LIVE! US increases bounty on IS chief Al-Baghdadi to $25 million

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Sun, 18 December 2016

US increases bounty on IS chief Al-Baghdadi to $25 million

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22:14 US increases bounty on IS chief Al-Baghdadi to $25 million

The United States has more than doubled the reward for information leading to the capture of dreaded Islamic State chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to $25 million.

The Department of State released a statement announcing the $25 million reward for the self-proclaimed caliph of the Islamic State.

The new bounty is the same amount offered for Osama bin Laden in 2011, but no one ever cashed in after the al-Qaeda leader was killed in Pakistan by a team of Navy SEALs in May of that year.

"Protecting the homeland and the American people is our top counter-terrorism priority, and just as we have intensified our efforts against IS, we are increasing the means available to us to gain information on their leadership and bring them to justice," the State Department said in a statement.

"The threat that al-Baghdadi poses has increased significantly since the Department of State's initial $10 million reward offer for information leading to his location, arrest, or conviction was announced in 2011," the department's Rewards for Justice Programme said on its website.

"Under Baghdadi, IS has been responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians in the Middle East, including the brutal murder of numerous civilian hostages from Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States," it said.

"Al-Baghdadi has taken credit for numerous terrorist attacks in Iraq since 2011, killing thousands of his fellow Iraqi citizens," it added.

Baghdadi is designated by the Department of State as a 'Specially Designated Global Terrorist'. He is also listed at the United Nations Security Council sanctions committee.

21:50 Atletico De Kolkata win ISL-3

Atletico De Kolkata beat Kerala Blasters 4-3 in penalty shootout to win ISL.

The teams were tied 1-1 in regulation time.

This the Atletico's first ISL victory.

The American oceanographic survey ship which controls the underwater drone seized by China had been spying against the Communist nation posing a threat to Chinese naval ships in the South China Sea, a state-run daily

has said while claiming that such activities by the US Navy were "very rampant" in the strategic region.

"We welcome that the Chinese navy is conducting regular 'verification and examination' of devices dispatched by the US to collect intelligence in China's surrounding waters in future. This should go along with US sabotage activities in China's periphery," an editorial posted on the web edition of the state-run Global Times daily said today.

"The US claimed that the glider was collecting unclassified data such as salinity and water temperature, which are routine operations in accordance with international law. However, this argument is absurd," the daily said.

The Chinese military said last night that the drone seized by its naval boat would be returned "in an appropriate manner" after the US took up the issue with China, but did not give any time line.

Expelled AIADMK MP Sasikala Pushpa has moved the Supreme Court seeking a CBI probe or a judicial investigation by an apex court judge into the death of J Jayalalithaa.

In her petition, Pushpa has alleged that Jayalalithaa's death was "suspicious" as her actual medical condition was not disclosed, no one was allowed to visit her, her funeral photographs showed embalming marks and everything from her hospitalisation to her death "was kept under wraps".

The Rajya Sabha MP has sought directions to the Centre, the Tamil Nadu government and Apollo Hospital, where Jayalalithaa was hospitalised, to disclose details of her health report and treatment in a sealed cover to the apex court.

A similar plea was filed this week in the apex court by Tamil Nadu Telugu Yuva Sakthi claiming that doubts have been raised over the circumstances of the AIADMK leader's death and her medical reports needed to be examined by experts.

BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy today attributed the prevailing cash crunch to lack of preparedness by the Finance Ministry before demonetising high value currencies.

"The Finance Ministry should have taken precautionary measures before demonetising Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes," he told reporters in Coimbatore.

"The government had decided to go for demonetisation in 2014 itself and the Finance Ministry ought to have done contingency plans. They have not done any preparation and the prime minister had announced (demonetisation), assuming that the things will be a smooth," he said.

Moreover, the size of new Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 currencies was small to accommodate in the ATMs, which was another reason for the problem, he pointed out.

"Along with demonetisation, the committee headed by me on the issue in 2014 had recommended abolition of income tax, so that the people get relief," Swamy said.

On stalling of Parliament proceedings, the BJP leader said, "We are not responsible for this, it is Congress which is responsible."

19:26 India wins Junior Hockey World Cup

India lifted the Junior Hockey World Cup title after defeating Belgium 2-1 at the Major Dyan Chand stadium in Lucknow on Sunday.

India who won the tournament in Hobart in 2010, became the first team to win the tournament on home soil.

