LIVE! Pak military claims downing of Indian drone

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Sat, 19 November 2016

Pak military claims downing of Indian drone

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21:33 Pak military claims downing of Indian drone

The Pakistan Army on Saturday claimed to have shot down an Indian drone which it alleged had "intruded" into Pakistani territory across the heavily-guarded Line of Control.

"Indian quadcopter has been shot down by Pakistani troops at 1645 (hrs), fell in Pak territory & taken over by Pak troops," army spokesman Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa tweeted.

He claimed the drone had "intruded 60 metres into the Pakistan side of LoC" and its debris "fell near Agahi Post in Rakhchakri Sector".

There have been a whopping 286 incidents of firing and shelling along the LoC and International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistani troops that have resulted in the death of 26 people, including 14 security personnel, since the surgical strike on terrorist launch pads in PoK on September 29 after the Uri terror attack.

After Manohar Parrikar stoked a controversy over India's 'no first use' nuclear policy, former National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon on Saturday said the Defence Minister does not have the right to voice his personal opinion on nuclear policy in public, especially when it contradicts the official stand.

Menon also said Parrikar's suggestion that India should give up its 'no first use' policy would not be in the country's interest both in terms of the strategic deterrent role of nuclear weapons as well as their role as weapon of war.

The defence minister does not have a right to voice his personal opinion on nuclear policy in public particularly when that opinion contradicts the official policy of the country, he told India Today TV's 'To The Point' programme.

Parrikar last week had wondered why India cannot say "we are a responsible nuclear power and I will not use it irresponsibly" instead of affirming a "no first use policy", remarks he said were personal in nature.

"Why should I bind myself? I should say I am a responsible nuclear power and I will not use it irresponsibly. This is my (personal) thinking," Parrikar had said.

Following the nuclear weapons test in 1998, India had declared a 'no first use' nuclear policy.

Highlights of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's addresses to the Global Citizen Festival, taking place in Mumbai, via video conferencing:

* India is a young country & our future is built on the choices you make and the actions you take; hope you too will seize the moment

* On the whole, I'm convinced that we can and we will build a Swachh Bharat free of all forms of filth within one generation

* Deeply grateful to you for working shoulder to shoulder with me in this cleanliness drive and look forward that you continue to do so.

* The young people have taken the initiative of "Swacch Bharat Abhiyan" forward, be it of the country and black money

* You've been smart in asking me to only address gathering and not sing, or else I'm sure you'd be asking money back that too in Rs100 notes

* You bring an energy and idealism that is unparalleled

* I always look forward to being among young people; it refreshes and re energises me; you bring an energy that is unparalleled

* Back in 2014, I had enjoyed attending the Global Citizen Festival in the beautiful Central Park of New York

* I know that I stand between you and Cold Play and so will make this brief

20:40

Indian Quad Copter has been shot down by Pak troops at 1645, fell in Pak territory & taken over by Pak troops: Pak Army-Director Gen ISPR

20:12 Army commander visits forward areas in J-K

A senior Army commander today visited troops deployed in forward areas and exhorted them to work with zeal and motivation to overcome the challenges of terrorism, volatile internal security situation and external threats along the LoC.

General Officer Commanding in Chief, Northern Command, Lt Gen D S Hooda visited troops deployed in forward areas and reviewed the security situation, an Army spokesman said.

He said Lt Gen Hooda exhorted all ranks to continue to work with the same zeal and motivation to overcome the challenges of "terrorism, volatile internal security situation and external threats along the LoC".

Later, the spokesman said the commander, accompanied by his wife Rashmi Hooda, visited Srinagar-based Chinar Corps at Badami Bagh and interacted with all ranks, complimenting them for their professionalism, steadfastness, dedication and loyalty.

He also appreciated the excellent synergy between Army, Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), Jammu and Kashmir Police and civil administration in pursuit of the common goal of establishing "peace and normalcy" in Jammu and Kashmir, the spokesman said.

19:17 Jayalalithaa shifted from CCU to private room

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has been shifted from Apollo Hospital's CCU to a private room in the hospital on Saturday. The latest development comes nearly two months after she was admitted to the private hospital in Chennai.

The development marks a significant improvement in the leader's health. However, sources say the 68-year-old CM still requires intermediate care and continuous monitoring.

Jayalalithaa being shifted from the CCU also comes a day after Apollo Hospital Chairman Pratap Reddy said that she has recovered completely. In his interaction with reporters on Friday, Reddy said the CM can guide and direct now and that her mental functions are absolutely normal".

18:21

Tintin drawing sells for record 1.55 mn euros (Rs 11.1 crore), news agency AFP quotes auction house.

