Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to appear before a magisterial court in Surat on Thursday to defend himself in a criminal defamation case filed against him for saying "why all thieves share the Modi surname" during the Lok Sabha poll campaign this year.

  

Gujarat Congress president Amit Chavda on Tuesday held a meeting with local party leaders in view of Gandhi's upcoming visit.

He told media persons that the former Congress president would appear before the court here on October 10. 

"Rahulji will be accorded a grand welcome by our party workers on the entire route  from the airport to the court," Chavda said.

Chief Judicial Magistrate B H Kapadia had in May issued summons to Gandhi after admitting a complaint filed by local BJP MLA Purnesh Modi under IPC sections 499 and 500, which deal with criminal defamation.

During the last hearing in July, the court had granted Gandhi exemption from personal appearance, slating October 10 as the next date of hearing.

In his complaint, the BJP legislator from Surat-West had alleged the Congress leader had defamed the entire Modi community with his remark "how come all thieves have Modi as common surname", made during the Lok Sabha campaign.

The court, while admitting the suit, had held that there was a prima facie case of criminal defamation against the Lok Sabha MP from Wayanad.

At a campaign rally at Kolar in Karnataka on April 13, Gandhi had reportedly said, "Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, Narendra Modi... how come they all have Modi as common surname? How come all thieves have Modi as common surname?"

In his complaint, Purnesh Modi had said the Congress leader had defamed the entire Modi community with his statement.

Describing the lifting of an advisory which had dissuaded tourists from visiting Kashmir valley as "half hearted initiative", the National Conference on Tuesday asked how can holiday makers venture into the Valley, reeling under a communication blockade and breakdown of economic activity.

  

Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik on Monday directed lifting of an over two-month-old advisory which had asked tourists to leave the Valley due to "terror threat".

The governor directed withdrawal of the advisory with effect from October 10.

The advisory was issued on August 2, days before the issuance of the presidential order revoking the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, negating the Article 370 of the Constitution.

How can tourists venture out to the Valley where they will remain cut off from their families and the rest of the world in absence of mobile telephony and internet -- the basic modes of modern day communication?" asked an NC spokesperson in a statement.

He said the deprivation of telecommunication facilities has caused enormous difficulties to the Valley residents, who feel like having been pushed to the "stone age".

"The closure of business establishments and breakdown of economic activity in Kashmir will come in the way of restoration of normalcy, as the people are feeling insecure," he said.

"The sense of insecurity has hugely jeopardised the academics from primary to higher education level," he added.

The spokesperson urged the state administration to "take earnest measures to instil  a sense of confidence and security among people", which could have encouraged parents to send their wards to educational institutions and those connected with trade and commerce resume their economic activities. 

There cannot be a bigger insult to the country than the ideology which led to the killing of Mahatma Gandhi and the recent lynching of Tabrez Ansari in Jharkhand, said AIMIM leader and Lok Sabha MP Asaduddin Owaisi targeting Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat on Tuesday.

"The victims were Indians. Who garlanded convicts? Who draped them in tricolor? We have a Godse loving BJP MP. There cannot be bigger defamation of India than the ideology that killed Gandhi or Tabrez. Bhagwat is not saying stop lynching, he is saying 'do not call it that'," Owaisi's tweet read. 

Speaking on the occasion of Vijayadashami at Reshimbagh in Nagpur, Bhagwat had earlier today spoken about hate crimes and lynching, without naming any community.

"We hear people of a community beat people from another community. It is not that only a certain community targets people. There are cases where what has actually happened gets twisted. However, the self-centred forces blame a particular community to stoke fire between communities," said Bhagwat while saying that naming Sangh in these incidents is a conspiracy.

Speaking of lynching, an issue that has been used against BJP and the government led by the party, Bhagwat said lynching is a foreign concept and society should know where this word comes from. 

"Word lynching came from a foreign text where these incidents used to take place. We recommend strong lawful action against such incidents. These people are trying to defame India in the world by citing lynching incidents. We should not give protection to these people for our political gains," stated Bhagwat.

