Junior Digest

Mawsynram (Meghalaya) , Aug 11 : Meghalaya is one of the most beautiful states in the North-East region. The state offers a variety of sights, activities, fairs, and festivals for tourists and visitors.
One such religious tourist destination which is gradually catching up amongst pilgrims, history lovers and travellers is the Mawjymbuin caves. The caves are located in Mawsynram village in Khasi Hills, situated around 60 kilometres away from capital Shillong.
The cave is famous for the naturally formed ‘shivalinga’, which is made of stalagmite. Recently, the cave is witnessing hordes of tourists and pilgrims across the country as pilgrims are paying their obeisance to Lord Shiva as part of the Kanwar Yatra or Bol Bam Yatra celebration.
The stalagmite in the Mawjymbuin cave resembles the ‘shivalinga’ of Amarnath cave.
“Just like in Amarnath cave, there is a naturally made ‘shivalinga’ in this cave. People of Shillong have for years, preserved the ‘shivalinga’. During the time of kanwar yatra, utmost spiritual fervour is seen among the people,” a tourist said.
The Mawjymbuin cave is not only famous for its geological importance but also its exquisiteness and natural beauty.
Over the years, the giant stalagmite inside the cave has turned the spot into a sacred shrine for Hindus. Since then, during the time of Sravan, lakhs of devotees clad in saffron attire are seen walking barefoot to reach the cave and pay obeisance to the ‘shivalinga’.
Tourists have to hire a cab or a bus to reach the cave. It is a must-visit place for those who plan to tour Meghalaya and its adjoining areas.
“I have come from Mahadev Khola in Shillong which is around 60 km away from here. We the ‘kanwariyas’ have walked till here barefoot to pay obeisance to ‘baba bholenath’,” said a pilgrim.
The Mawsynram village is reportedly the wettest place on earth and the serenity, picturesque backdrop with steep slopes, lush greenery, green mountains and majestic waterfalls adds to glory to the place.
The area also has cafes and lodges for travellers who can have a wonderful stay while they visit Meghalaya.

New Delhi, Aug 7: Senior BJP leader and former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj passed away at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), here on Tuesday night.
She was 68.
The senior BJP leader is survived by husband Swaraj Kaushal and daughter Bansuri Swaraj.
According to sources, Swaraj suffered a heart attack on late Tuesday night. AIIMS doctors tried to revive her by putting her on ventilator, however, her body gave up.
She had undergone a kidney transplant, around three ago.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Ministers Dr Harsh Vardhan (Health and Family Welfare) and Nitin Gadkari (Road and Transport ), apart from other Cabinet Ministers and senior party leaders, have reached AIIMS.

New Delhi [India], Aug 8 : Former President Pranab Mukherjee, will be honoured with India’s highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna by President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday.
Mukherjee’s life-long political career spanned about five decades, during which he held various key posts in the Congress as well as in the governments led by Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, P V Narasimha Rao and Manmohan Singh.
The 83-year-old served as India’s 13th President from 2012-2017, but prior to his election to the post, Mukherjee also served as the Union Finance Minister from 2009 to 2012.
As Finance Minister, Mukherjee signed the letter appointing Manmohan Singh as Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
Born on December 11, 1935, in a Bengali family in Mirati, a village in Birbhum district in West Bengal, Mukherjee completed his Masters in Political Science and History and LLB degree from University of Calcutta.
After being selected for India’s highest civilian award, former President, popularly known as ‘Pranab Da’, had expressed his gratitude on being conferred with the Bharat Ratna saying “I’ve received much more from the people and from this country than I have given to it”.
“I would like to express my deep gratitude to the people of this country…At the same time, with all humility, I accept this honour. I have conveyed my appreciation by talking to the President of the Republic. I also convey my deepest gratitude to the people of this country,” he had told media on January 26.
Political leaders across party lines had also wished Mukherjee when his name was announced for Bharat Ratna in January, this year.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had congratulated Mukherjee for his decades of service to the country. “Pranab Da is an outstanding statesman of our times. He has served the nation selflessly and tirelessly for decades, leaving a strong imprint on the nation’s growth trajectory. His wisdom and intellect have few parallels. Delighted that he has been conferred the Bharat Ratna,” he had tweeted.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi too had congratulated Mukherjee. “Congratulations to Pranab Da on being awarded the Bharat Ratna! The Congress Party takes great pride in the fact that the immense contribution to public service & nation-building of one of our own, has been recognised & honoured,” he had tweeted.
The announcement for Bharat Ratna was made on January 25 in a statement issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan, which also said the award would be given posthumously to social activist Nanaji Deshmukh and noted Assamese singer Bhupen Hazarika.

Former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti wants her two members of Parliament to resign from the Rajya Sabha, HT has learnt.

“While she was being shifted from her home to a guest house where she is under arrest, she passed a message saying resign or face expulsion,” an aide to the former CM said.

The Peoples Democratic Party, which was in an alliance with the BJP till the latter withdrew support in June 2018, has two members in the Upper House. Mir Fayaz and Nazir Ahmed Laway tore up the Constitution in the Rajya Sabha, soon after the government introduced the move in Rajya Sabha.

Fayaz said they were considering resigning but wanted to get in touch with the PDP leadership. “We have not been able to speak to anybody because communication lines are down. We will have a discussion.. and take a call,” he said.

Giammattei will succeed corruption-tainted outgoing President Jimmy Morales, who leaves office in January.

“The aim is fulfilled,” Giammattei had said earlier.

He had polled almost 58.5 percent with a lead of 550,000 votes and only a few thousand left to count when the court declared him the victor.

Corruption was the main issue leading up to the first round of elections in June — which Torres topped — but that has been superseded by the political scandal over the migration deal.

NEW DELHI/BENGALURU : The death toll from floods in the Indian states of Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra rose to 147, state authorities said on Sunday, as rescue teams raced to evacuate people and waters submerged parts of a world heritage site.

Heavy rain and landslides forced hundreds of thousands of people to take shelter in relief camps, while train services were cancelled in several flood-hit areas.

In the southern state of Kerala, at least 57 people were killed in rain-related incidents while over 165,000 people were in relief camps in the state, state authorities said on Sunday.

“Several houses are still covered under 10-12 feet deep mud. This is hampering rescue work,” state chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said.

Authorities worried that rescue operations would be hit by thunderstorms and rainfall predicted in some parts of Kerala.

Last year, more than 200 people were killed in Kerala and over five million affected in one of worst floods in 100 years in the state.

In Karnataka, several structures at world heritage site Hampi, an ancient town, were flooded.

So far 60 people have died in rain-related incidents, said state chief minister B S Yediyurappa, adding nearly 227,000 people were staying in relief camps.

While Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra have been the worst hit this year, several other states including Gujarat, Assam and Bihar have also seen heavy damage due to floods.

In Maharashtra, where the death toll stood at 30, the flood situation was improving, according to state-run All India Radio, though authorities said it would be difficult to restore rail services in some flood-hit areas within the next two weeks.

India’s main opposition Congress party called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide relief packages.

Citing media reports, the Congress party said so far this year 446 people have been killed in six flood-hit states including Assam, Bihar and Gujarat.

Huawei revealed its highly-anticipated HarmonyOS on Friday as an alternative operating system for phones and other smart devices in the event that looming US sanctions prevent the firm from using Android technology.

American companies are theoretically no longer allowed to sell technology products to Huawei, but a three-month exemption period — which ends next week — was granted by Washington before the measure came into force.

That ban could stop the tech giant from getting hold of key hardware and software, including smartphone chips and elements of the Google Android operating system, which runs the vast majority of smartphones in the world, including Huawei’s.

Huawei — considered the world leader in fast fifth-generation or 5G equipment and the world’s number two smartphone producer — has been blacklisted by US President Donald Trump amid suspicions it provides a backdoor for Chinese intelligence services, which the firm denies.

