LIVE! Jaitley played major role in my acquittal: Shah

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Tue, 10 September 2019

Jaitley played major role in my acquittal: Shah

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23:25 Portion of building collapses in Mumbai's Crawford market

A portion of a building collapsed at Crawford Market in Mumbai on Tuesday.

Seven fire tenders have been rushed to the spot.

"No casualties or injuries have been reported until now. Police officers have been rushed to the spot. Fire brigade is also present at the spot," said deputy commissioner of police Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mumbai Police.

More details are awaited. -- ANI

Union home minister Amit Shah on Tuesday remembered late BJP leader Arun Jaitley saying that the senior leader, who passed away after a prolonged illness last month, had played a major role in his acquittal in "legal battle".

"He stood by my side firmy like a stone whenever I had to face difficult times in my life. He supported me on all fronts. Be it related to the party, legal battle or something else. If I come out of that battle, it was because Arun ji played a major role in it," Shah said at an event organised by the BJP to pay tributes to the departed leader.

Praising Jaitley for his friendly behaviour, Shah said, "One of his characteristics was establishing friendly relations with people from across the parties. He had mastered the art of making friends of below and over his age."

Shah also said that Jaitley played a major role in the formation of Goods and Services Tax and ensured that the tax reform did not fall in a political trap.

"His demise is a major loss of the party, politics and the country itself," the Union minister said.

BJP working president Jagat Prakash Nadda also remembered Jaitley as an "eloquent speaker, avid politician, and an advisor for everyone", adding that his demise was an "irreparable and personal loss".

Nadda continued, "Whenever I felt as if I were on the brink of (mental) collapse, he supported and encouraged me."

Speaking on the occasion, he said that Jaitley's demise had created a vacuum in the BJP and the Indian politics which could not be filled in the near future.

"Even opposition regarded him as a scholar and a visionary politician. The presence of all opposition party leaders here is a testament to his ability to work together with everyone," Nadda stated. -- ANI

Image: Home Minister Amit Shah pays tribute to former finance minister Arun Jaitley during a prayer ceremony in New Delhi. Photograph: @AmitShah/Twitter

22:55 Media was very fond of Jaitley: Modi

In his tribute to the late BJP stalwart Arun Jaitley, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday touched on his close relations with the media, saying journalists were very fond of him as he could give them in 8-10 minutes what they would have otherwise take many hours to find out.

"The media was very fond of him. Because they (journalists) would get in 8-10 minutes if they met Arun Jaitley which would have otherwise taken them work of 8-10 hours. He would explain to them and tell them what is right and wrong. He was helpful to the media by and large," Modi said at a 'Shradhanjali Sabha' in New Delhi.

His life was full of diversity, he said, adding Jaitley would be aware of all "latest things" and knew things inside out.

Jaitley also had a knack for one-liners, the prime minister said.

The former finance minister was probably the most media savvy national leader of the BJP for decades and was considered his party's most articulate face.

Former BJP president and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the party would always turn to him set its narrative on various issues. -- PTI

The Congress on Tuesday said the Indian Government is capable of handling Pakistan at the United Nations and it stands with it in solidarity to tackle "manipulative actions" of the neighbouring country seeking to internationalise Kashmir.

Congress spokesperson Ragini Nayak said it is also the government's responsibility to tackle Pakistan when it uses the statements of opposition leaders like Rahul Gandhi on Kashmir to defame India.

"Kashmir is an inseparable and indispensable part of our country and let me also say that whatever tactics Pakistan is resorting to, I am sure the Indian Government is capable of handling the same at the podium of United Nations. The Congress party stands in solidarity with the government in tackling any such manoeuvres or manipulative actions of Pakistan," she said at a press conference.

The Congress leader said the party condemns Pakistan if it calls Indian prime minister as "Hitler" for the use of words.

"Pakistan wants to internationalise Kashmir issue so as to present India in bad light and hurt its image. The atrocities and violations of human rights in Pakistan are known the world over. The Congress wants that the Government of India should give befitting reply to Pakistan and it is fully capable to do that," she said, adding that such matters should not be politicised.

"If Pakistan calls names to our prime minister or presents the statements of opposition leaders in such a way so as to gain politically, then it is the government's responsibility to tackle it," she said.

Nayak said it would be good if there is coordination between the opposition and the government, then a day will come when the problem will be eradicated from its roots.

To a question on which way the country's diplomacy is going after US President Donald Trump has evinced interest in resolving issues between India and Pakistan, she said, "it is a prerogative of the MEA and MEA has to sort this out." -- PTI

Jawaharlal Nehru University's students of history have said they were "pained" by the administration's move to ask historian Romila Thapar to submit her CV, saying having her in the university was akin to having an eminence tag for the varsity.

The JNU administration's decision to ask Thapar to submit her CV for assessment for her continuation as professor emerita had drawn sharp criticism from various quarters with the JNUTA terming it "politically motivated", following which the university registrar had said there are 11 others who have also been asked to submit their resumes.

The university had said it was done with the objective of ascertaining Thapar's "availability" and "willingness" to continue her "association with the university" and not to assess her for continuation.

Alumni and current students feel that the varsity is "insulting" academicians by asking for their CVs.

Rakesh Batabyal, who is currently a professor at the JNU and has also studied there, opined that the current atmosphere is "anti-knowledge".

"What is happening currently in JNU is symptomatic of what is happening in the society. The whole atmosphere is anti-knowledge and this is what you would call the 'rise of the mediocre'. This is the end of the knowledge paradigm," he said.

Other students also echoed similar sentiments and said it should be a matter of pride to the JNU that a professor of Thapar's stature is associated with it.

Nayan Dhawal, a PhD student said, "Having Romila Thapar is akin to having an eminence tag for the university. She has made immense contribution to ancient history and how it is read.

Today, the varsity is ranked around 51 (in the QS rankings JNU was ranked under the bracket of 51-100 in history and sociology). It is somewhere due to the contribution of professors like her. She has given new avenues to political writings.

He said asking her to submit her CV is akin to asking Mahatma Gandhi about his contribution to India.

Sudhir Nirala, who is pursuing PhD from JNU, concurred with Dhawal and said she is admired by everyone in the university.

"Professor Romila Thapar is loved and admired by students and professors alike in the varsity. Even if someone gets to know about her lecture just few minutes before, they would run to attend it. Her lectures always see a gathering of 500 students. She represents several generations of JNU and it is surprising for us to hear that she was asked for her CV. She is right on her part to not share her CV with the university," he opined.

Rishiraj Yadav, who recently contested the polls from Chhatra RJD, said he knows Thapar personally and she has even helped him as a guide on his PhD thesis and had given him monetary help when he needed it.

"It pains me to hear that she has been asked to submit her CV. How can the administration ask someone of the stature of Romila ma'am for her CV? This is an insult to the academicians. This is a well-planned conspiracy against her but we support her," he said. -- PTI

Six houses were partially damaged and five animals were killed in heavy shelling on civilian villages along LoC in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district early Tuesday, officials said.

The Pakistani army heavy shelled forward posts and civilian areas along LoC in Mankote, Balakote and Mendhar sectors of Poonch district, they said.

