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Sat, 28 April 2018
Weatherman warns of heat wave in Rajasthan, MP, Maha over next 2 days

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21:14   Weatherman warns of heat wave in Rajasthan, MP, Maha over next 2 days
The India Meteorological Department today issued a heat wave alert over Rajasthan, west Madhya Pradesh, central Maharashtra and Vidarbha over the next two days.

Dust storm along with thunderstorm is also likely over west Uttar Pradesh tomorrow, it said.

"Thunderstorm accompanied with gusty winds are very likely at isolated places over east Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Tamil Nadu, Pudducherry and Kerala.

"Heavy rains are likely at isolated places over West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura," the IMD said in its forecast for tomorrow.

A cyclonic circulation currently lays over southeast Uttar Pradesh and neighbourhood. There is also a cyclonic circulation over Gangetic West Bengal.

A similar weather pattern is likely on April 30, the IMD said.

Thunderstorm accompanied with squall and hail are very likely at isolated places over sub-Himalayan West Bengal,  Bihar and Gangetic West Bengal, isolated places over Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand on April 30.

"Heavy rain is likely at isolated places over Assam, Mgehlaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura," the IMD said.

-- PTI
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20:24   There may be more Cambridge Analytica-sized leaks, says Facebook
Facebook is on the hunt for other Cambridge Analytica-sized data leaks, and the company warned Thursday that users and investors might not like what it finds.

A few years ago, 270,000 people used a personality quiz app on the social network and shared information on their Facebook friends. That added up to as many as 87 million people. The data was later passed to Cambridge Analytica, a political consulting firm, without users consent. After public uproar, Facebook announced it would audit all popular apps from when its data rules were looser.

Read full HERE
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20:00   Vande Mataram row: Rahul's mind is too power-centric, says Smriti Irani
Commenting on Congress president Rahul Gandhi's alleged disrespect towards the national song, Vande Mataram, Union Minister Smriti Irani, on Saturday, said that his mind is too power-centric.

"His mind is too power-centric, perhaps his understanding on the glorious history of the nation and service towards the nation is a little poor, that is why he was seen disrespecting Vande Mataram," Irani said.

"Someone who does not understand our martyr's sacrifices, who is unaware of the history of Rani Chenamma, how can we expect from someone like that to take mere two minutes out of his busy schedule to pay homage to the motherland," she added.

Earlier, Irani also attended the Karunad Mahila Jagruti Samvaad, in Karnataka's Belgaum, where she said that Karnataka was heading towards change that would contribute towards a new India, where there was no place for North-South divide and caste divisions so people like Congressmen could not benefit from it politically.

-- ANI
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19:30   Congress targets Goyal again, demands his removal
The Congress today again demanded the removal of Union minister Piyush Goyal, alleging that financial deals of a company owned by him were a murky saga of gratification, gross impropriety and conflict of interest", charges dismissed as "baseless and malicious" by the BJP. 
  
Congress leader Pawan Khera claimed that four months after holding the portfolio of New and Renewable Energy, Goyal sold his entire holding in Flashnet Info Solutions (India) Limited, owned by him and his wife, at nearly 1000 per cent premium to a company of Piramal group which has interests in the renewable energy sector.

He alleged that Goyal did not disclose this in his assets made public on the PMO website soon after becoming a minister and this was a "clear case of conflict of interest".

Khera during a press briefing said this was a "murky saga of gratification, gross impropriety and conflict of interest involving one of the senior most Cabinet ministers of the Modi government .

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi gives sermons of 'na khaunga, na khane doonga'. Will the Prime Minister answer as to why are former BJP's treasurer and his favourite Cabinet minister as also Karnataka in-charge Piyush Goyal and his wife intertwined in a murky web of financial dealings? Will he answer that to the people of India?" he asked.

Reacting to the allegations, the BJP in a statement said, "In the last month, the Congress party made Piyush Goyal a target by hurling malicious allegations against his bona fide business dealings to insinuate wrongdoings and irregularity. The modus operandi of the attack has been to gain cheap political mileage by indulging in a baseless campaign against him with no sound facts to back them but with the only intention of creating false controversies."

It also pointed out that the facts exposed the Congress for blatant misrepresentations using falsehoods and malicious propaganda against the minister who was carrying out his professional work through his companies, which were also holding his investments, prior to his becoming minister in May 2014.

-- PTI
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19:04   PM Modi back after 2-day China visit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in New Delhi after a two-day informal summit meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Wuhan. 

The PM was received at the airport by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. 

In their talks, PM Modi and President Xi decided to issue strategic guidance to their respective militaries to maintain peace along the border.

-- PTI
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18:33   Siddaramaiah created Hindu-Muslim divide: BJP
A Muslim leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party from Karnataka on Saturday said that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has created a Hindu-Muslim divide in the state.

The leader also said that despite the Congress's five-year rule, Mangalore is suffering from so many problems.

"All that Siddaramaiah has done is that he created a divide between Hindus and Muslim here. There are many problems here, including scarcity of drinking water problems," said Fazal, member BJP Minority Cell, Mangalore.

Karnataka will vote on May 12, 2018, to send their 224 representatives to the state assembly. The counting of votes and announcement of result will take place on May 15, 2018.

BJP is leaving no stone unturned to defeat the ruling Congress. Both the parties have pressed their star campaigners to woo voters. Siddaramaiah has filed his nomination papers from two constituencies: Badami and Chamundeshwari.

-- ANI
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18:11   Video of MP governor giving election tips to BJP leaders goes viral, Congress complains
A video showing Madhya Pradesh governor Anandiben Patel giving tips to BJP leaders on how to garner votes has gone viral, prompting opposition Congress that they will complain to the President about the governors conduct.

President Ram Nath Kovind is on a two-day visit to the state from Saturday.

Anandiben is seen at Satna airport on Friday telling local BJP leaders, including district president Narendra Tripathi and mayor Mamta Pandey, that they will get votes only if they adopt needy and malnourished children of the area.

Start a campaign and ask others to join, Patel, a former Gujarat chief minister, is seen telling Mamta Pandey. Adopt the children and see that the money being given is being utilized properly by the mother. Votes aise nahi milenge. Unke ghar pe jaake baithoge, godi me loge, tabhi vote milenge (Votes dont come easy. Go to their home, sit with them, take their children in your lap, only then youll get votes).

Governor Patels openly brazen style giving advice riled the opposition Congress and the partys senior leader and Madhya Pradesh campaign committee head Jyotiraditya Scindia quickly ticked her off.

Leader of the Opposition in the assembly Ajay Singh said, A person holding a high constitutional post like that of the governor does not have the right or authority to indulge in party politics. It is very unfortunate that Anandiben who was on a tour of Satna and Chitrakoot mentions to the party workers to pull up their socks to get the party in power again.

Madhya Pradesh goes to polls by year end. The BJP has been ruling the state for the last three terms.
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17:59   Now Hasin Jahan accuses Mohammed Shami of age-forgery
Indian cricketer Mohammed Shami's estranged wife Hasin Jahan has now accused her husband of age-fudging and fooling the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

Hasin, who has been involved in a spat Shami for quite some time, said the fast bowler created a fake birth certificate to play national and state-level cricket. Hasin also posted a picture of a driving license on Facebook, claiming it belonged to Shami.

According to the document posted by Hasin, Shami was born in 1982, while official records show his birth year as 1990.

The post was later deleted from the social media platform.

Hasin in her post also added that Shami fooled BBCI and Cricket Association of Bengal by providing a fake birth certificate in order to play in age-group cricket.
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17:19   Delhi cops bust ISI-sponsored hacker group
In the first operation of its kind, the special cell of Delhi Police has busted an ISI-sponsored hacker group that had been defacing government websites and promoting hatred on social networking sites. Two Kashmiri youths have been arrested and raids are on to apprehend other suspects.

Police have filed a case of sedition under Section124A of the Indian Penal Code and Section 66 of the IT Act as well as criminal conspiracy under IPC Section 120 B.

Of the arrested pair, Shahid Malla is a BTech student and Aadil Hussain a BCA student in a Punjab-based university. The two were apparently part of an "antinational hacking group" called Team Hackers Third Eye and had allegedly broken into over 500 Indian websites, including that of J&K Bank in January this year, police said. They are being grilled on the identity of their associates in Pakistan and India.
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17:00   Kiran Bedi says no free rice until villages are open-defecation, garbage free
In a strong bid to end open defecation and littering, Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi said that free supply of rice would be stopped to villages which are unable to prove they are indeed open defecation free and free of garbage.

