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Fri, 22 September 2017
Doctor death case: BMC gives clean chit to its staff

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23:47   Doctor death case: BMC gives clean chit to its staff
The panel set up by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation after the death of renowned gastroenterologist Dr Deepak Amrapurkar, who fell into an open manhole during the torrential rain of August 29, has given a
clean chit to civic body employees.

It said there were no "slip ups" on part of the BMC employees but some locals had opened the manholes of storm water drain.

The committee was constituted on the orders of Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta to ascertain the cause of the doctor's death and find long-term solution to avoid such incidents.

The 36-page report, which was uploaded on the BMC's website today, said, amidst the heavy downpour, a few locals opened the manholes and left without covering it, which caused the death of Dr Amrapurkar.

The body of the doctor, who had gone missing on August 29 following heavy rains in the megapolis, was recovered the next day from a nullah near the Coast Guard office in central Mumbai's Worli.

Amarapurkar, 58, had left for home on the evening of August 29 by his car but due to waterlogging on the road he asked his driver to drop him near the Elphinstone Road station and started walking towards his residence.

The doctor went missing while he was walking towards his residence when it was pouring heavily.
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23:23   No communication from Rane so far on joining party, says BJP
The BJP today said that although it has not received any formal communication from former Congress leader Narayan Rane, any decision about his joining the party will be taken by the top brass.

Putting an end to months of speculation yesterday, Rane announced his resignation from the party amid indication that he was veering towards an innings in the ruling BJP.

Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil, when asked by reporters about Rane's entry into the BJP, said, "I have no authority to give him any offer, so I cannot speak on the issue. Since Rane was a chief minister himself, the decision (on his entry) will be taken at the level of chief
minister and national president Amit Bhai (Shah)."

Patil, who is considered 'number two' in the Devendra Fadnavis government, added that the subject (of Rane's entry into the BJP) has not yet figured in the party's core committee meeting.
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23:04   Hundreds of thousands sign petition to 'save Uber' in London
Uber, after losing its licence to operate in London, has stoked the rage of its customers by sending a strongly-worded email about TfL and encouraging them to sign a petition.

A petition, on Change.org, was receiving about 1,000 signatures a minute Friday morning, as people reacted to the Sadiq Khan-endorsed decision to remove Uber from London's streets.

The email, sent to UK customers, says: "As you may have heard, the Mayor and Transport for London have announced they will not be renewing Ubers licence to operate in our city when it expires on September 30. 
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22:39   Dawood's wife met her father in Mumbai last year: Kaskar to cops
Underworld don Dawood Ibrahim's wife Mehajabin Shaikh had visited Mumbai to meet her father last year, police officials said, quoting the fugitive gangster's brother Iqbal Kaskar, who has been held in an extortion case.

The sensational revelation came after Kaskar had earlier told interrogators that Dawood, a designated global terrorist, is still in Pakistan.

Kaskar, arrested by the Anti-Extortion Cell of the Thane police earlier this week, has given some vital information about Dawood and his family, the police officials said.

According to the officials, Kaskar has allegedly told them that Dawood's wife Mehajabin Shaikh alias Zubeena Zarin came to Mumbai some time last year to meet her father Salim Kashmiri, who lives here with his family.

After meeting Kashmiri and his family members, Mehajabin quietly left the country, they said.

Kaskar has also provided addresses of four residences of Dawood in Karachi, the officials said.

Quoting Kaskar, they said, Dawood, his other brother Anees Ibrahim and his close aide Chhota Shakeel are all staying together in a posh locality in the Pakistani port city.

Anees Ibrahim usually makes phone calls to his family members in Mumbai on the occasion of Eid, they said.

The team, which is interrogating Kaskar since the last four days, also asked him questions about Dawood's health.

According to the officials, Kaskar has claimed his elder brother is "fit and fine" and not suffering from any ailment.
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22:09   Note ban was a shake-up, achieved its main objectives: Jaitley
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said demonetisation was a shake-up which achieved its "principal objectives" of decreasing cash transactions,
expanding the tax base and increasing digitisation.

"Confiscating" the money was not the aim, he pointed out.

"Demonetisation was certainly a shake-up," Jaitley said at the Bloomberg India Economic Forum here.

"I think the demonetisation debate in India actually is being held at two different levels. The first level was 'there's an inconvenience caused, there are queues which have come up'.

"(The second argument being) 'Oh the money has come back into the system'. But that was the whole idea. The idea is not to confiscate money," the finance minister said.

"The idea is to make sure that this anonymous cash operating in the system itself becomes a part of the system," he said.
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22:04  
JUST IN: Ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir's Arnia sector.
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21:31   EC to hear dispute over AIADMK symbol on Oct 6
The Election Commission will hear the dispute over the 'two leaves' symbol of the AIADMK on October 6, six months after it was frozen when the two warring factions of the party had staked claim to it.

Earlier in the day, it had decided to hear the two sides on October 5. But in a fresh communication, it said the hearing had been rescheduled for October 6. No reasons were given.

The EC has given the rival factions time till September 29 to file fresh submissions.

The commission has directed all involved in the dispute to submit the list of general council members and central executive committee members of the party as on December 5, 2016.

The two factions have so far submitted around 10 lakh affidavits staking claim to the symbol and the title of the party.

The Madras High Court had last week directed the Election Commission to decide before October 31 the matter related to the AIADMK symbol.
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21:24   Pak summons Indian envoy after alleged firing by India
Pakistan today summoned India's High Commissioner here even as it condemned the alleged firing by Indian forces across the Line of Control, in which six Pakistani civilians were killed.

Pakistan's Director General of Military Operations Major General Sahir Shamshad Mirza also established contact on the hotline with Indian counterpart Lt Gen A K Bhatt and discussed the issue of the killing of civilians, the army said.

A Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman said that Acting Foreign Secretary Aitzaz Ahmed summoned Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale over "unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Indian occupation forces" in Charwa Sector yesterday.

Ahmed "strongly condemned" the firing which killed six civilians, including four women, and injured 26 others, including 15 women and five children in Bini Sulariyan village.

Many of the affected are seriously injured and the casualties are likely to rise, the FO said.
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20:33   Rat on your neighbour's benami property and win Rs 1 crore
The Centre is planning to give out cash rewards to the tune of Rs 1 crore to secret informers who provide information to investigative agencies about benami properties.

The initiative is likely to be announced by next month.

In simple terms, if you rat out on those who deal with benami properties, you will be richer by Rs 1 crore.

A senior Central Board of Direct Taxes  official who is part of the policy making said on condition of anonymity, "An informer will get minimum Rs 15 lakh and maximum Rs 1 crore."

According to the official, the information will have to be acute and identity of the informer will be kept secret.

"The department will never disclose the identity as this could endanger the informer. The Benami Property Law introduced last year lacked this provision," he said.
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20:19   China dismisses outside interference, says Kashmir 'bilateral issue' between India, Pak
China said today that the Kashmir issue should be resolved bilaterally by India and Pakistan, while dismissing calls by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation for the implementation of the UN resolution on the dispute.

Asked about the contact group of the OIC calling for the implementation of the UN resolution on Kashmir, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said the issue should be resolved between India and Pakistan. "China's position on the Kashmir issue is clear-cut," Mr Lu said, in response to a question.

"The Kashmir issue is left over from history. China hopes India and Pakistan can increase dialogue and communication and properly handle relevant issues and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability," he said.
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20:17   Pak anti-graft body freezes accounts of Sharif, family
Pakistan's top anti-graft body today froze the bank accounts and seized the properties of ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his family members who are facing corruption and money laundering charges.

Sharif, 67, stepped down after a Supreme Court bench disqualified him on July 28 from continuing in his office for dishonesty in the Panama Papers scandal and ruled that corruption cases be filed against him and his children.

The Accountability Court, which is hearing the corruption cases against the Sharif family, today summoned Sharif, his daughter Maryam and son-in-law capt (retd) Safdar to appear before it on September 26.

The National Accountability Bureau displayed the summons and property attachment notices on the Sharifs' residence in Raiwind.

Sharif along with his children is in London to see his ailing wife Kulsoom.
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19:46   Pak anti-graft body freezes accounts of Sharif, family
Pakistan's top anti-graft body today froze the bank accounts and seized the properties of ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his family members who are facing corruption and money laundering charges.

Sharif, 67, stepped down after a Supreme Court bench disqualified him on July 28 from continuing in his office for dishonesty in the Panama Papers scandal and ruled that corruption cases be filed against him and his children.

The Accountability Court, which is hearing the corruption cases against the Sharif family, today summoned Sharif, his daughter Maryam and son-in-law capt (retd) Safdar to appear before it on September 26.

The National Accountability Bureau displayed the summons and property attachment notices on the Sharifs' residence in Raiwind.

Sharif along with his children is in London to see his ailing wife Kulsoom.
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19:32   Karti was closing his foreign bank accounts: CBI tells SC
The CBI today told the Supreme Court that Karti Chidambaram, son of former Union Minister P Chidambaram, was prevented from travelling abroad as he was allegedly closing several of his foreign bank accounts.

Justifying the issuance of a look out circular against Karti, the agency also claimed before a bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra that "shocking" details have emerged during his foreign visits which were directly connected to the FIR lodged in the corruption case.

The CBI FIR, lodged on May 15, had alleged irregularities in Foreign Investment Promotion Board clearance to INX Media for receiving overseas funds to the tune of Rs 305 crore in 2007 when Karti's father was the Union finance minister.
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19:03   India has a big jobs problem, and it could be getting worse
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a jobs problem.

He swept to power three years ago promising Indias poor and middle classes hed restore their "dignity" after years of swelling inequality, with job creation central to his pitch. But now, the jobs market has been slugged by last Novembers shock cash ban and Julys imposition of a goods and services tax.

Read full HERE
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19:01   'Ram Rahim didn't adopt Honeypreet, they were not father-daughter'
Vishwas Gupta, ex-husband of absconding Honeypreet Insan on Friday revealed the relation between self styled godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and her ex-wife and claimed that she is not the daughter of the rape convict as no legal adoption was done.

Gupta denied claims made by Insan and Rahim and dubbed the concerned news as sham.

"In no way Honeypreet is Ram Rahim's daughter. I want to clear this in front of everyone that no legal adoption was done. It is all a sham," Gupta said. 

However both, Ram Rahim and Honeypreet, called themselves as father-daughter but, Gupta had accused both of having an illicit relationship with each other.
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18:46  
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj meets US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on the sidelines of UNGA. 
Photograph: Mohammed Jaffer/SnapsIndia
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18:33   CBI takes over Pradhyumn murder case, to file FIR today
The Central Bureau of Investigation has taken over the Pradhyumn Thakur murder case. Sources said that the officials will file the FIR today itself. 

Earlier, the lawyer of Barun Thakur said that if the CBI failed to begin formal investigation into the killing of his seven-year-old son in a Gurugrm school by tomorrow, the matter would be raised in the Supreme Court on Monday.

The Haryana government had recommended a CBI probe into the killing of the Class 2 student of Ryan International School.

Pradhyumn was found dead in a school toilet with his throat slit. School bus conductor Ashok Kumar was arrested the same day for allegedly killing the child.
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18:07  
JUST IN: CBI summons Lalu Prasad Yadav on September 25 and Tejashvi Yadav on September 26 in connection with railway hotel tender case
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18:05   18-year-old charged with attempted murder in London tube terror attack
A 18-year-old man has been charged with carrying out the attempted bombing on a London tube train.

Ahmed Hassan, of Sunbury-on-Thames has been charged with attempted murder and explosives offences.

Hassan was arrested in the port of Dover on Saturday, a day after a fireball ripped through a packed carriage at Parsons Green station during the height of morning rush hour.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said he had been charged with "attempting to murder persons travelling on a District Line train from Wimbledon" and "maliciously causing by triacetone triperoxide or other explosive substance an explosion of a nature likely to endanger life or to cause serious injury to property".

Hassan was originally one of two refugees fostered by the same couple in Surrey arrested over the attempted bombing.

The second man, 21-year-old Yahyah Farroukh, was released without charge on Thursday, as was a 48-year-old man detained in Newport.

Three other men, aged 17, 25 and 30, remain in custody under section 41 of the Terrorism Act in connection with the investigation, which is being lead by the Mets Counter Terrorism Command.

Searches are ongoing at Hassan's home in Surrey and two properties in Newport, Wales, including one used to house asylum seekers.
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17:41   SC quashes NBW against Madhu Kishwar in defamation case
The Supreme Court today quashed a non-bailable warrant issued by a trial court in Srinagar against activist Madhu Kishwar, against whom a criminal defamation case has been filed by a Kashmir-based scribe.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud set aside the NBW issued by the trial court last month, after the journalist's counsel said the warrant was issued because the apex court's July 24 order was not placed before the magistrate.

The apex court, in its July 24 order, had allowed Kishwar to participate in the court proceedings at Srinagar through video-conferencing from a Delhi court.

While quashing the NBW, the bench asked Kishwar to participate in the proceedings pending before the court in accordance with the directions given in the July 24 order.

The top court had on September 15 stayed the NBW against Kishwar in the complaint filed by Syed Shujaat Bukhari, editor-in-chief of a daily published from Srinagar.

Kishwar had claimed that on the basis of a "few tweets" posted by her on her Twitter handle regarding the state of the media in Kashmir, the complaint was filed against her alleging that these tweets were defamatory.
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17:20   War of words! US President Trump hits back at 'madman' Kim
Donald Trump has made what might be his most aggressive threat to North Korea yet via Twitter.

The US presidents tweet called North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un a madman, and warned that he will be tested like never before.

He also accused Kim of starving his own people, referring to the food shortages that have plagued the nation for many years.

Trumps tweet continues a war of words between the two leaders after Kim called Trump a dotard (meaning an imbecile) in response to Trump mockingly calling him rocket man.

During his dotard statement Kim also called Trump mentally deranged, and warned that he would pay dearly for his threats towards North Korea.

Tensions between the US and North Korea have deteriorated even further recently after the communist dictatorship fired missiles over Japan also an enemy of the secretive state proving that they could potentially strike the country if they so wished.
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17:15  
JUST IN: Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu announces cash reward of Rs 75 lakh for Arjuna awardee tennis player Saketh Myneni.
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16:50   Rohit Bal held for 'threatening neighbour in inebriated state'
Fashion designer Rohit Bal was arrested, along with three other men, for "threatening his neighbour under the influence of alcohol" in south Delhi's Defence Colony in the early hours of Friday, the police said.

The four men were subsequently granted bail.

The police received a complaint from one Iqbal Singh, who alleged that Bal, along with Lalit Kumar, Ramesh and Pramod, forcefully entered his house, said Ishwar Singh, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South).

The complainant also claimed that the four men, under the influence of alcohol, threatened him and created a ruckus, he added.

Subsequently, a case was registered against the four men, who were arrested and released on bail.

Bal's spokesperson claimed that the issue was "over" now.

"It was a fight over car parking. It is over now and he (Bal) is taking rest," he said. 
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16:45   EC informed about merger, ouster of Sasikala: AIADMK
The Election Commission was today informed about the merger of the two factions of the AIADMK and the resolutions adopted at its general council meeting, including on the ouster of interim general secretary V K Sasikala, the party said today.

An AIDMK delegation met the Commission and countered the claims of the rebel camp led by Sasikala and her nephew TTV Dinakaran that the resolutions were invalid.

"The EC has been informed that the two factions headed by O Panneerselvam and Edappadi Palaniswami have merged to protect Amma's legacy, to respect sentiments of party cadres and for good governance," senior party leader K P Munusamy said. 

The party also informed the EC about resolutions adopted in the general council meeting on September 12 on removing Sasikala and invalidating all appointments made by her, including of her nephew Dinakaran as deputy general secretary.
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16:33   PM Modi in Varanasi after big UP victory, to launch key schemes
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a visit Varanasi for the first time since the BJP's grand victory in the Uttar Pradesh elections earlier this year. 

The PM had camped for three days in Varanasi in March that helped in fetching the BJP 312 of the 403 seats, the biggest majority for any party in Uttar Pradesh since 1977. 

During his visit, the PM will flag off the Mahamana Express Train built under the Make in India initiative. The visit comes weeks before the Lok Sabha elections to two seats - Gorakhpur and Phulpur - vacated by chief minister Yogi Adityanath and his deputy Keshav Maurya.
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16:11   Uber loses licence to operate in London
Transport regulator in London announced today that Uber's licence to operate in the city will not be renewed once it expires on September 30.

Authorities have cited 'safety reasons' for the decision.

However, the company has three weeks to appeal.

'Transport for London has concluded that Uber London Limited is not fit and proper to hold a private hire operator licence,' a statement said.

It is also not clear whether it will be able to operate in October whilst any appeal is being considered. 

Uber has responded to Transport for London's announcement that it would not renew the company's licence to operate in the UK capital. In a statement, Uber said TfL  had "caved in to a small number of people who want to restrict consumer choice". Uber vowed to challenge the ruling.

-- Agencies
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15:43   Sensex falls by 447 points
Just In: Sensex tanks 447.60 points to close at 31,922.44; Nifty falls 157.50 points to 9,964.40.
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15:25   DGMO talks betwen India-Pak
DGMO level talks held between India and Pakistan. India put across that the trend of infiltration along the Line of Control continues with active support of Pakistan forward posts. India also emphasized that no targeted firing on civilians was carried out.
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14:53   MP from AIADMK's Dinakaran camp extends support to CM
In a boost to the K Palaniswami-led faction of the ruling AIADMK, a party MP from the rival TTV Dnakaran camp today switched sides to extend support to the chief minister. M Vasanthi, the AIADMK MP from Tenkasi (SC), alleged that Dnakaran, the party's sidelined leader, had "aligned" with the DMK to topple the "Amma government", a reference to the the AIADMK government.

"Is it fair for him (Dinakaran) to say he will topple this government by aligning with the DMK. He has been repeatedly saying that and we don't like it. The 1.5 crore supporters of the party are agitated over this," she said when asked about her switching sides.

Speaking to reporters after meeting Palaniswami in Chennai, she said the chief minister and his deputy O Panneerselvam will take forward the public work left behind by Jayalalithaa and continue to deliver the various welfare schemes.


"Amma worked selflessly for the people. How can that government be toppled," she said.


The MP felt that the pro-Dinakaran MLAs staying at a resort in Coorg in Karnataka had been "imprisoned" and asked if it was fair to do so as they were elected to serve the public. More persons might switch sides from the Dinakaran camp in the coming days, she said.
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14:48   NDTV denies takeover by SpiceJet owner
NDTV has denied reports that Ajay Singh, the owner of SpiceJet, has picked up majority holdings in the news channel in a statement to the Bombay Stock Exchange.

It has been variously reported that Singh, who was part of the BJP's 2014 poll campaign, had picked up a majority stake in the news channel.

This is NDTV's clarification to the BSE:

"With reference to your letter seeking clarification on the news item appearing on www.moneycontrol.com, we wish to inform you that the promoters of the Company have not entered into any agreement for sale of their stake in the Company to any person.

"The Company is mindful of its obligations under Clause 30 of the Listing Regulations and shall promptly intimate you of any event required which is required to be disclosed under the said Regulations.

"We hope that the above clarifies the matter raised in your aforesaid letter. "

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14:02  
BJP to field Swarn Singh Salariya from Vinod Khanna's Gurdaspur seat.
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13:54   'Newton' is India's 2018 Oscars' entry
Rajkummar Rao-starrer 'Newton' is India's official entry in the Foreign Language Film category at the 2018 Oscars.

Rao, who played the lead role in the film, took to Twitter to share the news. "Very happy to share this news that #NEWTON is India's official entry to the #OSCARS this year. Congratulations team," he posted.

 Directed by Amit Masurkar, 'Newton', which hit screens on September 22, revolves around a government clerk who tries his best to conduct free and fair voting in a Naxal-controlled town. The film also stars Pankaj Tripathi, Raghubir Yadav, Anjali Patil, Danish Hussain, Sanjay Mishra.


Rediff.com's Sreehari Nair in his review of the film said, "While filled with startling insights and questions, and buoyed by terrific performances throughout, Newton suffers from a lack of end-to-end clarity. It is a near-great film, but one that for some reason doesn't express itself fully."

Read the review here.
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13:38   Himachal polls in December?
The Chief Election Commissioner Achal Kumar Jyoti and two Election Commissioners T Rawat and Sunil Arora, will be in Shimla on Sunday, September 24, to review Himachal Pradesh's election preparedness.

The term of the 68-member Himachal Pradesh assembly will end on January 7, 2018. The Election Commission will have to conduct polls before that.

The CEC with his two colleagues are also planning a visit to Gujarat in the first week of October. The dates for their travel have not been finalised. May be 7th and 8th October for Gandhi Nagar the visit

The full bench of the EC will activate the state election officer to hold meetings with the district level and block level returning officials and all-party political leaders' meetings.

Sources in the EC say Himachal Pradesh may go for polls by the third week of December 2017.


Union Minister for health JP Nadda, BJP's in-charge for state Mangal Panday, Minister for Social Justice & empowerment Thawarchand Gehlot and other leaders from Himachal reached Kangra on Thursday. BJP president Amit Shah is set to hold a rally in the state today.

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13:08   Kidnapped IT officer's son killed, four arrested
An Income Tax officer's son who was kidnapped 10 days ago was found murdered near a lake on the outskirts of Bengaluru today, with police arresting four persons including a friend of the victim in connection with the crime.     


The decomposed body of 19-year-old Sharath was found buried near the Ramohalli lake, police said. The victim's car was parked near the spot, police said, adding, fearing action by them the abductors killed him.    


Sharath, son of I-T officer Niranjan Kumar, had left home at Ullala in his new car on September 12, telling his parents that he will back soon. However, he did not return home till late in the night. His parents tried calling him but to no avail.


Two days later he sent a WhatsApp video message telling his parents to arrange Rs 50 lakh to pay his abductors as ransom. His parents had lodged a complaint with the police and a manhunt was launched to trace the him but the police drew a blank. -- PTI
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12:47   Swaraj to meet US Secy of State today
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will meet United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson today, the State Department said.

It will be the first bilateral meeting and the highest-level exchange between India and the US after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Washington in June.

The meeting also comes ahead of Defence Secretary Jim Mattis's visit to India next week.

Swaraj is here for the 72nd annual session of the UN General Assembly.

She is scheduled to address the world body on Saturday.  -- PTI

IMAGE: US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson meets with Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj at the Palace Hotel during the United Nations General Assembly in New York City. Photograph: Stephanie Keith/Reuters
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12:34   Rajinikanth supports Modi's 'Swachhata Hi Seva' mission
Superstar Rajinikanth said today that he extended 'full support' to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Swachhata Hi Seva' mission.

Cleanliness was godliness, the 66-year-old said on Twitter, backing the initiative under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

'I extend my full support to our hon Prime Minister @narendramodi ji's #SwachhataHiSeva mission. Cleanliness is godliness,' Rajinikanth tweeted.

The Kabali actor has been hinting for some time that he might take the political plunge.

Rajinikanth's tweet comes a day after film star Kamal Haasan met Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Chennai, amid indications that he, too, might join politics.

Haasan was invited by Kejriwal to join politics to fight corruption and communalism.

Haasan had said earlier that he would be willing to work with Rajinikanth if the superstar ever decided to enter politics.

The fortnight from September 15 till Gandhi Jayanti is being celebrated as 'Swachhta Hi Seva'.

Celebrities such as Akshay Kumar, Anushka Sharma and Sachin Tendulkar have also pledged their support to the Swachhta movement.  -- PTI
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11:59   Modi to flag off Mahamana Express
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the new Mahamana Express from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh on Friday. The third Mahamana Express will be flagged off via video conferencing at 3.30pm Friday by the Prime Minister.  Read more
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11:59   Modi to flag off Mahamana Express
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the new Mahamana Express from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh on Friday. The third Mahamana Express will be flagged off via video conferencing at 3.30pm Friday by the Prime Minister.  Read more
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11:56   PM to watch live surgery on cattle
Experts and staff at the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly are all set to meet an "unusual' request from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office.


IVRI director RK Singh was informed about the PMO's request on Wednesday giving him a very narrow window to make the arrangements in Shahanshapur on the outskirts of Modi's parliamentary constituency Varanasi, where he will inaugurate a week-long Pashu Arogya Mela or an animal fair on Saturday.  Read more
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11:53   Boy's suicide note asks teacher not to punish students
Upset over being punished by teacher, a class five student in Uttar Pradesh's Gorakhpur allegedly committed suicide by consuming poison.


The 11-year-old, Navneet Prakash, a student of St. Anthony's Convent School, was allegedly punished in his school on September 15, after which he died at the BRD Medical College on Wednesday.


A suicide note was recovered from his schoolbag in which he claimed that he had decided to end his life as he was subjected to harsh punishment by his teacher.


In the suicide note, Navneet said, "Papa, Today is my first exam and my class teacher kept me crying till 9:15 a.m. I was kept standing for three periods. She only listens to her sycophants. I am going to end my life today. Please ask my ma'am not to give such a severe punishment to anyone."


Navneet's last wish, as mentioned in the suicide note, says, "Please ask my teacher to not punish anyone so severely."


Navneet's father has blamed the authorities of his school for the tragedy.


The Superintendent of Police, Vinay Kumar Singh, said that an FIR was registered at the Shahpur Police Station under Section 306 (abettment to suicide) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).


"We have arrested the teacher, Bhavna, and the matter is being investigated. The parents found the suicide note and a glass wrapped in a polythene from which a foul smell was coming out from his school bag. Probably, he has consumed some poison as foam was coming out from his mouth when the family members rushed him to the hospital," he said. -- ANI
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11:52   Siblings keep decomposed body of scientist for 2 weeks
A retired nuclear scientist working with Indian Agricultural Research Institute was found dead inside the abandoned government quarters on Pusa Road on Thursday. His brother and sister, Harish and Kamla, were found staying with the highly-decomposed body for at least the past fortnight.  Read more
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11:13   Navratri: Over 500 meat, chicken shops shut in Gurgaon
Over 500 meat and chicken shops were allegedly shut down by Shiv Sena workers in view of the Navratri festival here. The workers yesterday assembled at Palam Vihar and forced shut down of meat markets in Surat Nagar, Ashok Vihar, Sector 5 and 9, Pataudi Chowk, Jacobpura, Sadar Bazaar, Khandsa Anaj Mandi, bus stand, DLF area, Sohna and Sector 14 market.


General secretary and spokesperson of Shiv Sena Gurgaon wing Ritu Raj said that they had served notices to every meat and chicken shop.


"This time we have not served notices to restaurants and other food chains which serve chicken as it is not seen openly. One will have to face consequences in case he does not follow instructions," he said.


The sainiks also served notices to owners of non- vegetarian food outlets, asking them to close down their shops till the nine-day Navratra festival is over. -- PTI
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11:11   Exclusive! When Indian forces went behind enemy lines
"We knew we had to hit the adversary so hard that he would be humiliated." Soldiers who took part in last year's surgical strikes on terror camps inside PoK tell Nitin A Gokhale what happened in those hours. An exclusive excerpt from Nitin's fascinating new book, Securing India the Modi Way: Pathankot, Surgical Strikes and More.

Do read
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11:08   'Godless' CPI(M) banks on Durga for people re-connect
The party which was once averse to take part in religious festivals, is now banking on "social festival" Durga Puja to reach out to the people and revamp its dwindling mass base in West Bengal.


The CPI(M), which is facing a tough time in the state in coping with the ruling Trinamool Congress and the opposition BJP, has allowed its MLAs to take part in inaugural programmes of Durga Puja.


"We can no longer afford to stay away from festivals and social events. We may not believe in religion but there is no harm in participating in festivals and social events," a senior state secretariat member of the CPI(M) told PTI.


He said that the change of stance of the party was in the backdrop of the "competitive communalism practised by both the BJP and the TMC. If you have to fight them, you have to take part in these festivals as this is one of the best opportunities to spread our message."


For decades, CPI(M)'s participation in Durga Puja has been limited to setting up stalls to sell Left literature outside puja pandals across the state. But this time, party MLA Tanmoy Bhattacharya from Dum Dum North Assembly seat will take part in four Durga Puja inaugurations in his constituency.


Another MLA Manas Mukherjee too has a busy schedule next week inaugurating several pujas in his constituency. Bhattacharya said Durga Puja had turned into more of a social festival than a religious one in Bengal, and it would be foolish to stay from such festivities which could be a platform for establishing mass contact.


"I personally don't believe in religion, but being a public representative how can I stay away from social festivals," Bhattacharya asked. Mukherjee also echoed the views of Bhattacharya.


"I am not attending any religious programme. I am attending a programme where so many people have come together. We also attend marriage ceremonies where several religious customs are followed," Mukherjee said.


The development has brought back memories of an incident in 2006, when late senior CPI(M) leader and Transport Minister Subhas Chakraborty had to face severe criticism within the party for worshipping Kali at Tarapith temple claiming that he was a Hindu, a Brahmin and a Marxist.


At this, a senior state committee leader said, "what Subhas Chakraborty had done and what our present MLAs are doing are different. Our MLAs are neither worshipping nor are offering 'anjali' to deities. They are just participating in inauguration ceremonies and other social events of the festival". -- PTI
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10:49   PM's speech at BJP meet will shape Parliament discourse
At a rare open session of the BJPs national executive on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to deliver a speech that might shape the political discourse in the run-up to the winter session of Parliament, and assembly polls in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh.