Former US First Lady Michelle Obama will come out next month with a companion to her memoir "Becoming" that will feature over 150 inspiring questions and quotes designed to help readers reflect on their personal and family history, their goals, challenges, and dreams.

  

"Becoming: A Guided Journal for Discovering Your Voice" will be published on November 19 by Penguin Random House imprint Viking. 

The book will feature an intimate introduction by Michelle and is being printed on cream writing paper, with a grosgrain ribbon and a foil-stamped cover and removable half-jacket, the publisher said.

"I hope you'll use this journal to write down your experiences, thoughts, and feelings, in all their imperfections, and without judgement... We don't have to remember everything. But everything we remember has value," she said. 

In writing her memoir, Michelle shared her journey to help create space for others to tell their stories and to give people the courage to discover the power of their own voice. With the journal, she now provides readers with the encouragement to find value in their own personal journeys of becoming, the publisher said.

"Becoming: A Guided Journal for Discovering Your Voice" will be published globally in more than 20 countries including India.

Michelle's memoir was published on November 13, 2018. 

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh takes off in Rafale RB001 for sortie. 

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has taken the official handover of first Indian Rafale jet from France. The defence minister performed a Shastra puja on the aircraft and is expected to take a sortie in the aircraft soon.

Before flying to Mrignac, the defence minister had a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron. In the meeting, the French president vowed 'unrelenting fight' against Islamist terror.

Hitting back at its critics for blaming the Modi government for the registration of a sedition case against 49 intellectuals and artists, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday said it was an "absolute falsehood" spread by vested interests and asserted that the development had nothing to with either the party or its dispensation at the Centre.

  

Putting up a strong defence of the government, senior BJP leader and Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar noted that the FIR was filed after a Bihar court's order on a petition. The government has not filed the FIR, he added.

"This has nothing to do with the BJP and the government. This is a canard which is always spread to defame the Modi government and used to give an impression that there is a choking of freedom of expression in a draconian fashion under it," he said. 

"This is an absolute falsehood spread by vested interests and tukde-tukde gang," he said.

The FIR was lodged in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district against 49 intellectuals, including Aparna Sen, Adoor Gopalakrishnan and Ramchandra Guha, for alleged sedition after they wrote an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi against growing incidents of lynching.

The case was registered after a chief judicial magistrate passed an order on a petition filed by a lawyer alleging that the writers had tarnished the image of the country.

Several groups and opposition parties have targeted the Modi government over this.

Javadekar refrained from naming anyone but said that spreading falsehood and falsification of facts is an old practice of critics to defame the Modi government.

"This is exactly what is happening in this case. This whole gang has network world over. But people know who stands for what," he said.

After receiving India's first ever Rafale, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh conducted the Shastra Puja on the plane at the Dassault Aviation factory in France's Bordeaux. 

Calling it a "historic day", Rajnath Singh said this shows the deepening ties between the two countries."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday attended Dussehra celebrations at Delhi's Dwarka sector 10 and witnessed the Ram Leela ahead of ritualistic burning of demon king Ravan's effigy.

Upon his arrival at the festival venue, the PM was received by Delhi BJP Chief Manoj Tiwari and West Delhi MP Parvesh Sahib Singh.

Modi was welcomed by the organisers by presenting him a copy of holy book Ramcharitmanas and a set of bow and arrow.

Prime Minister Modi also witnessed a short performance of Ram Leela culminating in the death of Ravan on the hands of Lord Ram.

Earlier in the day, he extended his greetings to the nation on the auspicious occasion of Dussehra. "Greetings on the auspicious occasion of #VijayaDashami," Prime Minister Modi tweeted alongside a video showcasing his past visits to Dussehra events.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is on a three-day visit to France, during which he will receive the first of the 36 long-awaited Rafale fighter jets on behalf of the Indian Air Force. 

