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Sat, 17 November 2018
C'Garh: Rahul promises farm loan waiver, says money will come from Ambani, Mallya

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20:49   C'Garh: Rahul promises farm loan waiver, says money will come from Ambani, Mallya
Congress president Rahul Gandhi Saturday promised to waive farm loans in Chhattisgarh within 10 days of assuming power in the state and said the money for it would come from the "likes of" Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi and 

Anil Ambani.
 
Stepping up his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over demonetisation ahead of the second and final phase of the Chhattisgarh polls, Gandhi alleged that Modi made the honest people suffer through the 2016 

exercise, but spared the rich.
Addressing a poll rally in Koriya district, he alleged that the prime minister had waived loans worth Rs 3.5 lakh crore of a few rich people, but not those of the poor farmers.
"As soon as the Congress forms the government here, Modiji, you count 10 days. The Congress will waive the loans of each farmer in Chhattisgarh within 10 days," Gandhi said.
He claimed that BJP leaders used to question the previous Congress-led UPA government about the source of money for granting loan waiver.
"Modiji, the money for the loan waiver for Chhattisgarh's farmers will come from the likes of Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, Anil Ambani...We will take their money and implement the loan waiver," the Congress chief said.
He alleged that "liquor baron Mallya fled the country with Rs 10,000 crore of the banks, while Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi fled with Rs 35,000 crore".
Addressing a rally in Ambikapur, Modi had Friday claimed that the Congress was "worried" because he took away all the money its "minions and friends" had stashed under their beds and in sacks in one stroke.
"Something rankles them (Congress) in such a way that they are still not able to sleep...No one sitting here is crying. Only one family is crying," Modi had said, while justifying demonetisation.
Gandhi reiterated his charge that the prime minister had helped industrialist Anil Ambani get Rs 30,000 crore in the "Rafale scam".
Turning to demonetisation, he said Modi "robbed the poor and the honest" through the exercise, which invalidated the old Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 currency notes, and made them stand in queues to exchange the scrapped 

notes.
"Modiji had said he would fight against black money. He had (recently) said those who had stashed money in their houses and or kept it hidden under pillows were thieves and that he had taken action against them.
"I want to tell you (people) that you have not committed any theft. The person who has committed a theft is Narendra Modi. He made the honest people stand in queues. Have you ever seen those wearing suit-boot and 

crorepatis standing in queues (outside banks)?" Gandhi asked the crowd.
He said the Congress had always delivered on its promises, unlike the BJP.
"The intention of the Congress is very clear. It never makes false promises. In fact, you can listen to my speeches of the last 15 years. I never made false promises. Whatever I promised, I fulfilled it," Gandhi said.
He added that the previous UPA government had brought in measures like the Tribal Bill, the Right to Food Act, the Right To Information Act, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, the Land Acquisition Bill etc.
"You can check the records. On the contrary, Modi and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh did not fulfil the promises they had made to farmers," the Congress MP said. -- PTI
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20:46   Kashmir records 64.5 pc polling in 1st phase of panchayat poll
Over 64 per cent of electorate voted Saturday in the first phase of panchayat elections in Kashmir while an impressive turnout of 79.5 per cent was recorded in Jammu region, officials said.
   
The turnout in rural areas was significantly higher in Kashmir Valley unlike during the recent urban local bodies elections where barely four per cent of the electorate voted.
 
Separatists who asked people to boycott the polls had called for a strike Saturday. Major regional parties the National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party too had decided not to participate in the local bodies polls.
 
As per officials, total polling percentage in Kashmir division was recorded 64.5 per cent as 1.05 lakh of 1.63 lakh voters exercised their franchise in the Valley, they said.
 
Giving details, they said Srinagar district recorded 21.8 per cent followed by 30.14 per cent in Budgam, 70 per cent in Kupwara, 69.1 per cent in Baramulla, 56.2 per cent in Bandipora, 60 per cent in Leh and 77.7 per cent in Kargil.
 
The total polling percentage in Jammu division was 79.5 per cent as 2.35 lakh voters out of 2.95 lakh voted, they said.
 
In Jammu region, polling per cent in Kishtwar was 74.1 per cent, Rajouri 78.9, Poonch 78.7, Udhampur 83.6, Doda 80.8, Kathua 80 and Ramban 78.2 per cent, they added.
The officials said the total number of electorate in these polling stations was 1,35,774 in Kashmir.
 
There will be eight more phases of panchayat polls in Jammu and Kashmir.  
The first phase polling was held in 47 blocks, including 16 blocks in Kashmir, 21 in Jammu and 10 in Ladakh region.  
 
The polls are being held after a delay of two years when the state is under the Governor's rule. The counting of votes will be held on November 27. -- PTI

Photogrpah: Umar Ganie/Rediff.com  
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19:57   Another civilian abducted, killed by terrorists in J-K
A day after killing a civilian in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on charges of being an army informer, terrorists on Saturday abducted and killed a 19-year-old in Shopian, police said.   
 
"Terrorists Saturday killed a civilian in a brutal act of terror in Shopian district after he was kidnapped earlier in the day from Saidpora area," a police official said.
He said a throat-slit body was found from an orchard area in Hermain village of the south Kashmir district.
The deceased has been identified as Huzaif Ashraf (19), a resident of Manzgam area of the neighbouring Kulgam district. 
"Huzaif's body was handed over to his family after completion of the medico-legal formalities," the official said.
He said a case under relevant sections of law has been registered and investigation has been initiated in the matter.
Terrorists had abducted and later killed Nadeem Manzoor, a resident of Safanagri area, on Thursday night, police had said. 
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19:51   Bribery case: Trouble for Dinakaran as court orders to put him on trial
A Delhi court on Saturday ordered framing of criminal conspiracy and other charges against former All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader TTV Dinakaran in the alleged Election Commission bribery case 

related to two-leaves party symbol.
 
