LIVE! Another Oppn get together? Rahul to host Iftar on June 13

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Sat, 09 June 2018

Another Oppn get together? Rahul to host Iftar on June 13

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21:01 Another Oppn get together? Rahul to host Iftar on June 13

After a gap of two years, the Congress has decided to hold Iftar on June 13 with party President Rahul Gandhi playing host to a galaxy of leaders who are likely to attend the event.

For Rahul Gandhi this will be the first occasion to host an Iftar since he took charge as the Congress chief

"Iftar will be held on June 13 at Taj Palace Hotel in Delhi," Congress' Minority Cell chief Nadeem Javed said.

The party did not hold Iftar, which marks the customary breaking of the daylong fast in the holy month of Ramzan, during the past two years and its last Iftar was in 2015. The then Congress president Sonia Gandhi had hosted the feast at that time.

The party conventionally invites leaders of all faiths to the event as also top diplomats.

This year's Iftar will be keenly watched for the presence of opposition leaders at a time when the Congress is positioning itself as the centre of opposition unity ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

The party's decision to resume Iftar comes days after President Ram Nath Kovind decided to discontinue the feast traditionally held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Recently Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao hosted Iftar triggering a controversy around expenditure related to the event.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also hosted an Iftar but Congress leaders stayed away from it.

Prior to 2016, the Congress used to host Iftar in one way or the other. When the party was in power, the then prime minister Manmohan Singh used to organise the event.

In opposition former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi played host until the party decided to skip the event in 2016 and 2017.

The resumption of Iftar comes at a time when the Congress is seen to be pursuing a policy of soft Hindutva as evidenced in Rahul Gandhi's several recent temple visits. -- PTI

20:49 Halep wins French Open

Romania's Simona Halep was third time lucky as she edged American Sloane Stephens to win the French Open women's singles title at Roland Garros.

Playing her third French Open final, the World No 1 rallied from a set down to win 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 and claim her maiden grand slam title.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has accepted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's invitation for a Wuhan-style informal summit in India next year, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said in Qingdao today.

The two leaders had their first informal summit in the Chinese city of Wuhan on April 27-28 to solidify the relationship in a broad spectrum of areas and ensuring better coordination between the border guarding forces of the two countries after the Dokalam standoff.

Prime Minister Modi had detailed discussions with President Xi on bilateral and global issues which will add further vigour to the India-China friendship.

Addressing a press briefing, Gokhale said that one of the important outcomes of today's meeting between the two leaders was that the Chinese side conveyed that they have accepted the Prime Minister Modi's invitation to President Xi to have a similar informal summit in India in 2019.

He said that the date for the informal meeting has not been decided.

It is "all systems go" for the summit between United States President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Singapore is ensuring that there would be no last-minute spoilers or difficulties for the historic meeting, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan today.

Balakrishnan, who visited the US and North Korea in the last five days to prepare for the June 12 summit, said that there was sincerity and desire from both the United States and North Korea for peace on the Korean Peninsula.

"I have met both sides, I see sincerity on both sides, I see a desire, a willingness to escape the constraints that have applied for the last seven decades. So, with goodwill and creativity, let's see what they come up with," The Straits Times quoted the Indian-origin Singaporean minister as saying.

Preparations are underway in Singapore for the historic summit.

Speaking to Singapore reporters in Beijing after visiting Pyongyang, Balakrishnan said, "Basically I went there to make sure everything was spick and span, and in place, and that there would be no last-minute spoilers or difficulties."

"Both the US and North Korea expressed their appreciation to Singapore for its efforts, especially for getting things ready in quite a short time, and the meticulous attention to detail," said Dr Balakrishnan.

"I'm glad to say that as of now it's all systems go, both the Americans as well as the North Koreans are pleased with the arrangements. We are all set to go and things will start happening within the next 24 hours," he said.

Trump and Kim will meet on Sentosa, a smaller island off the coast of Singapore's main island. The 12 summit would represent the first ever meeting between a North Korean leader and a sitting US president. -- PTI

19:33 Operations restored at IGI airport in Delhi

27 flights were diverted between 5 pm and 6 pm in New Delhi due to rain and dust storm. Normalcy of operations have been restored at Indira Gandhi International Airport, ANI reports.

The Congress today demanded an investigation into reports that the Maoists planned to assassinate the prime minister and made it clear that the issue should not be politicised.

"Any threat received by anyone against the prime minister, howsoever suspicious the threat is, howsoever vague, even if it is a rumour, it should be taken seriously. Action should be taken, investigations should be done," party spokesperson Pawan Khera told reporters in New Delhi.

