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Thu, 22 August 2019
Imran Khan holds meeting of Kashmir Core Group
Timeline Refresh
23:43 Imran Khan holds meeting of Kashmir Core Group
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday chaired a meeting of the Kashmir Core Group to discuss efforts to highlight the issue on the international level.
"The main focus was on Pakistan's extensive political and diplomatic outreach and efforts to raise the international community's awareness about" Kashmir, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office.
It also 'discussed the serious risks for peace and security posed by India's illegal and unilateral actions' of August 5, the statement said.
Tensions between India and Pakistan spiked after New Delhi abrogated provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution to withdraw Jammu and Kashmir's special status and bifurcated it into two Union Territories on August 5.
India has categorically told the international community that the scrapping of Article 370 to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir was an internal matter and also advised Pakistan to accept the reality.
The meeting noted that the international community including the United Nations Security Council, international human rights organisations, international humanitarian organisations and the international media had taken cognizance of the situation in Kashmir, the statement said.
During the meeting, measures were agreed to further reinforce Pakistan's efforts in the political, diplomatic, legal and media domains to highlight the Kashmir issue worldwide, it added.
The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and other senior officials.
Qureshi also held a telephonic conversations with foreign ministers of Nepal and Switzerland and apprised them about the situation in Kashmir.
He urged Nepal to play its role as the SAARC Chair for peace and stability in the region. -- PTI
22:30 Modi meets Macron, delegation-level talks soon
Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets France President Emmanuel Macron at Chteau de Chantilly.
Delegation-level talks between India & France will be held soon. -- ANI
22:18 Man scales airport wall, walks up to plane
In a grave security breach, a man scaled a wall of the Mumbai airport on Thursday and walked up to a SpiceJet plane on the runway that was readying for take off, a senior official of the aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation said.
He was picked up by Central Industrial Security Force personnel, a Mumbai airport official said.
However, a senior Mumbai Police official claimed the person with 'unsound mind' was apprehended after he 'tried crossing over' the airport fence wall.
The police official gave his name as Kamran Shaikh.
"The pilots of the SpiceJet plane showed presence of mind and immediately shut down the engines to avert any accident when they saw the man walking up the plane that was standing on runway 27," said the DGCA official in New Delhi.
At the time of the incident, the SpiceJet plane SG634 was readying to take off for Bengaluru.
"SpiceJet aircraft SG634 (operating on Mumbai- Bengaluru route) was holding on taxiway N1 reported the presence of a man on runway 27. He was picked up from the runway by CISF," said a Mumbai airport spokesperson.
But the police official said the person tried to cross over the airport fence/wall and was immediately taken into custody by the CISF.
"As per the initial investigation, the person is of unsound mind and it was his dream to see an aircraft from close vicinity. Nothing suspicious (was found) in the incident," said the police official.
Another police official said the person had all the 'documents' to show he was 'mentally unsound'.
"No action has been taken against him. His family members are coming to take him home," the second police official added.
The DGCA official said at around 1.30 pm, the 26-year- old man from Sion jumped the wall from south side of runway 27 and crossed the perimeter intrusion identification system.
"The man seemed to be of unsound mind," the DGCA official added.
The DGCA will further probe the incident, he said.
The CISF has also ordered an inquiry into it, officials said.
The Mumbai airport undertakes weekly maintenance activities at runways twice a week -- on Mondays and Thursdays.
Accordingly, operations are shifted to the alternative runway, the Mumbai airport official said. -- PTI
Image only for representation.
21:36 'Pak bringing 100 Afghan terrorists for Kashmir'
Pakistan is planning to push 100 hardcore terrorists from Afghanistan into Kashmir to carry out attacks as part of its 'larger design' to create unrest in the Valley, security sources said on Thursday.
In addition, around 15 Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists are already waiting at the terror launch-pads in Lipa valley along the Line of Control on the Pakistani side to infiltrate in Kashmir, they said, citing reports by intelligence agencies.
According to intelligence inputs, Pakistan-based terror groups may target vital installations in several key Indian cities in the next few weeks, sources said.
Pakistan's plan is to trigger series of terror attacks in Kashmir to project to the international community that situation in the Valley is fast deteriorating following India's decision to withdraw special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and bifurcate the state into two union territories, they said.
"We have credible intelligence that Pakistan is bringing over 100 hardcore terrorists from Afghanistan and they will be pushed into Kashmir in the next few weeks," said a military source.
Mufti Rauf Asghar, brother of JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar, held meetings with top commanders of the terror outfit at its Bahawalpur headquarters on August 19 and 20 with a primary agenda of pushing hardcore terrorists into Kashmir, sources claimed.
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has been making provocative statements targeting India following its decisions on Kashmir, and even suggested recently that a Pulwama-like terror attack may take place again.
According to Pakistan's assessment, the local terrorists in Kashmir are not properly trained, have low shelf-life and there was a leadership crisis among them in the Valley because of vigorous anti-terror operations, the sources said.
"That is why Pakistan is bringing battle-hardened terrorists from Afghanistan", they added.
Sources claimed Pakistan has set up Kashmir desks at all its foreign missions to carry out anti-India propaganda in the wake of India's decisions on J&K. -- PTI
21:09 Modi arrives in Paris
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris.
Modi will hold bilateral meetings with France President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Edouard Philippe on the two-day official visit. -- ANI
21:00 Oil cos stop fuel supply to AI at 6 airports
Oil marketing companies (OMCs) on Thursday afternoon stopped the supply of fuel to Air India at six airports due to non-payment of dues, said a senior airline official.
However, he said the flight operations of the airline are currently normal and unaffected.
The airports where the fuel supply was stopped by the state-owned OMCs at around 4 pm are Cochin, Visakhapatnam, Mohali, Ranchi, Pune and Patna, another official of the national carrier said.