Special judge Ajay Bharadwaj ordered to put Dinakaran on trial for the offence punishable under sections 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 201 (destruction of evidence) of Indian Penal Code and under the Prevention of 

Corruption Act.
Dinakaran, who had floated  Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam party after being expelled from the AIADMK, was arrested in April  2017 here and was later granted bail.
Alleged middleman Sukesh Chandansekar, who is currently in judicial currently, was also ordered to be put on trial in the case for the offence punishable under sections 120-B and 201 of IPC and under the  PC Act.
The court directed Dhinakaran to appear before it on December 4, when it will formally frame the charges.
In 2017, Delhi Police's crime branch had filed the charge sheet alleging that Chandansekar had conspired with Dinakaran and others to bribe the poll panel officials to get the two leaves symbol for Sasikala-led AIADMK 

faction.
Dhinakaran had won the byelections held in Radha Krishnan Nagar Assembly constituency in December last year under the 'pressure cooker' symbol with a margin of over 40,000 votes. -- PTI  
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19:11   Fire breaks out at Kolkata's tallest building
A fire broke out at an under-construction 60-storey residential tower  'The 42' in Kolkata, said to be the tallest building in the city.

No casualties or loss to property has been reported.

It took three fire engines to control the blaze at the building called 'The 42', located on Chowringhee Road in central Kolkata.
 

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18:57   Give charge of Goa CM's post to our leader: BJP ally MGP
The Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, a Bharatiya Janata Party ally in Goa, gave an ultimatum on Saturday that the charge of the chief minister's post be given to its minister Sudin Dhavalikar in view of Manohar Parrikar's illness.
   
The MGP warned that it would contest the Lok Sabha polls and assembly by-elections in the state against the BJP candidates if the demand was not met.
 
Parrikar, who is suffering from a pancreatic ailment, is recuperating at his residence since October 14 after being discharged from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi.
 
Two assembly seats -- Mandrem and Shiroda -- fell vacant last month after respective MLAs, Dayanand Sopte and Subhash Shirodkar, resigned as legislators and quit the Congress to join the BJP.
 
"Party's central committee had a detailed discussion on the leadership issue today. Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is ailing and, because of that, the administration is completely paralysed for the last eight months," MGP president Dipak Dhavalikar said.
"Therefore, to bring in discipline and efficiency to the administration, we demand that the chief minister's charge be given to senior MGP MLA Sudin Dhavalikar as early as possible," he said.
 
"If the charge is not given immediately, we will contest all upcoming elections, that is (Assembly) by-election and Lok Sabha polls, by fielding our candidates against official candidate of the government," he said.
 
Sundin Dhavalikar is presently the second-most senior minister in Goa cabinet after Parrikar.
 
MGP's central committee will meet again next month to review the situation, Dipak Dhavalikar said.
 
"We will see if the government has taken our warning seriously or has continued with the same situation," he said, adding that he himself might contest the by-election from Shiroda, while the party would support Independent MLA Jit Arolkar in Mandrem.
The MGP is part of the BJP-led coalition, which also includes Goa Forward Party and three independents.  
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17:28   Sabarimala row: TDB to move SC on Monday
The Travancore Devaswom Board, which manages the Sabarimala shrine, would move the Supreme Court on Monday seeking more time to implement its order allowing women of menstrual age to offer prayers at the Lord Ayyappa temple.
 
The TDB's move comes a day after the Left Democratic Front government, at an all-party meeting, took a firm stand that it was bound to implement the top court order and rejected suggestions by opposition parties that it seek time from the court.
"We will move the Supreme court on Monday through Advocate Chandra Uday Singh" TDB President A Padmakumar, told PTI.
The board had Friday said it would move the apex court either Saturday or Monday seeking more time to implement the September 28 verdict of the top court allowing women of all age groups to offer prayers at the  Sabarimala shrine as it wanted the devotees to have peaceful 'darshan'. -- PTI
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17:14   Cong couldn't find any other candidate than Manvendra to contest against me: Raje
Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Saturday said the Congress fielded former Bharatiya Janata Party leader Jaswant Singh's son Manvendra Singh from her Jhalrapatan constituency in the upcoming assembly polls as it could not find any other candidate.
 
 Her remark came a few hours after the Congress released it second list of 32 candidates, fielding Manvendra Singh against her from Jhalrapatan constituency.
 
"The Congress could not find any candidate and he (Manvendra Singh) was to be given ticket from somewhere and therefore, he was sent here (Jhalrapatan)," Raje said addressing the public after filing her nomination papers in Jhalawar district.
 
"But they should know that it is not a fight of one person, this is a contest fought by Jhalawar and Rajasthan, which is a family," she said.
The chief minister was accompanied by party leader Shahnawaz Hussain, her son and Jhalawar MP Dushyant Singh, among others.
 
Reacting to the Congress announcement, state BJP president Madan Lal Saini said the decision will have no impact and the party will retain the seat.
He said Singh, who left the BJP and joined the Congress last month, is not a big name and will face defeat.
"There will be no impact on results and the chief minister will retain the seat," he told PTI.
 
Saini said being born in a Rajput family does not give anybody a "big name".
 
Raje had retained her Jhalrapatan seat in the 2013 assembly election with a margin of 60,896 votes by securing 63.14 per cent of total 2,28,977 votes.
 