18:19 Sindhu reaches finals at China Open

Olympic silver medallist P V Sindhu is just one step away from clinching her maiden Super Series Premier title as she reached the finals of the China Open after registering a come from behind win over Korea Sung Ji Hyun at the $700,000 tournament in Fuzhou today.

Seventh seed Sindhu edged out Ji Hyun, seeded sixth, 11-21 23-21 21-19 in a thrilling contest that lasted an hour and 24 minutes here. This was Sindhu's sixth win over Ji Hyun in nine encounter.

The two-time bronze medallist at World Championship, Sindhu will lock horns with local favourite Sun Yu, seeded eighth, in the summit clash tomorrow.

Accusing Congress of "fear-mongering" on demonetisation issue, BJP today rejected the opposition's charge that the manner of its implementation has harmed the common man's interests, saying a government cannot take anti-people step and then go back to them for votes.

Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said people might be facing some problems due to shortage of small denomination currency notes but they are also supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's demonetisation move as it is against black money.

She claimed Congress had realised that it lacked substance during the debate on demonetisation in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday and thus resorted to stalling the House by raising the demand that Modi should be present there.

"Congress is trying to create fear in the common man's mind. It is not needed. It is fear-mongering," the Commerce Minister told reporters, responding to the opposition party's claim that it will take seven to eight months for situation to stabilise.

"Which political party will take a step against the people's interest and will go back to the same people for votes," she said on opposition's charge that the manner of implementation of the measure was harming the common man.

Banks may allow withdrawal of Rs 2.5 lakh by the families with upcoming weddings from next week only after receiving operational guidelines from the RBI, even though the Centre announced the relaxation earlier this week.

"In absence of operational guidelines from RBI, we are unable to give Rs 2.5 lakh for marriage purpose to each of the family (of bride and groom). We are awaiting direction from RBI," Punjab National Bank Managing Director Usha Ananthasubramanian said.

"We expect the norms by Monday and hopefully by Tuesday, branches should start disbursing for marriage. We understand that the amount can be drawn only by either parents or the person getting married. Only one of them will be permitted to draw this amount. The limit of Rs 2.5 lakh will apply separately to the girl's and the boy's family," she said.

Similarly, other banks are also not offering this facility in absence of directions from the RBI.

According to a senior Corporation Bank official, "Withdrawal for marriage purpose can be availed only after RBI's notification which will have clear direction about the various formalities needed to be furnished by the customers for withdrawal."

India were 98 for three in their second innings, leading England by 298 runs at stumps on day three of the second Test in Visakhapatnam today.

Brief scores: India 455 and 98/3 in 34 overs (Kohli batting 56; Broad 2/6). England 255 in 102.5 overs (Stokes 70, Bairstow 53, Root 53; Ashwin 5/67).

Indian Air Force fighter jets have been practicing to land on the Agra-Lucknow highway in Unnao ahead of the big bang inauguration of the Agra-Lucknow expressway on November 21.

A dream project of UP CM Akhilesh Yadav, the 302-km expressway, which has been completed in a record time of 22 months and has cost Rs 13,200 crore, will get operational by December.

Last year in the month of May, in a first for military aviation in the country, IAF successfully landed a French Dassault Mirage-2000 fighter jet on the Yamuna Expressway near Raya village, Mathura, as a part of elaborate trials to see how many other highways can be used for war-like emergencies.

At present, countries such as Germany, Poland, Sweden, South Korea, Taiwan, Finland, Switzerland, Poland, Singapore, Czechoslovakia and Pakistan have dedicated stretches on their expressways and highways for airplanes to land and take off in case of an emergency.

16:04 NIA FIR against Zakir Naik illegal: Counsel

Mobin Solkar, the counsel for controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, on Saturday said the case filed by the National Investigative Agency against his client under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act is illegal, as the Supreme Court, earlier granted a stay in a similar case, and hence, any fresh complaint on the same grounds would stand void.

"Earlier in the year 2012 an FIR was registered by the office bearers of some organisation against Zakir Naik under section 153 A and in response we filed a petition in the Supreme Court and the court granted stay to all those proceedings in the FIR. So fresh FIR for the same offence is not maintainable in law so they cannot be two FIR for one offence," Solkar told ANI.

Solankar further maintained that from 2012 till date, Naik has not given any lecture which can be a cause of action for filing a fresh FIR against him.

15:41

Old currency notes worth Rs 45 lakh seized by Punjab police in Ludhiana.

15:34 5 naxals gunned down in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur

Five naxals were gunned down by security forces in the jungles of Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district in Maoist hotbed Bastar, police said on Saturday.