In the firing and shelling, six houses were partially damaged and five animals were killed. Thirteen animals were injured, they said.

In the firing and shelling in Uri sector of north Kashmir on Monday, two persons including a jawan were injured.

Authorities have put in place a plan to evacuate the areas if the need arises. -- PTI

United States President Donald Trump today fired his National Security Advisor John Bolton.

"I informed John Bolton last night that his services are no longer needed at the White House. I disagreed strongly with many of his suggestions, as did others in the administration," Trump said on Twitter.

"Therefore I asked John for his resignation, which was given to me this morning. I thank John very much for his service. I will be naming a new National Security Advisor next week," Trump said in another tweet.

Former England captain Alastair Cook has revealed in his autobiography that Australia opening batsman David Warner once told him about using the strapping on the hand to accelerate deterioration of the ball during a first-class match.

In his book 'The Autobiography' released on September 5, Cook wrote about an incident after Australia won the 2017-18 Ashes when he and England players shared a few beers with the opposition team then led by Steven Smith.

"David Warner, a couple of beers into his celebration, mentioned that he used substances attached to the strapping on his hand to accelerate the deterioration of the ball during a first-class match," Cook wrote in his book, according to 'The Guardian' newspaper.

"I looked at Steve Smith who shot a glance that said: 'Ooh, you shouldn't have said that'."

On the Australians using sandpaper to tamper with the ball during the infamous Cape Town Test in March 2018, Cook said Smith's team had gone too far.

"Stuart Broad sums it up pretty well and says they got the ball to reverse swing in that Ashes. Why change what you've been doing? Why suddenly use sandpaper? People know what was going on.

"But it's been the best thing for Australian cricket because they realised it wasn't acceptable. The win-at-all-costs culture they created isn't what the Australian public needed or wanted. They'd gone too far," wrote the prolific opening batsman who retired last year after playing 161 Tests from which he scored 12472 runs at an average of 46.95 with 33 hundreds.

Cook, now 34 and knighted by the government, does not include Sachin Tendulkar in his top three list of all time best batsmen and considers Smith, who has been in tremendous form in this Ashes series, as a "freak" but "extraordinary" batsman.

"He (Smith) does not look like he is one of the best ever... but he's operating on a different level. I've always had Lara, Ponting and Kallis as the three best batsmen I've ever seen. Smith (30) is younger than me but what he is achieving is phenomenal. He's redefining what is possible as a batsman.

"He is a freak in terms of his ability to play the kind of unorthodox shot, on all-fours...his God-given talent, apart from his work ethic and hand-eye co-ordination is extraordinary. He nicks the ball far less than any other player ever -- maybe with the exception of Sir Don Bradman. Smith just doesn't miss a ball on his pads." -- PTI

20:59 Talks with Pakistan only on PoK, says VP

Bilateral talks with Pakistan will be held only on the issue of Pakistan occupied Kashmir, vice president M Venkaiah Naidu said on Tuesday.

He said the dilution of Article 370 will accelerate the pace of development in Jammu and Kashmir as several central schemes and laws, which could not be implemented there earlier will be enforced, including the ones dealing with strengthening local bodies.

Interacting with a delegation of a 'sarpanch' (village heads) and 'panch' (panchayat members) from Jammu and Kashmir in New Delhi, Naidu pointed out that Article 370 was only a temporary and transitory provision in the Constitution.

"The vice president said that talks with Pakistan would be held only on PoK and asserted that the safety, security and integrity of the nation were paramount for every Indian," a statement issued by his secretariat after the interaction said.

Referring to the Jammu and Kashmir panchayat elections which were held under governor's rule after a long gap, the vice president expressed happiness that 74 per cent of the electorate had voted.

He said with dilution of Article 370, panchayats will now become more dynamic "as the 3Fs -- funds, functions and functionaries -- would be devolved to them," according to the statement.

During the interaction, the vice president also suggested that it should be made mandatory to hold elections to local bodies every five years.

"There should be no discretion or scope for the states to either postpone or advance them," he said. -- PTI

Air India has temporarily taken away its director of operations Amitabh Singh from flying duties for his failure to report to the regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation a mid-air fuel issue in Sydney last week, a source said Tuesday.

Singh, who was captaining a New Delhi-Sydney flight on September 7 failed to file the mandatory report on the low fuel situation to the DGCA, though he informed the airline.

The incident came under the scanner of both Indian and Australian aviation regulators.

"Air India has temporarily de-rostered Singh from flying duties as he did not file the mandatory online report about the low fuel situation on the said flight to the DGCA," a source told PTI.

Under the regulations, a pilot is required to compulsorily report certain incidents, including low fuel situation during a flight, to the DGCA.

Though Singh filed a voluntary report about the incident with the airline, he allegedly did not file it online with the DGCA within the stipulated 24 hours, airline source had said Monday.

"He has been derostered on the orders of the DGCA," the source added.

An Air India spokesperson was not available for comments.

Following the incident, the Australian aviation authorities had also asked Air India to probe the incident as he did not declare "fuel emergency" to the Sydney air traffic control while seeking priority landing and instead declared that there was minimum fuel.

"We are aware and it is being investigated," a senior DGCA official had told PTI Monday. -- PTI

Delhi University Professor Hany Babu, whose house was raided in connection with the 2017 Elgaar Parishad case for alleged Maoist links, alleged that police did not have a search warrant and they seized the phones of his daughter and wife, not allowing them to communicate with friends.

Babu, who has been teaching at DU's English department for close to a decade, said the police took away laptops which contain his research.

Babu was booked under Indian Penal Code sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 121 and 121A (waging or attempting to wage war against government), 124A (sedition), among others.

"At 6.30 am, 20 people knocked at my door, claiming that they belonged to the Pune Crime Branch. Five of them were in uniform, the rest were in civil clothes.

"I was told that they wanted to conduct a search of my residence. When I asked for a search warrant, I was told there was none and that this case doesn't need one," he posted on the microblogging site.

Babu said he requested them to show some form of identification and an officer with the name Shivaji Pawar showed him his ID.

"After this, the officers entered my residence and looked through every room of my apartment. The search went on for six hours, at the end of which they said they will be seizing my laptop, my hard disks, my pen drives and books. They made me change the passwords of my social media accounts and my email accounts," he said.

The professor claimed that they had complete access to his accounts "through the changed passwords and I no longer have access to these accounts".

"I would like to state that as a teacher, my work is heavily dependent on what I have saved in my laptops and my external hard disks. It also contains the research work that l've been pursuing for years. This work is not something which can be duplicated in days," he said.

These are years of his hard work, he said, adding he could not "understand how a government agency can seize my work without providing me the reasons for it, or the basis on which a search was conducted at my residence".

"They did not have a search warrant with them and they did not explain further as to why they don't possess the same. While the search was ongoing, they also seized the phones of my wife and my daughter, barring us from communicating with our friends," he said.

In the morning, his wife, Jenny Rowena, who teaches at DU's Miranda House also posted about the raid on Twitter.

