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Sun, 04 March 2018
India aims to conclude S-400 deal with Russia during Sitharaman's visit
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21:16 India aims to conclude S-400 deal with Russia during Sitharaman's visit
A nearly Rs 40,000 crore deal to procure S-400 Triumf air defence missile systems from Russia is yet to be concluded mainly due to differences over price which India would look to sort out during Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's upcoming visit to Moscow, official sources said.
India wants to procure the long-range missile systems to tighten its air defence mechanism, particularly when China has been ramping up its military manoeuvring along the nearly 4,000 km Sino-India border.
In 2016, India and Russia had signed an agreement on 'Triumf' interceptor-based missile system which can destroy incoming hostile aircraft, missiles and even drones at ranges of up to 400 km.
S-400 is known as Russia's most advanced long-range surface-to-air missile defence system.
China was the first foreign buyer to seal a government-to-government deal with Russia in 2014 to procure the lethal missile system and Moscow has already started delivery of unknown number of the S-400 missile systems to China.
The sources said Sitharaman will travel to Moscow within the next six weeks and she may push for sealing the long-pending deal at the earliest.
"Sealing the S-400 deal will be a major focus of Sitharaman's visit to Russia," said a source familiar with the deal, which would be one of biggest with Russia in recent years.
Negotiators from both countries have been in talks for over one and half years for the purchase of at least five systems of S-400 which are capable of firing three types of missiles, creating a layered defence.
The S-400 is an upgraded version of the S-300 systems. The missile system is manufactured by Almaz-Antey and has been in service in Russia since 2007.
The sources also said that no decision could be taken on the long-pending fifth-generation fighter jet project with Russia due to the high cost involved in it.
A high-level committee set up by the government to examine various aspects of the project had submitted its report last year and the defence ministry is likely to take a call on it soon.
In 2007, India and Russia had inked an inter-governmental pact for the FGFA project. In December 2010, India had agreed to pay $295 million (Rs 1,897 crore) towards the preliminary design of the fighter, which is called in India as the 'Perspective Multi-role Fighter'.
However, the negotiations faced various hurdles in the subsequent years.
In February 2016, India and Russia revived talks on the project after a clearance from the then defence minister Manohar Parrikar.
The issue may also figure during Sitharaman's visit to Moscow. -- PTI
India wants to procure the long-range missile systems to tighten its air defence mechanism, particularly when China has been ramping up its military manoeuvring along the nearly 4,000 km Sino-India border.
In 2016, India and Russia had signed an agreement on 'Triumf' interceptor-based missile system which can destroy incoming hostile aircraft, missiles and even drones at ranges of up to 400 km.
S-400 is known as Russia's most advanced long-range surface-to-air missile defence system.
China was the first foreign buyer to seal a government-to-government deal with Russia in 2014 to procure the lethal missile system and Moscow has already started delivery of unknown number of the S-400 missile systems to China.
The sources said Sitharaman will travel to Moscow within the next six weeks and she may push for sealing the long-pending deal at the earliest.
"Sealing the S-400 deal will be a major focus of Sitharaman's visit to Russia," said a source familiar with the deal, which would be one of biggest with Russia in recent years.
Negotiators from both countries have been in talks for over one and half years for the purchase of at least five systems of S-400 which are capable of firing three types of missiles, creating a layered defence.
The S-400 is an upgraded version of the S-300 systems. The missile system is manufactured by Almaz-Antey and has been in service in Russia since 2007.
The sources also said that no decision could be taken on the long-pending fifth-generation fighter jet project with Russia due to the high cost involved in it.
A high-level committee set up by the government to examine various aspects of the project had submitted its report last year and the defence ministry is likely to take a call on it soon.
In 2007, India and Russia had inked an inter-governmental pact for the FGFA project. In December 2010, India had agreed to pay $295 million (Rs 1,897 crore) towards the preliminary design of the fighter, which is called in India as the 'Perspective Multi-role Fighter'.
However, the negotiations faced various hurdles in the subsequent years.
In February 2016, India and Russia revived talks on the project after a clearance from the then defence minister Manohar Parrikar.
The issue may also figure during Sitharaman's visit to Moscow. -- PTI
19:52 Meghalaya: 34 MLAs support Conrad Sangma as CM, says BJP
Staking claim to form government in Meghlaya under the leadership of National People's Party leader Conrad Sangma, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Himanta Biswa Sarma says currently 'we have support of 34 MLAs'.
"NPP, 19, BJP, 2, UDP, 6, HSPDP, 2, PDF, 4 and 1 Independent. The number is likely to go up," Sarma said.
Taking a dig a Congress president Rahul Gandhi, he said, "Rahul Gandhi sent four senior leaders of the party to Shillong without any calculations on government formation. I don't see maturity in him." -- ANI
"NPP, 19, BJP, 2, UDP, 6, HSPDP, 2, PDF, 4 and 1 Independent. The number is likely to go up," Sarma said.
Taking a dig a Congress president Rahul Gandhi, he said, "Rahul Gandhi sent four senior leaders of the party to Shillong without any calculations on government formation. I don't see maturity in him." -- ANI
19:00 Conrad Sangma to be next Meghalaya CM, declares BJP after meeting Guv
National People's Party chief Conrad Sangma will be the next chief minister of Meghalaya, said Bharatiya Janata Party leader Himanta Biswa Sarma after meeting the Governor with MLAs of other parties.
MLAs of NPP, BJP, UDP and HSPDP met Governor Ganga Prasad in Shillong on Sunday evening.
"Running a coalition government is never easy but I am confident that the MLAs who are with us are very committed to the state and people, will work towards development of the state," Conrad Sangma said after the meeting.
The united strength of all the four parties in the 60-member assembly is 29. They need two more MLAs for a majority. They haven't clarified on it so far, though they claim to form the next government.
Conrad Sangma said everything will be clear in next two-three days.
"Next 2-3 days are very crucial because assembly term gets over. The House expires on March 7. Before that everything has to take place and by tomorrow everything will be clear," he said.
"There will be no Deputy CM in the new government. One MLA out of every two MLAs of all the parties will form part of the government. So one MLA, out of the two, of BJP will be a part of it too," Sarma said.
The swearing-in ceremony is expected to be held on March 6. -- ANI
IMAGE: Conrad Sangma after meeting Meghalaya Governor on Sunday evening. Photograph: ANI
MLAs of NPP, BJP, UDP and HSPDP met Governor Ganga Prasad in Shillong on Sunday evening.
"Running a coalition government is never easy but I am confident that the MLAs who are with us are very committed to the state and people, will work towards development of the state," Conrad Sangma said after the meeting.
The united strength of all the four parties in the 60-member assembly is 29. They need two more MLAs for a majority. They haven't clarified on it so far, though they claim to form the next government.
Conrad Sangma said everything will be clear in next two-three days.
"Next 2-3 days are very crucial because assembly term gets over. The House expires on March 7. Before that everything has to take place and by tomorrow everything will be clear," he said.
"There will be no Deputy CM in the new government. One MLA out of every two MLAs of all the parties will form part of the government. So one MLA, out of the two, of BJP will be a part of it too," Sarma said.
The swearing-in ceremony is expected to be held on March 6. -- ANI
IMAGE: Conrad Sangma after meeting Meghalaya Governor on Sunday evening. Photograph: ANI
18:31 Decision on Tripura CM on March 6
Newly elected MLAs of the Bharatiya Janata Party and its ally Indigenous People's Front of Tripura in Tripura will meet in Agartala on March 6 to elect their leader, state BJP president Biplab Deb said today.
The BJP has 35 MLAs and the IPFT has eight.
Union minister Nitin Gadkari will be present at the meeting, Deb told PTI.
He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and many other Union ministers are likely to attend the oath-taking ceremony.
The elections in 59 seats of the 60-member assembly were held on February 18.
Polling was countermanded in one seat due to the death of a Communist Party of India-Marxist candidate. -- PTI
The BJP has 35 MLAs and the IPFT has eight.
Union minister Nitin Gadkari will be present at the meeting, Deb told PTI.
He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and many other Union ministers are likely to attend the oath-taking ceremony.
The elections in 59 seats of the 60-member assembly were held on February 18.
Polling was countermanded in one seat due to the death of a Communist Party of India-Marxist candidate. -- PTI
17:34 Meghalaya: NPP, BJP MLAs reach Guv's House to stake claim to form govt
MLAs from National People's Party led by Conrad Sangma and MLAs from United Democratic Party, Bharatiya Janata Party and Hill State People's Democratic Party begin to arrive at Governor's House to stake claim to form government in the state.
They collectively have 29 MLAs in a 60-member assembly, two short of majority.
They will stake claim to form a government with Conrad Sangma as chief minister. -- ANI
IMAGE: Conrad Sangma. Photograph: ANI
They collectively have 29 MLAs in a 60-member assembly, two short of majority.