Air India spokesperson said,"In the absence of equity support Air India cannot handle the huge debt service liabilities."
"Our financial performance, however, this fiscal is very good and we are moving towards a healthy operating profit. The airline despite its legacy issues is performing very well," he added. -- PTI
20:30 Pakistan warns cable operators against airing Indian channels
Pakistan's electronic media watchdog has warned the cable TV operators of Lahore region against airing Indian channels and content, days after it banned the airing of advertisements featuring Indian artists.
Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) Chairman Muhammad Saleem Baig said Tuesday that 'strict' legal action will be taken if the cable operators will continue to air Indian channels, The News reported.
In a press release, Pemra said if the cable operators violated the orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, 'the authority will not spare any licensee and will lodge FIRs against such network operators'.
Pakistan's Supreme Court had reinstated a ban on airing Indian content on TV channels in the country in October 2018.
Pemra's recent action is the latest in series of measures announced by Pakistan in reaction to India's move to revoke the special status to Jammu and Kashmir earlier this month.
Soon after India's actions on Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan imposed a ban on the screening of Indian films in the country.
On August 16, Pemra announced that it has decided to ban the airing of advertisements featuring Indian artists.
Pakistan had taken a similar decision after the Balakot air strikes by India in February this year. -- PTI
20:20 Plea in SC challenging validity of amendments to UAPA
A plea was filed in the Supreme Court on Thursday challenging the constitutional validity of the amendments to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) on the ground that these infringed upon the fundamental rights of citizens.
The bill for amendments to the UAPA was passed by Parliament on August 2 and it received the President's ascent on August 9.
The amended Act allows the Centre to designate individuals as terrorists and seize their properties.
The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act, 2019 also provides for putting a travel ban on such individuals once they are declared as terrorists.
The petition has been filed by the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR), an NGO, which said the amendments infringed upon the fundamental right to reputation and dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution, without substantive and procedural due process.
"Notifying an individual as a terrorist without giving him an opportunity of being heard violates the individual's right to reputation and dignity, which is a facet of right to life and personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution," the plea said.
It added that condemning a person unheard on a mere belief of the government was unreasonable, unjust, unfair, excessive, disproportionate and violated the due process.
"A person who is designated a terrorist, even if he is de-notified subsequently, faces a lifelong stigma and this tarnishes his reputation for life," the plea filed through advocate Fauzia Shakil said.
It further said section 35 of the amended Act did not mention when a person could be designated as terrorist.
"Whether on a mere registration of an FIR or upon conviction in a terrorism related case, designating a person as a terrorist on a mere belief of the government is arbitrary and excessive.
"A person is never informed of the grounds of his notification, so the remedy of challenging his notification under section 36, as provided for in the Act, is rendered practically otiose," the plea said.
The petition contended that the amendments were grossly disproportionate and had no rational nexus between the objects and means adopted to meet them.
"It is unclear as to what legitimate aim does the state seek to achieve by declaring a person as a terrorist without even providing an efficacious remedy to challenge his notification," it said.
The petition sought a direction from the court declaring sections 35 and 36 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act as unconstitutional and void as those violated the fundamental rights of individuals. -- PTI
20:07 First image of moon sent by Chandrayaan-2
JUST IN: First Moon image captured by Chandrayaan-2 Vikram Lander taken at a height of about 2,650 km from Lunar surface on August 21, 2019.
Mare Orientale basin and Apollo craters are identified in the picture. -- ANI
19:59 'Hindu Pakistan' comment: Calcutta HC stays arrest warrant against Tharoor
The Calcutta high court on Thursday stayed an arrest warrant issued against Congress MP Shashi Tharoor for the 'Hindu Pakistan' remark he had allegedly made last year.
Justice Rajasekhar Mantha stayed the bailable warrant and proceedings against Tharoor, issued by a city court in Kolkata, till further orders.
He directed Tharoor's lawyer to serve notice on Sumit Chowdhury, who had filed the case against the Congress MP, and fixed the matter for hearing on September 20.
At an event in Thiruvananthapuram, Tharoor had allegedly said that the BJP would rewrite the Constitution and pave the way for creation of a 'Hindu Pakistan' if voted to power again.
The statement had sparked off a controversy, with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party demanding an apology.
Tharoor's counsel Ritzu Ghoshal moved the petition ex-parte challenging the warrant against him, claiming that that the summons issued by the chief metropolitan magistrate was faulty and that he was not a resident within its jurisdiction.
Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Dipanjan Sen had on August 13 issued a bailable warrant against the MP from Thiruvananthapuram on a petition filed by lawyer Sumit Chowdhury, claiming that the statement promoted disharmony among people.
The matter was scheduled for hearing again on September 24.
Chowdhury had claimed that the former Union minister was indulging in a deliberate act to promote enmity between different groups of people on religious lines.
The petitioner also claimed that Tharoor's statement had violated section 2 of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971. -- PTI
19:06 Justice Banumathi will hear Chidambaram's plea
The Supreme Court on Thursday sent Congress leader P Chidambaram's plea challenging the Delhi high court verdict dismissing his anticipatory bail plea in INX Media case for hearing before a bench headed by Justice R Banumathi.
Chidambaram, who was arrested by the CBI on Wednesday in the case, has approached the apex court against the high court's August 20 verdict.
The Congress leader was arrested after he failed to get protection from the Supreme Court which on Wednesday decided to hear on Friday his petition seeking stay of the high court order.
His plea would come up for hearing before a bench comprising Justices R Banumathi and A S Bopanna.
A Delhi court Thursday allowed CBI the four-day custody of Chidambaram in the case. -- PTI
18:41 CBI gets Chidambaram's custody till Aug 26
The Central Bureau of Investigation gets the custody of former Union finance minister P Chidambaram till August 26.