Bedi took to Twitter to announce that the local administration would now be required to provide her with a certificate proving that villages are free from open defacation and garbage before free supply of rice is provided. She has also reportedly given a four-week ultimatum till May 31.

Stating that free rice reaches to more than half the population in the Union Territory, Bedi said that villages across Puducherry must prove that open defacation has ended and that the villages are 'free of strewn garbage and plastic.'

While there were few who appreciated her efforts to clean Puducherry villages, many who replied to her tweet were extremely critical. "Clubbing the two unwise. Hygiene and hunger cannot go together," wrote a netizen. "Can't afford rice but will now have to build toilet? Where is the logic in that?" wrote another.
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16:50   Petition filed in SC against paid news
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ashwini Upadhyay on Saturday filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking its direction against 'paid news'.

The apex court will hear Upadhyay's petition on May 4.

Upadhyay, in his petition, sought a direction from the top court to the Government to take appropriate steps to implement the recommendations of the Election Commission of India and Law Commission of India on the paid news and political advertisements.

The BJP leader in his 82-page petition said "that free and fair election is the foundation of a democracy. This can only be achieved when there is the absence of corrupting elements such as wielding money power and influence."

Upadhyay's petition, a copy exclusively available with the ANI, also sought a direction from the apex court to direct and declare that the act of indulging in the publication of 'paid news' is a corrupt practice under section 123 (4) of the Representation of People's (RP) Act, 1951. 

-- ANI
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16:13   Even Lord Rama, Krishna indulged in politics: Rajnath
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday claimed that politics has been a part of India before Independence, adding that even Lord Rama and Krishna were indulged in politics.

Addressing a gathering, Singh further said that Lord Rama's political objective was to build 'Ram Rajya'.

"Politics has been a part of India before Independence. Even Lord Rama and Krishna were indulged politics. Lord Rama's political objective was to build 'Ram Rajya'. Lord Rama did politics with ardent devotion," he said.

Singh was on a two-day visit to his parliamentary constituency Lucknow from April 27.

-- ANI
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15:53   Don't think he is playing: Trump on Kim Jong un
US President Donald Trump today said that he does not think that North Korean leader Kim Jong un is playing, although previous administrations were "played like a fiddle" because the country had different leaders.
Trump was responding to a series of questions from reporters on the historic summit meeting between North and South Korean leaders.

"I don't think he's playing. No, I don't think he's playing. You know it's never gone like this, it's never gone this far. I don't think it's ever had this enthusiasm for somebody for them wanting to make a deal," Trump said. 

"I agree, the United States has been played beautifully, like a fiddle, because you had a different kind of a leader. We're not going to be played, OK? We're going to hopefully make a deal, if we don't, that's fine," he said. 

He praised Chinese President Xi Jinping for being extremely helpful. 

"Lot of very positive things happened over the last 24 hours," he said.

"We're in total touch with both North Korea and South Korea. We'll be setting up a meeting very shortly. We have it broken down to probably two sites now, two or three sites, locations. And hopefully we're going to have great success, we'll see what happens," Trump said.

Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in met on Friday signing an agreement to end their war and denuclearise the Korean Peninsula. 

-- PTI
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15:29   Police detain JKLF chief Yasin Malik on his way to protest march
Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik was detained today on his way to the Jamia Masjid to lead a protest march against alleged use of force on student protestors, police said.
  
Malik was detained at Khanyar when he was going to the Jamia Masjid at Nowhatta for the protest march, a police official said.
He said Malik has been lodged at Kothi Bagh police station.

Meanwhile, a JKLF spokesman said Malik was to lead the protest march against the use of force on students, illegal continuous arrest of leaders by NIA and Kathua rape-and-murder incident.

He said the JKLF chairman was assaulted by the police before being taken away.

Quoting witnesses, the JKLF spokesman claimed police stopped Malik's vehicle near Gousia hospital Khanyar and straightaway a police officer started hurling abuses on him.

The JKLF chairman objected to the police officer's misbehaviour and asked him to show some restraint, the spokesman claimed.