Speaking at the handover ceremony at the Dassault Aviation unit in Merignac, France, Rajnath says:

>> It is a historic day and shows deepening ties between India and France

>> I want to pay my respects to former president Jacques Chirac who with Atal Bihari Vajpayee helped deepen strategic ties between the countries. May his soul rest in peace

>> Dussehra marked as victory of good over evil, today is also Air Force Day in India. Rafale project management team in France since August 2017

>> Rafale jets being delivered on time. Rafale will add to the strength of IAF. Our focus is to enhance the capability of IAF. We are sure that all timelines would be adhered to, be it jets or weapon systems

>> I thank France for cooperation, an important partner for India. Hope that the cooperation will grow

>> I will fly the Rafale jet shortly

>> A new milestone in strategic partnership, a new high in defence cooperation

The prohibitory orders imposed in Aarey Colony in suburban Goregaon in view of protests over cutting of trees for a metro carshed were lifted on Tuesday, police said.

Normalcy has returned to the area where movement of people and transport has resumed.

The police had imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code on Saturday, banning unlawful assembly in the area, following protests by activists against the felling of trees in the green zone.

The protesters were demanding the relocation of the carshed, which is a part of the Metro 3 project.

The tree cutting by Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd started hours after the Bombay high court dismissed petitions seeking forest tag for the Aarey Colony and a stay on the civic body's permission to clear the area of vegetation

to set up the depot.

Mumbai Police spokesperson Pranay Ashok said, "Today we have lifted Section 144 in Aarey Colony; now everything is normal in the area."

A local resident, Shyam Bhoir, said, "Everything is now normal in the locality but police personnel have been

deployed in large numbers at the spot where the carshed is going to be built."

"After Section 144 was lifted in the morning, people moved around without any hindrance."

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh landed at Merignac Airport in the southwestern French town of Bordeaux on Tuesday for the handover ceremony of the first Rafale combat jet acquired by the Indian Air Force.

The minister, who earlier held wide-ranging talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, said his visit was aimed at "expanding the strategic partnership" between India and France.

In Bordeaux, Singh will begin with a tour of Rafale manufacturer Dassault Aviation's plant before a symbolic ribbon-cutting ceremony for the first Rafale combat jet.

Arrangements have also been made for a traditional Indian Shastra Puja, or weapons' worship which forms part of Dussehra celebrations and this year also marks Air Force Day - IAF's 87th anniversary.

"Greetings to all IAF personnel and their families on the 87th IAF Day," Singh said in a tweet.

"The IAF is the shining example of exemplary courage, fortitude, determination and impeccable service to our nation. These men and women in Blue have the ability to touch the sky with grit and glory," he said.

After the handover ceremony, the minister is scheduled to fly a sortie in the Rafale jet following a brief Shastra Puja conducted by him, which will conclude with the traditional breaking of a coconut before the new aircraft.

As Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived in Beijing on Tuesday for talks with Xi Jinping ahead of the Chinese president's important visit to India, China said the Kashmir issue should be resolved between New Delhi and Islamabad, significantly omitting its recent references to the UN and UN Security Council resolutions.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang during his media briefing here on Tuesday did not make any official announcement about Xi's visit to India.

However, Chinese officials informally said an announcement would be made simultaneously in Beijing and New Delhi on Wednesday.

The foreign ministry has also called for a special media briefing on Wednesday on "Chinese leader's outbound visit".

"India and China have a tradition of high-level exchanges. Both sides have communication exchange over high-level Visit. Any new information will be released soon," Geng said in response to questions on Xi's visit to India.

Both India and China are major developing countries of the world and major emerging markets, he said.

"Since the Wuhan informal summit (last year), our bilateral relations have gathered good momentum," he said.

"We have been advancing our cooperation and properly managing our differences. We have a tradition of high level exchange and our two sides are maintaining communication on high level exchange in the next phase. We should make good atmosphere and environment for this," he said.

When asked about Khan's visit to Beijing ahead of Xi's trip to India and whether the Kashmir issue will figure in his talks with the Chinese leaders, Geng said that China's stand is that the Kashmir issue should be resolved between India and Pakistan.

"And so you are paying attention to the Kashmir issue, right? China's position on Kashmir issue is clear and consistent, he said.

"We call on India and Pakistan to engage in dialogue and consultation on all issues including Kashmir issue and consolidate mutual trust. This is in line with interest of both countries and common aspiration of the world," he said.