India scored in the 8th minute through a field goal when Gurjant Singh found the net from an acute angle.

The hosts doubled their lead when Simranjeet gave India the second on the break in the 22nd minute.

Belgium scored late through a penalty corner to cut the goal margin, but it was too little too late as India won the title after 15 years.

Sixteen-year-old Mumbai cricketer Pranav Dhanawade, who made a record 1009 runs in a school match, has been detained for a delay in vacating a cricket ground, where a helipad was being built for the visit of Union Minister Prakash Javadekar.

Pranav's family said he was humiliated and taken to the police station after he failed to wrap up his practice session in time. He was made to wait in the police station till his father reached the spot. His father clarified that he wasn't kept in the lock up.

"We were practicing and were in last stage of our practice. Police told us to evacuate. We agreed to leave after two minutes but they reacted arrogantly," Pranav said.

Two plush properties belonging to troubled businessman Vijay Mallya, Kingfisher House in the city and Kingfisher Villa in north Goa, will be re-auctioned this week by the 17-lender consortium at lower reserve prices

compared to the failed previous three auctions.

The reserve price for over 17,000 sqft Kingfisher House near the airport will be auctioned on Monday at Rs 115 crore, which is 15 per cent lower than the failed second auction held in August, when the minimum price to sell the asset was fixed at Rs 135 crore.

At the first auction of the erstwhile headquarters of Kingfisher Airlines in March, the lenders had kept the reserve price at Rs 150 crore.

The prime property, which has a built-up area of over 17,000 sqft and is located in the plush Vile Parle area near the domestic terminal.

The Kingfisher Villa at Condolim in north Goa will be put under the hammer on December 22 at a reserve price of Rs 81 crore, which is 5 per cent lower than the auction held in October, when the lenders had tried to sell the sea facing property at Rs 85.29 crore.

The villa was once used by Mallya to host lavish parties.

Previous auctions of both these properties failed as none of the bidders came forward, citing higher reserve prices.

"Haan main bacha hoon" (Yes, I am a kid) was Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's retort to those taking jibes at his age as he cautioned the ruling PML-N against taking him lightly.

"Haan main bacha hoon. Main Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto ka bacha hoon. Daro... (Yes, I am a kid. The kid of martyred Benazir Bhutto. Be scared of me)," Bilawal, 28, tweeted today.

The University of Oxford educated young leader attacked Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif-led PML-(N) in a series of tweets on the occasion of his parents' 29th marriage anniversary.

His retort came after Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar called Bilawal a "non-serious child" who only knew how to ridicule others.

Bilawal has often been the victim of jibes at his young age and political opponents regularly shun him aside for being "a child", Express Tribune reported.

However, the young PPP chairman, Bilawal, is becoming increasingly vocal and articulate.

He is reorganising his party, leading public rallies, touring cities outside his party's powerhouse, and firing broadsides at political rivals every now and then.

Earlier today, Bilawal also tweeted a picture of his parent's wedding with the caption, "My parents should be celebrating their 29th wedding anniversary. Terrorists and their facilitators robbed us of this but we won't back down."

Benazir Bhutto, the twice-serving prime minister, was assassinated on December 27, 2007 as she left a political rally in Rawalpindi.

Hosts India lead Belgium 2-0 at the half-time break in the final of the Junior Hockey World Cup tournament played in Lucknow on Saturday.

India went up in the 8th minute through a field goal.

Gurjant Singh found the net from an acute angle scoring from the near post, smashing the ball over the Belgian keeper's shoulder through a reverse hit.

India doubled their lead when Simranjeet gave India the second on the break in the 22nd minute. He collected the ball on the left and dragged the ball past the Belgian keeper.

Superstar Aamir Khan today came out in support of the demonetisation drive of the Union government, saying it would help the country in the long run.

"I feel it is something that we should support... it is something that our government is trying to do which is meant for improving the situation that we have in the country and we must all certainly support any attempt to do that.

There may be difficulties along the way but in the long run... I think we should look at the long run," he told reporters at a press conference in Hyderabad while promoting his upcoming film 'Dangal'.

Earlier, during a promotional event in Mumbai, the 51-year-old actor had supported the cash recall exercise dubbing it as a good move by the government to curb black money and appealed to all citizens to support the move.

Jayalalithaa's aide, V K Sasikala today named a new born baby girl of an AIADMK cadre as Jayalalithaa in memory of the late Chief Minister.

