China has decided to temporarily stop funding at least three major road projects in Pakistan, being built as part of the $50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, following reports of corruption, a decision that has left officials in Islamabad "stunned", a media report said today.

Two opposition chief ministers Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal have tweeted support for senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha, after he was detained yesterday, during his sit-in over the demands of farmers.


West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee extended her "full support" to the former Union minister in his fight for the cause of farmers and said she was concerned about the BJP veteran, who was detained by the Maharashtra Police. She said she was sending Trinamool Congress MP Dinesh Trivedi to meet Sinha, who was detained at Akola in Maharashtra last evening while protesting along with hundreds of farmers against the government's alleged apathy towards cotton and soybean cultivators of the Vidarbha region.


Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal also tweeted his support to Yashwant Sinha saying, "Why has Sh Yashwant Sinhaji been arrested? Insane. He shud be released immediately."


Pavan K Verma, who is the national spokesperson of the Janata Dal (United), a BJP ally, said it was "worrying that senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha has been arrested on orders of a BJP government, for the crime of protesting against the administration's apathy towards cotton and soybean farmers in Vidarbha.


Sinha was detained by police in Maharashtra's Akola on Monday evening while protesting against the government's "apathy" towards farmers of the Vidarbha region.

File pic.

Actor Vishal's nomination for the RK Nagar By-polls in Chennai has also been rejected by the Election Commission.

Cyclone Ockhi today moved closer to the southern coast near Surat in Gujarat and is expected to make a landfall in the state around midnight, said officials. As per the latest forecast released by the Meteorological Centre in Ahmedabad, the cyclone is now just 390 km away from Surat and is approaching Gujarat steadily and now lies centred in the Arabian Sea just 390 km away from Surat.


It is very likely to continue moving north-northwestwards, an official of the MeT centre said. As per the latest bulletin of the India Meteorological Department issued today, the cyclone is expected to hit the coastline near Surat by tonight.


"It is very likely to continue to move north-northwestwards, weaken gradually and cross south Gujarat and adjoining Maharashtra coasts near Surat as a deep depression by the night of December 5," said the latest IMD bulletin.


The IMD has forecast light to moderate rainfall in most places with heavy rainfall at isolated places in Saurashtra and south Gujarat. As predicted by the weathermen, several districts today received light rain since morning, even as almost the entire state witnessed overcast skies. -- PTI


Image: The Ockhi effect: People wade through a flooded street in Suchindram in Kanyakumari district last week. Photograph: PTI Photo

Former TN CM J Jayalalithaa's niece Deepa Jayakumar's nomination for Chennai's RK Nagar constituency has been rejected by the Election Commission after several discrepancies were found in her form.

Many Bollywood celebrities came forward to offer their condolences to Shashi Kapoor through social media, but it was Dharmendra's endearing tribute to the actor that made everyone emotional.


The actor shared a black and white throwback picture of a young Shashi Kapoor sitting with legendary actor Raj Kapoor. He captioned the image, "You have been a childhood admiration, a wonderful actor and a beautiful human being. This world is going to miss you Shashi!!"


In the picture, a young Shashi smiling about something that was being said to him by his brother and legendary actor Raj Kapoor who looks fondly at his younger sibling. - ANI

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi is the only valid candidate in the fray for the election to the Congress president's post, the party's returning officer said today. The picture became clear following the scrutiny of nominations filed yesterday on his behalf.


"There is now only one validly nominated candidate, that is Shri Rahul Gandhi," said Mullappally Ramachandran, returning officer for the election.


A total of 89 nomination papers were received, all proposing Rahul Gandhi's name. All the nominations were found to be valid after scrutiny.

Rahul Gandhi nomination papers: A total of 89 nomination papers all proposing the names of Rahul Gandhi have been received, have been scrutinized and each nomination paper has been found all valid. There is now only one validly nominated candidate that is Rahul Gandhi left in the fray for Congress president election: M Ramachandran, Returning officer.


