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Tue, 07 August 2018
Mamata, Rajini pay respects to Karunanidhi at Gopalapuram

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23:36   Mamata, Rajini pay respects to Karunanidhi at Gopalapuram
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee with M K Stalin and Kanimozhi at Gopalapuram in Chennai where the mortal remains of DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi have been kept.

Actor-turned-politician Rajinikanth also reached Gopalpuram residence to pay his respects.
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23:27   Allowing outside food in multiplexes may create security issue: Govt to HC
The Maharashtra government stated today in an affidavit in the Bombay high court that it does not deem it necessary to interfere with the ban on outside food in multiplexes, as it may create 'chaos' or 'security issues'.

During the recent Monsoon Session, the government had told the state legislature that multiplexes and malls have been directed to allow eatables and beverages inside, after some legislators raised the issue of high prices of food at such places.

In the affidavit filed today, the government, though, said it will direct multiplexes and cinema halls to provide drinking water free of charge, and sell food and beverages at a price not exceeding the maximum retail price.

A bench of Justices Ranjit More and Anuja Prabhudessai will be hearing a petition challenging ban on outside food and beverages at multiplexes and cinema halls tomorrow.

The affidavit, filed by Venkatesh Bhatt, deputy secretary, home department, said it does not want to interfere with the restriction.

"Although there is no specific provision in the Maharashtra Cinema (Regulations) Rules 1966 to prohibit viewers from taking their own food items or water inside, as per the opinion of the director general of police, carrying own food may create chaos and may lead to security issue," the affidavit said.

"It is therefore submitted that there is no necessity to modify or make any changes in the prevailing rules (which bar outside food or beverages)," it said.

On June 27 this year, the court had asked the government why it could not regulate the prices of food items at multiplexes which are exorbitant.

The public interest litigation (PIL) filed through advocate Aditya Pratap has challenged this prohibition.

The court had directed the state to file an affidavit clarifying its stand. Advocate Pratap said he will oppose the state's stand tomorrow as 'there are serious issues of fundamental rights involved'.  -- PTI
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22:43  
Lawyers for the DMK reach residence of Madras high court acting Chief Justice Huluvadi G Ramesh who had agreed to hear the case against denial of burial land by Tamil Nadu government at Marina Beach for Karunanidhi.  -- ANI
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22:29   Rahul, Rajini bat for Karunanidhi's burial at Marina
Congress president Rahul Gandhi and actor-turned-politician Rajinikanth have spoken in support for a burial land for DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi at Marina Beach. 

'Like Jayalalitha ji, Kalaignar (#Karunandhi) was an expression of the voice of the Tamil people. That voice deserves to be given space on Marina Beach. I am sure the current leaders of Tamil Nadu will be magnanimous in this time of grief,' Gandhitweeted.

"Tamil Nadu government must take all measures, for last rites of Karunanidhi to be performed near Anna memorial. This would be the highest respect we would be paying to him. This is my humble request," said Rajinikanth.

While former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah said, "A great leader has passed away, he did not only represent Tamil Nadu but India as a whole. He fought for federalism and for Tamil people. The people of Tamil Nadu will never forgive State Govt if it denies burial land which is requested by DMK."
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22:12   State funeral for Karunanidhi, Centre declares day of national mourning
The central government has decided to accord state funeral to DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi, ministry of home affairs said tonight.

National flag to fly at half-mast tomorrow in Delhi, all state capitals and across Tamil Nadu as a mark of respect to Karunanidhi.

A day of national mourning has been declared for tomorrow.

Tamil media reports that petrol pumps will be shut from 6 am to 6 pm tomorrow in Chennai.
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21:29   DMK moves HC seeking Karunanidhi's burial at Marina
The Drvida Munnetra Kazhagam has challenged Tamil Nadu government's decision not to allow burial of Karunanidhi at Marina Beach on legal grounds.

Madras high court acting Chief Justice Huluvadi G Ramesh agrees to hear the case by 10.30 pm today.

DMK cadres held impromptu protests and engaged in sloganeering demanding a place for Karunanidhi's burial at the Marina beach.  -- ANI, PTI
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21:24   Karnataka declares one day of state mourning
Karnataka government has declared one-day state mourning tomorrow on Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief Karunanidhi's demise.

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said in Karunanidhi's death, 'we have lost a unique personality' in Indian politics, and Tamil Nadu a 'visionary leader'.

Terming him a 'legend', the chief minister said 'Karunanidhi strived for the development of Tamil Nadu throughout his life and built a stronghold for regional party DMK'.

"I had met him several times. Every time he made me understand the importance of regional parties.The popular schemes he implemented for the downtrodden people are replicated in various states today," Kumaraswamy added. 

Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda said he has lost his 'elder brother'.

The nation has lost a 'stalwart', Gowda said in his condolence message, recalling his association with the former Tamil Nadu chief minister for over five decades.

"Karunanidhi's role in me becoming the Prime Ministerwas huge," the former prime minister said, adding that his death is a 'great loss' to the country and personally for him.  -- PTI, ANI
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20:49   For atheist Karunanidhi, believers wish comes true
Religious Hindus, whether Saivites or Vaishnavites, pray for death on Ekadasi and their cremation on the very next day, namely, Dwadasi. 

For, they believe Dwadasi is the day when gates of the heavens are opened as per the fortnightly zodiac signs under the Hindu almanac, which fall between every full moon and new moon day.  

The belief is that those who breathe their last on Ekadasi day, that is the 11th day in the 15-day cycle, and are cremated on the very next day, are sure to be blessed with the heavenly abode. 

Karunanidhi was a sworn atheist, but for believers among his cadres, it is a certainty that by dying on Ekadasi day and most likely being buried on Dwadasi, Wednesday, he would ascend to heaven. 

But then, Karunanidhi's believer-critics have this to add: "By scripting the story of Sri Ramanujar (1017-1137), the Vaishnavite saint, for a Tamil serial on the family-owned Kalaignar TV, Karunanidhi has acquired the high position that every believer prays for."

It is another matter that Karunanidhi had declared before launching the serial that he was doing so to highlight the early social reform movement that Sri Ramanujar had initiated -- by defying tradition and traditionalists, and initiating the mass conversion of the untouchables of his time into Brahmins, by performing the required religious rites, including the 'sacred thread ceremony'.

-- N Sathiya Moorthy in Chennai
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20:36   Stalin requests DMK cadre to maintain peace
Karunanidhi's son and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam working president M K Stalin appealed to party cadre to maintain discipline.