"The skirmish took place last night between a joint team of District Reserve Group (DRG) and ultras in the jungles of Tuspal and Becha Kilam villages under Chhotedongar police station limits," Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range), S R P Kalluri said.

This is the second biggest encounter in Bastar this month after bodies of six naxals, including three women, were recovered post a gun battle in Dantewada on November 16.

"At least half a dozen cadres of Military Company VI of Maoists were killed in the gun battle at Narayanpur," Kalluri said, tagging the operation as "surgical strike".

A top Pakistani military commander today claimed said that Indian army's casualties were double as compared to Pakistan in the ongoing clashes at the Line of Control.

"Only 20 of our soldiers were killed while they lost more than 40 soldiers," Commander of 10 Corps Lt-Gen Malik Zafar Iqbal told a selected gathering of parliamentarians and journalists in Gilgit yesterday.

Lt Gen Iqbal was on a visit to the strategic Gilgit-Baltistan region in the north wherein he addressed a gathering of civil and military officials, the Express Tribune reported.

Iqbal claimed that rising army casualties were making the cost of ceasefire violations unbearable for the adversary.

"If they violate the ceasefire during the day, we manage to settle the score before evening, but if it [the violation] occurs during night, we respond in kind before dawn," he said.

His remarks came days after Army chief Gen Raheel Sharif claimed that Indian army suffered at least 40 causalities in the recent border clashes. He also accused that Indian army was hiding its losses due to fear of public backlash.

14:48 Pakistan bans two militant outfits

Pakistan has banned two militant groups linked with the Taliban and Al Qaeda for their involvement in several terror attacks across the country.

Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a splinter group of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, and Lashkar-i-Jhangvi Al-Alami were banned after recent deadly attacks in Balochistan and Sindh provinces, including last week's assault at a sufi shrine in Balochistan that killed over 50 people.

A spokesman for the interior ministry said the decision to ban them was made only a few days ago, Dawn reported.

Referring to a revised list of banned groups available on the website of the National Counter Terrorism Authority, a top official in Sindh's security establishment said: "The two outfits were added to the list on November 11."

A security official said the government banned them once it became clear that they were not ready to shun violence.

The list also shows that Jamaat-ud Dawa has been listed since January 17, 2007 as group "under observation", which means its status can be changed as "banned" if there was enough evidence that it was involved in violence.

President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi paid tributes to ex-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her 99th birth anniversary at her former residence at Safdarjung Road in New Delhi.

A prayer meeting was held on the occasion.

In a separate function held at AICC headquarters in the early morning, Sonia Gandhi, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh along with top party leaders paid rich floral tributes to Indira Gandhi.

A speech of Indira Gandhi was also played during the programme wherein she had spelt out the responsibilities towards maintaining unity and integrity of the nation as well as protecting the girl child. Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ahmed Patel, Motilal Bora, Anand Sharma, Randeep Surjewala and others attended the function.

In the wake of the 'lollygate' incident which has spiced up a rather dull Australian summer, South African pace spearhead Dale Steyn has bowled a sour bouncer at the opposition, saying the Steve Smith led-side, which has already lost the three-match Test series, is now blaming the "lollipop" for the same.

"Beaten with the bat. Beaten with the ball. Beaten in the field. Mentally stronger. Here's a idea, Let's blame it on a lollipop (sic)," Steyn tweeted.

Heaping fuel on the fire he then added the "#soft'', news.com.au reported.

"Just so we clear, I'm not blaming the aussies, but I won't let a fantastic series win be tarnished by some lollipop fabrication. 3-0 mission," the Proteas pacer added.

Earlier, stand-in skipper Faf du Plessis was charged with ball tampering by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after he allegedly applied a mint-infused saliva to the ball during the fourth day's play of the second Test against Australia, which concluded in Hobart on Tuesday.

13:41

2nd test Day 3: England all out for 255, trail India by 200 runs. Ashwin picks five wickets

12:25 PM Modi skips Global Citizen Festival in Mumbai today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was supposed to attend the Global Citizen Festival' in Mumbai on Saturday, will give it a miss, reportedly over the heat the Centre has been facing following the demonetization move, ANI reported.

PM Modi will instead address the event via video conferencing at 7.40 pm.

The Global Citizen Festival India will be held at MMRDA Grounds in Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai. More than 80 percent of the tickets were given away free to those who took part in social activities in support of Global Citizen India across the country.

More than 80,000 fans from across the country will be seen thronging the event. The festival will have performances by international as well as Indian celebrities. Apart from Coldplay, Jay Z, Demi Lovato and The Vamps from abroad and Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, A.R. Rahman, Ranveer Singh, Katrina Kaif and many more from the Indian film industry are expected to attend.

