LIVE! Draft Brexit deal reached 2 years after referendum

LIVE

Tue, 13 November 2018

Draft Brexit deal reached 2 years after referendum

Timeline Refresh

23:16 Draft Brexit deal reached 2 years after referendum

British and European Union negotiators have agreed on a draft Brexit deal, United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May's office said, more than two years after the country voted in a divisive referendum to withdraw from the bloc, CNN reported.

May has called an emergency Cabinet meeting on Wednesday to discuss the draft deal, her office announced, after months of negotiations and marathon talks in recent days.

A Downing Street spokesman said that the Cabinet would meet at 2 pm local time to 'consider the draft agreement the negotiating teams have reached in Brussels, and to decide on next steps.

'Cabinet Ministers have been invited to read documentation ahead of that meeting.' -- Agencies

23:13 Fire in Mumbai high-rise, two killed

Fire broke out in a residential high-rise on Veera Desai road in suburban Andheri of Mumbai on Tuesday evening, an official of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said.

Two people were killed in the fire, fire brigade officials said.

Fire brigade personnel rescued three persons, and another was missing.

The efforts to douse the flames were underway, said an official of the Disaster Management Cell of the BMC.

The blaze started at 8.21 pm on the fifth and sixth floor of the 21-storey building, he said.

As a precaution, people living on the fourth and seventh floors were evacuated, he said.

Five fire engines and four jumbo water tankers have been pressed into service and the fire is now under control, he added.

Cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained. -- PTI

A voter turnout of 76.28 per centwas recorded in the first phase of elections in Chhattisgarh covering 18 assembly segments, a poll official said on Tuesday.

The impressive turnout shows that Naxals threats seem to have had little impact in the first phase of polling in eight Maoist-hit districts, the official said.

"Chhattisgarh recorded 76.28 per cent polling in the first phase of elections held on Monday," state Chief Electoral Officer Subrat Sahoo said in a press conference in Raipur.

The highest polling percentage was recorded in Dongargaon (85.15), followed by Khujji (84.48), Khairagarh(84.31), Bastar (83.51), Kondagaon (82.84), Dongargarh (82.53), Keshkal (81.32), Chitrakot (80.31), Mohla-Manpur (80), Rajnandgaon (78.66), Kanker (78.54) Jagdalpur (78.24), Bhanupratappur (76.77), Antagarh (74.45), Narayanpur (74.40), Dantewada (60.62), Konta (55.30) and Bijapur 47.35 per cent.

"A good number of voters in remote areas exercisedtheir franchise," Sahoo said.

The final polling percentage is much higher than the earlier estimates, which ranged from 60 to 70 per cent.

The Election Commission, at a press conference in New Delhi on Monday evening, had said 70 per cent turnout was recorded in phase one of Chhattisgarh polls.

However Sahoo hadtold reporters at Raipur later on Monday that 60.49 per cent turnout was recorded, adding the figure may go up. -- PTI

22:32 I enjoy being on Twitter: PM to Jack Dorsey

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday told Twitter Chief Executive Officer Jack Dorsey who called on him in New Delhi that he enjoys being on the micro-blogging website and has made 'great friends' on it.

The prime minister later tweeted that he was delighted to meet Dorsey.

'Happy to see the passion with which you're leading @Twitter. I enjoy being on this medium, where I've made great friends and see everyday the creativity of people,' the prime minister said.

Thanking Modi for the meeting, Twitter CEO tweeted, 'I enjoyed our conversation about the importance of global conversation. Also: thanks for the ideas for Twitter!' -- PTI

Photograph: Kind courtesy @jack/Twitter

21:21 CNN sues White House over barring of reporter

CNN sued Donald Trump's administration on Tuesday, alleging the White House violated journalist Jim Acosta's rights under the constitution by revoking his press credentials following a heated exchange with the President.

'The wrongful revocation of these credentials violates CNN and Acosta's First Amendment rights of freedom of the press, and their Fifth Amendment rights to due process,' the news network said in a statement.

'We have asked this court for an immediate restraining order requiring the pass be returned to Jim, and will seek permanent relief as part of this process,' the CNN said.

The White House had suspended Acosta's hard pass after he sparred at a news conference with the president, who demanded that the reporter yield the microphone and called him a 'rude, terrible person' when he did not immediately comply.

Acosta persisted with questions and a White House intern tried to take the microphone from the CNN journalist -- an incident the Trump administration characterise as misconduct against the female aide. -- Agencies

A journalist with a Kannada daily has been arrested in Tumakuru in Karnataka for his alleged inflammatory speech against the recent Tipu Jayanti celebrations, following which the Bharatiya Janata Party condemned the police action and demanded his release.

Santosh Thammaiah employed with the daily, Hosa Digantha, was arrested on Monday night under Indian Penal Code section 295(A) (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings), police said on Tuesday.

The Tipu Jayanti celebrations marking the birth anniversary of the controversial 18th century Mysore kingdom ruler Tipu Sultan were held across the state on November 10 amid protests by the BJP and right-wing organisations.

Calling Tipu a 'religious bigot', the state BJP unit had urged the state government to drop its decision to celebrate the Jayanti.

Thammaiah was arrested from his in-laws' residence in Madhugiri in Tumakuru, Editor of the daily Vinayak Bhat told PTI.

A local newspaper had published a report quoting his speech made at a protest against Tipu Jayanti at Gonikoppal in Kodagu district on November 9, based on which the arrest was made, Bhat claimed.

Condemning the action against the journalist, BJP state general secretary Aravinda Limbavali said it was 'a cowardly act' on the part of the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) coalition government to arrest a person exercising his democratic right of freedom of speech.

In a statement, he demanded immediate release of Thammaiah and said the BJP would launch a statewide agitation if he was not let off. -- PTI

20:44 CINTAA expels Alok Nath

Cine And TV Artistes' Association (CINTAA) has expelled actor Alok Nath from its membership till further notice after he failed to appear before it's executive committee yesterday, CINTAA's senior joint secretary says.

