NORTHERN IRELAND COURT BINS BREXIT CHALLENGE

Northern Ireland's High Court in Belfast on Friday (Oct 28) ruled that the law of the province did not restrict the British Prime Minister's ability to trigger an exit from the European Union, and that the consent of the regional parliament was not required.

But it said that it would defer to English courts on the wider issue of whether Prime Minister Theresa May and her ministers had the authority to invoke Article 50 of the EU Lisbon Treaty, the mechanism by which a nation can leave the bloc, without the explicit backing of the British parliament.

The case is the first judgment in legal cases around Brexit that are being closely watched by politicians and markets, including a case in London on whether May has the power to trigger Article 50.

Read more: https://goo.gl/Wn0uPT

BUS DRIVER BURNT ALIVE IN AUSTRALIAN TOWN

A 29-year-old Indian-origin bus driver was charred to death on Friday (28) when a man set him on fire after pouring some flammable liquid on him in front of horrified passengers in Brisbane town in Australia.

Manmeet Alisher, who was driving a Brisbane City Council bus, was targeted by a man who threw an "incendiary device" at him which sparked a fire.

Alisher, a well-known singer in the Punjabi community, died on the spot while several passengers on board the bus at the time managed to escape through the rear door, police said.

Read more: https://goo.gl/I36PmV

US INDIANS CHIP IN $10M FOR HILLARY CAMPAIGN

Indian-Americans are believed to have raised at least $10 million towards the election campaign to elect Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton as the next President of the US.

At least two of the Indian-Americans--philanthropist Frank Islam from Maryland and Shefali Razdan Duggal from California--alone have helped raising a million dollar each for the Presidential campaign of the former First Lady and the secretary of state, campaign insiders told PTI.

The Hillary Campaign does not give details of the major fundraisers and the amount of money raised by them.

Read more: https://goo.gl/jCm2ax

SIDHU FACES TRIAL FOR POLL SPLURGE

Even as Navjot Singh Sidhu (53) is gearing up for a new political innings in Punjab after resigning from the Rajya Sabha, the controversial cricketer-turned-politician on Wednesday (Oct 26) was hit for a six by the Supreme Court.

The Apex Court said Sidhu would face trial in case involving alleged wrongdoings during 2009 Lok Sabha elections. His Congress rival has accused him of violating the poll expenditure limit of Rs.25 lakh. He also alleged that he had officers transferred.

In 2009, the cricketer-turned-politician won from Amritsar. He was in the BJP at the time. Ahead of the election in Punjab early next year, Sidhu has floated a new outfit, the Awaaz-e-Punjab. He quit the BJP last month.

Read more: https://goo.gl/XawjWM

THIS PRINCESS HAS A PASSION FOR DINOSAURS

One of princess Aalia Sultana Babi’s most prized possessions is a fossilised dinosaur egg she found an unsuspecting villager using to grind spices on her ancestral lands, an area billed as 'India’s Jurassic Park'.

Babi rescued the egg and it now has pride of place among her collection of prehistoric fossils, part of a lifelong legacy of protecting the dinosaur remains on the land her family once ruled over.

'She didn’t know it was a dinosaur egg!' said Babi, 42, who has been dubbed the Dinosaur Princess for her work. 'I lovingly call it my masala (spice) egg,' she added of the rare find, a complete Titanosaurus egg belonging to the late Cretaceous period, around 99-65 million years ago.

Read more: https://goo.gl/kDPfDJ

TODAY'S FILMMAKERS ARE BUSINESSMEN, SAYS JAYA BACHCHAN

Veteran actress Jaya Bachchan believes filmmakers of the past made movies with certain honesty to their craft, something which is missing in the cinema today.

Jaya says people in her era, and even before, were guided by a true passion for cinema to tell the stories that were essential. She was speaking at a special panel discussion on the cinema of iconic filmmaker Bimal Roy, at the 18th Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival with Star in Mumbai on Tuesday (Oct 25)

'I think people at that time, writers, thinkers, artistes of different kinds, musicians, or anybody who had some kind of sensitivity in them, made cinema that they thought should be made.

Read more: https://goo.gl/bZxOf2

TERRORISTS KILL 60 CADETS IN QUETTA POLICE COLLEGE

The Monday (Oct 24) night overnight attack on a police training academy in Pakistan’s restive Quetta city has left over 60 cadets and three militants dead, with 118 injured, making it one of the deadliest strikes in the country this year.