His comments marked a significant shift on what China has been saying on Kashmir in recent weeks in the aftermath of India's move to revoke Article 370 of the Constitution removing the special status to Kashmir.

In its first reaction on August 6, the Chinese foreign ministry issued two separate statements.

In one statement, China also expressed its opposition to India's move to create a separate Union Territory of Ladakh highlighting Beijing's territorial claims in the area.

The second statement said, "We call on both India and Pakistan to peacefully resolve the relevant disputes through dialogue and consultation and safeguard peace and stability in the region".

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will reside in the bungalow of her relative and former Union Minister Sheila Kaul during her visit to the state's capital, party sources said on Tuesday.

Kaul was the maternal aunt of Priyanka's grandmother and late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Situated on Gokhale Marg, the bungalow will now emerge as the base camp for Congress leader, where she will chalk political strategies for 2022 Uttar Pradesh polls. 

Congress sources said that Priyanka chose her aunt's bungalow over a hotel as she wants to keep discussions over political matters with state party leaders 'confidential'.

During her padayatra held on October 2, Priyanka had visited the house and spent some time there. Since then renovation work in the bungalow has been underway.

Senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid has said the departure of Rahul Gandhi as the party's president after the defeat in the Lok Sabha elections has left everyone in a lurch.

Salman Khurshid also said the Congress is facing a wave of desertions because it is taking too long to come to terms with its defeat in the April-May parliamentary elections.

"We haven't really got together to analyse why we got defeated. Our biggest problem is our leader has walked away," Khurshid said on late on Monday

The former Union minister also said that Rahul Gandhi still retains the allegiance of the party.

"It's kind of left a vacuum. Sonia Gandhi stepped in, but there is more than an indication that she is treating herself as a stop-gap arrangement. I wish it wasn't so," Khurshid said.

Weeks ahead of the assembly elections in Haryana and Maharashtra, the senior leader said its struggles are at the point that it may not be able to win these state polls or ensure its own future.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will not attend the C-40 Climate Summit in Denmark as the ministry of external affairs denied political clearance to him, said official sources on Tuesday.

  

The Delhi government sources said the chief minister was scheduled to leave for the summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, at 2 pm on Tuesday.

Kejriwal was to lead an eight-member delegation for the summit.

The MEA, however, gave clearance to West Bengal Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim, claimed sources.

"The chief minister could not fly out of Delhi on Tuesday afternoon as the MEA did not give political clearance to him for his Denmark visit," they said.

At the Summit, Kejriwal was to speak on the Aam Aadmi Party government's experience in lowering pollution level in Delhi and other issues.

In response to media query over Kejriwal's proposed visit to Denmark, the MEA last week had said a decision on the issue is taken based on multiple inputs.

"I do not answer query specific to political clearance. And if you understand how it functions, we get hundreds of requests for political clearances every month from ministries, secretaries, bureaucrats. A decision is based on multiple inputs," MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar had said.

"Some of the inputs we get from the mission and it takes into account the nature of the event where the person is going to participate. It takes into account the level of participation from other countries and also the kind of invitation that is extended," he had added.

In an official statement on September 22, the Delhi government had said the chief minister was expected to speak at the Summit on his government's experience in lowering air pollution in the city and present the set of initiatives taken by the AAP dispensation that led to the 25 per cent reduction in air pollution.

The 2019 Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded with one half to James Peebles for theoretical discoveries in physical cosmology and the other half jointly to Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz for the discovery of an exoplanet orbiting a solar-type star.

A theoretical framework, developed by James Peebles over two decades, has become the foundation of our modern understanding of the universes history, from the big bang to the present day.

Meanwhile, in 1995, Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz discovered the first planet outside our solar system, an exoplanet, orbiting a sun-type star, 51 Pegasi.

Pakistan has activated at least 20 terror camps and another 20 launch pads along the Line of Control with increased efforts to ensure infiltration of as many terrorists as it can into Jammu and Kashmir before the onset of winter, officials said on Tuesday.

  

The terror training camps and launch pads, with at least 50 terrorists in each, were activated after these were temporarily shut down following the bombing of a CRPF bus in Pulwama in February and subsequent retaliatory bombing of terror camps in Balakot by the Indian Air Force.