18:16 Modi's 'Man Vs Wild' show creates record
Discovery Channel's special of Bear Grylls' "Man Vs Wild", featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi, made 3.69 million impressions upon its premiere.
The special episode, featuring the famed survivalist and adventurer with PM Modi, was shot in the Jim Corbett National Park.
It aired at 9pm on Discovery Channel on August 12.
In a statement, the channel quoted the data from Broadcast Audience Research Council and said the premiere delivered the highest-ever reach for the infotainment genre with 6.1 million tune-ins, which was 15 times more as compared to the last 4 weeks average of the time slot of 9-10pm in the urban markets.
"The premiere slot performance grew an astonishing 50 times giving an unprecedented 93% channel share to Discovery channel amongst the infotainment genre.
"Discovery Channel emerged as the third ranked channel with 3.05 million impressions behind Star Plus (3.67 million impressions) and Zee (3.3 million impressions). The show kept the viewers on the hook delivering an impressive average TSV of 29.2 minutes," the channel added.
Discovery also noted that that cumulative reach for the show across Discovery network, originals and repeat included, as well as DD National was an "imposing 42.7 million".
In light of the show's success, the channel pledged to donate a "generous" sum towards the cause of tiger conservation in India.
"As part of our global Project C.A.T Conserving Acres for Tigers, Discovery has partnered with World Wildlife Fund to ensure healthy habitats for future generations of Tigers by helping conserve nearly six million acres of bio diversity rich areas across four countries.
"With this contribution, Discovery India will extend support to Tiger conservation program at Corbett Landscape and Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve in partnership with WWF India," the channel said. -- PTI
17:55 China launches unmanned warship: Report
China has launched an unmanned warship, which its developer claims is combat-ready.
The ship, jointly developed by No. 716 and No. 702 research institutes under China's state-owned China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, has a length of about only 15 meters and a displacement of 20 tonnes.
The JARI multi-purpose unmanned combat vessel held its launch ceremony on Wednesday at an undisclosed location, state-run Global Times reported on Thursday, quoting a statement issued by the CSIC.
The launch indicates that the drone ship has gained initial combat capability, the statement said.
It will still need further tests to unlock its full potential of being a fully autonomous combat drone ship, it added.
It is capable of conducting air defence, anti-ship and anti-submarine missions as it is equipped with phased array radar system, vertical-launched missiles and torpedoes, state-run China Central Television reported in February this year when a model of the JARI was exhibited at the 14th International Defence Exhibition and Conference in Abu Dhabi.
The JARI can be remotely controlled, but also uses artificial intelligence to autonomously navigate and undertake combat activities once it receives commands, the CCTV reported. -- PTI
17:51 Court order on Chidambaram's remand shortly
A Delhi Court will deliver its order shortly on the Central Bureau of Investigation plea seeking 5-day custodial interrogation of Congress leader P Chidambaram, who was arrested in the INX Media corruption case.
17:17 Have answered every question: PC tells court
CBI Court reserves its order on an application of CBI seeking five day remand of former Finance Minister P Chidambaram in INX media case. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta arguing for CBI says the right to interrogate is his duty, duty to the nation under the Code of Criminal Procedure. "We are merely seeking court's permission to interrogate the accused further."
Chidambaram says, "Please look at the questions and answers, there are no questions which I have not answered, please read the transcript. They asked, if I have bank account abroad, I said no, they asked if my son has an account abroad I said yes."
16:49 SG refuses to allow Chidambaram to speak in court
Kapil Sibal arguing for P Chidambaram in court says this is a case which has nothing to do with evidence but with something else. "If a judge has taken seven months to deliver the judgement (Delhi HC judgment rejecting anticipatory bail of Chidambaram) then is that the protected umbrella Chidambaram got? We are aggrieved."
Abhishek Manu Singhvi also arguing for Chidambaram says the CBI's entire case is based on Indrani Mukherjea's evidence and a case diary. "Non cooperation is if probe agency calls me five times and I don't go, non cooperation is not giving the answer they like to hear. They called P Chidambaram once, and he went. Where is non cooperation?"
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta refuses to allow Chidambaram to speak in court. "Accused are not allowed to speak in court," the SG said and added that Chidambaram is being represented here by two senior advocates and there is no need for Chidambaram to speak. Abhishek Manu Singhvi said there is a Delhi HC judgement that allows the accused to make a representation on his behalf.
16:32 NDTV interim CEO Suparna Singh resigns
Media firm NDTV on Thursday said its Interim CEO Suparna Singh has resigned, with immediate effect. "Suparna Singh has informed the company that she will step down from her responsibilities as Interim CEO with immediate effect," NDTV said in a regulatory filing.
NDTV said pursuant to a board resolution on December 4, 2017, the board resolved to appoint Suparna Singh as its CEO subject to the receipt of requisite approval from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
"This approval was promptly applied for on December 12, 2017, but has not yet been received. Subsequently, Suparna Singh and the company entered into an appointment agreement to appoint Singh as the CEO where the appointment was conditional upon receipt of such approval," NDTV added.
Accordingly, Suparna Singh has been acting as the interim CEO during this interregnum, the company said. NDTV said the matter will be placed before board and committee members for consideration.
The CBI has booked NDTV promoters Prannoy Roy and Radhika Roy and others for allegedly violating foreign direct investment rules in a 2007-09 investment, a charge denied by the company. Besides the Roys, the agency registered a First Information Report against then CEO Vikramaditya Chandra as well as unidentified government officials on charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating and corruption, officials had said on Wednesday. -- PTI
15:51 CBI seeks 5-day custody of Chidambaram
P Chidambaram produced before Delhi court in INX Media corruption case. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta arguing for CBI in court says he has moved an application seeking five-day custody of P Chidambaram.