Nath has been asked to appear during annual general meeting on May 1 and if he fails, he'll be permanently expelled, CINTAA said.

Writer-producer Vinta Nanda had accused Nath of raping her more than once 19 years ago.

Nanda, best known for the television show Tara, gave a detailed account of the alleged assaults in a lengthy Facebook post as part of the #MeToo movement. -- ANI

The Delhi high court on Tuesday dismissed the bail plea of middleman Manoj Prasad in a bribery case allegedly involving Central Bureau of Investigation Special Director Rakesh Asthana, saying the allegations against him were serious in nature.

Justice Najmi Waziri denied the relief to Prasad after noting the CBI's submission that the investigation is at a crucial stage and illegal gratification was exchanged between the accused outside India also.

"The court is of the view that the allegations are of serious nature... The petition is dismissed," the judge said after concluding hearing arguments of the counsel for Prasad and the CBI.

Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing for Prasad, said he has been in custody for nearly a month and has not been interrogated even once by the CBI since the time he has been in judicial custody.

The counsel argued that Prasad be granted the relief as CBI's Deputy Superintendent of Police Devender Kumar, who was also arrested in the case, was released on bail by the trial court and he was not required for further detention.

Additional Solicitor General Vikramjit Banerjee and Advocate Rajdipa Behura, appearing for the CBI, opposed the bail plea on the grounds that probe was going on and was at a crucial stage and Prasad's case was different from that of other accused.

The CBI counsel also argued that the ramifications of the case are far reaching and considering the sensitivity of the case, bail should not be granted to Prasad.

Prasad had approached the high court on Monday seeking bail in the case, following dismissal of his similar application by a trial court here on November 3.

Prasad, Asthana and Kumar have also filed separate petitions in the high court seeking quashing of the FIR against them which are listed for hearing on Wednesday.

The trial court had denied bail to Prasad, saying it was not a fit stage to grant him the relief. Prasad, who was arrested by the CBI on October 17, is currently in judicial custody. -- PTI

Two unidentifiable terrorists were killed on Tuesday when the Army foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Keran sector.

"An infiltration bid was eliminated by alert soldiers in Keran sector in Kupwara district today," an Army official said.

He said two terrorists were killed in the operation, which was going on till last reports came in.

The identity and group affiliation of the gunned-down terrorists was not immediately known. -- PTI

Image used only for representation.

A ban on eight rebel groups in Manipur has been extended by the government for five more years for their continued involvement in unlawful and violent activities, the Home Ministry said on Tuesday.

The groups have openly declared their objectives of formation of an independent Manipur by secession from India, employing and engaging in armed means to achieve their goal besides attacking security forces, police and government employees, it said.

The organisations banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act are (i) Peoples' Liberation Army generally known as PLA and its political wing, (ii) Revolutionary Peoples' Front (RPF), (iii) United National Liberation Front (UNLF) and its armed wing Manipur Peoples' Army (MPA), (iv) Peoples' Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) and its armed wing, 'Red Army', (v) Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) and its armed wing, also called 'Red Army', (vi) Kanglei Yaol Kanba Lup (KYKL), (vii) the Coordination Committee (CorCom) and (viii) Alliance for Socialist Unity Kangleipak (ASUK), a home ministry notification said.

The five-year ban on all these groups lapsed recently, thus necessitating declaring them outlawed for a fresh spell of five years, a home ministry official said. -- PTI

19:25 Sabarimala head priest welcomes SC decision

The Sabarimala temple head priest on Tuesday welcomed the Supreme court's decision to hear review petitions against its judgment on the women's entry issue, in an open court on January 22, saying 'it is a big victory, this is Ayappa's victory.'

Reacting to the Constitution bench's decision to hear a batch of 50 petitions in the open court, Tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru said today's outcome was due to the blessings of Lord Ayyappa, the presiding deity of the hill shrine.

"The blessings of Lord Ayyappa and prayers of lots of devotees are behind this decision to hear the matter in the open court," a beaming Tantri told reporters.

He said the shrine had never faced such troubled times, as first the floods caused immense damage to infrastructure in an around the temple complex and then came the apex court verdict of September 28, permitting women of all ages to offer prayers, at the shrine.

"This is a big victory. We believe things will become normal. This is Ayyappa's victory", he said, adding everything would turn positive. Devaswom minister Kadakkampally Surendran said the government was waiting for details of the judgment.

"We have said it earlier also. Whatever decision the Supreme court takes, we will abide by it," he said.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party state president, P S Sreedharan Pillai, described the apex court decision as a 'good step'.

"We accept the spirit of today's Superme Court decision", he said.

The state had witnessed frenzied protests from devotees against the top court's verdict, permitting women of all ages to pray at the shrine.

Women in the 10-50 age group had been barred for centuries from visiting and offering prayers as the deity is considered a 'Naishtika Brahmachari' (eternal celibate). -- PTI

The issue of tigress Avni's killing figured in the Maharashtra cabinet meeting on Tuesday with senior Shiv Sena leader and Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam seeking a judicial inquiry into the case.

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, however, said he was not aware of the issue being discussed during the meeting.

Talking to reporters after the weekly cabinet meeting, Kadam said he raised the issue of the tigress' killing and demanded a judicial probe.

When contacted, Mungantiwar said, "When I came for the meeting, nobody spoke about it. I am not aware if the issue was raised in my absence."

Another senior Shiv Sena leader and Industries Minister Subhash Desai said, "Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis informed the cabinet that the authorities concerned have beendirected to expedite tracing tigress Avni's cubs. He also said the inquiry into the tigress' death would be conducted fairly."

Desai added that his party has sought a judicial probe into Avni's death. -- PTI

JUST IN: The Sri Lankan Supreme Court has overturned dissolving of Parliament by President Maithripala Sirisena, agency reports say.