They will stake claim to form a government with Conrad Sangma as chief minister. -- ANI
IMAGE: Conrad Sangma. Photograph: ANI
17:04 Rio stakes claim to form govt in Nagaland, gets Guv's nod
Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party leader Neiphiu Rio stakes claim to form government in Nagaland, says he has support of 32 MLAs in 60-member assembly.
Nagaland Governor P B Acharya says NDPP leader Rio has majority and should form the government.
NDPP had a pre-poll alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party. -- PTI
Nagaland Governor P B Acharya says NDPP leader Rio has majority and should form the government.
NDPP had a pre-poll alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party. -- PTI
16:27 Meghalaya: BJP, allies to meet Guv 'with 29 MLAs'
To keep Congress out of power in Meghalaya, Assam Finance, Health and Education Minister and Northeast Democratic Alliance (NEDA) convenor Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) along with regional parties will form the next government in the state.
"I am confident that the regional parties and the BJP will form the government in Meghalaya together. The people in Meghalaya have rejected the Congress. We are committed to giving them an alternate form of government and we are moving in that direction only," Sarma told ANI.
He said 'at 5 pm we are going to meet the Governor with 29 members, that number will definitely go up'.
The MLAs of National People's Party on Sunday attended a meeting to discuss the formation of the government in the state.
Speaking to the media, NPP president Conrad K Sangma confirmed that in a few hours the entire picture regarding the upcoming government in the state will be clear.
He even added that they have spoken to like-minded parties.
"We'll take a decision in the meeting, have spoken to like-minded parties, they are also having their meetings, the picture will be clear in an hour or two," Sangma said.
Donkupar Roy, president of United Democratic Party said, "As a party we meet and discussed formation of govt. We all decided we should form a non-Congress govt, and we have decided that NPP government should be formed led by Conrad Sangma as the CM." -- ANI
"I am confident that the regional parties and the BJP will form the government in Meghalaya together. The people in Meghalaya have rejected the Congress. We are committed to giving them an alternate form of government and we are moving in that direction only," Sarma told ANI.
He said 'at 5 pm we are going to meet the Governor with 29 members, that number will definitely go up'.
The MLAs of National People's Party on Sunday attended a meeting to discuss the formation of the government in the state.
Speaking to the media, NPP president Conrad K Sangma confirmed that in a few hours the entire picture regarding the upcoming government in the state will be clear.
He even added that they have spoken to like-minded parties.
"We'll take a decision in the meeting, have spoken to like-minded parties, they are also having their meetings, the picture will be clear in an hour or two," Sangma said.
Donkupar Roy, president of United Democratic Party said, "As a party we meet and discussed formation of govt. We all decided we should form a non-Congress govt, and we have decided that NPP government should be formed led by Conrad Sangma as the CM." -- ANI
15:13 First time rest of India showed interest in NE polls: PM
Hailing the Bharatiya Janata Party's victory in the North-east states' polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that radicalisation can only be answered through integration.
Addressing a Youth Convention in Karnataka's Tumakuru via video conferencing, the prime minister said that he does not see the poll result as a victory or defeat of any party.
"You saw that the whole day, the entire country was smeared with the color of Holi. Yesterday the results of the North East once again created an atmosphere of festivity throughout the country..The whole nation participated in the happiness of the people of the North East. This is important," he said.
"For the first time, the people of other states of the country also sat in the morning to watch the decision of the people of the northeast. This is a huge change," he added.
He further said that people of the northeastern states used to feel a sense of alienation because of the policies of the previous governments adding, 'that sentiment has now been eliminated by the policies of BJP government'.
"Not only development but people here also used to feel isolated from the mainstream of faith and morality. In the last four years, our government policies and decisions have worked to eliminate this sentiment. We have resolved the emotional integration of North East," he added. -- ANI
Addressing a Youth Convention in Karnataka's Tumakuru via video conferencing, the prime minister said that he does not see the poll result as a victory or defeat of any party.
"You saw that the whole day, the entire country was smeared with the color of Holi. Yesterday the results of the North East once again created an atmosphere of festivity throughout the country..The whole nation participated in the happiness of the people of the North East. This is important," he said.
"For the first time, the people of other states of the country also sat in the morning to watch the decision of the people of the northeast. This is a huge change," he added.
He further said that people of the northeastern states used to feel a sense of alienation because of the policies of the previous governments adding, 'that sentiment has now been eliminated by the policies of BJP government'.
"Not only development but people here also used to feel isolated from the mainstream of faith and morality. In the last four years, our government policies and decisions have worked to eliminate this sentiment. We have resolved the emotional integration of North East," he added. -- ANI
15:09
Mukul Sangma submitted his resignation as Meghalaya Chief Minister to Governor Ganga Prasad in Shillong. -- ANI
14:40
JUST IN: Manik Sarkar submitted his resignation as Tripura CM to Governor Tathagata Roy.