Even in a more select group of mainstream English language news outlets with high standards of evidence — from the New York Times and The Guardian to The Wall Street Journal and the Daily Telegraph — sceptics were still cited slightly more often.

In reality, there has long been overwhelming agreement among climate scientists that global warming — caused mainly by burning fossil fuels — poses a major threat to civilisation and much of life on Earth.

An increase of only one degree Celsius had triggered rising seas and a crescendo of deadly extreme weather, and Earth is on track to heat up another three degrees by century’s end.

“Climate change contrarians have successfully organised a strong voice within politics and science communication,” noted the authors, led by Alexander Petersen at the University of California at Merced.

“Such disproportionate media visibility of contrarian arguments and actors misrepresents the distribution of expert-based beliefs,” they continued.

“It also undermines the credible authority of career climate change scientists and reinforces the trend of climate change contrarians presiding over public scientific discourse.”

Over the last year, public concern over global warming has grown dramatically, sparked in part by an October UN report warning that only a wholesale overhaul of the global economy and consumption patterns can forestall climate chaos.

In Europe, green parties running on a platform of climate action gaining nearly two dozen seats in EU parliamentary elections. Climate protesters drawing from the civil disobedience playbook of Marin Luther King and Gandhi, meanwhile, have spilled into the streets.

London [UK], Aug 14 : Free Balochistan Movement (FBM) organised a seminar here to mark the Independence Day of Baloch.
It was attended by members of several Baloch and non-Baloch political parties including Baloch Republican Party (BRP), Balochistan National Movement (Zrombesh), Balochistan People Party, Nation without States, Arab Front for The liberation of ALahwaz, Campaign against Criminalizing Communities and 15 April Movement for Liberation of Al- Ahwaz.

Mir Suleman Daud – the Khan of Kalat – said that Balochistan was an independent country but Pakistani occupied it illegally. He also said that some “Baloch Nawabs and Sardars conspired” with Pakistan to undermine the sovereignty of Balochistan.
Daud said that it is on record that both the houses of parliament of Balochistan (Kalat State) refused to join Pakistan.
Suleman Daud also spoke about the recent inclusion of Balochistan Liberation Army on the terrorist list by the US administration, He emphasised that Baloch were not terrorists, in fact, they were defending their land and people from foreign invasion and aggression.
“We are trying to protect our resources from the Chinese and we are agitating because we are an occupied nation we have got the right to self-defence and I think if Germany had invaded Britain, they would have done the same. That’s what we are doing and we should keep on doing it,” he added.
He said this was all politics as the US had previously banned Mujahideen Khalq (Maryam Rajavi’s party) but now they have taken this group off the terrorist list.
He also emphasised that there are several terrorist organisations whose leaders are in Pakistan even the biggest organisation like Al-Qaeda had their leaders in Pakistan.

Jammu, Aug 14: Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik on Tuesday slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for putting “pre-conditions” for a visit to Kashmir.
Mr Malik in a statement issued by the Raj Bhawan here alleged Mr Rahul was trying to “create unrest” by seeking to bring a delegation of opposition leaders.
Following remarks by Mr Gandhi on that there have been reports of violence in Kashmir, Mr Malik on Monday had said he will send him an aircraft to visit the Valley and observe the ground situation.
Mr Gandhi has put forth many conditions for the visit, including meeting mainstream leaders under detention, the Governor in a statement said.
“He is politicising the matter by seeking to bring a delegation of opposition leaders to create further unrest and problems for the common people,” the Governor said in the statement.
On Tuesday, Gandhi accepted Malik’s ‘invitation’ to visit the state but said he didn’t need an aircraft and that he and other opposition leaders would visit. The Congress leader in a tweet also urged the Governor to allow them the freedom to meet the people and soldiers.
Mr Malik said, “Mr Rahul Gandhi is responding to fake news possibly spread from across the border about the situation in Kashmir, which is peaceful with negligible incidents.”
He can check for himself from various Indian channels that have reported the correct position in the Kashmir Valley, the Governor said.
“He can also check the detailed submissions made by the government in the Supreme Court today which heard a case on this matter and left it to government,” said the Governor.