The attack on the Police Training College on Saryab Road in the Balochistan province capital began at around 11:10 pm on Monday night, triggering an operation by Pakistani security forces who rescued hundreds of cadets from the academy.

'More than 60 police cadets were killed in the attack while about 115 were injured,' a security source said. Sarfaraz Bugti, home minister of Balochistan province, tweeted that 118 people were injured.

Read more: https://goo.gl/T28I8L

NEED TO PROMOTE UK AS A DIVERSE AND TOLERANT NATION: KALPESH SOLANKI

So much of what we see around us here and abroad is about highlighting the differences between us and building barriers around our borders to keep people of different faiths and cultures out of our country. We hear politicians promoting divisions and igniting fires of hatred to advance their own cause. We witnessed strong rhetoric around the campaign to leave Europe that has directly translated into violence against minorities and immigrants.

Then we hear the home secretary wanting organisations to list the number of foreign workers they employ. And the health secretary wants more British-trained doctors in the NHS. What message does this government want to give immigrants who have made Britain their home? Is this the modern-day Britain we want the world to see? It’s not the Britain we have become accustomed to living in. And it is not going to help build bridges with new economic partners from India and China.

Read more: https://goo.gl/5rGz5H

HC FREES 14 IN GUJARAT RIOTS CASE

The Gujarat High Court on Thursday (Oct 20) acquitted 14 persons out of 31 convicted by a lower court and confirmed life sentence of 17 others, in the 2002 post-Godhra Sardarpura massacre case in which 33 people were burnt alive.

A division bench of Justices Harsha Devani and Biren Vaishnav confirmed the life imprisonment of 17 persons. However, 14 of the 31 convicted by the lower court were acquitted by the high court due to lack of evidence and contradiction in witnesses account.

In all, 76 accused were arrested in Sardarpur case by police, out of whom two died during pendency of trial, while one was a juvenile. The court had framed charges against 73 accused in June 2009 and initiated trial in the case.

Read more: https://goo.gl/NLc1yY

HC CLEARS RELEASE OF FILM ON INDIRA GANDHI

Clearing the decks for release of the film '31st October' based on the aftermath of the assassination of Indira Gandhi, including the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Delhi High Court on Thursday (Oct 20) said there was nothing objectionable in it.

A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal dismissed a plea opposing the film's release, scheduled on October 21, saying the petition was 'devoid of merit' and the allegations in the petition were "vague and unsubstantiated".

Indira Gandhi was assassinated on October 31, 1984. The bench was of the view that video trailer and posters of the film were 'not sufficient to arrive at a conclusion that the contents of the film are objectionable as sought to be contended' in the plea.

Read more: https://goo.gl/tTZqLQ

PROTESTS OUTSIDE THEATRE AGAINST 'AE DIL HAI MUSHKIL.' SCREENING

Rejecting filmmaker Karan Johar's statement that he will not "engage with talent" from Pakistan in future, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena on Wednesday (Oct 19) protested outside a cinema hall in Mumbai while asserting that it will not allow the Bollywood film "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil" to be screened in single theatres and multiplexes.

Four MNS film wing workers were later detained by police after they protested outside the Metro cinema hall in South Mumbai, asking the management not to hold any show of movie "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil" which features Pakistani actor Fawad Khan.

"The MNS activists were raising slogans outside the Metro theatre for some time. The police asked them to carry it out peacefully but they were not in a mood to listen to us. We have detained four MNS workers so far," a police officer from Azad Maidan police station said.

Read more: https://goo.gl/PrnEl5

TRUMP CAMPAIGN PORTRAYS SIKH AS MUSLIM SUPPORTER IN HANDBILLS

In another gaffe, an Indian-origin Sikh in the US was misidentified as a Muslim supporter of Donald Trump in flyers distributed by the Republican presidential nominee's campaign, a media report said on Tuesday (Oct 18).

Gurinder Singh Khalsa, a resident of Fishers city in Indiana who immigrated to the US from India, featured in the handbill advertisement with the word "Muslim" superimposed above his picture, WTHR TV channel reported.

The flyers, distributed in Ohio to canvass for Trump, claimed that Khalsa was a Muslim Trump supporter. "I am not Muslim and I am not supporting Trump," he was quoted as saying by the channel.

Read more: https://goo.gl/vuEFyX

TOP COURT DISMISSES CAIRN INDIA'S PLEA TO EXPORT BARMER CRUDE

UK-based Vedanta group company, Cairn India Ltd's plea for permission to export excess crude from its oil field in Rajasthan was dismissed by the Delhi High Court on Tuesday (Oct 18).

Justice Manmohan said that under the production sharing contract (PSC) between Cairn and the central government, the company would get a right to seek permission to export its share of the crude oil only after India attains self sufficiency.

The court said in the absence of a notice from the Centre saying India has attained self sufficiency, Cairn "can only claim compensation" from the government under the dispute- resolution mechanism provided under the PSC.

Read more: https://goo.gl/lkzsJm

KERALA ISLAND FINDS MENTION IN NATGEO'S BEST DESTINATIONS LIST

The tiny island of Kakkathuruthu in India's southern most state of Kerala's backwaters has made it to a select list of stunning destinations across the world compiled by the National Geographic magazine.

Nestled along the Kerala Coast, the emerald-fringed "Island of Crows" has been listed in National Geographic's 'Around the World in 24 Hours', a photographic tour of travel-worthy spots across the world.

"Kerala is known for its rustic beauty and an incredibly picturesque landscape, verdant hills and quiet backwaters, which attract tourists from across the world.

Read more: https://goo.gl/RHFJNS

FIRST TRIBAL CARNIVAL IN NEW DELHI

For establishing a sense of inclusiveness amongst tribals, the government is organising a National Tribal Carnival in New Delhi, which will be inaugurated by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 25.

The carnival will feature workshops on Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, Forest Rights Act (FRA) and reservation in politics among others, Tribal Affairs Ministers Jual Oram told reporters here.

"The idea of the carnival was conceived by Modiji and we are organising this carnival to promote a sense of inclusiveness amongst tribals," he said.

Read more: https://goo.gl/pxa077

MALLYA CASE: DEBT RECOVERY TIRBUNAL ASKS AIRBUS TO DEPOSIT RS 19.2 BILLION

India’s Debt Recovery Tribunal on Tuesday (Oct 18)directed European aircraft manufacturer Airbus to deposit with it Rs 19.2 billion toward pre-delivery payment made by a consortium of banks for purchase of planes by now defunct Kingfisher Airlines controlled by Vijay Mallya.

Passing orders on an amended plea filed by the consortium led by the Oriental Bank of Commerce for recovery of the payment, DRT Presiding Officer K Srinivasan directed Airbus to deposit Rs 192.51 crore from any source within eight weeks.

The Oriental Bank of Commerce, Corporation Bank and United Bank of India, had submitted that they made a pre-delivery payment of Rs 192.51 crore to Airbus on behalf of Kingfisher Airlines after both parties had signed a purchase agreement in 2005. But the planes were not delivered.

Read more: https://goo.gl/hLv0BP

CHINA SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES LONGEST MANNED SPACE MISSION

China on Monday (Oct 17) successfully launched its longest manned space mission, sending two astronauts into orbit to spend a month aboard a space laboratory, a milestone event in the Communist giant's ambitious plan to set up a permanent manned space station by 2022.

The two astronauts, Jing Haipeng, 50, and Chen Dong, 37, took off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northern China on Shenzhou-11 (heavenly vessel) spacecraft at 7:30 am local time (5 am IST).

They will dock with the experimental Tiangong 2 space lab and spend 30 days there, the longest stay in space by Chinese astronauts, Wu Ping, Deputy Director of China's manned space engineering office said.

Read more: https://goo.gl/6tezci

KASTURBA MADE GANDHI MAHATMA SAYS NEW BOOK BY ADHAR

Mahatma Gandhi would not have become 'Mahatma' without the support of his wife Kasturba, the author of a new book on Kasturba's life with the Indian independence movement's preeminent leader has said.

Neelima Dalmia Adhar latest book "The Secret Diary of Kasturba" is a fictionalised account of Kasturba's life with Gandhi. The book was unveiled at the third annual IAAC (Indo-American Arts Council) Literary Festival in the city last week after being showcased in India on October 2, the birth anniversary of Gandhi.

"My Kasturba wants to make the point to the women of today that they should stick to their convictions. Your convictions are your religion, do not lose them," Adhar said.