Lashing out at elements "attempting to politicise the issue", he said "do not use a threat to the PM of India for petty politics".

"We have lost two prime ministers. We have lost an entire leadership in the Chhattisgarh violence. We know what it means to fight terrorism, to fight naxalism. But do not play politics. We lost leadership in Chhattisgarh when the BJP was in power. Did we play politics in Chhattisgarh, we did not," he said, while replying to a question.

The police in Pune on Thursday told a court that they had seized a "letter" from the Delhi residence of one of the five people arrested on Wednesday for having alleged "links" with the banned CPI (Maoist).

The purported letter allegedly mentioned of a plan to "assassinate" Prime Minister Narendra Modi in "another Rajiv Gandhi-type incident", the police told the court.

Khera also criticised "attempts at politicising" the Bhima-Koregaon violence and said the BJP government was "exposed" in the matter when Union minister Ramdas Athawale challenged their own government in Maharashtra and the police saying that there was no relation of Elgaar Parishad with the violence. -- PTI

19:13 Dust storm hits Delhi with strong winds

A severe dust storm hit Delhi this evening, as the weather took a sudden turn.

The weatherman said light rain was witnessed in many areas.

The dust storm, with winds gusting up to 70 kmph, pushed the temperature down by a few notches on what was a sultry day.

According to reports. several flights have been diverted from Delhi due to the weather.

The weatherman forecast dust storm in Ghaziabad, Merrut, Baghpat and other adjoining districts in western Uttar pradesh.

18:54 Taliban announces 3-day Eid ceasefire

The Afghan Taliban has announced a three-day ceasefire over the Eid holiday, two days after the Afghan government-announced ceasefire.

However, the militant group warned that it would "strongly defend" itself if attacked, and will retaliate against any aggression initiated during the period of the ceasefire, reported Khaama Press.

Meanwhile, the Taliban, in a statement, stated that its three-day ceasefire did not include foreign troops, and ordered its fighters to continue attacks on foreign forces.

It is the first time the Taliban has agreed to a ceasefire for Eid since the US invasion in 2001.

According to the Taliban's statement, the leadership of the group may also consider the release of the prisoners of war, provided that they will not return to the battlefield, the report said.

The latest move comes as a response to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's Thursday announcement of an unconditional ceasefire with the Taliban.

"The Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan announces ceasefire from the 27th of Ramadan until the fifth day of Eid-ul-Fitr," Ghani tweeted. -- ANI

Former United States President Barack Obama took to Twitter to pay a touching tribute to the globetrotting celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain who apparently committed suicide in a hotel room in France.

Obama shared a photo of the celebrated USD 6 lunch he shared with Bourdain at a Hanoi restaurant in Vietnam in 2016.

"Low plastic stool, cheap but delicious noodles, cold Hanoi beer. This is how I'll remember Tony," Obama tweeted.

"He taught us about food -- but more importantly, about its ability to bring us together. To make us a little less afraid of the unknown. We'll miss him," he said.

Bourdain was found unresponsive in a hotel room in France yesterday. According to CNN, the cause of the death was suicide.

Bourdain, 61, was in France for work on an upcoming episode of his CNN series "Parts Unknown."

The renowned American chef was filming for Parts Unknown season 8 while the then president Obama was negotiating a deal with Vietnam that ended a ban on selling military equipment to Hanoi when the two met for the famous lunch at Bun Cha Huong Lien, a traditional roadside joint.

Bourdain later said he had found Obama to be "very relaxed and at ease" during their time together.

"What can I tell you about what it's like to sit across from the President of the United States and drink beer from the bottle?," he had told CNN.

"I can tell you that Barack Obama was, in spite of having had a high-ranking leader of the Taliban whacked in Pakistan a few days previous, very relaxed and at ease. He seemed to enjoy himself sitting on a low plastic stool eating noodles and pork bits with chopsticks," he said.

President Donald Trump described Bourdain's death as "very sad".

Speaking to reporters on the South Lawn as he departed for the G-7 summit yesterday, Trump said he enjoyed Bourdain's television show and found the author and world traveler "quite a character". -- PTI

Bharatiya Janata Party leader B S Yeddyurappa today claimed that several disgruntled leaders from the ruling Congress and Janata Dal-Secular are eager to join his party.

Yeddyurappa's comments come as dissident activities of the MLAs intensified in the Congress over not getting ministerial berths.

The former chief minister, who is also the state BJP chief, asked his partymen to work as a strong opposition and prepare for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

"Several disgruntled young leaders and leaders from the Congress and the JD-S are eager to join the BJP," Yeddyurappa said.

