LIVE! Pak intruder arrested along IB in Jammu

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Mon, 07 October 2019

Pak intruder arrested along IB in Jammu

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23:35 Pak intruder arrested along IB in Jammu

A Pakistani intruder was arrested by Border Security Force personnel along the International Border here on Monday, officials said.

The intruder was apprehended soon after he crossed the border in R S Pura sector of Jammu, they said.

He is being questioned, the officials said, refusing to divulge any other details.

This is the third Pakistani intruder to be arrested along the Indo-Pak border in Jammu in the last 17 days.

A Pakistani teenager was arrested in Akhnoor sector of Jammu on October 3 and another Pakistani national was arrested from Chandu Chak village of R S Pura on September 21. -- PTI

23:14 Cong replaces Raj Babbar as UP party chief

The Congress on Monday night appointed Ajay Kumar Lallu as president of its Uttar Pradesh unit, replacing Raj Babbar, party sources said.

Ajay is the Congress Legislature Party leader in Uttar Pradesh and is a two-time MLA from Tamkuhi Raj constituency.

He is considered close to Priyanka Gandhi Vadra who is the party's general secretary (Incharge, Uttar Pradesh East). -- PTI

23:00 No talks with India: Imran tells US senators

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan told a visiting United States Congressional delegation on Monday that talks with India were out of question in view of the situation in Kashmir after India revoked Jammu and Kashmir's special status.

Khan said there would be no talks with India during a meeting with US senators Chris Van Hollen and Maggi Hassan, who met to share their observations with the prime minister about their visit to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on Sunday, Geo News reported.

Khan said he was the biggest supporter of Pakistan-India talks; however, it is impossible until the situation is changed for the better in Kashmir.

But India has pointed out to Pakistan that as long as it supports cross-border terrorism, New Delhi will not resume talks with Islamabad. Khan also thanked the US senators for cooperation on the issue of Kashmir.

Hollen is part of a group of US senators who have expressed concern over the human rights situation in Kashmir, the report said.

In his maiden speech at the United Nations General Assembly last month, Khan raised the Kashmir issue and demanded that India must lift the 'inhuman curfew' in Kashmir and release all 'political prisoners'.

Khan devoted half of his address to the Kashmir issue, warning that if there's face-off between two nuclear-armed neighbours, the consequences would be far beyond their borders.

India has been maintaining that the Kashmir issue is a bilateral matter between India and Pakistan and there is no scope for third-party mediation.

Ties between India and Pakistan came under severe strain after New Delhi's decision to revoke Jammu and Kashmir's special status on August 5.

Pakistan reacted angrily to the move and expelled the Indian envoy.

Since then, Pakistan has been trying to rally international support against India on the issue.

US Congress members Tahir Javed and US charge d affairs Paul Jones were also a part of the delegation that met Khan, the report said.

The US delegation also met Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Bajwa at the General Headquarters, said a statement by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military's media wing.

The Afghan reconciliation process, as well as issues of mutual interest and overall regional security were discussed with the visiting dignitaries.

Bajwa appreciated Washington's understanding and support on resolving the Kashmir issue, as well as, Pakistan's efforts in Afghanistan, The Express Tribune reported.

Both the sides stressed upon importance of strong bilateral relationship between the US and Pakistan in and beyond security cooperation, the report said. -- PTI

22:43 US, China to hold trade talks on Oct 10

The United States and China will hold the next round of trade negotiations on October 10, the White House announced on Monday, as the two major trading powers tried to end their bruising trade war.

The American side would be led by US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Secretary of Treasury Steven Mnuchin.

The Chinese delegation will be led by Vice Premier Liu He.

Topics of discussion will include forced technology transfer, intellectual property rights, services, non-tariff barriers, agriculture and enforcement, the White House Press Secretary said in a statement.

"The two sides will look to build on the deputy-level talks of the past weeks," White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham said.

China and the US have been negotiating a trade deal for more than 10 months now.

President Donald Trump wants to reach an agreement with the Chinese that reduces the massive trade imbalance between the two countries, which last year climbed to over $ 539 billion.

He also wants China to address the issue of theft of intellectual properties of US companies and their forced coercion inside China.

The Trump administration had first imposed tariffs on Chinese imports last year in a bid to win concessions from China, which responded with tit-for-tat tariffs.

The escalating dispute between the world's two largest economies has depressed stock prices and poses a threat to the global economy.

Both sides have made conciliatory gestures ahead of the next round of talks, but a deal remains elusive.

The US postponed a further tariff hike on Chinese goods, and China lifted punitive duties on soybeans.

The move helps both American farmers and Chinese pig breeders, who use soy as feed and are struggling with a devastating outbreak of African swine fever. -- PTI

The government on Monday set up a high-level inter-ministerial committee chaired by revenue secretary for better coordination among various departments and law enforcement agencies to prevent money laundering activities.

The 19-member Inter-Ministerial Co-ordination Committee (IMCC) has five secretaries, including from ministries of finance and external affairs, and chiefs of various regulatory authorities, as well as probe agencies, according to a notification.

Besides ensuring operational co-operation between the government, law enforcement agencies, the Financial Intelligence Unit-India and the regulators or supervisors, the committee would also work on development and implementing policies on anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism. -- PTI

21:55 J-K Guv asks to lift advisory to tourists

Government of Jammu and Kashmir says that Governor Satya Pal Malik has directed that the Home Department's advisory asking tourists to leave the valley be lifted immediately.