Beijing, Aug 13: The visiting External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on Monday told China categorically that the provisions under Article 370 vis-a-vis Jammu and Jammu and Kashmir is “internal matter” of India and that bringing changes is “sole prerogative” of New Delhi.
“During the bilateral meeting, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also brought up developments pertaining to legislation passed recently by the Indian Parliament on Jammu & Kashmir. EAM Dr Jaishankar conveyed that this was an internal matter for India,” an MEA statement said.
“There was no implication for either the external boundaries of India or the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. India was not raising any additional territorial claims,” he asserted.
Dr Jaishankar further said – “The Chinese concerns in this regard were therefore misplaced”.
External Affairs Minister also conveyed that so far as the India-China boundary question was concerned the two sides had agreed to a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable settlement of the Boundary Question on the basis of the 2005 Political Parameters and Guiding Principles”.
“The issue related to changes in a temporary provision of the Constitution of India and was the sole prerogative of the country,” Dr Jaishankar, a former diplomat, asserted.
Dr Jaishankar, who is in Beijing on a three-day visit to co-chair the second meeting of the India-China High Level Mechanism on Cultural and People-to-People Exchanges, said India as a “responsible power” had shown restraint in face of “provocative Pakistani rhetoric and actions”.
“India has always stood for normalisation of the ties in an atmosphere free of terror,” the MEA statement said.
The Chinese Foreign Minister also referred to “rising tensions between India and Pakistan” as a result of these changes, but during the deliberations, Dr Jaishankar emphasised that these changes had “no bearing on Pakistan as it was an internal matter”.
Dr Jaishankar, who has earlier served as India’s envoy in China between 2009 and 2013, made it clear to his Chinese counterpart that the abrogation of the Article 370 that gave special status to the J&K, “did not impact the Line of Control (LoC)”.
“Where India-Pakistan relations are concerned, Chinese side should base its assessment on realities,” External Affairs Minister said.
“India, as a responsible power, had shown restraint in face of provocative Pakistani rhetoric and actions. India has always stood for normalisation of the ties in an atmosphere free of terror”.
Dr Jaishankar made it clear that the legislative measures were aimed at promoting better governance and socio-economic development.
The MEA statement said Dr Jaishankar also had a “cordial meeting” with Vice President Wang Qishan o Monday morning where both sides discussed the ‘evolving global situation and the larger re-balancing that reflected the rise of India and China as two large developing countries’.
Dr Jaishankar and is counterpart Wang Yi discussed the “full gamut of issues relating to the international situation, regional aspects and the bilateral relations including the visit of President Xi Jinping to India for the 2nd Informal Summit later this year”.
Both India and China would be also celebrating the 70th Anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations next year.
Dr Jaishankar noted that since the Wuhan Informal Summit, there had been progress in the overall relationship.
“The two countries agreed that maintenance of peace and tranquility in border areas was essential for smooth development of their relations. For this, the two armed forces had enhanced communication and were implementing various confidence building measures. The economic relationship had seen some progress but the increasing trade deficit was a matter of concern”.
It was emphasised that the Chinese side should take steps to address this issue including by enabling greater access for our pharmaceutical and IT products and services in the domestic Chinese market.
Dr Jaishankar also stressed that the “future of the India-China relationship” will obviously depend on “mutual sensitivity” to each other’s core concerns.

New Delhi, Aug. 9:  Soon after Parliament nod for doing away with Article 370 which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday unveiled his government’s roadmap for speeding up the pace of development there.