Addressing partymen, he said, "It is our responsibility to induct those who are disgruntled with the JD-S and the Congress and their style of administration in every assembly segment, and are willing to join the BJP, thereby strengthening the party in every constituency."

The BJP leader said the party has "complete strength" with 104 members in the assembly and "let's work as a "strong opposition."

"How long this government will function is a different matter, but without aspiring for seat of power, let us all 104 members work as successful opposition with our good work."

As the assembly polls threw up hung assembly with the BJP emerging as the single largest party, the BJP had formed the government, but conceded the numbers game with Yeddyurappa resigning on May 19 without facing the trust vote.

Following this, the Congress-JDS post poll coalition formed the government in the state, under the leadership of HD Kumaraswamy. -- PTI

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today alleged that the Central Bureua of Investigation and the Anti Corruption Branch have started random picking of files from the Delhi Jal Board, of which he is the minister-in-charge, to "somehow frame him in something".

In a series of tweets, Kejriwal announced that he will put out in public domain the list of all files sought by the CBI and the ACB, and asked them to either explain the reason or else "apologise to Delhiites for this witch hunting exercise".

In September last year, Kejriwal took charge of water -- the first portfolio taken by him after he became the chief minister in 2015. Kejriwal heads Delhi Jal Board in the national capital.

"CBI n ACB started randomly picking files from DJB. No specific enquiry. Becoz now I am Min-in-charge, their effort is somehow frame me in something (sic).

"PM, LG n BJP - If u hv specific info, pl investigate. But don't victimize Delhi's people by paralyzing all depts of Del govt (sic)," Kejriwal tweeted.

In another tweet, the chief minister said that he has sought time to meet Lt Governor Anil Baijal on Monday to discuss important matters of the Delhi government.

In the last few days, Kejriwal has again started attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a range of issues.

In 2017, following AAP's poor performance in Punjab and the BJP's sweep in Uttar Pradesh, Kejriwal had consciously decided to minimise his attacks on Modi. -- PTI

Two men, suspected of being child lifters, were lynched by unidentified people in Assam's Karbi Anglong district, police said.

Nilotpal Das, 29, a sound engineer based in Mumbai and his friend Abhijeet Nath, 30, a businessman had gone to the picnic spot Kangthilangso in Karbi Anglong last night to capture the sounds of nature, they said.

On their way back, the duo was stopped by some villagers at Panjuri, pulled out of the car and thrashed on suspicion of being child lifters, they added.

In a video of the incident circulated on social media, the duo can be seen pleading for their lives and trying to explain to the livid crowd that they were Assamese but to no avail.

As the police reached the spot, the seriously injured duo was rushed to a hospital but died on the way.

The police have launched a massive search operation to nab the culprits on the basis of the video. No arrests have been made so far, they said.

The district administration authorities are camping in the area and holding talks with the villagers.

Both Das and Nath's parents are on their way to Karbi Anglong from Guwahati where they reside. The bodies will be handed over to them after conduting the post-mortem, police added.

Meanwhile, the leader of the opposition in the state assembly, Debabrata Saikia condemned the lynching and called it yet another instance of the state government's "utter failure" to maintain law and order.

Saikia also demanded a judicial enquiry into the incident. -- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today met Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in Qingdao and the two leaders discussed a range of topics to further strengthen the bilateral ties.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Shavkat Mirziyoyev President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the sidelines of SCO Summit," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in a tweet.

"The two leaders exchanged views on a range of topics to further strengthen our strategic partnership," he said.

It is for the first time that an Indian prime minister is attending the SCO summit after India along with Pakistan became a full-fledged member of the grouping, jointly dominated by China and Russia, which has been increasingly seen as a counter to NATO.

The SCO currently has eight member countries which represents around 42 per cent of the world's population and 20 per cent of the global GDP.

Modi is expected to hold nearly half a dozen bilateral meetings with leaders of other SCO countries.

17:44 After Congress, dissidence erupts in JD-S

After the Congress, disgruntlement is brewing in coalition partner the Janata Dal-Secular too as two senior ministers from the party are said to be miffed over the portfolios allotted to them following the recent cabinet expansion.

JD-S sources said G T Deve Gowda, who has been allotted higher education, and C S Puttaraju, who got minor irrigation in the portfolio allocation last night, are unhappy about their ministries.

G T Deve Gowda, who emerged as a giant killer, defeating former chief minister Siddaramaiah in Chamundeshwari constituency in Mysuru in the May 12 assembly polls, and Puttaraju, who vacated his Lok Sabha seat and won the Melukote assembly segment, were eyeing key portfolios, including transport.

D C Thammanna, a relative of JD-S supremo H D Deve Gowda, being given the transport department is also said to be one of the reasons for their discontent.