The Congress vice president on Monday filed his nomination for the post of party president, heralding a generational shift in the leadership of the grand old party seeking a revival in its electoral fortunes.


With no other claimants in the fray and Monday being the last day for filing nominations, his elevation as Congress president is almost certain, party sources said.


The 47-year-old Gandhi scion is set take over the party's reins from Sonia Gandhi, who has steered the party for 19 years, including the 10 when it led the United Progressive Alliance government.

The skies opened up today as the legendary Shashi Kapoor, the romantic Hindi screen icon of the 70s and 80s, was cremated with state honours at the Santacruz Hindu crematorium in Santacruz in Mumbai.


The long-ailing actor passed away last evening at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai. He was 79.


Shashi Kapoor was given a state funeral, which was held amid massive security around 12 noon in the electric crematorium. The actor-producer's body was taken to the crematorium from his Juhu home in an ambulance at 11.45 am. Hundreds of people bid the actor a tearful adieu in the pelting rain.


His three children -- sons Kunal and Karan and daughter Sanjna -- were there as were other members of the Kapoor family and scores of film personalities to say their goodbyes to the actor who straddled the worlds of commercial and art house cinema.


About a dozen policemen draped the actor's body in tricolour, which was later removed for the rituals. He was given a three-gun salute, which was followed by a minute's silence.


Hundreds of fans with umbrellas and raincoats gathered at the crematorium, undeterred by the rain and warnings of a cyclone. Celebrities such as Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan, Shyam Benegal, Shah Rukh Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Ayan Mukherji, Hansal Mehta, Nandita Das, Lara Dutta with husband Mahesh Bhupati, and Maharashtra politician Ramdas Athawale were amongst those who paid their respects to the actor.


Writer Salim Khan, who gave Shashi Kapoor the iconic one-line "Mere paas ma hai" in Deewar along with Javed Akhtar, was there as well. An emotional Bachchan, who paired with Shashi Kapoor to give hits such as "Deewaar", "Silsila" and "Kabhi Kabhie", was seen hugging the actor's family members.

Supreme Court fixed the Ayodhya dispute matter for further hearing on February 8, 2018

Amul's tribute to Shashi Kapoor...

The Supreme Court began the final hearing in the Ayodhya land dispute case today, a day before the 25th anniversary of the demolition of the medieval-era mosque -- the Babri Masjid.

A specially constituted bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices Ashok Bhushan and Abdul Nazeer are hearing a total of 13 appeals filed against the 2010 judgement of the Allahabad High Court in four civil suits.


Senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Rajeev Dhavan, representing the Sunni Waqf Board argued that a larger bench with either 5 or 7 judges should hear this case.


Kapil Sibal reading out in SC the details of exhibits filed by the contesting defendants before the Allahabad High Court told the three-judge bench of the Supreme Court that all these exhibits are not filled before this court. He submitted that all the pleadings are not complete.


Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the State of Uttar Pradesh rebutted all the arguments of Sibal. Mehta told the SC that all the related documents and requisite translation copies are on record.


Sibal who is representing Sunni Waqf Board raised doubts over assertions of ASG Mehta asking how was it possible for more than 19000 pages of documents to be filed in such short time.


Sibal told SC that he and the other petitioners have not been served relevant documents of pleadings. Sibal told the court that whenever this matter is heard, there are serious repercussions outside court and to preserve the decorum of law and order, and that he personally requests the court to take this matter up on July 15, 2019, once all the pleadings are complete.


Image: A hawan being conducted ahead of the hearing today

The Kerala government today said intensified search and rescue operations are on to trace the 92 fishermen missing in high seas after Cyclone Ockhi hit the state's coast on November 29. 'Operation Synergy,' a joint rescue mission by the Navy, the Air Force, Coast Guard and state fisheries department had so far rescued 252 fishermen stranded in the seas in the aftermath of the cyclone.