Blaming Pakistan-inspired terrorism and separatism which took roots under the special status provision, Mr Modi said that 42,000 innocent lives had been lost due to such nefarious and anti-national activities.
In his 40-minute address to the nation, his first since scrapping of Article 370 and bifurcation of State, Mr Modi described Jammu and Kashmir as India’s “crown’’ and assured the people that normalcy would return gradually.
He said the government would be happy to restore full-fledged Statehood to Jammu & Kashmir which has now been made a Union Territory with a Legislative Assembly once normalcy is restored.
Prime Minister maintained nobody could explain the benefits of Article 370 and why it was sought to be seen as a permanent measure.
Mr Modi’s address to the nation came close on the heels of Pakistani response to India’s decision of scrapping Article 370 and bifurcating J&K with expulsion of Indian High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria from Islamabad and suspending bilateral trade.
Islamabad also has announced that it will not send their newly appointed envoy-designate to New Delhi.
The Prime Minister came down heavily upon dynastic rule in Jammu and Kashmir over the decades – which he said – had prevented the youth from taking up leadership roles.
He assured that the people of Jammu and Kashmir would vote to elect their representatives in the legislatures soon in a totally transparent electoral process.
“As things return to normalcy and development picks up, we will not hesitate to give full-fledged Statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. However, Ladakh will remain to be a Union Territory,’’ he said adding that only a handful of disgruntled people were bent upon creating trouble.
He said that such elements were being given a befitting reply by the local people themselves.
Hailing the local population, the Prime Minister that people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh have always thwarted Pakistani designs to stoke fires of terrorism and separatism there. “All our brothers and sisters who believe in the Constitution of India have full rights to lead a good life. To realize their dreams is the duty of each and every Indian,’’ he said expressing confidence that separatism and terror would be defeated by the local people.
Lauding the efforts of recently-elected representatives of village panchayats, Mr Modi said that women village council members had achieved remarkable success in taking development initiatives at the grass roots. “I am sure with their help, rural development, electricity, rural roads and connectivity will reach at every doorstep,’’ he added.

Unveiling his government’s plans to build a ‘New Jammu and Kashmir’ and ‘New Ladakh’ along with his vision for ‘New India’, Mr Modi said that not only public sector undertakings but private enterprises would also become partners of development and bring prosperity to the people.
The Prime Minister said that armed forces and Central paramilitary forces would hold their recruitment campaigns in Jammu and Kashmir for inducting youth in their ranks. He made a special mention of Army jawan Aurangzeb who was gunned down by terrorists in Kashmir Valley but even then his two brothers had joined the Army pledging to serve the nation.
Exuding confidence that things will return to normalcy gradually, he said that certain precautionary measures had been enforced which have resulted in hardships for the people in Jammu and Kashmir.
But such restrictions would be removed in a phased manner, he said.
“Badlao hoga….(The change can come),” he emphasised.
Recalling the era when almost all Bollywood movies were shot on the beautiful and mesmerizing locales of the Kashmir Valley, the Prime Minister also appealed to the film industries of Mumbai, Tamil Nadu and Telugu to take their film industries to Valley once again and also help in building theatres for the people there.

United Nations, Aug 14 : United Nations Security Council president hailed the ‘significant body of law’, describing it as playing “a vital role in limiting brutality of armed conflicts”, to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the landmark Geneva conventions.
‘As they are ratified and acceded by almost every State of the world, the principles and legal norms enshrined in these Conventions are also recognized as customary international humanitarian law [IHL] and are universally applicable’, said Poland’s Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz, speaking for his nation which holds the Presidency of the Council for August. “This is a rare quality for any multilateral treaty”.
In the aftermath of the Second World War, the treaty, comprised of four Conventions and three Additional Protocols, established the modern, international legal standards for humanitarian treatment during times of war. They were agreed on 12 August 1949, and with some exceptions, ratified by 196 countries around the world.
Among other things, the Conventions established protections for vulnerable groups in armed conflict, namely the wounded and sick; prisoners of war; and civilians, including civilians living under occupation.
Because Poland has been “painfully affected by consequences of other States’ failures to comply with international agreements” and in conjunction with its “sense of responsibility” to maintain international peace and security, Mr. Czaputowicz said that strengthening international law has always been important to his country.
“The greatest challenge to protecting human life in modem conflict is observance of and respect for the existing rules by the armed forces and non-State armed groups”, he asserted. “If existing rules were followed, much of the human suffering in contemporary armed conflicts would not occur”.
Poland’s top diplomat also pointed to new threats that demand practices and policy consistent with international humanitarian law.
“Artificial intelligence and autonomous weapon systems, such as military robots and cyber-weapons, reduce the role and control of human factors during wartime”, he continued. Moreover, the general rules of IHL prohibiting indiscriminate and inhumane weapons, “are being violated”.
Two IHL principles under the Geneva Conventions that deserve particular attention, according to Mr. Czaputowicz, are “the obligation to protect civilians, prisoners of war, the wounded and shipwrecked” as well as “limitations to the rights of parties to an armed conflict on how they conduct operations and on their choice of weapons”.
The increasing role of non-State actors and IHL legal loopholes are “the new reality of modem conflict”, he spelled out, bemoaning that they hinder international humanitarian law “in many ways”.
“International humanitarian principles are under pressure” and “the complexity of new challenges impedes the process of classification of conflict situations and makes it difficult to determine the exact rules that may be applied”, he elaborated.
‘Historic moment for humanity’
According to UN Legal Counsel Miguel de Serpa Soares, the four Conventions are “at the core” of IHL.
Noting that the first three conventions “were by no means completely novel at the time”, he singled out the Fourth Convention as being “the first treaty that was specifically dedicated to the protection of civilian persons in time of war”.
Mr. Soares also drew attention to Article 3, the provision on basic rules governing the humane treatment of people not involved in hostilities, including soldiers who have laid down their arms, those wounded or in detention, as well as civilians.
Calling the inclusion of Article 3 “a historic moment for humanity”, he said it was the first instance in which non-international armed conflicts were regulated by a multilateral treaty. The significance is augmented by the fact that the Geneva Conventions are now universally adhered to.
Conventions show ‘what is possible’
For his part, Peter Maurer, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), maintained that the Geneva Conventions represent “one of the greatest achievements of inter-State cooperation” and “symbolize our enduring and common humanity”.
“The Conventions show us what is possible when States take collective and individual action to uphold the law and humanitarian principles”, he said.
Noting that “every single day” international humanitarian law is at work saving lives and protecting women, men and children in conflicts, he highlighted that while “we rightly hear about the violations because the consequences are tragic and visible”, we must also “recognize the protective power and positive impacts when IHL is respected”.
The ICRC chief painted a picture of IHL in action, when the wounded and sick are evacuated to safety; the detained are treated with dignity; the fate of missing people is clarified; and humanitarian assistance is delivered across lines.
“The impacts of IHL are also shown through acts of restraint, when horrors are not inflicted – civilian areas are spared from direct shelling, medical workers are able to freely operate without threat or targeting”, he added.
Continued violations do not mean the law is inadequate, but rather that efforts to ensure respect are inadequate, he flagged, urging “we can – and must – do more”.
The world must not forget that “the Geneva Conventions represent a line of our common humanity, and they shield us from our own barbarity”, underscored Mr. Maurer.

MUMBAI : India’s Reliance Industries (RELI.NS) is set to sell a 20% stake in its oil to chemicals business to Saudi Aramco, helping the Indian conglomerate to cut debt and giving Aramco better access to a fast growing market.

While terms of the deal are yet to be finalised, Reliance will get roughly $15 billion, including some debt adjustments for the 20% stake, P.M.S. Prasad, Executive Director of Reliance Industries said on Monday, adding the two companies aim to close the deal by March 2020.

The deal will see Reliance buy up to 500,000 barrels a day of crude oil from Aramco, Prasad told media after the company’s annual general meeting (AGM), noting this would more than double the volumes that Reliance currently purchases from Aramco.

The deal ties in with Aramco’s push to expand its refining and marketing footprint globally by signing new deals and boosting the capacity of its plants to secure new markets for its crude oil.

Aramco is boosting its refining and petrochemicals business, particularly in Asia, and sees growth in chemicals as central to its downstream expansion strategy to reduce risk as oil demand slows.