Meanwhile, supporters of both the ministers held protests in Mysuru and Mandya, the districts they hail from, demanding key portfolios for their leaders.

Reacting to the issue, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said he has seen reports about such disgruntlement only in the media and no one has expressed their dissatisfaction with him personally.

"Some people will have wish to work in certain departments, but in every department there is opportunity to work efficiently. We have to work efficiently.

"Can everyone be given the portfolio they wish for?" the chief minister asked, adding, "is there a better department than higher education and minor irrigation to work?"

On reported comments by G T Deve Gowda about him being given higher education, when he was just studied till eighth standard, the chief minister said, "What have I studied? I'm working as the chief minister."

"Should I give Finance?"....there will be demand for certain ministries, but certain decisions are made internally in the party," he told reporters here, adding that such wishes of becoming a minister first and then wanting certain specific portfolios are common. -- PTI

The Congress today said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should apologise to the country for his remarks during the Gujarat election last year that his predecessor Manmohan Singh and other party members had colluded with Pakistan to influence the poll results.

Party spokesperson Pawan Khera cited an RTI reply from the Prime Minister's Office suggesting that the PM made the remarks based on informal and formal information received from multiple sources.

He sought to know as to how can the prime minister make a statement based on information received from informal sources when he is an elected leader and has pledged allegiance to the Constitution.

"You have set a precedent. What is informal about the constitutional post? You have taken oath under the Constitution. You are gathering information from informal sources and you are questioning the leaders," Khare said, demanding an apology from the prime minister.

"The information sought pertains to the PM speaking during a political campaign. The information sought does not relate to a political matter or a decision of the government. So with regard to the Prime Minister, he is entitled to receive informal or formal information from multiple sources," he quoted the RTI plea as saying.

Singh, on his part, has already sought an apology from the PM, terming the charges baseless.

Denouncing the remarks, the Congress spokesperson said Modi has resorted to informal talks ever since he became the PM, but he is considered the most articulate prime minister the country has had.

"What kind of image of India is he creating before the world, especially when every word of the PM is analysed the world over. We deserver a better and a healthier narrative. He should apologise to the country. The statement was a "low-level jumla". If he does not apologise, it will be a serious threat to democracy," Khera said.

He said the prime minister has developed a habit of raising the Pakistan issue, of Hafiz Sayed when he loses elections but forgets to talk about the plight of farmers, small traders or unemployment. -- PTI

16:09 PM Modi meets Chinese President Xi Jinping

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today met Chinese President Xi Jinping soon after his arrival in Chinese port city, Qingdao, where the two leaders are to take stock of the progress in the implementation of decisions they had taken at their first informal summit in Wuhan.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the annual Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit which will explore concrete ways to bolster cooperation in the fight against terrorism, extremism and radicalisation besides deliberating on pressing global issues.

Modi and Xi are expected to explore ways to deepen ties in areas of trade and investment besides reviewing the overall bilateral cooperation.

The meeting is taking place weeks after the two leaders held an informal summit in the central Chinese city of Wuhan during which they exchanged views on solidifying the relationship between the two Asian powers.

Modi and Xi are likely to take stock of progress in implementation of decisions they had taken at the Wuhan informal summit, official sources said.

Modi is expected to hold nearly half a dozen bilateral meetings with leaders of other SCO countries.

It is for the first time the Indian prime minister will be attending the SCO Summit after India along with Pakistan became a full-fledged members of the grouping, which has been increasingly seen as a counter to NATO.

The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. -- PTI

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Secretary General Rashid Alimov today called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed various issues relating to the bloc's activities and India's contributions to it.

The meeting came hours after Modi landed in this picturesque coastal city of China's Shandong province.

"On the eve of #SCOSummit, Secretary General, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Rashid Alimov calls on the PM @narendramodi. SCO Secretary General said that India is contributing greatly to the organisation since it became a full member of SCO in 2017. #IndiainSCO," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

During his meeting with Modi, Alimov conveyed to him that the International Day of Yoga would be celebrated at the SCO Headquarters in Beijing on June 16.

It is for the first time the Indian prime minister will be attending the SCO summit after India along with Pakistan became full-fledged members of the grouping last year.

The SCO currently has eight member countries which represents around 42 per cent of the world's population and 20 per cent of the global GDP.

India was an observer at the SCO since 2005 and has generally participated in the ministerial-level meetings of the grouping which focus mainly on security and economic cooperation in the Eurasian region. -- PTI

15:51 Nipah virus contained, says MoS Health

Union Minister of State for Health, Ashwini Choubey, today said that the Nipah virus has been contained and there was no need to run away from Kerala, where it originated.