Global Citizen Festival is focused on creating an impact in areas of education, equality, and clean water and sanitation. The festival, launched in 2012, takes place annually at New York City's Central Park. It partners with the Global Poverty Project, a movement aiming to end extreme poverty by 2030.

Four coaches of the Bhatinda-Jodhpur passenger train derailed today, leaving a dozen passengers injured in Rajasthan's Sriganganagar district.

The Bhatinda-Jodhpur passenger train derailed near Rajiyasar at around 2am.

Around a dozen passengers received minor injuries in the mishap, Additional SP Surendra Singh said.

A senior official of NWR's Bikaner division said the Bikaner-Suratgarh railway track has been blocked due to the incident and restoration work has started.

Several trains including Jammutavi express and Kota Sriganganagar have been diverted and Jaipur-Suratgarh, Lalgarh-Abohar passenger and Delhi-Bikaner express have been cancelled.

11:41

Pakistan Army violates ceasefire, targets posts in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district with 120 mm mortars

11:41 Queues getting shorter at banks; long wait at ATMs continues

After ten days of demonetisation of high value notes, many banks have now started witnessing shorter queues following some restrictions on exchange of defunct bills, but people were still seen waiting in frustration at ATMs due to cash scarcity.

All banks today will serve only their respective customers and will not exchange the old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes from customers of other banks.

However, this restriction is not applicable on senior citizens as they are allowed to visit any bank branches to exchange old defunct currency notes.

The exchange limit has already been less than halved to Rs 2,000 to ease some pressure on cash demand.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the rush at bank branches has come down significantly and that there is absolutely no panic.

"Queues have become extremely small and this is all over the country," Jaitley had said.

Three soldiers were killed after suspected militants fired at an army convoy in Assam's Tinsukia district on Saturday, defence officials said. The incident took place around 5.30 am, in the Pengeri area, Defence public relations officer Lt Col Suneet Newton said.

"They (the militants) had planted an improvised explosive device on the road. When the IED exploded, the convoy stopped. Then the militants fired indiscriminately," Newton said, adding that although the forces retaliated.

Locals said that the militants had fired upon the vehicle from both side of the road, which are forested areas.

10:40 NSG membership for India unlikely this year

India's hopes of a membership at the Nuclear Suppliers Group this year were virtually dashed after the NSG meeting in Vienna ended inconclusively, even as experts said the process would continue in 2017. India and the US had been keen to make progress on the application before the end of US President Barack Obama's tenure, and senior State Department officials had expressed optimism that it would be done by "year-end.'

10:28

JUST IN: Heavy shelling (ceasefire violation) by Pakistan in Nowshera sector of Rajouri

10:02 Modi's 'Operation Black Money' was kept secret even from top bankers

Prime Minister Narendra Modi+ maintained such a deep level of secrecy in executing the decision to demonetise two-high value denominations , that even the top bankers of the country had no idea about the move till he went on air at 8 pm on November 8 to announce the decision to the world.

In the first week of November, RBI officials informed the chairpersons and MDs of all the top banks in India about a meeting at the central bank's headquarters in south Mumbai scheduled for 7 pm on November 8. Uncharacteristically, the RBI didn't specify any particular agenda for the meeting, two bankers said. Usually, the central bank gives some notice to bankers when they are called for a meeting since it wants them to come prepared.

The meeting started with RBI officials mainly discussing the situation pertaining to non-performing assets in the banking sector, a hot topic for the sector till that day. They discussed some other issues related as well. Just before 8 pm, RBI officials switched on the TVs in the room. They said that the PM would be on air soon, and they would continue the discussion after his speech, the bankers said.

"Basically it was as much of a surprise to us as to anybody else," said SBI chairperson Arundhati Bhattacharya. After the PM ended his speech, the bankers wanted to leave immediately and start work.

Just 10 days after PM Narendra Modis announcement of removing old Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 currency denominations from legal tender, the income tax department has started cracking the whip on people depositing large amount of cash.

The I-T department of Siliguri, enquiring of cash deposits made by people in State Bank of Sikkim from November 12 14. "It's a genuine notice sent by us," Bhutia confirmed.

In the notice dated November 18 signed by Norbu Bhutia, deputy director of Income Tax (Investigation) at Siliguri unit the concerned party has been asked to appear before the deputy director on (or before) November 25 to explain the source of deposits, along with

supporting documentary evidence.

Voting began for by-elections in six states and one union territory on Saturday morning in polls expected to be the first referendum since the ban on 500 and 1000 rupee notes was announced by the BJP-led government at the centre.