The baby named "Jayalalithaa" by Sasikala is the child of Gaythri and Senthil Kumar.

Resident of Theni district, Senthil Kumar is an auto driver, a party release said today.

Sasikala named the child after the former Chief Minister in Chennai at the Poes Garden residence of Jayalalithaa, where she continues to live.

Jayalalithaa passed away on December 5 after a prolonged hospitalisation stretching over two months.

The Congress today targeted RBI and banks in the country, saying people have "lost faith" in the "banking system" after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "disastrous movement" to demonetise the high-value currency notes.

Senior Congress leader and party's chief spokesperson Anand Sharma alleged that "crores and crores and crores of newly-printed currency (notes) are going out" from the "back doors" of the banks while common people were denied their right to withdraw their hard earned money they have deposited in these banks.

"People had faith in Indian banking system. After the financial crisis and after the economic crisis of 2008-09, Indian banks showed their resilience and their trustworthiness.

"The Reserve Bank of India had a formidable reputation. Today, people's trust in the Indian banks is shattered and the reputation of the RBI is dented," Sharma told reporters here.

The ex-Union Minister for Commerce said, "I am telling you why. People who toil hard have small small savings. You put your money in the bank and you have the assurance that the money is safe. When I need it, I can go to the bank and withdraw it."

"But the bank is not giving that money. Because cash is not available and the cash which is available is not coming from board or the counter", he said.

"ATMs are running dry. And from the back doors crores and crores and crores of newly-printed currency is going out. So how can people have trust..." he asked.

He said it will take a long time for the Indian banks to rebuild their trust.

"What ethics are there and correctness is there when your own money is snatched. You will say that your money is there, don't worry. It is safe. But it is safe with me as a government. I will use it the way I want and I won't give it to you. That is where the trust is gone. It will take a longtime to rebuild the trust in the banking system," he said.

Scientists have discovered the oldest water samples on Earth that date back to about two billion years and may hold clues to life forms living far beneath the surface of Mars or other alien planets.

Researchers have known that water exists far below the ground-water that has been isolated from the water table - unseen and untouched for billions of years.

To learn more about such water, scientists from University of Toronto in Canada have been working with mining companies. As miners go deeper, the researchers gain access to ever deeper sources of water.

In 2013, the researchers had found a water sample from mine in at about 2.4 kilometres that was subsequently dated to 1.5 billion years ago.

The new record holder was found at three kilometres deep. The researchers determined the age of the water samples by studying dissolved gasses, 'Phys.org' reported.

They also reported that the samples they obtained came from a large source that was flowing out of the ground at a rate of several litres per minute - much larger than has been predicted.

They discovered that sulphate in the water had come from interactions between the water and the rocks around it, rather than from another source, which suggests that the water was capable of sustaining life.

If such microbial life does exist somewhere deep below the surface, it would represent a form of life that has evolved separately from all other life on Earth.

It would also suggest that space scientists might have to consider the possibility of similar forms of life living far beneath the surface of Mars or other planets.

Seeking to stem the flow of blackmoney in polls, the Election Commission has urged the government to amend laws to ban anonymous contributions of Rs 2000 and above made to political parties.

There is no constitutional or statutory prohibition on receipt of anonymous donations by political parties. But there is an "indirect partial ban" on anonymous donations through the requirement of declaration of donations under section 29C of The Representation of the People Act, 1951.

But, such declarations are mandated only for contributions above Rs 20,000.

As per the proposed amendment, sent by the commission to the government, and made part of its compendium on proposed electoral reforms, "anonymous contributions above or equal to the amount of Rs 2000 should be prohibited."

Only yesterday, the government had said that political parties depositing old 500 and 1,000 rupee notes in their accounts will be exempt from income tax provided the donations taken are below Rs 20,000 per individual and properly documented.

Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia said the government is not tinkering with the tax exemption available to political parties and they are free to deposit old 500 and 1000 rupee notes in their bank accounts. But these deposits will, however, be subject to the condition that individual donations taken in cash do not exceed Rs 20,000 and are properly documented with full identity of the donor.

Fishing nets of 10 mechanised boats of Tamil Nadu fishermen were allegedly snapped by Sri Lankan naval personnel who also chased away nearly 3,000 fishers off Katchatheevu islet.

The Lankan naval personnel cut the nets and chased away the fishermen on charges of entering their territorial waters yesterday, Rameswaram Fishermen's Association president P Sesuraja said.