The CBI accuses Chidambaram of misusing his position. Being deliberately evasive is wrong. Chidambaram gave undue advantage of INX media. The CBI says $5 million and $45,000 was paid to Karti.
15:39 Chidambaram produced before court in INX case
Congress leader P Chidambaram, arrested by the CBI, was produced before a Delhi Court Thursday in the INX Media corruption case. The hearing would take place before Special Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar.
Soon after entering the courtroom, Chidambaram was seen having discussions with his party leaders and senior advocates Kapil Sibal, Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Vivek Tankha. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who will represent CBI in the case, is also present in the court.
Chidambaram's family members, including his wife Nalini and son Karti, are also in the courtroom along with other senior advocates including Dayan Krishnan. Heavy security arrangement has been made outside the courtroom. He was arrested late Wednesday night from his Jor Bagh residence.
The CBI had registered an FIR on May 15, 2017, alleging irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board clearance granted to the INX Media group for receiving overseas funds of Rs 305 crore in 2007 during Chidambaram's tenure as the finance minister. Thereafter, the ED lodged a money laundering case in this regard in 2018. -- PTI
15:23 SC hears Ayodhya Case for 10th consecutive day
The apex court on Thursday commenced the hearing in Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case for the 10th consecutive day, with one of the litigants seeking enforcement of his right to worship at the disputed site.
The five-judge member bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi was hearing the matter.Senior Supreme Court lawyer and former Solicitor General (SG) Ranjit Kumar was arguing for Gopal Singh Bisharad in the case.
Fourteen appeals are pending before the apex court against the 2010 Allahabad High Court verdict which ordered equal division of the 2.77-acre disputed land in Ayodhya among the three parties -- Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla. The 16th-century Babri Masjid was demolished on December 6, 1992. - ANI
14:58 Depressing, bad, sad: Mamata on PC's arrest
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee: "Sometimes the process in incorrect, I'm not talking about legality, but Chidambaram is a senior politician, he is a former finance minister and home minister. The way his matter has been handled, that is very depressing, that's very bad, and sad as well."
14:48 Probe office in INX Media case transferred back to Delhi police
Investigating Officer (IO) in INX media case, Rakesh Ahuja, has been transferred back to Delhi police.
Enforcement Directorate (ED) has clarified that Rakesh Ahuja's term in ED was over 3 weeks back.
14:45 Chidambaram to be produced in court at 4 pm
The CBI's second round of interrogation with the former home and finance minister P Chidambaram has ended. Reports say he was questioned for over three hours. He is set to be produced before a special CBI court at 4 pm. The CBI will seek his remand.
The senior Congress leader was arrested from his Jor Bagh home in a dramatic series of events on Wednesday night. He was held in a guest house on the ground floor of the CBI headquarters.
After his arrest, doctors from the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital conducted medical examination on him at the CBI headquarters, sources said. Chidambaram has been kept in the suit No. 5 of the CBI Guest House on the ground floor of the agency headquarters, they said.
Chidambaram's son Karti and his wife Nalini are also in court.
14:10 TN Govt honours ISRO chairman with Dr Kalam award
ISRO Chairman K Sivan was on Thursday honoured with the Tamil Nadu government's Dr A P J Abdul Kalam Award by Chief Minister K Palaniswami.
The award was earlier announced in recognition of Sivan's stellar work in the promotion of science and technology. Sivan, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation, was originally scheduled to receive the award here during the Independence Day celebrations on August 15, but could not do so. The government had earlier said Sivan would receive the award from Palaniswami on a later date. -- PTI
14:07 Could One Man Single-Handedly Ruin the Planet?
Brazil's newly elected president just might test the proposition that no individual matters all that much to the climate. Often called the "Trump of the Tropics,' the cartoonish quasi-fascist Jair Bolsonaro is almost certain to be worse on global warming than Trump himself. So bad, in fact, that he is already a horrifying argument for a Great Man Theory of climate change.
Read the column here
13:59 Ajay Kumar Bhalla is new home secretary
Ajay Kumar Bhalla, currently serving as an officer on special duty in the home ministry, was appointed as the new Union home secretary on Thursday, an official order said.
The Appointments Committee of the cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved Bhalla's appointment as the new home secretary. He replaces Rajiv Gauba, who was appointed as the new cabinet secretary on Wednesday.
Bhalla, a 1984-batch Assam-Meghalaya cadre IAS officer, served as the Union power secretary, before being appointed as an officer on special duty on July 24. He will have a fixed two-year tenure till August 2021 as the home secretary. -- PTI
13:57 Cong trying to convert corruption into revolution: Naqvi
Hitting out at the Congress for strongly backing P Chidambaram in the INX Media case, Union minister and senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Thursday said the opposition party and its leadership is trying to "convert corruption into a revolution".
Senior Congress leader Chidambaram was on Wednesday night arrested by the CBI from his residence in upscale Jor Bagh amid high drama with some officers vaulting over walls to gain entry. The former finance minister's arrest came hours after he failed to get any immediate reprieve from the Supreme Court.
A host of Congress leaders have expressed solidarity with Chidambaram, with Rahul Gandhi accusing the government of playing the politics of character assassination while Priyanka Gandhi Vadra alleged he is being "hunted down" for exposing the failures of the government.
"The Congress is working with a negative mindset. They have converted corruption into a revolution. This is for the first time that corruption is becoming a revolution. Till now, revolution was against corruption, now revolution is being carried out in favour of corruption," Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told PTI.
"Law enforcement agencies will do their work and courts will do their own work. But, the Congress party and its leadership is trying to convert corruption into a revolution," he said.
The Congress on Thursday came down heavily on the BJP government over the arrest of Chidambaram, accusing it of using the CBI and the ED as "personal revenge-seeking departments".
"Over the last two days India witnessed the broad daylight murder of democracy as also the rule of law," Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said. He said that while many accused in the INX Media case have not been arrested, a senior politician has been arrested without any legal basis.