He said that though 17 deaths due to the virus have been reported from Kerala, no fresh cases of infection were filed.

"There has been no cases of Nipah reported from anywhere in the country. The virus has been stalled. This is a good sign. Nipah is not epidemic. There is nothing to be scared of," Choubey told PTI.

The minister was in Kolkata for official meetings with several health institutions, besides state ministers.

On reports of several people returning from Kerala to West Bengal fearing attacks by the virus, he said, "Our entire team is there in the place where it was reported from a particular place of a region in Kerala. The virus has been contained even there in Kerala where we had 17 deaths reported. There is no need to run away from anywhere."

Nipah virus has not claimed any life in West Bengal.

The Kerala government has asked travellers to avoid visiting the four districts of Kozhikode, Malappuram, Wayanad and Kannur as a precautionary measure.

Choubey said that the families in Kerala, who have lost their kin because of the Nipah virus, have been treated in isolation and were totally out of danger.

"We have treated the family of those persons who were affected and died because of the Nipah virus. They were kept in isolation in Pune's National Institute of Virology," the minister added.

"As per the latest report of the Central High Level Team, Nipah Virus Disease is not a major outbreak and only local occurrence limited to two districts Kozhikode and Malappuram in Kerala," an advisory issued by the National Centre for Disease Control said.

"There is no need for the general public to be apprehensive about the safety of individuals and their family members. The ministry of health and family welfare is closely monitoring the situation," the department under the health ministry added. -- PTI

15:47 6 injured in communal clash in Godhra

Six persons were injured in a clash between members of two communities in Godhra following an argument over a traffic-related issue, the police said today.

The incident took place in the Khadi Falia locality late last night.

"Two groups belonging to different communities clashed and indulged in stone-pelting. The police fired three teargas shells to control the mob," Godhra B-Division police station inspector M C Sangtyani said.

The officer said that an auto-rickshaw driver passing through the area objected to a motorcycle parked on the road. When he asked the owner of the motorcycle to remove it from the road, the latter started arguing, he said.

"Soon, the argument turned into a clash and members of both the communities started attacking each other. Six persons belonging to both the communities sustained minor injuries in stone pelting. We rushed to the site and fired three teargas shells to bring the situation under control," he said.

An offence has been registered in this regard. No arrest has been made so far, Sangtyani added. -- PTI

14:57 Sanju baba meets Yogi

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath meets Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt at former's official residence in Lucknow as a part of Bharatiya Janata Party's 'Sampark for Samarthan' initiative.

Four suspected criminals carrying rewards on their head were shot dead in an encounter with Delhi police's Special Cell in south Delhi's Chhatarpur area today, a senior official said.

Three police personnel also sustained injuries, he said.

The accused, suspected to be members of the Rajesh Bharti gang, were severely injured in the encounter and taken to a hospital where they died, the official said.

Further details are awaited. -- PTI

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has handed over the keys of the official bungalow allotted to him on Vikramaditya Marg in Lucknow to the Uttar Pradesh estate department, an official said.

The move comes after the Supreme Court on May 7 observed that former Uttar Pradesh chief ministers cannot retain government accommodation after demitting office.

The estate department had issued notices to six former chief ministers - Narayan Dutt Tiwari, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Kalyan Singh, Mayawati, Rajnath Singh and Akhilesh Yadav - to vacate their official bungalows in compliance with the order.

"Akhilesh Yadav yesterday night handed over the keys of the government bungalow allotted to him to the estate department," department official Yogesh Kumar Shukla told PTI.

"Now only former chief minister Narayan Dutt Tiwari has to vacate his bungalow and hand over the keys," Shukla said.

Ujjwala Tiwari, wife of N D Tiwari, has sought more time from the estates department, pleading that her husband was in Delhi in the "last stages" of his life.

"He is bed-ridden for the past eight months and I am also not keeping well. It is not practically possible for me to come down to Lucknow and vacate the premises," she had told PTI over the phone on June 2.

Asked about the video clips circulating on social media that Yadav's bungalow was damaged, Shukla said: "We will check our inventory as to what things were provided by us, and what works were done by us. If shortcomings are detected and damages done intentionally are found, we will serve a notice to the occupant."

The Samajwadi Party said the video clips were aimed at tarnishing Yadav's image as his popularity was continuously growing after the party's success in recent bypolls in the state.

"This is an attempt by the government of Yogi Adityanath to misguide the people of the state and tarnish the image of Akhilesh Yadav," SP spokesperson Sunil Singh Sajan said.