The fishermen who had ventured into the sea from this island town in more than 600 boats were intercepted by the naval men, who also threatened to shoot them, he added.

The fishermen returned to the shore this morning, he said.

Sesuraja urged the Centre to act on Sri Lankan navy's "atrocities" against Tamil Nadu fishermen.

On December 15, more than 2,500 fishermen from here were forced to return without their catch after lankan navy personnel allegedly snapped the fishing nets of 50 mechanised boats off Katchatheevu.

Army today paid floral tributes to the three soldiers killed in a militant attack on an army convoy at Pampore on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway.

"In a solemn ceremony at Badami Bagh Cantonment in Srinagar, many senior officials from security agencies including Jammu and Kashmir Police, CRPF, BSF and SSB, joined General Officer Commanding, Chinar Corps, Lt Gen J S Sandhu and all ranks in paying homage to the martyrs on behalf of a proud nation," an army official said.

Many officials from the civil administration, including Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Ahmed Khan were also present on the occasion.

Three soldiers were yesterday killed, while two others jawans were injured in the attack at a place crowded with civilians in Pampore of Jammu and Kashmir.

"Martyr Naik (Gnr) Ratheesh C (35) had joined army in 2001 and hailed from Kotolipram, Kannur district in Kerala and is survived by his wife and a son," the official said.

He said 33-year-old Gunner Farate Sourabh Nandkumar of Bhekrai Nagar village in Pune of Maharasthra had donned the uniform in 2004 and is survived by his wife and twin daughters.

Gunner Shashikant Pandey (24) had four years of service and was on his way to join his unit in the Valley.

The mortal remains of the martyrs would be flown for last rites to their native places where they would be laid to rest with full military honours, he said.

"Embarrassed and upset" over the conduct of a handful of employees bringing the organisation into disrepute, Axis Bank MD and CEO Shikha Sharma today said the bank has hired KPMG to conduct a forensic audit for

enhanced due diligence and building more safeguards.

Assuring that the fundamentals of the bank is on a "solid footing', Sharma said in a letter to Axis Bank customers that the bank is tracking sudden surge in account activity and have 'proactively identified potentially suspicious accounts".

"The recent media reports around the conduct of a few of our employees have left me embarrassed and upset. We have fallen short of your expectations because a handful of people did not follow our fully compliant and robust processes. We have taken the toughest action against such employees and we will do so in every case of divergence from our Code of Conduct.

"I regret that the misdeeds of a few people have eroded the hard work of 55,000+ employees, who have been at the front end beyond working hours, displaying extraordinary patience and commitment to their responsibilities," she said in the letter.

The Income Tax Department had last week conducted a raid at an Axis Bank branch in Noida and unearthed Rs 60 crore from the accounts of 20 shell companies.

Sharma said the bank has proactively identified suspicious accounts and has given inputs to regulatory authorities for further investigation.

Extending unprecedented support to the Indian contingent this year, the country moved beyond cricket, as Rio Olympics 2016 emerged as the most searched topic, according to the 'Year Recap of Trending Stories' by

Google India.

Indian women athletes who stole the show at the gala event with their spectacular performances topped the charts with Badminton star and Olympic medallist P V Sindhu and gymnast Dipa Karmakar bagging the 2nd and 4th spots respectively in the 'Overall Trending Personality' searches.

Wrestler and Olympic champion Sakshi Malik also featured among the Top 10 trending personalities on Google.

Following the Rio games was the virtual reality game 'Pokemon Go' that took the world by storm.

The US presidential elections have always been closely watched in India but this year the interest was a notch higher, with president-elect Donald Trump running for the polls.

Trump emerged on top of the list of 'Trending Personalities'.

An interesting entry on the third position of 'Overall Trending Personality' searches was made by the latest social media obsession Sonam Gupta who has been under the spotlight after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the demonetisation move.

13:51 Mobile Internet service shut down in Imphal

Taking serious note on the prevailing situation following three blasts on Friday, the state Cabinet has decided to shut down Internet service in Imphal West district with immediate effect.

The Imphal West District Magistrate issued an order directing telecom operators to shut down mobile data service in the district immediately until further orders.

Major areas of the state capital fall in Imphal West district where the three blasts had taken place within an hour on Friday evening.

The Cabinet decision came after analysis of the prevailing law and order situation and to halt spreading of rumours through social networking sites, officials said.