Besides this, several fishermen had reached ports and  harbours in Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat and Lakshdweep, the State Minister for Fisheries Mercykutty told PTI. With this, more than 1,000 fishermen had reached shores safely, she said.


On the cyclone-related deaths, the Minister said of the 25 deaths reported so far, 21 were fishermen. A total of 292 fishermen had gone for fishing on November 29 from the Thiruvananthapuram coastal region and out of that 200 persons have already been rescued, she noted. -- PTI


IMAGE: A Navy helicopter rescues fishermen off the coast of Tamil Nadu in the wake of cyclone Ockhi.

The last rites of Bollywood veteran actor Shashi Kapoor was held at Mumbai's Santacruz crematorium, which was attended by people from the film industry.


A number of eminent Bollywood celebrities -- Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan, Sanjay Dutt, Lara Dutta, Naseeruddin Shah, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra -- along with Kapoor family members Rishi, Randhir and Ranbir Kapoor paid their last respects.


The body was taken from Mumbai's Kokilaben Ambani Hospital to the Santacruz crematorium for last rites. En route, the body was also taken to Prithvi Theatre.


Many Bollywood celebrities Aamir Khan, Karan Johar and Ajay Devgn paid homage to Shashi Kapoor yesterday.


The actor had been suffering from ailments for the past few years. He had undergone a bypass surgery and was also hospitalised for a chest infection in 2014.

The production on the sixth and final season of Netflix's House of Cards will begin next year without its lead Kevin Spacey. The final season will have eight episodes and will be refocused on the character of actor Robin Wright. Netflix had suspended production on the show earlier this month in the wake of allegations of misconduct against its lead Kevin Spacey. It had also said that the show will end after the upcoming sixth season. -- PTI

The National Disaster Management Authority today asked fishermen in both eastern and western coasts not to venture out in the sea for the next three days as heavy rainfall is expected in many areas due to Cyclone Ockhi.


Asking people not to panic in case of a cyclone alert, the NDMA said in an advisory that fishermen along and off Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu coasts should not venture into sea from December 6 to 8 while fishermen along and off Andaman and Nicobar Islands are advised not to venture into sea till tomorrow.


Fishermen living along and off South Gujarat and North Maharashtra coasts are advised not to venture into the sea till tomorrow morning. The severe cyclonic storm Ockhi will move over east-central Arabian sea and move further north-northeastwards with a speed of 21 kmph and lay centred over east-central Arabian sea at latitude 17.5 N and Longitude 70.4 E, about 480 km southwest of Surat and 300 km west-southwest of Mumbai.


The NDMA said light to moderate rainfall is expected at most places in Maharashtra with isolated heavy rainfall also likely over north Konkan, Palghar, Thane, Raigarh, Greater Mumbai, Dhule, Nandurbar, Nashik, Jalgaon, Ahmednagar and Pune districts.


It is very likely that the cyclone will to continue to move north-northeastwards, weaken gradually and cross south Gujarat and adjoining north Maharashtra coasts near Surat as a deep depression by tonight.


Minor damage to loose unsecured structures and minor damage to banana trees, agriculture near coast due to salt spray is expected. Damage to ripe paddy crops and minor damage to 'kutcha' embankments are expected. -- PTI

Ranbir and Rajiv Kapoor attend the last rites ceremony of veteran actor Shashi Kapoor at Santacruz crematorium.

Saif Ali Khan and Lara Dutta at the funeral. 

Mourners at the Santacruz crematorium. Shashi Kapoor will be consigned to flames shortly. In the centre of the frame is Rishi Kapoor and to his right is Satish Shah. Kapoor has been wrapped in the tricolour and will be given a three-gun salute. 

Pic courtesy: ANI

Naseeruddin Shah with his wife Ratna Pathak on their way to Shashi Kapoor's Juhu residence, earlier in the day.

Celebrities descend at Prithvi House to pay their last respects to Shashi Kapoor, who died in Mumbai on Monday. He was 79 and had been battling a kidney ailment and had been confined to a wheelchair for years. His mortal remains were taken to the Santacruz crematorium shortly thereafter.