 Raje has been representing Jhalrapatan seat in the House of 200 assembly seats since 2003. -- PTI
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16:57   Modi arrives in Maldives to attend President-elect Solih's inauguration
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Male on Saturday to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Maldives President-elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, who surprisingly defeated strongman Abdulla Yameen in September. 
 
This is Modi's first visit to the Maldives as prime minister. The last visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the Indian Ocean island nation was by Manmohan Singh in 2011. 
"I will convey to the new Maldivian Government of Mr Solih the desire of the Indian Government to work closely for realisation of their developmental priorities, especially in areas of infrastructure, health care, connectivity & human resource development," Modi said in a series of tweets ahead of the visit.
He said the recent elections in the Maldives represent the collective aspirations of the people for democracy, rule of law and a prosperous future.  
"We in India strongly desire to see a stable, democratic, prosperous and peaceful Republic of Maldives," the prime minister said.
Modi also congratulated Solih on his victory in the recent elections and wished him "the very best for his tenure". 
"India and the Maldives share a strong partnership rooted in history, strong bonds between our peoples, and their shared aspiration for peace and prosperity. My Government's vision of inclusive development Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikaas' extends to all our neighbours too," he said. 
Modi also said he will convey to Solih his wish to work with the new Maldives government in different areas to boost bilateral ties.  
Solih, the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party's candidate who surprisingly emerged victorious over incumbent president Yameen in the election held on September 23, had extended the invitation during a phone call by Modi.
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16:20   Kargil to have museum soon
Kargil, which shot into prominence during Operation Vijay in 1999, will soon have a museum, an official said Saturday.
 
It will come up soon as the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Kargil agree to provide prime land in the town for the museum, Director, Archives, Archaeology and Museums Muneer-ul-Islama said. 
He said the Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums is setting up regional museums at various places in the state outside the twin capital cities of Srinagar and Jammu.
"We shall soon be approaching the Ministry of Culture for funds to start the construction of the Kargil Museum," he said, adding that as a precondition for any grants from the Ministry of Culture, the department needs to have artifacts relevant to the theme of museum.
"I request the people having interest in culture and heritage to come forward and donate artifacts related to pastoral and agricultural lifestyle of Ladakh and adjoining regions for the proposed Museum," he said.
He said that these could include jewellery, heritage household items, traditional agricultural and household implements, among others.
Muneer said such items could also include those depicting age-old trade relation of Kargil with the adjoining central Asian countries, eastern China and Tibet, particularly falling on the famed Silk route.
"All these items can be deposited with Curator SPS Museum and Assistant Registration Officer Archives Leh or in the office of LAHDC Kargil against proper receipt," he said. -- PTI  
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16:16   BJP seat offer for LS election 'not respectable': NDA partner
National Democratic Alliance ally Rashtriya Lok Samata Party president Upendra Kushwaha said on Saturday that the Bharatiya Janata Party's offer of seats to his party for the 2019 general election was "not respectable".
 
He did not disclose the number of seats offered to the RLSP, saying he would not speak about it before a seat-sharing agreement is reached by NDA constituents in Bihar by November 30.
Kushwaha, the Union minister of state for HRD, was speaking to reporters after the RLSP state executive meeting in Patna.
The RLSP chief is at loggerheads with Nitish Kumar over the Bihar chief minister's recent remarks against him. 

Kumar, also the Janata Dal-United president, had refused to join issue with Kushwaha over seat-sharing between NDA partners in Bihar, saying, Itna neeche baat ko nahi le jaiye (do not take the debate to such a low level).
Kushwaha appears to have picked up the word neeche from the statement and took it as an insult to himself as the RLSP chief was the topic of discussion. 

He alleged that the remark was tantamount to calling him a lowly person.
He has also targeted BJP leader and deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi for defending Kumar, signalling his growing isolation within the coalition.
When asked about this, he had said, "I am in the NDA as of now."
Kushwaha, whose efforts to meet BJP president Amit Shah over the issue have not yielded results, said he will try to speak to "no other BJP leader except the prime minister."
Bihar has a total of 40 Lok Sabha seats. 

The BJP and the JD-U have decided to contest equal number of seats. 

The fourth partner of the NDA in Bihar is Ram Vilas Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party. -- PTI  
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15:55   2 killed, 10 injured in bomb blast in Pakistan's Karachi city
At least two people were killed and 10 others injured as a bomb exploded near a flyover in Pakistan's port city of Karachi on Friday.
   
Some vendors were selling fruit and other items of daily use near the flyover at Quaidabad locality of the city when the bomb went off, damaging buildings and triggering panic in the densely populated area, police said.
 
Officials investigating the blast said that at least 500 grams of explosives were used in the home-made explosive device, the Express Tribune reported.
 
The blast killed two teenagers, aged 18 and 16, and injured 10 others, officials said.
 
Soon after the blast, Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) officials reached the site of the incident and defused a second bomb, with at least two kilograms of explosives.
 
The officials said that the blast was pre-planned and the objective was to draw first responders and people to the blast site after the first bomb exploded and then detonate the second bomb.
 
"If the second explosion had happened, the losses would have been much higher," an official said.
 
The 10 injured have been shifted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for treatment.
 
Nobody has so far claimed responsibility for the blast. -- PTI   
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15:54   If action sequences can be choreographed, why not intimate scenes: Kalki
Kalki Koechlin says it is extremely important for actors to trust each other before shooting intimate scenes and believes such a practice should be made mandatory in the film industry.
 
