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Fri, 20 October 2017
CIA chief contradicts Pak army, says hostages held in Pak for 5 yrs
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20:50 CIA chief contradicts Pak army, says hostages held in Pak for 5 yrs
Central Intelligence Agency chief Mike Pompeo has said a US-Canadian couple kidnapped by militants in Afghanistan had been held for five years inside Pakistan before being freed, contradicting the Pakistan Army's claim that the hostages were rescued shortly after entering the country from Afghanistan.
"The couple had been held for five years inside Pakistan," Pompeo yesterday said during a wide-ranging discussion at the Foundation for Defence of Democracies, a Washington-based think-tank.
His remarks contradicts the Pakistan Army which had said in a statement that the hostages 'were captured by terrorists from Afghanistan during 2012 and kept as hostages there'.
Caitlan Coleman, an American citizen, and her husband Joshua Boyle, a Canadian citizen, were kidnapped in 2012 in Afghanistan while on a backpacking trip.
Coleman, 31, was pregnant at the time of abduction.
All of the couple's three children were born in captivity.
The Pakistan Army statement issued on October 12 did not identify the group which had held the family captive, but the US leadership have blamed Haqqani Network as the perpetrators.
After the recovery of hostages, the Pakistan military officials emphasised the importance of co-operation and intelligence sharing by Washington.
'The success underscores the importance of timely intelligence sharing and Pakistan's continued commitment towards fighting this menace through cooperation between two forces against a common enemy,' the Army statement said.
The operation came at a time when Pakistan is trying tore build bilateral ties frayed after President Donald Trump accused the country of sheltering terror groups. -- PTI
"The couple had been held for five years inside Pakistan," Pompeo yesterday said during a wide-ranging discussion at the Foundation for Defence of Democracies, a Washington-based think-tank.
His remarks contradicts the Pakistan Army which had said in a statement that the hostages 'were captured by terrorists from Afghanistan during 2012 and kept as hostages there'.
Caitlan Coleman, an American citizen, and her husband Joshua Boyle, a Canadian citizen, were kidnapped in 2012 in Afghanistan while on a backpacking trip.
Coleman, 31, was pregnant at the time of abduction.
All of the couple's three children were born in captivity.
The Pakistan Army statement issued on October 12 did not identify the group which had held the family captive, but the US leadership have blamed Haqqani Network as the perpetrators.
After the recovery of hostages, the Pakistan military officials emphasised the importance of co-operation and intelligence sharing by Washington.
'The success underscores the importance of timely intelligence sharing and Pakistan's continued commitment towards fighting this menace through cooperation between two forces against a common enemy,' the Army statement said.
The operation came at a time when Pakistan is trying tore build bilateral ties frayed after President Donald Trump accused the country of sheltering terror groups. -- PTI
20:19 BSF officer attacked by cattle smugglers dies
A Border Security Force commander, who was attacked by suspected cattle smugglers along the India-Bangladesh border in Tripura recently, succumbed to injuries today.
The second-in-command rank officer, Deepak K Mondal, commanding the 145th battalion of the border guarding force was air evacuated to Kolkata on October 16 due to critical injuries, a senior official said.
"The officer breathed his last at 11:45 am today. He was attacked when he was trying to stop a brazen smuggling attempt along the Indo-Bangla border," he said.
The incident took place at about 2 am near the Belardeppa border post in the Sipahijala district of Tripura early this week when the officer was allegedly hit by a four-wheeler used by the smugglers.
The BSF officer was patrolling the 'unfenced' area along the international border with his team to check cattle smuggling and other illegal activities.
Mondal saw some cattle smugglers and challenged them, BSF officials had said, adding the officer along with his guard and driver tried to stop them.
The group of about 25 smugglers were carrying bricks, lathis and machetes, they said.
"When challenged, the smugglers tried to gherao the officer and the patrol party. The smugglers' vehicle hit theofficer from behind and he sustained severe injury to his headand legs," the officials said.
An accompanying BSF jawan had fired five rounds from hisAK rifle to control the situation, they added. -- PTI
The second-in-command rank officer, Deepak K Mondal, commanding the 145th battalion of the border guarding force was air evacuated to Kolkata on October 16 due to critical injuries, a senior official said.
"The officer breathed his last at 11:45 am today. He was attacked when he was trying to stop a brazen smuggling attempt along the Indo-Bangla border," he said.
The incident took place at about 2 am near the Belardeppa border post in the Sipahijala district of Tripura early this week when the officer was allegedly hit by a four-wheeler used by the smugglers.
The BSF officer was patrolling the 'unfenced' area along the international border with his team to check cattle smuggling and other illegal activities.
Mondal saw some cattle smugglers and challenged them, BSF officials had said, adding the officer along with his guard and driver tried to stop them.
The group of about 25 smugglers were carrying bricks, lathis and machetes, they said.