Sri Lanka's major political parties and an election commission member on Monday dragged Sirisena to the Supreme Court, challenging his controversial move of dissolving Parliament, almost 20 months before its term was to end.

Sirisena dissolved Parliament on November 9 and announced snap polls to be held on January 5 next year after it became evident that he did not have enough support in the House to prove the premiership of 72-year-old Mahinda Rajapaksa, whom he has appointed prime minister after abruptly sacking Ranil Wickremesinghe on October 26.

Rajapaksa needed the support of minimum 113 parliamentarians in the 225-member House to prove his majority.

Wickremesinghe's United National Party (UNP), the main opposition Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the leftist JVP or the People's Liberation Front (PLF) were among the 10 groups that filed the fundamental rights petitions in the apex court, seeking declaration of the president's action as illegal, officials said.

The petitioners also include Election Commission member Prof Ratnajeevan Hoole. -- ANI/PTI

China has deputed its Tourism and Culture Minister Luo Shugang as the special envoy of President Xi Jinping to attend the swearing-in-ceremony of the Maldives' President-elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in Male on November 17.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also due to attend the ceremony which marks the end of the term of current President Abdulla Yameen whose pro-China policies, including promoting heavy Chinese investments in the strategically- located archipelago in the Indian Ocean, sparked concerns in India, the United States and European countries.

At the invitation of the Maldivian government, Luo will travel to the Maldivian capital Male from November 15-19 to attend the inauguration of President-elect Solih as special envoy of President Xi, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said here on Tuesday.

Over 120,000 Chinese tourists, the most from any country, have visited the Maldivian archipelago composed of 26 ring-shaped atolls which are part of numerous islands.

The fall of Yameen and the election of Solih has set off concerns in China, especially about the safety of massive Chinese investments as he is expected to pursue a more balanced foreign policy while resetting Male's damaged ties with New Delhi.

Much to the chagrin of India, the Maldives also signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with China during Yameen's rule though it is yet to be implemented.

Xi has already greeted Solih and the Chinese foreign ministry earlier said the new Maldivian leader has assured China's Ambassador in Male, Zhang Lizhong, of improving bilateral ties when he called on him soon after the election.

"He (Solih) said that the new government will stay committed to enhancing ties with China following the already signed cooperation agreements and continue to implement the existing cooperation projects and continue to explore cooperation in more areas such as infrastructure, livelihood and tourism so as to move forward our bilateral ties," Luo told the media in Bejing last month.

China's big investments, including building of bridges and airports totalling over $1.5 billion, also caused concerns about the raising debt levels of the small island nation similar to the case of neighbouring Sri Lanka which also received huge Chinese loans but ended up mortgaging its Hambantota port on a 99-year lease as a debt swap.

A series of anti-India actions by Yameen including asking New Delhi to remove its naval helicopters sparked speculation about the likely establishment of a Chinese naval base in the Maldives, though both countries have denied such a move. -- PTI

The Indian Railways has decided to install at least 100-ft tall tricolours on the premises of 75 of the busiest stations in the country, including seven in Mumbai, by the end of this year.

The Railway Board, the apex body of the national transporter, issued the order to this effect on October 22,which has been forwarded to all the zonal railways.

As per the order, the authorities concerned have been asked to complete the flag installation work by the end of next month.

The order issued by Vivek Saxena, Railway Board executive director (station development), says, 'The Board has decided to provide monumental flag (of at least 100-ft height) at all the erstwhile 'A1' class railway stations. The work should be completed by December 2018.'

The cost of the work many be charged under umbrella work of 'Soft upgrades improvement at stations', it said.

Mumbai, which has headquarters of two zonal railways-Central Railway and Western Railway- houses seven A-1 category stations.

Rest 68 stations fall in other cities and zonal railways.

The stations in Mumbai are Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT), Dadar, Thane, Kalyan, Mumbai Central and Bandra Terminus.

'The flag should be provided in circulating area of the stations and at suitable place. It should be provided with focused lights. The security and safety of the flag shall rest with Railway Protection Force (RPF),' the order says.

A senior CR officer said they have received the communication and places to install the flags were being identified.

Chief spokesperson of the Western Railway Ravinder Bhakar said, "The Railway Board's order will be followed in letter and spirit and our team will do our best to completethe installation work within the deadline."

Passenger representatives, however, expressed reservations over the move.

Ratan Poddar, a member of the Zonal Railway Users Consultative Committee (ZRUCC) panel set up by the WR, said,"The priority of the Railways should be upgrading the passenger amenities and installation of flags is certainly not related to that. I don't think mere installation of flags will instill a sense of patriotism in people." -- PTI

Flipkart Group Chief Executive Office Binny Bansal resigned on Tuesday following an allegation of 'serious personal miscount', the firm's new parent Walmart said.

Bansal, who along with Sachin Bansal had co-founded the India's biggest online retailer Flipkart, 'strongly denies the allegation', Walmart said in a statement.

Bansal, it said, has resigned as the CEO of Flipkart Group with immediate effect.

'His decision follows an independent investigation done on behalf of Flipkart and Walmart into an allegation of serious personal misconduct. He strongly denies the allegation. Nevertheless, we had a responsibility to ensure the investigation was deliberate and thorough

'While the investigation did not find evidence to corroborate the complainant's assertions against Binny, it did reveal other lapses in judgement, particularly a lack of transparency, related to how Binny responded to the situation. Because of this, we have accepted his decision to resign,' the statement said. -- PTI

IMAGE: Walmart CEO Doug McMillon, left, with Flipkart co-founder and CEO Binny Bansal in Bengaluru, after the US retailer acquired a 77 per cent stake in Flipkart. Photograph: PTI Photo

17:26 Man killed in IED blast in Chhattisgarh

A villager was killed when Naxals detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) in Chhattisagrh's Sukma district, police said on Tuesday.