Chidambaram, 73, spent a quiet night in the CBI guest house on the ground floor of the agency headquarters after his dramatic arrest. -- PTI
13:52
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Officer on Special Duty, Ministry of Home Affairs as Home Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs.
13:42 Akshay earned Rs 466 cr in 2018-19
With an earning figure of USD 65 million (approximately 466 crore), Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar has beaten Hollywood biggies like Bradley Cooper, Chris Evans and Will Smith to secure fourth place in Forbes' annual list of world's highest paid actors.
Only Dwayne Johnson (USD 89.4 million), Chris Hemsworth (USD 76.4 million) and Robert Downey Jr (USD 66 million) have more earnings than Akshay.
Akshay is currently riding high on the success of his latest release "Mission Mangal" which has crossed Rs 100 crore mark at the box office. The outlet reported that Akshay pulls in "at least USD 5 million and up to USD 10 million per film".
He gets millions through his endorsement of over 20 brands, including Tata and Harpic.
All earnings of the actors were calculated between the period of June 1, 2018, and June 1, 2019. After Akshay, legendary actor Jackie Chan is placed at fifth with USD 58 million haul, followed by Cooper and Adam Sandler at sixth with USD 57 million each. Evans, who appeared alongside Cooper, Downey Jr and Hemsworth in summer blockbuster "Avengers: Endgame", secured eighth place in the list. Paul Rudd and Smith were placed at the ninth and tenth positions, respectively. -- PTI
13:20 J-K day 18: Mobile, internet remain suspended
Restrictions were eased in most areas of Kashmir with barricades being lifted and the movement of people and traffic increasing gradually, but markets remained shut and mobile and internet services suspended for the 18th day on Thursday.
Officials said the situation was peaceful and no untoward incident was reported from anywhere in the Kashmir Valley on Wednesday. In view of the improving situation, the movement of people and traffic was slowly increasing in the city and other district headquarters of the Valley, they said.
Public transport stayed off the roads, but a few inter-district cabs and auto-rickshaws were seen plying in some areas. The attendance of teachers in schools up to middle class-level and employees in government offices was also improving. However, most students stayed away due to the prevailing situation, they added.
The government ordered the reopening of primary schools across the Valley from Monday and middle schools from Wednesday. The officials said restrictions have been eased in several areas of Kashmir, including in most parts of Srinagar.
Barricades have been removed from uptown and civil lines areas of the city as well as from most areas in other districts. However, the deployment of security forces continues to avoid any law and order problems, they said.
The officials said markets were shut in most places in the Valley, as they have been since August 5 when the Centre revoked Jammu and Kashmir's special status under Article 370 and bifurcated the state into two Union territories. -- PTI
Image: A Kashmiri man holds up a local newspaper replete with ads cancelling functions in view of the prevailing lockdown in the Valley. Pic: Umar Ganie
12:52 Defence Minister to induct Apache attack choppers at Pathankot Air Base
Boosting the firepower of India's defence forces, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will officially induct the first batch of Apache attack helicopters into the Indian Air Force on September 3 in Pathankot.
"The Defence Minister is scheduled to induct the Apache attack choppers into the Air Force officially in Pathankot on September 3. The first batch of choppers had arrived at the Hindan air base about three weeks ago at the Hindan airbase in an Antonov cargo plane," defence officials told ANI.
The AH-64E helicopters, the latest variants of the Apache, were delivered from the US. After the first four choppers, another batch had come to the air base and the eight Apaches are likely to be inducted in the first go.
The Defence Ministry had finalised the order for production, training and support of 22 AH-64 Apache attack helicopters in 2015.
Two years later, the Central government cleared the acquisition of an additional six Apaches for the Indian Army.
By 2020, Boeing would hand over the entire fleet of 22 Apaches to the Indian Air Force for operations.India had signed a deal worth USD 3 billion in 2018 for the supply of 15 Chinook heavy-lift choppers and 22 attack helicopters from American firms.
Both the deals were initiated during the UPA era around 2008-09 but could not be signed due to procedural and other issues in the contract. -- ANI
12:48 Modi leaves for France as part of 3-nation visit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday emplaned for Paris for the first leg of his three-nation visit to France, the UAE and Bahrain from August 22 to 26.
"PM @narendramodi emplanes for Paris. Over the next few days, he will attend important bilateral and multilateral programmes in France, UAE and Bahrain," tweeted PMO India.
The prime minister will arrive in France on Thursday evening and will straightaway head to talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, who will also host a special dinner for Modi at the Chateau de Chantilly, a 19th-century site located in Oise, 60 km from Paris.
On the second day, Modi will meet Prime Minister Edouard Charles Philippe and UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay.
During his visit to France, the prime minister is also scheduled to address the Indian community in Paris and also inaugurate the Memorial for the Indian victims of the Air India crashes at Nid D'Aigle.
"My visit to France reflects the strong strategic partnership, which our two countries deeply value, and share. On 22-23 August 2019, I would have bilateral meetings in France, including a summit interaction with President Emmanuel Macron and a meeting with Prime Minister Philippe," said Modi in a statement before departure.
On August 24, Modi will visit the Kingdom of Bahrain, where he will meet Prime Minister Prince Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa. He will also call upon King of Bahrain Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and other leaders.
Prime minister will also interact with the Indian diaspora in Manama and inaugurate the formal beginning of the re-development of the temple of Shreenathji,
12:43
Kolkata High Court stays the arrest warrant against Shashi Tharoor issued in connection with his 'Hindu-Pakistan' comment, until disposal of the revision application.
12:34
Rajiv Gandhi assassination case: Madras High Court extends parole of convict Nalini by three weeks.