Read more: https://goo.gl/1dMBUv

CROCODILE FOUND INSIDE BATHROOM OF A HOUSE; RELEASED IN RIVER

A two-feet long crocodile was found from a bathroom of a house in a housing colony at Vadodara in Gujarat, which was released in the Vishwamitri river in the west Indian Gujarat state on Monday (Oct 17), forest officials said.

The crocodile was found on Saturday (Oct 15) in a housing society on Dabhoi road in Pratapnagar locality. It was released in the river on Monday, Vadodara Range Forest Officer (RFO) G Chauhan said.

Nidhi Patel, an 11th grade student, spotted the crocodile, while it was on its way to the house and alerted her neighbour as she was alone, he said. As the crocodile has entered the bathroom, Nidhi closed its door. She also closed her house and raised an alarm.  A youth, who was passing by, informed fire brigade of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation, said the officer.

Read more: https://goo.gl/oLW2sy

CAUVERY WATER ROW: RAILWAYS STOPPED, STIR BY FARMERS AND OPPSITION PARTIES

Farmers and opposition parties in the south eastern Indian Tamil Nadu state on Monday (Oct 17) staged an agitation stopping trains (rail roko) in their tracks at various places in the state demanding the Centre to constitute the Cauvery Management Board immediately.

The protests were held against the stance of BJP-led Union government in the Supreme Court which opposed immediate setting up of the Board. Thousands of protestors participated in the rail roko demonstrations, who courted arrest and were lodged in the community and marriage halls, police said, adding they were likely to be released later on Monday.

The agitations marked the beginning of a 48-hour rail blockade by farmers outfits which has the support of opposition parties including the DMK, Tamil Nadu Congress, IUML, CPI(M), CPI, MDMK and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi.

Read more: https://goo.gl/mlCkHJ

TRUMP BLASTS MEDIA FOR 'FALSE' GROPING ALLEGATIONS

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump launched a defiant attack on US media Thursday (Oct 13), calling published accusations by several women that he sexually assaulted them "pure fiction."

"These vicious claims about me of inappropriate conduct with women are totally and absolutely false. And the Clintons know it," Trump told a rally in West Palm Beach, accusing Democratic rival Hillary Clinton of being complicit.

"These claims are all fabricated. They're pure fiction. And they're outright lies. These events never, ever happened," he said.

Read more: https://goo.gl/2tYbTH

BARUN: KEEPING IT REAL

Barun Sobti is really excited about his new movie ‘Your Are My Sunday’. He talks about challenges of the movie and being part of the London Film Festival…..

THE recently commenced annual 60th BFI London Film Festival celebrates cinema from around the world with an eclectic mix of genres, styles and stories.

One interesting film that beat off tough global competition to be chosen for the prestigious event is You Are My Sunday. The Indian coming-of-age drama about friendship has a talented cast including popular actor Barun Sobti, who has made the leap from television superstardom to the big screen. Like the rest of the team, Barun is thrilled at the film being given such a prestigious platform and thinks it is well-deserved because of the journey it has been on.

GG2 caught up with the charismatic actor with a global fan base to talk about You Are My Sunday, his character, future projects, inspirations and more.

How are you selecting the projects you choose to do?

I read a lot, so I have a good sense of text when I read the scripts. When I think I can do a particular role well, I pick it up.

What did you like in particular about You Are My Sunday?

What I loved most was the challenge of the scenes that were written in a very real fashion. A lot of this film is actually not dialogue between two people. There was interplay between several of the characters, talking over each other, doing their own thing and arguing. When I saw these scenes, I thought it would be a great challenge to play them. So that’s what I loved most about the film. The writing is great.

Tell us about your character?

I am playing Arjun Anand, who is a very simple guy. He is well educated, but at the same time he is wise and knows exactly what to expect from his life.

He takes some decisions which will not go down well with a lot of people in the world today because much of it is about competition and moneymaking. So in that sense he knows what he wants. He takes his own decisions and charts his own path.

Read more: https://goo.gl/HNWSW4

MAN FLEEING TO SYRIA TO JOIN ISIS FOUND GUILTY IN UK

A 26-year-old man who wanted to flee to Syria from the UK to join the dreaded Islamic State militant group was on Thursday (Oct 13)found guilty in a secret trial. Anas Abdalla, from Birmingham, has denied preparing for acts of terrorism by hiding in a lorry with another extremist.

