Breaking news, updates on September 18

The India Meteorological Department has issued a notice that thunderstorm accompanied with intense spells of rain likely to occur in the districts of Thane and Palghar during the next 4 hours.

India defeated South Africa by seven wickets in the second T20 International on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praises US President Donald Trump's announcement that his administration is upping the Iranian sanctions. 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with right-wing and Haredi faction leaders at his office in Jerusalem.

Times of Israel says Foreign Minister of Israel Katz will replace Netanyahu at the United Nations General Assembly. 

An official in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office says the Israeli leader will not be attending this year's United Nations General Assembly in New York, an event he ordinarily uses to advance Israeli interests on the world stage.

The trip's cancellation comes just hours after Israel's national elections, in which Netanyahu failed to secure an outright victory in the polls, paving the way for arduous coalition talks.

• In news just coming in from Israel elections, opponents Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz both have pledged to form coalition as result showed a neck-and-neck fight. 
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party trailed its main rival Blue and White by 31 to 32 seats Wednesday after an unprecedented repeat election, putting the country's longest-serving premier on shaky ground and raising the possibility of a unity government.
• Israelis voted on Tuesday in their country's second general election in five months after 69-year-old Netanyahu failed to form a governing coalition with a viable majority following April's vote.

Bhopal MP Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur has termed reporters in Sehore district of Madhya Pradesh "beimaan" (dishonest) in comments that seem to have been made in a lighter vein.

Thakur made these comments on Tuesday when local reporters sought her reaction on various issues in the state ruled by the Congress.

"I am speaking now hear your praise. All media persons in Sehore are dishonest," Thakur said while laughing.

Responding to a query on ongoing rains in the state at another spot, she said, "Since Sadhvi has entered (politics) it has rained heavily".

Thakur had visited Sehore, which is part of the Bhopal Lok Sabha constituency, to distribute fruits to mark the 69th
birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, cancels UN visit over post-poll 'political context'

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to visit Finland from 19 -21 September. Jaishankar will call on Sauli Niinistö, President of Finland and Antti Rinne, Prime Minister of Finland, during his visit.

Vinesh Phogat has won a bronze medal in women’s 53 kg at the World Wrestling Championships following a 4-1 win over Maria Prevolariki.

Manu Sharma's wife has approached National Human Right Commission (NHRC) for release of Manu Sharma alleging gross violation of human rights. He is serving life term murder of model Jessica Lal in 1999.

The Supreme Court has reserved order on the Central government's plea seeking review of its verdict on the dilution of SC/ST Act. 

The third firing of Astra Beyond Visual Range Air to Air Missile was successfully carried out by Air Force and Defence Research and Development Organisation today. The missile hit the live aerial target near Odisha at a maximum range of approximately 90 km.

Karnataka Congress leader DK Shivakumar's bail plea matter adjourned for tomorrow.

Union Minister for Home Affairs, Amit Shah to chair 29th meeting of Northern Zonal Council at Chandigarh, on September 20. The Northern Zonal Council comprises of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab & Rajasthan, Union Territories of Jammu&Kashmir and Ladakh and Delhi. 

A blast has occurred near Electronic National Identity Cards Department (e-NIC) in PD3 of Jalalabad city in Nangarhar, in Afghanistan.

Indian Army and Royal Thailand Army contingents today shared techniques and procedures of handling each other's weapons and establishing mobile check posts.

Shivpal Singh Yadav, President of the Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party Lohia (PSPL), has said that he is ready to seek re-election form his Jaswantnagar Assembly seat if he is disqualified from the assembly.

The Samajwadi Party (SP), last week, filed a petition before Speaker seeking disqualification of Shivpal's membership from the state assembly under the anti-defection law.

The Human Resource Development Ministry (HRD) on Wednesday launched new initiatives for technical education including giving weight to the feedback of students in evaluation of teachers and mentoring of 727 technical institutions by well-performing institutes and retired faculty to enable them to achieve accreditation.

HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank unveiled the schemes to be implemented by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).

