LIVE! Anil Ambani files Rs 5,000 cr defamation suit against National Herald

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Sat, 25 August 2018

Anil Ambani files Rs 5,000 cr defamation suit against National Herald

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20:47 Anil Ambani files Rs 5,000 cr defamation suit against National Herald

Anil Ambani's Reliance Group companies have filed a Rs 5,000-crore defamation suit against Congress-owned 'National Herald', claiming an article published in the newspaper regarding the Rafale fighter deal was "libellous and derogatory".

The civil defamation suit was filed by Reliance Defence, Reliance Infrastructure and Reliance Aerostructure, which belong to Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group, against the Associated Journals Limited, the publisher of the National Herald, its editor in-charge Zafar Agha, and author of the article, Vishwadeepak.

The suit was filed in the court of city civil and sessions judge P J Tamakuwala, who issued notices to the respondents and sought replies by September 7.

In the suit, the companies alleged the article titled 'Anil Ambani floated Reliance Defence 10 days before Modi announced Rafale deal' was libellous and defamatory, and it "misleads the general public to believe that undue business favours are being extended to them by the government of the day".

The article conveys a "negative image" and "adversely affects the public perception" of Reliance Group and its chairman Ambani, the petition said.

It has caused "considerable damage" to reputation and goodwill of plaintiff firms, it said, seeking damages of Rs 5,000 crore.

The plaintiffs "vehemently" deny the content of the article, the petition said.

Earlier, Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group had sent legal notices to several Congress leaders, asking them to "cease and desist" from levelling such allegations against the company in connection with Rafale deal.

-- PTI

PepsiCo's India-born CEO Indra Nooyi will be honoured with the Game Changer of the Year award by a global cultural organisation in recognition of her business achievements, humanitarian record and advocacy for women and girls around the world.

The 2018 Asia Game Changer Awards will be given in October to individuals and institutions who have broken barriers, defined courage, worked miracles, and in turn inspired their fellow citizens of the world.

"Indra Nooyi is truly a transformational leader,"said Asia Society President and CEO Josette Sheeran. In my United Nations work, I have witnessed firsthand her humanitarian leadership, as she steered Pepsi's life-saving collaboration with the United Nations on food, nutrition, global water, climate, and women's empowerment issues.

Nooyi leads a group of other revolutionary women as Asia Society's Game Changers at a time when their issues and voices are at the forefront of public discourse: the Afghan Girls Robotics Team who has made waves at international robotics competitions; and Mira Rai, a record-shattering runner from a small village in Nepal, who is also an inspiration for millions of girls and young women.

Nooyi, who this month announced she would be stepping down as CEO of PepsiCo after 12 years at the helm, has driven one of the world's most iconic global companies into the future, leading the way when it comes to delivering strong financial performance, while making more nutritious products and advancing women's access and excellence in Asia and around the world.

-- PTI

20:03 Sukhbir slams Rahul over remarks on 1984 riots

Shiromani Akali Dal today hit out at Congress president Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on 1984 anti-Sikh riots, saying by disagreeing with the view that his party was involved in the "genocide", he had "rubbed salt into the wounds" of the Sikh community.

However, the Congress's Punjab unit defended Gandhi's comments and lambasted the Akalis, alleging they were "deliberately distorting" his remarks to divert public attention after being "exposed" of their role in Bargari sacrilege and subsequent killing of innocent Sikhs protesting the sacrilege in Kotkapura.

Describing the 1984 anti-Sikh riots a "very painful tragedy", Gandhi, who is on a two-day visit to the UK, said, "I have no confusion in my mind about that. It was a tragedy, it was a painful experience. You say that the Congress party was involved in that, I don't agree with that. Certainly there was violence, certainly there was tragedy."

Lashing out at the Congress president, SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal alleged that Gandhi was trying to protect those Congress leaders who were involved in the "genocide".

"Rahul Gandhi has rubbed salt into the wounds of Sikh 'quom' (community) by saying that Congress was not involved in 1984 anti Sikh riots," Badal told reporters here today, adding, "It shows the thinking of Gandhi towards Sikh community."

