LIVE! Plea filed in SC seeking NIA probe into Nuh violence

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Fri, 25 August 2023

Plea filed in SC seeking NIA probe into Nuh violence

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23:44 Woman in Telangana delivers baby while waiting for ambulance

A woman in Nirmal district delivered a baby on the roadside at a village following intense labour pains while waiting for an ambulance, officials said on Friday, adding that staff of another ambulance who soon arrived at the spot took care of her.

The delivery was almost one month ahead of schedule and the woman and her baby are doing fine, they said.

The woman (27), who belongs to a village in the district, developed labour pains at about 8 pm on Thursday and she contacted an Accredited Social Health Activist.

The ASHA advised her to wait at a place after crossing a water body as a bridge on it had got washed away in recent heavy rains.

The ambulance service provided by ITDA (Integrated Tribal Development Agency) was contacted first but it could not arrive on time due to connectivity issues, they said.

The '108' emergency service was contacted then.

Meanwhile, the woman experienced intense labour pains and she delivered the baby with some attendants trying to assist her. -- PTI

23:32 Rainfall in India from June 1 to Aug 25

Here is a look at the distribution of rainfall across India during this monsoon from June 1 to August 25, 2023.

The Supreme Court will remain closed on September 8 with Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud on Friday declaring it as a holiday in view of the G20 Summit in the national capital, a notification issued by the apex court said.

The G20 Summit will be held in Delhi on September 9 and 10.

A notification issued on the apex court website said the CJI has declared September 8 as a holiday for the top court considering the office memorandum of August 24 issued by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions.

According to an order issued by the Personnel Ministry on Thursday, all central government offices in the national capital will be closed from September 8 to 10 in view of the G20 summit.

"Invoking the provision of sub-rule (3) of Rule 4 of Order II of the Supreme Court Rules, 2013, the Chief Justice of India has declared September 8, 2023 as holiday for the Supreme Court of India and its registry and September 9, 2023 as holiday for the registry of the Supreme Court considering the OM' issued by the government of India, ministry of personnel, public grievances & pensions," read the notification issued by the apex court.

The order issued by the personnel ministry on Thursday said, "Recognising the magnitude of this event and the substantial logistical arrangements involved, it has been decided to keep the central government offices located in Delhi closed from September 8, 2023, to September 10, 2023, on the occasion of G20 summit to be held in Delhi." -- PTI

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23:07 Plea filed in SC seeking NIA probe into Nuh violence

Alleging that targeted communal violence against the Hindu community occured in the Nuh district of Haryana, a petition has been moved in the Supreme Court seeking to issue direction for an NIA probe into the incident.

The petition has been moved by petitioners Pradeep Bhandari and Ratan Sharda through advocates Shashank Shekhar Jha and Manju Jetley Sharma.

In the plea, the petitioner sought to enforce fundamental rights, particularly the Right to Equality before the law (Article 14), Freedom of speech and expression (Article 19), Right to Life (Article 21) and Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice, and propagation of religion (Article 25).

"The petition pertains to the unnatural deaths and targeted communal violence against the Hindu community in the Nuh district of Haryana and nearby areas including Gurugram and Sohna. The series of incidents not only violated Freedom of speech and expression (Article 19) and the Right to life guaranteed under Article 21 of the victims but are also shameful," the petition said.

Hence the petitioner sought direction from the National Investigation Agency to conduct the investigation monitored by the top court.

The petition also sought that the trial of the case be transferred outside Nuh and to get the auditing of the houses torched in the riot.

The petition also sought direction to Haryana to issue compensation of Rs 1 crore to the family of victims who are dead and Rs 20 lakh in case of injury. -- ANI

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22:32 Mumbai logs 17 Covid cases; addition to tally in double digits for fourth day

Mumbai on Friday reported 17 COVID-19 cases, the fourth consecutive day when the addition to the tally has been more than 10, a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation official said.

It took the tally in the metropolis to 11,64,261, while the death toll remained unchanged at 19,776, he said.

On Wednesday, the city had reported 12 cases, the civic official added.

The recovery count increased by nine in the last 24 hours to touch 11,44,404, leaving the metropolis with an active caseload of 81, he said.

The recovery rate is 98.3 per cent and the overall growth rate of cases between August 18 and 24 was 0.0008 per cent, as per civic data.

So far, 1,89,22,586 coronavirus tests have been conducted in Mumbai, including 243 in the last 24 hours.

The caseload doubling time is 83,327 days, as per official data. -- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that India has shown its capability to the world by hoisting the tricolour on the Moon, asserting that its science and technology and innovation are creating a wave globally.

Addressing the Indian diaspora in Greece, he also cited several development feats achieved by his government in the last nine years and emphasised that never before has so much investment been made in the infrastructure sector.

Over 25 lakh km-long optical fibre cable has been laid in India since 2014 which is, he noted, more than six times the distance between the Earth and the Moon.

India has taken indigenous 5G technology to around 700 districts in record time, he said, drawing cheers from the audience.

The world's highest-altitude rail bridge and motorable road besides the biggest cricket stadium and the tallest statue are in India now, he said.

Top global bodies like the World Bank and the IMF are praising the Indian economy with leading companies vying with each other to invest in India, he said, asserting that the country's role is changing fast in the post-COVID-19 world order.

Referring to the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the lunar surface earlier this week, Modi said India has shown its capability to the world by hoisting the tricolour on the Moon.

The prime minister invoked ancient ties between the civilisations of India and Greece, and praised the roles of Sikh gurus in strengthening their relations, he said. His government had worked with dedication in commemorating events related to Sikhs, he added.

Superstar Shah Rukh Khan on Friday dropped a brand new poster of Jawan that showcases his many avatars from the much-awaited movie.

The new poster was shared by Khan and Red Chillies Entertainment on X, formerly Twitter, and gives a glimpse at his five looks from the movie, including the one where he is bald and another where half of his face is covered by a mask.

"Ye to shuruaat hai'. The Many Faces of Justice... Ye teer hai, abhi dhaal baaki hai... Ye ant hai, abhi kaal baaki hai... Ye puchta hai khud se kuch, abhi jawaab baaki hai (This is just the beginning... The Many Faces of Justice... This is the arrow, the shield is still left... This is the end, time is yet to come... He asks himself something, the answer is yet to come)" Khan wrote.

"There's a purpose behind every Face. But this is just the beginning...Wait for the Ace!!!" he added.

According to the makers, Jawan is a high-octane action thriller that "outlines the emotional journey of a man who is set to rectify the wrongs in the society'.

Directed by Atlee, the movie also features Vijay Sethupathi and Nayanthara as well as Deepika Padukone in a special appearance.

Sanya Malhotra, Priyamani, Girija Oak, Sanjeeta Bhattacharya, Lehar Khan, Aaliyah Qureshi, Ridhi Dogra, Sunil Grover and Mukesh Chhabra also appear in the movie in key roles. -- PTI

Amarmani Tripathi

21:07 UP ex-minister Amarmani Tripathi, wife released

Former Uttar Pradesh minister Amarmani Tripathi and his wife Madhumani, serving life sentences in the poet Madhumita Shukla murder case, were released on Friday evening, ahead of the completion of their terms.