This will be done with effect from October 10, 2019, it said.

Malik held a situation cum security review meeting today with the advisors and the chief secretary.

The meeting was also attended by the principal secretaries of Planning and Housing & Urban Development Department.

The Governor was briefed about the Block Development Councils (BDC) elections.

He was informed that there is active interest in the BDC elections and most of the seats of Chairpersons of BDCs would be filled. -- ANI

21:24 Respect personal life: Cong on Rahul's visit

The Congress on Monday steered clear of reports that its leader Rahul Gandhi was travelling abroad ahead of assembly elections, saying personal liberty has always been respected in India's democratic tradition and personal matters should not be mixed with public life of an individual.

Assembly elections in Haryana and Maharashtra are being held on October 21.

The Congress also said that its leaders have not received communication with regard to any changes in rules for their SPG cover when abroad, after reports claimed that the SPG would now accompany protectees even while they are out of the country.

"In India's democratic tradition, there is a difference between personal and public life and personal liberty has always been respected," Congress national secretary Pranav Jha told reporters when asked about Gandhi going abroad.

"Those who have tried to create a controversy over the issue or those people and institutions who are misusing their powers to make public the personal visits of some leaders should respect personal liberty," Jha added.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has been attacking Gandhi and raised questions over reports of his visit abroad at a time when two key states are going to the polls.

"The personal should not be mixed with the public life of an individual," Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said on Twitter while defending the former party president.

Asked about reports claiming changes in rules of SPG cover for leaders like Rahul Gandhi when abroad, Jha asked whether the government was trying to spy on their leaders.

"Since this is a matter relating to security, we will not offer any comment based on a news report that appeared in a newspaper. We will respond as and when our leaders receive any official communication from the government in this regard," Jha said. -- PTI

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah has demanded unconditional release of all those detained or arrested in the wake of abrogation of Article 370 for any political process to begin in the state, the party said on Monday, a day after its delegation met the leader for the first time after his detention.

An NC spokesman said the party president also told the delegation that the people of the state have voiced their disapproval over the revocation of the special status and bifurcation of the state by protesting in a peaceful manner and the party cannot ignore these sentiments.

A 15-member NC delegation were on Sunday allowed to meet Farooq Abdullah and party vice president Omar Abdullah for the first time since their detention.

"It was made very clear to the visiting party delegation by the incarcerated leaders that no political process can take place until and unless certain actions are undertaken by the government of India straightaway," the spokesman said.

Block Development Council (BDC) elections in the state are scheduled for October 24 and the NC has maintained that it will be not be able to take part in the exercise if its leaders are kept in detention.

Among the demands put forth by the NC leaders is release of all political detainees, traders, civil society members that have been arrested on 'false grounds', the spokesman said.

They also demanded release of all students and children that have been arrested and put under detention in various jails or police stations, he said.

The spokesman claimed that there was an attempt to downplay the situation in the state by 'suggesting that only violence would be indicative of public resentment'.

"People have rejected the abridgement of their rights following the unilateral abrogation of Article 370. It is indeed high time for GOI to restore the dignity of the people by undoing the steps that were taken on the 5th and 6th August," he said.

He said the NC leaders are of the firm belief that the party cannot overlook and ignore the public sentiment.

While Omar Abdullah has been kept in detention at Hari Niwas Palace, Farooq Abdullah has been arrested under the controversial Public Safety Act. -- PTI

19:35 US pulls out troops ahead of Turkey's Syria op

The United States military on Monday evacuated two observation posts in the Syrian cities of Ras al-Ain and Tell Abiad, Sputnik news agency reported.

This came hours after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Ankara would kick off a military air and ground operation in Syria in the coming days.

The White House had previously announced that the US will not support 'or be involved in' the military operation by Turkey in northeast Syria.

"Turkey will soon be moving forward with its long-planned operation into Northern Syria. The United States Armed Forces will not support or be involved in the operation, and United States forces, having defeated the ISIS territorial 'Caliphate,' will no longer be in the immediate area," White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement cited by The Hill.

More than 1,000 US troops are currently deployed in northeastern Syria, where they work closely with the Kurdish YPG, which leads the Syrian Democratic Forces in the region.

The Kurds have proven to be among Washington's most effective allies in the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS) that has its stronghold in northern Syria.

Erdogan has repeatedly expressed frustration with Washington's close alliance with the Kurds along his country's border with Syria, linking them to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is designated a terrorist organisation in Turkey.

Washington also labels the PKK a terrorist group, but not the YPG.

The US, in an effort to reduce tensions in the region, has been working on establishing a safe zone along the border.

However, the plans have faltered, and the Turkish President in recent days has warned that Ankara will soon be launching a military operation across the border, as soon as within the next couple of days.

Grisham, in her statement, added that the US will not be holding any more ISIS fighters, and that 'Turkey will now be responsible for all ISIS fighters in the area captured over the past two years in the wake of the defeat of the territorial 'Caliphate' by the United States'. -- ANI

19:25 All will respect SC decision on Ayodhya: Yogi

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday said 'all will respect' the Supreme Court's decision on the title suit over the 2.77 acre of disputed Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land, being heard daily by the court.