Sarkar will continue as the CM until the new govt is sworn in. -- ANI
Sarkar will continue as the CM until the new govt is sworn in. -- ANI
14:22 Banks write off NPAs worth Rs 516 cr of 38 wilful defaulters in H1 FY18
Public sector banks have written off loans worth Rs 516 crore owed by wilful defaulters in the first half of the current fiscal, as per the data collated by the finance ministry.
As part of this exercise, 38 loan accounts of wilful defaulters were written off the books of banks during April-September period of 2017-18, it said.
Write-off in banking parlance means that the bank has made 100 per cent provision from its earning against that account.
Following this, non-performing asset is no longer part of its balance sheet.
However, the write-off puts pressure on balance sheet of banks as it erodes operating profit.
Since recovery in case of wilful default is very remote so the possibility of write-back in the future is also very little, said a senior bank official.
A wilful defaulter is somebody who has essentially not used the fund for the purpose it has been borrowed or he has not repaid when he can do so; he has siphoned off the funds or he disposed of the assets pledged for loan without the bank's knowledge.
If there is wilful default then where is the possibility of recovery, when the entire exercise was undertaken with a clear intention of default, the official said, adding that banks could only get few of their assets which have been disclosed.
Recovery forms only minuscule part of the outstanding loan in most of the cases, the official added.
The Reserve Bank of India in its direction to banks in 2015 said lenders should initiate legal proceedings wherever warranted, against the borrowers or guarantors and foreclosure for recovery of dues should be initiated expeditiously.
The lenders may initiate criminal proceedings against wilful defaulters, wherever necessary.
The country's largest lender State Bank of India (SBI) accounts for over 27 per cent of the total amount owed to public sector banks by wilful defaulters as of March 2017, according to the finance ministry data.
As many as 1,762 wilful defaulters owed Rs 25,104 crore to State Bank of India (SBI) as on March 31, 2017, putting pressure on its balance sheet. Punjab National Bank (PNB) is next on the list with 1,120 wilful defaulters having outstanding non-performing assets (NPAs) or bad loans of Rs 12,278 crore.
Together these two banks account for Rs 37,382 crore or 40 per cent of the total outstanding loans.
Total outstanding loans due to public sector banks by 8,915 wilful defaulters amounted to Rs 92,376 crore. -- PTI
As part of this exercise, 38 loan accounts of wilful defaulters were written off the books of banks during April-September period of 2017-18, it said.
Write-off in banking parlance means that the bank has made 100 per cent provision from its earning against that account.
Following this, non-performing asset is no longer part of its balance sheet.
However, the write-off puts pressure on balance sheet of banks as it erodes operating profit.
Since recovery in case of wilful default is very remote so the possibility of write-back in the future is also very little, said a senior bank official.
A wilful defaulter is somebody who has essentially not used the fund for the purpose it has been borrowed or he has not repaid when he can do so; he has siphoned off the funds or he disposed of the assets pledged for loan without the bank's knowledge.
If there is wilful default then where is the possibility of recovery, when the entire exercise was undertaken with a clear intention of default, the official said, adding that banks could only get few of their assets which have been disclosed.
Recovery forms only minuscule part of the outstanding loan in most of the cases, the official added.
The Reserve Bank of India in its direction to banks in 2015 said lenders should initiate legal proceedings wherever warranted, against the borrowers or guarantors and foreclosure for recovery of dues should be initiated expeditiously.
The lenders may initiate criminal proceedings against wilful defaulters, wherever necessary.
The country's largest lender State Bank of India (SBI) accounts for over 27 per cent of the total amount owed to public sector banks by wilful defaulters as of March 2017, according to the finance ministry data.
As many as 1,762 wilful defaulters owed Rs 25,104 crore to State Bank of India (SBI) as on March 31, 2017, putting pressure on its balance sheet. Punjab National Bank (PNB) is next on the list with 1,120 wilful defaulters having outstanding non-performing assets (NPAs) or bad loans of Rs 12,278 crore.
Together these two banks account for Rs 37,382 crore or 40 per cent of the total outstanding loans.
Total outstanding loans due to public sector banks by 8,915 wilful defaulters amounted to Rs 92,376 crore. -- PTI
13:57 Lotus will now bloom in Karnataka, Kerala, West Bengal: Adityanath
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today credited the Bharatiya Janata Party's 'historic' performance in north eastern states to 'development-oriented' policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and 'organisational skills' of Amit Shah and said the day is not far when one party will be in power right from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.