The Uttar Pradesh prisons department on Thursday issued an order for their premature release, citing the state's 2018 policy on remission, since they have completed 16 years of their sentences.

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to stay the couple's release.

The couple is currently admitted in the BRD Medical College in Gorakhpur.

The prisons department had also cited the couple's old age and good behaviour. Amarmani is 66 and Madhumani 61, Gorakhpur district jailor A K Kushwaha said, adding that though the duo has been released, they will continue to remain at the BRD Medical College.

Tripathi's son Amanmani Tripathi told reporters here that his parents were under doctors' supervision and based on their advice, further steps will be taken.

Amarmani Tripathi, who was elected from the Nautanva constituency, was a minister in the state's BJP government in 2001 and also in the BSP government formed in 2002.

He has also been with the Samajwadi Party.

During the day, the Supreme Court also issued notices to the Uttar Pradesh government, Tripathi and his wife, seeking their replies within eight weeks on a plea filed by the poet's sister Nidhi Shukla. Nidhi Shukla, who had been in the forefront in this legal fight, earlier said she feared for her life and that of her family members in case the two are released.

Poet Madhumita, who was pregnant, was shot dead on May 9, 2003, in the Paper Mill Colony, Lucknow.

Amarmani Tripathi was arrested in September 2003 in connection with the murder of the poet with whom he was allegedly in a relationship. -- PTI

Yuvraj Singh, wife Hazel Keech

20:47 Yuvraj Singh, wife Hazel Keech welcome their second baby

Good News!! Former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh and his wife Hazel Keech have become parents once again.

On Friday, the couple welcomed their second child, a baby girl named Aura.

Taking to Instagram, Yuvraj shared a happy family picture from the hospital which he captioned, "Sleepless nights have become a lot more joyful as we welcome our little princess Aura and complete our family."

In the picture, Yuvi could be seen holding his newborn daughter, while Hazel could be seen along with her son Orion.

Soon after he dropped the picture, fans flooded the comment section with red hearts emoticons and congratulatory messages for the couple.

"Congratulations!!!! Lots of love,' a user wrote. Another user wrote, "Wow many congratulations' "Congratulations & blessings," a fan wrote.

Yuvraj and Hazel had welcomed their first child in January 2022.

Announcing the birth of their son, the couple posted on social media, "To all our fans, family and friends, we are elated to share that God blessed us with a baby boy. We thank God for this blessing and wish you to respect our privacy as we welcome the little one into the world."

Yuvraj and Hazel got married on 30th November 2016.

Their's was a traditional Anand Karaj ceremony that took place at the Fatehgarh Sahib Gurdwara, Punjab. -- ANI

A special NIA court in New Delhi has ordered the confiscation of a property of absconding pro-Khalistan terrorist Lakhbir Singh Sandhu alias "Landa" in a village in Tarn Taran district of Punjab, an official said on Friday.

According to the National Investigation Agency, the gangster-turned-terrorist, who is learnt to be living in Canada since 2017, is the mastermind behind several cases of terrorism, including the 2022 rocket-propelled grenade attacks on the police intelligence headquarters and the Sarhali police station in Punjab.

"As per the court's orders, passed under Section 33 (5) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, property of Landa in village Kirian is confiscated to the state. He was earlier declared a proclaimed offender on July 2," a spokesperson of the NIA said.

Landa was charge-sheeted by the NIA on July 22 this year following investigation into his antecedents, which include masterminding the conspiracy to kill Punjab Police sub-inspector Dilbagh Singh in August 2022.

"Initially involved in criminal and gangster-related activities, Landa has been continuing his anti-India activities from Canada. He has been working for the Babbar Khalsa International and its Pakistan-based gangster-turned-terror operative Harwinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda," the spokesperson said.

The official said the NIA is investigating activities of members of proscribed pro-Khalistan terrorist organisations such as the BKI, Khalistan Liberation Force and the International Sikh Youth Federation after registering a case suo motu on August 20 last year. -- PTI

The Supreme Court on Friday extended till September 1 the interim bail of former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain in a money laundering case despite vehement opposition by the the Enforcement Directorate, which said the medical advice tendered to the Aam Aadmi Party leader did not warrant the relief.

A bench of Justices AS Bopanna and M M Sundresh granted the relief to Jain after taking note of his medical report.

"Though the additional Solicitor General opposes the grant of extension of interim bail by contending that medical advice as referred to is not sufficient to extend the bail... medical bail granted earlier stands extended till September 1," the bench said.

At the outset, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi submitted that Jain is entitled to regular bail as he has been in jail for over 15 months.

Referring to the senior AAP leader's medical condition, Singhvi said he is undergoing rehabilitation after a crucial surgery of the spine.

The doctors have suggested aquatic physiotherapy and he can walk only with assistance, Singhvi said.

"Bathroom only in a standing position, walk only with assistance," Singhvi read from the medical report.

Additional Solicitor General SV Raju strongly opposed the extension of bail and said Jain should be evaluated independently by AIIMS, Delhi.

"We can take him to swimming pool for physiotherapy purposes. He wants a swimming pool in jail. If he wants we can take him to a swimming pool for aquatic exercise. All patients cannot afford a swimming pool."

"He does not require a single day of extension. There is nothing warranting the extension for even a day. Kindly look at the medical advice. Look at the type of medical advice," Raju said.

"What to do if he avails physiotherapy and you take his photograph and publish it," the bench said jokingly, in an apparent reference to a string of photographs of Jain being given special treatment inside Tihar jail. -- PTI

A two-member inspection team of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has found lapses in internal safety audits of Air India and the regulator is probing the matter, according to officials.

When contacted, an Air India spokesperson said that all airlines are subject to regular safety audits by regulators and other bodies.

"Air India actively engages in such audits to continually assess and strengthen our processes," the spokesperson said in a statement and added that the airline directly addresses any matters raised with the authority concerned.

According to the inspection report submitted to the DGCA, the airline was supposed to carry out regular safety spot checks in various areas of operations such as cabin surveillance, cargo, ramp and load but during a random inspection of 13 safety points, the team found that the airline prepared false reports in all 13 cases.

"Moreover, when cross-verified with CCTV, recordings, auditee statements, shift register documents, GD (General Declaration) list, passenger manifest etc, it is understood that all the aforesaid 13 spot checks shown to be carried out in stations Mumbai, Goa and Delhi were verified and were established to have not been actually performed," the two-member team said in the 'Deficiency Reporting Form'.

The inspection found that the these reports "were subsequently prepared/falsified when demanded by the DGCA team".

Further, the inspection report noted that these forged spot check reports were not signed by the Chief of Flight Safety who has the authority to do it.

The team visited Air India's office in Gurugram in Haryana on July 25 and 26, and after inspection, they mentioned about the lapses in the DRF. -- PTI

Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao at the inauguration of the newly constructed temple./ANI

19:56 Temple, mosque, church inaugurated in Telangana secretariat premises

A temple, mosque and a church built in the premises of Telangana's new secretariat complex were inaugurated on Friday with Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao attending special prayers held in the three places of worship.

Several ministers and officials were present on the occasion.