"I want to ask Rahul (Gandhi) if Congress leaders were not involved in the anti-Sikh riots then why it withdrew tickets given to party leaders HKL Bhagat, Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar. Why was Jagdish Tytler removed from the ministry in the Manmohan Singh-led government," he asked.

Meanwhile, Congress leaders and Punjab ministers defended party president Rahul Gandhi over the statement he made in London.

-- PTI

Air India on Saturday dismissed as fake a letter announcing that the airlines would be shut down by October this year, calling it a false propaganda hatched by anti-nationals.

In a tweet on Saturday, Air India said the fake message masquerading as notification was false.

This is absolutely incorrect and false propaganda hatched with a malicious intent to create confusion and destabilise Air India just when our performance graph is rising, the release read.

It added that such hoax messages should be ignored and strict legal action was being planned against perpetrators of such anti-national acts.

The clarification comes after a false notification dated August 25 said the airlines would be shut down this year. It had further asked employees to search for other jobs, causing panic and confusion.

The state-run carrier has been plagued by a string of problems, including delay in salaries to employees and burgeoning debt of more than Rs 48,000 crore. The government had tried to sell 76 per cent stake in the national carrier in May but failed to attract any buyer.

19:10 Quit AAP on personal grounds: Ashish Khetan

Journalist-turned-politician Ashish Khetan, who is the latest to join the list of leaders who stepped down from the Aam Aadmi Party, has said that he parted ways from the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led party on personal grounds.

Khetan resigned from the party on August 22. Kejriwal, however, is yet to accept it.

On being asked if he is joining any other party, Khetan asserted that he has no such plans. Khetan said that he is planning to practice law fulltime. "I am unable to devote my time and efforts for the uplifment of the party as I have joined the Bar Council. I don't want to continue with the organisation just for name sake."

"Early this year I made my decision to quit active politics after much deliberation and in consultation with family and close friends. However, since both the party and the government were beset with a series of crises, I waited for an opportune time to formalise my decision. I had also informed the party leadership about my decision, on more than one occasion," he added.

Kehtan's resignation came a few days after Ashutosh, who was one of the founding members of the AAP quit the party. Both the leaders, Khetan and Ashutosh, shared a good rapport with Kejriwal.

Khetan stepped into the world of politics in 2014 by joining AAP. He also fought 2014 general elections from New Delhi against Bharatiya Janata Party's Meenakshi Lekhi but lost by a margin of 1,62,708 votes.

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram today came out in support of his party president's comment on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and said Rahul Gandhi cannot be held responsible for something that took place when he was 13-14 years.

Chidambaram said former prime minister Manmohan Singh had apologised in Parliament as had former party chief Sonia Gandhi for the "terrible thing" (anti-Sikh riots) that took place when the Congress was in power.

Rahul Gandhi, who is on a two-day visit to the UK, had told an audience of UK-based parliamentarians and local leaders in London on Friday that the incident was a "very painful tragedy", but disagreed with the view that the Congress was involved.

Chidambaram said, "Congress was in office in 1984, nobody is denying that. A very terrible thing happened in 1984 for which Dr Manmohan Singh has apologised in Parliament. We are not saying that the Congress is absolved. Mrs (Sonia) Gandhi has also apologised and on numerous occasion, some of us have also said what happened in 1984 was a terrible thing."

"Now, you can't hold Rahul Gandhi responsible for that - he was 13 or 14 years of age then... He has not absolved anyone. What Rahul Gandhi has said is there is on the AICC website. The full text is there you can have a look at it, please read it," the former finance minister said.

Rahul Gandhi had also said he was "100 per cent" for the punishment for those involved in any violence against any body.

-- PTI

In a major decision, the defence ministry today gave its nod to acquisition of 111 utility helicopters for the Navy at a cost of over Rs 21,000 crore besides approving separate procurement proposals worth nearly Rs 25,000 crore, according to officials.

A meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council the ministry's highest decision-making body on procurement, cleared the proposals.