"Today Pune police entered our house at 6.30 in the morning. They said that @hanybabu (my husband) is involved in the Bhima Koregaon case and that for this, they could search the house without a search warrant. They searched for 6 hours, took 3 books, laptop, phone, hard disks," she wrote. -- PTI

Union Minister Smriti Irani on Tuesday hit out at West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee for her opposition to National Register of Citizens, saying that the BJP-led government at the Centre is committed to protecting the rights of each and every citizen of the country.

The illegal infiltrators will be dealt with as per law and the Constitution, she asserted.

"No Indian will be left out... we are dedicated towards protecting the rights of the citizens of the country," the union minister said on NRC.

Irani criticised the ruling Trinamool Congress in the state for political violence and corruption and said the cut money controversy is an example of its corrupt government.

"The fact that TMC has ordered to return the cut money taken by their party leaders from masses who availed government schemes, is a blatant example of the corruption in the TMC government. Those who have raised their voices against cut money and have sought their money back are now being raped and murdered," Irani said.

A woman from Moynaguri in Jalpaiguri district who had demanded the refund of the cut money given by her was gangraped by alleged TMC leaders.

Banerjee's opposition to policies of the central government are well known to the people, she said.

"The belligerent stand taken by Mamata Banerjee is preventing the people of the state from availing benefits provided by the central government, that could have reached farmers, women and children.

"Establishment of industries have been stalled by the West Bengal government ... The Lok Sabha election results in West Bengal has shown that people of the state want change," Irani, who is union cabinet minister for textiles and women and child development, said. -- PTI

Countering Pakistan's repeated claims of human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir, India on Tuesday said that Pakistan is using "fabricated narrative and false allegations".

Addressing the 42nd session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, MEA secretary Vijay Thakur Singh says scrapping Article 370 was a parliamentary decision in a bid to end discrimination.

"Article 370 abrogation was a sovereign rights decision and within Indian Constitution" Singh said.

The railways will add money to your mobile phone wallet if you use plastic bottle crushing machines installed at stations as part of efforts to promote Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiative of junking single-use plastic.

In his Independence Day speech, Modi had appealed to the nation to eliminate single-use plastic and find alternatives to plastic water bottles on a priority basis.

The railways has issued directions that from October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, no single-use plastic will be used in its premises.

Railway Board Chairman V K Yadav has said the railways will install 400 bottle crushing machines at stations in which a passenger wanting to use them will have to key in his phone number into the machine and his phone will be recharged. However, details of the recharge were not known immediately.

Currently, 160 bottle crushing machines are available at 128 stations, he said.

He also said that instructions have been given to railway staff to collect all the used plastic bottles at railway stations and send them for recycling.

Earlier, the ministry had issued instructions to all its vendors and staff across its network to use reusable bags to reduce plastic footprint.

It has also directed all railway units to enforce a ban on single-use plastic material, with less than 50 micron thickness.

A pledge will be administered to cut the use of plastic on October 2.

In his speech, Modi urged citizens to give up single-use plastic and said that shopkeepers should sell jute and cloth bags.

The prime minister also stressed that citizens must buy indigenous products and strive to make the policy of "Make In India" a success. -- PTI

People excluded from the final National Register of Citizens will get certified copies, regarding rejection of their names, at the earliest so that they can file their appeals, the office of the NRC state coordinator announced on Tuesday.

The dates regarding distribution of exclusion certificates will be announced soon, NRC state coordinator's office tweeted.

The process of collection of exclusion certificates from the NRC Seva Kendras are on, the notice added.

The final NRC published on August 31 consisted only of Supplementary Lists and "queries are being received from the public about publication of all members of a family irrespective of their involvement in the claims and objections process" the tweet said.

"The results for the complete family will be available for display online from September 14 next and this will be available only online," the notice added.

The final NRC was released with 19,06,657 of the total 3,30,27,661 applicants excluded and 3,11,22,004 included. -- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday paid glowing tributes to former Union minister Arun Jaitley, who passed away last month, saying his life "inspires us to work harder for the nation".

Describing Jaitley as a "very close friend", Modi said he was a "stalwart blessed with so much talent".

"He was a multi-faceted personality. I miss his presence," Modi said at a 'Shradhanjali Sabha' held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here.

"Jaitley ji had health ailments but if one spoke to him, he was more concerned about the nation. Serving the nation energised him," he said.

Modi said whatever work Jaitley got, he added tremendous value to that.

"We will all remember so many memories with Arun ji. His life inspires us to work harder for the nation," the prime minister said. -- PTI

19:08 Ex-Maha min Kripashankar Singh quits Congress

Former Maharashtra minister Kripashanker Singh on Tuesday quit the Congress, saying he did not agree with party's stand to oppose abrogation of Article 370.

The former Mumbai Congress president told PTI that he will reveal his political stand at an "appropriate time" and added that he is not joining the BJP.

"I quit the Congress because I do not agree with the party stand to oppose abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir," he said.

Singh served as Mumbai Congress chief and was also a minister in the Congress-NCP coalition government for 15 years.

A Mumbai court last year discharged Singh in a disproportionate asset case for want of sanction to prosecute him.

He had come under ED and CBI scanner in the case. -- PTI

The SIT, headed by Inspector General Naveen Arora, was set up by the Uttar Pradesh government on a Supreme Court directive.

The woman appeared before the press on Monday, alleging that Chinmayanand had raped her, and also "physically exploited" her for one year. -- PTI

18:28 'Indian state' Jammu and Kashmir: Pak FM at UN

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Tuesday referred to Jammu and Kashmir as an "Indian state" following his speech at the United Nations Human Rights Council session in Geneva.

Speaking to reporters, Shah said, "India is trying to give an impression to the world that life has returned to normalcy. If the life has returned to normalcy, then I say, why don't they allow you, the international media, why don't they allow the international organisations, the NGOs, civil society organisations to go into the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir and see for themselves what the reality is."

Till date, Pakistan, in all its official communication, has been referring to Jammu and Kashmir as "Indian Administered Kashmir"

Qureshi's remarks came after his address at the UNHRC session, where he presented a false narrative on Kashmir maintained by his country following the Indian government's historic move to abrogate Article 370.

Interestingly, while Qureshi was addressing the session, protests were held outside the UN Headquarters against the dire situation of Human Rights in Pakistan.

Time and again Islamabad has been left red-faced after all its desperate attempts to internationalise the Kashmir issue fell flat with countries like Russia, UAE and US siding with India.

While Pakistan has been running from pillar to post, New Delhi has maintained that Kashmir is a strictly internal matter. -- ANI

The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday issued summons to Congress leader D K Shivakumar's daughter Aishwarya in connection with an alleged money laundering case, in which her father is an accused.

The agency asked Aishwarya to appear before it on September 12.

According to sources, the ED is likely to quiz her on certain transactions.

Shivakumar was arrested by the agency on September 3, after which he was sent to the ED's custody for ten days by a Delhi court.

A money laundering case was registered by the agency against him in September last year, based on a complaint filed by the Income Tax Department.

The I-T department, during the initial probe, had found unaccounted and misreported wealth linked to Shivkumar.

The I-T department also came across money laundering and hawala operations, involving a network of persons across Delhi and Bengaluru.