He was convicted by a majority of 11 to one and will be sentenced at a later date. Abdalla, born in Mogadisahu in Somalia, who first came to the UK as an asylum seeker told the Old Bailey court that he was fleeing unwarranted security services intrusion in his life.

"It is eminently preferable and in the interests of justice [if the law allows] for the jury to hear the evidence so that they may be in the best possible informed position so as to be able to reach a conclusion that is fair to both the prosecution and the defence in so far as this critical 

aspect of the case is concerned," Judge Richard Marks said in reference to holding the trial in secret.

Read more: https://goo.gl/yron5K

US WELCOMES INDIA'S PROMINENT ROLE IN WORLD: WH OFFICIAL

The US welcomes more prominent and effective role played by India on a wide range of global problems from climate change to maritime security, a top White House official has said.

"We welcome India not just because it is consequential because we share and often promote norms about a rules based order," Peter Lavoy, the White House’s point person for South Asia, told a Washington audience.

"The US welcomes more prominent and effective role that India is playing on a wide range of world problems from climate change and global health to peace keeping, maritime security and cyber governance."

Read more: https://goo.gl/h7yHgh

5 WOMEN ACCUSE TRUMP OF GROPING, SEXUAL HARASSMENT

Donald Trump is in the eye of a storm after at least five women accused him of sexual assault and harassment, threatening the Republican presidential nominee's already fragile campaign, less than a month before the election day.

The latest accusations against 70-year-old Trump come just days after a 2005 video surfaced of him in which he is talking in lewd and sexually explicit terms about women and bragging about groping them and getting away with it because he was a "star".

The New York Times reported two women's detailed accounts of Trump groping them. There was a similar account from another woman in the Palm Beach Post. Former Apprentice contestant Jennifer Murphy and People magazine writer Natasha Stoynoff also levelled similar allegations against him.

Read more: https://goo.gl/kFn8vP

RACE HATE CRIMES RISING SINCE BREXIT VOTE: UK HOME OFFICE

Racially and religiously aggravated abuse incidents in the UK registered a 41 per cent jump in July, a month after the Brexit vote, according to new official statistics released on Thursday (Oct 13).

The Home Office said while the figures registered a drop in August, they still remain at a higher level than before the UK's referendum on June 23 to leave the European Union (EU).

As many as 5,468 race hate crimes were registered in July this year, compared to 3,886 in July, 2015, according to figures released by the UK Home Office.

Read more: https://goo.gl/wnzVNv

PARRIKAR-OPPOSITION SLUGFEST OVER SURGICAL STRIKES

The bruising battle of words over the surgical strikes escalated further on Wednesday (Oct 11) with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar trashing claims of such operations under the UPA, provoking a counteroffensive from the Congress which accused him of "blatant politicisation" of the issue.

While Congress demanded an apology, Parrikar asserted that a "major" share of credit for the army action last month goes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Speaking at two events in Mumbai, Parrikar said all the 127 crore people of India, including "doubting Thomases", and the army share and deserve credit for the operation as it was done by the armed forces and not by any political party.

Read more: https://goo.gl/Crt9yb

RENAULT-NISSAN RECALL 51K UNITS OF KWID, REDI-GO

Franco-Japanese auto alliance Renault-Nissan is recalling nearly 51,000 units of two entry level cars, Renault Kwid and Datsun redi-GO in India to rectify faulty fuel system and add a hose clip.

While Renault India is recalling around 50,000 units of its bestseller Kwid, Nissan is calling back 932 units of Datsun redi-Go which was launched in June this year.

Renault India said it is conducting a pre-emptive and voluntary inspection of select 0.8 L variants (800cc) of Kwid  that were produced up to May 18, 2016 from October 2015.

Read more: https://goo.gl/mJHAL7

AIR INDIA EXPRESS TO LAUNCH NEW FLIGHT TO DHAKA, SINGAPORE, RIYADH

Air India Express is set to spread its wings to Bangladesh besides launching new flights to Saudi Arabia and Singapore and increasing its aircraft fleet size to 25 by the end of the next year.

The airline, which posted a net profit of Rs 36.2 billion in the fiscal 2015-16 for the first time since its launch in 2005, is estimated to have logged a good growth in both passenger numbers and revenue in the September quarter of the current financial year, Air India Express (AIE) Chief Executive Officer K Shyamsunder said.

