugurated today
The first phase of Chabahar port will be inaugurated today which will open up a new strategic transit route among Iran, India and Afghanistan, bypassing Pakistan.

The port, located in Irans southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan Province, is scheduled to be inaugurated by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in presence of representatives from India, Afghanistan and several other countries of the region.

The first phase of the Chabahar port project is known as the Shahid Beheshti port.

Ahead of the inauguration, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Iranian counterpart Javed Zarif held a meeting in Tehran and discussed about the Chabahar port project among other issues.

Iranian foreign ministry said Zarif referred to the Shahid Beheshti Port and said it reinforces Iran-India mutual and regional cooperation.

"It also shows the importance of the port in the development of the region and the routes that connect Central Asian states to other countries in the world through the Sea of Oman and the Indian Ocean," he said, according to the Iranian foreign ministry.

The port is likely to ramp up trade among India, Afghanistan and Iran in the wake of Pakistan denying transit access to New Delhi for trade with the two countries.

Over a month ago, India had sent its first consignment of wheat to Afghanistan by sea through the Chabahar port, marking opening of the new strategic transit route.

-- PTI
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07:54   Hafiz Saeed to contest 2018 Pak general elections
Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed confirmed that his banned outfit Jammat-ud-Dawah will foray into Pakistan's political scene by contesting the 2018 general elections under the banner of Milli Muslim
League, which is yet to be registered with the country's Election Commission.

Saeed, who was under house arrest since January this year, walked free on November 24 after the Pakistan government decided against detaining him further in any other case.

"The Milli Muslim League is planning to contest next years general elections. I also dedicate 2018 for Kashmiris who are struggling for freedom," Saeed said while meeting a group of columnists at the Jamaat-ud-Dawah headquarters in Chauburji.

The JuD, a front for the Lashkar-e-Tayiba group that carried out the deadly 2008 Mumbai attack, formed MML at the time when Saeed was detained in Lahore.

The founder of Lashkar-e-Tayiba also vowed to continue supporting Kashmiris.

"I want to tell India that I will continue to support Kashmiris no matter what kind of difficulties are there. India wants us to stop raising voice for the Kashmiris. It is building pressure on the Pakistani government. I want to tell Pakistan that back channel diplomacy only caused harm to the Kashmir cause," he alleged.

Saeed, who is accused of having masterminded the November 2008 Mumbai attack that killed 166 people, was placed on the terrorism black list by the United Nations under UN Security Council Resolution 1267 in December 2008.

The US too has designated him as a global terrorist and has announced a reward of $10 million for information leading to his arrest and conviction.

-- PTI

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