Among those who made an appearance at Shashi Kapoor's Juhu residence were Rishi Kapoor, his nephew. He was in Delhi shooting for the film, Rajma Chawal and rushed back to Mumbai. Raj Kapoor's grandson Aadar Jain was also seen at Shashi Kapoor's residence.

Anil Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Naseeruddin Shah and his wife Ratna Pathak were at the Juhu residence as well.


Kapoor had been admitted to Mumbai's Kokilaben Hospital on Sunday night for treatment for a chest infection.


Kapoor was born on March 18, 1938 in Kolkata and his acting career began in the 1940s. As a child actor, Kapoor acted in Aag (1948) and Awaara (1951), where he played the younger version of the character played by his elder brother, the late Raj Kapoor (1924-1988).


He also worked as an assistant director in the 1950s.The third and youngest son of actor Prithviraj Kapoor, Shashi made his Bollywood debut as the lead actor in the 1961 hit, Dharmputra.


He then went on to act in more than 150 films, including a dozen English language movies. Besides his Bollywood fare, he was equally involved with arthouse cinema with movies such as New Delhi Times, Utsav, Junoon, Kalyug and 36 Chowringhee Lane. He also collaborated with Merchant Ivory Productions for films such as Shakespeare-Wallah, The Householder and Heat And Dust.


Image: The mortal remains of the Shashi Kapoor were placed in the ambulance and taken to the Santacruz crematorium. His son Kunal Kapoor is in the picture. 

The Mumbai centre of India Meteorological Department on Tuesday urged the fisherman working on the Maharashtra-Goa coasts to not venture in the sea for the next 48 hours.


A statement issued by the IMD advised the fishermen to turn back to the coast.


"Fishermen are advised to return to the coast and are advised not to go out in the sea during next 48 hours," reads the statement.


"Due to severe cyclonic storm 'Ockhi' over the east-central Arabian sea near latitude 15.7n and longitude 69.2e, squally weather very likely to prevail along and off your ports," it adds.


The deadly cyclone has claimed at least 20 lives with hundreds still missing after it made a landfall in Kerala on November 30 has now moved towards Maharashtra and Gujarat.


Meanwhile, search and rescue operations in the southeast Arabian Sea and Lakshadweep and Minicoy islands continue. The Navy has deployed 10 naval ships and eight aircraft, round the clock service late last night for the ongoing rescue operations.

Tamil Nadu: CM Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy CM O Panneerselvam paid tribute to former CM J Jayalalithaa at the Jaya Memorial on her first death anniversary.

PM Narendra Modi's message to Gujarat and it doesn't have to do with the elections or opposition bashing. After leaving a trail of destruction in the southern coast, Cyclone Ockhi is expected to make landfall in coastal Gujarat on Tuesday midnight with squally winds, which may cause heavy rains in several parts of the state during the next two days.


The PM tweeted, "With Cyclone Ockhi expected to make a landfall in Gujarat, I appeal to @BJP4Gujarat Karyakartas to focus on helping people across the state. Our Karyakartas should devote themselves to providing all possible assistance and stand shoulder to shoulder with fellow citizens. Continuously monitoring the situation arising in various parts of the country due to Cyclone Ockhi. Spoke to all relevant authorities and officials. All possible assistance is being provided to those affected."

An India Meteorological Department forecast said, "The severe cyclonic storm Ockhi is now laid centred about 850 km south-southwest of Surat and is likely to cross south Gujarat and adjoining North Maharashtra coasts near Surat as a deep depression by midnight of December 5."


Following the IMD prediction, Gujarat chief secretary J N Singh on Monday took stock of the administrative preparedness to deal with any eventuality.