The procurement of the naval utility helicopters will be the first project under the ambitious strategic partnership (SP) model which provides for roping in private firm to build select military platforms in India in partnership with foreign defence manufacturers.

"The DAC, in a landmark decision today, approved procurement of 111 Utility Helicopters for the Indian Navy at a cost of over Rs 21,000 crore," the Defence Ministry said.

The utility helicopters will be used in attack missions as well as for search and rescue and surveillance operations.

The ministry said the DAC also granted approval to a few other procurement proposals amounting to Rs 24,879.16 crore, which included one on buying 150 indigenously designed and developed 155 mm advanced towed artillery gun systems for the Indian Army at an approximate cost of Rs 3,364.78 crore.

-- PTI

The Pope has spoken of his pain and shame at the failure of church authorities to tackle the grave scandal of clerical abuse in Ireland.

On the first day of his historic Irish visit, the pontiff said people had a right to be outraged at the response of senior figures in the Catholic Church to the repellent crimes inflicted on young people.

In a speech at Dublin Castle, he also expressed hope that remaining obstacles to reconciliation in Northern Ireland could be overcome.

With the reverberations of a litany of church sex abuse scandals casting a shadow over the first papal visit to Ireland in almost 40 years, Francis confronted the issue in his address inside the castles St Patricks Hall.

With regard to the most vulnerable, I cannot fail to acknowledge the grave scandal caused in Ireland by the abuse of young people by members of the church charged with responsibility for their protection and education, he said.

The failure of ecclesiastical authorities bishops, religious superiors, priests and others adequately to address these repellent crimes has rightly given rise to outrage and remains a source of pain and shame for the Catholic community.

I myself share those sentiments.

17:24

JUST IN: G Satheesh Reddy appointed Defence Research and Development Organisation chief

17:08 'Finishing work on Patel's statue to be completed by Oct 25'

he finishing work on Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's gigantic statue in Narmada district of Gujarat would be over by October 25, an official press release said.

The state government had earlier said the 182-metre tall statue will be inaugurated on Sardar Patel's birth anniversary on October 31 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and deputy chief minister Nitin Patel today visited the site of the statue, to be called

`Statue of Unity', to take stock of the work.

The statue is being built on Sadhu Bet, a small island in the river Narmada, one km from the Sardar Sarovar Dam.

The chief minister was informed that the work of the inner steal and bronze structures will be completed by September 10 and October 20, respectively, while finishing work will be done by October 25, the press release said.

The statue is being built at a cost of Rs 1,989 crore.

-- PTI

Countering charges levelled by liquor baron Vijay Mallya that condition in Mumbai's Arthur Road Jail are "inhuman", the Central Bureau of Investigation submitted a video in London's Westminster Magistrates' Court showing proper natural light in the Cell Number 12, where the absconding businessman will be lodged after extradition.

The central probe agency submitted a 10-minute long video footage before the UK court earlier this week. The video recording was submitted following an earlier request by the Westminster Magistrate's Court to compile a detailed video of barrack 12 after Mallya complained about conditions of the Indian jail.

Mallya's lawyers in the court on July 31 debated on the condition of toilet and natural light in Arthur Road Jail. The final submissions in Mallya trial has been postponed till September 12.

His defence claimed that he would not face a fair trial if returned to India and would be subjected to "inhuman" conditions if kept in the Arthur Road Jail.

In submissions to the court, the Indian authorities outlined that there would be adequate toilet and washing facilities, including private separate toilet - including a Western Commode - and washing facilities that would be regularly cleaned.

The government also reassured the court that Mallya would be provided with adequate bedding - including regularly cleaned bed linen and pillows.

-- ANI

16:15

Congress gears up for 2019 Lok Sabha polls, forms 9-member core group panel, 19-member manifesto committee, 13-member publicity committee.

15:47 'No proposal to rename Ramlila Maidan after Vajpayee'

The North Delhi Municipal Corporation said today that there was no proposal to rename Ramlila Maidan after former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, even as Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the matter.

Citing a news report on the proposed renaming, Kejriwal tweeted, "Changing name of Ramlila Maidan etc after Vajpayeeji will not fetch votes. BJP should change the name of the Prime Minister to get some votes because people are not voting on his name."