"The court has been continuously holding hearings on the issue and all people will respect the court's decision," the chief minister told a news conference in Gorakhpur.

Adityanath made the remark days after he asked people to draw inspiration from Lord Rama and said 'a very good news' awaits all.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yaday had objected to his remarks, asking how does the chief minister know in advance what will apex court decide on Ayodhya issue.

Asked about his 'very good news' remark, the chief minister said it merely pertained to a 'grand deepotsav' to be held in Ayodhya on Deepawali which would be celebrated this year by lighting more than 5.50 lakh diyas on the banks of river Saryu.

"It was on Ayodhya regarding the Deepotsav event to be held there," said Adityanath in reply to a question on his remarks made on Saturday.

While clarifying his 'very good news awaits all' remark, the chief minister also accused the opposition of practising destructive politics on Ayodhya.

"The opposition practices destructive politics on the Ayodhya issue. The centuries old controversy on Ram temple must end now," the chief minister said.

"In Ayodhya traditions were abolished during the tenure of previous governments. Now Ram Leela is staged by people from abroad in Ayodhya. Representatives from many countries participate in this event.

"Like the previous year, the state government is organising a grand Deepotsav this year too. This year, the festival of Deepawali will be celebrated by lighting more than 5.50 lakh diyas on the banks of river Saryu," the chief minister elaborated.

The chief minister also targeted the opposition for boycotting the state's special assembly session, saying they 'do not deserve to show' their faces in the House as they 'insulted' Mahatama Gandhi by skipping the session.

"By boycotting the special session of the assembly held on the occasion of 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, they have insulted Gandhi Ji," he said, adding 'the opposition does not deserve to show its face in the House'.

For skipping the special session, the chief minister also accused the opposition of being least concerned about issues of poverty, health, education and social welfare.

Talking of various welfare schemes, Adityanth said the Central and state governments have done lot of good work for the upliftment of girls.

"Schemes like 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' have brought dignity for them," he said.

About the Centre's flagship scheme Ujjwala Yojana providing for LPG gas cylinders to BPL household women, the chief minister said the work on the scheme is being done at a fast pace.

Moreovwer a sum of Rs 51,000 is being given for the marriage of poor girls, the chief minister said.

"For the welfare of girl child, the state government is going to launch Kanya Sumangala Yojana. An amount of Rs 15,000 will be given for the empowerment of girls under the scheme," he said.

He stressed that 'Navratri' is the festival for taking pledge to respect women power and ensuring their safety. -- PTI

18:45 J-K won't remain Union Territory forever: Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday reaffirmed that Jammu and Kashmir would not remain a Union territory for forever and it will get back its statehood status once there is a favorable situation for that.

"Jammu and Kashmir would not remain a Union Territory forever and that the statehood would be returned once the situation is normalised," Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said in an official statement quoting Shah.

The home minister also said that the notion that only Article 370 protected the Kashmiri culture and identity was a wrong one.

He asserted that all regional identities are inherently protected by the Indian Constitution and called the misuse of Article 370 the root cause of cross-border terrorism.

Shah made these remarks while speaking at a function where he met and interacted with the probationers of the 2018 batch of the Indian Police Service (IPS).

The home minister touched all aspects and issues including National Register of Citizens (NRC), Abrogation of Article 370 etc.

While interacting with the officers, Shah also discussed about the NRC.

Speaking on the need for a National Register of Citizens, he asserted that NRC was essential not just for national security but for good governance as well.

He remarked that the NRC must not be seen as a political exercise, as it is very important to have a national citizen register in order to ensure that benefits of development reach all our citizens.

He also asked the young probationers to focus on honest performance and added that image is made by not one incident but continuous performance and delivery.

"Maintenance of law and order is very important to achieve Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a $5 trillion economy," Shah said. -- ANI

President Ram Nath Kovind extended his Dussehra greetings to citizens on Monday, saying the festival is a celebration of truth's triumph over untruth.

In a message, the president said Dussehra inspires everyone to live by the timeless values of honesty and truthfulness.

"This festival is a celebration of the triumph of truth over untruth. It inspires us to live by the timeless values of honesty and truthfulness. The life of Lord Rama is in essence a reflection of these values which remain as relevant today as ever," he said in the message.

Extending his warm greetings to all fellow citizens on the auspicious occasion of Vijaya Dashami, Kovind wished them success, prosperity and happiness.

"May this festival inspire us to work for nation building and making a society that cares for the needy and deprived," he said.

Dussehra will be celebrated on Tuesday. -- PTI

18:09 MMRCL won't cut remaining 44 of 2,185 trees

Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd says it respects Supreme Court order and no more trees will be felled at the car shed site in Aarey Colony.

"We respect the order of Supreme Court passed today. No future tree felling activity at the car shed site in Aarey Milk Colony will be undertaken," MMRCL spokesperson said on Monday evening.

However, the MMRCL said that other works, including clearing of already felled trees, will continue at the site.

The corporation's spokesperson said that following the decision of the high court on October 4, upholding permission of Tree Authority, felling of 2,185 trees was undertaken on October 4 and 5, 2019.

"As on date 2,141 trees have been felled. These will be cleared from site and subsequent construction activities will be carried out," the spokesperson said. -- ANI

Senior diplomat Anumula Gitesh Sarma has been appointed as India's next High Commissioner to Australia, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Monday.

Sarma, a 1986 batch Indian Foreign Service officer, is expected to take up the assignment shortly.

He will replace A M Gondane as India's envoy in Australia.

Sarma was serving as Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs. -- PTI

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be the chief guest at the annual convention of the Central Information Commission to be held on Saturday, sources in the Commission said on Monday.

This will be the first convention of the country's highest adjudicating body on Right to Information affairs after the salary and terms and conditions of Information Commissioners were changed from fixed tenure to as prescribed by the government.

The 14th annual convention of the transparency panel will also be attended by Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh, who heads the nodal ministry under which the Commission functions, they said.

According to the tentative programme, the convention will have three sessions-Gandhian thought and RTI, RTI as a tool for effective governance, and challenges ahead, they said. -- PTI

17:05 Plaint against Durga pandal for playing azaan

'Aamra Ek Aka Noye (we are together not alone)' is the theme of North Kolkata's Beliaghata 33 Pally Durga Puja Pandal.

Aimed at spreading peace among religions, it has landed the organisers in trouble for playing 'azaan' (Muslim call for prayer) inside the puja pandal.

Advocate Santanu Singha has lodged a complaint with the local police against the organiser of 33 Pally Puja Committee Organiser, Secretary and eight others for 'disturbing the peace and tranquillity by playing azaan in the puja pandal'.

Singha alleged that the aim of azaan inside the Pandal is a 'very mean political motive'.

Asserting that he respects the feelings of Muslims, the complainant said, "Azaan is absolutely a religious practice of the Muslims community. I respect their religious feeling. What is the aim of playing azaan in pandal? Nothing, but a very mean political motive. Because it is absolutely a puja sponsored by TMC (Trinamool Congress)."

Alleging that the intention is to make a division between Hindus and Muslims, he said, "Should I claim tomorrow that Gita should be chanted from the mosque? Or Chandi should be chanted from Church. That will help religious unity?"

Singh also clarified that he has filed the complaint individually and not on behalf of any party or organisation.

"I individually feel that these types of experiments in the name of religious harmony and secularism should stop because the hidden agenda is different.

"It is my feeling. It hurts me because I am a Hindu. I will never claim or demand that Gita should be chanted from the mosque," he said.

In his complaint, based on a video circulating on Facebook, that the persons named should be 'immediately apprehended under the cognisable offences being done by them'.

'The said persons have hatched a conspiracy against the Hindu religion to degrade them in the society as well as injuring place of worship with the intent to insult the faith and belief of Hindus and further caused malicious acts intended to outrage religious Hindu feelings by insulting their Dharma or religious beliefs,' he said in his complaint.

Organiser Sushanta Saha said, "We just heard about the complaint but we have not received any copy till date."

He further added we wanted to portray the unity of all religion that is why we have used models of Temple, Mosque and Church, so as the Azaan is the part of the theme and brings on all the religion together...it is just an initiative which is unnecessarily being politicised.

"On the other hand, visitors are appreciating the theme and the way it has been portrayed to show that 'we are together not alone'." -- ANI

16:10 Too early for Aaditya to get CM post: Uddhav

Amid reports of an uneasy truce between the Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party, Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has cleared his stand on the alliance and the prospect of a party member becoming chief minister in the upcoming Maharashtra assembly polls.

In a three-part interview to Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamana, Uddhav Thackeray said that the alliance with BJP is 'purely ideological' as it is based on Hindutva.

However, Uddhav Thackeray admitted that the Shiv Sena made "compromises" while forming the alliance with the BJP but that the compromise was "for Maharashtra".

Of the 288 Maharashtra assembly seats, the Shiv Sena will contest 124, smaller NDA allies such as RPI and RSP will contest 14, and remaining seats (150) will be fought by the BJP.

Uddhav Thackeray said, "We are contesting a lesser number of seats because [Maharashtra CM Devendra] Fadnavis and [state BJP chief] Chandrakant Patil requested me to understand their problem."

While he remained mum on what portfolios have been divided between the BJP and the Shiv Sena, Uddhav Thackeray said that "power and responsibilities will be shared equally".

Uddhav also cleared the air on Aaditya Thackeray's chief ministerial aspirations.

"Aaditya is contesting elections but that doesn't mean that he will immediately become CM or deputy CM... He wants to take some legislative experience. He is interested in that," Uddhav said.

Normal life remained affected in Kashmir for the 64th consecutive day on Monday as main markets continued to be shut and public transport off the roads, officials said.

Private transport was plying unhindered in Srinagar and other districts across the Valley, they said.

The officials said auto-rickshaws and some inter-district cabs were seen plying in the city, but the other modes of public transport were off the roads.

They said main markets and other business establishments in Kashmir remained shut, even as some shops in the city here were open till 11:00 am, but downed their shutters afterwards.

A few vendors had set up stalls on the TRC Chowk-Lal Chowk road, they added.

The officials said there were no restrictions anywhere in the valley, but security forces were deployed in strength in vulnerable areas to maintain law and order.

While landline telephone services were restored across the valley gradually, mobile services remained suspended in Kashmir except in Handwara and Kupwara areas in the north since the night of 4 August, the officials said.

On August 5, the Centre had revoked the special status enjoyed by Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370.

Internet services -- across all platforms also continued to be snapped in the valley, they said.

-- PTI

15:13 Trio of researchers win Nobel medicine prize

The 2019 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded jointly to William G Kaelin Jr, Sir Peter J Ratcliffe and Gregg L Semenza "for their discoveries of how cells sense and adapt to oxygen availability."

The researchers have delved into how cells sense oxygen availability and adapt in response to that.

Explaining about the Nobel prize winners' research, the statement read, "The fundamental importance of oxygen has been understood for centuries, but how cells adapt to changes in oxygen levels has long been unknown. This year's Nobel Prize awarded work reveals the molecular mechanisms that underlie how cells adapt to variations in oxygen supply."

Oxygen sensing is central to a large number of diseases. The discoveries made by this year's #NobelPrize laureates have fundamental importance for physiology and have paved the way for promising new strategies to fight anaemia, cancer and many other diseases.

14:55 Centre revises security norms for VVIPs

The Centre has taken a measure to streamline the security cover accorded to the SPG protectees, according to sources.

The Special Protection Group, which provides proximate protection to protectee, has been issued fresh guidelines by the Centre.

As per the guidelines, when protectee travels abroad, it will now be mandatory for SPG personnel to accompany them at all times.

In case this is not acceptable to the protectee, the government could curtail their foreign visits on account of security considerations, the sources added.

The change in procedure comes as questions are being raised over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's reported trip to Cambodia.

Till recently, the Gandhis would travel with the SPG till their first location abroad, after which they would send the personnel on a return trip home, preferring their own privacy.

The Gandhis would then proceed to destinations of their choice, thereby making themselves allegedly susceptible to security risks.

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, who is currently lodged in Tihar jail in a corruption case, on Monday asked the Centre how it will deal with 19 lakh people being declared non-citizens after assuring Bangladesh the NRC process will not affect that country.

He asked how long will the 19 lakh people left out of the NRC live with uncertainty, anxiety and denial of civic and human rights.

The former Union minister said the country is obliged to answer these questions as it celebrates Mahatma Gandhi's humanism.

Asking his family to tweet on his behalf, Chidambaram said, "If NRC is a 'legal process', how will the legal process deal with the 19 lakh persons who have been declared non-citizens."

"If Bangladesh has been assured that the NRC process will not affect Bangladesh, how will the Indian state deal with the 19 lakh persons," he tweeted.

"As we celebrate Mahatma Gandhi's humanism, we are obliged to answer these questions," he said.

Chidambaram has been lodged in Tihar Jail since September 5 in the INX Media case.

-- PTI

14:07

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh leaves from Delhi for Paris on a three day visit to France. He shall attend the Annual Defence Dialogue and the Induction Ceremony of Rafale.

13:45 Sec 144 in Aarey to remain Tuesday morning

The prohibitory orders, which were imposed in the Aarey colony area in pursuance to a massive protest, will be in effect till Tuesday morning, the Mumbai Police said on Monday.

"Section 144 will remain in effect in Aarey police jurisdiction till tomorrow morning. The police is ensuring that the movement of the local residents remains unhindered," the police said in a statement.

The police had earlier banned unlawful assembly in the area after a protest broke out following the orders of the Bombay high court which dismissed all the petitions challenging the felling of trees to make a metro shed.

The outcry came in the backdrop of trees axed by Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd hours after the orders of the court. The protesters have been demanding the relocation of the bus depot, which is a part of the Metro III project.

-- ANI

A Pakistani magazine has claimed that Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman was alienated with some dimensions of Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khans actions on the sidelines of the UNGA session in New York last month, that he ordered his private jet to disembowel the Pakistani delegation as a consequence.

Before attending the 74th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Khan had first visited Saudi Arabia.

While departing for New York from Jeddah, the Saudi Crown Prince stopped Khan from embarking a commercial flight to the US and asked him to fly onboard his private jet as he could not let his guest travel in a commercial plane, Pakistani media reports had said.

But while Khan was returning to Islamabad from New York on September 28, it was reported that the Saudi plane developed a technical glitch following which the Prime Minister and his delegation returned to New York and then took a commercial flight back to Pakistan.

But the Friday Times weekly magazine has contradicted this claim and in an article published on October 4, it said: The Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammad bin Salman, was so alienated by some dimensions of the Pakistani Prime Ministers diplomacy in New York - he couldnt have been happy at the prospect of Imran Khan, (Turkish President) Recep Tayyip Erdogan and (Malaysian Prime Minister) Mahathir Mohammad planning to jointly represent the Islamic bloc, nor with Pakistans interlocution with Iran without his explicit approval...

...He visibly snubbed Imran by ordering his private jet to disembowel the Pakistani delegation...

All 29 protesters, arrested for allegedly obstructing and assaulting police personnel during felling of trees at the Aarey Colony in Mumbai, have been released from jail after being granted bail, officials said on Monday.

The Mumbai police have also relaxed prohibitory orders imposed in the Aarey Colony and its surrounding areas.

A court in Mumbai on Sunday ordered the release of protesters on certain conditions, including production of personal surety of Rs 7,000 and assurance that they would not take part in protests.

Following the court order, 24 of the protesters, lodged in Thane Central Jail, were released in the wee hours of Monday, a police official said.

Beside, five women protesters, who were lodged in the Byculla jail, were also set free after completion of the legal formalities, he said.