"We will launch new flights to Singapore from Kolkata and Chennai besides a service to Dhaka from Kolkata. Apart from these, we are also going to connect Saudi city of Riyadh from Calicut during the winter schedule," Shyamsunder said in an interview from Kochi.

Read more: https://goo.gl/V87x4u

300 DALITS CONVERT TO BUDDHISM IN GUJARAT

Over 200 people from the Dalit community from Gujarat converted to Buddhism in three separate events organised by Buddhist organisations here on the occasion of Vijaya Dashmi, organisers said on Wednesday (Oct 12).

Another 90 from the state converted to Buddhism in Nagpur, taking the total to over 300 Dalits. According to organisers, though conversions are carried out every year on Vijaya Dashmi, this year the numbers were high on account of the Una Dalit flogging incident.

"As many as 140 Dalits converted to Buddhism at an event organised by Gujarat Buddhist Society in Dani Limda locality of Ahmedabad yesterday to mark Vijaya Dashmi," Ramesh Banker, a member of Gujarat Buddhist Academy, which organised the event here, said.

Read more: https://goo.gl/DLrvVL

WANT TO CONTEMPORARISE CHANDERI: ANITA DONGRE

Leading designer Anita Dongre says the intention behind all of her designs is to popularise the versatility of traditional fabrics, and she is happy that this time she has experimented with Chanderi.

At the opening of Amazon India Fashion Week, Anita along with 15 other designers presented a show dedicated to the fabric, which has its roots in Madhya Pradesh. "Last time, the India Fashion Week did a special 'Banarasi show' and I love the fact that another textile craft, Chanderi, is being highlighted this time," Anita said.

"It is very interesting with 16 designers coming together and each one of them showing their interpretation of Chanderi. It's a traditional fabric, generally worn in sarees. I have given it a contemporary, global look so, I have used it in international silhouettes."

Read more: https://goo.gl/5HV01k

PERFUMER'S DEATH: AUTOPSY REVEALS SHE DIED OF STRANGULATION

The post-mortem conducted on renowned perfume specialist Monica Ghurde, whose body was found two days back, brought to the fore that she was strangulated to death, although it failed to confirm whether she was raped before the murder or not, police said.

The Ministry of Law and Justice, in its affidavit, referred to constitutional principles like gender equality, secularism, international covenants, religious practices and marital law prevalent in various Islamic countries to drive home the point that the practice of triple talaq and polygamy needed to be adjudicated upon afresh by the apex court.

"It is submitted that the issue of validity of triple talaq, nikah halala and polygamy needs to be considered in the light of principles of gender justice and the overriding principle of non-discrimination, dignity and equality," the affidavit filed by Mukulita Vijayawargiya, Additional Secretary in the Ministry, said.

Read more: https://goo.gl/R5k7dU

LIVE STREAMING OF SPORTING EVENTS ON NEW APP

Claiming to be a first for India, newly-launched app Sports Flashes will live stream all popular Olympic sports along with cricket.

Some of the events that the app is currently broadcasting live are Seri Mutiara Championship Cup (Basketball) from Malaysia, Fencing Epee Junior World Cup from Baharain, ISU Junior Grand Prix - Dresden - Pairs Free Skate from Germany and Hockey 4th Women's AHF Cup 2016 from Thailand.

While the videos are available from all across the world, users can also read the news and features in just 70 words to stay updated with the sporting world.

Read more: https://goo.gl/3IMc2f

INDIA, SINGAPORE VOW TO FIGHT THOSE WHO ENCOURAGE TERRORISM

India and Singapore have vowed to fight terrorism and ‘all those’ who encourage, support and finance it, asserting there can be no justification for terror acts. 

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong recognised that ‘terrorism continues to remain the single most significant threat to peace and stability’, a joint statement issued during Lee's India visit said on Friday (Oct 7).

It said during their talks on Tuesday, the two leaders reiterated their ‘strong commitment to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and stressed that there can be no justification for acts of terror on any grounds whatsoever’.

Read more: https://goo.gl/EJLCof

BRITISH PM THERESA MAY LIKELY TO VISIT INDIA NEXT MONTH

British Prime Minister Theresa May is expected to visit India early next month, according to highly-placed sources involved in finalizing the details of her first trip to the country as premier.