12:33 Raj Thackeray reaches ED office with family
MNS chief Raj Thackeray, summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case, on Thursday reached the agency's office in south Mumbai with his family members in tow.
The MNS leader reached the ED office around 11.30 am, accompanied by wife Sharmila, son Amit and daughter-in-law Mitali.
After Raj entered the office alone, his family members camped at a nearby hotel.
The ED has summoned Raj in a case pertaining to alleged irregularities related to Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (IL&FS) loan to Kohinoor CTNL.
The Mumbai police imposed section 144 of CrPC (banning unlawful assembly) outside the ED office and in some parts of Dadar, where the MNS chief resides and parts of central Mumbai.
The move was taken apprehending law and order problem, a police official said.
"Raj has appealed his party workers not to throng outside the ED office but we don't want to take any chances," the official said.
12:30 China welcomes extension for Gen Bajwa as Pak army chief
Not surprisingly, the Chinese foreign ministry has welcomed the 3-year extension granted to Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa as Pakistan army chief.
'We believe [that] under the leadership of Gen Bajwa, Pakistan Army will continue to make contributions to upholding Pakistan's sovereignty and security interests and regional peace and stability,' Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said during a media briefing, reports Dawn.com.
'We have noticed this decision by the Pakistani government. General Bajwa is an extraordinary leader of Pakistan Army,' Geng said, reports the website, here.
12:26 BDJS leader Thushar Vellapally held in UAE in cheque case
Thushar Vellapally, president of Bharath Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), a coalition partner of the BJP-led NDA in Kerala, has been arrested at Ajman in UAE in connection with a Rs 19 crore cheque case.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday wrote to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, seeking his intervention in the matter.
Vellapally is also the vice president of the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam, a prominent organisation of the backward Ezhava community in the state.
The arrest was on a complaint from a Thrissur native N Abdulla in a Rs 19 crore cheque case of 2009 when Vellapally was running a construction business in Ajman, according to media reports.
Thushar Vellapally had unsuccessfully contested as the NDA candidate from Wayanad in the Lok Sabha elections in April 23 this year, in which Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had emerged triumphant.
12:11 Kolhapur floods caused by tampering with flood lines: RTI
The flood havoc in Kolhapur and Sangli districts has killed 54 people and thousands of cattle, besides causing colossal loss of property, farmlands and crops. Was it the ferocity of nature that caused such a great calamity or did human interference aggravate the situation?
RTI documents reveal that tampering of the red and blue line demarcation of the Panchganga River in the Kolhapur Development Plan, due to the pressure of the builder lobby through the Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Associations of India (CREDAI), to which the chief minister's office responded affirmatively, resulted in turning 1250 acres of floodline area, prohibited for any construction, into a concrete maze.
Read the report here
11:54 Raj govt to provide 70 ltrs free water per person every day to desert residents
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has approved a proposal to provide 70 litres of water for free to residents of the 13 desert districts of the state, an official statement said on Wednesday.
According to a statement by Rajasthan government, the state chief minister has approved the proposal of the finance department for amending the water tariff to give relief to the people of state.
The state government had previously approved to provide 40 litres of free water to all individuals in rural areas of the state but the fresh decision was taken considering an additional need of 30 litres for residents having livestock in the desrt areas, the statement said.
11:51 Who wore their abs better?
Virat Kohli partied with the Indian team at Jolly Beach in Antigua on Wednesday, ahead of India's first Test of the two-match series against the West Indies.
Indian captain Virat Kohli and fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah stood out by flaunting their impressive six-pack abs. Besides many fans on social media, former India cricketer Yuvraj Singh also heaped praise on the Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah for their fitness. "Sun soaking with @virat.kohli and the team," Bumrah captioned a picture with skipper Kohli on Instagram.
11:48 Imran directs his party to organise protests during Modi's UN visit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is scheduled to visit the United States of America next month to address the United Nations General Assembly, is likely to face protests organised by Pakistan over the decision to scrap Article 370.
Dawn.com reports that Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan 'has issued directives' to his party Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's foreign chapters 'to prepare to stage a protest in New York during Mr Modi's arrival'.
'The instructions were given during a meeting of PTI Office of International Chapter's secretary Dr Abdullah Riar with Mr Khan,' reports Dawn.com.
Khan has also 'directed Mr Riar to mobilise Pakistani community in the US and human rights organisations' against India during Modi's visit to New York City, the website reports.
You can read the report here.
Photograph: Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters.
11:36 US seeking balancing act in S Asia over Kashmir: Report
The US is seeking a balancing act in South Asia after India revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and divided it into two Union Territories, according to a congressional report which said President Donald Trump's offer to "mediate" on the issue may have contributed to the timing of New Delhi's moves.
According to the latest Congressional Research Service report which runs into over 15 pages the longstanding US position on Kashmir is that the territory's status should be settled through negotiations between India and Pakistan while taking into consideration the wishes of the Kashmiri people.
"The United States seeks to balance pursuit of a broad US-India partnership while upholding human rights protections, as well as maintaining cooperative relations with Pakistan," the report said.
The Trump administration has called for peace and respect for human rights in the region. With key US diplomatic posts vacant, some observers worry that the US capacity is thin, and the US president Trump's July offer to "mediate" on Kashmir may have contributed to the timing of New Delhi's moves, it said.
The CRS reports are not considered as an official position of the US Congress. Notably the CRS has come out with a report on Kashmir after 17 years, reflecting the interest among lawmakers about the issue after the recent development.
Read the full report here
11:10 CBI, ED govt's revenge-seeking departments: Cong
The Congress on Thursday came down heavily on the BJP government over the arrest of P Chidambaram, accusing it of using the CBI and the ED as "personal revenge-seeking departments". Senior Congress leader and former Finance Minister Chidambaram was arrested last night amid high drama by the CBI and he spent the night at a agency guest house.