AIMIM president and Hyderabad Lok Sabha member Asaduddin Owaisi, his younger brother and AIMIM floor leader in the assembly Akbaruddin Owaisi were in attendance at the inauguration of the mosque.

Speaking at the opening of the mosque, the chief minister said the government's efforts to maintain brotherhood in Telangana would continue.

The Telangana secretariat, with a temple, church and mosque built in its premises, is a great example of harmony and brotherhood for the entire country, he said.

The chief minister had inaugurated the new secretariat on April 30. -- PTI

Mehbooba Mufti's daughter Iltija

19:35 Mehbooba's daughter Iltija granted regular passport with 10-year validity

Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti's daughter Iltija Mufti was granted a regular passport with 10-year validity in Srinagar on Friday, officials said.

The issuance of a regular passport to Iltija came more than a month after she moved the Jammu and Kashmir high court with a fresh petition seeking its intervention for extending the duration of her passport along with no bar to travel to any country.

"The regional passport officer called Iltija to his office and handed over a regular passport with 10-year validity to her," an official said.

The 35-year-old Iltija, who wishes to pursue higher studies in the United Arab Emirates, had earlier been issued a country-specific passport valid from April 5, 2023 to April 4, 2025.

Iltija had moved the high court in February for issuance of the passport after her application for the travel document was not cleared initially.

Her passport had expired on January 2 and she had applied for a fresh one in advance on June 8 last year. Mehbooba Mufti, the president of the Peoples Democratic Party, is a former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir. -- PTI

ISRO on Friday said the Chandrayaan-3 rover, 'Pragyan', has successfully traversed a distance of about eight metres and its payloads have been turned on.

"All planned rover movements have been verified. The rover has successfully traversed a distance of about 8 metres. Rover payloads LIBS and APXS are turned on," the space agency said in a post on X.

"All payloads on the propulsion module, lander module, and rover are performing nominally," it added.

The Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer is aiming at deriving the chemical composition and infer the mineralogical composition of the lunar surface. The Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscope will attempt to determine the elemental composition (Mg, Al, Si, K, Ca, Ti, Fe) of lunar soil and rocks around the lunar landing site.

ISRO on Thursday said the Lander payloads ILSA, RAMBHA and ChaSTE were turned on.

ILSA will measure seismic activity around the landing site and RAMBHA will study the plasma environment around the Moon. -- PTI

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19:00 Defence ministry inks Rs 19,000 cr contract with HSL for 5 fleet support ships

The defence ministry on Friday sealed a Rs 19,000 crore deal with Hindustan Shipyard Ltd for acquisition of five fleet support ships for the Indian Navy.

The ships of 44,000 tons category will be the first of its kind to be built in India by an Indian shipyard, officials said.

The ministry said the project would be a major boost towards achieving the goal of self-reliance in defence manufacturing as the ships will be indigenously designed and constructed by HSL, Visakhapatnam.

"The ministry of defence on August 25 signed a contract with HSL, Visakhapatnam for acquisition of five fleet support ships for the Indian Navy at an overall cost of approximately Rs 19,000 crore," it said.

The Cabinet Committee on Security had approved the acquisition of the ships in its meeting on August 16.

The fleet support ships will be deployed for replenishing ships at sea with fuel, water, ammunition and stores, enabling the Indian Naval fleet to operate for prolonged periods without returning to harbour.

"These ships would enhance the strategic reach and mobility of the fleet. The induction of these ships will significantly enhance the blue water capability of the Indian Navy," the ministry said in a statement. -- PTI

Eight people, mostly women were killed when a jeep they were travelling in fell into a gorge in Wayanad district on Friday, the police said.

They said there were at least 12 people in the jeep when the accident took place at around 3.30 PM in the Valad-Mananthavady road.

"The jeep was returning to Makkimala with women working in a private tea estate," a local resident told the media.

The victims were rushed to a hospital at Mananthavady but police said eight of them lost their lives.

"The condition of at least two people is serious," a senior police official said.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan directed forest minister A K Saseendran, who was in Kozhikode, to rush to the accident site.

The CM gave directions to coordinate all measures including the treatment of the injured and take care of other necessary things, a CMO statement said in Wayanad. -- PTI

Prime minister Narendra Modi was conferred with the prestigious Grand Cross of the Order of Honour by Greek President Katerina N Sakellaropoulou on Friday, a special honour reflecting the strength of the India-Greece partnership.

The honour is bestowed by the Greek president to prime ministers and eminent personalities who, by reason of their distinguished position, have contributed to enhancing the stature of Greece.

In a tweet, Modi thanked President Sakellaropoulou, and the Government and people of Greece for conferring upon him The Grand Cross of the Order of Honour.

"This shows the respect the people of Greece have towards India," he said, sharing a picture of the event.

The ministry of external affairs in a tweet said it is "a special honour reflecting the strength of the India-Greece partnership".

The citation, according to pmindia.gov.in website, says, "In the person of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, an honour is bestowed upon the friendly people of India."

"On the occasion of this visit, the Greek State Honours the Prime Minister of India, a statesman who has tirelessly promoted the global reach of his country and who works systematically for India's economic progress and prosperity, bringing about bold reforms. A statesman who has brought environmental protection and climate change among the top priorities of international activity," it states.

The Order of Honour was established in 1975. The head of goddess Athena is depicted on the front side of the Star with the inscription "ONLY THE RIGHTEOUS SHOULD BE HONOURED."

Modi, who is in Athens at the invitation of Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis, arrived in the Greek capital from South Africa where he attended the 15th BRICS Summit. -- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Bengaluru on Saturday morning to congratulate the team ISRO on the successful Chandrayaan-3 mission to the Moon.

He is slated to spend an hour at the ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network and greet scientists of the national space agency headquartered in Bengaluru.

On Wednesday evening as the Lander Module of Chandrayaan-3 mission successfully touched down on the lunar surface, Modi had joined the ISRO team at Mission Operations Complex at ISTRAC virtually from Johannesburg, where he was attending the 15th BRICS summit.

According to BJP sources, party leaders and workers would welcome Modi at two places -- outside the HAL Airport and Jalahalli Cross, which is close to ISTRAC.

He had also flown down to Bengaluru on the night of September 6, 2019 to watch the planned touch down of Chandrayaan-2 mission's 'Vikram' lander. But in the early hours of September 7, barely minutes before it was slated to land, ISRO lost contact with the craft, just 2.1 km above the lunar surface. -- PTI

KBK Infographics

17:31 Sensex declines on selling in financials

Benchmark Sensex declined by 365 points and Nifty settled below the 19,300 level in a volatile trade on Friday as financials, IT and oil shares took a hit amid concerns over potential rate hikes and weak trend in global markets. Falling for a second day in a row, the BSE Sensex closed lower by 365.83 points or 0.56 per cent at 64,886.51.

During the day, it dropped 519.77 points or 0.79 per cent to 64,732.57. The NSE Nifty declined by 120.90 points or 0.62 per cent to end at 19,265.80. From the Sensex pack, Larsen & Toubro, JSW Steel, IndusInd Bank, Power Grid, ITC, Mahindra & Mahindra, NTPC, HDFC Bank, ITC, Reliance Industries and Tata Motors were among the major laggards.