The arrests were made on Friday and Saturday after clashes broke out between the police and green activists opposing axing of trees by Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL) in the Aarey Colony.

Meanwhile, the police also relaxed prohibitory orders, imposed under Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) Section 144 in Aarey Colony and surrounding areas, another official said.

Rishav Ranjan, a law student and one of the petitioners, on Monday thanked Supreme Court for directing the Maharashtra government to ensure that no trees are further axed at Mumbai's Aarey Colony.

"We appealed to the Supreme Court through our letter-cum-petition for taking cognisance. We are thankful to the Supreme Court that they took cognisance in this matter. The Supreme Court has put a stay on all activities in that area in Aarey forest and it has said to maintain status-quo and stop clearing of trees. It has told the Maharashtra government that no further clearing of trees should be done," Rishav said.

"In this situation, this is a big relief, but it is a long battle ahead because there are many petitions," he added.

A Bench of Justices Arun Mishra and Ashok Bhushan directed the state government to maintain the status quo and said it would further hear all the petitions in the matter on October 21.

The court passed the directive after hearing a suo moto PIL based on a letter written by a group of law students to the court against the felling of trees.

-- ANI

Former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand and senior Congress leader Harish Rawat admitted to hospital after he complained of chest pain.

In a major setback for the Imran Khan government in Pakistan, Financial Action Task Force, the international money laundering watchdog, on Monday said the country has not taken sufficient measures to fully implement UNSCR 1267 obligations against 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed and other terrorists associated with terrorist groups such as Lashkar-e-Tayiba and Jamaat-ud-Dawa.

The FATF report, which was published on Saturday, comes a week before the agency decides whether or not to retain Pakistan in an "enhanced blacklist" in which it had been included in August after it failed to comply with 32 of the 40 parameters. Pakistan also scored below par on 10 of 11 Immediate Outcome parameters.

"Pakistan has not taken sufficient measures to fully implement UNSCR 1267 obligations against all listed individuals and entities - especially those associated with LeT/JuD, and Falah-i-Insaniat Foundation as well as the groups," the report read.

"Pakistan should adequately identify, assess and understand its Money Laundering/Terror Financing risks including transnational risks and risks associated with terrorist groups operating in Pakistan such as Da'esh, AQ, JuD, FiF, LeT, JeM, HQN, and this should be used to implement a comprehensive and coordinated risk-based approach to combating ML and TF," the report continued.

In June, the agency had warned Pakistan to act decisively against terror-financing by October or face consequences. It had said the country could be blacklisted unless it fulfilled an "action plan" against UN-designated terrorists operating on its soil, highly-placed sources in the Indian diplomatic team said.

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Monday said his son taking a plunge into electoral politics does not mean he is retiring, and expressed confidence that a Sena worker would one day become the state's chief minister.

In an interview to Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana', he claimed his party put a check on the 'Modi wave' in the 2014 state assembly polls, but maintained there was no point in a discussion now on why they parted ways with the BJP at that time.

This time, the Sena is contesting on 124 out of the total 288 constituencies in alliance with the BJP, which has nominated candidates for 150 seats. Rest of the seats will be allotted to smaller allies from the BJP's quota.

"One day, a Shiv Sainik would become the chief minister of Maharashtra, it is a promise I made to my father and Sena founder late Balasaheb," Uddhav Thackeray said in the interview, a part of which was released on Monday.

The Sena chief's son Aaditya Thackeray is entering electoral politics from Worli constituency in Mumbai, and the October 21 state polls are being seen as a litmus test for the party, whether it can bank on the young leader's popularity to win public mandate.

"Aaditya contesting the assembly election does not necessarily mean I am retiring from active politics. I am very much around," he said.

"I am not going to do farming," he said sarcastically, in an apparent reference to NCP leader Ajit Pawar who recently resigned as an MLA and advised his son to prefer farming or business over politics.

-- PTI

11:13 Aarey greater than Kashmiri lives: Mehbooba

Peoples Democratic Party leader Mehbooba Mufti took to Twitter to say that trees in the Aarey Colony of Mumbai were greater than Kashmiri lives.

Earlier, the Supreme Court on Monday restrained authorities from cutting anymore trees in Mumbai's Aarey to set up a Metro car shed.

A special bench comprising justices Arun Mishra and Ashok Bhushan said it will have to examine the entire thing and posted the matter for hearing on October 21 before its forest bench.

The former Jammu-Kashmir CM has been in detention since August 5 when the Centre abrogated Article 370.

The SC had earlier refused to hear any urgent pleas on the Kashmir issue, saying that they were busy with the Ayodhya hearing.

Two protesters were charged on Monday with violating Hong Kong's new ban on wearing masks at rallies, a move likely to add to a backlash that has thrown the semi-autonomous Chinese territory into deeper crisis.

An 18-year-old student and a 38-year-old unemployed woman were the first to be prosecuted under the ban, which came into force Saturday under sweeping emergency powers aimed at quashing violence in the protests for more democratic freedoms.

Detained early on Saturday shortly after the ban took effect, the two were also charged with taking part in unlawful assembly, which carries a heavier penalty of up to five years in jail.

A conviction under the mask ban is punishable by up to a year in prison and a fine. They were both released on bail pending trial.