Dismissing the news report, North Delhi Mayor Adesh Gupta said that there was no such proposal.

"There is no proposal to rename Ramlila Maidan after Vajpayeeji. All reports suggesting so are wrong," he said.

Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari also claimed that there was no proposal to change the name of Ramlila Ground.

"Some politically motivated people are creating the rumour that name of Ramlila Maidan will be changed. We are worshippers of Lord Ram, there is no question of changing name of Ramlila Maidan," Tiwari said.

The mayor denied that some NDMC councillors approached the civic body or his office with a suggestion to rename the ground after Vajpayee.

"No councillor has even made any such suggestion," Gupta said.

The historic Ramlila Maidan located close to the New Delhi railway station serves as a venue of political rallies and other events, besides hosting Ramleela every year.

-- PTI

Continuing with their annual ritual, members of the Muslim Women Foundation in Varanasi are making rakhis for Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan which falls on Sunday.

Nazima Ansari, one of the MWF members said, "The Muslim women from our foundation living in Varanasi had first sent rakhi to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji in 2013. Since then, this ritual has been continuing."

Ansari said that the women at the MWF consider him as an elder brother and father-like figure. She said, "We consider Narendra Modi-ji as an elder brother and father-like figure. Hence, like every year, we are sending him rakhi this year too with a hope that he would continue to protect us and help us at the time of need."

-- ANI

Dubai-based Emirates SkyCargo will carry flood relief cargo of more than 175 tonnes to Kerala, which is reeling under the flood fury from the past couple of weeks.

The airline company is expected to send over more than a dozen flights to transport the relief goods, which have been donated by scores of organisations and UAE-based businesses, to Thiruvananthapuram -- the nearest online Emirates station to the areas which are most affected by the heavy downpour and flooding.

This development came after the Emirates Airline took to their official Twitter handle on Friday and wrote, "Emirates SkyCargo joins the UAE community in their support of the people of Kerala, India by transporting over 175 tons of flood relief cargo.#UAEsupportsKerala."

The goods, including blankets, lifesaving boats and dry food products, will be given to the local organisations which are undertaking several ground-level measures in order to provide relief to victims in the flood-stricken Kerala.

14:37 Lalu Yadav arrives in Patna

Former Bihar CM Lalu Prasad Yadav arrives in Patna after he was discharged from Mumbai's Asian Heart Institute.

The Jharkhand high court on Friday refused to extend the provisional bail of fodder scam convict Yadav and asked him to surrender by August 30 before the Central Bureau of Investigation court.

Hearing the prayer for extension of provisional bail for three months on grounds that the Rashtriya Janata Dal leader needed to undergo treatment, Justice Apresh Kumar Singh asked Prasad to surrender by August 30 before the CBI court and directed the state government to provide medical care whenever needed.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi has described the 1984 anti-Sikh riots as a "very painful tragedy" and said he was "100 per cent" for the punishment for those involved in any violence against anybody.

Nearly 3,000 Sikhs were killed in the riots in 1984 following the assassination of former prime minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards when the Congress government was in power at the Centre.

Gandhi, who is on a two-day visit to the UK, told the audience of UK-based parliamentarians and local leaders yesterday that the incident was a tragedy and painful experiences, but disagreed with the view that the Congress was "involved".

"I think any violence done against anybody is wrong. There are legal processes ongoing in India but as far as I'm concerned anything done that was wrong during that period should be punished and I would support that 100 per cent," he said.

"I have no confusion in my mind about that. It was a tragedy, it was a painful experience. You say that the Congress party was involved in that, I don't agree with that. Certainly there was violence, certainly there was tragedy."

-- PTI

Stepping up attack on the government over the Rafale fighter jet issue, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram today accused the Centre of ignoring the defence procurement procedure and "bypassing" several committees to secure the deal.

The former finance minister also alleged the Cabinet Committee on Security was not taken into confidence by the government before signing the deal.