'Do not give room for untoward incidents. Maintain peace,' said Stalin in a statement, adding, 'Hand over anti socials to police , they may attempt to tarnish DMK.'

He also urged DMK workers to 'cooperate with the police and prove that DMK follows military discipline'.  -- Agencies
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20:26   Controversy erupts as TN govt denies space for Karunanidhi's burial at Marina Beach
DMK patriarch and five-time Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi breathed his last at the Kauvery hospital in Chennai on Tuesday after a 11-day health battle. He was 94. 

Politics has begun over where Kalaignar will be buried as the AIADMK government denies a site for his burial at the significant Marina Beach.

The Tamil Nadu government, headed by AIADMK's EPS has alloted a burial site in Guindy instead of Marina Beach. The Tamil Nadu government, in an official statement, has cited several cases pending against memorials on Marina Beach for denying a resting spot to Karunanidhi. The government has allotted land near Gandhi Mandapam.

AIADMK founder MG Ramachandran, former Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa and DMK founder Annadurai have been laid to rest at the iconic Marina Beach, making it even more significant for the Tamil Nadu population that celebrates is politicians. Denying a similar site to an equally tall leader can spark a severe political crisis in the state that is very emotional over the demise of Karunanidhi. 

What will happen tomorrow:
Karunanidhi's mortal remains to be taken to his Gopalapuram residence. Family members and relatives can pay their respects between 8.30 pm and 1 am. 

Following this, Karunanidhi's mortal remains will be kept at his CIT Colony residence between 1 am and 3 am. 

At 4 am, his remains will be taken to Rajaji Hall where party cadre, general public and political leaders can pay their respects"
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19:49   Karunanidhi's body to be kept at Rajaji Hall for the public
M Karunanidhi's body will be first taken to daughter Kanimozhi's residence in CIT Colony from the Kauvery Hospital, then to the Gopalapuram residence. 

From there the DMK chief's remains will be kept at the Rajaji Hall for the public to pay their last respects.

It is learnt that PM Modi will go to Chennai tomorrow to pay his last respects. 

Telangana CM KCR, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal will also be flying to Chennai tomorrow to pay their respects. 

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee is already on her way to Chennai. Paying tribute, she said, "Today India lost one of its greatest sons. And Tamil Nadu lost its father figure. Farewell @Kalaignar89. My deepest condolences to the people of Tamil Nadu, @arivalayam, @mkstalin, @KanimozhiDMK and family. India mourns your loss."
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19:33   Tamil Nadu to observe one week of mourning
Tamil Nadu to observe one week of mourning as DMK chief M Karunanidhi passes away at the age of 94. 

He was suffering from various age-related ailments and was admitted to the Kauvery Hospital on July 28 with an urinary tract infection that had also caused fever.
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19:12   'Tamil politics can never be the same again'
Reactions from across the political spectrum are pouring in after Karunanidhi's demise. 

BJP chief Amit Shah said: "Anguished to learn about the demise of veteran politician, M Karunanidhi ji. He had an impressive life journey, starting as a screen writer in Tamil film industry to being five term Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. No one can forget his struggle during Emergency, imposed in 1975."

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Twitter wrote, "News has just come in of the passing of Kalaignar Muthuvel Karunanidhi, a giant of Indian politics as CM of Tamil Nadu & a screenplay writer who gave voice to the Dravidian movement through his immortal dialogues. Tamil politics can never be the same again. RIP."

Superstar-turned-politician Rajinikanth said, "Today is a black day in my life, one which I can never forget as I lost my Kalaignar. I pray for his soul."
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18:56   PM Modi expresses his deepest condolences after death of Karunanidhi
Shortly after Karunanidhi's demise, Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays his tribute and passes on his condolences to the family. 

He wrote, "Deeply saddened by passing away of Kalaignar Karunanidhi. He was one of the senior most leaders of India. We have lost a deep-rooted mass leader, prolific thinker, accomplished writer and a stalwart whose life was devoted to the welfare of the poor and the marginalised."
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18:49   What the hospital had to say about Karunanidhi's demise
The Kaveri hospital's statement on the DMK patriarch's demise. 

Photograph: ANI/Twitter
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18:46   DMK patriarch Karunanidhi passes away
After his health deteriorated, DMK patriarch Karunanidhi passed away at 6.10 pm at Kauvery hospital. 

He was 94 years old. 

Earlier in the evening, the hospital had put out a bulletin stating that he was extremely critical and unstable. 

Karunanidhi had spent 11 days in hospital. 
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18:33   CAG raises question over $2.1 bn aircraft deal with Boeing under UPA regime
National auditor CAG today raised questions over a USD 2.1 billion Indian Navy contract awarded to Boeing during the previous UPA regime, suggesting the American defence major was favoured over rival bidder EADS CASA of Spain for procuring a fleet of P-8I maritime reconnaissance aircraft.

In its report tabled in Parliament, the CAG said the defence ministry enhanced the financial bid of Spanish aerospace firm to provide for a 20 year "product support" cost on assumption that Boeing's offer had similar provision.
Boeing, at a later stage, offered the aircraft maintenance support under a separate negotiable contract, the  auditor said, while terming as incorrect the conclusion that the American company was the lowest bidder. 

It said enhancing the financial bid of the Spanish company by including its product support cost resulted in pushing it to L-2 status (second lowest bidder).
As per the report, the contract was concluded with Boeing in January 2009 at $2.1 billion (about Rs 14,500 crore at the current exchange rate).
"At a later date, Boeing, USA, offered the product support under a separate negotiable contract and consequently the deduced ranking of Boeing, USA as L-1 turned out to be incorrect," it said.
The CAG observed that the American aircraft was not "fully meeting" the needs of the Indian Navy, mainly due to limitations of radars installed onboard the aircraft.

-- PTI
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18:21  
Security has been upped outside Kauvery Hospital, but the groundswell of supporters, is increasing. 
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18:18  
DMK workers break down after Kauvery Hospital released statement that M Karunanidhi's health has deteriorated further.
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18:03   Karunanidhi's daughters break down, family at his house
DMK Chief Karunanidhi's daughter Selvi reaches their Gopalapuram residence. Like her sister, Kanimozhi, she was also in tears, unable to cope with the deteriorating health and inevitability of the outcome. All his family members are at the Gopalpuram residence.


West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will be landing in Chennai at 9:30 pm.


Tamil Nadu government has also ordered the closure of all Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation stores that sell alcohol in the state by 6 pm this evening as authorities brace for the worst. Kauvery Hospital's latest medical bulletin has said that functioning of Karunanidhi's vital organs continue to fail, despite all efforts by doctors.


All roads leading to Karunanidhi's Gopalpuram home are blocked. Even TV crews are not allowed to access, except for the party's own Kaliagnar TV.


Thousands of Kalaigars supporters have gathered outside the hospital, including a large number of women. Some supporters say they believe Karunanidhi will live for another 20 years. Old, young, women and men, all praying in unison for a positive outcome to his hospitalisation.


File pic of Karunanidhi's daughter Kanimozhi.
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17:39   Jaitley to resume office in 3rd week of Aug
Union Minister Arun Jaitley, who had undergone a kidney transplant surgery on May 14, is likely to resume office of Finance Minister in the third week of August, sources said. Jaitley, according to sources, is recovering well and will be able to assume the responsibilities of the Finance Ministry.


He has been quite active on social media -- writing blogs on various economic and non-economic issues, like National Register for Citizens (NRC) in Assam, over four-decades of Emergency, No-confidence Motion in Parliament, Rafael fighter jet deal, and GST.


On May 14, when Jaitley underwent a kidney surgery, Railway and Coal Minister Piyush Goyal was temporarily given additional charge of the Finance Ministry. Jaitley has been the Finance Minister since the Modi government assumed office in May 2014. He is also the leader of the Rajya Sabha. -- PTI
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17:20   Karunanidhi's vital organ functions continue to deteriorate: Hospital
"There has been a significant decline in the clinical condition of Kalaignar Dr M Karunanidhi over the last few hours. Despite maximum medical support, his vital organ functions continue to deteriorate. His condition is extremely critical and unstable."

That's the health bulletin from Kauvery Hospital.   
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17:11   Crowds surge outside Kauvery Hospital, praying for Karunanidhi
Long live, Kalaignar! chants outside Kauvery Hospital. As word spreads outside Karunanidhi's latest health condition, the number of DMK supporters outside Kauvery Hospital and his residence will only increase. Many supporters still hope that Karunanidhi will overcome his declining health and emerge to speak to the cadres. Vehicular movement to the DMK chief's Gopalpuram residence is now restricted. Supporters say he is the 'grandfather' of Dravida politics, the tallest leader in Tamil Nadu and they expect he will revive. Karunanidhi is 94.  He has never lost an election since 1954.
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16:40  
That's the latest health bulletin on Karunanidhi released by Kauvery Hospital, Chennai. 
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16:38   Karunanidhi's health extremely critical, unstable: Hospital bulletin
Kauvery Hospital's latest medical bulletin on the health of DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi has just been release. The bulletin says there has been a significant decline in the health condition of Karunanidhi in the last few hours. His condition is extremely critical and unstable. Despite continued medical support his organ functions continue to deteriorate, the bulletin said. 


DMK supporters have gathered outside the hospital, even as security has been upped. Karunanidhi's family has met Tamil Nadu CM E Palaniswami.
Riot control police has been deployed outside Kauvery Hospital.


Even as Karunanidhi's health deteriorated, his son and party working president M K Stalin led a delegation of family members and senior leaders to Tamil Nadu chief minister E Palaniswamis official residence on Greenways Road in Chennai around 2.30pm today. Sources said Stalin had briefed the chief minister on his fathers health. There have already been 21 deaths over the Karunanidhi's health and the government is taking no chances.


The 94-year-old five-time Tamil Nadu chief minister was being continuously monitored and treated with active medical support, a press release issued by the hospital said.


The hospital bulletin yesterday had said maintaining his vital organ functions continues to remain a challenge considering his age related ailments.

"His response to the medical interventions over the next 24 hours will determine the prognosis," Executive Director of the Hospital Dr Aravindan Selvaraj said in the terse two-paragraph release.


The doctors said that Karunanidhi is under 24-hour medical observation and on active support.  "His response to the medical interventions over the next 24 hours will determine the prognosis," Executive Director of the Hospital Dr Aravindan Selvaraj said yesterday.


Soon after the news of a decline in Karunanidhi's condition spread, hundreds of his supporters gathered outside the hospital, including a large number of women, some failing to control their tears, others waving at the TV cameras, preparing for a vigil at the facility in downtown Alwarpet. His supporters say that all they want is for Karunanidhi,


Image: Vice President Venkaiah Naidu was among the line-up of VVIPs who met the DMK leader in hospital.
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16:16   J-K: Infiltration bid foiled, 4 Army men killed
Update:  Four Army personnel including a Major lost their lives on Tuesday while foiling an infiltration bid in north Kashmir's Gurez sector. The operation is still underway.


The deceased have been identified as Major KP Rane, hawaldars Jamie Singh and Vikramjeet and rifleman Mandeep.There were eight terrorists who tried to infiltrate.


Of the eight, the Army killed four terrorists and the rest escaped. The terrorists fired at the soldiers near the 36 Rashtriya Rifles post at Govind Nallah on the Line of Control.Reacting to the incident, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and senior National Congress (NC) leader Farooq Abdullah said that if the Army personnel have been killed then India should also respond accordingly. Expressing concern over the deaths, Abdullah said that India could have normal relations with Pakistan provided the neighbour stopped infiltration.


"If Pakistan wants to maintain good relations with India, it is necessary that infiltration is stopped," he said. -- ANI
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16:02   SC pulls up Assam NRC coordinator and RGI, restrains them from talking to media
The Supreme Court today reprimanded Assam's National Register of Citizens coordinator and the Registrar General of India for their statements on the issue, saying it could have sent them to jail for contempt, and restrained them from speaking to media in future without its approval.
 
A bench comprising justices Ranjan Gogoi and R F Nariman termed as "most unfortunate" the statements made by Assam NRC coordinator Prateek Hajela and RGI Sailesh to media on the issue of dealing with claims and objections of those who have been left out in the draft NRC.
"Are you in any manner concerned with the claims and objections to be made... What have you said in newspapers and tell us how are you concerned with that," a visibly angry Justice Gogoi told the officials and asked them to read the news reports in the court.
"Don't forget, you are the officers of the court. Your job is to comply with our directions. How can you go to press like this," the bench said adding that, it could have sent both of them to jail.
Questioning the authority of the officials, the bench reprimanded them and restrained them from going to media in future on the NRC issue.
The bench said that it had asked the Centre to formulate standard operating procedures to deal with the claims and objections of those who have been left out in the draft NRC and accused the officials of making statements on modalities which squarely fell in its domain. -- PTI
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15:45   This is what actually kills CRPF jawans (not Naxals)
Heart attacks, depression and suicides claimed lives of CRPF troops 15 times more than anti-Naxal operations during the last two years, the government informed Parliament today. Minister of State for Home Hansraj G Ahir in a written reply in the Lok Sabha said while a total of 1,294 personnel of the force were killed between 2016 and July this year, 85 troops died in operations in the Left Wing Extremism affected states of Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Maharashtra.


According to data, last year 156 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel died due to heart attack, six due to malaria and dengue, 38 because of depression and suicide and 435 due to other non-operational reasons.


Similarly, the data for 2016 reveals that 92 troops of the force died due to heart attack, 5 due to dengue or malaria, 26 because of depression and suicides while 353 lost their lives due to other reasons. This year till July, 39 personnel died due to heart attack, 5 due to malaria and dengue, 19 because of depression and suicide while 124 lost their lives due to other reasons. -- PTI
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15:33   Activist Talib Hussain fighting for justice for Kathua rape victim goes missing
A habeas corpus petition has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking an urgent hearing against the alleged torture meted out to social activist Talib Hussain by Jammu and Kashmir police, in connection with the alleged Kathua rape and murder case.


The Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra is likely to hear the matter on Wednesday.The petitioner claimed, when Hussain was helping the family members of the Kathua victim, the police allegedly picked him up and there was no information as to where he is at present.


Hussain is a social activist, who led an agitation seeking justice for the family of the eight-year-old victim. The eight-year-old girl, belonging to a nomadic Muslim tribe, was abducted, drugged, gang-raped, tortured and killed in January. -- ANI


Image: Lawyer and activist Talib Hussain
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15:15   The Imran Khan I know is his own man
"Do you remember how I made my political party and do you remember the days of my struggle?' Imran Khan posed this question to me at the start of a recent meeting which took place days after his victory in the general elections 2018 of Pakistan.


It was not a formal interview. It was just a coffee meeting in his Bani Gala office where a big change was visible a few days before Imran Khan takes oath as Prime Minister. I was asked to deposit my mobile phone at the entrance of his office. This had never happened in the last two decades. I suddenly realised '" Ohh, I am going to meet the new Prime Minister of Pakistan.


Read Hamid Mir's column on Pakistan's PM-in-waiting here.
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15:01   Cong will give space to women; RSS is male chauvinist: Rahul
Congress president Rahul Gandhi today hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue of women safety and questioned his silence on the alleged incidents of rape of girls in some shelter homes in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.


The Congress leader said what they did against women in the past four years had not happened in the country in the past 3,000 years. He hit out at the BJP's ideological mentor, the RSS, alleging that it was a "male chauvinist organisation" and did not have women in it, thus cannot do what the Congress can for women.


Gandhi also promised to extend his party's full support to the passage of the women reservation bill and said if the Modi government does not bring it, the Congress will do so soon after coming to power. He also talked of empowering women within the Congress and bringing them forward in the organisation, for them to lead a state or the country one day.


He promised to includes more women in central units of the AICC, saying "the country needs them". Launching a fierce attack on the prime minister, he said various institutions were under attack by the BJP and the RSS, who have "devastated" the country, and that the Congress party will unitedly defeat them in the coming days. Referring to the government's slogan of "beti bachao, beti padhao", he said that it was actually for "saving the daughters from BJP MLAs", an apparent reference to some BJP leaders accused in rape cases. "Institutions are under attack in the country, be it Parliament, vidhan sabhas and the judiciary. Minorities, Dalits, women, tribals, small businessmen are under attack. We will fight the BJP and defeat them in the coming days. "The Congress party and the opposition are working together to fight the ideology of the BJP. We are fighting an ideological battle," he said while addressing a "Mahila Adhikaar Sammelan" at Talkatora Stadium here. "(He) had talked about changing India, had talked about 70 years...what they have done against women in the last four years, has not happened in the last 3,000 years in this country, leave alone 70 years," he said. He questioned the silence of Modi on atrocities against women in the backdrop of rapes of girls in shelter homes in Muzaffarpur in Bihar and in Uttar Pradesh. He said, "The prime minister speaks on everything - bullet train, toilets, but not women. Whenever there are atrocities on women, he does not speak up." He also said that whenever he goes abroad and embraces leaders, he has no answer on why women are not safe in India. Women are being raped in UP, Bihar and so many other states but the prime minister is quiet. Biggest difference between the BJP/RSS and the Congress is on the place of women. Talking about the women reservation bill, which is pending for the last few years, the Congress chief said the BJP lacks commitment on the issue and cited the example of BJP's ideological mentor -- the RSS, which he said was a "male chauvinist organisation".


He promised to bring women forward in framing the policy, manifesto and the organisation. He said his job as the Congress president is to ensure women have equal space in the organisation. "We are going to create space for you in the Congress party. We need to create special space for women in our party. We need to create a space at every level."
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14:52  
Chennai: DMK supporters continue to gather outside Kauvery Hospital where party Chief M Karunanidhi is currently admitted.
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14:49   I'm OK If Priyanka does not want to work with me: Salman
Superstar Salman Khan has congratulated Priyanka Chopra for bagging a major Hollywood project but said he got to know about her exit from "Bharat" just 10 days before the shooting. Director Ali Abbas Zafar had shared the news that Priyanka had left the project while hinting that it was because of her engagement with boyfriend Nick Jonas.


But there were reports of a fallout between Salman and the "Quantico" star, who has just bagged Hollywood film "Cowboys Ninja Vikings" opposite Chris Pratt Talking to reporters at the trailer launch of his upcoming production "Loveratri", Salman said if they knew that she had signed a big film in Hollywood, they wouldn't have stopped her.


"We got to know about it at the end moment and that too 10 days before the start of shooting. We got to know that she wants to leave the film and she has gone home," Salman said.


The actor said Priyanka gave a "different reason" to them about leaving the film. "That time some other reasons were given to us. That (Priyanka's rumoured engagement to Nick) might also be the reason but this (her Hollywood project) is also a reason. Whatever the reason, whether marriage or film, or she does not want to work in India or she does not want to work with me and in only Hollywood films and TV shows, it's hers," he said. "We are happy and supportive about her doing really good work. So what if she is not working here. She is making India proud. If she does not want to work with Salman Khan, at least she is working with a big hero of Hollywood. So we are okay with that," he said.


Salman said after Priyanka left the project, they approached Katrina Kaif who agreed to do the film, despite being busy with Shah Rukh Khan-starrer "Zero" and Aamir Khan's "Thugs of Hindostan". "When she told us that it is not working out for the reasons she gave us, then we straight away said 'ok. No problem. All the best' and we went for Katrina." "Priyanka's dates were available and so we had a month. Katrina is doing 'Zero' with Shah Rukh and 'Thugs of Hindostan' with Aamir (Khan) and between all this she had to get the dates for another film with me after 'Tiger Zinda Hai'," Salman said.  -- PTI
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14:40   Outogoing Trai chief finally reveals why he outed his Aadhaar number
Outgoing Trai chairman R S Sharma -- whose open dare to Twitterati on Aadhaar misuse had caused a social media furore -- asserted today that mere knowledge of Aadhaar number cannot increase one's "digital vulnerabilities".


Sharma was also quick to add that the intention behind disclosure of his 12-digit number was never to abet others to publish or disclose their Aadhaar numbers. Breaking his silence over the issue, Sharma said he has always maintained that disclosure, knowledge or sharing of the biometric ID number does not increase "digital vulnerabilities".


Sharma, who retires on August 9, was speaking on the sidelines of a conference where telecom regulator Trai announced that two of its mobile apps -- do not disturb app that reports pesky calls and MyCall app that measures call quality -- will be available on UMANG platform.


"I have made it very clear that the intention was not really to abet other people to publish their Aadhaar number," Sharma said replying to a specific query.


Following Trai chief's Aadhaar challenge last month, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) had asked people not to share publicly their 12-digit identifier on Internet and social media, or pose such challenges to others.


"Such activities are uncalled for and should be refrained as these are not in accordance with the law," UIDAI had said in a statement. An all-out war had raged on Twitter after the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) chief shared his Aadhaar number publicly, challenging anyone to show how mere knowledge of the number can be misused to harm him.


While some claimed to have got access to his bank account number and email, Sharma refuted the claims saying they were untrue. -- PTI
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14:32   69 terrorists infiltrated into J-K this year
Sixty-nine terrorists have infiltrated into Jammu and Kashmir from across the border till June this year, Lok Sabha was informed today.


There were 133 attempts of infiltration by terrorists from across the border and there were 69 net infiltrations, Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said in written reply to a question.


Ahir said till June this year, 14 terrorists were killed while 50 others were returned from border. A total of 123 terrorists could enter Jammu and Kashmir following 406 infiltration attempts from across the border in 2017.


"As per reports, some locals have been found supporting terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir. Appropriate action under law is taken against such persons. Security forces have been tackling terrorism successfully and as a result 694 terrorists have been neutralized and 368 terrorists or suspects have also been apprehended since 2014 to July, 2018," he said.


The minister said there were 308 incidents of violence in Jammu and Kashmir till July this year in which 113 terrorists were killed in 90 encounters. Altogether 49 security personnel were also killed this year so far. In 2017, till July, there were 191 incidents of violence in which 112 terrorists were killed in 69 encounters. As many as 39 security personnel were also killed. Ahir also said there were 73 incidents of violence during the period of suspension of operation in the month of Ramzan in comparison to 34 such incidents during the previous month.


A total of 23 terrorists, eight security personnel and three civilians were killed during the Ramzan ceasefire, while 14 terrorists, five security personnel and eight civilians were killed in the previous month. -- PTI
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14:15   Women being raped left, right, centre: SC
The Supreme Court today expressed concern over incidents of rape in the country and said that women are being raped "left, right and centre". A bench comprising Justices M B Lokur, Deepak Gupta and K M Joseph pulled up the Bihar government for funding an NGO which ran the shelter home in Muzaffarpur where girls were allegedly raped and sexually abused.


The bench referred to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data and said that every six hours, a woman is raped in India. The court referred the NCRB data and said 38,947 women were raped in India in 2016.


"What is to be done? Girls and women are getting raped left, right and centre," the bench said. Advocate Aparna Bhat, who was appointed as an amicus curiae in the matter, told the court that no compensation has been paid to the alleged victims of sexual assault at the Muzaffarpur shelter home. The lawyer also said that one of the girls, who was allegedly raped at the shelter home in Muzaffarpur, was still "missing".


Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), which conducted an audit of shelter homes, told the court that out of 110 such institutions in Bihar, "grave concerns" have been raised about 15.


To this, the Bihar government told the apex court that nine cases of sexual abuse have been lodged involving these 15 institutions run by various NGOs.


The apex court had earlier restrained the electronic media from showing, even in morphed form, images of the alleged victims of rape and sexual assault at the shelter home, observing they cannot be compelled to "relive the trauma" again and again.


The bench had said that it had not restrained the police authority from conducting probe and if they want to question the alleged victims, they would have to take assistance of professional counsellors and qualified child psychiatrist in consultation with National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences in Bengaluru and Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) in Mumbai.


Over 30 girls were allegedly raped at the shelter home run by Brajesh Thakur, the chief of the state-funded NGO. The alleged sexual exploitation of the girls was first highlighted in an audit report submitted by TISS to the state's social welfare department in April.


An FIR was lodged against 11 people, including Thakur, on May 31. The probe has now been taken over by the CBI. In all, sexual abuse of 34 inmates out of 42 was confirmed in their medical examination, while two others who were unwell were yet to undergo medical tests. The TISS audit report stated that many girls at the shelter home had complained of sexual abuse.  -- PTI


MAGE: Police personnel escort children out of a government-funded shelter home in Muzaffarpur after the scandal broke out. Photograph: PTI Photo
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13:49   In a first, three women judges in Supreme Court
With the swearing-in of Justice Indira Banerjee, the Supreme Court will for the first time in its history have three sitting women judges. Justice Banerjee is the eighth woman judge in the Supreme Court since Independence. She became a high court judge on February 5, 2002 and was made a chief justice of the Calcutta High Court on April 5, 2017. She will retire on September 23, 2022.


Before her, senior advocate Indu Malhotra was appointed as the seventh woman judge in the apex court. Malhotra was the first senior woman advocate to be directly appointed as the judge of the Supreme Court.