“This signifies perfect synergy between the world’s largest oil producer and the world’s largest integrated refinery and petrochemicals complex,” said Reliance Chairman Mukesh Ambani, while announcing the deal at the AGM in Mumbai on Monday.

Ambani, who is Asia’s richest man, said the deal would be the biggest foreign investment in the history of Reliance and also one of the largest foreign investments ever in India.

Aramco declined to comment on the Reliance tie-up.

Beijing, Aug 12 : External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is on a crucial three-day visit to China, on Monday said India-China relations should be a factor of stability at a time when the world is facing an uncertain situation.

Jaishankar, who arrived here on Sunday, called on Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan at the Zhongnanhai, the picturesque imperial residential complex where top Chinese leaders reside.

He later had a restricted meeting with Foreign Minister Wang Yi followed by a delegation-level meeting.

In his opening remarks during the meeting with Vice President Wang, considered a confidant of President Xi Jinping, Jaishankar said, We reached a consensus in Astana two years ago that at a time when the world is more uncertain, our relationship should be a factor of stability .

And I am very pleased today to come in the aftermath of the Wuhan summit where the consensus between our leaders on global and regional issues has expanded,” he said, referring to the summit meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi.

Last year’s Wuhan Summit between Modi and Xi was the first informal summit between the two leaders which had normalised the relations between the two countries after the 73-day military stand-off over Doklam.

During his three-day visit, Jaishankar will hold talks with the Chinese leadership on a host of issues including finalisation of arrangements for President Xi’s visit to India later this year for the second informal summit with Prime Minister Modi.

The visit of Jaishankar, the first Indian minister to tour China after the Modi government began its second term, is taking place in the aftermath of India’s decision to revoke special status to Jammu and Kashmir and its division into two Union Territories -Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

His visit was finalised much before India’s move to revoke Article 370 of the Constitution that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

Jaishankar, who was the first career diplomat to become the External Affairs Minister, served as India’s Ambassador to China from 2009 to 2013, the longest tenure by an Indian envoy.

The missile launches — Saturday’s test was the fifth in two weeks — are in protest at regular US-South Korean war games already in progress, which have longed angered Pyongyang.

Kim “mounted the observation post and guided the test-fire”, KCNA said of Saturday’s launch, adding that he expressed “great satisfaction” with the result.

Defence officials in Seoul said what appeared to be two short-range ballistic missiles were fired at daybreak Saturday from near the northeastern city of Hamhung, flying 400 kilometres (250 miles) before splashing down in the sea between the Korean peninsula and Japan.

Kim had ordered that the test be carried out “immediately” after getting a report on the development of the new weapon, KCNA said.

“The detailed analysis of the test-fire result proved that the new weapon system’s advantageous and powerful demand of the design was perfectly met,” it added.

In the separate foreign ministry statement carried by KCNA, Pyongyang said Seoul had “defiantly staged an aggressive war exercise against us”.

Any future talks will be “held strictly between the DPRK and the US, not between the north and the south”, it said.

On Friday, US President Donald Trump said he agreed with Kim’s opposition to the war games -– albeit for financial rather than military reasons — and indicated the missile launches were not important.

Then on Saturday, Trump said Kim had expressed willingness to meet and resume negotiations once the US-South Korean exercises are over.

Kim also offered a “small apology for testing the short range missiles,” the US leader noted.

The North Korean foreign ministry said Trump’s comment “in effect recognizes the self-defensive rights of a sovereign state, saying that it is a small missile test which a lot of countries do.”