They had allegedly set up a base in order to transport and utilise the unaccounted cash. -- ANI

17:55

FDI equity inflows into India

17:50 Jack Ma steps down as chairman of Alibaba

One of Asia's richest man Jack Ma on Tuesday stepped down as the executive chairman of China's largest company -- Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.

The decision also coincided with his 55th birthday.

Ma will be replaced by CEO Daniel Zhang, who will also take on the role of chairman.

With 6.44 per cent of shares in his bracket, Jack will continue to exert his influence on China's biggest e-commerce company through his lifetime membership with the Alibaba Partnership, reported CNN.

In 2018, Ma had announced his retirement plans from the senior management position after two decades of building Alibaba into an e-commerce powerhouse worth $460 billion.

Last year, Ma spoke about the challenges for the future of education at the World Economic Forum, warning that "if we do not change the way we teach, 30 years later we will be in trouble."

Jack Ma Foundation was established in 2014 and has been cited by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation as an inspiration for his charitable endeavours.

"Jack has been signaling for some time his interests in philanthropy, environment, women's empowerment, education, and development," said Duncan Clark, the author of Alibaba: The House That Jack Ma Built. -- ANI

Hero MotoCorp chairman and managing director Pawan Munjal will be inducted to the 2019 Asia Pacific Golf Hall of Fame later this year for his support to the sport in India and around the world.

The induction ceremony will be held on November 6 at the 2019 Asian Golf Awards Gala Banquet to be held at DLF Golf & Country Club in Gurugram.

His induction into the Asia Pacific Golf Hall of Fame will be permanently installed at the Dr David Chu Golf Museum at Shenzhen in China, the new home of the Hall of Fame, a release said.

Munjal joins legendary players such as Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and other leading personalities such as David Chu, the founder of Mission Hills golf resort, to have been bestowed with the highest honour in the Asia Pacific golf industry.

"Dr. Munjal is being inducted to the Hall of Fame for his unparallelled support and ongoing commitment to golf in India and around the world since more than two decades. His personal commitment to golf has seen Hero MotoCorp being a partner of all three prominent tours -- The PGA Tour, The European Tour and the Asian Tour," the release added.

Munjal co-hosts the 'Hero World Challenge' at Albany in the Bahamas, a PGA sanctioned Tiger Woods invitational event -- one of the most high-profile golf tournaments in the world. He also hosts the 'Hero Challenge' -- the innovative one-hole knockout contest played under lights, at three prominent European Tour events.

Hero MotoCorp has been the title sponsor of Indian Open for men, co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour, since 2006 and the Women's Indian Open, which is a part of the Ladies European Tour, since 2010. Hero MotoCorp also sponsors India's domestic Pro Tour for women. -- PTI

17:35 Rahul, Omar quoted in Pak document at UN meet

The opening pages of a leaked Pakistan's dossier on Jammu and Kashmir contain the statements made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah in the wake of the abrogation of Article 370, which was presented at the United Nations Human Rights Council today.

"It has been 20 days since the people of Jammu and Kashmir had their freedom and civil liberties curtailed. Leaders of the Opposition and press got a taste of draconian administration and brute force unleashed on people of Jammu and Kashmir when we tried to visit Srinagar," Rahul Gandhi has been quoted as saying in the pages.

Similarly, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah has been quoted as saying, "GOI's unilateral and shocking decision will have far-reaching and dangerous consequences. This is an aggression against Kashmiris. The decision are unilateral, illegal and unconstitutional. A long and tough battle lies ahead. We are ready."

On August 28, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had hit out at Pakistan for instigating violence in Jammu and Kashmir asserting that matters related to the region are India's internal issues with no room for interference by Pakistan.

"I disagree with this Govt. on many issues. But, let me make this absolutely clear: Kashmir is India's internal issue & there is no room for Pakistan or any other foreign country to interfere in it," Rahul had said in a series of tweets.

"There is violence in Jammu & Kashmir. There is violence because it is instigated and supported by Pakistan which is known to be the prime supporter of terrorism across the world," Gandhi wrote in another tweet.

The Congress party too had slammed Pakistan saying that Jammu and Kashmir was, is and shall always remain a part of India. -- ANI

A transcript of Jamal Khashoggi's final moments captured on hidden microphones inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul has been published for the first time. The haunting recordings reveal how a Saudi hit-squad sent to take care of the dissident journalist discussed how his body would be dismembered after his death, referring to him as the 'animal to be sacrificed.' The men were then recorded telling Khashoggi to write a text message to his son in order to cover their tracks, before drugging him and placing a bag over his head. 'I have asthma. Do not do it, you will suffocate me,' Khashoggi is heard saying in his final words before sounds of a struggle and his body being dismembered are heard.

Read the report here

Pakistan on Tuesday said the UNHRC must not remain "indifferent" to the situation in Kashmir after India revoked Jammu and Kashmir's special status, saying it is the repository of the world's conscience on human rights. Addressing the 42nd session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the top UN rights body should not be embarrassed on the world stage by its inaction over the issue. He said the UNHRC must not remain indifferent to the situation in Kashmir after India revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir on August 5.

"Today, I have knocked on the doors of the Human Rights Council, the repository of the world's conscience on human rights, to seek justice and respect for the people of Kashmir," he said.

"We must not allow this august body to be embarrassed on the world stage. As a founding member of this Council, Pakistan feels morally and ethically bound to prevent this from occurring," he said, adding that in order to do so the body should not remain indifferent to the situation that was unfolding.

We must act decisively and with conviction," he said.

His statement came a day after UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet expressed "deep concern" over the impact of restrictions in Kashmir, and asked India to ease the current lockdowns to ensure people's access to basic services. India last month abrogated the provisions of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, and bifurcated it into two Union Territories. --PTI

16:14 Modi@100: FM earmarks Rs 100 lakh cr for infra

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Tuesday the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken landmark steps in its second term for India to emerge as a five trillion dollar economy in the next five years amid a domestic and global slowdown.

"I have appointed a high-level task force to identify projects for upgrading infrastructure across the country with an investment of Rs 100 lakh crore. This will include greenfield and brownfield projects costing above Rs 100 crore each," she said.

Listing major achievements of the new government's in first 100 days, Sitharaman said creating a robust infrastructure is imperative for a fast-growing economy like India. The initiative will also generate millions of new jobs.

The government has announced merger of 10 public sector banks into four strong lenders with countrywide networks and global reach to boost credit and revive economic growth, said the minister.

The government had also announced Rs 55,250 crore upfront as a capital infusion in the PSBs."The banks will benefit from each other's strength. A growing economy needs good banks. That was the reason behind merging banks. The effective date of mergers will be decided by the respective board of directors," said Sitharaman.

On skidding sales and job losses in the automobile sector, the minister said government departments have been allowed to buy new vehicles. Automobiles purchased till March 31 next year can avail the benefit of additional depreciation of 15 per cent with total depreciation up to 30 per cent.Besides BS-IV vehicles bought till March 31 next year will remain operational for their entire registration period.

Representatives of major automobile manufacturers have urged Sitharaman to lower the Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate from 28 per cent to 18 per cent. Sitharaman said the GST Council will take a call on the matter.