"Over the last two days India witnessed the broad daylight murder of democracy as also the rule of law," said Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala. He further said that while many accused in the INX Media case have not been arrested, a senior politician has been arrested without any legal basis.
"Government using CBI, ED as personal revenge-seeking departments for the party in power as also those ruling country", Surjewala charged. "A seasoned politician was arrested on the statement of a woman charged with murder of her own daughter", says Surjewala referring to Indrani Mukherjea. He further alleged that "false charges" were being heaped on senior political rivals to "silence" everyone in country. PTI
11:06 Confident there is no case against Chidambaram: Khurshid
Senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid on Thursday termed the arrest of party leader P Chidambaram as 'deeply distressing' and said 'we are very confident there is no case against him'.
"It's deeply distressing that all that happened (arrest). The matter is listed for hearing on Friday. They could have waited until then to see what the Supreme Court wants to do. We are very confident that there is no case against Chidambaram," Khurshid told ANI.
Chidambaram, one of the key ministers during ten years of UPA regime, was taken to headquarters of the probe agency after CBI officials scaled the boundary walls of his residence in Jor Bagh on Wednesday night to arrest him in connection with the INX Media case. -- ANI
11:03 ED to question Raj Thackeray today
The Mumbai Police on Thursday detained Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader Sandeep Deshpande ahead of party chief Raj Thackeray's questioning by the Enforcement Directorate.
Deshpande was detained by the Shivaji Park police to pre-empt any law-and-order problem as the MNS had planned to protest against the ED summons, police sources said.
Security has also been beefed up at the ED's office situated at Ballard Estate ahead of MNS leader's appearance. Police have installed barricades and is monitoring movements near the probe agency's office.
Thackeray, in a social media post on Wednesday, had expressed willingness to cooperate with the investigating agency and had requested his party workers to maintain peace and harmony.
"No harm or damage should come upon any public property and the common man should not suffer in any way", read a public announcement shared by Thackeray on Twitter.
The ED has summoned Thackeray to appear before it at 10 am today for questioning in connection with a case pertaining to alleged irregularities related to Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (IL&FS) loan to Kohinoor CTNL.
10:53 Karti Chidambaram to protest at Jantar Mantar
Karti Chidambaram on his father's arrest: This is not merely targeting of my father but the targeting of Congress party. I will go to Jantar Mantar to protest. The Congress party's legal team comprising Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Kapil Sibal, Salman Khurshid is in a huddle, even as Chidambaram is being grilled.
He added hat he has never met the Mukerjeas. "I've never met Peter Mukerjea, I've never met Indrani Mukerjea in my life. The only time I've seen Indrani was when CBI took me to confront her. I have had no interaction with anyone directly or indirectly connected with their company."
The protest in Jantar Mantar today is about Article 370, Karti said. "Our whole party, alliance parties, the leader of DMK raised this issue (P Chidambaram's arrest) as well, Mr. MK Stalin condemned it yesterday."
10:49 Who will bridge the gap?
If its not drought, its floods. In Kalahandi, Odisha, which has never quite shaken off its backward tag, locals carry a pregnant woman on a cot for at least 12 km, through the Jelingadhora river up to Kaniguma gram to get to an ambulance, as there was no motorable road.
10:42
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena Chief Raj Thackeray has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate to appear before the agency, today.
10:35 Isn't a citizen entitled to be heard: Sibal
Senior Supreme Court lawyer Kapil Sibal, who is also P Chidambaram's counsel on the arrest. "It's a matter of great concern to us as members of the legal fraternity, also it should be a matter of concern as citizens. All we wanted was a hearing, the presiding judge chose instead to say that I am sending the file to CJI. Isn't a citizen entitled to be heard?"
10:05 CBI grills Chidambaram in INX media case
The CBI is likely to begin grilling former Union Minister P Chidambaram who was arrested yesterday, is being interrogated in the INX media scam. He has been asked to divulge details of his meeting with Indrani Mukerjea, co-founder of INX media.
Chidambaram has been accused of facilitating a huge infusion of foreign funds into a television company, INX Media, in 2007 at the behest of his son Karti Chidambaram, who allegedly received kickbacks for this. At the time, he was the country's finance minister in the UPA government.
Chidambaram and his son were named by Peter and Indrani Mukerjea, who owned INX Media at the time and are currently in jail in connection with the murder of Indrani Mukerjea's daughter Sheena Bora.
Chidambaram has denied the allegations, saying the case is politically motivated.
Karti Chidambaram, who reached Delhi today had denied any links in the INX media case and said he has never met Peter Mukerjea or his wife Indrani.
09:51 PM heads to France
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will leave for France today for a two-day official visit. PM Modi will hold bilateral meetings with the President of France Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Edouard Philippe. The PM will also hold bilateral meetings with Macron, delegations-level talks, issue joint press statement and attend a dinner hosted by the French President.
File pic: PM Modi with French president Macron
09:28 India and others nations at some point would have to fight against terrorists in Afghanistan: Trump
Countries like India, Iran, Russia and Turkey would have to fight against terrorists in Afghanistan at some point of time, US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday, ruing that the job against terrorist is being done only by the United States some 7,000 miles away.
Trump said that other nations currently are making very less efforts against the terrorists in Afghanistan.
"At a certain point Russia, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Turkey they are going to have to fight their battles too. We wiped out the caliphate 100 per cent. I did it in record time but at a certain point all of these other countries where IS is around they have been decimated by the way, badly decimated, Trump told reporters at the White House while responding to a question on the reemergence of ISIS in Afghanistan.
"All of these countries are going to have to fight them because do we want to stay there for another 19 years? I don't think so. So, at a certain point other countries and that includes Russia and it includes Iran and Turkey and Iraq and Afghanistan and Pakistan and India, he said.
