LIVE! Sitharaman reviews progress of Army reform

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Wed, 04 October 2017

Sitharaman reviews progress of Army reform

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22:36 Sitharaman reviews progress of Army reform

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday took stock of the progress in implementing the ambitious reform process in the Indian Army under which nearly 57,000 officers and other ranks are being redeployed to enhance the combat capability of the force.

The government in August had unveiled an ambitious reform initiative for the Indian Army based on recommendations of a committee headed by Lt Gen D B Shekatkar (retd) which was tasked with suggesting steps to enhance combat capability of the armed forces.

Sitharaman reviewed implementation of the reform process at a high-level meeting attended by Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa and top officials of the defence ministry, official sources said.

While accepting the panel's 65 recommendations dealing with the Army, the government had left 34 suggestions relating to tri-services issues.

In the meeting, Sitharaman also discussed ways to implement some of the 34 recommendations of panel whose implementation will impact all the three services.

One of the major recommendations of the Shekatkar committee was appointing a tri-service chief and government is yet to take a call on it.

The sources said a number of issues including operational preparedness of the forces also figured in the meeting.

Gen Rawat briefed the defence minister about steps taken to implement the reform process in the Army.

The reforms in Army will involve redeployment and restructuring of approximately 57,000 posts of officers, junior commissioned officers and other ranks and civilians.

Army sources said around 31,000 civilian staff will be redeployed including in new formations, adding reform will be carried out in the force's education corp as well.

The Shekatkar committee was appointed in May last year and it had submitted its report in December. Army sources said optimisation of signals establishments, closure of military farms and army postal establishments in peace locations as well as restructuring of repair echelons in the army including base workshops will also be part of the extensive reform exercise.

There will be enhancement in standards for recruitment of clerical staff and drivers in the Army as also steps will be taken to improve the efficiency of the National Cadet Corps. -- PTI

Photograph: Kind courtesy @DefMinIndia/Twitter

United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Wednesday said that America's relationship with Pakistan is 'extraordinarily important' regionally.

"... we rolled out the South Asia strategy which spoke about it in a regional context ... it is not just about Afghanistan, this is about the importance of Pakistan and Pakistan's long-term stability as well. We have concerns about the Pakistan's government too.

"We want their government to be stable, we want it to be peaceful and many of the same issues they're struggling with inside of Pakistan are our issues, so we think there's an opportunity for us to strengthen our relationship. we're gonna be working very hard at all levels. Pakistan is critical to the long-term stability of the region," Tillerson said at a media briefing at the State Department.

He held the press conference to deny a news report that claimed he had considered resigning from Donald Trump's cabinet.

He dismissed the report that he had called the president a 'moron' as 'petty nonsense'.

"The vice president has never had to persuade me to remain as secretary of state because I have never considered leaving this post," Tillerson said, denying the NBC News report (external link).

"My commitment to the success of our President and the country is as strong as the day I accepted his offer to serve as the Secretary of State," he said.

Praising Trump, Tillerson said, President Trumps America First agenda has given voice to millions who felt completely abandoned by the political status quo and who felt their interest came second to those of other countries.

"The President loves this country. He puts Americans and #AmericaFirst. Hes smart, and he demands results," he said.

"While I'm new to Washington, I have learned there are some who try to sow dissension to advance their own agenda by tearing others apart in an effort to undermine president Trump's own agenda. I do not and I will not operate that way," Tillerson said.

IMAGE: US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson makes a statement to the media at the State Department in Washington on Wednesday. Photograph: Yuri Gripas/Reuters

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today accused the Left-led Kerala government of not taking adequate steps to check a 'dangerous trend' like 'Love Jihad'.

He was responding to a question on a case in the Supreme Court involving the marriage of a Muslim man with a Hindu woman who had converted to Islam before tying the nuptial knot.

The apex court had on August 16 directed the National Investigative Agency (NIA) to probe whether there was a wider pattern of 'love jihad' in the matter. The couple belong to Kerala.

Several Hindutva groups have alleged a conspiracy behind cases of marriage between Muslim men and Hindu women, and have termed the trend 'love jihad'.

"'Love jihad' is a dangerous trend. The Kerala government has not taken effective steps to check it. The Supreme Court has already passed an order on it and the NIA is investigating it," Adityanath, one of the Hindutva faces of the party, told reporters in the Kannur district of Kerala. -- PTI

Prime Minister Modi's addresses at inauguration of Golden Jubilee Year of ICSI in Delhi continues:

- To people who sing 'reform-reform', I should tell that this government has implemented 87 reforms in 21 sectors.