In a major escalation of the tussle between Punjab governor and the chief minister Bhagwant Mann, Banwarilal Purohit on Friday warned the CM that he could recommend President's rule in the state and also initiate criminal proceedings if his letters are not answered.

In his latest communication to Mann, Governor Purohit indicated he was upset over not getting any reply from him on his previous, and warned him that he could send a report to the President on failure of constitutional mechanism.

Purohit advised Mann to act before he takes this final decision under Article 356 of the Constitution, and section 124 of the Indian Penal Code.

A state is brought under direct rule of the Centre with the invocation of Article 356, usually after a report is sent by the Governor.

The IPC section relates to assaulting or wrongfully restraining the President or a governor from exercising their lawful powers. "Before I am going to take final decision regarding sending a report to the President of India under Article 356 about the failure of the constitutional mechanism and take a decision about initiating criminal proceedings under section 124 of the IPC, I ask you to send me the requisite information sought for under my letters referred to above, as also in the matter of the steps taken by you concerning the problem of drugs in the State, failing which I would have no choice but to take action according to law and the Constitution," the governor wrote.

His letter was released to the media on Friday. PTI

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday visited the Kargil War Memorial in Drass and paid rich tributes to the Indian Army personnel who sacrificed their lives during the 1999 war with Pakistan. The memorial is located on the 434-km Srinagar-Leh national highway and about five km from the city centre across the Tiger Hill, Kargil.

"Kargil is not just a place, it is a saga of valour. It is the land many of our soldiers served in and resonates with their courage and sacrifice. This is the pride of India and all Indians realise their sense of responsibility towards the country. I bow to all the brave soldiers and martyrs of Kargil War," Gandhi wrote on his social media accounts.

He also shared several pictures of him paying tributes at the memorial built in Drass town to commemorate the 1999 Kargil War between India and Pakistan. Gandhi concluded his nine-day tour of Ladakh with a public meeting in Kargil before offering his tribute at the war memorial en route to Srinagar.

He also met local residents of Drass before leaving the town on way to Kashmir in a car, senior Congress leader Asgar Ali Karbalai told PTI.

Gandhi arrived in Leh initially on a two-day visit on August 17 but later extended his stay by a week, touring almost all important locations in the Union Territory of Ladakh on his motorcycle.

He rode his bike from Leh to Pangong lake, Nubra, Khardungla top, Lamayuru, Zanskar and Kargil. However, he left his motorcycle behind and boarded a car for Srinagar where he will be on a personal visit and will be joined by his mother, Sonia Gandhi, on Saturday. PTI

File pic. PM Modi with Vladimir Putin

16:01 Putin to skip G20 Summit in Delhi next month

Russian President Vladimir Putin has no plan to attend the G20 Summit in India in person, reports Reuters quoting the Kremlin. The Summit will be held from September 8-10.

Most of the arrivals will take place September 8 and delegates will depart to their respective countries on September 10-11.

World leaders like Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Emanual Macron, and Justin Trudeau are expected to arrive in New Delhi for the event. As per reports, the dignitaries will be hosted in 5-star hotels like ITC Maurya, Taj Palace, The Oberoi, The Lodhi, The Imperial, and Le Meridien.

Modi held bilateral talks with his Greek counterpart Mitsotakis

15:49 Chandrayaan-3 triumph of humankind: PM in Greece

The success of Chandrayaan-3 is not only the victory of India, but it is also the triumph of the entire humankind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Greek President Katerina N Sakellaropoulou on Friday as she praised the country's ambitious Moon mission.

Modi met the president after his arrival in the Greek capital from South Africa where he attended the 15th BRICS Summit. The two leaders also discussed ways to further cement the India-Greece friendship.

"Glad to have met President Katerina Sakellaropoulou in Athens. We discussed several issues which will strengthen the India-Greece friendship. We also discussed ways to boost sustainable development. She congratulated India on the success of Chandrayaan-3," Modi tweeted sharing a photograph of the meeting.

Responding to Sakellaropoulou's wishes for India's successful Moon mission, Modi said, "The success of Chandrayaan-3 is not only the victory of India, it is the triumph of the entire humankind."

"The findings of the data collected by the Chandrayaan-3 mission will help the entire scientific fraternity and humankind," he added. India scripted history on Wednesday as the ambitious third Moon mission of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) touched down on the Moon's south pole, propelling the country to an exclusive club of four and making it the first nation to land on the uncharted surface. -- PTI

Taking a dig at US Vice President Kamala Harris' accent, former president Donald Trump has mocked her, saying she talks in "rhyme".

Trump, who gave the first Republican presidential primary debate a miss which was held in Milwaukee on Wednesday, made an appearance on former Fox News presenter Tucker Carlson's show where he criticised both President Joe Biden and Vice President Harris.

In a video posted on X (formerly Twitter), Trump is seen mocking Harris's accent saying, "She speaks in rhyme. It's weird... Well, the way she talks: 'The bus will go here and then the bus will go there! Because that's what busses do!'"

On being asked about the probability of Indian-American Harris becoming the candidate for Democrats in the next Presidential election, Trump said: "This is not a president of the United States future".

Harris, 58, is the first woman vice president and the highest-ranking female official in US history, as well as the first African-American and first Asian-American vice president.

Harris was born to two immigrant parents: a Black father and an Indian mother. Her father, Donald Harris, was from Jamaica and her mother Shyamala Gopalan, a breast cancer scientist, hailed from Chennai. Trump also commented on President Biden, saying he is worse mentally than physically".

"Well not really she has some bad moments. Her moment is as bad as it can be. I think his( pointing to Joe Biden) is worse, actually," he said. Trump, who is running for the presidential election scheduled for November 5, 2024, will be contesting against three Indian-American candidates. -- PTI

The Shiv Sena (UBT) on Friday said the Narendra Modi government can send a mission to the Sun, but it should first focus on the onion issue in the country or else the ruling party will not even not realise that their 2024 Lok Sabha endeavour will go haywire.

In an editorial in Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece Saamana, the party slammed the Centre's decision to impose 40 per cent export duty on onion.

"The people (of the country) are being engaged in new missions like Moon Mission, Sun Mission and Venus Mission. Mission Sun is all fine, but it is very much essential that the onion issue in the state stabilises," the editorial said.

Nashik, Ahmednagar and Pune districts of Maharashtra are known for their onion produce. A section of farmers have been protesting against the Centre's decision to impose a 40 per cent import duty on onion.

"You do send a mission to the Sun, but before that you should ensure the onion issue is settled or else your mission to 2024 (Lok Sabha polls) will go haywire and you will not even realise it," he said.

Scripting history, the ISRO's Chandrayaan-3 landed on the Moon on Wednesday. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has also planned missions to the Sun, Venus and the Gaganyaan mission which aims to send Indian astronauts to Low Earth Orbit. PTI

Amarmani Tripathi

14:13 Poet Madhumita Shukla's killers to be released

Former UP minister Amarmani Tripathi and his wife Madhumani, serving life terms in the Madhumita Shukla murder case, are set to be released from the prison, Gorakhpur jail superintendent, Dilip Pandey said on Friday.

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to stay Tripathis' release from the jail. The prisons department had on Thursday issued an order for the premature release of Amarmani Tripathi, citing the state's 2018 policy on remission, since they have completed 16 years of imprisonment.