The speech, which will be open to the media and telecast live by state broadcaster Doordarshan, comes at a time when the Modi government is facing criticism for the economic slowdown. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has said a stimulus package is in the works.


The BJPs national executive is set to pass a resolution spelling out the economic road map of the government for the next one year.


Usually, the national executive, chaired by party president, is attended by its 120-odd members and an equal number of special invitees. However, the BJP is hosting an extended national executive this time. The audience would comprise all the partys elected representatives in Parliament and state legislatures.


-- Archis Mohan/Business Standard

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10:40  
Also read: Pradhyumn is not dead. He gives me the strength to fight, says father.
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10:38   Pradhyumn murder: Cops summon Pintos
The Gurugram Police today summoned the owners of Ryan International School for interrogation on 26th September in connection with murder of seven-year-old Pradyuman Thakur on school campus on September 8.


The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday had denied anticipatory bail to the founding chairman of Ryan International Group of Institutions Augustine Pinto, the groups managing director Grace Pinto and their son Ryan Pinto. The case has been adjourned for Monday.


On September 8, Pradhyumn Thakur, a Class 2 student was found dead inside a toilet of Ryan International School with his throat slit after. A school bus conductor Ashok Kumar believed to be present in the toilet when the boy entered and caught in security footage leaving it, has been arrested.


The school has been accused of serious lapses in security. The schoolboy's murder jolted the nation and has led to a series of security measures recommended for schools across the country.

The killing is being investigated by the CBI after Pradyuman's parents alleged that the police investigation was not up to the mark.
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10:15   Rupee hits 4-month low against dollar, drops 31 paise
The rupee today dropped by 31 paise to a four-month low level of 65.12 against the US dollar on frenetic dollar demand from importers and banks.

Dealers said early losses in domestic equity markets and unabated foreign fund outflows weighed on the rupee.

Yesterday, the rupee plummeted by a whopping 54 paise to end at 64.81 a dollar, its weakest level in over two-and-half months after the US Federal Reserve left the door open for a rate hike in December.

The benchmark BSE Sensex drifted further lower by 231.79 points, or 0.72 per cent, to 32,138.25 in early trade today.
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10:08   2 terrorists involved in Banihal attack held
Security forces on Friday arrested two terrorists involved in the attack on Sashastra Seema Bal personnel at Banihal in Jammu and Kashmir.

"Two terrorists involved in Wednesday's terrorist attack at Banihal have been arrested and a hunt for the third is on," a police spokesman said in Srinagar.   

He said the arrested terrorists have been identified as Gazanfar and Arif. -- PTI
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09:46   L'Oreal cosmetics heiress dies at 94
Heiress of cosmetics giant L'Oreal Liliane Bettencourt, the world's richest woman, has died at the age of 94. 

On Thursday, her daughter Franoise Bettencourt Meyers, 64, released a statement saying that her mother had passed away. 

Bettencourt Meyers told the New York Times in an email statement, which read, "In this painful moment for us, I would like to reiterate, on behalf of our family, our entire commitment and loyalty to L'Oreal and to renew my confidence in its President Jean-Paul Agon and his teams worldwide."

Bettencourt, who had died at the age of 94, was the main shareholder in the world's top cosmetics company L'Oreal, with a personal fortune estimated by Forbes magazine in March at USD 39.5 billion. 

Speaking about Liliane's death, L'Oreal chairman and chief executive Jean-Paul Agon expressed "great admiration" for the woman who steered the company as its owner for the best part of a decade.  

Agon said she "always looked" after the company and its employees and "she has personally contributed greatly to its success for many years". 

Married to French politician Andre Bettencourt from 1950 till his death in 2007, Lilian was a prominent part of French society and a revered businesswoman around the world. 

Photograph: Benoit Tessier/Reuters.
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08:55  
India's reply at UNGA continues:

- 'Terroristan' is in fact a territory whose contribution to the globalisation of terror is unparalleled.

- Pakistan can only be counselled to abandon a destructive worldview that has caused grief to the entire world.

- If it could be persuaded to demonstrate commitment to civilisation, order and peace, it may still find some acceptance in comity of nations. -- ANI
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08:51   Pakistan is 'Terroristan': India responds to Abbasi at UNGA
India exercises its Right of Reply at the United Nations General Assembly and responds to Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbas's statements on Kashmir, seeking UN intervention.

"It is extraordinary that the state which protected Osama Bin Laden and sheltered Mullah Omar should have the gumption to play victim," India says.

"In its short history, Pakistan has become a geography synonymous with terror. The quest for a land of pure has actually produced 'the land of pure terror',' it said.

"Pakistan is now 'Terroristan', with a flourishing industry producing and exporting global terrorism," India said in its strong reply.

It also said that 'Pakistan must understand that the State of J&K is and will always remain an integral part of India'.