- The government very well understands value of your hard-earned money, our policies and schemes are focused at bettering life of poor and middle class.

- I will not let the present problems jeopardise the future of the country.

- This is the time of a big transformation, the importance of honest and transparent governance is being realised.

- Will you assure that by 2022 our society will be tax compliant and there will be no shell companies? PM to Company Secretaries.

- Not everything that a critic says is wrong but one should refrain from creating a negative environment in the country. -- ANI

19:35 Uniquely Indian problems

Why India is now detached from the world, sitting out the global recovery in growth and jobs. Read Ruchir Sharma's piece HERE

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses company secretaries at inauguration of Golden Jubilee Year of ICSI in Delhi:

- After Demonetisation the cash to Gross Domestic Product ratio has come down to nine per cent, before November 8, 2016 it was 12 per cent.

- During six years of the previous government there were eight instances when GDP was at or below 5.7 per cent.

- There are some people who sleep well only after they spread a feeling of pessimism all around. We need to recognise such people.

- At a time India was made member of a group in context of international economy, it was fragile 5. How did it happen when big economists were there?

- The Reserve Bank of India has predicted 7.7 per cent growth in the coming quarters.

- After achieving average growth of 7.5 per cent over three years, we accept that growth rates came down April-June but the government is committed to reverse it.

- I have told the GST council to review the problems being faced by traders and we are willing to make changes as per the suggestions.

- I assure that the steps being taken by the government will put the country in a new league of development.

- There has been an increase in auto sales, air traffic, air freight & telephone subscribers. -- ANI

Karti Chidambaram, son of former Union Minister P Chidambaram, had 'tampered' with evidence relating to an alleged graft case against him during his visits abroad in the months of May, June and July this year, the Central Bureau of Investigation alleged in the Supreme Court today.

The agency told a bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra that there was a need to issue a look out circular (LOC) against Karti as he had the 'potential' to tamper with the evidence and he had done this during his visits abroad.

The CBI first information report, lodged on May 15, had alleged irregularities in Foreign Investment Promotion Board clearance to INX Media for receiving overseas funds to the tune of Rs 305 crore in 2007 when Karti's father was the Union finance minister.

"The LoC has two purposes. First, considering the investigation, he (Karti) may not become an outlaw and second, he can tamper with the evidence outside India," Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for CBI, told the bench.

"I will show he (Karti) has the potential to tamper with the evidence. During May 13 to May 18 and second week of June to second week of July, he went abroad and he did tamper with the evidence. I will justify this," Mehta told the bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud.

He said there were 'contemporaneous official records' which reflected this.

"These are not statements under section 161 of CrPC which can be obtained by pressurising somebody. These are contemporaneous official records," Mehta told the court.

He also sought to place before the bench some documents in a sealed cover, which was objected to by senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who was representing Karti.

Sibal also questioned the way in which CBI was seeking to place on record certain documents in a sealed cover, after Mehta referred to legal provisions and said these empowered the probe agency to share case diary with the court without sharing them with the accused.

Meanwhile, Mehta told the apex court that he would seek instructions on whether the division bench of the Madras high court be asked to decide the main matter pending there.

The court posted the matter for further hearing on October 9.

The CBI had last month told the apex court that Karti was prevented from travelling abroad as he was allegedly closing several of his foreign bank accounts.

The CBI's contention was strongly refuted by Karti's counsel.

The top court is hearing CBI's appeal challenging Madras high court order staying the government's LOC against Karti in the alleged graft case. -- PTI

17:53 Yogi in Kerala, Sarkar in Haryana

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath joined the protest march in Kerala against the killings of RSS workers following a suggestion from BJP chief Amit Shah who realised that his presence will lead to media hype. However, the CPM is not rattled by the series of BJP pinch-hitters to Kerala.

Interestingly, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar went to BJP-ruled Haryana to address a kisan rally where he criticised the BJP. For those wondering why the Marxist CM chose Haryana, it is because some five to eight percent of farmers in Tripura are from Punjab and Haryana.

17:48 No family allowed on Naidu's special aircraft

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu has set a personal rule that he will not take a family member in the Indian Air Force special aircraft that he travels by.