Policemen assaulted JKLF chairman, injured him and virtually dragged him to police station Khanyar, where from he, along with another JKLF leader Bashir Kashmiri, was shifted to police station Kothibagh, the spokesman said.

-- PTI
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15:10   2 days, 7 events, 9 hours: Modi-Xi informal summit sets new precedent
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping spent nine hours together during the course of their informal summit in Wuhan on Friday and Saturday, Chinese ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui said.

7 events in 2 days, President #XiJinping and PM Modi sepnt 9 hours together, covering a wide range of topics in in-depth exchanges with much consensus. Thumbs up to the two leaders! (sic), Luo tweeted following Modis departure for India on Saturday.

After his arrival early on Friday, Modi and Xi first met at the Hubei Provincial Museum where the two leaders held one-on-one talks.

Xi then accompanied Modi on a tour of an exhibition of Marquis Yi of Zeng Cultural Relics and Treasure displayed at the museum.

Thereafter, the two leaders held delegation-level talks that went well beyond the budgeted time as Indian foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale put it at a media briefing on Saturday.

Modi and Xi again held discussions over tea on Saturday morning and took a walk along the East Lake.

The two leaders then took a boat ride on the scenic East Lake, which was followed by a lunch hosted by Xi before Modis departure for India.
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14:54   CJI calls collegium next week on return of Justice Joseph file
The five-member Collegium is likely to meet next Wednesday to consider the governments decision to return the name of Justice K M Joseph, Chief Justice of Uttarakhand high court, for elevation to the Supreme Court.

Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra decided next Wednesday as the day for the meeting of the Collegium and indicated it to other members Friday. The Supreme Court will reopen Tuesday after the weekend and Buddha Purnima Monday.

No formal agenda for the Collegium meeting has been circulated so far but it is widely expected to be about the reconsideration of Justice Josephs name for elevation to the Supreme Court.

Pressure has been mounting on CJI Misra to stand up to the government to preserve the independence of the judiciary, particularly in the case of Justice Joseph.

Stating that the governments action strikes at the very heart of the independence of the judiciary, former CJI RM Lodha had told The Indian Express Thursday that the Chief Justice of India, in such a situation, should immediately call a meeting of the Collegium and take up the matter with the government. If the reiteration must be done, it must happen immediately. He had also stressed that the Chief Justice cannot sit over the file either, indefinitely, as cant the government.
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14:43   BJP terms Akhilesh, Mayawati's proposed Karnataka visit as 'political tourism'
Taking a dig at the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party, spokesperson of the BJP's Uttar Pradesh unit Rakesh Tripathi has termed the proposed visits of Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati to poll-bound Karnataka as "political tourism".

He, however, claimed that BJP workers and people in Karnataka want to have a glimpse of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and his campaigning in different poll-bound states of the country is benefiting the party.

Alleging that both the SP and the BSP "thrive on caste politics", Tripathi said, "The election tours made to Karnataka by SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and BSP supremo Mayawati are simply political tourism."

"The main base and origin of both these parties is Uttar Pradesh. But, in this state their condition is miserable. Both of them are facing the worst times since their inception. They do not have any party organisation, base and mandate in Karnataka," he was quoted as saying in a statement.
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14:14   China's President Xi on ties with India
After the two day visit by PM Modi to China ended, Chinese President Xi Jinping said, "In my over 5-year presidency, I have only gone out of Beijing twice to receive foreign guests. Once in Xi'an in 2015, the other is today, Both for you. This shows how much President Xi values his personal friendship with PM Modi and China-India relations."

After they held talks today, the two leaders decided to issue strategic guidance to their respective militaries to strengthen communications and to build trust and understanding.
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13:50   Pakistan announces 10 per cent increase in defence budget
Pakistans finance minister announced a 10 per cent increase in defence spending as part of a new federal budget as opposition politicians criticised his appointment to the post just hours earlier.

Finance Minister Miftah Ismail presented the 2018-2019 budget in the National Assembly on Friday. In his televised speech, Ismail said the budget also promises more funds for health, education and social programs.

For the first time in Pakistan, defence outlay crossed the Rs 1 trillion mark. The allocation for 2018-19 shows an increase of Rs 180 billion as compared to the spending by the armed forces in the outgoing fiscal year.

The figures also do not include the Rs 260 billion allocated for the pensions of military personnel, which will be given from the civilian budget.