"However much it (Pakistan) scales up cross border terrorism,it will never succeed in undermining India's territorial integrity," India said.

"Even as terrorists thrive in Pakistan and roam its streets with impunity, we have heard it lecture about protection of human rights in India. The world does not need lessons on democracy and human rights from a country whose own situation is charitably described as a failed state," India said. -- ANI

IMAGE: Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in Manhattan, New York. Photograph: Jeenah Moon/Reuters
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08:23   In 1st UNGA address, Pak PM urges UN to intervene in Kashmir
Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has urged the United Nations to appoint a special envoy to Kashmir, as he claimed that the struggle of the people in the region is being 'brutally suppressed' by India.

In his maiden address to the UN General Assembly on Thursday, Abbasi accused India of indulging in terror activities against his country and warned of a 'matching response' if it "ventures across the LoC (Line of Control)' or acts upon its doctrine of limited war against Pakistan.

"The Kashmir dispute should be resolved justly, peacefully and expeditiously. As India is unwilling to resume the peace process with Pakistan, we call on the Security Council to fulfil its obligation to secure the implementation of its own resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir," he added.

"To this end, the UN secretary general should appoint a special envoy on Kashmir. His mandate should flow from the longstanding but unimplemented resolutions of the Security Council," Abbasi said.

He said despite over 600 ceasefire violations on the India-Pakistan border since January this year, Pakistan has acted with restraint.

"But if India does venture across the LoC, or acts upon its doctrine of limited war against Pakistan, it will evoke a strong and matching response," he said in his speech in which he raised his anti-India rhetoric.

India is expected to soon take up the podium to respond to Abbasi's remarks on Kashmir.

The Pakistani prime minister said the legitimate struggle for self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir continues to be 'brutally suppressed by India's occupation forces'.

Abbasi, who assumed office few months ago, mentioned Kashmir a total of 17 times and India 14 times among other things in his speech.

He also said that from day one of its creation, Pakistan has faced unremitting hostility from its eastern neighbor (India).

"India refuses to implement the unanimous resolutions of the UN Security Council, which mandate a UN supervised plebiscite to enable the people of Jammu and Kashmir to freely decide their destiny," he said.

"Instead, India has deployed nearly 7,00,000 troops in 'occupied Kashmir' to suppress the legitimate struggle of the Kashmiris to exercise their right to self-determination. This is the most intense foreign military occupation in recent history," Abbasi said as he kicked up the Pakistan's rhetoric against India.

"Shotgun pellets have blinded and maimed thousands of Kashmiris including children. These and other brutalities clearly constitute war crimes and violate the Geneva Conventions," he charged.

Abbasi demanded an international investigation into the alleged atrocities in Kashmir and sending of an inquiry commission to Jammu and Kashmir in order to secure the punishment of those 'responsible of human rights violation' and provide justice and relief to victims.

However, he stated that Pakistan remains open to resuming a comprehensive dialogue with India to address all outstanding issues, especially Kashmir and discuss measures to maintain peace and security in the region.

"This dialogue must be accompanied by an end to India's campaign of subversion and state sponsored terrorism against Pakistan, including from across our western border," Abbasi said.  -- PTI

IMAGE: Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi addresses the 72nd United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York, on Thursday. Photograph: Eduardo Munoz/Reuters
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00:16   Fresh strains in SP, Mulayam dumps Akhilesh loyalist
In signs of fresh strains in the Samajwadi Party ahead of its state and national convention, its patron Mulayam Singh Yadav on Thursday removed Akhilesh-loyalist Ram Gopal Yadav from the post of secretary of the Lohia Trust and appointed his brother Shivpal Yadav in his place.
The SP is holding its state convention on September 23 in Lucknow while its national convention is scheduled on October 5 in Agra.
"At a meeting of the trust held here (Lucknow), Ram Gopal was removed from the post of secretary and I was given the responsibility to take forward the ideology of Dr Ram Manohar Lohia," Shivpal, the warring uncle of Akhilesh, told reporters.
Asked whether he was invited to attend the SP state and national conventions, he said, "I have not received the invitation so far and I am unlikely to attend them."
On his future course of action after being sidelined in the SP by his nephew, Shivpal said, "Netaji (Mulayam) will hold a press conference on September 25. He will make some announcements."
He, however, did not elaborate, leaving mediapersons wondering as to whether the party patriarch will part ways with the SP and announce a front, reports about which were doing the rounds in the political circles.
In a meeting of the trust last month, Mulayam had sacked four Akhilesh loyalists who were its members, but had retained Akhilesh and cousin Ramgopal Yadav.
The Lohia Trust is an affiliate of the Samajwadi Party and Mulayam is its chairperson.
Shivpal, Akhilesh and Ramgopal Yadav, who is also the SP national general secretary, are members of the trust.
Mulayam had terminated the trust membership of Ramgovind Chaudhary, the Leader of Opposition in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, Ahmed Hasan, Usha Verma and Alok Shakya at its annual meeting last month.
Deepak Mishra, whom Akhilesh had expelled from the SP, was made a member.

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