Recently it led to a piquant situation when his son was flying to Hyderabad as the same time as him. However, Naidu insisted that the son travel separately, in a commercial flight.

The only exception to this rule is when Naidu's spouse accompanies him for official functions.

A case has been registered against actor Prakash Raj in a Lucknow Court on a complaint by a lawyer over his reported remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Prakash Raj had earlier said that PM Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath are better actors than him.

He also said he wanted to give back his National Awards which are deserved by 'bigger actors' like the PM.

His made the comments while speaking at the 11th state meet of the Democratic Youth Federation of India in Bengaluru.

He questioned Modi's silence over senior journalist Gauri Lankesh's murder.

However, after facing flak on social media, he later clarified that he doesn't belong to any political party and he isn't a 'fool to return my national awards'.

The case will be heard on October 7. -- ANI, Agencies

An Army Major was killed and three other officers, including a Colonel, were injured when the car they were travelling in skidded off the Jammu-Poonch highway today, police said.

Their car hit a tree around 03.30 am today at the Thati-Gharota area in Jammu district, they said.

An officer identified as Major Ashish died on the spot and a Colonel and two other majors were injured and have been hospitalised, police said.

Police has registered a case. -- PTI

Image only for representation.

16:52 Honeypreet Insan sent to six-day police remand

Honeypreet Insan, 'adopted' daughter of convicted Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, was sent to a six day police remand by the Panchkula Court, on Wednesday.

Honeypreet arrived at the Panchkula court complex in the afternoon, along with Sukhdeep Kaur, another Dera follower, who gave shelter to Honeypreet during her abscond.

Honeypreet's lawyer, while coming out of the courtroom said that her character was being questioned and insulted, even though she was a 'fully divorced woman'.

"A woman, who has been fully divorced is being questioned and insulted over her character, which is a big human right violation," Honeypreet's lawyer told the reporters in Panchkula.

He asserted that the Panchkula Court has also granted him permission to meet Honeypreet, as the police officials earlier were not allowing him to see her.

"I assured Honeypreet that a solution will soon be given for the defamation that she is going through," he told the media personnel, adding that a solution would soon be given to her.

The lawyer also said that he would be filing a complaint against Honeypreet's former husband Vikas Gupta.

After a hunt of over a month by the police, Honeypreet was arrested on Tuesday at the highway near Chandigarh along with Sukhdeep.

The police has been on the lookout for her in connection with the violence that broke out in Panchkula August 25, when Ram Rahim was declared guilty of rape by a special CBI court. -- ANI

As the railways investigates the Elphinstone Road station stampede, a student survivor has told the inquiry panel that a flower vendor's cry of "phool gir gaya (flowers have fallen)" being mistaken as "pul gir gaya (the bridge has fallen)" might have set off the panic.

However, a senior railway official said they were yet to ascertain if this was the sole cause of the mishap.

On September 29, a massive crowd of morning rush hour commuters had stampeded on the stairwell of a narrow foot overbridge at the station, leaving 23 dead and more than 30 injured.

The Western Railway on Tuesday launched an inquiry into the circumstances leading to the stampede on the overbridge, where vendors selling their flowers and other products are a common sight.

"A woman injured in the stampede told the inquiry panel yesterday that a flower vendor uttered the words 'phool gir gaya', which others mistook for 'pul gir gaya," a senior Western Railway official said.

She told the inquiry panel that this set off panic among the crowd of people on the stair and they started running, trampling one another, Western Railway's chief spokesperson Ravindra Bhakar said.

The 19-year-old woman, who was going to Vile Parle for her coaching classes, got stuck on staircase. She survived the stampede with some injuries and admitted to the KEM hospital in Parel and later discharged, he said.

Bhakar, however, said it was too early to conclude that this was the sole reason for the tragedy. "We will try to get detailed accounts of other injured passengers, locals who rescued them and witnesses as a part of our in-depth inquiry."

He also said the panel will ascertain if the stampede occurred after some rumours were spread.

Quoting the woman, another railway official said, "After people mistook the word 'phool' for 'pul', they panicked and jostled with other to reach the top of the FOB. A few passengers had fallen on the woman but she managed to rescue herself and come out of the bridge."