Out of the whole defence budget, Pakistan army gets 47 per cent, 20 per cent goes to Pakistan air force, and Pakistan navy gets around 10 per cent, said defence ministry officials. 

According to the budget document 2018-19, out of the Rs1,100 billion, Rs423 billion have been allocated for employee-related expenses, Rs253.5 billion for operating expenses, Rs282 billion for local purchases and import of arms and ammunition, and Rs141 billion for civil works.
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13:33   Two Naxals killed in encounter in Sukma
Two Naxals including a woman has been killed in an ongoing encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district on Saturday.

The bodies of the Naxal are yet to be identified.

"One woman Naxal killed in an ongoing encounter, while another body was recovered later on," said Special Director General of Police Anti Naxal operations DM Awasthi.

According to media reports, separate teams of the District Reserve Guard, the Special Task Force and the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action, a unit of the Central Reserve Police Force, carried out combing operations in Sukma.

This comes a day after seven Naxals were gunned down in an encounter near Penta village of Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district. 

-- ANI
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13:21   Good days will come: Asaram from jail
A purported audio clip of Asaram, serving his life-in-prison term at a Jodhpur jail, has surfaced online in which the self-styled godman is heard telling a person over phone that his time behind bars is ephemeral and "good days will come".
  
According to Jodhpur Central Jail DIG Vikram Singh, the 15-minute audio clip might have been recorded during a telephone conversation Asaram had on Friday, two days after a Jodhpur court found him guilty and sentenced him to life in prison for raping a teenage girl in his ashram five years ago.

The call was made with permission from jail authorities.

"Inmates are permitted to make a call over any two given numbers for 80 minutes in a month. He had spoken to a 'sadhak' at Sabarmati Ashram on Friday at 6.30 pm. May be this communication was recorded (then) and made viral," said Singh.

In a one-way communication which appeared like a telephonic sermon, Asaram first extended his gratitude to his followers for maintaining calm and not coming to Jodhpur on the day of judgment.

"We should respect the law and order and the system. I also do so," he is purportedly heard saying in the audio clip.

He claims a few people are on a campaign to defame his ashram and want to take its control. "Do not get carried away by such provocations or anything circulated on the letter head of ashram...," he says in the clip.

-- PTI
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13:10   Unnao rape case: BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar sent back to jail after remand ends
BJP legislator Kuldeep Singh Sengar who is the prime accused in Unnao gang rape case has been sent to Unnao jail after his remand ended on Friday.

Police have also sent his co-accused Shashi Singh to the Unao jail.

Sengar is booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, apart from sections 363 (kidnapping), 366 (abduction of woman), 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.

As per the complaints filed by the victim, she was raped by Sengar on June 4 last year. A week later, she was allegedly abducted and again taken to the MLA's house in Unnao and allegedly gangraped.

Meanwhile, the victim's family has demanded that the accused should be shifted out of Unnao jail.

The family members have alleged that the BJP MLA enjoys a clout over officials in the jail, many of whom are his relatives. The family apprehends that these officials may help the accused.

Besides this, the family members have also raised concerns about their safety, should Senger be imprisoned in Unnao jail.
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12:41   Modi leaves for India after informal summit with Xi in China
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today left for India after holding the two-day informal summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the central Chinese city, Wuhan.

Modi had arrived in China on Thursday for the unprecedented informal summit with Xi.

The prime minister held one-on-one talks with Xi which is being seen as an effort by India and China to rebuild trust and improve ties that were hit by the 73-day-long Doklam standoff last year.

The two leaders exchanged views on "solidifying" the India-China relationship and decided to issue strategic guidance to their respective militaries to strengthen communications and to build trust and understanding.

They recognised terrorism as common threat and committed to cooperate further on counter terrorism.

Modi also offered to host the next informal summit with Xi in India next year, a proposal which elicited a positive response from the Chinese president.

The two leaders began their informal meetings way back in 2014 when Xi was hosted by Modi at the Sabarmati Ashram of Mahatma Gandhi in Gujarat. They have met and interacted with each other in about a dozen international meetings since then.

This is the fourth visit of Modi to China after he came to power in 2014. He is again due to visit China to take part in the SCO summit to be held at Qingdao city on June 9-10. 