Photograph: Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters

10:46 Next SC hearing on Aarey issue on October 21

Supreme Court's Forest Bench is set to take up the order on October 21, after asking the Maharashtra government to not cut ay more trees, and maintains status quo.

10:46 More on the SC order on Aarey issue

The SC also ordered the Mumbai police to release all the activists who were arrested over the past 2 days, if the had not been released yet.

10:46 No more trees to be cut in Mumbai's Aarey: SC

As protests continue in Mumbai over felling of over 2,500 trees in Aarey Colony for the proposed car shed for Mumbai Metro 3, a special bench of the Supreme Court is hearing the case on Monday.

While hearing the plea on the feeling of trees, the Supreme Court has asked the Maharashtra government not to cut any more trees.

The SC says, "It appears to us that it was some kind of forest at some time", and asks the Maharashtra government to not cut any more trees. The state government assured that it won't cut any more trees either. The SC is likely to order status quo in the matter.

"If legally it can't be done, it can't be done by you," the SC tells Maharashtra government.

10:21 SC commences hearing on plea on Aarey issue

The Supreme Court on Monday commenced hearing on a plea against felling of trees in Mumbai's Aarey to set up a Metro car shed.

A special bench of justices Arun Mishra and Ashok Bhushan started hearing the plea filed by a law student on the felling of trees.

The felling of trees is being opposed by green activists and local residents.

The apex court decided on Sunday to register as PIL a letter addressed to Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi by law student Rishav Ranjan seeking a stay on the cutting of trees.

A notice was posted on the Supreme Court website about holding the urgent hearing.

-- PTI

BJP leader Amit Malviya took a swipe at the Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for 'imitating' Prime Minister Narendra Modi after she hugged Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Malviya targeted the Congress saying Priyanka is taking a leaf out of Modi's book after mocking him over 'hugplomacy'.

"They say imitation is the best form of flattery. After mocking Prime Minister Modi over hugplomacy, Mrs Vadra takes a leaf out of his book... She should perhaps also counsel the overzealous folks in her party and her petulant brother, when he returns from his foreign jaunt," the BJP leader tweeted.

Priyanka had on Sunday held a meeting with the Bangladeshi prime minister, after which she called her great inspiration and shared a picture on Twitter hugging the leader.

"An overdue hug from Sheikh Hasina Ji whom I have been waiting to meet again for a long time. Her strength in overcoming deep personal loss and hardship and fighting for what she believed in with bravery and perseverance is, and always will be a great inspiration for me," Priyanka said in the tweet.

The Congress has repeatedly poked fun at Modi for his much-talked hugs.

-- ANI

09:52 Taliban releases 3 Indian hostages: Report

The Afghan Taliban said it has freed three Indian engineers held hostage for over a year in an exchange for securing the release of 11 of its members, including some high-ranking officials of the militant group, according to a media report on Monday.

The prisoner swap happened on Sunday, The Express Tribune quoted two Taliban officials as saying, but it did not disclose the location.

The Taliban officials spoke on condition of anonymity, citing what they described as the sensitive nature of the issue, the paper cited a RFE/RL report.

The officials refused to say who the militant group exchanged the prisoners with and whether the freed Taliban members were being held by Afghan authorities or US forces in Afghanistan.

The officials said the freed Taliban leaders include Sheikh Abdur Rahim and Mawlawi Abdur Rashid, who had served as the insurgent group's governors of Kunar and Nimroz provinces respectively during the Taliban administration before it was deposed by the US-led forces in 2001.

The Taliban officials provided a photo and footage of what they said was the freed militants being greeted after their release.

There was no immediate comment from Afghan or Indian authorities.

Seven Indian engineers working for a power plant in Afghanistan's northern Baghlan Province were kidnapped in May 2018.

No group has claimed responsibility for their abduction.

One of the hostages was released in March, but the fate of the others remains unknown.

-- PTI

Political parties and film bodies demanded the withdrawal of the controversial sedition case filed against 49 celebrities after they had expressed concern over rising incidents of mob lynching in an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Communist Party of India-Marxist and the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy joined the DMK, the Congress and others in condemning the filing of the case against celebrities like Aparna Sen, Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Ramchandra Guha, Mani Ratnam, Anurag Kashyap and Revathi.

The CPI-M said this reflects the "growing authoritarianism" in the country. "This is tantamount to punishing all those who have a dissenting opinion on the policies of the present government. This is a complete negation of democratic rights and reflects the growing authoritarianism in the country," the Left party said.

The Kerala State Chalachitra Academy called it a "blatant violation" of the freedom of expression guaranteed under the Constitution.

The case was registered after a chief judicial magistrate in Bihar's Muzaffarpur passed an order on a plea by a lawyer alleging that the celebrities had tarnished the image of the country through their open letter.

09:17 Govt needs to pay for cutting down trees: Sena

Shiv Sena on Monday slammed the central and state government over the "murder" of trees in Mumbai's Aarey Colony, saying none got affected by the "massacre".

Comparing the felling of trees in Mumbai's Aarey Colony with the blazing fire in the Amazon forest, Shiv Sena in its mouthpiece 'Saamana' said that when the latter happened people broke down.