Trump's comments came a day after he indicated that the US forces will not completely withdraw from the warn-torn Afghanistan and America will have "somebody there" to make sure that Taliban does not regain control.
Trump said that the US was fighting the terrorists in Afghanistan despite being 7,000 miles away while India and Pakistan were not doing so even after being next door.
"Look, India is right there. They are not fighting it. We are fighting it. Pakistan is right next door. They are fighting it very little. Very, very little. It's not fair. The United States is 7,000 miles away, Trump said.
-- PTI
09:05 CBI preps 100 questions to grill Chidambaram
Former Union Minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, who was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday night for his alleged role in INX Media case, will be produced before a special court on Thursday.
The special CBI court is headed by Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar, that deals with cases pertaining to MPs and MLAs. It is expected that the CBI will seek P Chidambaram's custody for maximum days.
Previously also the CBI had demanded P Chidambaram's custodial interrogation and said that he had been non-cooperative during earlier meets. According to reports, the CBI is prepared to interrogate the former Union Minister with over 100 questions including documentary evidence.
It has been reported that the medical tests of Chidambaram were conducted inside the CBI headquarters in Delhi.
09:01 Imran Khan vents frustration at India: No point talking to them
Prime Minister Imran Khan of Pakistan intensified his criticism of India on Wednesday over its Kashmir crackdown, saying he would no longer seek dialogue with Indian officials and raising the threat of a military escalation between the nuclear-armed neighbors.
In an interview with The New York Times, Khan complained bitterly about what he described as repeated rebuffs from Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India at his entreaties for communication, both before and after the August 5 crackdown on the disputed territory of Kashmir.
There is no point in talking to them. I mean, I have done all the talking. Unfortunately, now when I look back, all the overtures that I was making for peace and dialogue, I think they took it for appeasement, Khan, dressed in traditional Pakistani attire, said during the interview at the prime ministers office in Islamabad. There is nothing more that we can do.
Read the full story HERE
08:39 Chidambaram to be produced in court at 2 pm today
After his arrest, P Chidambaram was taken to the CBI HQ in Lodhi Colony, where he was placed under arrest.
He will be produced before a court today at 2 pm. Sources said the agency may also ask his son, Karti, to join the investigations so that they can bring the duo face-to-face and cross examine them.
08:26 Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad detained
A protest by Dalits against the demolition of a Ravidas temple in the Tughlakabad area in New Delhi turned violent on Wednesday night, leaving several people, including policemen, injured.
A heavy police force was deployed in the area as tension prevailed after police resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the protesters and detained Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad and 50 others, a senior police officer said.
However, police have denied any reports of injury to the protesters.
"At 7.30 pm, the mob that gathered at Ravi Das Marg turned unruly and became violent despite persuasion and appeal by police to maintain peace and started pelting stones and attacking policemen," DCP (southeast) Chinmoy Biswal said.
"Mild and reasonable force had to be used to disperse the unruly mob. Some policemen have sustained injuries in the incident. There are no injuries to the public. Some members of the unruly mob have been detained and being verified. Appropriate legal action is being taken in this matter," he said, adding that a case was registered in the matter.
The protest attended by a large number of people from different states caused massive traffic jams in several areas of the city.
According to the police, violent protesters damaged a few vehicles and two motorcycles were set ablaze.
The Ravidas temple was demolished by the Delhi Development Authority earlier this month on the orders of the Supreme Court.
07:52 Father arrested to divert from Art 370: Karti
Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram's son Karti Chidambaram said that his father's arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday night in connection with INX Media case is being done just to divert attention from the issue of Article 370.
"It (arrest of P Chidambaram by CBI) is being done just to divert attention from the issue of Article 370," Karti said.
"This whole thing is politically trumped-up. There are no merits whatsoever. These are apparently about alleged events which took place in 2008 for which an FIR was filed in 2017. I have been raided four times. I have been summoned 20 times. I have appeared for at least 10-12 hours in each of the summons. I was also the guest of the CBI for 11 days. Everybody who is even remotely associated with me has been summoned and extensively questioned, and still, we don't have a charge-sheet. There is no case. I have absolutely no link with INX Media," Karti said.
On the arrest of P Chidambaram, Karti said, "This is like a staged reality show to have all these dramatic visuals on television. There is no reason for this kind of drama... It's not done in an honest investigation... They are still in an FIR stage. There is no chargesheet for an event which apparently happened in 2008. Nearly eleven years after you still can't have a charge-sheet for an event, your FIR was filed in 2017."
Karti claimed that the officials who are investigating "clearly know that there is no case, but nobody has the courage to actually write in the file that there is no case, let's close."
"They will just keep the pot boiling and can have a never-ending investigation. In India, unfortunately, there is no time limit to close an investigation. You can keep the investigation open forever and that's a great tool for harassment. My father has appeared for every summon which is being served upon," he said.
-- ANI
00:44 Guns fail to fire during state funeral of ex-CM
While former Bihar Chief Minister Jagannath Mishra's mortal remains were being cremated with full state honours on Wednesday, guns toted by 22 police personnel failed to fire a single shot.
Hours after the cremation took place at Balua Bazar, Mishra's ancestral village in Supaul district, local news channels began beaming video footage of the embarrassing spectacle.
A senior official could be seen hastily testing guns of a couple of police personnel, trying to test whether the weapons had any life left by pulling the trigger, only to resign himself to the anticlimax.
The episode, which took place in the presence of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and many other dignitaries, has raised hackles at the police headquarters in Patna.
"This is a serious lapse. It was imperative to ensure that the guns were functional and the cartridges used therein were usable. We have sought an explanation from the district police of Supaul in this regard," a senior official said in Patna on condition of anonymity. -- PTI
IMAGE: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar pays tribute to former chief minister the late Jagannath Mishra, at his residence in Patna, on Tuesday. Photograph: PTI Photo
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