The chief minister was addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters here after the party's good show in assembly polls in Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya.
"The BJP's sterling performance in northeast will go a long way in fulfilling development aspirations of people," he said.
Adityanath said for the first time after Independence, these northeastern states will get chance to join the national mainstream and enjoy fruits of development.
The UP chief minister, who had campaigned for the saffron party in these assembly elections, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's development oriented policies and organisational skills of BJP president Amit Shah led to his party's 'sterling performance'.
He said the 'lotus' will now bloom in Karnataka, Kerala, West Bengal and Odisha, thanks to the development-oriented policies of the prime minister and his good governance, and the guidance of the party chief Amit Shah.
"That day is not far when one party will be in power right from Kashmir down to Kanyakumari," he said.
He also exuded confidence that the BJP will win Lok Sabha by-elections next week in Gorakhpur and Phulpur constituencies in Uttar Pradesh. -- PTI
The chief minister was addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters here after the party's good show in assembly polls in Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya.
"The BJP's sterling performance in northeast will go a long way in fulfilling development aspirations of people," he said.
Adityanath said for the first time after Independence, these northeastern states will get chance to join the national mainstream and enjoy fruits of development.
The UP chief minister, who had campaigned for the saffron party in these assembly elections, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's development oriented policies and organisational skills of BJP president Amit Shah led to his party's 'sterling performance'.
He said the 'lotus' will now bloom in Karnataka, Kerala, West Bengal and Odisha, thanks to the development-oriented policies of the prime minister and his good governance, and the guidance of the party chief Amit Shah.
"That day is not far when one party will be in power right from Kashmir down to Kanyakumari," he said.
He also exuded confidence that the BJP will win Lok Sabha by-elections next week in Gorakhpur and Phulpur constituencies in Uttar Pradesh. -- PTI
12:52
Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah arrives in Nagpur. He will visit Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh headquarters later today. -- ANI
12:43 Congress leaders meet Meghalaya Guv, stake claim to form govt
After emerging as the single largest party in Meghalaya, the Congress staked a claim to form a government in the state at a meeting with Governor Ganga Prasad, officials and party leaders said today.
A delegation of three Congress leaders -- Kamal Nath, Ahmed Patel and C P Joshi -- met the governor at 7 pm last night, they said.
"We met the Governor and sought his invitation to the single largest party to be called first to form the government as per convention," former Union minister Nath told PTI.
The Congress won 21 seats out the 59 that went to polls last month. The party is 10 seats short of a simple majority.
After heavy losses in Tripura and Nagaland, Nath, Patel and Joshi reached Meghalaya from Delhi in a bid to form a government, party sources said.
The Congress has been in power in the state for the last 10 years.
Meghalaya Congress working president Vincent H Pala expressed confidence that regional parties such as the United Democratic Party, which won six seats, and the People's Democratic Front, which bagged four, will join the Congress.
"We are in talks. We hope that they will join us," Pala said.
The National People's Party and its ally at the Centre and in Manipur, the Bharatiya Janata Party, together won 21 seats, though they contested independently.
The BJP has also sent its leader from Assam, H B Sarma, to the Meghalaya capital to help the ally form a government.
"We can only help the NPP and encourage the regional parties to form a government," Sarma told reporters yesterday. -- PTI
IMAGE: Meghalaya Chief Minister and Congress candidate Mukul Sangma along with his wife Dikkanchi D Shira flash victory sign after they won their constituencies on Saturday. Photograph: PTI Photo
A delegation of three Congress leaders -- Kamal Nath, Ahmed Patel and C P Joshi -- met the governor at 7 pm last night, they said.
"We met the Governor and sought his invitation to the single largest party to be called first to form the government as per convention," former Union minister Nath told PTI.
The Congress won 21 seats out the 59 that went to polls last month. The party is 10 seats short of a simple majority.
After heavy losses in Tripura and Nagaland, Nath, Patel and Joshi reached Meghalaya from Delhi in a bid to form a government, party sources said.
The Congress has been in power in the state for the last 10 years.
Meghalaya Congress working president Vincent H Pala expressed confidence that regional parties such as the United Democratic Party, which won six seats, and the People's Democratic Front, which bagged four, will join the Congress.
"We are in talks. We hope that they will join us," Pala said.
The National People's Party and its ally at the Centre and in Manipur, the Bharatiya Janata Party, together won 21 seats, though they contested independently.
The BJP has also sent its leader from Assam, H B Sarma, to the Meghalaya capital to help the ally form a government.