"I cannot singularly take a decision on GST rate cut on automobiles. The suggestions from automobile sector will be taken into consideration. We are working on this and will soon take a decision," she said. -- ANI

16:06 Paytm in discussion to buy stake in Yes Bank

Digital payments major Paytm is in discussions to buy stake in Yes Bank from co-founder Rana Kapoor, according to sources. The sources, privy to the discussions, said Kapoor has held preliminary discussions with Paytm.

They said the structure of the deal would depend on the approval from the Reserve Bank of India, given that Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma already owns stake in Paytm Payments Bank. Paytm declined to comment on the matter. Kapoor and associated entities own a 9.6 per cent stake in Yes Bank. Rana Kapoor could not be reached for comments.

Also, banking sources declined to comment whether plans are afoot by Rana Kapoor and family to sell their entire stake in the bank. Ravneet Gill, the current chief executive officer of Yes Bank who took charge in March, has said the bank wants to increase focus on compliance and governance. Notably, these are the two critical areas on which his predecessor Rana Kapoor had to step down, as the banking sector regulator RBI had found lapses on the part of the bank on these issues. -- PTI

A senior executive of global investment firm Goldman Sachs was arrested in Bengaluru on Tuesday for allegedly swindling the firm of Rs 38 crore to overcome financial losses while playing an online game recently, police said. Ashwani Jhunjhunwala, the firm's vice president, has been arrested and will be produced in court, deputy commissioner of police of Whitefield M N Anucheth told PTI.

Jhunjhunwalas aide Vedant is still at large, police added. Based on a complaint by the legal head of the company Abhishek Parsheera, a case under various IPC sections including criminal breach of trust and cheating was registered against the two. -- PTI

People residing in Mumbai are likely to get relief from the heavy rains for the next two to three days, predicted Skymet, a private weather forecasting agency on Tuesday.

This will also help the devotees of Lord Ganesha to perform Visarjan without any hindrance on September 12."Mumbai rains of different intensities have been observed during the last two to three days. In the last 21 hours, monsoon rains to the tune of 54 mm have been recorded, of which 49 mm rains alone were reported in a span of just 6 hours.

However, since yesterday afternoon, the rainfall activities started decreasing and only light showers of 5 mm were observed during evening and night hours," the Skymet stated in its advisory.

According to weather experts, the rainfall has decreased due to the weakening of trough. "Only light showers with one or two localised intense spells are likely. Moreover, as the intensity would be on the much lower side, we do not expect any hindrance in Ganpati Visarjan," it added.

However, the weather forecasting agency believes that the region in and around Mumbai are likely to receive significant rain and thundershower activity around September 14 or 15, wherein moderate showers with one or two intense spells may appear over the city. -- ANI

15:08 Urmila Matondkar quits Congress

Five months after joining the party, actor-turned-politician Urmila Matondkar resigns from the Congress. She states, "My political and social sensibilities refuse to allow vested interests in the party to use me as a mean to fight petty in-house politics instead of working on a bigger goal in Mumbai Congress."

In a statement, Matondkar who lost the Mumbai North Lok Sabha elections to Gajanan Kirtikar, wrote, "Ive resigned from the Indian National Congress. First thought of resignation came to me when after my repeated efforts, no action was taken in pursuance of my letter dated 16th May, addressed to then Mumbai Congress President Mr. Milind Deora. Thereafter, to my utter dismay, the said letter containing privileged and confidential communication was conveniently leaked to the media which according to me was an act of blatant betrayal," said Matondkar in the statement."

Image: Urmila Matondkar with colleague and former Mumbai Congress president Milind Deora during a campaign trail ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

Apples cultivated in Jammu and Kashmir will be procured directly from farmers by the government-run NAFED and the entire process will be completed by December 15, officials said on Tuesday. The announcement came in the wake of terrorists threatening some apple growers not to sell their produce in the market following abrogation of the special status given to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 and bifurcation of the state into two Union Territories.

"The government of India has announced procurement of apples produced in Jammu and Kashmir during the current season 2019. The NAFED will complete the entire process of procurement through designated state government agencies by December 15," a government official said.

The objective of the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED) is to promote co-operative marketing of agricultural produce to benefit farmers. The procurement will be made directly from genuine apple growers and the state administration will ensure direct payment in bank accounts of apple growers through direct benefit transfer (DBT). All categories of apples i.e. A, B and C will be procured from all the apple producing districts in Jammu and Kashmir as well as designated mandis (wholesale markets) in Sopore, Shopian and Srinagar, the official said. -- PTI

14:27 India objects to J-K in China-Pak statement

India on Tuesday objected to the reference made to Jammu and Kashmir in a China-Pakistan joint statement issued after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to Islamabad.

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar also talked about the China-Pakistan economic corridor in Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir, asserting that India is "resolutely opposed" to any actions by other countries to change the status quo in the region.

"We reject the reference to Jammu and Kashmir in the joint statement issued by China and Pakistan after the recent visit of the Chinese foreign minister. Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India," he said, responding to a question on the issue.

"On the other hand, India has consistently expressed concerns to both China and Pakistan on the projects in so-called 'China-Pakistan Economic Corridor', which is in the territory of India that has been illegally occupied by Pakistan since 1947," he said. Kumar said the parties concerned should cease such actions. -- PTI

Union Minister Smriti Irani on Tuesday hit out at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her opposition to the NRC, saying that the BJP-led government at the Centre is committed to protect the rights of each and every citizen of the country. The illegal infiltrators will be dealt with as per law, she asserted.

"No Indian will be left out... we are dedicated towards protecting the rights of the citizens of the country," the union minister said on NRC. Criticising Banerjee for her opposition to the NRC, Irani said, it proves the dichotomy on her stand on illegal immigrants. The chief minister's opposition to policies of the central government are well known to the people, she said.

"The belligerent stand taken by Mamata Banerjee is preventing the people of the state from availing the benefits provided by the central government, that could have reached farmers, women and children.

"Establishment of industries have been stalled by the West Bengal government..the Lok Sabha election results in West Bengal has shown that people of the state want change," Irani said. PTI

Yesterday, Ravish Kumar, the Indian journalist working with NDTV received the Ramon Magsaysay Award 2019. Those of you who tune in to Ravish Kumar every night know he needs no introduction, but for those who don't, here's what the citation from the Magsaysay Foundation reads: "In electing Ravish Kumar to receive the 2019 Ramon Magsaysay Award, the board of trustees recognizes his unfaltering commitment to a professional, ethical journalism of the highest standards; his moral courage in standing up for truth, integrity, and independence; and his principled belief that it is in giving full and respectful voice to the voiceless, in speaking truth bravely yet soberly to power, that journalism fulfills its noblest aims to advance democracy." Read the full citation here

And here's the full text of Ravish Kumar's acceptance speech at Manila.

13:55 Detained in Kashmir

From politicians to activists to children, India is running out of space for its prisoners. Read the report here

13:53 Param Vir Chakra Abdul Hamid, a Hero's Hero

54 years ago today. September 10, 1965. Company Quarter Master Havildar Abdul Hamid destroys 7 Pakistani Patton tanks in the Battle of Asal Uttar. We salute one of India's greatest military heroes: Abdul Hamid, Param Vir Chakra. Read the report here.