Pakistani agencies were desperately looking to carry out spectacular terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir and even in the hinterlands following the abrogation of the special status given to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 and its bifurcation into two Union Territories, a security official said quoting intelligence inputs.

Since the terrorists have not been able to carry out any major attack, the Pakistani agencies were trying hard to push as many terrorists as they can into Jammu and Kashmir.

"We have intelligence inputs that Pakistan has activated at least 20 terror training camps and another 20 launch pads with about 50 terrorists in each. All these terrorists will infiltrate through LoC wherever and whenever there are opportunities," the official said.

Even though the security forces remain on high alert and have enhanced their vigil along the border, many terrorists have been able to infiltrate in recent weeks.

Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police Dilbag Singh has said 200 to 300 terrorists are active in the state and Pakistan has intensified cross-border firing to push in as many of them as possible before the onset of winter.

In an effort to bring normalcy to Kashmir in the wake of revocation of its special constitutional status, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has directed the BJP leaders to reach out to the prominent people in the region.

A source privy to the aforementioned direction said that the leaders have been asked to reach out to Maulvis, traders, hoteliers and people in the tourism industry. The decision came in the aftermath of a high-level meeting chaired by Shah with Kashmir BJP leaders in New Delhi on Monday.

Under the outreach program, the leaders will touch bases with the prominent people of civil society, associations, NGOs, religious and social leaders of the valley.

The programme has been planned to initiate the development in the region which has been affected by the extremism, according to the sources.

"The outreach programme aims to open the educational institutions and bring government employees back to offices and tourism sector back in operations," it stated.

By initiating these steps, the party hopes to regain the lost ground in the valley and strengthen its economic condition.

Apart from opening the educational institutions at the earliest, the government also wants to improve the participation of the local population in Panchayat and local civic body polls likely to be conducted soon, sources added.

Singh is in France for a three-day visit during which he will receive the first of the 36 Rafale aircraft in the French port city of Bordeaux; perform a 'Shastra Puja' on the occasion of Dussehra and take a sortie in the fighter jet.

Over 180 members of the cultural community, including actor Naseeruddin Shah, cinematographer Anand Pradhan, historian Romila Thapar and activist Harsh Mander among others, condemned the FIR lodged against 49 celebrities for an open letter they wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

  

Last week, an FIR was filed in Bihar's Muzaffarpur against personalities, including directors Aparna Sen, Adoor Gopalakrishnan and writer-columnist Ramchandra Guha for alleged sedition over a letter they wrote to the PM in July, voicing concern over growing incidents of mob lynching.

In a new letter issued on Monday, October 7, the eminent personalities questioned how writing an open letter to the prime minister could be called "an act of sedition". 

"An FIR has been lodged against forty-nine of our colleagues in the cultural community, simply because they performed their duty as respected members of civil society. They wrote an open letter to the Prime Minister, expressing concern about mob lynching in our country.

"Can this be called an act of sedition? Or is harassment by misusing the courts a ploy to silence citizens' voices?" the letter read. 

The signatories, which also included writers Ashok Vajpeyi and Jerry Pinto, academician Ira Bhaskar, poet Jeet Thayil, author Shamsul Islam, musician TM Krishna and filmmaker-activist Saba Dewan, promised they will continue to speak up against silencing of "people's voices". 

"All of us, as members of the Indian cultural community, as citizens of conscience, condemn such harassment. We do more: we endorse every word of the letter our colleagues wrote to the Prime Minister. 

"This is why we share their letter here once again, and appeal to the cultural, academic and legal communities to do the same. This is why more of us will speak every day. Against mob lynching. Against the silencing of people's voices. Against the misuse of courts to harass citizens," the letter added. 

The FIR was lodged on October 3 under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including those related to sedition, public nuisance, hurting religious feelings and insulting with an intent to provoke breach of peace.

The 49 personalities, including filmmakers Mani Ratnam, Anurag Kashyap, Shyam Benegal, actor Soumitra Chatterjee and vocalist Shubha Mudgal, were accused of having "tarnished the image of the country and undermined the impressive performance of the prime minister", besides "supporting secessionist tendencies".

Pakistani army on Tuesday heavily shelled, thus repeatedly violating the ceasefire in the Hiranagar sector of Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir. 

According to officials, the Indian Army has been retaliating strongly and effectively and the exchange of heavy firing has caused panic among the residents. The firing and shelling from Pakistani forces have continued for over 12 hours in the region. 

The intense shelling and firing from across the border, which started at around 10:30 pm, continued throughout the night in the Hiranagar sector of Poonch district and started again in the early hours of Monday. 

According to officials, for the last 15 days, the Pakistani forces have been continuously firing and shelling mortars in the Hiranagar sector, leading to fear among the locals. Earlier, talking about the same, one of the locals said that 'people in the region have been living in constant fear and their daily life has been hit due to the firing from across the border.'

He added that they haven't received any help from the administration or any other government official. "We don`t see any official coming here to take stock of the situation," another local said. 

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi declaring himself "deeply disturbed" by the FIR filed against the authors of an open letter to the PM in July. 

Tharoor urged the PM to "affirm the constitutional principle of Article 19" and guarantee freedom of speech and expression. 

In a two-page letter he posted on social media, he also reminded PM Modi of a powerful speech made before the US Congress in 2016, in which Modi called the Constitution a "holy book" and said "... freedom of faith, speech... and equality of all citizens, regardless of background, are enshrined as fundamental rights".

"As citizens of India we hope that every one of us can fearlessly bring to your notice issues of national importance, so that you can take the lead to address them. We would like to believe that you too would support the right to freedom of expression, so 'mann ki baat'... does not become 'maun ki baat'," Shashi Tharoor wrote.

Earlier this year 49 intellectuals, artists and celebrities, including Ramachandra Guha, Aparna Sen and Mani Ratnam, wrote to Prime Minister Modi to express concern over growing incidents of mob killing and the alleged weaponisation of the "Jai Shri Ram" slogan that made headlines in Bengal during national elections this year.

The letter stressed there was no "democracy without dissent", a point Tharoor mentioned in his letter to the PM.

The filing of the FIR against the authors of the letter had also been criticised by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who said, "We are moving into an authoritarian state".

According to Bihar Police, the FIR has been lodged under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including one relating to sedition, a charge that left Kerala filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishanan, one of the letter's signatories, in 'total disbelief".

Saluting the Indian Air Force heroes and their families on the occasion of 87th Air Force Day, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said that IAF is a 'symbol of valour and courage'.

"Indian Air Force is a symbol of valor and courage. On Air Force Day, I salute our Air Force heroes and their families. Entire nation is proud of your dedication and commitment to safeguard our motherland," Shah tweeted. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed gratitude to the "air warriors and their families" and stated that the IAF continues to serve the country with "utmost dedication and excellence".

"Today, on Air Force Day, a proud nation expresses gratitude to our air warriors and their families. The Indian Air Force continues to serve India with utmost dedication and excellence," Prime Minister Modi tweeted.

The IAF celebrated Air Force Day, its 87th anniversary, at Hindon Air Base in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. Army Chief General Bipin Rawat and IAF Chief, Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria were present at the event.

Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman of the Indian Air Force who shot down a PAF F-16 during a dogfight on February 27 earlier this year, flew a MiG-21 Bison aircraft at the Air Force Day parade today at Hindon Air Base. Three Mirage 2000 aircraft and two Su-30MKI fighter aircraft also flew in the 'Avenger formation'. 

The planes are being flown by pilots who took part in the Balakot airstrike. Air Fighter Pilots who took part in Balakot air strikes were included in the parade as a mark of tribute to the teams which carried out the strike on February 26 and thwarted the Pakistani aerial attack on February 27. 

Indian Air Force celebrates its 87th anniversary on Air Force Day at Hindon Air Base in Ghaziabad. Army Chief General Bipin Rawat and IAF Chief, Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria were present at the event. 

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Tuesday performed 'shastra puja' at the annual Vijayadashmi festival in Maharashtra's Nagpur city.

He was seen giving a thumbs up while the RSS band performed after drill exercises by swayamsevaks.

Union ministers Nitin Gadkari, Gen V K Singh (retd) and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis were among the others present at the event.

Address the swayamsevaks at Nagpur's Reshimbagh ground, Bhagwat said that democracy in India not something imported but a practice prevalent since centuries..

The RSS chief lauded the 'work by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in abrogation of Article 370'.

"India's borders safer than ever; more focus needed on coastal security. Guards, checkposts on land borders and surveillance along maritime border, especially islands, have to be
increased," Bhagwat said.

Bhagwat said that there's a transformation in 'direction of thought process of Bharat'.

"Many in world and Bharat don't want this. We must be alert in identifying these plots and counter them on intellectual, social levels.

"Vested interests don't want Bharat to be strong and vibrant. Well-meaning policies, statements from persons in government misused to benefit nefarious designs by vested interests," the RSS chief said.

Speaking on cases of mob lynching, Bhagwat said lynching itself is western construct, one shouldn't use it in Indian context to defame country.

"Origin of word 'lynching' not from Indian ethos; don't impose such terms on Indians," Bhagwat said.

"We need to create harmony, everyone should live within confines of law. Swayamsevaks brought up with that sanskar," Bhagwat said.

The RSS has also come up with its own Internet-based radio channel to broadcast Bhagwat's speech at the event.

Dussehra holds a special importance for sarsanghchalaks as the RSS was founded on this day in 1925.

HCL founder Shiv Nadar is the chief guest for this year's event.  -- PTI

In his Air Force Day message, the Air Chief said, "The strategic relevance of this (Balakot air strikes) is the resolve of the political leadership to punish the perpetrators of terrorism.

"There is a major shift in the government's way of handling terrorist attacks."

Stressing that the present security environment in the neighbourhood is a case of serious concern, the Air Chief said Pulwama attack is a stark reminder of the persistent threat to defence installations.

Earlier, the Chiefs of three services paid floral tributes at the national war memorial on the occasion of 87th Air Force Day.   -- ANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday extended his greetings to the nation on the auspicious occasion of Dussehra.

'Greetings on the auspicious occasion of #VijayaDashami,' Modi tweeted alongside a video showcasing his past visits to Dussehra events.

President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla had on Monday extended greetings to the nation on the eve of Dussehra and said it marks 'triumph of truth over untruth' and 'victory of good over evil'.

The President expressed hope that the festival will inspire people to work towards helping the needy and deprived.

'On the auspicious occasion of Vijayadashmi, I extend my warm greetings and good wishes to all my fellow citizens and wish them success, prosperity, and happiness. May this festival inspire us to work for the nation-building and making a society that cares for the needy and the deprived,' said the President in a statement.

Naidu said in his message that the festival symbolises victory of good over evil.

'We need to constantly quell the demonic forces and foster goodness and harmony,' he said.

He expressed hope that the festival would bring peace, harmony, and prosperity to the country and the world.

Birla said the festival, signifying the victory of good over the forces of evil, symbolizes the values of courage and sacrifice and of upholding the principles of dharma in all stages of life.

'Lord Rama represents the virtues of truth, virtue, and wisdom and on this auspicious day, we must imbibe the teachings of Lord Rama and his universal message of love and brotherhood,' he said.   -- ANI

Army Chief General Bipin Rawat along with Air Force Chief R K S Bhadauria and Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh paid floral tributes at the National War Memorial on the occasion of Air Force Day on Tuesday.

Indian Air Force in a tweet greeted the air-warriors and their families on the occasion of 87th Air Force Day.

The IAF in a tweet said, ' #AFDay19: On the occasion of 87th Anniversary, Indian Air Force extends its heartfelt greetings to the courageous air-warriors & their families. The Courage, Valour, Commitment, Dedication & Zeal are inspiration for all.'