"We can only help the NPP and encourage the regional parties to form a government," Sarma told reporters yesterday. -- PTI
IMAGE: Meghalaya Chief Minister and Congress candidate Mukul Sangma along with his wife Dikkanchi D Shira flash victory sign after they won their constituencies on Saturday. Photograph: PTI Photo
11:34 Karti to be brought face-to-face with Indrani, Peter in Mumbai jail
Karti Chidambaram has been brought to Byculla jail in Mumbai by the Central Bureau of Investigation for questioning in INX Media case.
He will be brought face-to-face with Indrani Mukerjea and Peter Mukerjea, separately, say CBI Sources.
Karti is in CBI custody till March 6. -- ANI
He will be brought face-to-face with Indrani Mukerjea and Peter Mukerjea, separately, say CBI Sources.
Karti is in CBI custody till March 6. -- ANI
11:00 KKR names Dinesh Karthik captain, Uthappa his deputy
Wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik was today appointed captain of Kolkata Knight Riders and Robin Uthappa his deputy for the upcoming Indian Premier League season.
The announcement was made at the Star Sports studios in the KKR-Star Sports show called Knight Club. Present on the occasion were KKR's MD and CEO, Venky Mysore, and Karthik himself.
Karthik said he was looking forward to lead a side having a combination of youth and experience.
"It is an honour to represent Kolkata Knight Riders, one of the most successful franchises in the IPL and I look forward to this new challenge. I am excited about the squad that has been assembled, which has a great combination of experience and youth," said Karthik.
Mysore said, "It is indeed a start of a new phase for KKR, and we are delighted that someone as experienced as Dinesh Karthik will lead the side."
Regarding the team's vice-captain, he said, "Robin has been an integral part of KKR since 2014 and played a crucial role in KKR winning the championship. We are fortunate to have both Dinesh & Robin in leadership roles for KKR."
KKR play their opening game on April 8 at the Eden Gardens.
10:29 Trump zips his mouth, no more Big Macs!
United States President Donald Trump has cut down on red meat, since his doctor told him he needs to lose a few pounds, reports ANI.
President Trump has cut out his favourite Big Macs from McDonald's and has been eating more fish, salads and soups. It's been two weeks since Trump ate a hamburger, according to Newsweek.
White House physician Dr Ronny Jackson, in January, had announced that Trump at 6'3" and 239 pounds, is just one pound below being classified as "obese".
President Trump has reportedly embraced the new menu choices he is being offered and is enjoying his new diet, according to sources. He is said to have had one cheat day this week, when he enjoyed a hearty bacon breakfast.
It's an about-face from his campaign trail regimen, which reportedly included two Big Macs, two Filet-O-Fish sandwiches and a chocolate milkshake for dinner.
One way Trump supposedly justified his love for McDonald's was the reassurance it offered.
'He had a long time fear of being poisoned, one reason why he liked to eat at McDonald's -- nobody knew he was coming and the food was safely premade,' Michael Wolff's book Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House stated.
Donald Trump had also told CNN's Anderson Cooper in 2016, "One bad hamburger, you can destroy McDonald's," according to Newsweek.
"I'm a very clean person. I like cleanliness, and I think you're better off going there than maybe someplace that you have no idea where the food's coming from. It's a certain standard," Trump had said of McDonald's.
But a healthier diet is only half of Dr Ronny Jackson's plan for President Trump. "We are going to do both (referring to diet and exercise)," the doctor said after administering his physical.
It is not yet clear whether President Trump is also exercising more these days.
Photograph: Jim Young/Reuters.
09:55 Shooter Shahzar Rizvi leads India's medal charge in Mexico world cup
Unheralded Indian shooter Shahzar Rizvi clinched the gold medal with a world record score in a memorable maiden ISSF World Cup appearance, while Jitu Rai and Mehuli Ghosh bagged a bronze each in Guadalajara, Mexico.
The Meerut-based Rizvi shot a world record 242.3 in the 10m air pistol event's final to beat reigning Olympic champion Christian Reitz of Germany, 239.7, to win the top prize.
Pistol ace Rai won the bronze in the event with a score of 219, as three Indians made it to the finals of the season's first World Cup.
Om Prakash Mitharval, the other Indian shooter in the event, finished at creditable fourth position with a score of 198.4 points.
Mehuli, also a senior World Cup debutant, added to India's medal tally as she shot a world junior record 228.4 to win bronze in the women's 10m air rifle event.
In this women's event too, three Indian shooters progressed to the final. Anjum Moudgil finished at fourth position with 208.6 points, while Apurvi Chandela was seventh in the standings with 144.1 points.
Photograph: Mike Hutchings/Reuters.
09:49 'Bureaucrats behave as if Prasar Bharati Act doesn't exist at all'
That not all is well between Prasar Bharati and the information and broadcasting ministry can be seen here, and this is what A Surya Prakash, chairman of the public service broadcaster, has to say about the tussle, in an interview to The Hindu.
'In my view, the bureaucrats in the ministry have passed several orders which indicate that they have utter contempt for the Prasar Bharati Act. In fact, they behave as if the Act does not exist at all.'
'What kind of an autonomous media corporation is Prasar Bharati if it cannot hire contractual and casual manpower who are paid out of its own funds? In fact, I regard such orders as gross contempt of the Act and of Parliament itself. I have never found another Act of Parliament being treated with such contempt by bureaucrats as the Prasar Bharati Act!'
You can read the entire interview here.
09:35 Pak cross-border shelling targets villages in Poonch
Pakistani troops resorted to heavy shelling of forward posts and villages along the Line of Control in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir overnight, the police said today.
The shelling from across the border in Balakote sector started late last night and continued for over two hours, a police official told PTI.
Indian troops retaliated effectively.
There was no immediate report of any casualty or damage in the shelling, the official said, adding that forward villages and posts were targeted by Pakistan during the ceasefire violation.
There has been a spurt in ceasefire violations along the LoC and International Border in Jammu and Kashmir this year.
09:27 Mayawati to back Samajwadi Party in Phulpur, Gorakhpur bypolls?
Pankhuri Pathak, the Samajwadi Party spokesperson, has tweeted: 'BSP to Support @samajwadiparty in the LS By-Polls in Phulpur & Gorakhpur . Much awaited decision by Mayawati Ji. Looking forward to contesting together & creating a larger Bahujan secular alliance.'
If it is officially confirmed by both the parties, which have been decimated by the Narendra Modi wave in Uttar Pradesh, it will mark the beginning of the Opposition getting together to stop the BJP's relentless march in electoral politics ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
09:19 Congress to elect legislature party leader in Meghalaya at 11 am
The Congress party will hold a meeting at 11 am to elect its legislature party leader in Meghalaya, where its government headed by Mukul Sangma fared badly in the elections. The CLP leader will be the party's chief ministerial nominee.
The Congress party has emerged as the single largest party in the state with 21 seats, and it remains to be seen if the splintered Opposition, which together has the numbers to form a government, will join hands to keep out the Congress.
09:02 Car mows down people performing puja in Jharkhand
Just In: 6 people were killed and 7 injured after a car rammed into locals performing puja by the roadside in Chaibasa in Singhbum, Jharkhand.
08:57 This Pune tea-seller earns Rs 12 lakh a month!
A tea-seller in Maharashtra's Pune city has set a benchmark for his competitors by making Rs 12 lakh per month, reports ANI.
Yewle Tea house has become one of the famous stalls in the city. Navnath Yewle, co-founder of Yewle Tea house, says he is going to make it an international brand very soon.
"Unlike the 'pakora' business, this tea-selling business is also creating employment for Indians. This business is growing fast and I'm happy," Navnath told ANI.
Currently, Yewle Tea House has three centres in the city with each centre having about 12 employees.
Image used only for representational purpose. Photograph: Ahmad Masood/Reuters.
08:48 Bangladeshi secular writer stabbed on Dhaka university campus
A Bangladeshi professor and secular writer was stabbed in his head and neck by an unidentified assailant during an event at a university in Dhaka, PTI reported quoting the police.
Muhammed Zafar Iqbal, an outspoken opponent of militancy and communalism, suffered head injuries in the attack which took place at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology in Sylhet, Bdnews24 reported.
The attacker was nabbed and handed over to the police, Shahjalal University public administration department assistant professor Mohammed Mahmud Hasan said. The motive behind the attack was not immediately known, the police said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina 'strongly' condemned the attack on Iqbal and ordered officials to take quick action to bring the assailants to justice.
Iqbal, a professor in the university, was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was able to speak despite bleeding profusely, the report said.
The attack took place during a festival organised by the electrical and electronic dngineering department where he was the chief guest. The attacker struck from behind and stabbed him in the head, the report said.
"Things are heated. The students are causing vandalism. Police are working to bring the situation under control," Jalalabad police station officer-in-charge Shafiqul Islam Swapan said.
Iqbal, a renowned science fiction writer, had recently criticised ragging on campus and said that five students punished for ragging had gotten off easy and should have been handed over to the police, the report said.