Modi was seen off by Chinese Vice Foreign Minster, Kong Xuanyou and Chinese Ambassador to India, Luo Zhaohui and other officials.

-- PTI
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12:14  
The menu card designed for the private lunch hosted for PM Modi in Wuhan has colors of Indian flag, along with the picture of national bird peacock. President Xi Jinping paid personal attention to small details
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11:54   Trump says may visit Jerusalem for inauguration of new US embassy
US President Donald Trump today said that he may travel to Israel for the inauguration of the new American embassy in Jerusalem.
"I may go (to Jerusalem).. very proud of it. Jerusalem has been a subject that's been promised for many years, as you know, the embassy in Jerusalem. It's been promised for many, many years by presidents. They all made campaign promises, and they never had the courage to carry it out. I carried it out," Trump told reporters at a joint White House news conference with the visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

He said, "It's getting ready to open, and I do want to tell that story though, because there are a couple of people that got to see it, but others, where literally, they were going to spend a billion dollars, and we're spending a tiny, tiny fraction of that, in the hundreds of thousands of dollars instead. And it will be very nice. Maybe it'll be nicer than a billion-dollar building."
 
Trump said he reduced the construction of new embassy in Jerusalem from $1 billion to a "fraction of the cost". He also gave an insight into the internal White House deliberations on the new US embassy in Jerusalem.

-- PTI
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11:33   India, China to undertake joint economic project in Afghanistan
In a move that could upset Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping have agreed to undertake a joint India-China economic project in Afghanistan at their first informal summit here, official sources said.

The understanding was reached between the two leaders during the two-day informal summit which concluded today, they said.

As per the understanding, officials of both sides will identify the project in following up discussions and work out modalities.

This will be a first such project in the war-torn country where China while trying to expand its influence has tacitly backed Pakistan, which has been accused by Afghanistan and the US of backing the Taliban and its most violent attacks in the country destabilising any attempts to restore peace.

China for the first time held a trilateral meeting with the foreign ministers of Pakistan and Afghanistan in December last in Beijing to narrow down the differences between the two countries.

China had also announced plans to extend its controversial China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to Afghanistan at the meeting. 

-- PTI
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10:57   Woman Naxal killed in encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh
A woman Naxal was killed in an exchange of fire with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district today, a senior police official said.

The latest gunfight, which was still continuing, comes a day after eight ultras, six of them women, were killed in an encounter in Sukma's adjoining district Bijapur district.

"So far, one woman Naxal has been killed in the gunfight which is still continuing in a forest in Burkapal area of Sukma district," the official told PTI.

Separate teams of the District Reserve Guard (DRG), the Special Task Force (STF) and the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA), a unit of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), were carrying out combing operations in Sukma, located around 400km from the state capital Raipur, for the last couple of days, he said.

This morning, when a joint team of the DRG and the STF was cordoning off a forest located deep inside Burkapal, exchange of fire broke out between the squad and a group of ultras present in the area, the official said.

"Preliminary information states that the body of a woman Naxal has been recovered. More details are awaited as exchange of fire was going on intermittently," he said.

Yesterday's operation was carried out jointly by the Chhattisgarh police, the special anti-Naxal Greyhounds unit of their Telangana counterparts and the CRPF.  - PTI
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10:37   Modi, Xi discuss border issues, terrorism threat: Foreign Secy
Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale addresses a press conference on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping's informal meeting:

"The two leaders underscored that it is important to maintain peace along India-China border region and decided that they will issue strategic guidance to their respective militaries to strengthen communications and to build trust and understanding."

"On the issue of India-China boundary question, the two leaders endorsed work of the special representative to find a fair reasonable and mutual settlement."

"The PM and President Xi also recognised the common threat posed by terrorism both reiterated their strong condemnation of a resolute opposition to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Both committed to cooperate further in counter-terrorism."

"India and China likely to venture into a joint economic project in Afghanistan."  -- ANI
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09:32   After lakeside walk, Modi and Xi go for boat ride
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping inside a house boat in Wuhan's East Lake.

The two leaders would conclude their talks with one-on-one lunch hosted by Xi in the honour of Modi.

The prime minister is due to leave for home after that.