May's visit is likely to coincide with the India-UK Tech Summit in New Delhi between November 7 and 9, they said. The summit is being organised by India's Department of Science and Technology and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and has Jo Johnson, UK minister for Universities, Science, Research & Innovation, as a confirmed keynote speaker from the UK end.

The bilateral summit was among the major announcements made during India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the UK in November 2015. The India-UK partnership has since moved into a new era, with Britain voting to leave the European Union (EU) in a referendum in June and leading to the resignation of then UK Prime Minister David Cameron.

Read more: https://goo.gl/bTJehL

RELATIONSHIP WITH INDIA, PAKISTAN NOT A ZERO-SUM GAME:PENTAGON

America's relationship with India and Pakistan is not a ‘zero-sum game’, and the US has separate security interests with both the countries, the Pentagon said on Friday (Oct 7).  "We don't view these relationships as a zero-sum situation," Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said at a news conference when asked about the ongoing military exercise between Pakistan and Russia.

"We have a relationship with India. We have a relationship with Pakistan, longstanding relationship. "And there are security interests that we share with Pakistan that we also have separate security interests we have with India. We'll continue to look at the relationships in that light," he added.

"So, that's the way we view this. It is not a zero-sum situation. We'll continue to have ongoing conversations, military conversations with the Pakistanis, particularly on the subject of counter terrorism, where we have a shared security interest. We will continue to foster a strengthening defense relationship with India," Cook said.

Read more: https://goo.gl/7F13bm

US SAYS DOES NOT SUPPORT DECLARING PAKISTAN A ‘TERRORIST STATE’

The US on Friday (Oct 7) said it does not support declaring Pakistan a ‘terrorist state’ but will continue to work with the governments in the region to eliminate safe havens which also pose a threat to India. 

The US also called for a ‘meaningful dialogue’ between India and Pakistan to address differences including the Kashmir issue and to bring down the recent tensions. State Department spokesperson John Kirby, however, expressed confidence that Pakistan has kept nuclear arsenals safe from terrorists.

Asked if the government would support a bill in the Congress and an online petition that the US should declare Pakistan a ‘terrorist state’, Kirby at his daily press briefing said, “I have not seen anything specifically about the – such a bill, and obviously we don’t.”

Read more: https://goo.gl/Ge5B9a

PAKISTAN KABADDI TEAM KEPT OUT OF WORLD CUP: ORGANIZERS

The Pakistan Kabaddi team has been kept out of the Kabaddi World Cup, hosted by India, due to the prevailing tension between the two countries, organizers of the fortnight-long event, which begins from Friday (Oct 7), said.

The International Kabaddi Federation (IBF), which is the main organiser of the tournament, apparently wants to keep Pakistan away in view of the soured relations between the two countries.

"We do not want to comment much on this. We have taken a decision (to not allow Pakistan) looking at the current situation. We have respect for all the teams but considering the current situation, it is in the interest of both the countries," IBF chief Deoraj Chaturvedi told reporters here.

Read more: https://goo.gl/rxON5M

'SHARIF WARNS ARMY NOT TO SHIELD MILITANTS AMID ISOLATION'

Facing international isolation, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in an unprecedented move has warned the powerful military not to shield banned militant groups and directed authorities to conclude the Pathankot terror attack probe and the 2008 Mumbai attack trial, a leading Pakistani daily reported on Thursday (Oct 6).

Sharif's orders came after a series of meetings between military and civilian leaders, Dawn newspaper said. The government delivered a ‘blunt, orchestrated and unprecedented warning’ to the military leadership and sought consensus on several key actions, including action against banned militant groups, the paper quoted unnamed individuals, who were involved in the meetings.

However, asked about the report, Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesman Nafees Zakaria said, "The story you are referring to is purely speculative and as the author himself acknowledged that 'none of the attributed statements were confirmed by the individuals mentioned'."

Read more: https://goo.gl/WpO5tJ

GUTERRES GETS UN SECURITY COUNCIL BACKING TO BE NEXT UN CHIEF

The UN Security Council on Thursday (Oct 7) unanimously backed former Portuguese premier Antonio Guterres to be the next UN chief as the world body's powerful organ recommended to the General Assembly to appoint him for a five-year term.