On October 6, IAF had tweeted, '#AFDay19 : As the Indian Air Force prepares to celebrate the 87th anniversary of its birth, the Air-warriors of IAF are getting ready for the ceremonial parade as part of celebrations at Air Force Station Hindan. Come & witness the grand Parade. Two days to GO!!!'   -- ANI

The United States has blacklisted 28 Chinese companies from purchasing any American products for being implicated in human rights violations and other abuses in China's Xinjiang region.

The US Department of Commerce said the action constricts the export of items subject to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to entities that have been implicated in human rights violations and abuses in China's campaign targeting Uighurs and other predominantly Muslim ethnic minorities in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region.

"The US Government and Department of Commerce cannot and will not tolerate the brutal suppression of ethnic minorities within China,' Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross said.

"This action will ensure that our technologies fostered in an environment of individual liberty and free enterprise are not used to repress defenseless minority populations," he said.

Located in Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region and throughout China, these entities have all been implicated in the implementation of China's campaign of repression, mass arbitrary detention, and high-technology surveillance, the Department of Commerce said.

The entity list identifies persons or organisations reasonably believed to be involved, or to pose a significant risk of being or becoming involved, in activities contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the US.

The EAR imposes additional license requirements on, and limits the availability of most license exceptions for, exports, re-exports, and transfers (in-country) to listed entities.

The blacklisting of Chinese entities comes as the US and China will hold the next round of trade negotiations on October 10, as the two major trading powers are trying 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.

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

A powerful United States Congressional Committee has urged India to lift the communication blackout in Kashmir, saying that it is impacting the lives of the people in the state.

'India's communication blackout in Kashmir is having a devastating impact on the lives and welfare of everyday Kashmiris,' the powerful House Foreign Affairs Committee said in a tweet on Monday.

'Its time for India to lift these restrictions and afford Kashmiris the same rights and privileges as any other Indian citizen,' it said.

Restrictions were imposed when New Delhi on August 5 scrapped the special status of Jammu and Kashmir state under Article 370 of the Constitution and bifurcated it into two Union Territories -- Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

Asserting that the abrogation of Article 370 to withdraw Jammu and Kashmir's special status was it's 'internal matter', India has defended imposition of restrictions in the Kashmir Valley on the grounds that they were put to prevent Pakistan from creating more mischief through proxies and terrorists.

The Asia-Pacific and Non-Proliferation Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee has scheduled a hearing on Human Rights in Kashmir and other parts of South Asia on October 22.

The stand by the House committee comes nearly a month after Indian-American lawmaker Pramila Jayapal along with 13 other US Congressmen had urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address concerns over the human rights situation in Kashmir and lift the communications blackout.   -- PTI

In his first reaction after being appointed as the Uttar Pradesh chief of the Congress, Ajay Kumar Lallu said his prime priority would be to change people's perception of the party by taking up issues concerning the common man.

"It would be my first priority to change people's perception of the party for which issues related to people will be raised in an effective manner both inside the Assembly as well as on the roads," he told PTI soon after announcement of his appointment.

He thanked Congress president Sonia Gandhi and general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and said he would strive to take along all partymen to strengthen it in the state, where it has been relegated to the margins by the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The All India Congress Committee on Monday night announced Ajay as the new Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee president and made Aradhana Misra 'Mona' as the leader of Congress Legislature Party, in his place.

AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal, in a press release, also said 12 general secretaries and 24 secretaries were appointed too for the state.

Besides, an 18-member Advisory Council to general secretary and eight-member working group on strategy and planning, comprising senior leaders, has also been set up.

Lallu, a Vaishya by caste, represents Tamkuhi Raj Assembly constituency in Kushinagar while Aradhana Misra, a Brahmin, represents Rampur Khas seat of Pratapgarh.

Aradhana Misra is daughter of senior leader and former MP Pramod Tewari.

The new UPCC, having a younger look, has been handpicked by Priyanka Gandhi giving preference to leaders who had been working relentlessly at the grassroots level and were prominently seen in her programmes in the recent past, party insiders said.

The new committee is much smaller than the previous one which had 500 members, they said, adding 45 per cent representation has been given to people from the backward communities, 20 per cent to Dalits, 15 per cent to Muslims and 20 per cent to upper castes.

Women have also got due representation, they added.   -- PTI