"Why was the defence procurement procedure ignored in the Rafale deal... and why were the Contract Negotiation Committee and the Price Negotiation Committee kept in the dark about it? The Cabinet Committee on Security was also not taken into confidence," he told reporters at the Congress office.

He also claimed that there was a huge difference in the price per aircraft secured by the UPA regime and what has now been agreed to by the NDA government.

"The UPA contract priced the Rafale jets at Rs 526 crore per aircraft and the NDA contract priced them at Rs 1,670 crore per aircraft. If these numbers are correct, will someone explain why the prices jumped three times?" he asked.

-- PTI

A day after Nirmala Sitharaman openly blasted Karnataka Minister Sa Ra Mahesh at a press conference in Kodagu, the deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka G Parameshwara tweeted his disapproval saying, "It was disappointing to see you lash out at my colleague." Mr Mahesh on Friday had asked the union defence minister to wind up the press conference at the district commissioner's office, citing lack of time.

"Our ministers have stayed back in Kodagu for weeks to oversee relief operations along with the district administration. You should extend to them the same respect that they extend for the help from your end," the deputy chief minister tweeted.

In an oblique indication that Ms Sitharaman was not the boss because she comes from the centre, Mr Parameshwara said "state governments derive their powers from our Constitution not from the centre... We are not inferior to the centre. We are partners"

Lashing out at Mr Mahesh, Ms Sitharaman yesterday said, "I am following a minute-to-minute programme, minister. If officials are important, my parivaar (family) is also important.... Central minister follows the minister in-charge here. Unbelievable."

The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad, which is investigating the recent seizure of explosives and arms in the state, has arrested one more person from Ghatkopar, an official said today.

Avinash Pawar, 30, was arrested last night and will be produced before a court today, the official added.

According to the ATS, Pawar was involved in the conspiracy to carry out blasts in the state with Vaibhav Raut, Sharad Kalaskar, Sudhanwa Gondhalekar and Shrikant Pangarkar, who were earlier arrested in this case.

Pawar's name cropped up during the interrogation of the arrested accused, the official added.

"We have arrested Pawar under sections 4, 5 of the Explosive Substances Act, read with section 9(B) of the Explosives Act, section 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC and sections 16 (punishment for terrorist act), 18 (conspiracy for terrorist act) and 20 (being a member of terrorist gang) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA)," he said.

The ATS had on August 10 arrested Raut (40), who ran the "Hindu Govansh Raksha Samiti", a little-known pro-cow protection outfit, at Nallasopara in Palghar district.

After Raut's arrest, the ATS had nabbed Kalaskar (25) and Gondhalekar (39), following raids in Palghar and Pune districts. Pangarkar, former Shiv Sena corporator from Jalna, was arrested on August 19.

The ATS had claimed to have recovered 20 crude bombs, two gelatin sticks, four electronic and 22 non-electronic detonators, 150 gms of explosive powder and some other materials, which according to the police, were to be used to trigger blasts at various places in the state.

-- PTI

12:28 On Onam, PM says nation stands with Kerala

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today expressed hope that the festival of Onam will give new strength to the people of Kerala to overcome the advertises in the aftermath of the floods.

He said the country is behind the people of the state.

"May this Onam give further strength to the people of Kerala to overcome the adversities they have been facing for the past few days," he wrote on Twitter.

The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with Kerala and prays for the happiness as well as prosperity of its citizens, he said.

The state has been witnessing its worst floods in a century. Heavy rains and flooding have claimed 231 lives since August 8 in the second spell of the monsoon.

-- PTI

Heartbroken by the catastrophic floods in Kerala, US tech giant Apple on Saturday announced a donation of Rs. 7 crore towards the ongoing relief work.

"We're heartbroken by the catastrophic flooding in Kerala. Apple is donating Rs. 7 crore to support the life-saving work Mercy Corps India and the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund are undertaking to support survivors, help those who have been displaced and rebuild homes and schools," the Cupertino-based iPhone maker said in a statement.

Apple has also added support banners to its home page, along with App Store and iTunes Store, allowing customers to donate to Mercy Corps.