Some students believe that militants may have been responsible for the attack.
Iqbal has been given police protection for security reasons since 2015, when militants threatened to kill him. There were six to seven policemen guarding him when the attack took place, the report said.
Bangladesh, in the last couple of years, has seen a spate of gruesome attacks on secular activists, religious minorities, bloggers and foreigners, many of whom have been hacked to death with machetes.
Photograph: ANI
08:37 Not Rahuls defeat, give him time: Farooq Abdullah
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah has defended Congress president Rahul Gandhi over the party's debacle in the assembly polls in three north-eastern states, stating that the party scion needed some time to deliver results.
The Congress has suffered a humiliating defeat in Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura polls.
The BJP wrested Tripura, the last Left bastion, and received an invitation to be a part of the government in Nagaland, while Meghalaya elected a hung assembly.
"I do not think he (Gandhi) has failed. Give him time as he has just become the president (of the Congress party)... It is not his defeat," Abdullah told reporters on the sidelines of a function.
"He (Gandhi) will take time to grow in the organisation. Elections come and go," he said.
Asked about the chances of a Congress revival after back-to-back defeats, the National Conference chief said everyone has revival chances if one worked for the people.
08:20 Nirav Modi writes to ED about "unfairness of process"
Diamond trader Nirav Modi, who is at the centre of the Rs 12,700-crore scam at the Punjab National Bank, has alleged that he was right in being concerned about the "unfairness of process", going by the way a woman employee of his firm was arrested, reports PTI.
Modi, against whom a special court on Saturday issued a non-bailable warrant, wrote two letters to the Enforcement Directorate in response to summonses last month.
"A lady executive (Kavita Mankikar) of my organisation has been arrested by the CBI illegally, in complete violation of the Criminal Procedure Code. And when the liberty of a female is not been priced (sic) by the investigating agencies, my concern for my safety and for the unfairness in the process is not in any manner misplaced," Modi wrote to Archana Salaye, assistant director of ED, on February 26.
Mankikar's lawyer had claimed that she was arrested at 8 pm, while as per the law, a woman cannot be arrested after sunset. Modi wrote two letters to the ED, one on February 22 and another four days later.
The ED had issued summonses to him on February 15, February 17 and February 22, asking him to appear before the agency. However, Modi, believed to be in the US, did not join the probe.
In the letter, he said he was "baffled and in a state of extreme confusion" as the passport authority had written to him, informing that it had suspended his passport after receiving a communication from the ED.
"...Your good self sought to have me join the investigation. On that, I wrote to the passport authority, requesting it to provide me with reasons for the suspension and proposed revocation of my passport. But surprisingly, within minutes of my reply, the authority revoked my passport," Modi said.
The lightning speed with which the passport authority acted showed that the action was pre-determined and his "fate" was already decided, he wrote in the first letter.
In the second letter, he said, "I am very engaged in trying to deal with the businesses that I am involved with outside India.
"I am trying to ensure that so far as possible, the position of these business creditors, including banks and employees, are properly considered, given the difficulties these business are experiencing.
"I have also been very concerned by the tone of the press coverage and comments that have been made by politicians, which have led to me having concerns for my own safety."
Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters.
00:07 BJP trying to create wedge between me, Cong: Punjab CM on Modi's remark
Hitting out at Narendra Modi over his his "independent soldier' jibe today, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh accused the prime minister of trying to create a wedge between him and the Congress leadership.
Modi, while addressing party workers at the BJP headquarters in Delhi after the poll results of three northeastern states, said "In Punjab, the Congress does not consider the chief minister as its own, as he marches on like an independent soldier.'
Dismissing the remark as "frivolous and unsubstantiated', Singh said the PM's comment was part of the BJP's "futile" attempt to create a wedge between him and the Congress high command ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
"Who told you that Narendra Modi ji? Not me for sure. Did the Congress high command complain to you against me?
"Anyways, let me make it clear that such frivolous statements won't help you create a wedge between me and my party, which has full faith in my leadership and vice versa,' he said on Twitter.
The chief minister said that neither he nor the Congress high command needed the prime minister's advice on how to manage their internal relations.
"I know my business and I know how to run my state and manage my relationship with my party high command, which is more than one can say about the BJP leaders," he said.
Singh said that the Congress high command had full faith in his leadership and had given him a free hand to bring Punjab out of the mess into which the BJP, in alliance with Shiromani Akali Dal, had put the state.
Contrary to what Modi would like to believe, the Congress is not a fly-by-night party which he could simply wish away, Singh said.
-- PTI
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