"When challenged, the smugglers tried to gherao the officer and the patrol party. The smugglers' vehicle hit theofficer from behind and he sustained severe injury to his headand legs," the officials said.
An accompanying BSF jawan had fired five rounds from hisAK rifle to control the situation, they added. -- PTI
19:43 Hafiz Saeed's house arrest extended for 30 days
Hafiz Saeed's house arrest has been extended for another 30 days by a Judicial Review Board of Pakistan's Punjab province after it reviewed the detention of the Mumbai attack mastermind and banned Jamaat-ud-Dawah chief.
However, the board rejected the government's plea for the detention of his four aides. The 30-day detention will be applicable from October 24.
Saeed's aides -- Abdullah Ubaid, Malik Zafar Iqbal, Abdul Rehman Abid and Qazi Kashif Hussain -- may walk out free on the expiry of their September 25 detention order if they are not detained in any other case.
Saeed and his four aides were presented before the provincial judicial review board yesterday amid high security in the Lahore high court.
A number of Saeed's supporters were present at the court's premises who showered rose petals on him and his aides.
Police, however, stopped them from chanting slogans.
The three-member Punjab Judicial Review Board is headed by Justice Yawar Ali.
Justice Abdul Sami and Justice Alia Neelam are the other members of the review board, which held the hearing yesterday.
A court official told PTI after the hearing that the Home Department of Punjab government had sought a three-month extension to the detention of Saeed and others under public safety law.
"The judicial board after listening to the arguments of the government's law officer did not entertain his request and only granted 30-day extension to Saeed's house arrest in Lahore," he said.
The board also could not be convinced about keeping Saeed's four aides in detention beyond the expiry of September25 detention order for a month and dismissed the government's plea for further extension to their detention, he said.
The government may arrest Saeed's four aides in any other case on the expiry of their detention period in the last week of this month, the official added.
Under the law, the government can detain a person for up to 90 days under different charges but for an extension to that detention it needs approval from a judicial review board.
Last Saturday, the Punjab Home Department had withdrawn its request from federal judicial review board to seek extension to detention of Saeed and others under 'Anti-Terrorism Act'. -- PTI
However, the board rejected the government's plea for the detention of his four aides. The 30-day detention will be applicable from October 24.
Saeed's aides -- Abdullah Ubaid, Malik Zafar Iqbal, Abdul Rehman Abid and Qazi Kashif Hussain -- may walk out free on the expiry of their September 25 detention order if they are not detained in any other case.
Saeed and his four aides were presented before the provincial judicial review board yesterday amid high security in the Lahore high court.
A number of Saeed's supporters were present at the court's premises who showered rose petals on him and his aides.
Police, however, stopped them from chanting slogans.
The three-member Punjab Judicial Review Board is headed by Justice Yawar Ali.
Justice Abdul Sami and Justice Alia Neelam are the other members of the review board, which held the hearing yesterday.
A court official told PTI after the hearing that the Home Department of Punjab government had sought a three-month extension to the detention of Saeed and others under public safety law.
"The judicial board after listening to the arguments of the government's law officer did not entertain his request and only granted 30-day extension to Saeed's house arrest in Lahore," he said.
The board also could not be convinced about keeping Saeed's four aides in detention beyond the expiry of September25 detention order for a month and dismissed the government's plea for further extension to their detention, he said.
The government may arrest Saeed's four aides in any other case on the expiry of their detention period in the last week of this month, the official added.
Under the law, the government can detain a person for up to 90 days under different charges but for an extension to that detention it needs approval from a judicial review board.
Last Saturday, the Punjab Home Department had withdrawn its request from federal judicial review board to seek extension to detention of Saeed and others under 'Anti-Terrorism Act'. -- PTI
18:53 No beef ban in Meghalaya, asserts BJP
The Bharatiya Janata Party today said there would not be any beef ban in Meghalaya and alleged that the Congress was 'misleading' the people on the issue to gain political mileage ahead of the assembly elections next year.
The Centre has not imposed any beef ban in Meghalaya, state BJP president Shibun Lyngdoh said, adding the May 23 notification only regulated the manner in which animal markets were supposed to function and how animals brought for trade were to be treated.
BJP spokesperson J A Lyngdoh said in a statement that the party 'has already clarified that it (beef ban) will not be imposed in the northeastern states. Livestock is a state subject. It is up to the states to decide'.
He also said beef ban would not be imposed in the state, adding preventing cow slaughter was neither a good economic measure nor had constitutional backing.
Noting that the ruling Congress is running out of ideas to fight the BJP, the party spokesperson said that Chief Minister Mukul Sangma was 'misleading' the people on the issue to gain political mileage ahead of assembly elections next year.
Sangma had reportedly said that the Centre's notification should be withdrawn as it would impact the state's economy and the food habits of the people. -- PTI
The Centre has not imposed any beef ban in Meghalaya, state BJP president Shibun Lyngdoh said, adding the May 23 notification only regulated the manner in which animal markets were supposed to function and how animals brought for trade were to be treated.
BJP spokesperson J A Lyngdoh said in a statement that the party 'has already clarified that it (beef ban) will not be imposed in the northeastern states. Livestock is a state subject. It is up to the states to decide'.
He also said beef ban would not be imposed in the state, adding preventing cow slaughter was neither a good economic measure nor had constitutional backing.
Noting that the ruling Congress is running out of ideas to fight the BJP, the party spokesperson said that Chief Minister Mukul Sangma was 'misleading' the people on the issue to gain political mileage ahead of assembly elections next year.
Sangma had reportedly said that the Centre's notification should be withdrawn as it would impact the state's economy and the food habits of the people. -- PTI
18:10 500 long distance trains to run quicker from next month
The Indian Railways will soon cut short the running time of over 500 long distance trains by up to two hours, a senior railway official said today.
The new timings will be updated in the November timetable of the railways, he said.
Following directions from Railway Minister Piyush Goyal earlier this month, the national carrier incorporated 'innovative timetabling' under which running time of popular trains will reduce by 15 minutes to two hours.
The new timetable will also provide each railway division two to four hours for maintenance works.
"Our plan is to maximise the use of the existing rolling stock. It can be done in two ways -- if we have a train that is waiting somewhere to return, we can use it during the lie over period.
"In the new timetable around 50 such trains which will be run like this. Fifty-one trains will immediately see reduced run time from one to three hours. This will go up to more than 500 trains," the official said.
The railways has started the exercise of an internal audit through which 50 mail and express trains will be upgraded to super-fast services.
This is part of an overhaul of the rail system of increasing the average speed of existing trains, he said.
Trains such as the Bhopal-Jodhpur Express will reach 95 minutes early while the Guwahati-Indore Special will complete its 2,330-km journey 115 minutes early and the 1,929-km journey of the Ghazipur-Bandra Terminus Express will be completed 95 minutes earlier.
The national transporter has also reduced the halt time of trains at stations. Similarly, trains will not stop at stations where footfall is less.
Coupled with track and infrastructure upgrade, automatic signalling and the new Linke-Hofmann-Busch coaches that allow a 130 kmph top speed, trains are expected to run faster. The railways has also in the process of reviewing permanent speed restrictions. -- PTI
The new timings will be updated in the November timetable of the railways, he said.
Following directions from Railway Minister Piyush Goyal earlier this month, the national carrier incorporated 'innovative timetabling' under which running time of popular trains will reduce by 15 minutes to two hours.
The new timetable will also provide each railway division two to four hours for maintenance works.
"Our plan is to maximise the use of the existing rolling stock. It can be done in two ways -- if we have a train that is waiting somewhere to return, we can use it during the lie over period.
"In the new timetable around 50 such trains which will be run like this. Fifty-one trains will immediately see reduced run time from one to three hours. This will go up to more than 500 trains," the official said.
The railways has started the exercise of an internal audit through which 50 mail and express trains will be upgraded to super-fast services.
This is part of an overhaul of the rail system of increasing the average speed of existing trains, he said.
Trains such as the Bhopal-Jodhpur Express will reach 95 minutes early while the Guwahati-Indore Special will complete its 2,330-km journey 115 minutes early and the 1,929-km journey of the Ghazipur-Bandra Terminus Express will be completed 95 minutes earlier.
The national transporter has also reduced the halt time of trains at stations. Similarly, trains will not stop at stations where footfall is less.
Coupled with track and infrastructure upgrade, automatic signalling and the new Linke-Hofmann-Busch coaches that allow a 130 kmph top speed, trains are expected to run faster. The railways has also in the process of reviewing permanent speed restrictions. -- PTI
17:41 Oxford college drops Suu Kyi from common room name
The students at the prestigious Oxford University college where Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi studied have voted to remove her name from the title of their Junior Common Room for her inability to condemn severe human rights abuses against Rohingyas in Myanmar.
Students of St Hugh's College voted to remove the Nobel Peace Prize laureate's name from the junior common room with immediate effect.
'Suu Kyi's inability to condemn the mass murder, gang rape and severe human rights abuses in Rakhine is inexcusable and unacceptable. She has gone against the very principles and ideals she had once righteously promoted,' the college resolution read.
'We must condemn Aung San Suu Kyi's silence and complicity on this issue and her condonation of the human rights offences is her own land,' it notes.
Suu Kyi had graduated from St Hugh's in 1967 and was granted an honorary doctorate from the university in 2012.
The JCR resolution by undergraduates at her former alma mater becomes the latest move against the de facto leader of Myanmar by United Kingdom institutions to revoke honours bestowed upon her in the wake of the Rohingya crisis, which has displaced tens of thousands from their homes as they flee to safety across the border to Bangladesh.