Also read: My salute to arguably India's greatest military hero

And this one: A martyr's family remembers

13:27 Sonia meets Pawar, Scindia meeting postponed

A meeting between Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi and Jyotiraditya Scindia scheduled to take place on Tuesday has been postponed.

Scindia is the chairman of the screening committee for upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections and a meeting of Maharashtra Congress is scheduled to take place today afternoon.

Meanwhile, NCP Chief Sharad Pawar called on Sonia Gandhi at her residence today. The meeting between the two senior leaders took place at 10 Janpath on Tuesday afternoon.

The postponement of the meeting between Scindia and Gandhi comes at a time when the party is expected to appoint a new state congress chief for Madhya Pradesh. Some party workers from the state have demanded the appointment of Scindia on the post.

So far, Sonia Gandhi has met Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath and Congress' state unit in-charge Deepak Babaria, after Umang Singhar wrote a letter to her against senior party leader Digvijaya Singh.

The crisis that is brewing in Madhya Pradesh Congress is far from over. However, the Congress president has received a report on the entire matter from Deepak Babaria and it has been referred to the Disciplinary Committee which is led by AK Antony. -- ANI

File pic

13:02 Air Chief Dhanoa leads the way

This undated picture of a gentleman performing sewa at a langar drew our attention. The image tweeted by Sukhdeep Singh, who identifies himslef as a 'free-flowing Sardar', reads, "Sewa! Do you know who this gentleman is?"

A closer look, and the gentleman holding a stainless steel bucket with prasad, appears to be India's air chief, Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa.

Clearly, he leads the way in the air and on the ground.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will address a press conference at 2 pm today in Chennai. The conference will highlight the achievements of the Narendra Modi government which completed 100 days in power in its 2nd term.

Sitharaman will speak about 'furthering India's development - 100 Days of Bold Initiatives & Decisive Actions of the Government of India'.

This comes even as the Modi government is facing flak over the decline in consumption which has led to a decline in the GDP growth which stands at just 5 per cent.

12:10 Every effort to communicate with Lander: ISRO

Indian Space Research Organisation on Tuesday said all possible efforts are being made to establish communication with the Vikram Lander.

The space agency in a tweet said, "#VikramLander has been located by the orbiter of #Chandrayaan2, but no communication with it yet. All possible efforts are being made to establish communication with lander."

This comes after ISRO Chairman K Sivan had told ANI on Sunday that the Chandryaan-2 orbiter has clicked a thermal image of the Lander.

"We are trying to establish contact. It will be communicated soon," he had said. He had also maintained that it will be "premature to say anything".

The Lander Vikram was to soft-land on the far side of the moon on September 7. Minutes before its scheduled soft-landing, the communication with Vikram Lander was lost.

It was 2.1 km above the moon's surface when it lost contact with the ground stations.

A success would have made India the fourth country to place a spacecraft on the moon after the then USSR, the U.S. and China. Also, India would have been the first country to reach close to the lunar South Pole.The Vikram Lander successfully separated from Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter on September 2.

After revolving around the Earth's orbit for nearly 23 days, the craft began its journey to the moon on August 14.The mission took off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on July 22. -- ANI

Only 19 per cent of employers in the country have bullish hiring plans for the next three months, while 52 per cent expect no change in their payrolls, says a global survey which predict softer employment outlook in many markets for the October-December quarter.

According to the ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook survey released on Tuesday, that covered 5,131 employers across India, a net 19 per cent of employers are anticipating an actual rise in their staffing numbers, while 52 per cent expect no change and 28 per cent are not sure about adding to their existing staff strength.

Despite the modest number, India is the fourth most optimistic nation about hiring plans for the next three months globally. The strongest hiring sentiment was reported in Japan where 26 per cent of employers were bullish about their hiring plans for the October-December quarter, followed by Taiwan (21 per cent) and US (20 per cent) in the second and third positions, respectively.

"Hiring plans for the next three months vary significantly globally with robust outlooks reported in many large markets while the uncertainty of Brexit and the impact of tariffs contribute to evidence of softer hiring intentions elsewhere," said Jonas Prising, ManpowerGroup Chairman and CEO. Globally, ManpowerGroup interviewed over 59,000 employers in 44 countries and territories. The survey noted that employers expect workforce gains in 43 of 44 countries and territories surveyed in the coming three months.

When compared with the previous quarter, employers in 15 out of 44 countries and territories report stronger hiring prospects, while employers in 23 countries report weaker hiring plans which also includes six who anticipate "no change". -- PTI

11:08 India-Pak battle on Kashmir at UNHRC today

India and Pakistan are set to battle it out over Kashmir during the ongoing 42nd UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) session in Geneva on Tuesday.

Both the countries have deployed their big guns for the "diplomatic offensive.

"The Indian delegation is led by Ajay Bisaria, the India High Commissioner to Pakistan who was sent back after Pakistan unilaterally downgraded ties, and Vijay Thakur Singh, Secretary East.

The delegation had recently met the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, and briefed her about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir since after the abrogation of Article 370.

On Monday, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi embarked on a three-day visit to Geneva. He is expected to lead the Pakistani charge over Kashmir issue at the UNHRC session.

On Monday, Qureshi in a tweet said Pakistan will speak "definitively" at UNHRC sessions over the Kashmir issue."Pakistan will speak definitively at the UNHRC Session in Geneva on the continued Indian atrocities in #Kashmir. As High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet said: The People of Kashmir must be consulted and engaged in any decision-making processes," he said in a tweet.

During her address to the Human Rights Council, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Monday said that she was "deeply concerned" over the "impact of recent actions" by the Indian government on the "human rights of Kashmiris" including the detention of political leaders and activists in Jammu and Kashmir.

Ever since India abrogated Article 370 which gave special status to Jammu-Kashmir, Pakistan has unsuccessfully tried to internationalise the issue.Notwithstanding the diabolic rhetoric from the neighbouring country, New Delhi has made it clear that the issue is "strictly internal" to India.

-- ANI

Image: Pakistan said it will bring up the alleged atrocities on Kashmiris by India at the UNHRC.

10:51 Economy in deep abyss of recession: Priyanka

Hitting out at the Modi government, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday said the economy is falling into a "deep abyss" of recession and asked when will the dispensation "open its eyes".

Her remarks comes amid opposition's criticism of the government after growth in the last quarter slipped to 5 per cent.

"The economy is falling into a deep abyss of recession. The sword is hanging on the livelihood of lakhs of Indians," Priyanka Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi. The decline in the auto sector and the truck sector is a sign of negative growth in production-transportation and the declining confidence of the market, she said. When will the government open its eyes, the Congress general secretary asked. -- PTI

In a stunning revelation, an informant from the Central Intelligence Agency who was extracted from Russia in 2017 had confirmed that President Vladimir Putin had "personally ordered and orchestrated" Moscow's meddling in the 2016 US presidential election.

People familiar with the matter said that the CIA source, was outside of Putin's inner circle, was privy to decision-making at high levels of the Russian government, according to The New York Times.

The informant's information was so delicate and carefully guarded that then CIA director John O Brennan had kept it out of then-President Obama's daily security briefings in 2016. Instead, Brennan transmitted intelligence reports, most of them based on the source's information in separate sealed envelopes.

"The information itself was so important and potentially controversial in 2016 that top C.I.A. officials ordered a full review of the informant's record, according to people briefed on the matter. Officials reviewed information the source had provided years earlier to ensure that it had proved accurate," the NYT report said.

When intelligence officials revealed the severity of Russia's election interference with unusual details in 2016, media started reporting more on the CIA's sources on Russian meddling which forced the agency to extract the informant from Russia.

As the CIA officials expressed concerns about the source's safety, the situation became more worrisome after the informant refused to be extracted citing family concerns. This created suspensions among some American counterintelligence officials that he may have become a double agent.Subsequently, after some months, the source was offered exfiltration for the second time which was accepted. -- ANI

Hailing from Odisha's Naxal-affected Malkangiri district, 27-year-old Anupriya Lakra has scripted history by becoming the first female pilot from the backward region.

Lakra, who will soon join a private airline as a co-pilot, has achieved this feat after years of hard work. At 23, she decided to quit engineering and join the aviation academy to fulfill her dream of becoming a pilot. Extending good wishes on her remarkable achievement, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had said in a tweet that Lakra has become an inspiration by setting an example for others to emulate.

"I am happy to learn about the success of Anupriya Lakra. The success achieved by her through dedicated efforts and perseverance is an example for many," Patnaik tweeted.

Lakra, the daughter of a Havildar in Odisha Police, completed her matriculation from a convent in Malkangiri and higher secondary from a school in Semiliguda. Her proud parents are ecstatic about her achievement and said that it was not an easy journey for her. She has come so far as she struggled very hard to reach this level, they said.

Yashmin Lakra, Anupriya Lakra's mother who is a homemaker, told ANI: "People used to say she will not be able to do it as we belong to a backward village. But she has proved them wrong. We feel very proud of her."

She added that the whole family is celebrating her success.People on social media have been showering praises on Lakra for becoming the first female commercial pilot from tribal area. -- ANI

US President Donald Trump on Monday nominated an Indian American as a federal judge in Florida. Anuraag Singhal is among the 17 judiciary nomination sent by the White House to the Senate. If confirmed by the Senate, the Indian-American would replace James I. Cohn as the United States district judge for the southern district of Florida. Singhal is the first Indian-American to be nominated to this position in Florida. His confirmation hearing by the senate judiciary committee is scheduled for Wednesday. Singhal currently is on the 17th Circuit Court in Florida, a position he has held since 2011. -- PTI

09:56

Amul gets it bang on as always. Their take on Chandrayaan 2.

09:50 Will release my financial report before 2020 elections: Trump

US President Donald Trump has said he plans to release a report on his financial holdings before the November 2020 presidential elections.

"I will be, at some point prior to the election, I will be giving out a financial report of me. And, it will be extremely complete," Trump told reporters at the White House.

The remark comes amid increased scrutiny of the government's spending on properties held by his family. US media reports are raising questions after Vice President Mike Pence stayed at a Trump property during his recent trip to Ireland.

"I'm going to give out my financial condition. And you will be extremely shocked that the numbers are many, many times what you think," Trump said.

Unlike his predecessors, Trump has not released his annual tax returns. "I don't need to have somebody take a room overnight at a hotel," he said. "So what is happening is the following every time you find a person landing an airplane within 500 miles of something I own -- Mike Pence, as an example... he has actually told me that he stay there many years ago at the same. I bought it years ago, but he was there before I bought it I believe he said a long time ago," he said. -- PTI

Pakistan's record of using unfair means of treatment against the minority communities was exposed once again after a former legislator of Prime Minister Imran Khan's party sought political asylum in India in one of the latest reports of atrocities across the Muslim-majority country.

Baldev Kumar, a former MLA of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf from Barikot in Khyber Pakhtun Khwa assembly, is in India, along with his family, to seek political asylum in New Delhi.

Baldev, 43, no longer wants to return to Pakistan and has alleged that minorities, including Hindus and Sikhs, are being prosecuted in Pakistan.

In 2016, a sitting MLA from his constituency was assassinated. Baldev was charged with a false murder case and acquitted in 2018. However, the above incident was not the only incident of atrocities against minorities in the cash-strapped nation. In Pakistan, many such incidents are regularly reported where Hindu, Sikh and Christian girls are forcibly converted to Islam and married to Muslim men.

The recent incident of abduction, forcible marriage and religious conversion of a Sikh girl of Nankana Sahib is a telling example. Jagjit Kaur daughter of the Granthi of Nanakana Sahib Gurdwara, the birthplace of Shri Guru Nanak Dev, in Pakistan, was allegedly abducted and forcibly converted to Islam after her marriage to a Muslim man.

The matter had raised a furore in India, with several political leaders across parties asking for action to be taken against the perpetrators. -- ANI

09:32 Shehla Rashid granted protection from arrest

Delhi's Patiala House court has granted interim protection from arrest to Shehla Rashid in connection with a first information report lodged against her under sedition law.

An FIR was lodged on a complaint filed against her, by a Supreme Court lawyer, on allegations of defaming Indian Army through her tweet.

In a series of tweets on August 17, Rashid had alleged that the armed forces entered houses in Kashmir at night and 'ransacked' them.

She had also alleged that four men were called to an Army camp in Shopian and 'interrogated (tortured)'. She had claimed a mic was kept close to these men so that 'the entire area could hear them scream, and be terrorised'.

Rashid described the case filed against her as 'frivolous', 'politically motivated' and a 'pathetic attempt' to silence her.

She tweeted her response to the case registered against her. -- with ANI inputs

United States President Donald Trump has said he plans to release a report on his financial holdings before the November 2020 presidential elections.

"I will be, at some point prior to the election, I will be giving out a financial report of me. And, it will be extremely complete," Trump told reporters at the White House.

The remark come amid increased scrutiny of the government's spending on properties held by his family.

US media reports are raising questions after Vice President Mike Pence stayed at a Trump property during his recent trip to Ireland.

"I'm going to give out my financial condition. And you will be extremely shocked that the numbers are many, many times what you think," Trump said.

Unlike his predecessors, Trump has not released his annual tax returns.

"I don't need to have somebody take a room overnight at a hotel," he said.

"So what is happening is the following every time you find a person landing an airplane within 500 miles of something I own-- Mike Pence, as an example... he has actually told me that he stay there many years ago at the same. I bought it years ago, but he was there before I bought it I believe he said a long time ago," he said. -- PTI

In two separate incidents, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) nabbed two passengers, one for impersonation and the other for carrying dual passports at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in New Delhi, an official statement said on Monday.

According to CISF, on September 8, at about 10.45 pm during pre-embarkation security checks at the security hold area of Terminal 3 (T-3) of IGI airport, a passenger Amrik Singh, scheduled to travel to New York by Flight No. AI 101, sitting on a wheelchair reported for frisking.