The move was preceded by a 24-hour bandh called to protest hill based militants' attacks on Manipur Police in the last few days in different parts of the state that left three policemen dead and 14 others injured. The militants also snatched several weapons from the IRB personnel.

All measures were being taken to contain violence by deploying a large number of police personnel at sensitive areas of the state, a police officer said.

Pakistani film exhibitors and cinema owners are likely to end a self-imposed ban on screening of Indian films on Monday that was put in place amid escalating tensions between the two countries following the Uri terror attack.

Zoraish Lashari, Chairman of the Film Exhibitors Association, told reporters that after thorough discussions with parties concerned, it has been decided screening of Indian films would resume from December 19.

"The cinema owners and other stakeholders in the industry have been hit by the decision to impose a temporary suspension on screening of Indian films. A lot of investment has been made into upgrading or building new cineplexes and multiplexes and the business at this time is dependent on screening of latest Indian films," he said.

Lashari said the cinema owners and exhibitors had only taken a self-imposed suspension of screening of Indian films and that it was not a ban.

Pakistan is considered as the third largest market for Indian films.

A suicide bomber killed at least 30 Yemeni soldiers on Sunday when he detonated his explosives at a gathering in the southern city of Aden, AFP quoted military officials and medics as saying.

Many others were wounded in the attack that targeted a crowd of soldiers gathered to collect their salaries at a base in northeastern Aden, the sources said.

The attacker immersed himself among the soldiers at Al-Solban base, in Al-Arish district, a military official said.

A 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck off the Solomon Islands today, the US Geological Survey said, the third strong tremor off the Pacific nation in less than two weeks.

The quake hit at 4.46 PM (1116 IST) at a depth of 39 kilometres about 83 kilometres west-northwest of Kirakira, the USGS added.

On December 10 a 6.9-magnitude quake struck off Kirakira. The previous day a 7.7-magnitude tremor triggered severe shaking and a tsunami warning, although there were no reports of serious damage.

The Income Tax department has seized alleged unaccounted assets worth Rs 10.50 crore from a tea seller-turned-financier after raids were conducted against him in Surat as part of the anti-black money crackdown post currency scrap.

The I-T department sleuths, who conducted the searches on Saturday at the premises of the tea seller, recovered cash of Rs 1.45 crore, with new currency being at 1.05 crore, bullion worth Rs 1.49 crore, gold jewellery valued at Rs 4.92 crore, other ornaments worth Rs 1.39 crore and silver ingots priced at Rs 1.28 crore.

"The total value of the assets seized from the financier, who earlier worked as a 'chaiwala', is Rs 10.50 crore," I-T sources said as they refused to reveal the identity of the person citing ongoing probe.

They added that while 13 of his bank lockers have been opened till now, four more are in the process to be opened and the expected seizure of assets may increase.

The sources added that the interception was made in the city as part of taxman's anti-black money probe post demonetisation.

11:57 Noted economist Saumitra Chaudhuri passes away

Noted economist and former Planning Commission member Saumitra Chaudhuri passed away today early morning.

"Chaudhuri passed away today morning at 8 am. He was diagnosed with lung cancer. He was admitted in Ganga Ram hospital and his condition had deteriorated in the last three weeks," his nephew Abheek said.

Chaudhuri was appointed member of Planning Commission in June 2009.

Assuring Bangladesh's support to India on the issue of tackling terror, its Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal says Pakistan needs to be isolated for "harbouring terrorists and supporting terror acts".

He was also of the opinion that the delay in the Teesta water sharing treaty with India is giving scope to Opposition parties and fundamentalist organisations like Jamat in flaring up anti-India passions in Bangladesh.

"Pakistan has always harboured and supported terrorists. We feel those who support terrorism should be discouraged and isolated. We should do everything to discourage and condemn such attacks. Such kind of terror attacks should not be carried out against any country," Kamal told PTI in an interview.

While sharing the agony and pain of India being one of the most affected countries of cross-border terrorism, he says Bangladesh stands by India in its fight against terrorism.

On terror attacks both in India and Bangladesh having roots in Pakistan, he says, "Both India and Bangladesh have the same stand on the issue of terrorism. We have noticed in recent past, how Pakistan's involvement in various terror attacks has come out in open. This has to stop."

Amid heightened tension with Pakistan over Uri terror attack in which 19 jawans were killed, India had announced its decision of pulling out of the SARRC Summit citing increased "cross-border" attacks.

Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan also pulled out of the SAARC Summit in Islamabad in November, indirectly blaming Pakistan for creating an environment which was not right for successful holding of the meet, resulting in its collapse.

11:14

At least 20 Yemeni soldiers killed in suicide bomb in Aden: military official, AFP reports.

10:13 Rs 1 cr deposited in labourer's account; bank says it's 'mistake'

A whopping Rs 1,00,10,000 were deposited in a dormant account of a labourer at Khidiya branch of Bank of India in Hoshangabad district of Madhya Pradesh after demonetisation.

Bank officials said it was a "clerical mistake."

Asaram Vishwakarma, the labourer, learnt about the fortune sitting in his account with the Bank of India branch when he received an Income Tax notice dated November 30, seeking explanation.

Vishwakarma at first did not understand the notice as it was in English. A school teacher translated it for him.

The notice, signed by Ashok Kumar Mangnani, Assistant Director of Income Tax, Bhopal, reads, "IT department is in possession of information that you have entered into financial transactions of Rs 1,00,10,000 between November 9, 2016 and November 17 without quoting your Permanent Account Number (PAN)."

However, BOI branch manager Vinod Jalodia today said, "Vishwakarma had deposited Rs 10,000, but by mistake a clerk made a wrong entry of Rs 1,00,10,000 in his account."

Union Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar has said the government never talked of going 100 per cent cashless, but even if the country achieves 15-20 per cent success in going cashless it will be a big achievement.

He said cashless transactions will be an effective way to attain transparency, even if one-fifth of transactions were to take place sans cash.

Seeking to address those who have raised concerns on demonetisation, the Minister of State for Finance told PTI, "There is facility of cashless transactions in many countries. It's happening there. We have never said we will go 100 per cent cashless. But even if we achieve 15-20 per cent success in going cashless it will be a big achievement because it's transparent and effective."

Asked his reaction on arguments put forth by some economists that demonetisation will adversely impact the economy, he said these are their "personal opinions".

09:50

Delhi Fog: 26 trains delayed, 9 rescheduled due to poor visibility

09:49 Undefeated Vijender eyes new title next year

The WBO Asia-Pacific title won and defended successfully, Indian boxing star Vijender Singh will now be on the prowl for a new belt and could be challenging for the Commonwealth or the Oriental crown in the next couple of months.

Up against Tanzania's former world champion Francis Cheka in his Super Middleweight title defence clash last night, Vijender took less than 10 minutes to score a knockout win and remain undefeated in his professional career, which is eight fights old now.

Next up for him could be a Commonwealth title fight in Leicester.

The Commonwealth Super Middleweight is currently held by British boxer Luke Blackledge, who has 22 wins, 2 draws and 3 losses to show for in his 27-fight career so far.

09:39

Andhra Pradesh Excise & Prohibition officer has over 50 crores wealth, reveals ACB

09:22 Why can't you run CNG buses to Delhi, NGT asks city's neighbours

Six neighbouring states of Delhi have been asked by the National Green Tribunal why they should not be directed to completely stop the operation of diesel buses coming to the national capital.

Noting that ambient air quality was poor during winters, a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar asked the states of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana to take clear decision on switching to CNG vehicles and buy buses with additional fuel cylinders to resolve the issue of providing sufficient fuel in these buses.

"It is contended before us that ambient air quality is much poorer compared to the prescribed standards and there is serious environmental and public health issues arising from the pollution. It is so more particularly in the areas of Anand Vihar, Patparganj and Sahibabad.

"The Counsel appearing for the State of Uttarakhand, UP, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to take clear instructions from their governments as to why they should not be directed to stop operating diesel buses destined to Delhi or passing via Delhi and instead operate CNG buses...," the bench said.

09:20 Trump says US should let China keep the drone

United States President-elect Donald Trump has said on Twitter the United States should let China keep the US Navy's unmanned underwater glider that it seized in the South China Sea.

"We should tell China that we don't want the drone they stole back.- let them keep it!" Trump tweeted a few hours after the US military announced it had reached an understanding with China for the return of the underwater glider.

According to the Pentagon, the drone was seized on Thursday while collecting unclassified scientific data in the South China Sea, which China claims virtually in its entirety.

The US demanded the drone back, calling it an "unlawful seizure" in international waters. China said its military seized the underwater glider to ensure the safe navigation of passing ships but would give it back.