Kalki said she has done intimate scenes with actors without even meeting them before, something which should not happen.
"When we are on a film set, no one is going to not have a really choreographed action scene. No one is going to 'by mistake' punch the actor in the face. So why aren't we doing that for intimate scenes? 
"There are a number of scenes I've done where I've not even met the actor before I have to bite his lips off. It doesn't make sense. There needs to be trust between the actors," she said. 
The actor was part of a panel discussion on code of conduct at work at the 9th edition of Tata Literature Live!.
Kalki said she is currently doing a play where they were given a two-page code of conduct that was drafted by the royal court last year after several #MeToo cases surfaced.
"In this play that I'm doing, about rape of a Roman woman, every morning my co-actor and I have consent between each other where we ask 'Can we do this?' and agree on touch. That has just made us so much more comfortable. We trust each other a lot more.
"There is no 'improvisational bit' that happens. That kind of good practice needs to be encouraged and demanded from those of us in the industry," she added. 
Kalki believes it is extremely important for an individual and an industry as a collective to take responsibilities. 
"In my industry, we have had a meeting few weeks back with the producers guild, directors, casting directors, crew members to understand what are the problems and how can we ourselves take responsibility," she added. -- PTI
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15:28   Legislation introduced in US Congress to protect work authorisation of H1B spouses
A legislation seeking to prohibit the Trump administration from revoking the work authorisation of spouses of H1-B visa holders, which include Indians, has been introduced in the US Congress by two lawmakers who said that eliminating this benefit would force many foreign workers to use their talents to compete against American businesses.
H-4 visas are issued to the spouses of H-1B foreign workers. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa through which many Indians workers are employed in US companies. It allows the US companies to employ 

foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. It is the most sought-after visa among Indian IT professionals. 
H-4 visas are issued only to very close or immediate family members of the H-1B visa holders.  
The move by lawmakers Anna G Eshoo and Zoe Lofgren to introduce the H-4 Employment Protection Act, comes amidst determination by the Trump administration to revoke an Obama-era rule that extends 

work authorisation to the spouses of H-1B visa holders.
Since the rule was implemented, over 100,000 workers, mainly women, that too from India have received employment authorisation, improving the US' competitiveness and lessening the economic burden on 

thousands of H-1B workers and their families, the two lawmakers said after introducing the bill in the House.
The H-4 Employment Protection Act prohibits the Trump administration from revoking this important rule, which it is expected to do by the end of the year, they said.
"Protecting work authorization for these H-4 visa holders is a matter of both economic fairness and family unity," Eshoo said.
"Eliminating this benefit would create a painful choice for many immigrants to either split up their families or return to their home countries and use their talents to compete against American businesses," Eshoo 

said.
"These are American citizens-in-waiting, stuck in line for their number to come up," Congressman Lofgren said. 
"Prohibiting H-1B dependent spouses from working is of no benefit to our country, and if allowed to move forward, many of these families that can contribute so much to our workforce will simply move to 

countries with a more sensible approach to immigration. This much needed bill will block the Trump administration from needlessly harming our economy and the lives of skilled immigrant families," Lofgren said. -- PTI  
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15:21   Rajasthan polls: Jaswant Singh's son to take on Vasundhara Raje
The Congress released it second list of 32 candidates for the December 7 assembly election in Rajasthan on Saturday, fielding former Bharatiya Janata Party leader Jaswant Singh's son Manvendra against Chief Minister Vansundhara Raje from Jhalrapatan constituency.
 
The second list was released by the Congress general secretary and in-charge of Rajasthan Mukul Wasnik.
The opposition party had declared 152 candidates in the first list on Thursday night.
Manvendra Singh, a former BJP MLA from Sheo, in September quit the saffron party to join the Congress ahead of the assembly election.
Senior Congress leaders, including Ashok Gehlot, Sachin Pilot and CP Joshi, are contesting the state election. -- PTI
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15:05   Demonetisation highly ethical move, not political: Jaitley
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today defended demonetisation, saying it was a "highly ethical" move and not a political one.
 
His statement comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi engaged in a war of words during the respective election rallies over the decision suddenly announced in November 2016 to junk a bulk of the currency in circulation.
"It was a highly ethical move," Jaitley told reporters in Bhopal in response to a query over demonetisation. "It was not a political move."
Jaitley was speaking after releasing the BJP's manifesto ahead of the November 28 Madhya Pradesh assembly election.
The minister said demonetisation has increased the tax return filings and also increased the revenue of the states and the Centre immensely.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday criticised the government over demonetisation, saying it was the "biggest scam" of India.
Addressing a rally in Ambikapur in Chhattisgarh ahead of the second phase of voting on November 20, Modi claimed people did not have issues with demonetisation, but "only a family".
The prime minister claimed the Congress was "worried" that he took away all the money its "minions and friends" had stashed under their beds and in sacks in one stroke.
Modi had said his government was investing the money recovered post-demonetisation on carrying out public works and funding welfare schemes. -- PTI 
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14:02   Battle of Longewala hero Brig Chandpuri dies
Brigadier Kuldip Singh Chandpuri (retd), who is known as the hero of the historic 1971 battle of Longewala, died on Sturday in a private hospital in Mohali, his family said.
 