Image: A washed-away road in Suchindram, Kanyakumari. Photograph: PTI

The air quality in the Delhi-NCR has deteriorated in the last two days. As per the latest AQI data, Delhi's Lodhi Road area has content of prominent pollutants PM 10 and PM 2.5 in 'severe' and 'very poor' category respectively. The air quality around India Gate was on Tuesday recorded at 258 under 'poor' category on the Air Quality Index. Air quality in Delhi has been hovering between the 'poor' and 'very poor' categories but was not 'severe' since November 13. The AQI levels in the capital was recorded in the 'severe' zone for seven days between November 7 and November 13.

The Disaster Management Cell, Mumbai, says that the IMD informs that Cyclone Ockhi is 300 km West-South West of Mumbai. It is likely to continue to move North-North Eastward, weaken gradually and will cross South Gujarat and North Maharashtra coast as a deep depression by the 5th December 2017. A high tide is expected to hit Mumbai shores at 12:39 pm and is likely to measure 4.22 metres in height. High tide accompanied by heavy rain can cause water logging. But the weather has not predicted heavy rain for Mumbai.

Pic courtesy: Skymet Weather.

"Undeniably attractive as he was, his crooked smile -- one that made women go weak in the knees -- symbolised the beauty of imperfections to me. When I was a kid, I was terribly conscious of my irregular set of teeth but seeing Shashi Kapoor laugh so wholeheartedly despite it inspired me to embrace my defect as my distinction. Although he graduated to playing supporting parts by the time I woke up to movies, my love for vintage fare ensured I was familiar with his stardom from back in the day."

Read Sukanya Verma's tribute to Shashi Kapoor right here.

China has temporarily stopped funding of some projects particularly those related to the road network under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) till further decision regarding 'new guidelines' to be issued from Beijing, a senior government official told Dawn on Monday. Read more

Seeking to enlarge its content ecosystem, telecom operator Bharti Airtel has acquired a strategic stake in Juggernaut Books, a digital platform backed by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani.


Juggernaut allows people to discover and read books as well as submit amateur writing.


The investment is part of Airtel's efforts to build an ecosystem to service customers with digital content.


For Juggernaut, founded by Chiki Sarkar, the move will help ramp up content acquisition and digital marketing and prepare for a subscription-offering launch in the next few months.Content is going to be a major thrust area for telcos as they look to increase data consumption among subscribers.

Kiran Rathee/Business Standard

As Mumbai braces for Cyclone Ockhi, areas near the metropolis witnessed a spell of hailstorm, while schools and colleges in the city and adjoining districts have been closed today as a precautionary measure. Some parts of the Munbai-Pune Expressway experienced a hailstorm early today, police said.
However, news agency ANI says reports of a hailstorm are under editorial review.


The weather department has forecast intermittent rains in Mumbai and suburbs in the next 24 hours. The traffic on Eastern and Western Express Highways in Mumbai has slowed down after rain in some parts of Mumbai throughout last night.


There are traffic curbs in some places in view of the rush of followers of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar on his death anniversary tomorrow.


The BMC has made arrangements for accommodation in some civic schools for people coming from outside Mumbai to pay tributes to Ambedkar at Chaityabhumi in Dadar.


"Intermittent rain/thundershowers very likely to occur in Mumbai and suburbs in next 24 hours," said a report of the India Meteorological Department Mumbai at 8 am. "Heavy rainfall is likely at a few places with squally wind speed reaching 50 to 60 km per hour gusting to 70 km per hour very likely along coastal area in next 24 hours," it further said.


A few spells of rain or thundershowers are likely to occur in the city and suburbs in next 48 hours, the IMD said. After an alert by the IMD Mumbai observatory, the state government has announced a holiday today for schools in Mumbai, Sindhudurg, Thane, Raigad and Palghar districts. -- PTI


Image: A rain-drenched Chhattrapati Shivaji Terminus in Mumbai last night. Pic: Sahil Salvi.

North India may experience its first big cold wave of the season from December 11 onwards because of fresh snow spells and rain in the hills, private weather forecaster, Skymet said.


The forecaster said the cold wave could also fog and rain in the plains which might impact road, rail and air traffic in the region.