Last month, a portrait of the leader hanging prominently at the entrance of St Hugh's College was moved into storage.
While the move was not overtly linked to the Rohingya crisis, it is widely believed that the allegations of ethnic cleansing in Myanmar were behind the decision to remove the portrait.
At the beginning of this month, Oxford City Council voted unanimously in favour of revoking the Freedom of Oxford granted to Suu Kyi in 1997 for her 'long struggle for democracy'.
A cross-party motion was unanimously passed by the council, which said it was 'no longer appropriate' for her to hold the honour. The city council will hold a special meeting to confirm the honour is removed on November 27.
The City of London Corporation has also been debating revoking Suu Kyi's Honorary Freedom, bestowed upon her earlier this year.
A Bangladeshi-origin corporation member, Munsur Ali, recently instructed the committee in charge of overseeing applications for honours to examine whether the honour could be removed.
The Myanmar leader has faced increasing international criticism over her perceived failure to take action against reports of the Myanmar Army's repression of the Rohingyas.
Suu Kyi, who spent years under house arrest in Yangon (Rangoon) as a campaigner for democracy while Myanmar was ruled by a military dictatorship, had been widely respected as a figurehead of human rights and freedom as she went on to lead her National League for Democracy party to victory in open elections in November 2015.
But now her failure to act decisively against a military crackdown on Rohingyas has become the focus of worldwide attention. -- PTI
Students of St Hugh's College voted to remove the Nobel Peace Prize laureate's name from the junior common room with immediate effect.
'Suu Kyi's inability to condemn the mass murder, gang rape and severe human rights abuses in Rakhine is inexcusable and unacceptable. She has gone against the very principles and ideals she had once righteously promoted,' the college resolution read.
'We must condemn Aung San Suu Kyi's silence and complicity on this issue and her condonation of the human rights offences is her own land,' it notes.
Suu Kyi had graduated from St Hugh's in 1967 and was granted an honorary doctorate from the university in 2012.
The JCR resolution by undergraduates at her former alma mater becomes the latest move against the de facto leader of Myanmar by United Kingdom institutions to revoke honours bestowed upon her in the wake of the Rohingya crisis, which has displaced tens of thousands from their homes as they flee to safety across the border to Bangladesh.
Last month, a portrait of the leader hanging prominently at the entrance of St Hugh's College was moved into storage.
While the move was not overtly linked to the Rohingya crisis, it is widely believed that the allegations of ethnic cleansing in Myanmar were behind the decision to remove the portrait.
At the beginning of this month, Oxford City Council voted unanimously in favour of revoking the Freedom of Oxford granted to Suu Kyi in 1997 for her 'long struggle for democracy'.
A cross-party motion was unanimously passed by the council, which said it was 'no longer appropriate' for her to hold the honour. The city council will hold a special meeting to confirm the honour is removed on November 27.
The City of London Corporation has also been debating revoking Suu Kyi's Honorary Freedom, bestowed upon her earlier this year.
A Bangladeshi-origin corporation member, Munsur Ali, recently instructed the committee in charge of overseeing applications for honours to examine whether the honour could be removed.
The Myanmar leader has faced increasing international criticism over her perceived failure to take action against reports of the Myanmar Army's repression of the Rohingyas.
Suu Kyi, who spent years under house arrest in Yangon (Rangoon) as a campaigner for democracy while Myanmar was ruled by a military dictatorship, had been widely respected as a figurehead of human rights and freedom as she went on to lead her National League for Democracy party to victory in open elections in November 2015.
But now her failure to act decisively against a military crackdown on Rohingyas has become the focus of worldwide attention. -- PTI
16:02 7 cops suspended for 'allowing' EC bribery case accused roam free
Seven Delhi Police personnel have been suspended for allegedly allowing an arrested middleman in the Election Commission bribery case to roam freely in Bengaluru where he had been taken for a court hearing, police said today.
Sukesh Chandrashekhar was arrested on April 16 here for allegedly taking money from All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (Amma) leader T T V Dinakaran to bribe Election Commission officials in connection with the dispute over the AIADMK poll symbol of two leaves.
Chandrasekhar was escorted by the Delhi Police to Mumbai, Coimbatore and Bengaluru for court hearings there between October 9 and 16.
According to a report submitted by the Income Tax department to Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik, it was stated that Chandrasekhar was allowed to roam freely while he was in Bengaluru and even carry out business deals, said a senior police officer.
Dependra Pathak, chief spokesperson Delhi Police and special commissioner of police (traffic), said, "An inquiry was ordered yesterday and the seven police personnel of 3rd Battalion will remain suspended till the inquiry is over. Delhi Police will take strictest possible action." -- PTI
Sukesh Chandrashekhar was arrested on April 16 here for allegedly taking money from All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (Amma) leader T T V Dinakaran to bribe Election Commission officials in connection with the dispute over the AIADMK poll symbol of two leaves.