He was 78.
Brig Chandpuri was suffering from cancer, his family said.
He is survived by his wife and three sons.
Hindi film 'Border', in which actor Sunny Deol played the role of Brig Chandpuri, was also made in 1997 depicting the Indo-Pak war in Rajasthan.
Brig Chandpuri was a Maha Vir Chakra awardee.
The battle of Longewala (1971) was one of the first major engagements in the western sector during the Indo-Pak war of 1971, fought between assaulting Pakistani forces and Indian defenders at the Indian border post of Longewala in the Thar desert of Rajasthan.
A company of the Indian Army's 23rd battalion, Punjab Regiment, commanded by Maj Kuldip Singh Chandpuri, was left with the choice of either attempting to hold out until reinforced, or fleeing on foot from Pakistani force.
Choosing the former, Chandpuri ensured that all his assets were correctly deployed, and made the most use of his strong defensive position, and weaknesses created by errors in enemy tactics. -- PTI
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13:35   If Acosta misbehaves, he'll be thrown out from pressers: Trump
Reacting to a federal United States court's ruling which ordered the White House to reinstate CNN correspondent Jim Acosta's press credentials, President Donald Trump on Friday warned the scribe that he could be thrown out if he "misbehaved" at future press conferences.

"Yeah, it's fine. I mean, it's not a big deal," Trump said in an interview with Fox News.

"What they said though is that we have to create rules and regulations for conduct, etc., etc. We're doing that, were going to write them up right now. It's not a big deal. And if he misbehaves, we'll throw him out or we'll stop the news conference," the US president was quoted by The Hill as saying.

Recalling the verbal spat with Acosta, who is CNN's chief White House correspondent, Trump said, "We had a lot of reporters in that room, many, many reporters in that room and they were unable to ask questions because this guy gets up and starts you know doing what he's supposed to be doing for him and for CNN and you know just shouting out questions and making statements, too."

Acosta thanked his colleagues in the press who supported him this week.

"I want to thank the judge for the decision he made today. Let's go back to work," he told reporters after the US District court reinstated his White House press credentials. -- ANI
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13:27   Modi leaves for Maldives to attend swearing-in of new Prez
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has left to attend the inauguration ceremony of Maldives President-elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Saturday.  

This will be Modi's first visit to the Maldives as prime minister. 
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13:24   Delhi's air quality oscillates between poor, very poor: Authorities
Delhi's air quality continued to oscillate between 'poor' and 'very poor' categories today due to increased pollutant holding capacity of air after rainfall and stubble burning in neighbouring states.
 
Air pollution level is on the path of reversal. It has increased after the impact of rain got over and the AQI is entering the 'very poor' range, the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting (SAFAR) said.
The overall air quality index was recorded at 309, which comes under 'very poor' category, according to the SAFAR.
Central Pollution Control Board data showed the overall AQI at a 'poor' 258.
On Saturday, the PM2.5 -- particles in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres -- level was recorded at 122, while the PM10 level was recorded at 228, according to Central Pollution Control Board data.
Delhi's air quality showed significant improvement on Wednesday and Thursday after rain washed away the pollutants but the rainfall also led to an increase in air capacity to hold pollutants, SAFAR said.
"Although wind speed is better (higher) but holding capacity (of air) is also high due to moisture, which is unfavourable," the SAFAR said in a report.
Fire counts from stubble burning increased in past 24 hours, which may contribute 8-10 per cent to Delhi pollution, the report said. -- PTI
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12:27   Avoid confrontation with Kohli, du Plessis tells Australia
South African captain Faf du Plessis offered tips to Australia ahead of their big-ticket clashes against India: avoid confrontation with Virat Kohli and give him "silent treatment".
   
Du Plessis on Friday said that his team gave India captain Kohli the "silent treatment" in an attempt to keep him quiet when the two teams squared off earlier this year.
"There are guys like that in international cricket (who enjoy the confrontation). We feel like that when we play against someone like Virat Kohli, he wants to get into the fight," the Protea said.
 
Du Plessis' South Africa beat India 2-1 in the series but Kohli emerged as the top run-getter with an aggregate of 286 from three Tests at an average of 47.66.
 
"There's one or two guys in each team around the world that we as a team discuss before playing against them. We're like, 'better not say too much to him because you'll get him going'."
 
Kohli has been in imperious form throughout the year. The world no 1 Test batsman notched up 593 runs against England in the five-match series and followed that up with three back-to-back hundreds against the West Indies in the One-day International series.
 
Du Plessis said, "He's an amazing player. We gave him the silent treatment and he still scored runs in South Africa, but we felt like it was not huge runs -- he scored the one hundred there in Centurion when the wicket was slow.
 
"So every team will have what they think works for us, that was silent treatment." -- PTI 
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12:25   Heavy rush at Sabarimala despite hartal in Kerala
Thousands of pilgrims offered prayers at Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala early Saturday, the first day of Malayalam month of 'Vrischikom,' even as a 12-hour hartal against the preventive detention of a Hindu Aikya Vedi leader began. 

Pilgrims, including children, queued up in large numbers since the temple opened at 3 am.
The temple had opened Friday evening for the two-month-long annual pilgrim season as a stand-off continued over the entry of menstrual age women into the shrine. 

All regular pujas began on Saturday morning under the supervision of the new Melshanti (chief priest) Vasudevan Nampoothiri.
Amid unprecedented security, Kerala State Transport Corporation buses were bringing pilgrims from Nilackal to Pamba and no services had been stopped, KSRTC sources said. Shops and hotels near the temple complex were open.
However, normal life was hit elsewhere in the state as the hartal progressed; buses and auto-rickshaws remained off roads in several areas.
KSRTC Managing Director Tomin J Thachankary said the corporation was running buses in Sabarimala with police protection to help pilgrims reach the temple.
In Balrampuram near Thiruvananthapuram, protesters attacked a KSRTC bus and damaging its windows, he told PTI.
In the state capital, passengers had a tough time in getting vehicles to reach their respective destinations due to the hartal. 