However, here neither the prime minister got emotional, nor the chief minister seemed worried. "Trees don't have the right to vote, so order should be given to 'murder' them. What kind of justice is this? If the movement to save the 'Aarey' forest had taken place in a European country, in America, then how much praise we would have received for it. If there is a fire in a forest abroad, then people cry because of it, but the whole forest is being murdered in front of our eyes, neither the PM got emotional, nor was the CM worried for it," the party stated in its mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

The party went on to say that the "the way the Aarey issue is being oppressed, it is nothing but dictatorship.

"The purification of Ganga and Yamuna is on the agenda of the Prime Minister, however, jungle in Mumbai gets cut down, that is acceptable," it stated.

The party added, "The government needs to pay for the sin of cutting down trees in night."

Shiv Sena stated that they are not opposing the development work, but are against the cutting of trees."

-- ANI

Union Defence minister Rajnath Singh will embark on a two-day visit to France on Monday. During his visit, he will receive the first of 36 Rafale fighter jets manufactured for India.

On 8 October, the defence minister is scheduled to meet the French President Emmanuel Macron.

After the meeting, Singh will proceed to Bordeaux to participate in the Rafale fighter jet handing-over ceremony at Merignac along with French minister of armed forces Florence Parly.

Singh will also perform the 'Shastrapuja' on the auspicious occasion of Vijayadashami and fly a sortie in the Rafale fighter jet.

"As per plans, a French pilot will fly in the front cockpit while Singh will sit in the rear cockpit. The first Indian Rafale fighter jet with tail no RB-01 will be used for the sortie," sources in IAF said.

The tail number has the initials of newly-appointed IAF chief Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria in recognition of his role in the around Rs 60,000 crore deal signed in 2016 for 36 planes.

On October 9, Singh will address the CEOs of the French defence industry during which he is likely to urge them to participate in 'Make in India' and the Defence Expo to be held in Lucknow in February next year.

Section 144 of the IPC, which bans the assembly of people, that had been imposed around Mumbai's Aarey site where trees were cut by Mumbai Metro authorities, has now been lifted.

Roads leading to the colony were blocked and the entire area condoned off by police on Saturday after protesters reached the spot in large numbers as the metro authorities began cutting trees shortly after the Bombay high court ruled in its favour.

The Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance of the tree felling in Mumbai's Aarey colony and decided to hold a special sitting this morning after it converted a representation by a group of law students into a Public Interest Litigation.

The top court has also formed a special bench for urgent hearing of the case. Supreme Court judges are on vacation for Dussehra.

Meanwhile, a sessions court granted bail to 29 protesters arrested over the last two days on charges of allegedly obstructing and assaulting police personnel on duty during protests against felling of trees at Aarey Colony.

08:29 PDP defers Monday meeting with Mehbooba Mufti

The PDP has deferred a scheduled meeting of its delegation with party president Mefbooba Mufti, who is currently under detention in Srinagar, after announcing that a team of leaders would see her on Monday.

However, no reason was given for the development.

"PDP Jammu has decided to defer the scheduled visit of its delegation to Srinagar to meet the party president Mehbooba tomorrow (Monday)," former PDP legislator and spokesperson Firdous Tak said.

Sources within the party, however, said the visit has been deferred because of lack of unanimity on the composition of the delegation.

Mehbooba Mufti, the former chief minister, was detained on August 5, the day the Centre announced abrogation of special status to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370.

On Sunday, a 15-member delegation of the National Conference from Jammu met their detained party president Farooq Abdullah and vice president Omar Abdullah in Srinagar.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address nine public meetings in the run-up to the October 21 assembly polls in Maharashtra, the first major political contest after the Lok Sabha outing, for the BJP-led "Mahayuti" alliance which is seeking a second consecutive term.

Besides Modi, Home Minister and BJP president Amit Shah is set to address 18 public meetings in coming days.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modiji will address nine public meetings, two of them are scheduled to take place in Pune and Satara on October 17," BJP state unit president Chandrakant Patil said on Sunday.

Patil is in the fray from Kothrud constituency in Pune city.

The NDA alliance is squaring off against the Congress-NCP combine in the crucial contest characterised by defections from the Opposition camp.

The contest also has the undertone of the BJP battling for supremacy over the Sena, which considers itself as the "elder brother" in the state politics.

-- PTI

07:54 Congress wiped out, can't be revived: Owaisi

The Congress party has been "wiped out" from the landscape and can't be revived even if it was administered a "calcium injection", All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeenleader Asaduddin Owaisi said ahead of the October 21 Maharashtra assembly elections.

Owaisi claimed top leadership of the Congress has "ignored" important elections in Maharashtra and Haryana.

"The Congress has been wiped out from the political spectrum of the country. It can't be revived even by a calcium injection," he said.

Slamming the BJP, the Hyderabad MP said the ruling party has passed a bill in Himachal Pradesh making it mandatory for a citizen to give a one-month notice for religious conversion.

"I will not be surprised if (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi brings such bill in Parliament," he said.

The AIMIM had contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra in coalition with the Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh of Prakash

Ambedkar under the aegis of the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi.

The VBA had won Aurangabad Lok Sabha seat. Notably, it split votes of Dalits and Muslims which affected the prospects of many candidates of the Congress in Maharashtra in the polls.

For the forthcoming Maharashtra elections, the party has been in talks with BBM leader Prakash Ambedkar. However, the talks between the two parties have hit a roadblock over alloaction of seats.

-- PTI

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