He asked why the official bungalows occupied by Rajnath Singh and Kalyan Singh were not shown to the media after they vacated them. -- PTI

David and Victoria Beckham have denied the divorce rumours, labelling them as "nonsense".

A representative for Victoria shut down the reports in statement to E! online, "This is nonsense."

Victoria also posted a message to her husband on Instagram saying she "loves and misses" him, just as various reports began circulating that the power couple is set to split.

A spokeswoman for the couple told The Sun, "There is no statement due or divorce. This is just fake social media news. This is all very bizarre and an embarrassing waste of time."

The couple met when Victoria, a former member of the Spice Girls, attended a Manchester United match in 1997. They started dating shortly after, and married in 1999.

They have four children together: Brooklyn, 19, Romeo, 15, Cruz, 13, and daughter Harper, seven. -- PTI

Apparently not satisfied with her Class X marks, a 16-year-old city girl allegedly committed suicide in Maharashtra's Nashik.

Sakshi Eknath Bendkule, a resident of Panchavati, hanged herself in her house yesterday afternoon, hours after the declaration of the results of the Class X exams of the Maharashtra Board, a police official said.

Bendkule, student of a local school, had cleared the SSC (Class 10) exams by obtaining 56 per cent marks, well below 80 per cent she was expecting, he said.

Soon after she came to know her marks, the teenager went to one of the rooms of her house and hanged herself, the official said.

She was rushed to the Nashik Civil Hospital, where doctors declared her dead, police said.

The girl's family is in a state of shock.

Her father Eknath Bendkule said the family members were satisfied with Sakshi Bendkule's result and they had even congratulated her for clearing the exams held in March.

Sakshi Bendkule's marks were below her expectations and this may have led her to take the extreme step, he said. -- PTI

Senior Congress leader and former Union minister L P Shahi died early today at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi.

He was 98.

Shahi, who hailed from Bihar, was a freedom fighter and a former CWC member. He was first elected to the Bihar Legislative Assembly in 1980 and became an MP from Muzaffarpur in Bihar in 1984.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi expressed grief over the death of Shahi and conveyed his condolence to the bereaved family.

"The loss of Shri L P Shahi, freedom fighter, former Union Minister and CWC Member will be felt by all of us in the Congress Party. My thoughts and prayers are with his family in their time of grief. May his soul rest in peace," he tweeted.

He also condoled the death of another Congress leader, Shantaram Naik, from heart attack in Goa at the age of 72.

"I'm sorry to hear about the passing away of Shri Shantaram Naik, former Goa Congress Chief, MP and senior Congress leader, who played an important role in the battle for Goa's statehood. My condolences to his family in their time of grief. May his soul rest in peace," he said on Twitter. -- PTI

13:43 Boating on Mumbai roads

People use a rubber dinghy to ferry themselves across a waterlogged road at Hindamata in Mumbai's Parel area. Photograph: Sahil Salvi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in China's Qingdao to attend the two-day long 18th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit meeting.

Modi will also hold a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the summit, where they will take stock of the implementation of decisions taken at the informal summit just over a month ago in Wuhan.

In his address at the SCO summit, the PM is likely to articulate India's position on dealing with major challenges facing the world including ways to tackle terrorism, and boosting trade and investment in the region.

The summit in the eastern Chinese port city is taking place under the shadow of Washington's pull out from the Iran nuclear deal, its sanctions regime against Russia, and frictions with China over the trade tariffs.

This will be India's first participation in the summit as a full-time member of the organisation.

India, along with Pakistan, became the full-time member during Astana summit in June 2017.

12:48

Vehicles wade through waterlogged road at Mahim. Photograph: ANI

12:41 Heavy rain strikes Mumbai; waterlogging in Mahim, Worli, Hindmata

As predicted by the Indian Meteorological Department, Mumbai received a fresh round of rainfall today.

Waterlogging has been reported in several parts of city particularly in Mahim, Worli and Hindmata.

Local trains are also running late.

"The trains on Central Railways suburban are running with delay of 10-12 minutes. There is no cancellation at present," news agency ANI reported quoting CPRO of Central Railways.

However, Western Railway said despite the rains, train services are running smoothly.

According to NDTV, over 32 flights were delayed and three cancelled due to weather conditions.

In a statement, the Regional Meteorological Centre of Mumbai said, "As rainfall activity is likely to enhance from 8th June with further increase on 9th June, people are advised to abstain from outdoor activities as much as possible during the period and also watch for the weather."

Fishermen have also been warned against going too far out into the sea.

The Mumbai police also warned people to drive safe.

Navy personnel have also been put on stand-by in parts of the city that are usually most flooded when there is heavy rain.

Three teams of National Disaster Response Force will be stationed at Parel, Mankhurd (for eastern suburbs) and Andheri Sports Complex (for western suburbs). They are equipped with walkie-talkies and flood rescue material.

Image: A submerged road at Parel. Photograph: Kind courtesy @ParmarYash24/Twitter

A dominant India sailed into the final of the women's Asia Cup Twenty20 tournament with a seven-wicket drubbing of arch-rivals Pakistan in their last round robin match Kuala Lumpur today.

Electing to bat after winning the toss, Pakistan were restricted to 72 for seven in the allotted 20 overs at the Kinrara Academy Oval.

Left-arm spinner Ekta Bisht was the most successful India bowler, claiming impressive figures of 3/14 in her four-over spell. The others chipped in with a scalp apiece, although pace spearhead Jhulan Goswami went wicket-less surprisingly.

Bisht was named Player of the Match.

Chasing a meagre target, India completed the task with as many as 23 balls to spare.

Opener Smriti Mandhana top-scored with 38 off 40 balls while skipper Harmanpreet Kaur made 34 in 49 deliveries.

Veteran Mithali Raj and Deepti Sharma failed to open their account, but their failures did not come in the way of India's win.

India were off to a disastrous start as they lost Raj and Sharma with just five runs on the board in the third over, but the low target allowed them the liberty of taking things easy.

The duo of Mandhana and Harmanpreet then added 65 runs for the third wicket, a recovery act that powered the team to within striking distance of another victory.

Even as Mandhana got out with three runs for win, Harmanpreet was there to guide her side home.

Earlier, Pakistan's decision to bat did not yield the desired result as they lost wicket at regular intervals, and were stopped at 72.

Sana Mir, one of the most well-know names of Pakistan women's cricket, top-scored for the side with 20, but she consumed as many as 38 balls.

Opener Nahida Khan (18) was the only other Pakistan batswoman to reach double digit.

This was India's fourth win in five matches, their only reverse being the shocking defeat to Bangladesh. But they bounced back in style, winning against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. -- PTI

More than two weeks after 13 people were killed in police firing during anti-Sterlite protests in Turicorin, two deputy tahsildars who allegedly gave the order to the force to open fire, have been transferred.

Deputy tahsildars Kannan and Sekar were transferred to Kayathaaru and Srivaikuntam respectively by district collector Sandeep Nandoor, according to an official order.

Thirteen people were killed in the police firing on May 22 and 23 after protests for closure of the plant over pollution concerns turned violent in Tuticorin.

The Tamil Nadu government last month appointed a one-person commission of inquiry headed by a retired judge of the Madras high court to probe the violence in Tuticorin.

The State Human Rights Commission has also initiated an inquiry into the matter.

On May 28, the government ordered the state pollution control board to seal and "permanently" close the Vedanta group's copper plant, following the violent protests.

A major fire broke out in an old building in South Mumbai early today and a part of it collapsed, injuring two fire brigade personnel, an official said.

The fire brigade personnel were injured when a portion of the building, called Kothari building (also known as Light Of Asia), collapsed during the fire-fighting operation, he said.

The fire in the ground plus five-storey building, which is unoccupied for the past nearly five years, started at around 4 am, the official from the fire department said.

The structure in the Fort area, a major business district, is old and its southern part collapsed when fire brigade personnel were putting out the blaze, he said.

Fire department officials confirmed that no one was trapped inside the building.

Sixteen fire engines were deployed to douse the flames, he said, adding that the cause of the blaze was not immediately known.

JNU student leader Umar Khalid has filed a complaint with the Delhi police, alleging that he has received death threats from a man who identified himself as fugitive gangster Ravi Pujari, a senior official said today.

Dalit leader and Independent MLA from Gujarat Jignesh Mevani too had alleged yesterday that he has received death threats from Pujari.

On Friday, Khalid approached the police with a complaint over the threats and a case was registered, the police official said, adding that they are investigating the matter.

Khalid tweeted that he has asked for police protection.

"Filed a complaint with @DelhiPolice regarding Ravi Pujari's death threat to Jignesh and me. He said that I am on his HIT LIST! I have asked for police protection, given the fact that this is the same person who had previously also issued similar threats of killing me in Feb 2016 (sic)," he said in his tweet.

In 2016, Khalid's father Syed Qasim Illyas Rasool had filed a police complaint, claiming that he received a phone call "threatening to kill" his son if he doesn't leave the country.

That incident happened when when the police was looking for Khalid in connection with the sedition case filed against him, former JNU students' union president Kanhaiya Kumar and Anirban Bhattacharya for allegedly organising an event against the hanging of 2001 Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru who was hanged in 2013.

Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir has stated that the country's security forces will make sure that the alleged plot to assassinate Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not succeed.

"Security forces of the country will never let anything like this (assassination plot) happen. The government and ministry of home affairs will not pardon those behind this plan. Some arrests have been made, and the investigation is underway. I assure you, such criminals will not be forgiven," Ahir told ANI.

The Pune police on Friday revealed that they had intercepted an internal communication of Maoists plotting to kill Prime Minister Modi in a 'Rajiv Gandhi-type' assassination.

This came a day after the police told a court that the letter was seized from the residence of one of the five people who were arrested in connection with the Bhima-Koregaon violence.

Kerala Congress-M has decided to field its leader Jose K Mani as the candidate of the Congress-led UDF for the Rajya Sabha election.

The decision to field Mani as its candidate to the Upper House of Parliament was taken at a meeting of KC-M leaders held last night in Pala, hours after the party led by veteran leader K M Mani rejoined the UDF after a two-year hiatus.

Jose K Mani, son of K M Mani, is currently the party's lone member in the Lok Sabha from Kottayam parliamentary constituency.

"Jose K Mani will be the party's candidate for the Rajya Sabha poll. It is a unanimous decision," senior leader P J Joseph told reporters in Pala after the meeting.

On Friday, the KC-M announced its decision to return to the UDF fold, after the Congress decided to support its candidate in the Rajya Sabha election. The seat is currently held by Rajya Sabha deputy chairman P J Kurian of the Congress who will retire on July 1.

The KC-M had walked out of the Congress-led UDF in August 2016, ending an over three-decade-long association alleging it was being "insulted" by the party leading the alliance.

Former Rajya Sabha MP and ex-Goa Congress chief Shantaram Naik died after suffering a heart attack today, party officials said.

Naik, 72, was taken to a private hospital in Margao town from his residence after he complained of uneasiness, where he was declared brought dead, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary Altinho Gomes told PTI.

Naik was declared dead at 7 am today. He is survived by his wife and a son.

"It is a shocking news for us. We have lost a guide. He had mentored so many youths and inspired them to join the Congress party. It is a big loss for us," Goa Congress leader Girish Raya Chodankar said.

Considered a party loyalist, Naik was elected as a member of the Lok Sabha in the 1984 general election. He also pursued the demand for statehood to Goa, which was fulfilled in the year 1987.

He represented Goa in the Rajya Sabha for two terms -- 2005-2011 and 2011-2017 and was defeated by BJP candidate Vinay Tendulkar in the elections in July 2017.

Naik resigned as president of Goa Pradesh Congress Committee recently after party chief Rahul Gandhi appealed for young minds to take over the reins of the party. He was then replaced by Chodankar.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday morning departed for China's Qingdao to attend the two-day long 18th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit meeting.

On Friday, the prime minister posted a message regarding the summit on his official Facebook account.

"The SCO has a rich agenda for cooperation, ranging from fighting terrorism, separatism and extremism to promoting cooperation in connectivity, commerce, customs, law, health and agriculture; protecting the environment and mitigating disaster risk, and fostering people-to-people relations," Prime Minister Modi said.

He also said he would be holding multiple meetings with the heads of various SCO member states on the sidelines of the summit.

This will be India's first participation in the summit as a full-time member of the organisation. India, along with Pakistan, became the full-time member during Astana summit in June 2017.

Prime Minister Modi is also scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping apart from holding meetings with various other participating leaders.

To know more about the SCO summit and the issues facing India, read Srikanth Kondapalli's article here, and Sana Hashmi's article here.

The Communist Party of India-Marxist said on Friday that it was open to form alliance with all political parties opposed to the Bharatiya Janata Party in Bihar and in other states if it is offered a 'respectable' share of seats in the Lok Sabha election next year.

CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, who was in Patna to brief workers on the party Congress held in Hyderabad in April, said his party's main objective for the next general election would be to defeat the BJP-led ruling National Democratic Alliance.

With that in view, the CPI-M's strategy would be to avoid any split of anti-BJP votes, Yechury told reporters.

"We are open to having an alliance with all parties opposed to the BJP in Bihar and elsewhere. Our only condition is we should get a respectable share of seats," he said.

The CPI-M had fielded candidates on a limited number of seats in Bihar in the previous Lok Sabha poll and drawn a blank.

Asked whether he agreed with other anti-BJP parties assessment that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar betrayed the mandate of the 2015 assembly poll by walking out of the Grand Alliance with the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal, Yechury only said 'at one point of time he was being seen as a potential prime ministerial candidate'.

"With his return to the NDA, he has squandered the opportunity," he said. -- PTI

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