The 15-member Council held a formal vote here to elect Guterres, 67, a day after it said the former UN High Commissioner for refugees had emerged as the ‘clear favorite’ to succeed Ban Ki-moon, 72, as the 9th Secretary General.

Guterres's name will now be considered by the 193-member General Assembly for final confirmation. The Assembly's membership historically chooses the candidate that the Council decides upon.

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MAY FACES IMMIGRATION BACKLASH IN TOUGH TALK ON BREXIT

UK’s Prime Minister Theresa May threw down the Brexit gauntlet to Brussels on Wednesday (Oct 5) in a speech calling for ‘maximum freedom’ in Europe's single market despite a backlash against her hard line on immigration.

May's address to the Conservative party conference came as the pound plunged on currency markets and amid growing criticism of proposals to make businesses publish lists of how many foreign workers they employ.

But she insisted her policies would help working-class families whose alienation was reflected in June's shock referendum vote to leave the EU, repeating the 1960s US civil rights slogan: "A change is going to come."

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TRUMP SAYS HE 'BRILLIANTLY' USED LAWS TO PAY LESS TAX

Unfazed by reports that Donald Trump might have dodged paying income tax for up to 18 years, the controversial Republican presidential nominee has defended his actions, saying what he did was the ‘brilliant’ use of US tax laws.

"As a businessman and real estate developer, I have legally used the tax laws to my benefit, and to the benefit of my company and my employees. I have often said on the campaign trail, that I have a fiduciary responsibility to pay no more tax than legally required – or, put another way, to pay as little tax as legally possible," Trump, 70, said at an election rally in Colorado.

At a series of public meetings, Trump appeared to be unperturbed by the latest revelation that he might not have had paid income taxes for as many as 18 years.

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INDIA'S CENTRAL BANK SURPRISES WITH RATE CUT; HOME, AUTO LOANS TO COST LESS

Home, auto and corporate loans may get cheaper as the India's Central Bank chief Governor Urjit Patel-led panel on Tuesday (Oct 4) marked its debut policy review with a surprise 0.25 per cent rate cut -- lowering borrowing cost to 6-year low, which the industry lauded as a pre-Diwali gift.

In independent India's first collective interest rate setting decision, the 6-member Monetary Policy Committee, which has three members nominated by the government and the rest from the Reserve Bank of India, lowered repo rate to 6.25 per cent from 6.50 per cent.

First in six months, today's cut came amidst big clamour for easing rates especially after the departure of former Governor Raghuram Rajan, who was often accused by some sections, including those from the ruling BJP, of stifling growth by keeping rates too high.

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GOOGLE LAUNCHES PIXEL SMARTPHONE IN HARDWARE PUSH

Google on Tuesday (Oct 4) unveiled its new Pixel smartphone with artificial intelligence built in as it directly takes on the iPhone with its own branded, premium-priced handset.

"We are building hardware with the Google Assistant at its core," said Rick Osterloh, head of a new hardware division at the California-based internet giant.

"We believe that the next big innovation is going to take place at the intersection of hardware and software, with AI at the center."

Pixel smartphone will be available with a five-inch display or a 5.5 inch display, starting at $649 for US customers, at similar prices to the latest iPhone models.

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INDIA POLICE DETAIN PIGEON WITH THREATENING MODI NOTE

Indian police said on Monday (Oct 3) that they have taken a pigeon into custody after it was found carrying a warning note to India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi near the nation's heavily militarized border with Pakistan.

Border Security Force (BSF) officers found the bird at Pathankot in the northern state of Punjab, where Pakistan-based militants launched a deadly attack on an airforce base in January.

"We took it into custody last evening," Pathankot police inspector Rakesh Kumar said.

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PRESIDENT, PM PAY TRIBUTES TO MAHATMA GANDHI

The nation on Sunday (Oct 2) remembered Mahatma Gandhi on his 147th birth anniversary, with President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders paying floral tributes to him at his memorial in New Delhi.

Vice President Hamid Ansari, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and senior BJP leader L K Advani also paid tributes to the Father of the Nation. "Gandhiji made this world a better place. His ideals, dedication to the poor & struggle against injustice inspire," the Prime Minister said in a tweet.

Clad in a white kurta and pyjama, Modi, who arrived at 7:40 AM, paid homage to the Mahatma by offering rose petals at his memorial and performing a 'parikrama' (circumambulation) around it.

Read more: https://goo.gl/kul6Ei