"We have also activated a donation button on iTunes and the App Store so customers who wish to donate to Mercy Corps'' efforts can do so easily," Apple said.

Apple often uses the iTunes Store and App Stores to raise money for donation during major disasters.

US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley has expressed solidarity with those affected by the devastating floods in Kerala, which is facing the deadliest deluge in nearly 100 years.

Unprecedented floods due to incessant rain have created havoc in Kerala, causing immeasurable misery and devastation. As per the official records, since August 8, over 231 people have died and more than 10 lakh have been displaced.

"Our hearts go out to our Indian brothers and sisters in Kerala who have been affected by the worst monsoon and flooding in over 100 years. We send special prayers to those who have lost a loved one and to all the families of the region as they begin to rebuild," Haley said in a message tweeted by the US Mission to the UN.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres' spokesperson had said last week that the United Nations is "saddened" by the loss of life, destruction and displacement caused by severe floods in Kerala and is following the situation very closely.

"Our humanitarian colleagues as well as the country team in India have been following the recent floods very closely. The United Nations is of course saddened by the loss of life, destruction and displacement caused by floods in India," Dujarric had told reporters.

-- PTI

The railways is all set to come up with a revised flexi-fare scheme next month to bring in some relief for passengers, who, in some sectors pay as much as airfares for the premium trains, sources said.

They said the ministry is planning to suspend the scheme temporarily as an experiment during lean months in some identified trains as they are seeing occupancy as low as 30 per cent.

They said another option being considered is revising the scheme as per a formula used in the Humsafar trains in which the first 50 per cent berths will be sold at a 15 per cent higher price than the base price of A/C-3 tear mail and express train tickets.

The slab will go up with every 10 per cent of the berth sold thereafter.

Similarly, the government is also mulling options to bring in special discounts under the scheme in less busy routes.

The final shape for such a move will be announced by next week, an official said as its removal would also lead to refunds for advance bookings.

Recently, a CAG report had come down hard on the railways for the flexi-fare prices and it stated a comparison with airfare for 13 sectors showed that travelling in aeroplane was cheaper than in train for a large number of routes.

In terms of absolute numbers, the premium trains carried 2.40 crore passengers during post-flexi period (September 9, 2016 to July 31, 2017) as compared to 2.47 crore passengers during pre-flexi period (September 9, 2015 to July 31, 2016), said the CAG in its report. -- PTI

11:01 Trump withdraws $200mn aid to Palestine

United States President Donald Trump has ordered the State Department to withdraw $200 million-worth aid which was previously planned for West Bank and Gaza.

"At the direction of the President, we will redirect more than $200 million in FY2017 Economic Support Funds originally planned for programs in the West Bank and Gaza. Those funds will now address high-priority projects elsewhere," a senior State Department official told CNN.

The decision to withdraw the aid comes after Trump ordered a review of 'US assistance to the Palestinian Authority and in the West Bank and Gaza to ensure these funds are spent in accordance with US national interests and provide value to the US taxpayer'.

Condemning the decision, Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) Executive Committee member Hanan Ashrawi said the US administration was 'demonstrating the use of cheap blackmail as a political tool', and added that the Palestinian leadership would not be intimidated by the same.

"There is no glory in constantly bullying and punishing a people under occupation. The US administration has already demonstrated meanness of spirit in its collusion with the Israeli occupation and its theft of land and resources; now it is exercising economic meanness by punishing the Palestinian victims of this occupation," Ashrawi said. -- ANI

Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said that with the blessings of the people of the state, he would once again take over as the Chief Minister of Karnataka.

Addressing a gathering in Hassan on Thursday, Siddaramaiah claimed that the Opposition joined hands to prevent him from becoming the chief minister for the second time, adding that caste and money were seeping into politics.

"I thought people will bless me once again and make me the chief minister. Unfortunately, I lost, but this is not the end. In politics wins and losses are common," he asserted.

After days of high-octane political drama and a floor test in the state assembly for the Bharatiya Janata Party to prove majority, the power to form the state government was vested upon the Congress-Janata Dal-Secular coalition under the leadership of H D Kumaraswamy.