The incident took place in Timmapuram village on Monday, but locals informed police about it on Tuesday, Sukma Superintendent of Police Abhishek Meena told PTI.

As per preliminary information, the man came in the contact with the pressure IED connection when he was working in his field, he said.

He died on the spot, the police officer said. A police team was sent to the village and further details were awaited, he said.

Naxals often plant IEDs on dirt tracks adjoining fields to target security forces during their operations, Meena added.

Polling was held on Monday in 18 constituencies of eight Naxal-affected districts, including Sukma, in the first phase of the state elections.

On Monday, five personnel of the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA), an elite unit of the Central Reserve Police Force, were injured in two separate encounters with ultras in Pamed police station area of Bijapur district, police had said.

Two Naxals were also gunned down in an encounter with security forces in Sukma district as polls were underway, they said.

An IED was detonated by Naxals early on Monday in Katekalyan area of Dantewada district but no one was injured in the incident, they added. -- PTI

The mortal remains of Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister and senior BJP leader Ananth Kumar were consigned to flames with full state honours in Bengaluru on Tuesday after hundreds of mourners paid their last respect to the departed soul.

The funeral pyre was lit by Kumar's younger brother Nanda Kumar, who performed the last rites according to Smartha Brahmin traditions, amidst chanting of Vedic hymns by a battery of priests at the Chamarajapete cremation ground.

Kumar's tricolour-draped mortal remains were accorded a gun salute by military personnel in presence of his wife Tejaswini, daughters Aishwarya and Vijetha, other family members and, national and state leaders. Chants of "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" and "Ananth Kumar Amar Rahe" rent the air as leaders paid homage and the mortal remains were consigned to flames.

Veteran BJP leader and former deputy prime minister L K Advani, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP president Amit Shah and state party chief B S Yeddyurappa and RSS general secretary Bhaiyyaji Joshi were present at the the last rites.

Also in attendance were Union Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Piyush Goyal, Dharmendra Pradhan, Mahesh Sharma, Vijay Goel and Sadananda Gowda.

Earlier, a steady stream of mourners led by Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu, BJP workers, supporters and members of public paid their last respects to Kumar.

Hundreds of mourners filed past the body of Kumar, which lay in state at his residence till this morning and was then taken to the party state headquarters 'Jagannath Bhavan" and the National College ground in his Bengaluru South parliamentary constituency.

From the Basavanagudi residence, the mortal remains were carried in a decorated military vehicle with personnel of the three services- the Army, Navy and the Air Force- accompanying it.

The body was later shifted to National College ground for the public to pay homage. The six-time MP was closely associated with the ground, having hosted many of his political events there.

The 59-year-old Bangalore South MP breathed his last during the early hours on Monday at the Sri Shankara Cancer Hospital and Research Centre where he was under care after returning home in October following treatment in the US and Britain. -- PTI

The Supreme Court today agreed to review in open court its own order ending Sabarimala temple's ban on women of menstrual age.

The court will hear 49 petitions challenging the ruling on January 22.

In September, the court had ruled that women of all ages must be allowed in the renowned temple, ending a ban that prevented women and girls between 10 and 50 years from entering the shrine to celibate Lord Ayyappa.

"Restrictions can't be treated as essential religious practice," the top court had said in a majority four-one judgement, calling the custom "almost like untouchability".

Since that order, however, no woman below 50 has made it to the shrine because of massive protests by devotees who have defied the Supreme Court.

15:50

Supreme Court orders open court hearing in all the 49 review petitions in the Sabarimala Temple case

15:34 Why the delay in CAG reports on note ban, Rafale, ask ex-bureaucrats

Sixty retired bureaucrats have written to the the Comptroller and Auditor General expressing concern over audit reports on demonetisation and the Rafale deal being "deliberately" delayed to not "embarrass" the NDA government till next year's general elections.

In a letter, they said there was concern over the "unconscionable" and "unwarranted delay" in bringing out the audit reports on demonetisation and the Rafale fighter jet deal, and the reports should be tabled before Parliament in the Winter Session.

The CAG's failure to present the audit reports on note ban and the Rafale deal in time "may be seen as a partisan action" and could create a "crisis of credibility" for the institution, the letter said.

There was no immediate reaction from the CAG.

Quoting from media reports on demonetisation, the former bureaucrats said the then CAG Shashi Kant Sharma had pointed out that the audit would cover the expenditure on printing of notes, RBI's dividend to the Consolidated Fund of India and the huge amount of data generated by banks.

"It is more than 20 months since the previous CAG made the above statement but there is no sight of the promised audit report on demonetisation," the letter said.

The letter claimed that there were reports that the audit of the Rafale deal would be done as late as September 2018, but the related files were yet to be scrutinised by the CAG.

-- PTI

'What happens when a solitude-loving individualist marries an outgoing family woman who does not love solitude one bit?'

'The answer, I'm guessing, is probably the best and most sustaining answer to nearly every question arising inside a marriage, no matter who you are or what the issue is: you find ways to adapt. If you're in it for ever, there's really no choice.'

That's a riveting excerpt from Michelle Obama's memoir, Becoming, published by The Guardian, in which the former US first lady recalls the early years of her marriage to the man who will go on to become America's 44th president.

You can read the rest of the excerpt here.

UMEED 1000, a 1000-km cyclothon, was launched by RBL Bank as a CSR initiative in 2014, as part of which they have been supporting Udbhav School since then.

This year RBL Bank is supporting the IIMAAA Hyd Chapter Charitable Trust to build and support another underprivileged school in Fathehnagar that has been catering to the education needs of students coming from urban slums in the vicinity.

From November 30-December 10, the UMEED 1000 team will ride from Mumbai to Bangalore to raise awareness and funds for a new school with focus on girl child education.