Chandrasekhar was escorted by the Delhi Police to Mumbai, Coimbatore and Bengaluru for court hearings there between October 9 and 16.
According to a report submitted by the Income Tax department to Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik, it was stated that Chandrasekhar was allowed to roam freely while he was in Bengaluru and even carry out business deals, said a senior police officer.
Dependra Pathak, chief spokesperson Delhi Police and special commissioner of police (traffic), said, "An inquiry was ordered yesterday and the seven police personnel of 3rd Battalion will remain suspended till the inquiry is over. Delhi Police will take strictest possible action." -- PTI
14:44 Ranjit Kumar resigns as solicitor general
Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar, the country's second highest law officer, resigned today for 'personal reasons'.
The office of Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad received his resignation letter today.
While Kumar confirmed to PTI that he had resigned, sources close to him said it was for 'personal reasons'.
He was appointed solicitor general in June 2014 after the Modi government came to power. His second term as solicitor general was renewed recently.
There was speculation a few months ago that the Supreme Court collegium was considering his name as a judge of the apex court.
Recently, Mukul Rohatgi had written to the government that he was not interested in a second term as attorney general. Senior lawyer K K Venugopal was appointed as new attorney general. -- PTI
The office of Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad received his resignation letter today.
While Kumar confirmed to PTI that he had resigned, sources close to him said it was for 'personal reasons'.
He was appointed solicitor general in June 2014 after the Modi government came to power. His second term as solicitor general was renewed recently.
There was speculation a few months ago that the Supreme Court collegium was considering his name as a judge of the apex court.
Recently, Mukul Rohatgi had written to the government that he was not interested in a second term as attorney general. Senior lawyer K K Venugopal was appointed as new attorney general. -- PTI
13:29 Tillerson to visit India, Pakistan next week
United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will embark on a crucial trip to India and Pakistan next week as part of his week-long five-nation tour that would also take him to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Switzerland.
Tillerson will make Saudi Arabia his first stop on the week-long tour beginning tomorrow.
He will take part in the inaugural Coordination Council meeting between the governments of Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
The Secretary will also meet with to Saudi leaders to discuss the conflict in Yemen, the ongoing Gulf crisis, Iran and a number of other important regional and bilateral issues, State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert said.
Tillerson will then travel to Doha, where he will meet with Qatari leaders and US military officials to discuss joint counter-terrorism efforts, the ongoing Gulf dispute and other regional and bilateral issues, including Iran and Iraq, she said in a statement.
Nauert said Tillerson will then make his inaugural visit to South Asia as Secretary of State, reaffirming the Trump Administration's comprehensive strategy toward the region.
In Islamabad, he will meet with senior Pakistani leaders to discuss America's continued strong bilateral cooperation, Pakistan's critical role in the success of US President Donald Trump's South Asia strategy and the expanding economic ties between the two countries, she said.
The exact dates of his visits to Islamabad and New Delhi are yet to be announced.
In New Delhi, Tillerson will meet with senior Indian leaders to 'discuss further strengthening of our strategic partnership and collaboration on security and prosperity' in the Indo-Pacific region, Nauert said.
"The Secretary's visit to India will advance the ambitious agenda laid out by President Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Prime Minister's visit to the White House in June," she said.
Tillerson, in the first major foreign policy speech on October 18, said the US is India's 'reliable partner' at the world stage in this period of uncertainty and angst, sending a strong signal to side with India amidst China's 'provocative actions' in the region.
In the speech, he said the emerging Delhi-Washington strategic partnership stands upon a shared commitment upholding the rule of law, freedom of navigation, universal values and free trade.
In Geneva, Tillerson will meet with the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, International Organisation for Migration, and the International Committee of the Red Cross to discuss a number of the current global humanitarian crises. -- PTI
Tillerson will make Saudi Arabia his first stop on the week-long tour beginning tomorrow.
He will take part in the inaugural Coordination Council meeting between the governments of Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
The Secretary will also meet with to Saudi leaders to discuss the conflict in Yemen, the ongoing Gulf crisis, Iran and a number of other important regional and bilateral issues, State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert said.
Tillerson will then travel to Doha, where he will meet with Qatari leaders and US military officials to discuss joint counter-terrorism efforts, the ongoing Gulf dispute and other regional and bilateral issues, including Iran and Iraq, she said in a statement.
Nauert said Tillerson will then make his inaugural visit to South Asia as Secretary of State, reaffirming the Trump Administration's comprehensive strategy toward the region.
In Islamabad, he will meet with senior Pakistani leaders to discuss America's continued strong bilateral cooperation, Pakistan's critical role in the success of US President Donald Trump's South Asia strategy and the expanding economic ties between the two countries, she said.
The exact dates of his visits to Islamabad and New Delhi are yet to be announced.
In New Delhi, Tillerson will meet with senior Indian leaders to 'discuss further strengthening of our strategic partnership and collaboration on security and prosperity' in the Indo-Pacific region, Nauert said.