However, reports have surfaced of alleged friction between the two parties of the ruling coalition, especially after the incumbent chief minister said he was swallowing the pain of heading a coalition government. - ANI

09:29 Vajpayee an exemplary statesman: UN chief

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has described former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee as an 'exemplary statesman' during his visit to the India's permanent mission to the United Nations in New York to offer his condolences to the late Bharatiya Janata Party leader.

Vajpayee, one of India's most charismatic leaders and inspirational orators, died on August 16 at the age of 93 in New Delhi.

Guterres, during his visit to the Permanent Mission of India this week, extended his heartfelt condolences to the family of the former prime minister, recalling that he had met Vajpayee during the first India-European Union summit.

The UN chief added that he would always be remembered as an 'exemplary statesman and leader who worked selflessly for peace and development in India and the world', Ambassadors and delegates of several countries, including Peru, Israel, Nigeria, Palestine, Switzerland, Pakistan and Japan, also paid a visit to record their messages in the condolence book.

Atul Khare, the UN under-secretary-general for field support, also expressed his condolences.

Pakistan's delegate wrote that Vajpayee 'contributed to bringing a change in the India-Pakistan relations and remained a key supporter of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation and regional cooperation for development'.

The Consulate General of India also held a 'shradhanjali sabha' (homage meet), where several members of the Indian-American community and officials from other nations paid tributes to Vajpayee. -- PTI

09:22 Pak violates ceasefire along LoC in Poonch

The Pakistan Army violated ceasefire tonight by firing small arms along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, Army sources said.

The Pakistan troops fired on forward posts along the LoC in Poonch sector around 8 pm, they said.

The firing lasted for five minutes, they said, adding that there was no loss of life or injury. -- PTI

Image only for representation.

The Union Health Ministry has approved a grant of over Rs 18 crore under the National Health Mission (NHM) for disbursing to village health, sanitation and nutrition committees in flood-ravaged Kerala.

The ministry had earlier said it is extending all support to the relief measures in the flood-battered state, where 3,757 medical relief camps have been set up.

'Health Ministry approves additional grant of Rs 18.71 crore under #NHM to #Kerala for disbursing to Village Health, Sanitation & Nutrition Committees for #KeralaFloodRelief, as per State request. #SwasthaBharat @JPNadda,' the Ministry's twitter handle said.

As the floodwaters began to recede, people from relief camps started returning to their homes even as over 10.40 lakh of them remain in 2,770 camps across the state.

The heavy rains and flooding has claimed 231 lives since August 8 in the second spell of the monsoon.

Union Health Minister J P Nadda had earlier said no outbreak of communicable disease was reported from the flood-hit districts of Kerala.

The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has issued health advisories to support the state in meeting with post-flood public health management challenges when the threat of water borne, vector borne and viral hepatitis diseases becomes potent.

In a statement issued earlier, the ministry had said 65 metric tonnes of emergency drugs for flood situation were airlifted by the Indian Air Force to Thiruvananthapuram while one crore chlorine tablets were sent and another one crore are in transit.

The total request of four crore chlorine tablets will be met in phases, it had said. The ministry had further mobilised 20 MT of bleaching powder. -- PTI

00:20 Trump calls off Pompeo's North Korea trip

United States President Donald Trump on Friday pulled the plug on a weekend trip to North Korea by his top diplomat, while taking a swipe at China over efforts to disarm the nuclear state.

'I have asked Secretary of State Mike Pompeo not to go to North Korea, at this time, because I feel we are not making sufficient progress with respect to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,' Trump tweeted.

'Additionally, because of our much tougher Trading stance with China, I do not believe they are helping with the process of denuclearization as they once were (despite the UN Sanctions which are in place),' he said in another tweet.

In another tweet, the president added Pompeo would still head to North Korea 'in the near future', saying this would likely occur when the US-China trading relationship is 'resolved'.

'In the meantime I would like to send my warmest regards and respect to Chairman Kim. I look forward to seeing him soon!' Trump said. -- Agencies

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