And this is where you come in, by opening up your heart and wallet.

A simple donation of Rs 500 will sponsor the class topper to buy books of his or her choice; Rs 1000 will sponsor annual teaching learning aids and stationery costs for class 1 to 5 students; Rs 2500 will sponsor a set of Wikipedia books for the school library; Rs 5000 will sponsor a sanitary kit for a girl child, including sanitary pads as well as a puberty education and menstrual hygiene management instruction manual; and Rs 7500 will sponsor healthy, balanced and nutritious breakfast for a student for an entire year and help him/ her focus and perform better in classroom.

The process of donation is quite simple, the details are on https://giving.goodera.com/umeedcyclothon.

14:15

Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman pays her last respects at Ananth Kumar's funeral.

14:14

BJP senior leader LK Advani pays his respects at the Ananth Kumar's funeral.

14:13

BJP President Amit Shah lays a wreath before the coffin holding Ananth Kumar's body.

14:07 BJP top brass at Ananth Kumar's funeral

Union Minister Ananth Kumar accorded state honours in Bengaluru. BJP top brass -- party president Amit Shah, Union Ministers Ravi Shankar Prasad, Nirmala Sitharaman, Rajnath Singh and Piyush Goyal present at the funeral.

Ananth Kumar passed away at the Sri Shankara Cancer Hospital and Research Centre where he was under care after returning home in October following treatment in the US and Britain. His last rites will be performed at Chamarajapet crematorium in the afternoon.

According to sources close to the family, Kumar's brother Nanda Kumar will perform the last rites according to Brahmin traditions. The central government has announced a state funeral for Kumar. -- PTI

14:02 Rajinikanth backs Modi

Top Tamil actor Rajinikanth on Tuesday virtually threw his weight behind Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he was 'stronger' than '10 persons' aligning against him. The superstar's remarks came amid speculation that opposition parties are looking at a mega coalition against the Modi government for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

"When 10 persons go against one person, who is stronger? Those 10, or the persons they are aligning against. If 10 persons declare a war against one man, who is stronger," he told reporters in Chennai when questioned on the possibility of an alliance by opposition parties.

On Monday, Rajinikanth had said that "they (opposition parties) feel that way, then it should be definitely like that," when responding to a question whether the BJP was such a 'dangerous' party electorally, that warranted formation of a mega national alliance against it. Asked if Modi was "stronger" and whether he was implying it with his statement, the actor said he "can't be more clear."

Rajinikanth again insisted that when 10 persons join hands against one man, apparently Modi, the latter is stronger. Asked whether he would align with the BJP, he said it will be decided later. The actor has already announced he will take the political plunge and contest from all 234 seats in the next Assembly elections, originally due in 2021. He is yet to launch his party. -- PTI

The Prime Minister's Office is armed with a draft ordinance on Ayodhya, according to a highly placed source.

The PMO has obtained a copy of the 1993 Acquisition of Certain Areas at Ayodhya Act, enacted by the PV Narasimha Rao government, and the same is being studied by its officials.

The Modi government is obviously seized of the Ayodhya issue, especially after the RSS and the sadhus meetings have red-flagged the issue.

As per the tentative schedule being looked at by the government, the ordinance is likely to be discussed at the Union Cabinet by the middle of November, after which it will be promulgated.

The government is expected to summon the winter session of Parliament in the second week of December, after elections to the five states are over, and obviously it will discuss the ordinance.

One school of thought is that the government, instead of taking the ordinance route, can straightaway move an Ayodhya Bill in the winter session.

Either way, legal views are being sought on all options before the government.

For the RSS and BJP, this tentative schedule helps them politically, as it will mean the Ayodhya issue will remain in the limelight and the momentum will carry forward till the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

The Election Commission of India is expected to kickstart preparations for the Lok Sabha polls from January.

Rest assured, Ayodhya will remain in the headlines on almost all Hindi and English TV news channels till the polling is over.

Two suspected Naxals were taken into custody for interrogation after an encounter took place in Chhattisgarh's Sukma on Monday. Yesterday, two Naxals were killed in the encounter with security forces, just a few hours after voting in the first phase of Chhattisgarh Assembly elections concluded.

The gunfight had begun at around 6 pm between the District Reserve Guards Sukma and the Naxals near Mudwal village.

The Naxals were killed and two rifles were recovered.

Initial reports indicated that the Naxals of military platoon formation were planning to attack the security forces returning from area domination. However, alertness of the security forces averted a major incident.

The two Naxals were active in Kanger-valley area of Darbha Division. During the search operation, a fabricated rifle, three local made weapons, arms and ammunition were recovered from the spot.

Earlier on Monday, three CoBRA personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force suffered bullet wounds in a gun battle with the Naxals in Chhattisgarh's Majiguda village. -- ANI

Private sector lender IndusInd Bank Tuesday said its agreement to fully acquire IL&FS Securities Services Ltd has been terminated due to non fulfilment of conditions. In June this year IndusInd Bank had signed a share purchase agreement with Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Ltd (IL&FS) to acquire its securities services subsidiary.

"The share purchase agreement stands terminated as all the conditions precedent were not satisfied within the stipulated time period," IndusInd Bank said in a regulatory filing. ISSL, incorporated in 2007, is a capital market intermediary for professional clearing, depository and custodial services and caters to both retail and institutional clients including over 1,000 brokers, FPIs and FIIs.

"We understand that the newly constructed board of directors of IL&FS has decided to initiate a new process for the sale of its equity interests in ISSL," IndusInd Bank added. -- PTI

A thick haze engulfed the national capital on Tuesday as the air quality remained in the "severe" category and authorities expressed concern that light rainfall in the city may worsen the pollution levels.

The overall air quality index was recorded at 403, which falls in the "severe" category, according to data by the Central Pollution Control Board. An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered "good", 51 and 100 "satisfactory", 101 and 200 "moderate", 201 and 300 "poor", 301 and 400 "very poor", and 401 and 500 "severe".