Many patients and their relatives were unable to reach the regional cancer centre and Thiruvananthapuram medical college hospital.
The Aikya Vedi state president, K P Sasikala, who was on a pilgrimage to the Ayyappa shrine, was taken into "preventive custody" near Marakkootam, close to Sabarimala, at 2.30 am after she allegedly defied the orders, police said.
Police had decided not to allow devotees enter the temple premises when it was closed for the night.
Sasikala was stopped by them late Friday night when she was on her way to the shrine with the traditional "Irrumudikettu" (offerings to Lord Ayyappa carried by devotees on their head) as the temple would have been closed by the time she would have reached there.
She was later taken to Ranni police station. -- PTI
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11:56   16 kids injured as school bus collides with pillar in Noida
Eighteen people, including 16 children, were injured today when a speeding school bus crashed into a pillar at an underpass in Noida, police said.
 
The incident happened around 8 am when the bus of a private school was crossing through the underpass at Rajnigandha Chowk, they said.
"Sixteen children were injured in the accident. They were taken to Kailash Hospital and discharged after first-aid. The driver, Ganga Saran, has received severe injuries and is being treated," Manoj Kumar Pant, station house officer of Sector 20 police station, said.
The bus has been seized, police said, adding a probe was underway. -- PTI  

Photograph: ANI
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11:38   9% voting till 10 am in Kashmir
Moderate polling was witnessed in the early hours of the first phase of panchayat election in Kashmir Valley on Saturday as nearly nine per cent of voters exercised their franchise till 10 am.
   
"A total of 8.9 per cent of the electorate cast their votes at 283 polling locations across the valley till 10 am," an official said.
 
They said 12,104 votes were polled in the first two hours of the poll conducted in 16 blocks in six districts of the valley.
 
The officials said the total number of electorate in these polling stations is 1,35,774.
 
In 10 blocks of Ladakh region having 130 polling locations, the officials said 1,001 votes were polled in the first two hours.
 
The total electorate in these polling stations is 25,906 and the voting percentage till 10 am is 3.9 per cent.
 
The total voting percentage in Kashmir division, including Ladakh region, at 10 AM is 8.1 per cent, the officials said.
  
Voting began at 8 am at 3,296 polling stations -- 1,303 in Kashmir and 1,993 in Jammu -- and would end at 2 PM, officials said. -- PTI
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11:22   Ad man and theatre personality Alyque Padamsee dies at 90
Alyque Padamsee, noted ad guru and theatre personality died in Mumbai today. He was 90.

Padamsee was best known for his role as Muhammad Ali Jinnah in 1982 historcial drama "Gandhi". He is also credited for building advertising agency Lintas into one of the top agencies in the country.

He was the brain behind several iconic Indian ad campaigns including Lalitaji for Surf, the Liril girl, Cherry Charlie for Cherry Blossom Shoe Polish, Hamara Bajaj and the MRF muscle man.

He received the Padma Shri  in 2000 and was named "Advertising Man of the Century" by The Advertising Club in Mumbai.

Padamsees close friends and colleagues have been reacting to his death on Twitter:

Kunal Vijaykar wrote on Twitter, "He was a man, take him for all in all, I shall not look upon his like again. Hamlet, Act 1 scene 2.  We will all miss you @alyquepadamsee RIP ALYQUE !! condolences."
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11:06   J-K panchayat elections: Voting begins for first phase
Voting has begun in as many as 47 blocks in Jammu and Kashmir as part of the first phase of Panchayat elections in the state.

Out of the 47 blocks, 21 are in the Jammu region, 16 in Kashmir valley and 10 blocks in Ladakh region.

In order to ensure smooth polling, heavy security arrangements have been made with scores of security personnel deployed at every polling booth.

A total of 58.54 lakh voters spread across 316 blocks will be casting their votes between today and December 17.

Dr RK Manahas, Returning Officer said, "There is enthusiasm amongst the voters. We are fully prepared, we are hopeful that voting will be conducted peacefully."

Polling is being conducted amidst boycott calls given by the People's Democratic Party and the National Conference on account of disagreements with the Centre over Article 35 A.

Article 35(A) article of the Indian Constitution gives the State Legislature of Jammu and Kashmir the power to define the 'Permanent Residents' of the State. The state legislature is also empowered to give them Special Rights and Privileges.

Polling is scheduled to end at 2 pm. 

-- ANI
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10:54   Chidambaram responds to Modi, lists out names of Congress presidents
Former Union minister P Chidambaram on Saturday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for targeting the Congress, reminding him of the party's legacy by listing out the names of its presidents from outside the Nehru-Gandhi family.
  
He asked the prime minister to now speak on the Rafale aircraft deal, unemployment and suicide of farmers during his rule.

In an election rally in Chhattisgarh on Friday, Modi had asked the Congress to make a Congressman, from outside the Nehru-Gandhi family, president of the party for five years.

In a series of tweets, Chidambaram listed out the names and said the Congress was proud of the humble origins of its post-Independence leaders like Babasaheb Ambedkar, Lal Bahadur Shastri, K Kamaraj and Manmohan Singh and many others besides thousands others during pre-Independence days.

"To jog PM Modi's memory: among the Congress Presidents since 1947 were Acharya Kripalani, Pattabhi Sitaramayya, Purushottamdas Tandon, U N Dhebar, Sanjiva Reddy, Sanjivaiah, Kamaraj, Nijalingappa, C Subramanian, Jagjivan Ram, Shankar Dayal Sharma, D K Barooah, Brahmananda Reddy, P V Narasimha Rao and Sitaram Kesri (sic)," he said.