However, some other survivors had claimed that a short circuit led to a panic among the people crammed on the narrow bridge which resulted in the stampede. -- PTI

16:22 Rajnish Kumar appointed new SBI chairman

Rajnish Kumar, Managing Director of State Bank of India, was appointed the next chairman of the largest public sector bank today.

He will succeed Arundhati Bhattacharya, who is at present serving her one-year extension, that ends on Friday.

The appointments committee of the cabinet has approved the appointment of Kumar for a period of three years from October 7, according to an order issued by the department of personnel and training.

Jailed All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader VK Sasikala's husband, M Natarajan, has undergone liver and kidney transplant, her relative and sidelined party member TTV Dinakaran said today.

Natarajan had been undergoing treatment at a corporate hospital for the past few days.

"I have received information that the liver and kidney transplant surgery has been performed on uncle," Dinakaran told reporters in Chennai before leaving for the hospital where 74-year-old Natarajan is admitted.

Sasikala had sought a 15-day parole from the Karnataka Prisons authorities to meet Natarajan but the plea was rejected on technical grounds.

Confirming the news, Dinakaran said that he was informed by their advocate that her plea for parole had been "rejected due to insufficient details."

"If she seeks parole properly (with required documents) again, I am sure she will get it," he added.

When asked if Sasikala would stay at Poes Garden residence of late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa if released on parole, Dinakaran said, "Let her come first," and asked where would the scribe who posed the question wanted Sasikala to put up.

Sasikala had continued to stay at the Poes Garden residence even after Jayalalithaa's demise last December.

She proceeded from there to Bengaluru in February to surrender before a local court after the Supreme Court upheld a lower court judgement sentencing her to four years in jail in the Rs 66.6-crore disproportionate assets case. -- PTI

15:49

JUST IN: Honeypreet Insan sent to six day police remand by Panchkula court

15:44 President keeps out media on maiden foreign tour

In keeping with the NDA government's media policy, President Ram Nath Kovind, who embarked on his maiden foreign visit yesterday, is not taking along members of the Fourth Estate on the presidential aircraft, unlike his predecessors Pranab Mukherjee, Pratibha Patil and APJ Abdul Kalam who would take along a 25-member media delegation in the special aircraft.

With the President and prime minister now keeping the media out, all eyes are on what Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, who is known to be media-friendly, will do when he goes abroad.

Will he breach the official policy or stick to only official media like Doordarshan and AIR?

Watch this space!

The 2017 Nobel Prize in Chemistry is awarded to Jacques Dubochet, Joachim Frank and Richard Henderson.

The trio won the prestigious prize "for developing cryo-electron microscopy for the high-resolution structure determination of biomolecules in solution"

According to Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences press release, "This method has moved biochemistry into a new era."

Electron microscopes were long believed to only be suitable for imaging dead matter, because the powerful electron beam destroys biological material. But in 1990, Richard Henderson succeeded in using an electron microscope to generate a three-dimensional image of a protein at atomic resolution. This breakthrough proved the technologys potential.

Joachim Frank made the technology generally applicable. Between 1975 and 1986 he developed an image processing method in which the electron microscopes fuzzy two dimensional images are analysed and merged to reveal a sharp three-dimensional structure.

Jacques Dubochet added water to electron microscopy. Liquid water evaporates in the electron microscopes vacuum, which makes the biomolecules collapse. In the early 1980s, Dubochet succeeded in vitrifying water he cooled water so rapidly that it solidified in its liquid form around a biological sample, allowing the biomolecules to retain their natural shape even in a vacuum.

Photograph: @NobelPrize/Twitter

Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa reviewed the security challenges facing the country, including the situation along the Line of Control, with top commanders during a marathon meeting in Islamabad, a media

report said today.

A special Corps Commanders Conference held yesterday continued for seven hours, according to security officials, the Dawn reported.

But in a rare move, the army's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations did not issue any official statement following the marathon special meeting of top military commanders, the report said.

The meeting focused on the visit of General Bajwa to Kabul where he met Afghan leadership in order to remove misunderstandings and restore trust, sources were quoted as saying by the report.

The situation at the Line of Control and continuous unprovoked firing by Indian security forces was also discussed, it said.

The conference denied to give a befitting response to the firing by Indian troops targeting the civilian population, the report said.

The situation in Kashmir was also discussed and the meeting agreed to continue the diplomatic and political support for the Kashmiris' struggle for their right of self-determination, it said. -- PTI

15:25 BSF warns Pak to behave in Kashmir valley

Border Security Force Director General K K Sharma on Wednesday issued a veiled warning to Pakistan to stop its acts of aggression in the Kashmir Valley.

"As long as our friendly neighbour does not behave, I think we will expect to have many more attacks," Sharma told media after participating in the wreath laying ceremony for BSF officer B K Yadav who was martyred in Tuesday's attack on a Border Security Force camp near Srinagar airport.

"We think the terrorists were targeting arms and ammunition stored at the BSF camp," Sharma said.

Praising BSF personnel for averting a tragedy, he said, "A serious attack was averted by our boys. It is an example of the BSF's discipline, training, and bravery."

"Fidayeens cannot be stopped from coming, so the response is important; Without causing collateral damage and without causing much harm to our own forces, we were able to neutralise. BSF has done a good job," Sharma added.

On Tuesday, three militants entered the 182nd Batallion of the Border Security Force camp near the Srinagar Airport outside the Air Force station Gogo Humhama at 4:15 a.m. -- ANI

14:48 RBI cuts growth outlook, not interest rate

Just In: RBI keeps interest rate unchanged at 6 per cent, but cuts economic growth forecast to 6.7 per cent from earlier projections of 7.3 pc.

14:12 ICMR chief appointed to WHOs 2nd post

The director general of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Soumya Swaminathan, has been appointed as the deputy director general of programmes of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Swaminathan is the daughter of MS Swaminathan, the acclaimed geneticist and father of green revolution, and she would be holding the second-highest position in the global body.

She would be working under Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus who took over this July.

The 58-year-old Swaminathan is a paediatrician and a clinical scientist, known for her research on tuberculosis.

She was earlier the director of the National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis, Chennai.

Swaminathan will be the deputy director general for programmes (DDP) and Jane Ellison will be the deputy director general for corporate operations (DDC), said the WHO director general, while announcing his senior leadership team today.

Swaminathan has served as the director general of the ICMR, an apex body in India for biomedical research, for over two years now.

The Union Cabinet today gave its ex-post facto approval to the renaming of Kandla Port in Gujarat as Deendayal Port.

The Kandla port, one of the top 12 major ports in the country, had been rechristened as Deendayal Port in the name of Hindutva icon Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, the government had said last week.

"The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval to the renaming of Kandla Port as Deendayal Port," an official statement said.

Ports in India are generally named after the city or town in which these are located, it said, adding that the government, in special cases, after due consideration have renamed ports after great leaders in the past.

By renaming the Kandla port as Deendayal Port, a "grateful nation would be remembering the invaluable contributions made by one of the greatest sons of India, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya", the statement said.

This will inspire people of Gujarat, particularly the youth, who may not be fully aware of the contributions made by the great leader, the statement added.

Petrol price was today cut by Rs 2.5 per litre and diesel by Rs 2.25 following the reduction in excise duty on auto fuels.

Petrol in Delhi now costs Rs 68.38 a litre, down from Rs 70.88. A litre of diesel now comes for Rs 56.89 as against Rs 59.14 previously, according to Indian Oil Corp, the nation's largest fuel retailer.

The government had yesterday cut excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs 2 per litre each to moderate the relentless rise in fuel prices over the last three months.

IOC Director (Finance) A K Sharma said the cut in retail selling price is higher after factoring in its impact on VAT.

As things stand, excise duty is levied on fuel produced ex-refinery. Local sales tax or VAT is levied on the total of ex-refinery cost plus excise duty and commission paid to dealers.

So, till yesterday the VAT on petrol in Delhi was Rs 15.07 while today it stands at Rs 14.54. On diesel, VAT today is Rs 8.41 per litre as against Rs 8.73 previously.

The excise duty cut paused the relentless rise in rates witnessed since July 4. While petrol prices had increased by Rs 7.8 to reach Rs 70.88 a litre in Delhi yesterday, the highest since August 2014, diesel rates had risen by Rs 5.7 to touch an all-time high of Rs 59.14.

The excise duty cut would cost the government Rs 26,000 crore in annual revenue and about Rs 13,000 crore during the remaining part of the current fiscal year that ends on March 31, 2018, the government had said yesterday.

The government, which had between November 2014 and January 2016 raised excise duty on petrol and diesel on nine occasions to take away gains arising from plummeting global oil prices, has been criticised for not cutting excise duty despite a sustained rise in fuel prices since early July. -- PTI

Former finance minister P Chidambaram's son Karti Chidambaram on Wednesday moved the Supreme Court against the summons issued by the Central Bureau of Investigation in connection with Aircel Maxis case.

On September 27, the CBI had summoned Karti to appear before it on October 4.

Earlier, the Enforcement Directorate had attached assets, bank accounts and fixed deposits worth Rs 90 lakh of Karti in the case.

During investigation, the ED found that the Foreign Investment Promotion Board approval given by P Chidambaram in Aircel-Maxis deal was beyond his mandate.

The law enforcement agency, in its investigation, also found that the amount for the FIPB approval was wrongly projected to conceal the facts.

It also found that the company promoted by Karti and his cousin allegedly received two lakh dollars from Maxis Group in guise of software consultancy. -- ANI

More than a month after a special CBI court sentenced Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh to 20 years in jail for raping two of his disciples, the two women have now moved the high court demanding greater punishment for the Dera Sacha Sauda chief.

The two rape survivors filed a petition in the Punjab and Haryana high court today, seeking life imprisonment for Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in the case.

On August 28, special CBI judge Jagdeep Singh sentenced Ram Rahim to 20 years in jail in two rape cases.

The Dera chief is now serving his sentence as Qaidi number 1997 at Rohtak's Sunaria jail.

His aide, Honeypreet Insan who was absconding for the last 38 days surrendered before the police on Tuesday.

12:11 Satya Pal Malik sworn in as Bihar Governor

Senior BJP leader Satya Pal Malik was today sworn in as the Governor of Bihar at the Raj Bhavan in Patna.

The post had fallen vacant after Ram Nath Kovind was nominated as BJP's presidential candidate and West Bengal Governor K N Tripathi had been holding the additional charge of Bihar during the interim period.

Malik was administered the oath of office by Chief Justice of the Patna high court Justice Rajendra Menon, in presence of a host of dignitaries including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, state legislative assembly Speaker Vijay Chaudhary and legislative council Chairman Awadhesh Narain Singh.

Hailing from Baghpat district in western Uttar Pradesh, Malik is a law graduate and he began his political career in the 1970s as a member of the UP state legislative Assembly.

He got elected from Aligarh Lok Sabha constituency on a Janata Dal ticket in 1989. He also served as a member of the Rajya Sabha for two terms.

Uttar Pradesh Cheif Minister Yogi Adityanath arrived in Kerala's Kannur today to take part in Jana Raksha Yatra over killing of Bharatiya Janata Party, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh workers in the state.

The saffron-robed Yogi landed at Keecheri and began his yatra on foot.

Adityanath said that he has come to oppose the atmosphere of terror.

"There is no space for violence in a democracy. Yet murders are happening in Kerala on a regular basis as innocent people belonging to BJP and allied organisations are being killed," he said.

"An atmosphere of terror has been created in Kerala. Every Indian must oppose it. I too have come to do so," he added.

BJP's Hindutva face, Adityanath is expected to raise the pitch of the party's attack on the Communist Party of India Marxist-led Left Democratic Front government

On Tuesday, BJP chief Amit Shah set off on a 15-day foot march to protest the CPI-M's alleged violence against workers of his party.

He was later joined by a large numbers of supporters as he walked over nine kilometres, blaming the ruling CPI-M for "political murders" of BJP and RSS workers.

Kate Winslet is set to star in James Cameron's Avatar sequels, reuniting with the director two decades after they collaborated on Titanic.

The four sequels will hit theaters starting on December 18, 2020 for Avatar 2. Avatar 3 will open on December 17, 2021, followed by a three-year break for Avatar 4, set for December 20, 2024.

Avatar 5 will then debut on December 19, 2025, reported Variety.

"Kate and I have been looking for something to do together for 20 years, since our collaboration on Titanic, which was one of the most rewarding of my career. I can't wait to see her bring the character of Ronal to life," Cameron said.

Cameron began filming the first of the four Fox movies last week in California. He first announced plans for four films in 2016.

Cameron and Jon Landau are producing through their Lightstorm Entertainment company. The returning stars include Zoe Saldana, Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, CCH Pounder, and Stephen Lang, with Game of Thrones star Oona Chaplin recently joining the cast.

The script was written by Cameron with Josh Friedman, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, and Shane Salerno.

In yet another ceasefire violation, Pakistan today resorted to heavy firing and mortar shelling on forward posts and civilian areas along Line of Control in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Indian Army retaliated with full force to the Pakistan's misadventure.

On Tuesday, an army jawan was killed as Pakistani forces violated the ceasefire.

Two minors were killed and 12 civilians injured on Monday in cross-border shelling by Pakistan along the LoC in Poonch district.

Five children were among the injured, the youngest being five-year-old Zobia Kousar, who was airlifted to a hospital in Jammu.

Representative image

Country singer Jason Aldean announced that he would be cancelling his weekend shows after shooting at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival in Las Vegas.

Aldean was performing on stage when the shooting occurred killing at least 59 people. Over 500 concert-goers were injured.

"I feel like out of respect for the victims, their families and our fans, it is the right thing to do. It has been an emotional time for everyone involved this week, so we plan to take some time to mourn the ones we have lost and be close with our family and friends," Aldean said in a statement posted to his website and Twitter.

Aldean also gave a shout out his friends and fans for their support.

"I want to say thank you for the outpouring of love from my friends and fans we have received over the last couple days. You guys have no idea how much you have helped us get through this tough time." -- PTI

The Tamil Film Producers Council has decided not to release new Tamil movies from Friday in protest against the levy of 10 per cent local body tax.

Noting that film producers were facing difficulties after the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax from July 1, the council in a statement said the announcement of levying an additional 10 per cent local body tax has come as a 'shock' to the industry. There's been a 28 per cent GST on films.

"The council has already expressed its stand on the issue during various meetings with government officials," it said.

Without regularising the entrance tickets for a long time, charging 10 per cent local body tax would lead to confusion among film producers, it said.

The council said it decided in a meeting on Tuesday to request the government to withdraw the local body tax, and also that no new Tamil movie would be released from Friday.

Theatres across the state had remained shut for a few days following the implementation of GST in July. They opened following a request by the government and the announcement to form a committee to look into their demands.

09:17 Pak's ISI runs its own foreign policy: US

Pakistan's intelligence agency, Inter-Services Intelligence has connections with terrorist groups and runs its own foreign policy, a top United States General said.

Pakistan has denied the US' allegations, which could possibly be the strongest indictment of the support that the Pakistan's spy agency provides to terrorist groups.

India and Afghanistan have also been time and again charging their neighbour Pakistan with similar allegations.

"I think it's clear to me that the ISI has connections with terrorist groups," General Joseph Dunford, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff told members of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee during a Congressional hearing. He was responding to a question from Senator Joe Donnelly.

Donnelly had asked Dunford if he thought the ISI was still helping the Taliban.

Over the past several years, Dunford said, the US has had a bilateral approach to trying to effect a change in Pakistan's behaviour.

He, however, added he does not think that there is one thing that would change Pakistan's behaviour.

Dunford hoped that a multilateral approach might help in bringing changes in Pakistan's behaviour.

The top American general was joined by his Defence Secretary Jim Mattis in slamming the ISI.

"We have seen havens left to the terrorists' own devices. We have seen the government of Pakistan come down on terrorism, while ISI appears to run its own foreign policy," Mattis said acknowledging for the first time in public domain that ISI runs its own policy and does not seem to be controlled by the federal government. -- PTI

Honeypreet Insan, the adopted daughter of convicted Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, is likely to be produced in Haryana's Panchkula court today.

After a hunt for over a month, she was arrested on Tuesday by the Haryana Police from Zirakpur-Patiala road in Punjab in connection with the violence that followed the sect head's conviction.

After the arrest, she was taken to the Civil Hospital in Panchkula, for a medical examination.

Honeypreet tops the list of 43 people 'wanted' by the Haryana Police in connection with the incidents of violence that left 41 people dead and several injured following Gurmeet Ram Rahim's conviction in rape case.

For almost 40 days, Haryana Police were tracking leads on Honeypreet in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. -- ANI

08:44 Pakistan appoints new navy chief

Pakistan on Tuesday appointed Vice Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi as new Chief of Naval Staff to replace Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah who will retire on October 6.

According to a statement by the Prime Minister's House, President Mamnoon Hussain approved the appointment of Abbasi on the advice of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

Abbasi will stand promoted to the rank of Admiral from the date he assumes charge of the office of the Chief of the Naval Staff.