"Winters first mega storm coming from December 11th in North India, be prepared for snow, rain and fog. Road, rail and air will be affected," Skymet CEO, Jatin Singh tweeted.


Cold weather conditions could be beneficial for the late sown wheat crop, which is yet to planted in some parts of the country including Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.


The state-run India Meteorological Department in its forecast, too, said that temperatures over North India and in other parts of the country might remain appreciably below normal during the same period.

Sanjeeb Mukherjee/Business Standard.

Image: A snow-covered Shimla in 2016.

BJP President Amit Shah's public rallies in Rajula, Mahuva and Shihor cancelled due to Cyclone Ockhi in Gujarat.

Indian-American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal has figured in the Politico's Power List for the year 2018, for having assumed the mantle of a House "leader of resistance".


Jayapal, 52, ranked fifth on 18 is the only Indian- American to figure in the Politico's power list. "18 to watch in 2018 highlights politicians, activists and operatives across the country who are poised to have a big year in 2018," the magazine said.


"Jayapal, a fast-rising democratic star and determined critic of President Donald Trump, has assumed the mantle of a House "leader of the resistance."


From her spot as first vice chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, she has worked as "a relentless advocate of civil rights and immigration reform on Capitol Hill," said her friend and fellow freshman House member Republican Ro Khanna," Politico said. -- PTI

Also read: The making of the first Indian-American woman in US House of Representatives


IMAGE: Pramila Jayapal with her husband Steve and her son Janak. Photograph: PramilaJayapal/Twitter

The Supreme Court on Tuesday will commence the final hearings in the long-standing Ayodhya dispute.


The first hearing is set a day before the 25th anniversary of the demolition of medieval-era mosque, Babri Masjid. According to reports, the top court will be hearing a total of 13 appeals filed against the 2010 judgement of the Allahabad High Court in four civil suits.


The stakeholders in the case had moved the apex court after the Allahabad HC directed the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and the Lord Ram Lalla to settle for a three-way division of the disputed site. A Delhi court will deliver its verdict in connection with the terrorist attack on the makeshift Ram Temple in Ayodhya in 2005.

Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan has penned a heartfelt post for late actor Shashi Kapoor, with whom he formed an enormously successful on-screen partnership.


Kapoor, one of the stalwarts of the Indian cinema industry, passed away on Monday at the age of 79.


The veteran actor shared the link of his blog on Twitter as he wrote, "T 2731 - To Shashji from your 'babbua' .. !!


Big B, in his post, recalled the day when he first saw Shashi Kapoor's picture on a magazine.


"Standing elegantly without a care in the world, I saw him standing by a Mercedes Sports car, a convertible, a smart trimmed beard and moustache, adorning involuntarily, the face of this incredibly handsome man. It was a picture that filled almost an entire page of a magazine. Shashi Kapoor . son of Prithviraj Kapoor, younger brother to Raj Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor, making a debut in a forthcoming film, is what the caption read. And I said to myself, as very uncertain thoughts raced through my mind of wanting to become a film actor, that, with men like him around, I stood no chance at all," wrote the 75-year-old.


Senior Bachchan revealed that Shashi Kapoor had somewhere 'let himself go' after the demise of his wife Jennifer Kendal.


"He had been ailing .. somewhere he had let himself go after the passing away of his dear wife Jennifer .. I had visited him on occasion in Hospital during some of the times he had been hospitalised earlier .. but I never went to see him again .. I would never have .. I never ever wanted to see this beautiful friend and 'samdhi' in the state I saw him in hospital .... and I did not today, when they informed me that he had gone ."


The 'PINK' star ended the blog on a sad note, saying, "He fondly addressed me as 'babbua' .. and with him have gone many incredible unread chapters of his and my life."


Big B and Shashi Kapoor acted in blockbusters including 'Deewar' (1975), 'Kabhi Kabhie' (1976), 'Trishul' (1978) and 'Namak Halaal' (1982).