Observing that caste discrimination still exists in society and people involved in cleaning manholes, drains, etc. are dying, the Supreme Court on Wednesday pulled up the Centre and State governments for not providing protective gear to them.

The court's remarks came while hearing the Centre's plea seeking the recall of a 2018 judgment which virtually diluted the stringent provisions of immediate arrest and no anticipatory bail for the accused on a complaint filed under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Vikram Singh Saini, who represents the Khatauli assembly seat, has made an outrageous statement on India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, calling him "aiyaash" (immoral or philanderer).

He further said that Nehru divided the country after being fooled by the British. The BJP lawmaker, known for his controversial statements, said that the Nehru-Gandhi family was "aiyaash".
 

Petrol and diesel prices were on Wednesday hiked by 24-25 paise per litre, the steepest increase since July 5 Union Budget, as a fallout of turmoil in global oil markets following drone attacks on Saudi Arabian crude oil facilities.

Petrol price was increased by 25 paise per litre to Rs 72.42 and diesel by 24 paise to Rs 65.82 in the Delhi market, which is sort of a national benchmark, according to price information available from state-owned fuel retailers.

This is the biggest single-day hike since the July 5 Budget of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman that raised rates by almost Rs 2.50 a litre due to an increase in excise duty on the fuels.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday directed officials in Allahabad and Varanasi districts to remain vigilant as the water levels in Ganga and Yamuna rivers neared the danger mark. Heavy rains over the past few days have caused the rivers to swell.

A senior official said authorities in Allahabad and Varanasi have been asked to make all necessary arrangements to deal with the situation and flood 'chowkis', to monitor the water levels in the rivers, have been activated.

Billionaire Mukesh Ambani has raised promoter stake in flagship Reliance Industries by 2.71 per cent to 48.87 per cent, according to a regulatory filing by the company.

Reliance Services and Holdings Ltd, controlled by promoter group firm Petroleum Trust, acquired 17.18 crore shares or 2.71 per cent stake in Reliance on September 13, it said.

The acquisition was pursuant to a scheme of arrangement not directly involving Reliance, the filing said without giving details.

Aviation regulator DGCA has grounded three pilots and two aircraft maintenance engineers of IndiGo for not reporting vibrations in the Pratt and Whitney (PW) engines of the A320neo planes in separate incidents that have occurred since March.

"Three pilots -- Captain Krishna Arjun Reddy, Captain Sanjay Gupta and Captain Pankul Nag -- have been suspended for not reporting the vibrations observed in the PW engines of their A320neo planes," a Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) official said.

India has formally requested Pakistan to allow the use of its air space for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's flight to New York, US. Pakistan to respond after consultations: Pakistan media

We have asked Election commission to increase expenditure limit for assembly elections and rationalise submission of criminal antecedents by candidates. The upper limit is set at 28 lakhs. Of this 10-12 lakhs are spent on criminal antecedents, says Shiv Sena leader Anil Desai

PM Narendra Modi showed Pakistan its place by abrogating Article 370 and 35A: Union Home Minister Amit Shah said.

Pakistan Rangers on Wednesday opened fire on border outposts (BoPs) along the International Border in Samba-Kathua sector of Jammu and Kashmir, a senior BSF officer said.

The Rangers fired from small arms on BoPs in Hirangar and Samba sectors from 0900 hours to 1100 hours, the officer said. 
 

Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command witnessed an exercise by integrated troops of all arms and services in Super High Altitude area in Eastern Ladakh today.

He was briefed on the conduct of the exercise by Lieutenant General YK Joshi, General Officer Commanding, Fire & Fury Corps.  

The petition challenging the recently announced odd-even scheme of Delhi government has been withdrawn by the petitioner as the National Green Tribunal (NGT) stated that the petition is not maintainable.

Owaisi raises questions on mediation in Ayodhya land dispute case, exudes confidence in Supreme Court proceedings. 

All parties should be granted ample time to put forth their points in the Ayodhya case. It is up to the Supreme Court to provide a verdict on the case, says Owaisi. 