In a dig at Modi, Chidambaram said he was grateful that the prime minister was "concerned" about who is elected as Congress president and he devotes a lot of time talking about it.

"Will he spend half the time and speak about demonetisation, GST, Rafale, CBI and the RBI?

"Will PM Modi speak about farmers' suicides, massive unemployment, lynchings, rape crimes against women and children, anti-Romeo squads, gau rakshak vigilantism and increasing terror attacks?" he said.

At the rally in Ambikapur in north Chhattisgarh, Modi had also attacked Congress president Rahul Gandhi and asked him to give an account on the contributions of the four generations of the Nehru-Gandhi family to the nation. 

-- PTI
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10:31  
National Herald case: Delhi's Patiala House court adjourns the matter for cross-examination of the complainant (Subramanian Swamy) for January 8, 2019.
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10:16   Modi to attend Ibrahim Solih's swearing-in at Maldives today
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend Maldives' president-elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's swearing-in ceremony today in the island-nation.

Just a day before his scheduled visit, Prime Minister Modi had written a post on Facebook, saying "I am delighted to visit Male, the capital of the Republic of Maldives, our close and friendly neighbour, to attend the historic Inauguration Ceremony of President-elect H.E. Ibrahim Mohamed Solih."

He further congratulated Solih and added that the recent elections in the island nation "represents the collective aspirations of the people of the Republic of Maldives for democracy, rule of law and a prosperous future".

"India and Maldives share a strong partnership rooted in history, strong bonds between our peoples, and their shared aspiration for peace and prosperity. My Government's vision of inclusive development 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikaas' extends to all our neighbours too. We in India strongly desire to see a democratic, prosperous and peaceful Republic of Maldives," Prime Minister Modi wrote.

"I will convey to the new Maldivian Government of Mr Solih the desire of my Government to work closely for realisation of their developmental priorities, especially in areas of infrastructure, health care, connectivity, and human resource development," he mentioned while reaffirming his faith that his visit will "herald a new era of even closer exchanges and cooperation between our two countries."

Solih emerged victorious in the high-octane elections held in the island nation on September 23 this year which saw the ouster of outgoing president Abdulla Yameen.

-- ANI
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10:02   In today's times, censorship is impossible: Arun Jaitley
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley asserted that censorship in media is impossible due to technology advancement in the country.

"Today, you have a scenario where you have highly competitive electronic, print and digital media. You have multiple forums and because of technology, censorship is impossible. Any kind of pressure is impossible," Jaitley said. He was addressing an event organised to celebrate the National Press Day.

Jaitley said that there are challenges faced by the media industry, but it needs to retain its credibility. The minister underlined that the media is free to express its opinions to the viewers.

"Media, which is the primary carrier of free speech in India, has become an integral part of Indian life," Jaitley said. 

-- ANI
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09:52   12 students injured after school bus hits divider in Noida
At least 12 students injured after a school bus carrying more than 30 students hit a divider at Rajnigandha Chowk underpass in Noida; Driver and conductor of the school bus in critical condition, injured students shifted to nearby Kailash hospital. 

Photograph: ANI/Twitter
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09:23   Thick fog engulfs Delhi, air quality dips to 'very poor'
After a day's respite, the air quality in the national capital again deteriorated to 'very poor' category on Saturday as the dispersion of pollutants slowed down.

The PM2.5 (particles in the air with a diameter of fewer than 2.5 micrometres) level was recorded at 339 in the morning in New Delhi. According to the forecasting agency, the fog will lift in the morning with maximum and minimum temperatures hovering around 27 degrees Celsius and 15-degree Celsius. The humidity in the region will plummet to 78 per cent with the wind speed of 8 kilometres per hour.

"Air pollution is on the path of reversal and increased after the impact of rain is over and AQI is entering in 'very poor' range. Likely to deteriorate further by tomorrow but will remain in the very poor category. Although surface wind speed is better (higher) but air holding capacity is also high due to moisture which is unfavourable. fire counts from stubble burning increased in past 24 Hours. Although less possibility of direct intrusion but horizontal dispersion may contribute marginally (8-10 per cent) to Delhi pollution," System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR) said.

Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority Chairman Bhure Lal on Friday also expressed his concern over the air pollution crisis and stated that more crop burning residue has been recorded this year. He also criticised farmers who continue to burn stubble, instead of turning crop residue into useful products.

-- ANI
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09:04   Will visit Sabarimala next unannounced, using guerilla tactics: Trupti Desai
Activist Trupti Desai, who was forced to return to Pune without visiting Sabarimala Temple owing to a possible disruption of law and order, said she will next visit the hill shrine unannounced using "guerilla tactics"

"When we landed at the Kochi airport, protestors gathered there hurled abuses at us and threatened us to go back. The police, too, requested us to leave saying anything can happen. We didn't want anything to happen to the people of the state because of us, so we decided to return. Police have told us that they'll provide us security the next time we visit. This time we went there after announcing, but the next time we won't announce that we're visiting, but will follow guerrilla tactics," she said. 

Narrating her ordeal, Desai said that cab drivers were not ready to take her and her seven-member team to Sabarimala fearing agitation. "Two taxis did arrive at the airport to take us to Sabarimala. However, protestors said they would destroy the cars and attack us. Therefore, the cabs denied to take us to Sabarimala," she explained.

The activist further said the Kerala government had failed in providing security to women wanting to visit Sabarimala. She further condemned the "hooliganism" witnessed at the Kochi airport upon her arrival.

"Protesters were resorting to violence and hooliganism, they should not have done that. They call themselves Lord Ayyappa's devotees but I don't think they can be his devotees. They were verbally abusing us and threatening us. If they wanted to oppose us, they should have protested in Nilakkal but they knew that if we reached Nilakkal, we would advance to Pamba and return only after Darshan. They were scared and hence stopped us at the airport itself," she added.

-- ANI
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08:32   Sabarimala: Hartal called in Kerala after Hindu woman leader's arrest
Rightwing Hindu outfits have called for a dawn to dusk hartal in Kerala today in protest against arrest of a senior Sangh Parivar leader who was on the pilgrimage to Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple.
 
VHP state president S J R Kumar alleged that Hindu Aikyavedi state President K P Sasikala was arrested by police near Marakkoottam near Sabarimala at 2.30 am Saturday.
"She was arrested as she was on the way to the hill shrine carrying irumudikkettu (bundle carrying sacred offerings) to offer prayers. Some other activists have been taken into preventive custody," Kumar said.
He accused the Kerala government of trying to destroy the Sabarimala temple.
The VHP leader said essential services and vehicles of Ayyappa devotees will not be affected by the hartal.
Unprecedented security arrangements have been made at the shrine, which opened for the third time Friday for the two-month-long pilgrimage season commencing Saturday after the Supreme Court allowed women of menstrual age to offer prayers.
The temple opened Friday amid a tense standoff involving social activist Trupti Desai in Kochi and a move by its administrator to seek time from the Supreme Court to implement its verdict.
 The 41-day mandalam festival will conclude on December 27 after Mandala pooja, when the shrine will close after the 'Athazhapuja' in the evening.  It would reopen for the Makaravilakku festival on December 30.
The Makaravilakku festival would be celebrated on January 14 after which the shrine will close on January 20, marking the culmination of the pilgrim season, when laksh of devotees are expected to throng the shrine.

The temple complex and nearby areas had witnessed widespread protests after the state government decided to implement the September 28 apex court verdict.

The Supreme Court is slated to hear petitions seeking review of its September 28 order in January, but has refused to stay it.

-- PTI
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08:03   Akbar, Tejpal continue to feature in Editors Guild's members list
The Editors Guild of India put out an updated list of its members, which continued to include former Union minister M J Akbar and former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal, who are both accused of sexual misconduct.
 
Their names featured in the updated list of the guild members, even as there have been calls from within the media body for their removal.
Akbar has been accused of sexual misconduct by several women over his tenure as a senior editor as part of the #MeToo movement, while Tejpal has been charged with rape and is currently out on bail.
The list also includes senior journalist Gautam Adhikari, who has also been accused of sexual misconduct.
 
Akbar had resigned last month as the minister of state for external affairs in the wake of sexual harassment allegations levelled against him.
The Editors Guild of India last month had asked him to withdraw the criminal defamation case he filed against journalist Priya Ramani.
It had also offered legal support to women journalists who have levelled the allegations against Akbar in case he did not withdraw the present case or files such cases against other women too.
Earlier this month, the Guild had said it is tracking with "great concern" fresh allegations of sexual misconduct against Akbar and a decision on his membership of the top editors' body will be taken after "due process" is completed.
The Guild's statement on his membership had come after a US-based editor of a leading media house accused the former Union minister of raping her in India 23 years ago.
"In accordance with the decision of the Guild's last EGM (extraordinary general meeting), as ratified at the subsequent meeting of the executive, membership of those editors, whose profession has changed from journalism goes dormant. Mr Akbar's membership is also therefore dormant," the statement had said.

-- PTI
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00:04   Cong comes with 'fresh proof' of alleged scam in Rafale deal
The Congress on Friday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence on what it claimed is fresh proof of irregularities in the Rafale deal is a precursor to a "massive storm" the government is about to face.
Congress leader Pawan Khera said Modi cannot escape his political and constitutional responsibility and accountability in the "biggest defence scam" of India and for truth to prevail, the only route is to order a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe in this "scandal".
The government has denied any wrongdoing in the deal while the BJP has dismissed as "lies" allegations of corruption levelled by the Congress.
Khera said that a 'management meet note' of Reliance Infrastructure, prepared by ICICI, the country's largest private sector bank, is another proof of Modi government's "involvement" in the Rafale scam.
He said the note claimed that Reliance Defence has formed a joint venture with French major Dassault for execution of offset obligations, as a part of the 36 Rafale fighter jet purchase valued at Rs 59,000 crore. 
He said that note has pegged this opportunity from Rafale at Rs 1,05,000 crore and Dassault Reliance JV will provide performance based logistics for 50 years.
 
Later, Khera shared with journalists a 'management meet note' on Reliance Infrastructure, a brokerage house report prepared by ICICI group firm, ICICIDirect.com, on the basis of a meeting with the Anil Ambani group firm's management.
Khera alleged that another undisputable evidence has come to the fore that establishes the "deliberately hiked" commercial cost of 36 Rafale aircraft deal signed by Modi on April 10, 2015.
"The silence of the Narendra Modi government on the new skeletons that have tumbled out of their Rafale scam cupboard is a precursor to a massive storm," he told reporters.
The Congress leader said the prime minister "cannot escape from his moral, political, legal and constitutional responsibility and accountability in the 'biggest defence scam' of India".
"Everyday, new sets of irrefutable evidences are lining up at the doorstep of prime minister Modi which cements the charges of 'squandering national interests', 'brazen crony capitalism', 'kickbacks and corruption' and 'serious illegalities' that have taken place in the 'murky saga of Rafale scam'." 
Claiming that price does not cover under the so-called secrecy pact that the government is talking about, he asked why the prime minister and his government were hesitant to disclose the price of the fighter jets. -- PTI

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