Seventeen areas in Delhi recorded 'severe' air quality and it was 'very poor' in 14 areas, according to the data. On Tuesday, the level of PM2.5 (particles in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres) and PM10 (particles in the air with a diameter of less than 10 micrometres) in Delhi was recorded at 238 and 399 respectively. -- PTI

The Congress party responds to Dassault CEO Eric Trappier's interview with ANI where he said he did not lie on any matter on the Rafale deal.

The Congress said the Dassault CEO interview was dictated. It said manufactured lies cannot hide a scam and that the accused cannot defend themselves.

Trappier in an interview to ANI said, "I don't lie. The truth I declared before and the statements I made are true. I don't have a reputation of lying. In my position as CEO, you don't lie." He was asked to respond to Rahul Gandhi's charge that Dassault was covering up for possible cronyism in awarding the offset deal to Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group.

Rahul Gandhi, in a press conference on November 2, alleged that Dassault invested Rs 284 crore in a loss-making company promoted by Anil Ambani which was used to procure land in Nagpur. "It is clear the Dassault CEO is lying. If an inquiry starts on this Modi is not going to survive it. Guaranteed," added Gandhi.

Image: Dassault CEO Eric Trappier with ANI chief Smita Prakash.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday made it clear that fresh pleas relating to the Sabarimala Temple will be heard only after it decides the earlier petitions seeking review of the judgement allowing entry of women of all age groups into the shrine in Kerala.

A bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said that a five-judge bench is scheduled to hear in chamber the review petitions at 3 pm today.

"Writ petitions will be heard after the orders in the review petitions," the bench, also comprising Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph said while hearing the three fresh petitions filed by G Vijaya Kumar, S Jaya Rajkumar and Shailaja Vijayan challenging its September 28 verdict. If the apex court decides to review the verdict then three fresh petitions will be heard along with review petitions. If the court rejects review petitions then fresh petitions will be heard independently on merits.

A batch of 48 petitions seeking review of the judgement would be taken up for consideration in-chamber by a bench of Chief Justice Gogoi and Justices R F Nariman, A M Khanwilkar, D Y Chandrachud and Indu Malhotra. On September 28, a five-judge constitution bench headed by then Chief Justice Dipak Misra, in its 4:1 verdict, had paved the way for entry of women of all ages into the Sabarimala Temple saying the ban amounted to gender discrimination. -- PTI

The Delhi High Court Tuesday said there is no urgency in the plea of Associated Journals Ltd, publisher of the National Herald newspaper, against the Centre's order asking it to vacate its premises here. Justice Sunil Gaur said it will hear the AJL's plea on November 15.

The publisher had approached the high court on Monday challenging the October 30 order of the Urban Development Ministry, ending its 56-year-old lease and asking it to vacate the premises in the press enclave at ITO here. -- PTI

11:15 Dassault CEO: Rafale deal cheaper by 9%

Dassault CEO Eric Trappier clarified further about the investments being made by Dassault, adding that Reliance would match the amount since the shareholding pattern is 49% Dassault and 51% Reliance as per prescribed government norms.

"We are supposed to put in this company together about Rs 800 crore as 50:50. For the time being, to start work in the hangar and to pay workers and employees, we have already put Rs 40 crore. But it will be increased to Rs 800 crore, which implies Rs 400 crore by Dassault in the coming five years," said Trappier.

He added Dassault has seven years to perform offset. "During first three years, we are not obliged to say with who we are working. We have already settled work and agreement with 30 companies, which represents 40% of total offset obligation as per contract. Reliance is 10% out of the 40, while rest 30% is a direct agreement between these companies and Dassault," Trappier said.

On the pricing issue, the CEO said that the present aircrafts are cheaper by 9 %. "Price of 36 was exactly the same when you compare with 18 flyaway. 36 is the double of 18, so as far as I was concerned, it should have been double the price. But because it was government to government, there was some negotiation, I had to decrease price by 9%. The price of Rafale in flyaway condition is less expensive in the 36 contract than the 126 contract," he said. -- ANI

Dassault Aviation Chief Executive Officer Eric Trappier in an exclusive interview to ANI rubbished allegations made by Congress Party president Rahul Gandhi that the former lied about the details of the Dassault- Reliance Joint Venture for offset contracts in the Rafale Jet deal.

"I don't lie. The truth I declared before and the statements I made are true. I don't have a reputation of lying. In my position as CEO, you don't lie," said Trappier when asked to respond to Rahul Gandhi's charge that Dassault was covering up for possible cronyism in awarding the offset deal to Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group.

Rahul Gandhi, in a press conference on November 2, alleged that Dassault invested Rs 284 crore in a loss-making company promoted by Anil Ambani which was used to procure land in Nagpur.

"It is clear the Dassault CEO is lying. If an inquiry starts on this Modi is not going to survive it. Guaranteed," added Gandhi.

Speaking to ANI in the Dassault hangar housed in Istres-Le Tube Air base located North of the French city of Marseille, Dassault's CEO Eric Trappier said that they had prior experience dealing with the Congress party and the comments made by the Congress president made him sad.

"We have a long experience with the Congress party. Our first deal was with India in 1953 with Nehru and other Prime Ministers. We have been working with India. We are not working for any party. We are supplying strategic products like fighters to the Indian Air Force and the Indian Government. That is what is most important," said Trappier.

When pressed further for the reason behind Dassault's choice of Reliance as an offset partner which had no experience in manufacturing fighter jets, Trappier clarified that the money being invested was not going to Reliance directly but in a Joint Venture that included Dassault.

"We are not putting the money in Reliance. The money is going into the JV. I put my know-how free of charge on how to produce people. I have engineers and workers from Dassault who are taking the lead as far as the industrial part of this deal is concerned. At the same time, I have an Indian company like Reliance who is putting money into this JV as they want to develop their country. So the company is going to know how to produce aircraft," added Trappier.

Senior journalist Gaurav Sawant responds to allegations of molestation: "The article published by Caravan is irresponsible, baseless, and completely false. I am talking to my lawyers and will take full legal action. So grateful to my family, friends, and viewers for their support."

A woman journalist has accused Sawant, a TV anchor, of sexually harassing her around 15 years ago. She said the incident happened during an off-site when India Today's executive editor Gaurav Sawant allegedly molested her and then showed up for a "shower together". The incident was appeared in the The Caravan magazine.

Image: Senior journalist Gaurav Sawant. Pic courtesy: @gauravcsawant

10:25 Sensex up 46 points in choppy trade

The benchmark indices turned choppy in morning trade Tuesday and oscillated between gains and losses, driven by better-than-expected macro economic data and fresh foreign fund inflows amid global sell-off. The 30-share index fell over 140 points in opening trade but soon recovered the lost ground to quote higher by 46.12 points or 0.13 per cent at 34,859.11. Similar movement was seen on the wide-based Nifty, which fell by 42 points, but soon gathered momentum and was trading higher by 21.45 points or 0.20 per cent at 10,503.65.

Traders said the benchmarks opened lower tracking global sell-off, but better-than-expected macro economic data supported investor sentiment. Besides, easing global crude oil prices, which slipped below the USD 70 a barrel mark and recovery in the rupee also supported the uptrend. The global benchmark, Brent crude was trading down 0.98 per cent at USD 69.43 per barrel. -- PTI

A bogie of the Howrah-Puri Dhauli Express derailed near Panskura station in West Bengal Tuesday morning, a South Eastern Railway spokesman said. No one was injured in the accident that occurred between Bhogpur and Panskura stations in Howrah-Kharagpur section of SER at 7.10 am, spokesman Sanjay Ghosh said.

The wheel of the chair car coach (B-3), positioned sixth from the engine, derailed when the Dhauli Express was travelling from Howrah to Puri, he said.

An accident relief train and senior officers of the SER rushed to the spot, which is about 67 km from Howrah. The train will resume its onward journey towards Puri following amalgamation of coaches after detaching the affected coach, Ghosh said.

"For the convenience of passengers en route, 12703 Howrah-Secundrabad Faluknama Express will be provided all stoppages of Dhauli Express up to Khurda Road station," he said. -- PTI

A 22-year-old man allegedly killed his father by attacking him with a rod in Telangana's Rachakonda area, after the latter refused to share his retirement funds.

Narayana, ACP, Vanasthalipuram informed that deceased identified as Krishna retired from the waterworks department in June 2017, from where he got Rs 6 lakh as retirement benefits. Later, he also sold a plot which was on his name for Rs 10 lakh. Following this, Krishna's son, Tarun asked his father to distribute the money between him and his two sisters.

As per the police, Krishna kept Rs 2 lakh with himself and distributed the rest of the amount, but a few months later Tarun started harassing his father for the remaining amount.

When Krishna refused to do so, Tarun allegedly attacked him with the rod, following which he fell unconscious. Tarun's sisters also encouraged him to attack their father.

After this incident, Krishna was immediately rushed to the hospital where he was declared brought dead.

The police have registered a case under section 302 (punishment for murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and taken the three accused persons in their custody.

Further investigation in the matter is underway. -- ANI

Actor-turned-politician Rajinikanth on Monday said that if the Opposition thinks the BJP is a dangerous party, it must be. Interacting with media outside Chennai airport, Rajinikanth, when asked if he agrees with the Opposition's stance that the BJP is a dangerous party, said, "If they (Opposition) think like that then definitely it (BJP) must be."

The comment was baffling since Rajinikanth is seen as leaning towards the BJP.

The background of the question was that the opposition is forming an anti-BJP block and does he agree with the Opposition's stance that the BJP is a dangerous party.

When further asked about the implementation of demonetisation, he termed it as an incorrect move.

"The demonetisation scheme was not implemented properly. We need to have a larger discussion on it," Rajinikanth told reporters.

Strangely enough, Rajinikanth was among the few personalities who had supported the demonetisation move by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 8, 2016.

"Hats off @narendramodi ji. New India is born #JaiHind," he had said minutes after demonetisation was announced.

The rupee recovered by 29 paise to 72.60 against the US currency in early trade Tuesday, owing to easing global crude oil prices and better-than-expected macro economic data on the domestic front. Besides, fund inflows by foreign investors and the US dollar's weakness against some currencies overseas also supported the domestic unit, dealers said.

At the Interbank forex market, the rupee opened with strength at 72.81 and advanced to 72.60 against the dollar, showing a rise of 29 paise over its previous close of 72.89. Retail inflation fell to a one-year low of 3.31 per cent in October on the back of cheaper kitchen staples, fruits and protein-rich items, official data released Monday showed. -- PTI

Sri Lanka's Supreme Court will deliver its verdict on the legality of the January 5, 2019 snap polls announced by President Maithripala Sirisena on Tuesday, after 13 fundamental rights petitions were filed against the dissolution of the Parliament.

The decision came after the court adjourned hearing on the 13 fundamental rights petitions filed by several political parties including the United National Party, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, Tamil National Alliance, All Ceylon Makkal Congress and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, civil organization Centre for Policy Alternatives, former MP Mano Ganesan and Attorney Aruna Laksiri on November 12.

A three-judge bench, comprising Chief Justice Nalin Perera, Justice Priyantha Jayawardena and Justice Prasanna Jayawardene heard the petitions filed during November 12th's hearing.

The petitioners said that the president does not have the power to dissolve the Parliament under the 19th amendment of the constitution and have requested the Supreme Court to issue an order to nullify the gazette notification issued by Sirisena, wherein he dissolved the Sri Lankan Parliament, reports Colombo Page.

They further requested the apex court to suspend the January 5 snap polls until the passing of the verdict.

-- ANI

Union Minister and senior BJP leader Ananth Kumar, who died on Monday morning at a hospital in Bengaluru, will be cremated this afternoon. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, BJP President Amit Shah, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan are expected to attend the funeral.

"A state funeral with 21-gun salute and guard of honour will be accorded to the mortal remains of Ananth Kumar," an official said.

Ananth Kumar was suffering from lung cancer and had returned from the US last month after treatment in New York. The minister's wife Tejaswini and two daughters were with him in his last moments. His body was kept at his home in Basavanagudi for last respects.

Kumar's body will be taken to Jagannath Bhavan, the BJP's state office in Malleshwaram and from there he will be taken to the National College grounds for public homage. He will be cremated around 1 pm at the Chamrajpet crematorium, state BJP General Secretary N Ravi Kumar said.

Despite a busy Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew into the city from Varanasi in the evening and met Kumar's family. He offered his condolences and laid a wreath on the glass casket draped in the tricolour.

PM Modi described him as a remarkable leader, an able administrator and a great asset to the BJP. President Ram Nath Kovind termed his death as "tragic loss".

Ananth Kumar was one of the few ministers to have also served in the earlier BJP-led government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. In fact, he was the youngest minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee's cabinet in 1998 and was minister for Civil Aviation, Tourism, Sports, Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation.

Amnesty International stripped Aung San Suu Kyi of its highest honour over the de facto Myanmar leader's "indifference" to the atrocities committed by the country's military against Rohingya Muslims.

The London-based global human rights organisation said it was revoking the Ambassador of Conscience Award it gave Suu Kyi in 2009 while she was still under house arrest.

"Today, we are profoundly dismayed that you no longer represent a symbol of hope, courage, and the undying defence of human rights," Amnesty International chief Kumi Naidoo said in a letter to Suu Kyi released by the group.

"Amnesty International cannot justify your continued status as a recipient of the Ambassador of Conscience award and so with great sadness we are hereby withdrawing it from you." The group said it informed Suu Kyi of the decision on Sunday. She has so far issued no public response.

Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy party swept to power in 2015 in a landslide victory ending decades of military rule in the southeast Asian country of around 50 million.

But her tenure has been marred by a failure to speak up for Rohingya Muslims who were driven out of the country by the army in what the United Nations has called an ethnic cleansing campaign.

The 73-year-old was stripped of her honourary Canadian citizenship over her failure to speak up for the Rohingyas last month.

She has also lost numerous smaller awards from individual universities and local and regional governments.

She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991.

RBI Governor Urjit Patel is believed to have met Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week in a bid to work out a solution on contentious issues that have been flash point between the central bank and the government during the last few weeks.

Sources said Patel was in the national capital on Friday and met senior officials in the Prime Minister's Office.

The meetings, which some said also included with the prime minister, came amid a face-off between the central bank and the finance ministry over issues ranging from appropriate size of reserves that RBI must maintain to ease of lending norms to step up growth in an election year.

Sources said there are indications that the RBI may create a special dispensation for lending to small and medium enterprises, but it was not immediately clear if an agreement has been worked out to ease liquidity situation for non-banking finance companies and the RBI parting with its substantial part of its surplus.

Tensions between the RBI and the government have escalated recently, with the finance ministry initiating discussion under the never-used-before Section 7 of the RBI Act which empowers the government to issue directions to the RBI Governor.

RBI Deputy Governor Viral Acharya had in a speech last month talked about the independence of the central bank, arguing that any compromise could be "potentially catastrophic" for the economy.

Last week, Economic Affairs Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg had said the government was not in any dire need of funds and that there was no proposal to ask the RBI to transfer Rs 3.6 lakh crore.

Patel's meetings at the PMO came days before the RBI's crucial board meeting on November 19 during which contentious issues are likely to come up for discussion.

-- PTI

The Supreme Court is scheduled to consider on Tuesday a batch of petitions seeking review of its September 28 verdict allowing entry of women of all age groups into the Sabarimala temple in Kerala.

On September 28, a five-judge constitution bench headed by then Chief Justice Dipak Misra, in its 4:1 verdict, had paved the way for entry of women of all ages into the Sabarimala temple saying that the ban amounted to gender discrimination.

A batch of 48 petitions seeking review of the judgment would be taken up for consideration in-chamber by a bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices R F Nariman, A M Khanwilkar, D Y Chandrachud and Indu Malhotra.

Besides these pleas, three separate petitions seeking review of the verdict are also slated to come up for hearing in the open court before a bench comprising CJI Gogoi and Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and K M Joseph.

The apex court's judgment has led to protests and counter-protests at the hill-top shrine in Kerala.

The top court had on October 9 declined an urgent hearing on the review plea filed by an association which had contended that the five-judge Constitution bench's verdict lifting the ban was 'absolutely untenable and irrational'.

Later, the court had said that it would consider the review pleas on November 13.

A plea filed by National Ayyappa Devotees Association (NADA), which has sought review of the verdict, had said that 'the notion that the judgment under review is revolutionary, one which removes the stigma or the concept of dirt or pollution associated with menstruation, is unfounded.

'It is a judgment welcomed by hypocrites who were aspiring for media headlines. On the merits of the case, as well, the said judgment is absolutely untenable and irrational, if not perverse'.

Besides the Association, several other petitions including one by Nair Service Society (NSS), have been filed against the apex court verdict.

The NSS had said in the plea that as the deity is a 'Naistika Brahmachari', females below the age of 10 and after the age of 50 years are eligible to worship him and there is no practice of excluding worship by females.

'Hence, the delay or wait for 40 years to worship cannot be considered as exclusionary and it is an error of law on the face of the judgment,' the plea had said. -- PTI

Timeline Refresh

TOP STORIES