"The Secretary's visit to India will advance the ambitious agenda laid out by President Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Prime Minister's visit to the White House in June," she said.
Tillerson, in the first major foreign policy speech on October 18, said the US is India's 'reliable partner' at the world stage in this period of uncertainty and angst, sending a strong signal to side with India amidst China's 'provocative actions' in the region.
In the speech, he said the emerging Delhi-Washington strategic partnership stands upon a shared commitment upholding the rule of law, freedom of navigation, universal values and free trade.
In Geneva, Tillerson will meet with the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, International Organisation for Migration, and the International Committee of the Red Cross to discuss a number of the current global humanitarian crises. -- PTI
13:04 38 people injured in twin blasts in Pak
Two grenade blasts have rocked Pakistan's restive south-western province of Baluchistan, injuring at least 38 people, police said.
The twin blasts took place within minutes in the Mastung and Gwadar districts, police said.
According to senior police officials, around 12 people were injured, three of them seriously, when two men on a motorcycle wearing helmets threw a hand grenade at a crowd in the Sultan Shaheed area in Mastung town yesterday.
The injured were shifted to a hospital while three were moved to Quetta as their condition was serious, local police official Gulab Khan said.
The second attack took place when two men on a motorcycle threw a hand grenade at Al-Zubair hotel outside a mobile market in Safar Khan area of Gwadar town.
"At least 26 people were injured in the blast," local police official Ayaz Baluch said.
He said the injured included 15 labourers from Sindh and 11 from Punjab who had gathered after work to have tea.
"Three of them have been shifted to Karachi for treatment," he said.
The injured have been shifted to District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital Mastung. Chief Minister of Balochistan Sanaullah Zehri has condemned the incidents and asked the authorities to submit a report on the blasts.
The attacks have come, a day after a suspected suicide bomber hit a police truck in Quetta, Baluchistan's capital, killing seven policemen and a civilian and injuring 22 others. -- PTI
The twin blasts took place within minutes in the Mastung and Gwadar districts, police said.
According to senior police officials, around 12 people were injured, three of them seriously, when two men on a motorcycle wearing helmets threw a hand grenade at a crowd in the Sultan Shaheed area in Mastung town yesterday.
The injured were shifted to a hospital while three were moved to Quetta as their condition was serious, local police official Gulab Khan said.
The second attack took place when two men on a motorcycle threw a hand grenade at Al-Zubair hotel outside a mobile market in Safar Khan area of Gwadar town.
"At least 26 people were injured in the blast," local police official Ayaz Baluch said.
He said the injured included 15 labourers from Sindh and 11 from Punjab who had gathered after work to have tea.
"Three of them have been shifted to Karachi for treatment," he said.
The injured have been shifted to District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital Mastung. Chief Minister of Balochistan Sanaullah Zehri has condemned the incidents and asked the authorities to submit a report on the blasts.
The attacks have come, a day after a suspected suicide bomber hit a police truck in Quetta, Baluchistan's capital, killing seven policemen and a civilian and injuring 22 others. -- PTI
11:37 Seek blessings of Shiva to develop India by 2022: Modi in Kedarnath
The Prime Minister is addressing a programme in Kedarnath.
- I am happy to be in Kedarnath, a day after Diwali. Today, Gujaratis are celebrating the start of a New Year. I convey my greetings to everyone around the world who mark the start of Nutan Varsh.
- Jan Seva is Prabhu Seva. From this holy land of Kedarnath, I seek the blessings of Bhole Baba and pledge to devote myself fully to realising the dream of a developed India by the time we mark 75 years of freedom in 2022.
- The floods of 2013 had made all of us extremely sad. That time I was not the Prime Minister, I was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. I came here to do all that I could for victims.
- Through the work we are doing in Kedarnath, we want to show how an ideal 'Tirth Kshetra' should be, how it should be pilgrim friendly and the wellbeing of the priests should be given importance.
- We are building quality infrastructure in Kedarnath. It will be modern but the traditional ethos will be preserved. We will ensure the environment is not damaged. -- @PMOIndia/Twitter
Photograph: ANI
- I am happy to be in Kedarnath, a day after Diwali. Today, Gujaratis are celebrating the start of a New Year. I convey my greetings to everyone around the world who mark the start of Nutan Varsh.
- Jan Seva is Prabhu Seva. From this holy land of Kedarnath, I seek the blessings of Bhole Baba and pledge to devote myself fully to realising the dream of a developed India by the time we mark 75 years of freedom in 2022.
- The floods of 2013 had made all of us extremely sad. That time I was not the Prime Minister, I was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. I came here to do all that I could for victims.
- Through the work we are doing in Kedarnath, we want to show how an ideal 'Tirth Kshetra' should be, how it should be pilgrim friendly and the wellbeing of the priests should be given importance.