Chennai, Aug 14 :  The Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft, launched from the SHAR Range on July 22, on Wednesday successfully entered the Lunar Transfer Trajectory, for a scheduled soft landing on the Moon’s South Polar Region on September seven. ISRO sources said the final orbit raising manoeuvre of Chandrayaan-2 was successfully carried out at 02:21 hrs early thismorning. During this manoeuver, the spacecraft’s liquid engine was fired for about 1,203 seconds. With this, Chandrayaan-2 entered the Lunar Transfer Trajectory. Earlier, the spacecraft’s orbit was progressively increased five times from July 23 to August six.
The health of the spacecraft is being continuously monitored from the Mission Operations Complex (MOX) at ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) in Bengaluru with support from Indian Deep Space Network (IDSN) antennas at Byalalu, near Bengaluru.
Since its launch by GSLV MkIII-M1 vehicle, all systems on board Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft are performing normal. Chandrayaan-2 will approach Moon on August 20 and the spacecraft’s liquid engine will be fired again to insert it into a lunar orbit.
Following this, there will be further four orbit manoeuvers to make the spacecraft enter into its final orbit passing over the lunar poles at a distance of about 100 km from the Moon’s
surface.

Raab said after meeting US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo the two sides agreed on the need for quick negotiations on a two-way deal after Brexit strands Britain outside the US-EU trade pact.

“America is our single largest bilateral trading partner. President Trump has made clear again that he wants an ambitious free trade agreement with UK, so I hope that we can make that happen as soon as possible after we leave the EU on the 31st of October,” Raab told reporters.

Standing at Raab’s side, Pompeo said Washington supports London’s “sovereign choice” in withdrawing from the European Union, whatever happens.

“However Brexit ultimately shakes out, we’ll be on the doorstep hand-in-hand, ready to sign a new free trade agreement at the earliest possible time,” Pompeo said.

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 10: As Kerala continues to battle the torrential downpour lashing its shores, death toll has risen to 42 in rain related incidents, including flooding and landslides, with over one lakh people moved to relief camps, officials said on Saturday.

Twenty people have been killed in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts, and nine have died in Wayanad in rain related incidents since August 8, officials said quoting reports received till 7 am

In 988 relief camps across the state, 1,07,699 persons have been shifted. In the worst affected Wayanad, 24,990 persons are in such camps, they said

Many people are still feared trapped under debris following major landslides that hit the Wayanad and Malappuram districts and the rescue operations, which were suspended Friday night, have restarted as the day broke, the officials said

Heavy rain is continuing in Wayanad, hampering the rescue efforts, the officials said

Over 1,000 people have been rescued from the tea plantation village of Puthumala at Meppadi in Wayanad, which was rocked by landslides as portion of a hill came crashing down on several homes and other structures, including a mosque and a temple

According to Wayanad Sub Collector N S K Umesh, seven bodies have been recovered so far and over 1,000 people have been moved to safer locations

“The area is dangerous. What we understand is that 15 people are still missing,” he said, adding search operations by Army and National Disaster Response Force personnel are underway

With water levels rising, there is a possibility of opening the shutters of Banasurasagar dam, officials have indicated

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had said on Friday that the dam could be opened any time

The district administration is likely to take a decision in this regard after reviewing the situation this morning

Besides Wayanad, the continuous rains have triggered multiple landslides and overflowing rivers have caused flooding in several parts of Malappuram, Kannur and Idukki in north and central Kerala

Several areas in Thrissur and Kannur districts are waterlogged with many having been moved to relief camps

Train services have also been disrupted due to flooding and trees falling on rail tracks

Southern Railways has cancelled several trains, including the Kannur-Alapuzha Express, on Saturday. Many trains have been partially cancelled with routes cut short to avoid the flooded areas

Mangaluru Nagercoil Parasuram Express has been cancelled between Mangaluru and Wadakkanchery, Mangaluru?Nagercoil Ernad Express has been cancelled between Mangaluru and Thrisur, Thiruvananthapuram?Hyderabad Sabari Express has been cancelled between Thiruvananthapuram and Coimbatore

The Kannur?Thiruvananthapuram Jan Shatabdi Express has been cancelled between Kannur and Shoranur

For the day, the Met department has issued a red alert for Ernakulam, Idukki, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kannur

The deluge continues in the state even as it grapples to fully recover from the extensive damage caused by the floods of August, 2018 that claimed over 400 lives and left lakhs of people homeless.