Among the three sitting women judges, Justice R Banumathi is the senior most and was elevated to the apex court on August 13, 2014. The first woman judge of the apex court was Justice Fathima Beevi who was appointed in 1989, 39 years after the Supreme Court was set up in 1950.


She was elevated to the apex court after her retirement as a judge of the Kerala High Court.


The second was Justice Sujata V Manohar, who started her career as a judge of the Bombay High Court and rose to become the chief justice of Kerala High Court. She was elevated to the apex court where she remained from November 8, 1994 till August 27, 1999.


Justice Ruma Pal followed Justice Manohar after a gap of almost five months and became the longest-serving woman judge, from January 28, 2000 to June 2, 2006. After her retirement, it took four years to appoint the next woman judge.


Justice Gyan Sudha Misra was elevated to the Supreme Court from the Jharkhand High Court where she was the chief justice. Her tenure in the apex court was from April 30, 2010 to April 27, 2014.


During her stint, she was joined by Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, who served in the apex court between September 13, 2011 and October 29, 2014.


These two judges created a history by holding court together as an all-women bench for a day in 2013. After the retirement of Justice Desai on October 29, 2014, Justice Banumathi was the lone woman judge in the apex court till the appointment of Justice Malhotra on April 27, this year. Justice Banumathi will retire on July 19, 2020. -- PTI


Image: Justice Indira Banerjee
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13:36   Ishrat case: Court rejects discharge pleas of former cops Vanzara, Amin
A special CBI court in Ahmedabad, Gujarat today, rejected the discharge applications of former police officers DG Vanzara and NK Amin in the case of alleged fake encounter of Ishrat Jahan and three others. Special judge J K Pandya rejected the applications of Vanzara and Amin.


The court last month concluded the hearing of arguments of the two accused retired police officers, the CBI and Ishrat Jahan's mother Shamima Kauser, who had challenged Vanzara's discharge plea.


Vanzara, a former deputy inspector general of police in Gujarat, had sought discharge on the ground of parity with the state's former in-charge Director General of Police P P Pandey, who was discharged in the case in February this year for want of evidence against him.


Amin, who retired as the superintendent of police, sought his discharge on the ground that the encounter was genuine and that testimonies of witnesses produced by the Central Bureau of Investigation were not reliable.


Ishrat Jahan's mother sought to oppose the pleas of Amin and Vanzara, and told the court that her daughter was "murdered following a conspiracy between high-ranking police officers and others holding powerful and influential positions".


She alleged that Vanzara played a "direct and key role" in the conspiracy behind the "staged encounter".


Ishrat Jahan, a 19-year-old woman from Mumbra area of Thane district near Mumbai, and three others - Javed Shaikh alias Pranesh Pillai, Amjadali Akbarali Rana and Zeeshan Johar - were killed by the police in an "encounter" on the outskirts of Ahmedabad on June 15, 2004.


The police had then claimed that the four had terror links and plotted to kill then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi.


Image: Ishrat Jahan
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13:32  
Ishrat Jahan encounter case: CBI Special Court rejects the discharge pleas of former police officers DG Vanzara and NK Amin.
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13:28   Women being raped left, right and centre: SC pulls up BIhar govt
The Bihar police has found one woman who was among the 11 women who went missing from another shelter home of Brajesh Thakur in Muzaffarpur.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court expresses concern over incidents of rape in India, says women are being raped "left, right and centre". The SC refers to the National Crime Records Bureau data, and says every six hours a woman is raped in India.


The SC pulls up the Bihar government for funding the NGO running the Muzaffarpur shelter home where girls were allegedly raped and sexually abused. The court says the government did not inspect the shelters.

The Supreme Court raps the shelter home, asks, 'who is giving money to the shelter home in the state?'


Details awaited
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13:22   Jodhpur: Man burnt alive in Jodhpur
A man was found half ablaze in Anganwa village in Rajasthan's Jodhpur city. After getting information from the villagers on Monday morning, Jodhpur police reached the spot, doused the flames and sent the injured to Mahatma Gandhi hospital.


However, after reaching the hospital, the victim succumbed to his injuries. The body has been sent for autopsy.A preliminary investigation has revealed that the deceased, identified as Tarun, was attacked brutally before setting ablaze.


According to Mandor Police Officer Pradeep Kumar, "A motorcycle has been recovered from the crime scene. Police are investigating the matter." No arrest has been made so far. -- ANI
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13:04   China's hypersonic aircraft, Starry Sky-2, could be used to carry nuclear missiles
First test flight of experimental design, which rides its own shock waves, deemed a 'huge success'. Read the report here.
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13:02   Amarnath yatra resumes from Jammu, 454 pilgrims leave for cave shrine
The Amarnath yatra resumed today from Jammu after two days with a fresh batch of 454 pilgrims, including 63 women, leaving the Bhagwati Nagar base camp for the cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas.


The yatra was suspended from Jammu on Sunday, coinciding with the separatist-sponsored two-day strike in protest against the legal challenge to the validity of Article 35A, which provides special rights and privileges to the natives of Jammu and Kashmir.


A police official said the 36th batch of 454 pilgrims, comprising 391 men and 63 women, left the base camp in a convoy of 11 vehicles under tight security.


While 230 pilgrims, including 30 women, have opted to undertake the yatra from the shortest 12-km Baltal route in Ganderbal district, 194 others, including 33 women, are performing the yatra from the traditional 36-km Pahalgam track, the official said, adding the pilgrims heading for Pahalgam also included 33 Sadhus.


The 60-day annual yatra commenced from the twin tracks on June 28. It is scheduled to conclude on August 26, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan. -- PTI
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12:32   World Champion Mirabai Chanu pulls out of Asian Games
World Champion weightlifter Mirabai Chanu today pulled out of the Asian Games after failing to recover from a lower back injury, which is yet to be fully diagnosed.
   
"Yes, Mirabai will not be taking part in the Asian Games," Indian Weightlifting Federation Secretary Sahdev Yadav told PTI.
 
The decision comes in the wake of national coach Vijay Sharma recommendation that the Commonwealth gold-medallist must pull out of Jakarta event from August 18 to be fit for the Olympic qualifiers, later this year.
The reigning CWG champion is struggling with an unidentified lower-back problem since May and is yet to begin full-fledged weight training.  
When pain subsided last week, Mirabai travelled to Mumbai to get treated and resume weight training.
 
However, the 23-year-old felt discomfort again, prompting Sharma to recommend to the federation that she pull out to avoid aggravating the injury ahead of the Olympic qualifiers.
 
"The Olympic qualifiers event is approaching and that is more important than the Asian Games," Sharma had said.
 
The Manipuri weightlifter's absence from the upcoming Asian Games comes as a huge setback for India, as she was considered as one of the strongest contenders for a gold medal in the event.
The World Championship, scheduled to be held in Ashgabat from November 1, will be the first Olympic qualifying event this year. -- PTI  
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12:26   Abu Salem's plea seeking parole to get married, rejected
The Bombay high court today rejected 1993 Mumbai bombings convict Abu Salem's plea seeking parole of 45 days to get married, ANI reported.

Salem had approached the high court seeking 45 days' parole to marry Mumbra resident Kausar Bahar.

Salem, who is lodged in Taloja jail, challenged in court the orders rejecting his parole plea. 

The petition came up for hearing before a division bench of acting chief justice Vijaya Kapse Tahilramani and Justice Mahesh Sonak on Tuesday.

According to the police, Salem, who is in his 50s, was to tie the knot, reportedly for the third time, with Kausar.

In 2015, the Mumbra woman had submitted an application in the special TADA court, which was hearing the blasts case, stating she wanted to marry Salem and he, too, had agreed to tie the knot with her, the official said.

This was the same woman who had claimed to have married Salem during a train journey to Uttar Pradesh in 2014, he said.

The gangster, extradited from Portugal in 2005, originally hails from Azamgarh district of Uttar Pradesh.
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11:51  
One Army major and three jawans killed in a terror attack in Gurez, Jammu and Kashmir. Two terrorists have also been killed. 
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11:47   Nirmala is why AIADMK may vote against BJP's RS poll nominee
The Rajya Sabha deputy chairman's election on August 9 could be closer than what the BJP leadership anticipates -- for the simple reason that the AIADMK, which packs 13 MPs in the Upper House, may vote against the ruling party's candidate.


The AIADMK, which has been favourably inclined towards the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had a change of heart after what it calls the "ill-treatment" of Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recently.


On July 24, OPS, along with AIADMK leader Dr V Maitreyan, went to meet Sitharaman at her South Block office. They waited in vain, as Sitharaman did not meet OPS.


On landing at Chennai airport that evening, OPS quoted CN Annadurai to the waiting media-men, "Edhaiyum thaangum idhayam vendum (you need a brave heart to bear everything)."


But clearly, the insult rankles for the AIADMK, which had voted for the NDA government in the no-confidence motion only days ago.


"Tamil pride was affected," says Dr Maitreyan, adding that the AIADMK's 13 votes will go to the Congress nominee unless BJP president Amit Shah speaks to OPS and apologises for the snub.


So, as things stand, unless a whip is issued, all the 13 MPs will vote against the ruling party nominee.


As proof of the potential outcome, AIADMK sources pointed to the election of TDP's C M Ramesh to the prestigious Public Accounts Committee on Monday, which was enabled by the Opposition voting for him.


Be sure, says Dr Maitreyan, the AIADMK will make it a point to defeat the BJP nominee.
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11:43   Karunanidhi still critically ill, fans keep vigil outside hospital
DMK supporters and fans of the party chief M Karunanidhi keep vigil outside Chennai's Kauvery Hospital where the 94-year-old is undergoing treatment.


The hospital had yesterday stated there was a decline in his medical condition.


As with yesterday, today too, as news of the DMK patriarch health suffering a setback spread, party workers and leaders thronged the Kauvery Hospital.


Karunanidhis wife, Dayalu Ammal, arrived last morning, which further strengthened rumours that at the hospital strengthened the rumours about the leaders deteriorating health condition that were already doing the rounds on social media.


Karunanidhis family including sons MK Stalin, MK Alagiri and MK Tamilarasu and daughter Kanimozhi also reached the hospital in the morning.
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11:22   3 judges including Justice K M Joseph sworn in as judges of SC
Justices Indira Banerjee, Vineet Saran and K M Joseph were today sworn in as judges of the Supreme Court in order of seniority notified by the Centre. The swearing-in ceremony started at 10.30 am in the CJI's courtroom and Justice Banerjee was the first to take oath followed by justices Saran and Joseph.


The oath was administered to the three judges by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra in a packed courtroom in presence of all judges, law officers and advocates. With the appointment of the three judges, the total strength of the judges in the apex court has gone up to 25 against the sanctioned strength of 31.


While Justice Banerjee, was the chief justice of Madras High Court, justices Saran and Joseph were chief justices of Orissa and Uttarakhand high courts respectively. -- PTI


File pic: Justice KM Joseph
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11:18   Swaraj to address UN General Assembly session on Sept 29
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will address the annual high-level UN General Assembly session here on September 29, according to the provisional list of speakers released by the UN.


Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not likely to attend this year's UNGA session. He had given his maiden address to the UN General Assembly as Prime Minister in 2014.


According to the first provisional list of speakers for the General Debate of the 73rd session of the General Assembly, Swaraj will address the high-level session in the afternoon of September 29. She had addressed the General Debate last year as well.


The General Debate will open on September 25 and run through October 1. US President Donald Trump, who had delivered his first address to global leaders from the General Assembly hall's iconic green podium last year, will address the high-level session on the morning of September 25. The US is traditionally the second speaker on the opening day of the General Debate, after Brazil. -- PTI
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10:55   Justice Joseph sworn in at #3
Justices Indira Banerjee, Vineet Saran and K M Joseph sworn in as judges of Supreme Court in order of seniority notified by Centre.

First reactions from the Congress: "The government has given the message that if a judge doesn't make a judgement in their favour, he may be treated the same. I believe that this day will be seen as a 'black day' in the history of Indian judiciary. This is the arrogance of the govt: Kapil Sibal on Justice KM Joseph.
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10:50   Indian-American elected to board of White House Correspondents Association
Anita Kumar has become the first Indian-American to be elected to the board of the White House Correspondents Association more than a century-old apex body of journalists covering the US president.


Kumar, who has been covering the White House since 2012, was elected unopposed to the WHCA Board. Born and brought up in Charlottesville, she went to the University of Virginia.


After college, she started her journalism career from the News and Advance in Lynchburg, Virginia and the News and Record in Greensboro, North Carolina.


St Petersburg Times, now known as The Tampa Bay Times, was her first major organisation, where she worked for 10 years before moving to the US capital.


Kumar is now the White House Correspondent for the McClatchy group of newspapers. "Last year, when I ran for the first time, and I ran for the president. A few people encouraged me to run for the president of the body because they thought this would be such a statement to the Trump White House that somebody like me and a woman would be the (WHCA) president," she told PTI in an interview.


Now covering the White House for the second president, she feels that access to journalists has been an issue in both the presidency she covered.
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10:32   Bihar: Man dies after toilet wall collapses at Patna station
A 70-year-old man died after a wall of a bathroom collapsed in the second class passengers' waiting room at the Patna Junction railway station on Tuesday morning.The man, named Veer Bahadur Singh, was a resident of Vishunpur area in Vaishali district. He was supposed to travel from Patna to Kolkata. Railway authorities are investigating the matter. -- ANI
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10:27   Rahul calls Rafale 'biggest scam' at Cong Parl meeting
Congress President Rahul Gandhi and other party leaders including Jyotiraditya Scindia, KC Venugopal and Ranjeet Ranjan arrive for the Congress Parliamentary Party meeting. All Congress MPs have been asked to be present at the meeting, which is believed to be a strategy meet to corner the government over several issues.


At the meeting, Rahul says the Rafale deal is the biggest scam and cornered PM Modi saying he was silent on all issues related to corruption. 
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10:17   Tennis star Serena Williams suffering from postpartum emotions
Superstar mom and tennis legend Serena Williams says she is suffering from "postpartum emotions".


The 23-time Grand Slam winner says she is struggling trying to deal with striking a work-life balance. The 36-year-old American is trying to regain top form after missing most of the 2017 WTA season due to pregnancy.


"I read several articles that said postpartum emotions can last up to three years if not dealt with," Williams said on Monday.


Williams' disclosure comes a week after she suffered the worst loss of her career in San Jose, losing the final 12 games in a shocking 6-1, 6-0 first-round upset to unseeded Johanna Konta.  -- PTI
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09:23   R K Dhawan's demise leaves deep void in Congress family: Rahul
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said that the demise of senior party leader R K Dhawan has left a deep void in the party.

R K Dhawan, a close confidant of Indira Gandhi and known to be part of her inner circle during the Emergency years, breathed his last at the B L Kapur hospital yesterday.

He was 81. 

"The passing away of Shri RK Dhawan ji, who I have known since childhood, leaves a deep void in the Congress family of which he was an important, senior member - loved, respected and admired by all. My condolences go out to his friends and his family in their time of grief," Gandhi said. 
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08:41   Amid seniority row, Justice K M Joseph to take oath today
The oath-taking ceremony of three judges elevated to the Supreme Court -- Justices Indira Banerjee, Vineet Saran and K M Joseph -- will take place today in the order of seniority notified by the Centre.

Highly placed sources in the Supreme Court said that nothing much can be done at this stage and the concerns raised by some of the apex court judges would be discussed after the three judges are sworn-in on Tuesday.

The sources said except Justice Ranjan Gogoi, a member of the apex court collegium who was on leave, others had 'informally' deliberated on the Centre's alleged decision to lower down the seniority of Justice K M Joseph.

However, it was decided that the oath-taking ceremony should take place.

The Centre on Friday last came out with the notification on the appointment of the three judges to the apex court by putting at number three the seniority of Justice K M Joseph.

In the notification, the names of Justice Indira Banerjee, Chief Justice of the Madras high court, was at number one, followed by that of Justice Vineet Saran, Chief Justice of the Orissa high court.

It is the convention that seniority of the judges is determined in accordance with the order of names notified by the government.

The warrants of appointment of the three judges were signed by the President on August 3.

Justice Joseph's elevation to the apex court put an end to a protracted stand-off between the government and the judiciary. -- PTI
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08:30   Trump blames environmental laws for California fires
United States President Donald Trump has blamed "bad environmental laws" for California wildfires and said the state is burning because the laws aren't allowing available water to be properly utilised.

"California wildfires are being magnified & made so much worse by the bad environmental laws which aren't allowing massive amounts of readily available water to be properly utilized. It is being diverted into the Pacific Ocean. Must also tree clear to stop fire from spreading," Trump tweeted.

The US President further wrote that California Governor Jerry Brown must allow the 'free flow' of water from the North which he said was 'foolishly being diverted' into the Pacific Ocean.

"Governor Jerry Brown must allow the Free Flow of the vast amounts of water coming from the North and foolishly being diverted into the Pacific Ocean. Can be used for fires, farming and everything else. Think of California with plenty of Water - Nice! Fast Federal govt. approvals," read the tweet.

Catastrophic wildfires continue to wreck California.

No one has been reported injured in the Mendocino Complex Fire, which consists of two fires -- the Ranch Fire and the River Fire -- burning around Clear Lake, in Northern California, reported CNN.

Firefighters are trying to douse the 17 major fires that are burning in hot, dry and windy conditions. -- ANI
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00:21   PML-N nominates Shehbaz Sharif as Pak PM candidate
The embattled Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz on Monday unanimously nominated Shehbaz Sharif as its prime ministerial candidate, party spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said.

The nomination of the 66-year-old former Punjab chief minister was approved soon after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party named its top leader Imran Khan to be the prime ministerial candidate of the single largest party in the National Assembly.

The PTI has claimed that it has the support of 174 members, including independents, in the National Assembly after the July 25 general elections and can form the next federal government.

Shehbaz is the younger brother of jailed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who was sentenced to 10 years in jail last month in a corruption case.

Shehbaz's nomination was approved at a meeting of senior party leaders at its Central Secretariat here to decide its nominee for the next prime minister, PML-N spokesperson Aurangzeb was quoted as saying by Geo News.

During the meeting chaired by PML-N president Shehbaz, leaders deliberated upon strategy to form government in the centre and Punjab, she said.

Speaking to media after the meeting, Aurangzeb said the PML-N would continue to struggle together with other political parties, adding that they had directed concerned individuals to prepare 'white papers' on the polls in the country.

The PML-N has alleged that last month's polls were rigged in favour of the Khan's PTI.

The PML-N spokesperson said that a protest would be staged in Islamabad on August 8 and ticket-holders from all political parties would participate in it.

Meanwhile, the spokesman for PML-N Punjab chapter Malik Mohammad Ahmed said his party would play the role of a strong opposition in Punjab's provincial legislature.

He said that only Hamza Shehbaz, son of Shehbaz could be the Opposition leader or the chief minister of the key province.  -- PTI

Photograph: Mohsin Raza/Reuters

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