"Sub Inspector Rajveer Singh of CISF, deployed as the screener, asked him to stand on the podium. But the said passenger showed his inability on the pretext that he is unable to stand, being old. Sub Inspector Singh tried to interact with him and observed that the passenger was not making eye contact during the interaction," the statement said.

The statement further said, "On doubt, Singh checked his passport and noticed that he was holding the passport T-7372540 in the name of Amrik Singh, wherein the date of birth was mentioned as 01.02.1938 (age 81 years). The appearance and skin texture of the passenger seemed to be much younger than mentioned in the passport."

"On deep observation, it was noticed that he had coloured his hairs and beard with white colour. He was also wearing zero power glasses to conceal his age," the statement said.

The statement said, "As the age of the passenger was not corresponding with his physical appearance and behaviour, he was further enquired by the CISF personnel. On tactful questioning, the passenger revealed his real identity as Jayesh Patel, age 32 years, son of Krishankant Patel and resident of Ahmedabad."

"Immigration officials were informed who established the case of impersonation. Subsequently, the passenger was handed over to immigration officials for further necessary action," the statement added.

The CISF said in the other incident on September 8 at about 8 pm on profiling basis, CISF surveillance and intelligence staff of IGI airport intercepted a foreign passenger in the check-in area of T-3.

"On enquiry, he revealed his identity as Safi Noorzai, PP No. 01343125/Afghan, bound for Phnom Penh via Kuala Lumpur by Malindo Air flight No. OD-206/STD at 10.05 pm," the statement said.

The statement further said, "On suspicion, he was taken to the random checking point of the departure area. On checking his passport, it was observed that he had frequently visited Pakistan. Subsequently, his luggage was also checked thoroughly."

"On physical checking, a Canadian passport (PP No- HD104539) was also recovered in his name. The bio page of Canadian passport was mismatching with the passport number on the cover page, i.e., EDX37956. The Airline Liaison Officer was contacted, who also confirmed the said passport to be fake," the statement said.

"Later, the said passenger, with both the passports, was handed over to the Delhi Police for further legal action in the matter. An FIR has been lodged in this regard against the passenger," added the CISF. -- ANI

Eight terrorist associates who were involved in threatening and intimidation of locals by publishing and circulating of posters on the behest of Lashkar-e-Tayiba (LeT) affiliates, were arrested on Monday, said sources.

Those arrested have been identified as Aijaz Mir, Omar Mir, Tawseef Najar, Imitiyaz Najar, Omar Akbar, Faizan Latief, Danish Habib, and Showkat Ahmad Mir who are accused of preparing the threatening posters and circulating them in the locality.

According to sources, it is learnt that an active local terrorist namely Sajad Mir alias Haidar and his other associates Muddasir Pandith and Asif Maqbool Bhat affiliated with proscribed terror outfit Lashkar-e-Tayiba (LeT) were the principal architects on whose behest the posters were published and circulated.

Police recovered and seized the computers, other accessories and incriminating materials which were used for drafting and publishing of the posters, they added.

The police are also investigating the complicity of terrorists in the recent killing of civilians in the area.Further, an investigation is underway. -- ANI

08:37 Trump says peace talks with Taliban are dead

President Donald Trump has said the Afghanistan peace talks with the Taliban are 'dead', saying the United States had hit the group harder in the last four days than anytime in 10 years.

"They (talks with the Taliban) are dead. As far as I'm concerned, they're dead," Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday.

The President had stunned the world on Saturday when he announced the cancellation of a secret meeting with the Taliban and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani at Camp David near Washington.

It came after the Taliban claimed responsibility of an attack in Kabul last week, in which an American soldier were among the dead.

"They (the Taliban) thought that (they) had to kill people in order to put themselves in a little better negotiating position.... You can't do that with me," Trump said while responding to a question about his decision to cancel the talks.

"So, they dead as far as I'm concerned," he said.

"We have hit the Taliban harder in the last four days than they have been hit in over 10 years. So that's the way it is."

Trump said the decision to invite the Taliban to Camp David was his, and so was the call to cancel it.

Justifying the move, the President underlined that he did not want the meeting to happen under circumstances 'where they (Taliban) go around and try and make themselves a little bit more important by killing a soldier and also a total of 12 people'.

The Taliban, Trump said, did a mistake.

"We want to get out (of Afghanistan). But we'll get out at the right time," he said.

"We have been serving as policemen in Afghanistan, and that was not meant to be the job of our Great Soldiers, the finest on earth," Trump tweeted earlier.

"Over the last four days, we have been hitting our Enemy harder than at any time in the last ten years!" -- PTI

08:09 Indo-Pak tensions 'less heated' now: Trump

The relationship between India and Pakistan is 'less heated' now than what was two weeks ago, United States President Donald Trump has said, reiterating his offer to help the two South-Asian neighbours only if both of them want.

The comments by Trump were his first and comes two weeks since his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France on August 26.

"India and Pakistan are having a conflict over Kashmir as you know. I think (it) is a little bit less heated right now than (what) was two weeks ago," Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday.

Tensions between the two neighbours escalated after New Delhi revoked Jammu and Kashmir's special status by scrapping provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution.

"I get along with both countries very well," Trump said while responding to a question on his assessment of the situation between India and Pakistan.

"I am willing to help them if they want. They know that. That (offer) is out there."

During a meeting with visiting Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan in July, Trump had offered to mediate between the two countries on the issue of Kashmir.

India was quick to reject the offer, saying the Kashmir issue was bilateral.

It has also dismissed Trump's astonishing claim that Modi had asked him to mediate.

During his meeting with Modi in France last month, Trump had said Kashmir is an issue that needs to be resolved between India and Pakistan. -- PTI

The United States had succeeded in their 39th attempt to send their spacecraft to the moon because they had launched it on 'Ekadashi' day as per the Indian system of time measurement, Hindutva leader Sambhaji Bhide said on Monday, days after India's lander module of mission 'Chandrayaan-2' lost communication when it was close to the lunar surface.

Bhide, a former RSS activist who heads the Shiv Pratishthan Hindustan in Maharashtra, is an accused in the January 1, 2018 Koregaon Bhima caste violence case. However, he was never arrested.

"America attempted to send their spacecraft on the lunar surface 38 times earlier but failed on all those occasions," Bhide said while speaking at an event in Solapur.

He further claimed that following the repeated failures, one of the American scientists suggested that the Indian system of "time measurement" be adopted in place of the system followed by them.

"To all their surprise, the Americans succeeded in sending their spacecraft to the moon in the 39th attempt which was based on the Indian time measurement system. They were successful because the spacecraft was launched on the day of 'Ekadashi'," he added.

'Ekadashi' is the eleventh lunar day (tithi) of each of the two lunar phases which occur in a Hindu calendar month - the Sukla Paksha (the period of the brightening moon also known as the waxing phase) and the Krishna Paksha (the period of the fading moon also known as the waning phase). In Hinduism and Jainism, Ekadashi is considered a spiritual day and is usually observed by partial fast.

Not new to controversies, Bhide had claimed in the past that a number of couples were blessed with sons after eating mangoes from his orchard.

"Mangoes are powerful and nutritious. Some women who ate mangoes of my garden have given birth to sons," Bhide had said in Nashik. -- PTI

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