- We are building quality infrastructure in Kedarnath. It will be modern but the traditional ethos will be preserved. We will ensure the environment is not damaged. -- @PMOIndia/Twitter
Photograph: ANI
11:03 PM to visit Kedarnath temple today
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Kedarnath temple in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand today, to lay the foundation stone for reconstruction work at the shrine, including the security wall, museum, and the Adi Shankaracharya samadhi at Kedarnath.
His visit comes a day before the portals of the temple close for winter. He is also likely to address a gathering at Kedarpuri.
10:47 EC has authorised PM to announce Gujarat poll dates, mocks Chidambaram
Congress leader P Chidambaram today criticised the Election Commission saying that by not announcing the Gujarat poll schedule, it has "authorised" Prime Minister Narendra Modi to declare the dates at his last rally, after all "freebies" for the state were doled out.
The former finance and home minister also claimed the Election Commission will be "recalled" from its "extended holiday" after the Gujarat government has announced all "concessions and freebies".
"EC has authorised PM to announce date of Gujarat elections at his last rally (and kindly keep EC informed)," he tweeted.
The EC had on October 12 announced that polling for the assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh will take place on November 9, but held off announcing the Gujarat schedule, saying polling in the western state would be held before December 18.
The Congress had alleged that the government put "pressure" on the poll panel to "delay" the announcement of Gujarat assembly poll schedule to enable the prime minister to act as a "false Santa Claus" and offer sops, use "jumlas" (rhetoric) during his October 16 visit to his home state.
The model code of conduct would have come into immediate effect in Gujarat had the poll schedule been announced along with Himachal Pradesh, the party had said.
Hitting back at the Congress for targeting the EC, BJP leader and Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said allegations levelled against the constitutional body were without any basis.
"It is absolutely absurd. It's like questioning the prudence of the EC. The Congress is perhaps speaking out of its own experience where interference in the functioning of constitutional bodies used to be a thing in their rule. Such is not the case since 2014," he had said.
10:37 Knifer on motorcycle terrorises women in Karachi
A woman in Pakistan's Karachi city has been slashed allegedly by a motor-cycle-borne serial knifer who is on a stabbing spree and has slashed at least 17 women since last month, reports PTI.
Wearing a helmet and riding a motorcycle, the slasher has been attacking lone women on main roads or at bus stops, cutting or stabbing them before driving away.
Soon after senior police officials claimed that they had arrested two main suspects from a flat in Gulistan-e-Jauhar, where the most attacks had taken place, the slasher struck again last evening in the Malir area. The woman was slashed with a sharp object by the motorcycle rider.
The injured woman, Jazba Javed, who is in her early 20s, said she was crossing a road when a man on a bike came near her and slashed her hand and fled away. The police have registered a first information report and are looking at CCTV footage of the area and other forensic evidence.
At least 15 incidents of such attacks on women by the lone slasher were reported from the Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Gulshan-e-Iqbal and Shah Faisal areas in Karachi from September 25 to October 6.
10:09 Court orders Shia LaBeouf to undergo anger management classes
Hollywood actor Shia LaBeouf has been ordered to undertake anger management classes after the actor was pulled up for allegedly being drunk and disorderly in public.
The 31-year-old actor was arrested in July after he misbehaved and hurled profanities when he was refused a cigarette by someone he approached.
According to TMZ, LaBeouf entered the Savannah, GA courtroom and addressed the judge.
The Nymphomaniac actor pled guilty to obstruction and no contest to disorderly conduct. His public drunkenness charge was dismissed.
LaBeouf was sentenced to anger management and one year probation. He also has to undergo alcohol evaluation and pay USD 2,680 as a fine.
09:20 8 TN govt employees killed in building collapse
Just In: Eight employees of the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation were killed when a portion of a building collapsed in Nagapattinam this morning. Details soon.
09:08 Kamal Haasan in fresh controversy, this time over traditional medicine
As a row erupted over his statement asking his fan clubs to not distribute nilavembu, a traditional drink used to fight dengue, veteran actor Kamal Haasan said he made a suggestion about its use in view of a controversy over its efficacy and he was not against it.
In a statement in Chennai last night, he said it was "not fair" to paint him as opposed to the traditional medicine, said to improve immunity, following his tweet to his fan clubs.
Haasan said he had put out a tweet on the issue only because a controversy had erupted over the use of nilavembu concoction being given as part of treatment for dengue fever, which has affected a large number of people in Tamil Nadu in recent weeks.
"I had put out the tweet to avoid the medicine, which is under a controversy, from being given in excess quantity. I don't prefer those of my movement to give a medicine without the advice or direction of a doctor," he said. "... That its being spread as if Kamal Haasan is opposed to nilavembu is not fair," he said.
The actor said he was being critical only of the medicine being given sans proper doctors' guidance and said he welcomed any initiative benefiting people. Haasan also said he did not discriminate between any branches of medicine.