In Pakistan all services chiefs are appointed by the president at the recommendation of the prime minister who has final say in such appointments. -- PTI

Pakistan can have strong economic benefits from India if it finds a way to carry out its international responsibilities and brings an end to any kind of safe haven on its soil, a top US official told lawmakers.

Defence Secretary Jim Mattis today told members of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee that the administration is being very clear and firm in what it expects from Pakistan and is using all aspects of the government to bring about the change, working internationally.

This comes weeks after President Donald Trump announced his South Asia policy in which he adopted a tough policy against Pakistan.

"There are a number of lines of effort being put together now in Secretary of Treasury's office, Secretary of State's office, my own office, the intel agencies. We are also working with Secretary General Stoltenberg to ensure that NATO's equities are brought to bear," Mattis said responding to a question on why would Pakistan change its mind on terrorist safe havens this time.

Certainly, India has a role to play as a neighbour, and potentially a very strong economic benefit to Pakistan, if Pakistan can find a way to carry out its international responsibilities and end any kind of safe haven inside their

country, he noted.

"There's a great deal that Pakistan can benefit economically, diplomatically, financially for its government; economically for its people; by finally sensing that the tide has shifted against this," Mattis said.

He said that the Trump administration believes that it would be highly difficult to sustain any stabilisation in South Asia, not just in Afghanistan, but certainly anywhere around Pakistan and India unless safe havens are removed.

Mattis was responding to questions from lawmakers who wanted to know why the administration believes that Pakistan will change its behaviour this time.

Trump has said that he would change the US approach to Pakistan, which continues to harbour militants and terrorists who target US service members and officials, said Senator John McCain, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

"But we still do not know what specific steps the United States will take to convince or compel Pakistan to change its behaviour, or what costs we will impose if Pakistan fails to do so," McCain said.

Indeed, McCain said it is unclear to him if the administration believes any step or series of steps the United States might take will lead Pakistan to cease its support and sanctuary for certain terrorist groups, which has been a "feature of" its national security policy for decades. -- PTI

The Trump administration today threw its weight behind India's opposition to the China- Pakistan Economic Corridor, saying it passes through a disputed territory and no country should put itself into a position of dictating the Belt and Road initiative.

India skipped the Belt and Road Forum in May this year due to its sovereignty concerns over the nearly USD 60 billion CPEC, a flagship project of China's prestigious One Belt One Road, which passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Having returned from his maiden trip to India last week wherein he met his counterpart Nirmala Sitharaman and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, United States Defence Secretary Jim Mattis today appeared to be a strong opponent of China's ambitious OBOR initiative.

"In a globalised world, there are many belts and many roads, and no one nation should put itself into a position of dictating 'one belt, one road'," Mattis told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee during a Congressional hearing.

"That said, the One Belt One Road also goes through disputed territory, and I think, that in itself shows the vulnerability of trying to establish that sort of a dictate," Mattis said apparently referring to India's position on CPEC.

Mattis was responding to a question from Senator Charles Peters over OBOR and China's policy in this regard.

"The One Belt One Road strategy seeks to secure China's control over both the continental and the maritime interest, in their eventual hope of dominating Eurasia and exploiting natural resources there, things that are certainly at odds with US policy. So what role do you see China playing in Afghanistan, and particularly related to their One Belt One Road," Peter had asked. -- PTI

Image: US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis met Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to India on September 26, 2017. Photograph: PIB

Voicing concern over "economic slowdown" and unemployment under the Modi regime, NCP chief Sharad Pawar today said the current situation of the country was a result of taking steps like demonetisation and GST roll-out without adequate preparedness.

He also took a dim view of the Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet

train project, Pawar said technology and modernisation should

be feasible.

"I think a bullet train is required between Mumbai and Delhi or Delhi and Kolkata or Mumbai and Chennai. A bullet train between Mumbai and Ahmedabad is impractical. I do not know what is the purpose behind this bullet train. Maharashtra has barely got 4 stations (to be touched by the bullet train), while the maximum stops are in Gujarat. But, Maharashtra has to contribute equal finance in the project," he said.

The NCP leader, however, hastened to add that he was not against benefits to Gujarat, but only wanted to point out that the project would not benefit Maharashtra.

"Instead, the government should have taken steps to improve railway services in Mumbai and Maharashtra," he said.

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