Photograph: ANI
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09:27   US won't let Iran's 'murderous regime' acquire nuclear weapons: Trump
Accusing Iran of fuelling bloodshed in West Asia, President Donald Trump today said the United States would not let 'murderous regime' in Tehran acquire nuclear weapons.

"We must ensure that this murderous regime does not even get close to a nuclear weapon, and that Iran ends its proliferation of dangerous missiles, and its support for terrorism. No matter where you go in the Middle East, wherever there's a problem, Iran is right there," he said.

Trump was addressing a joint White House news conference with the visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The two leaders had discussed the current situation in Iran and its alleged 'destabilisng behavior'.

"In our meetings today, the Chancellor and I discussed Iran, the Iranian regime that fuels violence, bloodshed and chaos all across the Middle East," Trump said.

He said it was not 'appropriate' to talk on whether the US may consider the use of military force against Iran. "But, I can tell you this, they will not be doing nuclear weapons; that, I can tell you. They're not going to be doing nuclear weapons, you can bank on it," Trump said.

He said as the US-led international alliance is about to eradicates the Islamic State in Syria, it must be ensured that 'Iran does not profit from this success'.

"To prevent this outcome, it is essential that our coalition and regional partners step up their financial and military contributions to the anti-ISIS efforts. Some of these countries are immensely wealthy; and they're going to start paying for it, and paying for this tremendous help that we've given them," the US President said.

Merkel said the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), as a first step, has contributed to slowing down Iran's activities with regard to acquiring nuclear weapons.

"But we also think, from a German point of perspective, that this is not sufficient in order to see to it that Iran's ambitions are curbed and are contained. It is most important to see that Iran, after all is trying to insert a geopolitical influence in Syria, in Lebanon," she asserted.

Merkel acknowledged that the Iranian nuclear deal is unlikely to resolve problems.

"Obviously, this agreement is anything but perfect. It will not solve all the problems with Iran," she said.

"It is one piece of the mosaic, one building block, if you like, on which we can build up this structure; and that when the United Kingdom, France and Germany work together with the American colleagues, this was brought about, and then we will now see what sort of decisions are made by American partners," Merkel said.   -- PTI
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09:16  
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping have tea after a walk along East Lake in Wuhan. Photograph: ANI
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09:12   Day 2 of Modi-Xi talks starts with stroll by lake in Wuhan
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping walked together at the picturesque East Lake in Wuhan on Saturday.

On the second and last day of the informal summit, the two leaders were seen actively engaging with each other while walking by the lake.

Also, no aides were present with the two leaders.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Raveesh Kumar captured the moment.

'Taking India-China relations on a forward-looking path, charting the future direction of the relationship! PM @narendramodi and Chinese President Xi take a walk together along the East Lake in Wuhan today morning,' he wrote.

After the walk, Prime Minister Modi and President Xi will take a boat ride at the East Lake.

The East Lake, a large freshwater lake in Wuhan city, is the largest urban lake in China. It is one of the most popular tourist sites in the country, with over a million visiting the lake annually.

This will be followed by a private lunch hosted by the Chinese President in honour of Prime Minister Modi.

At an event on Friday, Prime Minister Modi and President Xi were welcomed by a live band in Wuhan city playing an instrumental rendition of 1982 Bollywood hit song from 'Yeh Vaada Raha' - 'Tu, tu hai wahi, dil ne jise apna kaha.'The Prime Minister, who is currently on a two-day visit to China, will depart for India on Saturday afternoon. -- ANI
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07:52   Modi on Weibo: Held 'extensive, fruitful' talks with President Xi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said he held 'extensive and fruitful' talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping during their first round of two-day informal summit in Wuhan.

'I am very pleased to meet with President Xi Jinping in Wuhan. We conducted extensive and fruitful talks and exchanged opinions on strengthening India-China relations and other international issues,' Modi said in a post in the popular Chinese social media Weibo, where he has 1,83,112 followers.

'Thank you, President Xi Jinping, for the wonderful gesture of personally accompanying me in the Hubei Provincial Museum. The Museum is home to great facets of Chinese history and culture,' he said.

Modi and Xi are due to conclude their unprecedented informal summit today, seen as an effort by India and China to rebuild trust and improve ties that were hit by the 73-day-long Doklam standoff last year.  -- PTI

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