Taking a swipe at the AIADMK government over the spread of dengue, he sarcastically remarked using a Tamil saying that preventive steps could have been put in place earlier.
Further, "It can be learnt from neighbouring Kerala on how to control dengue," he added.
Image shows Kamal Haasan with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in Thiruvananthapuram, on September 1, 2017.
08:59 Toll in blast at illegal firecracker factory rises to 11
The death toll in an explosion at an illegal firecracker factory in Odisha's Balasore district on Wednesday night has risen to 11, with five more persons succumbing to burn injuries, while a police officer has been suspended for the tragedy.
08:46 Karunanidhi appears in public for first time in a year
After a gap of nearly a year, during which he was hospitalised twice, DMK chief M Karunanidhi yesterday made his first public appearance at an exhibition in Chennai, held to showcase the 75-year journey of the party's mouthpiece, Murasoli.
Clad in a white shirt, dhoti and his trademark yellow shawl, the 93-year old five-time Tamil Nadu chief minister went around the exhibition at the daily's office premises on his wheelchair.
Karunanidhi, who is wheelchair-bound since 2010, has not made a public appearance since October 2016 as he was ill. He was getting medical treatment at home and did not attend any public event as per doctors' advice to avoid any possibility of infection.
The nonagenarian leader spent about 40 minutes at the expo, during which he took a look at a statue of late Murasoli Maran, his nephew and a former Union minister.
Karunanidhi was accompanied by his son and DMK working president M K Stalin and former state ministers Duraimurugan, E V Velu and Ponmudi, besides his other family members.
The expo catalogues the journey of Murasoli, which was founded by Karunanidhi in 1942. The daily celebrated its 75th year jubilee in a grand fashion in August when top actors Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan attended the event among others.
Karunanidhi fell ill in October 2016 due to a drug-induced allergy.
08:29 Mamata keeps up 3-decade custom of Kali Puja
West Bengal chief minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee last night performed Kali Puja at her residence at the Kalighat area in the southern part of Kolkata. The puja is being performed at her house for the last three decades.
Banerjee, who fasted during the day and prepared the bhog (offering to the Goddess), played host to scores of guests, who included VVIPs, cabinet colleagues, politicians and commoners, with the doors of her spartan home at Harish Chatterjee Street thrown open to the public.
Clad in her trademark cotton sari and rubber slippers, Banerjee stood with folded hands and greeted the people and VIPs at her single-storey house.
Keeping in view the large number of visitors thronging Banerjee's residence, the police had strengthened security arrangements in and around the area.
08:18 Delhi's hope of firecracker-free Diwali goes up in smoke
A quiet and promising evening gave way to thick haze and noise as Delhi celebrated Diwali last night, dashing the hopes of cracker-free festivities following a Supreme Court ban on the sale of firecrackers in the National Capital Region (NCR), reports PTI.
The online indicators of the pollution monitoring stations in the city glowed red, indicating a 'very poor' air quality as the volume of ultra fine particulates PM2.5 and PM10, which enter the respiratory system and manage to reach the bloodstream, sharply rose from around 7 pm.
Real time pollution data appeared alarming. The Delhi Pollution Control Committee's (DPCC) RK Puram monitoring station recorded PM2.5 and PM10 at 878 and 1,179 microgrammes per cubic metre at around 11 pm.
The pollutants had violated the corresponding 24-hour safe limits of 60 and 100 respectively by up to 10 times.
While it is difficult to quantify the immediate effect of the ban on firecrackers, residents across the national capital felt the beginning was promising with neighbourhoods reporting much lesser noise and smoke till about 6 pm, compared to the previous years.
But as the festivities picked up, the faint echo of crackers started growing louder. According to the SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research), the 24-hour rolling average of PM2.5 and PM10 were 154 and 256 mg per cubic metre respectively at around 11 pm.
The situation was similar, if not worse, in the neighbouring regions of Delhi such as Gurugram, Noida and Ghaziabad, where crackers were burst as usual, raising question marks on the efficacy of the administration in enforcing the apex court's ban.
However, SAFAR has also predicted a relatively cleaner post-Diwali air due to favourable meteorological conditions, which are helping prevent the smoke-filled air from the agricultural belt of Haryana and Punjab from entering the national capital.
A 'very poor' air quality index (AQI) essentially means that people may suffer from respiratory illnesses on a prolonged exposure to such air. If the air quality dips further, the AQI will turn 'severe', which may trouble even those with sound health conditions and seriously affect those with ailments.
The Supreme Court-appointed Environment Pollution Prevention and Control Authority (EPCA) is empowered to enforce the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to combat air pollution in Delhi-NCR.
Measures under the GRAP's 'very poor' and 'severe' categories, which include a ban on diesel generator sets, came into effect on October 17 and they will remain in force till March 15.
Image used for representational purpose only
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