The department also cited their old age and good behaviour as Amarmani is 66 and Madhumani is 61, the official said citing the order. Amarmani Tripathi and his wife are currently admitted in the BRD Medical College, Gorakhpur for health reasons.

Gorakhpur district jailer AK Kushwaha said that if the formalities get completed, they may be released on Friday. A bench of Justices Aniuddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi refused to stay Tripathis' release.

The bench also issued notices to the state government, Tripathi, and his wife seeking their replies within eight weeks on a plea filed by the poet's sister Nidhi Shukla. Madhumita Shukla's sister, Nidhi Shukla, who had been in the forefront in this legal fight, had earlier said she has approached the Supreme Court against the decision and also fears for the life of her and her family members.

Poet Madhumita, who was pregnant, was shot dead on May 9, 2003, in Paper Mill Colony, Lucknow. Amarmani Tripathi was arrested in September 2003 in connection with the murder of the poet with whom he was allegedly in a relationship. A Dehradun court had sentenced Amarmani Tripathi and his wife Madhumani Tripathi to life imprisonment for Madhumita's murder in October 2007, later the Nainital high court and the Supreme Court upheld the sentence of the couple. The case was probed by the CBI.

14:09 Neeraj Chopra qualifies for Paris Olympics

Neeraj Chopra qualifies for Paris Olympics by entering World Championships final with 88.77m throw.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday began his engagements in Greece by paying tribute at the Tomb of Unknown Soldier in Athens.

He was then accorded a ceremonial guard of honour.

Modi arrived in the Greek capital from South Africa where he attended the 15th BRICS Summit and held bilateral meetings with several world leaders to further cement India's relations with those countries.

He was received by Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis at the airport.

After his arrival at the ancient city, Prime Minister Modi laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a war memorial located in Syntagma Square in Athens, in front of the Old Royal Palace.

It is a cenotaph dedicated to the Greek soldiers killed during various wars.

Delhi's Rouse Avenue court on Friday granted permission to former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia to sign documents in relation to opening of a new bank account.

Special judge M K Nagpal allowed Manish Sisodia to sign the documents for opening a new bank account.

His previous bank account has been attached by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in connection with a money laundering case of Delhi excise policy.

An application was moved on his behalf. It was stated that he is sitting MLA from Patparganj and his salary is being deposited in the attached bank account.

'His previous bank account was at the Bank of Baroda, Shakarpur, Delhi. Due to the attachment, the family of the accused was finding it difficult to withdraw the money from the same bank account. Therefore, he needs to open a new bank account,' the application said.

The court has granted permission to sign some of the documents by the applicant, advocate Irsha Khan submitted.Special Public Prosecutor Naveen Kumar Matta urged the court that the details of the new bank account may be provided to the agency.

At this point, Manish Sisodia said, "They know everything, except how many chapatis I have been eating."

The matter has been listed on September 22 for scrutiny of documents.

Meanwhile, the court granted some more time to the ED to supply the legible copies of supplementary charge sheets and documents filed along with some of the accused.

Applications were moved by some of the accused stating that the copies of documents were not legible and missing.

The supplementary charge sheet as well as documents have been supplied to other accused persons including Manish Sisodia, the court noted. -- ANI

Two days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a conversation in Johannesburg, India and China on Friday offered divergent views on which side sought the engagement with Indian sources saying that a Chinese request for a bilateral meeting is pending.

Prime Minister Modi and President Xi held the conversation on Wednesday on the sidelines of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) summit in Johannesburg.

"The conversation was not a structured bilateral meeting and was an informal one. There was a pending request from the Chinese side for a bilateral meeting," sources in the Indian side said hours after the Chinese foreign ministry released a readout on the Modi-Xi conversation that said it was held at the Indian side's request.

"The two leaders, however, had an informal conversation in the leaders lounge during the BRICS summit," said a source.

The Chinese readout said: "President Xi Jinping talked with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS summit at the latter's request on August 23." In his conversation with Modi, Xi stressed that improving China-India relations serves common interests and it is conducive to peace and stability of the world and the region, it said.

India's Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra on Thursday said Modi conveyed to Xi India's concerns on the "unresolved" issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, underlining that maintenance of peace and tranquility in border areas was essential for normalisation of India-China ties.

The Chinese readout described the conversation between the two leaders on Wednesday as "candid and in-depth" "On August 23, President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on current China-India relations and other questions of shared interest on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit," it said.

"President Xi stressed that improving China-India relations serves common interests of the two countries and peoples, and is also conducive to peace, stability and development of the world and the region," it said.

"The two sides should bear in mind the overall interests of their bilateral relations and handle properly the border issue so as to jointly safeguard peace and tranquillity in the border region," the statement released by the Chinese embassy in New Delhi said. At a media briefing in Johannesburg, Kwatra said the two leaders agreed to direct their relevant officials to intensify efforts at "expeditious disengagement and de-escalation".

"On the sidelines of the BRICS summit, the prime minister had interactions with other BRICS leaders. In a conversation with President Xi Jinping of China, the prime minister highlighted India's concerns on unresolved issues along the LAC in the Western Sector of the India-China border areas," Kwatra said.

13:07 10 YO makes hoax bomb call to Mumbai airport

The Mumbai police received a threat call about a bomb planted in a plane at the city international airport, although they later found that it was a hoax call made by a 10-year-old boy from Satara district in Maharashtra, an official said on Friday. The incident took place on Thursday, he said.

"Officials of the Mumbai police's main control room received a call on its 112 emergency helpline, in which the caller said there was a bomb in a plane at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport," the police official said.

"The police tracked the phone number and found that the call was made from Satara district by a 10-year-old boy. After verification, it was confirmed that it was a hoax call," he said.

The police found that the boy is suffering from some serious medical issues and has been undergoing treatment, he said. Investigation into the case is underway, the police said. PTI

The ISRO scientists on D-day

12:45 PM's 1st stop after return: Meet moon mission team

After concluding his two-nation visit from Greece, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will head straight to Bengaluru, Karnataka on a pre-scheduled visit. He will meet scientists of the ISRO team involved in the Chandrayaan-3 Mission.

After a 40-day journey into space, the Chandrayaan-3 lander, 'Vikram', touched down on the uncharted lunar South Pole on Wednesday evening, making India the first country to do so. Moreover, the Prime Minister joined the live telecast of Chandrayaan-3 landing online from South Africa.

PM Modi hailed the Chandrayaan-3 mission creating history by achieving a soft landing on the lunar surface and said "India is now on the moon'. "When we see such historic moments it makes us very proud. This is the dawn of new India,' he said. "Humne dharti par sankalp kiya aur chand pe usse sakaar kiya...India is now on the moon," he added.

India also became only the fourth nation after the US, Russia and China to successfully conduct a lunar landing mission.

The Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft put down the Vikram lander on the lunar surface, tilting to a horizontal position ahead of landing. The spacecraft was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh's Sriharikota on July 14. A GSLV Mark 3 (LVM 3) heavy-lift launch vehicle was used for the launch of the spacecraft that was placed in the lunar orbit on August 5 and since then, it went through a series of orbital manoeuvres before zeroing in on the moon's surface. -- ANI

The Supreme Court on Friday said the trial in the Manipur violence cases being probed by the CBI will take place in neighbouring Assam and asked the Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court to nominate one or more judicial officers to deal with the matters.

Passing a slew of directions, a bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud said judicial procedures related to production of accused, remand, judicial custody and its extension will be conducted online at a designated court in Gauhati. Judicial custody of the accused, if and when granted, will be done in Manipur to obviate transit, it said.

The bench also permitted persons, including victims, witnesses and others related to CBI cases, to appear physically before the designated Gauhati court if they don't want to appear online.

It directed the Manipur government to provide proper internet services to facilitate hearing in CBI cases through online mode at the Gauhati court. On August 21, the top court had appointed the Justice Gita Mittal committee to oversee relief and rehabilitation of the victims of ethnic violence in Manipur.

Over 10 cases, including the one related to sexual assault of two women whose video had gone viral on social media, were transferred to the CBI. Noting that many Manipur residents may have lost their identity documents in the ethnic strife, the Supreme Court-appointed panel has urged the top court to pass a slew of directions to the state government and others, including the UIDAI, to ensure Aadhaar cards are made available to those displaced and the victims' compensation scheme is broadened.

The panel had submitted three reports highlighting the need for reconstruction of identity documents, upgradation of compensation and appointment of domain experts to facilitate its functioning. -- PTI

12:25 40 years later, an Indian PM lands in Athens

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said he is looking forward to productive talks with the top leadership of Greece aimed at deepening the bilateral friendship as he arrived in Athens on a daylong visit, the first by an Indian premier in 40 years.

Modi is in Athens at the invitation of Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

He arrived in the Greek capital from South Africa where he attended the 15th BRICS Summit and held bilateral meetings with several world leaders to further cement India's relations with those countries.

'Landed in Athens. Looking forward to a productive Greece visit aimed at deepening India-Greece friendship. I will be holding talks with @PrimeministerGR Kyriakos Mitsotakis and also interacting with the Indian community,' Modi tweeted.

He is also expected to meet President Katerina Sakellaropoulou.

'PM @narendramodi sets foot in the historic city of Athens for his first-ever visit to Greece. Warmly greeted by FM George Gerapetritis at the airport,' the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

'A packed day of engagements lie ahead in Athens. He will lay a wreath at the Tomb of an unknown soldier. He will thereafter meet the President of Greece and hold talks with the Prime Minister of Greece,' Bagchi said in the video uploaded alongside the post.

He will also interact with business leaders from both countries, as well as with the Indian community in Greece during his day-long visit.

"He will also meet business leaders from both sides. Before departing he will interact with members of the community who are excited to see him after the success of the Chandrayaan mission. All in all a productive day ahead," he said.

The Indian community in Greece was excited to welcome Modi.

They chanted slogans like 'Modi ji ki jai' and danced to the tunes of Bollywood numbers 'Chak de' and 'Jai Ho'.

"We expect that in the future Greece and India ties will be strong. So we are expecting this from the prime minister," a community member said.

Modi had earlier said: "I have the honour to be the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Greece after 40 years."

The last high-level visit to Greece took place in September 1983 when then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi travelled to the country.

India and Greece enjoy civilisational ties, which have strengthened in recent years through cooperation in areas like maritime transport, defence, trade and investments and people-to-people ties. -- PTI

11:41 India rejects China's claim over Modi-Xi talks

Indian sources have dismissed the recent claim made by China saying the China-India talks on the margins of the 15th BRICS Summit happened at the latter's request.

A statement released by the Chinese foreign ministry stated, 'President Xi Jinping talked with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit at the latter's request on August 23, 2023.'

Meanwhile, Indian sources have said that 'there was a pending request from the Chinese side for a bilateral meeting'.

The sources also confirmed that 'the two leaders, however, had an informal conversation in the Leaders Lounge during the BRICS Summit'.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry statement also added that the 'two leaders had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on current China-India relations and other questions of shared interest and President Xi stressed that improving China-India relations serves the common interests of the two countries and peoples, and is also conducive to peace, stability and development of the world and the region'.

At the 15th BRICS Summit that concluded in Johannesburg on Thursday, sharing details of a conversation between India-China meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS summit, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said that in a conversation with President Xi, PM Modi highlighted India's border concern.

"On the sidelines of the BRICS Summit, the Prime Minister had interactions with other BRICS leaders. In a conversation with President Xi Jinping of China, the Prime Minister highlighted India's concerns on unresolved issues along the LAC in the Western Sector of the India-China border areas," said Kwatra.

"The prime minister underlined that maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas and observing and respecting the LAC are essential for the normalisation of the India-China relationship. In this regard, two leaders agreed to direct their relevant officials to intensify efforts at expeditious disengagement and de-escalation," Kwatra added.

On Thursday, both leaders (PM Modi and Xi) greeted each other ahead of the BRICS leaders' briefing where they were seen interacting briefly on the stage. -- ANI

The Ministry of Railways has constituted a four-member high-level committee to inquire into the cause of the collapse of a under construction railway bridge in Mizoram's Aizawl district in which 22 workers were killed, officials said on Friday.

The committee will submit its report within one month from the date of formation, according to the order issued by the Railways ministry on Thursday.

The four-members of the committee are B P Awasthi of RDSO, Dr Dipti Ranjan Sahoo of IIT Delhi Sharad Kumar Agarwal of IRICEN and Sandeep Sharma, Chief Bridge Engineer, NF Railway, the order said.

Works-I branch of the Railway board will be the nodal branch for the functioning of the committee and submission of report for consideration by the railway board, implementation of the committee's recommendation and all related issues..., the order said.

The under-construction railway bridge in the Bairabi-Sairang new line project near Aizawl collapsed on Wednesday killing 22 workers and injuring three.

Bodies of four missing workers were found on Thursday.

One worker is still missing and search operations are on for the missing worker.

All the victims hailed from Malda district in West Bengal, police said.

Twenty-six workers were present at the time of the incident.

The Railways said the accident that took place on Wednesday was due to the collapse of a gantry, which was being launched on the under-construction bridge over the Kurung river.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the kin of the workers.

He also announced an ex gratia compensation of Rs 50,000 for those who suffered minor injuries. -- PTI

Art works and traditional items reflecting Indian heritage were the gifts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's choice for some of the world leaders at the BRICS summit in Johannesburg.

He presented a pair of surahi from Telangana to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Nagaland shawl to his wife and the first lady of the host country, officials said.

They noted that the bidri vase is a purely Indian innovation exclusive to Bidar, a Karnataka city.

It is cast with an alloy of zinc, copper and other non-ferrous metals.

Pretty patterns are engraved on the casting and inlaid with pure silver wire.

The casting is then soaked in a solution mixed with special soil of Bidar fort which has special oxidising properties, they noted.

This causes the zinc alloy to turn into a lustrous black leaving the silver inlay intact to contrast stunningly with the black background, they added.

The gift also carried silver nakkashi, whose patterns are first drawn on paper and then transferred on silver sheets.

Naga shawls, they noted, are an exquisite form of textile art that have been woven for centuries by the tribes in Nagaland in the northeastern part of India.

These shawls are known for their vibrant colours, intricate designs, and the use of traditional weaving techniques, which have been passed down from generation to generation.

Each Naga shawl tells a unique story, reflecting the tribe's history, beliefs, and way of life, officials noted.

Modi gifted gond painting from Madhya Pradesh to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Gond paintings are one of the most admired tribal art form, they said, adding that these paintings, created by dots and lines, have been a part of pictorial art on walls and floors of the Gond community. -- PTI

The Goa police have arrested a man hailing from Gujarat for allegedly raping a woman tourist at a resort in Assonora village of North Goa, an official said on Friday.

The incident took place on August 23, and based on the victim's complaint, the police arrested the 47-year-old accused, identified as Laxman Shiyar, who was also on a visit to Goa as a tourist, he said.

"The victim and the accused had earlier met each other on a flight and befriended each other. During their conversation, the man had taken down the woman's phone number and later remained in touch with her over the phone," Deputy Superintendent of Police Jivba Dalvi said.

"Earlier this week, the victim and the man visited Goa separately. On August 23, he called the woman on her phone and persuaded her to visit the resort he was staying at Assonora under the pretext of showing the amenities there," he said, quoting the complaint.

When the woman visited the resort alone, the accused took her into his room and raped her there.

He also threatened her against disclosing about the incident to anybody, Dalvi said.

Based on the woman's complaint, police teams were formed and the accused was arrested at Thivim village near Mapusa town in North Goa, he said.

The police did not specify the victim's age.

Assonora village is located around 40 km from Panaji. -- PTI

Describing India's successful lunar mission as a 'historic achievement' for both India and the world, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has congratulated his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi and the two leaders agreed to advance cooperation in the technology sector, especially artificial intelligence.

Netanyahu spoke to Modi on Thursday and congratulated him on the Indian achievement of successfully landing a spacecraft on the South Pole of the Moon, a press statement here said.

'Prime Minister Netanyahu noted that this was a historic achievement for both India and the world and offered his heartfelt congratulations on behalf of all Israeli citizens,' it said.

Modi is said to have extended his best wishes to Netanyahu and the citizens of Israel ahead of Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) and invited the Israeli Premier to visit India in the near future.

'The two leaders agreed to advance cooperation on technology issues, especially artificial intelligence,' the release said.

The Indian prime minister later tweeted that he was 'pleased to receive a congratulatory call from my dear friend, Prime Minister of Israel @netanyahu, on the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the South Pole of the Moon'.

'On behalf of the people of India, I thank him for this warm and thoughtful gesture', Modi wrote. -- PTI

09:34 No split in NCP, Ajit our leader: Sharad Pawar

Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar has said that there is no split in his party and Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar is a leader of the NCP.

"There is no conflict that he (Ajit Pawar) is our leader, there is no split in NCP. How does a split happen in a party? It happens when a big group separates from the party at the national level. But there is no such situation in NCP today," he said.

"Yes, some leaders took a different stance but this can't be called a split. They can do so in a democracy," Pawar told ANI in Baramati.

Earlier on Thursday, NCP MP Supriya Sule had said that Ajit Pawar is a 'senior leader and MLA of the party', when asked about the status of the former in the NCP.

Sule, on being queried about whether the NCP has suffered a split, also said taking affidavits from functionaries by the faction led by founder Sharad Pawar is a continuous process within the party.

Speaking about Ajit Pawar, the Baramati Lok Sabha MP said, "Now, he has taken a stand that is against the party, and we have given a complaint to the assembly speaker and are awaiting his response." -- ANI/PTI

09:19 Sonia Gandhi to join son Rahul in Srinagar

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will be reaching Srinagar on a two-day 'personal visit' and will be joined by his mother Sonia Gandhi next day, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Vikar Rasool Wani said on Friday.

However, Wani said, the two senior leaders will have no political engagement or meeting with any party leaders in Srinagar during the 'family tour'.

Rahul has been in the Union Territory of Ladakh the past one week and will be leaving for Srinagar after addressing a public rally in Kargil Friday morning, the JKPCC president told PTI.

He said he will be joined by his mother Sonia Gandhi on Saturday.

Rahul reached Ladakh on August 2, his first visit to the region which was granted UT status after being carved out from Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019.

The erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was also turned into a Union Territory with its special status under Article 370 revoked.

Over the past one week, Rahul has gone round almost all famous places including Pangong lake, Nubra valley, Khardungla top, Lamayuru and Zanskar on his motorcycle before reaching Kargil on Thursday.

Another Congress leader said Rahul will be reaching Sonamarg in central Kashmir's Ganderbal district from Kargil in the afternoon before moving to Srinagar where he will be staying for two nights at a houseboat and a hotel. -- PTI

There is no evidence of religion-based violence in Manipur, a United States-based India-centric think tank has said in a report, listing historical baggage, inter-tribes distrust, fear of economic impacts, drugs and insurgency among the factors responsible.

In a report released this week, the Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS) said that 'some even alleged that a foreign interference cannot be ruled out'.

The FIIDS said both the state government of Manipur and the government of India have deployed all their resources to establish peace and provide relief to those affected.

'In summary, the violence has historical baggage, inter tribes distrust, fear of economic impacts, drugs and insurgency as factors. However, it is important to note that, although religious polarization exists among the tribes, we did not find evidence of religious violence. Instead, it is based on an ethnic divide and historical distrust and rivalry between the tribes,' said the report.

'Various dormant insurgency/extremist groups took advantage to revive themselves with gun violence. This was further fueled by funds and arms from drug mafias who grow opium and process heroin for export through Myanmar. Some even alleged that a foreign interference cannot be ruled out,' the agency said in a press release issued Thursday.

While the violence and protests have calmed down in the recent weeks, the underlying distrust still exists, and displaced people are not yet comfortable to return to their origins, they said in the release.

Further steps, such as discussions, negotiations, major trust-building exercises, and help to rebuild their lives, are necessary to carry forward, it said.

The report will be shared with the US-based policymakers and think tanks, FIIDS said.

Clashes broke out on May 3 in Manipur with its competing tribe Meities and Kukis attacking each other over the issue of tribal status to majority Meitie community.

Wide social media circulation of fake news of graphic videos and pictures sparked lethal violence and resulted in over 100 deaths and thousands of people displaced from their villages, the FIIDS media release said. -- PTI

In his conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Xi Jinping stressed that improving China-India relations serves common interests and is conducive to peace and stability of the region and the world.

This was said in a Chinese readout on Friday on the exchanges between the two leaders on the sidelines of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) Summit in Johannesburg.

India's Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra on Thursday said Prime Minister Modi conveyed to President Xi India's concerns on the 'unresolved' issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, underlining that maintenance of peace and tranquility in border areas was essential for normalisation of India-China ties.

The Chinese readout described the conversation between the two leaders on Wednesday as 'candid and in-depth'.

'On August 23, President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on current China-India relations and other questions of shared interest on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit,' it said.

'President Xi stressed that improving China-India relations serves common interests of the two countries and peoples, and is also conducive to peace, stability and development of the world and the region,' it said.

'The two sides should bear in mind the overall interests of their bilateral relations and handle properly the border issue so as to jointly safeguard peace and tranquility in the border region,' the statement released by the Chinese embassy in New Delhi said.

At a media briefing in Johannesburg on Thursday, Kwatra said Prime Minister Modi and President Xi agreed to direct their relevant officials to intensify efforts at 'expeditious disengagement and de-escalation'.

"The prime minister underlined that maintenance of peace and tranquility in the border areas and observing and respecting the LAC are essential for the normalisation of the India-China relationship," the foreign secretary said.

"In this regard, two leaders agreed to direct their relevant officials to intensify efforts at expeditious disengagement and deescalation," Kwatra added.

The government refers to the eastern Ladakh region as Western Sector. -- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday concluded a "very productive" visit to South Africa during which he attended the "historic" 15th BRICS Summit and held bilateral meetings with several world leaders to further cement India's relations with those countries.

Modi arrived in South Africa on Tuesday for the first in-person BRICS Summit after three consecutive years of virtual meetings because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"PM @narendramodi wraps up a fruitful visit to South Africa that launched a new chapter in the BRICS journey. PM now emplanes for Greece for engagements with an important Mediterranean partner," spokesperson of the ministry of external affairs Arindam Bagchi posted on X.

"My visit to South Africa was a very productive one. The BRICS Summit was fruitful and historic as we welcomed new countries to this forum. We will keep working together for global good. My gratitude to President @CyrilRamaphosa, the people and Government of South Africa for their hospitality," Modi posted on X.

On Tuesday, Modi attended the Leaders' Retreat along with his counterparts from China, South Africa and Brazil.

Russia was represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

He held a bilateral meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday during which they reviewed the progress made in bilateral ties and exchanged views on regional and multilateral issues.

He held a series of bilateral meetings with several world leaders, including presidents of Iran, Senegal and Mozambique, on the margins of the BRICS Summit on Thursday. -- PTI

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01:46 Gorakhpur admin bans drones near Gorakhnath temple, other places

Flying drones over select locations in the city, including the Gorakhnath Temple, without prior permission has been banned by the Gorakhpur administration, officials said on Thursday.

The order, issued recently by additional district magistrate Anjani Kumar Singh, will be applicable within the city's police station jurisdictions and any violation will be considered a criminal offence, they said.

Prior permission from the city magistrate is mandatory for flying drones over and around specific locations, including the Gorakhnath temple, the fertilizer plant operated by Hindustan Urvarak and Rasayan Ltd, AIIMS, the railway station, and within the 2-km radius of the Mahayogi Gorakhnath University, including Gorakhnath Arogyadham Balapar Sonbarsa, the order said.

The application for permission must be submitted at least seven days before the planned drone activity, it said.

The decision comes after a drone was spotted near the Gorakhnath temple on Monday. Mayank Baranwal from Nathmalpur area flew the drone to record a video of the Gorakhnath Temple without permission.

The police confiscated the drone and a case was registered against him under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code for violating prohibitory orders in the district in view of festivities in the ongoing month of Sawan. -- PTI

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01:24 WR cancels 36 trains between Ahmedabad and Mumbai from Aug 25 to 28

Western Railway on Thursday announced the cancellation of 36 trains originating from or passing through Ahmedabad in Gujarat on its way to Mumbai between August 25 and 28 due to non-interlocking work planned near Surat station.

A block will be in place to carry out non-interlocking work from August 26 to 28 in order to provide a third line between Surat and Udhna stations in south Gujarat, WR said in a release.

"Due to the work, 36 trains between Ahmedabad and Mumbai will remain cancelled between August 25 and 28. Some of these trains include Bhuj-Bandra Express, Ajmer-Dadar Express, Dadar-Ahmedabad Express and Mumbai Central-Hapa Express," it said.

"While one train has been short-terminated, another will short-originate. The Nagpur-Ahmedabad Express scheduled for August 26 and 27 has been given diversion while Dadar-Porbandar Express on August 28 has been rescheduled," the release added. -- PTI

Javed Akhtar

00:50 Court stays proceedings against Akhtar on complaint by Kangana Ranaut

A sessions court here on Thursday stayed the proceedings in a magistrate's court over a complaint filed by Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut accusing lyricist Javed Akhtar of criminal intimidation.

Ranaut, in her reply to Akhtar's revision plea before the sessions court, claimed that he was in a "state of panic' fearing prosecution.

Additional sessions judge (Dindoshi court) A Z Khan stayed the proceedings against Akhtar, said his lawyer Jay Bharadwaj.

Ranaut has filed a complaint against Akhtar, accusing him of extortion, criminal intimidation and outraging modesty of a woman.

The Andheri metropolitan magistrate issued a summons to the lyricist on July 24 but dropped the extortion charge.

There are sufficient grounds in the complaint to proceed against Akhtar otherwise, the magistrate said.

Akhtar then filed a revision petition before the sessions court, saying that the summons was issued in a "hasty and inappropriate manner'.

The plea, filed through advocate Bharadwaj, said there was nothing on record which shows that there was sufficient material available with the magistrate for passing the order.

In her reply to Akhtar's revision petition, filed through advocate Rizwan Siddiquee, Ranaut said following the unfavorable order of the magistrate's court coupled with unfavorable testimony given by a crucial witness, Akhtar "seems to be in a state of panic, as he fears that his (defamation) case against Ranaut lacked merit and he may now face prosecution for commission of serious criminal acts like criminal intimidation and outraging modesty of a woman". -- PTI

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose

00:44 Bengal guv asks ISRO for tech to curb ragging

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose has reached out to the Indian Space Research Organisation for identifying an appropriate technology solution to curb the menace of ragging on college and university campuses, a statement issued by Raj Bhavan on Thursday night said.

A first-year undergraduate student died earlier this month after allegedly being ragged and sexually harassed in a hostel of Jadavpur University, sparking an outcry in West Bengal.

"CV Ananda Bose, Hon'ble Governor of West Bengal and Chancellor of the universities, contacted the chairman of ISRO for identifying appropriate technology to effectively contain and eliminate the menace of ragging in the university campuses," the statement said.

Bose has also held discussions with a Hyderabad-based firm over the issue.

"They are trying to develop an appropriate technology solution using multiple sources such as video analytics, image matching automatic target recognition and remote sensing," the governor said in the statement.

A total of 13 people, including both current and former students, have been arrested in connection with the death of the undergraduate student in JU. -- PTI

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin

00:22 69th National Awards: Stalin questions recognition for 'The Kashmir Files'

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Thursday greeted those from his state winning recognition at the 69th National Awards announced today but questioned The Kashmir Files being selected for an award for national integration.

The dignity of national awards should not be impacted for "cheap politics," he said.

In a social media post, Stalin, president of the ruling DMK in the state, expressed shock over the Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri-directed film winning the award.

He lauded singer Shreya Ghosal, musician Srikanth Deva and the crews of Kadaisi Vivasayi and Sirpigalin Sirpangal for winning awards in respective categories.

"On the other side, it is shocking that the Nargis Dutt award for best film on national integration has been announced for a film boycotted by non-partisan film critics as controversial," he said without naming The Kashmir Files.

He said awards given for literary works and films should be apolitical as only this will hold them high in posterity.

"The dignity of national awards should not be scuttled for cheap politics," the CM added. -- PTI

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