In West Bengal, the assembly segment of Monteswar, along with the parliamentary seats of Coocchbehar and Tamluk are holding by-elections. Polls were announced in Coochbehar following the death of Trinamool Congress lawmaker Renuka Sinha.

In Tamil Nadu, voting is being held in the assembly segments of Thiruparankundram, Thanjavur and Aravakurichi in a contest between the ruling AIADMK and DMK.

In Arunachal Pradesh, the assembly segment of Hayuliang is being contested. The bypoll assumes importance as Desingu Pul, wife of former chief minister Kalikho Pul, is contesting on the BJP ticket. Kalikho Pul committed suicide in August under mysterious conditions.

In Madhya Pradesh, the assembly seat of Nepanagar is being contested, along with the parliamentary constituency of Shahdol.

08:48

JUST IN: NIA carries out searches at 10 places in a case registered against preacher Zakir Naik's Islamic Research Foundation.

08:48 French fashion designer calls for Melania Trump boycott

Fashion designer Sophie Theallet isnt a fan of Donald Trumps politics, so much so that shes refusing to dress his wife Melania.

As one who celebrates and strives for diversity, individual freedom, and respect for all lifestyles, I will not participate in dressing or associating in any way with the next First Lady. The rhetoric of racism, sexism, and xenophobia unleashed by her husbands presidential campaign are incompatible with the shared values we live by, Theallet wrote in an open letter on Twitter.

I encourage my fellow designers to do the same.

The 52-year-old French-born designer rose to prominence by dressing Michelle Obama on a number of occasions over her husbands eight-year term in the White House.

Dressing the First Lady Michelle Obama for the past eight years has been a highlight an honour. She has contributed to having our name recognised and respected worldwide, Ms Theallet wrote.

Her values, actions and grace have always resonated deeply within me.

Outfits worn by First Ladies are always closely scrutinised, so much so that theres an exhibition dedicated to their clothing at the Smithsonians National Museum of American History in Washington, DC.

Sonia Gandhi pays a floral tribute to her mother-in-law Indira Gandhi on the latter's birth anniversary. Her son, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi also was present at the tribute.

Later, it is reported that Sonia will be inaugurating a photo exhibition commemorating the birth centenary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in Allahabad.

Ami Bera, the only Indian-American in the current Congress, has been re-elected to the US House of Representatives for the third consecutive time

after defeating his Republican rival.

Bera, 51, would be joined by three first-time Indian-American lawmakers in the US House of Representatives -- Raja Krishnamoorthi from Illinois, Pramila Jayapal from Washington State and Ro Khanna from California.

He defeated Republican Sacramento County sheriff Scott Jones.

This is for the first time that the House would have four Indian-American members.

Bera was projected to be declared elected after Sacramento County Registrar of Votes announced the latest update of its counting of votes.

According to this, Bera's lead over his Republican rival Scott Jones grew to more than two per cent, with 129,064 votes to 123,056 in the Congressional Seventh District of California.

With Bera's victory, he ties the record of the most consecutive terms served by an Indian-American in Congress, previously held by Congressman Dalip Singh Saund, who served three terms from 1957-1963.

In both 2012 and 2014, Bera won by 9,191 and 1,455 votes respectively, after several days of counting.

The Scottish and Welsh governments are to be allowed to have a say in the Supreme Court battle over how Brexit should be triggered.

The government is appealing against a high court ruling that MPs must get a vote on triggering Article 50.

The Supreme Court confirmed that Wales and Scotland's senior law officers will be allowed to take part in the appeal.

UK PM Theresa May said that work was "on track" to begin the formal process of Brexit by April 2017.

Outside Donald Trump's gilded skyscraper, many in the slow-moving sidewalk throng come for the sole purpose of snapping selfies, some to capture a bit of history and others to offer the new president their one-fingered salute.

Trump Tower, always a popular spot for visitors, has become even more of a spectacle since Election Day, with the selfie stick-toting thatch of gawkers mixing with, and sometimes posing with, the heavily armed police.

"It's history in the making," said Steve O'Neill, a 54-year-old police lieutenant from Tyngsborough, Massachusetts, who made the pilgrimage in part to drop off a photo he had taken with Trump during a campaign stop. "He told us if he became president, we could come and have it signed. So we left it with the guard."

Twenty-year-old Leigh Stolarz, of West Palm Beach, Florida, said she was outraged by Trump's victory, finding it unbelievable that someone with his attitude toward women and immigrants could be elected president.

But she said she came to the tower anyway, in part to see how people were reacting. Her own reaction was similar to the thousands of the Trump Tower selfies that have populated Twitter, Facebook and Instagram since Election Day: a disgusted look, rolling eyes and an extended middle finger.

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