It was not immediately known what effect, if any, the president-elect's tweet would have on the agreement with the Chinese.

Saturday's terror attack in Pampore, in which three soldiers were killed, took the number of casualties among forces this year to 87, making 2016 the bloodiest year since 2008 for security personnel in Jammu and Kashmir.

According to terror-watch data site SATP, 84 security force personnel were killed in 2016, till last week, in various terror-related incidents in the conflict-ridden state.

In 2008, which was marked by the Mumbai terror attacks and the subsequent escalation of tension between India and Pakistan, 90 security personnel were killed in the state.

The following year, 78 securitymen were killed in various terror-related incidents. The number of casualties among the forces dropped sharply to 17 in 2012. In 2013, the number went up to 61 but came down steadily to 51 in 2014 and 41 in 2015.

Of the 87 casualties in 2016, 71 were killed in the Kashmir Valley. More than three dozen Army men, including half a dozen officers, were killed in different attacks in 2016. Nineteen Army men were killed in the Uri terror attack this year that led to massive ceasefire violations along the Indo-Pak border.

09:06 What to look forward to in news today:

* Rahul Gandhi to attend the 'satsang' of Radha Soami sect chief Baba Gurinder Singh Dhillon. He would then meet Dhillon on breakfast at his residence inside the Dera at Beas.

* Swaraj Abhiyan will hold a 'Halla Bol' rally at Jantar Mantar today against black money and corruption.

* A win away from rewriting history after a long gap of 15 years, Indian colts would look to showcase their best and leave nothing to chance when they take on Belgium in the summit showdown of the men's Junior Hockey World Cup in Lucknow today.

In a bid to clear the air on tax exemption to political parties, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has said that they cannot accept donations in old 500 and 1,000 rupee notes since these bills were junked last month and clarified that there is no new exemption granted.

The conditional tax exemptions historically given to income of registered political parties continue and no new concession or exemption has been granted either post November 8 demonetisation announcement or in the last two-and-a-half years, he said.

"Post demonetisation, no political party can accept donations in 500 and 1,000 rupee notes since they were rendered illegal tenders. Any party doing so would be in violation of law," he said in a statement.

He said just like anyone else, political parties can also deposit their cash held in the old currency in banks till December 30 "provided they can satisfactorily explain the source of income and their books of accounts reflect the entries prior to November 8".

"If there is any discrepancy in the books or records of political parties, they are as liable to be questioned by the Income Tax authorities as is anyone else. They enjoy no immunity whatsoever," he said. "There is no question of sparing anyone, and the political class is no exception."

Political parties have not been granted any exemption post demonetisation and introduction of Taxation Laws (Second Amendment) Act, 2016 which came into force on December 15, 2016," he said.

The government on Saturday appointed new chiefs to the Research and Analysis Wing and the Intelligence Bureau.

Anil Kumar Dhasmana an expert on Balochistan will take charge as the R&AW chief on January 30. The 1981 batch Madhya Pradesh cadre IPS officer is an expert on Balochistan, counter terrorism and Islamic affairs. His appoint comes at a time when the Union Government has raised the issue of Balochistan to counter the narrative by Pakistan.

Rajiv Jain, who was named as the new chief of the Intelligence Bureau, is a Jharkhand cadre IPS officer. Jain is an expert on Kashmir affairs. He is currently serving as the Special Director in the Intelligence Bureau and will take over from Dineshwar Sharma on January 1.

08:45

Indonesian air force Hercules C-130 aeroplane crashes in remote Papua province, killing at least 12, officials say

08:11 Libya officially proclaims liberation of Sirte from IS

Libya's unity government leader Fayez al-Sarraj has officially announced the end of military operations in Sirte, after the liberation from Islamic State group forces of what was the last significant territory they held in the country.

However prime minister-designate Sarraj warned that the battle against the Islamic rebels was not over. Eight months after the start of the operations against IS in the coastal town of Sirte "I officially announce the end of military operations and the liberation of the town", Sarraj said in a televised speech yesterday, two weeks after the announcement that the area was in control of forces loyal to the government.

The capture of Sirte, first announced on December 5, boosts the authority of Sarraj's UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), which was launched in Tripoli in March but whose legitimacy is contested by a rival administration based in eastern Libya.

The country descended into chaos following the NATO-backed ousting of longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011, with rival administrations emerging and well-armed militias vying for control of its vast oil wealth.

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