Heavy rains on Wednesday waterlogged several roads and streets of Patna

The Delhi government has filed a reply in the JNU sedition case. The sedition case file is pending with the Home Secretary, says Delhi government. 

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday gives approval for initiating work of writing history of the country’s borders. He held a meeting with Indian Council of Historical Research, Nehru Memorial Museum&Library, Directorate General of Archives, MHA, MEA & Ministry of Defence yesterday.

Supreme Court says If parties are desirous of settling Ayodhya-Babri Masjid land dispute through mediation, they can do so. It should conclude on or before October 18.

Army Chief General Bipin Rawat along with his wife Madhulika Rawat visited the Kedarnath Temple today. The Army Chief is also scheduled to visit Badrinath.

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan writes to Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep S Puri, requesting his personal intervention in launching direct flight between Bhubaneswar and Dubai at the earliest.

'There has been a long-pending request from various quarters for introducing the direct flight,' the Union Minister writes.

The Indian rupee appreciated by 35 paise to 71.43 against the US dollar in early trade on Wednesday as gains in domestic equity market and easing crude prices strengthened investor sentiments.​ Forex traders said reports that half of Saudi Arabia's daily production has been recovered post-attack enthused investors.
 

Two cops, including a woman constable, have been suspended for allegedly torturing three women in police custody in Assam's Darrang district.

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal suspended Officer in-charge of Burha police station Mahendra Sarmah and Constable Binita Boro following a complaint filed by three sisters with Darrang Superintendent of Police on September 11 alleging that they were tortured and stripped by the police in custody on September 6. An inquiry has also been ordered into the allegations.

Former Haryana Chief Minister, Bhupinder Singh Hooda arrives at CBI Special Court in Panchkula, to appear before it, in connection with AJL land allotment case and Manesar land scam case

A 66-year-old farmer and his daughter were killed and his son was injured after their buffalo cart was hit by a speeding truck in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar district, police said on Wednesday. The incident took place near Shahpur area on Tuesday evening, they said.

Domestic equity benchmark BSE Sensex jumped over 200 points in early session on Wednesday, driven by gains in energy and banking stocks, amid positive global cues. The 30-share index was trading 186.94 points, or 0.51 per cent, higher at 36,668.03 at 0930 hours, while the broader Nifty rose 43.15 points, or 0.40 per cent, to 10,860.75.

A Class 4 student was stabbed by a schoolmate over a minor dispute in Uttar Pradesh's Shamli district, police said on Wednesday.

The victim, Amir (9), was attacked by a Class 3 student on Tuesday when they were returning home from school in Jalalabad town under Thanabhawan police station, they said.

Amir was rushed to hospital in a serious condition, Jalalabad police outpost incharge Pawan Saini said. The eight-year-old student who stabbed Amir is absconding and a search is underway to apprehend him. 

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath holds 'janta darbar' in Gorakhpur

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will travel to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) following the attacks on Saudi Arabia's key oil facilities, the US State Department has said.

Pompeo will travel to the Saudi city of Jeddah and Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, on September 17-19, the US State Department said on Tuesday, Xinhua reported.

A bipartisan group of 44 influential lawmakers has urged the Trump administration to reinstate India's designation as a beneficiary developing nation under the key GSP trade programme as part of a potential trade deal between the two countries.

The Trump administration terminated India's designation as a beneficiary developing nation under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) in June.

The GSP is the largest and oldest US trade preference programme and is designed to promote economic development by allowing duty-free entry for thousands of products from designated beneficiary countries.

Low lying areas in Varanasi have been flooded due to the rise in the water level of river Ganga.

A local says, "water level is increasing continuously and is approaching the danger mark. Many ghats have been submerged in water. We are facing problems."

Low lying areas in Varanasi flooded due to rise in Ganga water level 

US President Trump joining Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Howdy Modi event in Houston is a truly historic tribute to contributions of Indian-American community to the prosperity of our country and strength of US-India relations, says Alice Wells, US Acting Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia.