Afghanistan's ambassador to Spain was mugged at the weekend in Barcelona, police and diplomatic sources said Monday, the latest in a string of high-profile crimes in the city.

The assailants attacked Humayoon Rasaw late Sunday on a street in the centre of town, throwing him to the ground to steal his watch, a police spokeswoman said.

The ambassador, who was in Barcelona for celebrations marking war-torn Afghanistan's national day, suffered a leg injury but "is fine," according to a source at the Afghan embassy in Madrid.

The robbery comes as Barcelona, one of Europe's most visited cities, has seen a sharp rise in crimes, including several involving foreigners which have made global headlines.

The Mediterranean city has seen eight murders since July, an unusually high number in Spain which has one of the lowest crime rates in Europe.

Robberies, especially those targeting foreign visitors, have also risen.

Recorded thefts in Spain's second-largest city, home to around 1.6 million people, have doubled over the past four years.

In the first half of 2019, violent robberies jumped by 31 per cent over the same period last year.

In late June a South Korean woman who was part of an official government delegation died after a thief snatched her purse, causing her to fall and seriously injure her head.

Earlier this month a Chinese man died in a fight outside a Barcelona nightclub.

Afghanistan's ambassador to Spain was mugged at the weekend in Barcelona, police and diplomatic sources said Monday, the latest in a string of high-profile crimes in the city.

Afghanistan's ambassador to Spain was mugged at the weekend in Barcelona, police and diplomatic sources said Monday, the latest in a string of high-profile crimes in the city. The assailants attacked Humayoon Rasaw late Sunday on a street in the centre of town, throwing him to the ground to steal his watch, a police spokeswoman said. The ambassador, who was in Barcelona for celebrations marking war-torn Afghanistan's national day, suffered a leg injury but "is fine," according to a source at the Afghan embassy in Madrid. The robbery comes as Barcelona, one of Europe's most visited cities, has seen a sharp rise in crimes, including several involving foreigners which have made global headlines. The Mediterranean city has seen eight murders since July, an unusually high number in Spain which has one of the lowest crime rates in Europe. Robberies, especially those targeting foreign visitors, have also risen. Recorded thefts in Spain's second-largest city, home to around 1.6 million people, have doubled over the past four years. In the first half of 2019, violent robberies jumped by 31 per cent over the same period last year. In late June a South Korean woman who was part of an official government delegation died after a thief snatched her purse, causing her to fall and seriously injure her head. Earlier this month a Chinese man died in a fight outside a Barcelona nightclub.

Afghanistan ambassador to Spain hurt in Barcelona mugging

Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa on Tuesday emphasised the need to develop indigenous defence equipment for self-reliance.

He added that India cannot depend on imports alone for its defence needs.

He, however, said that some high-end weapons and systems need to be imported to "win war" till we build long term ability to manufacture state-of-art defence equipment.

"We can't wait for indigenous technology to replace obsolete warfighting equipment, neither will it be prudent to import every defence equipment from abroad. What we are doing is replacing our high-end obsolete weapons with indigenously developed ones. This has boosted our in-house defence manufacturing," he said at an event here.

He added that "We need some high-end technology items which we have to import to win war" and that "it will make a balanced Air Force with the long term ability to develop and manufacture state-of-art aircraft and systems".

The Air Chief said that indigenisation needs to continue to ensure self-reliance in manufacturing defence equipment.

Giving an insight of the indigenisation projects, he said: "There are presently 11 projects, out of which project sanction order has been issued to multiple development agencies for two projects including Infrared Search and Tracking for air platform."

Remaining nine projects are at stages of acceptance of necessity and finalisation of PSQRs and feasibility study, he said.

Dhanoa said that 95 per cent of components that go into an aircraft in IAF's Base Repair Depots (BRD) are produced from indigenous sources.

He also said that the Air Force is sponsoring the development of Biojet fuel to power its aircraft.

The Air Chief said that several indigenously developed radars, aircraft, bombs and missiles have been inducted by the Indian Air Force.

"We started with 1000 pound bombs, then indigenously manufactured 250 and 450 kg bombs. We are testing anti-tank missile i.e. HELINA, Astra air-to-air missile and Gautam and Gaurav laser-guided bombs," he said.

He further said that the force will soon induct light combat helicopters developed indigenously and said that induction of multirole fighter aircraft such as Rafale fighter jets have enhanced the global influence capabilities of the IAF.

Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa on Tuesday emphasised the need to develop indigenous defence equipment for self-reliance. He added that India cannot depend on imports alone for its defence needs.

Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa on Tuesday emphasised the need to develop indigenous defence equipment for self-reliance. He added that India cannot depend on imports alone for its defence needs. He, however, said that some high-end weapons and systems need to be imported to "win war" till we build long term ability to manufacture state-of-art defence equipment. "We can't wait for indigenous technology to replace obsolete warfighting equipment, neither will it be prudent to import every defence equipment from abroad. What we are doing is replacing our high-end obsolete weapons with indigenously developed ones. This has boosted our in-house defence manufacturing," he said at an event here. He added that "We need some high-end technology items which we have to import to win war" and that "it will make a balanced Air Force with the long term ability to develop and manufacture state-of-art aircraft and systems". The Air Chief said that indigenisation needs to continue to ensure self-reliance in manufacturing defence equipment. Giving an insight of the indigenisation projects, he said: "There are presently 11 projects, out of which project sanction order has been issued to multiple development agencies for two projects including Infrared Search and Tracking for air platform." Remaining nine projects are at stages of acceptance of necessity and finalisation of PSQRs and feasibility study, he said. Dhanoa said that 95 per cent of components that go into an aircraft in IAF's Base Repair Depots (BRD) are produced from indigenous sources. He also said that the Air Force is sponsoring the development of Biojet fuel to power its aircraft. The Air Chief said that several indigenously developed radars, aircraft, bombs and missiles have been inducted by the Indian Air Force. "We started with 1000 pound bombs, then indigenously manufactured 250 and 450 kg bombs. We are testing anti-tank missile i.e. HELINA, Astra air-to-air missile and Gautam and Gaurav laser-guided bombs," he said. He further said that the force will soon induct light combat helicopters developed indigenously and said that induction of multirole fighter aircraft such as Rafale fighter jets have enhanced the global influence capabilities of the IAF.

Air Chief BS Dhanoa emphasises the need to develop indigenous defence equipment for self-reliance

When Mohammad Rafiq spotted two Rohingya refugee girls dusting their faces with circles of traditional thanaka powder under the warm morning light, he quickly took out his smartphone to capture the moment.

The 19-year-old budding photographer, who fled to Bangladesh in August 2017 after a military crackdown in Myanmar, uses his mobile phone to record the daily lives of nearly one million stateless Rohingya in a vast camp in southern Bangladesh.

"I loved the photo instantly as it reflects our culture and the innocence of the little girls who barely want to remember the crisis we are facing," Rafiq told AFP.

Rafiq is among some 30 Rohingya youths selected by the World Food Programme for its "Storytellers" project.

For two weeks, they are taught smartphone photo and video-shooting techniques -- such as understanding light, exposure and angles -- as well as writing skills.

The refugees then share their stories directly with the public through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, with audiences around the world posting comments and asking questions.

"The idea behind it is to be able to hand back the narrative to the people that we are already assisting," WFP spokeswoman Gemma Snowdon told AFP.

The Storytellers Page on Facebook has more than 30,000 followers and includes similar schemes rolled out in Chad and Uganda.

All the Rohingya posters have a similar goal -- to share with the outside world the raw, emotional ups and downs they face living in the world's largest refugee camp.

Minara, who was four months' pregnant when she fled Myanmar, shares videos of how refugees are given ropes to tie their makeshift tarpaulin roofs to bamboo poles so they are not blown away by strong winds.

Another post, by Hafsa Aktar, is a heartrending letter to her father who was left behind, in which she writes of the difficult conditions in the camp and her deep longing to return to her homeland.

Life through the lens

Being able to take photos again has put a spring in the steps of Rafiq, who wanted to continue his schooling after the 10th grade in Myanmar but was blocked by authorities.

When he was 15, Rafiq's father bought him his first-ever smartphone as a present. Thrilled with the device, he explored his town in Myanmar's northern Rakhine state, taking photos of everything he loved.

But Rafiq's life was turned upside down in 2017 when the brutal army campaign drove some 740,000 Rohingya Muslims across the border to Cox's Bazar, where another 200,000 refugees were already living in squalid camps.

During the arduous journey to neighbouring Bangladesh to escape the violence, the teenager lost his favourite possession -- his smartphone.

"I arrived in Bangladesh with my mother and three younger siblings after 10 days of harrowing walks through the hills," Rafiq recalled as he sat in a shanty inside the camp.

"I wish I could have captured the moments of anguish we had to suffer on our way out of Myanmar."

Now Rafiq is becoming a star on Facebook through his photos.

In one post that has attracted some 180,000 views, Rafiq captures a woman meditating during the month of Ramadan to show how the Muslim minority are now free to practise their religion even as they grapple with the hardships in the crammed shelters.

"International media is covering the stories in the camps but they are not here 24/7 but I am," he said, adding that his stories were more authentic.

"People learn from my stories that we are seeking justice and want to return home."

On some days, Rafiq walks to a vantage point in the camps where he can see the hills of Myanmar shrouded by clouds in the distance, and thinks of home.

"I see flashbacks of how my friends and I used to roam around the place. I feel very sad," he said, adding that he hopes to return one day and be a photojournalist.

"That will be the fulfilment of my dream."

When Mohammad Rafiq spotted two Rohingya refugee girls dusting their faces with circles of traditional thanaka powder under the warm morning light, he quickly took out his smartphone to capture the moment.

When Mohammad Rafiq spotted two Rohingya refugee girls dusting their faces with circles of traditional thanaka powder under the warm morning light, he quickly took out his smartphone to capture the moment. The 19-year-old budding photographer, who fled to Bangladesh in August 2017 after a military crackdown in Myanmar, uses his mobile phone to record the daily lives of nearly one million stateless Rohingya in a vast camp in southern Bangladesh. "I loved the photo instantly as it reflects our culture and the innocence of the little girls who barely want to remember the crisis we are facing," Rafiq told AFP. Rafiq is among some 30 Rohingya youths selected by the World Food Programme for its "Storytellers" project. For two weeks, they are taught smartphone photo and video-shooting techniques -- such as understanding light, exposure and angles -- as well as writing skills. The refugees then share their stories directly with the public through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, with audiences around the world posting comments and asking questions. "The idea behind it is to be able to hand back the narrative to the people that we are already assisting," WFP spokeswoman Gemma Snowdon told AFP. The Storytellers Page on Facebook has more than 30,000 followers and includes similar schemes rolled out in Chad and Uganda. All the Rohingya posters have a similar goal -- to share with the outside world the raw, emotional ups and downs they face living in the world's largest refugee camp. Minara, who was four months' pregnant when she fled Myanmar, shares videos of how refugees are given ropes to tie their makeshift tarpaulin roofs to bamboo poles so they are not blown away by strong winds. Another post, by Hafsa Aktar, is a heartrending letter to her father who was left behind, in which she writes of the difficult conditions in the camp and her deep longing to return to her homeland. Life through the lens Being able to take photos again has put a spring in the steps of Rafiq, who wanted to continue his schooling after the 10th grade in Myanmar but was blocked by authorities. When he was 15, Rafiq's father bought him his first-ever smartphone as a present. Thrilled with the device, he explored his town in Myanmar's northern Rakhine state, taking photos of everything he loved. But Rafiq's life was turned upside down in 2017 when the brutal army campaign drove some 740,000 Rohingya Muslims across the border to Cox's Bazar, where another 200,000 refugees were already living in squalid camps. During the arduous journey to neighbouring Bangladesh to escape the violence, the teenager lost his favourite possession -- his smartphone. "I arrived in Bangladesh with my mother and three younger siblings after 10 days of harrowing walks through the hills," Rafiq recalled as he sat in a shanty inside the camp. "I wish I could have captured the moments of anguish we had to suffer on our way out of Myanmar." Now Rafiq is becoming a star on Facebook through his photos. In one post that has attracted some 180,000 views, Rafiq captures a woman meditating during the month of Ramadan to show how the Muslim minority are now free to practise their religion even as they grapple with the hardships in the crammed shelters. "International media is covering the stories in the camps but they are not here 24/7 but I am," he said, adding that his stories were more authentic. "People learn from my stories that we are seeking justice and want to return home." On some days, Rafiq walks to a vantage point in the camps where he can see the hills of Myanmar shrouded by clouds in the distance, and thinks of home. "I see flashbacks of how my friends and I used to roam around the place. I feel very sad," he said, adding that he hopes to return one day and be a photojournalist. "That will be the fulfilment of my dream."

'I'm here 24/7': Rohingya youths share their stories on social media

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/now-talks-with-pakistan-only-on-pok-rajnath-singh-243890">Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh</a> on Tuesday said that in order to modernize the Indian Air Force there is a need to develop indigenous technology in the defence sector and reduce dependence on foreign manufacturers.

While speaking at the seminar on 'Modernization and Indigenization Plans of Indian Air Force' in New Delhi, the Union Minister said, "There is a sizeable dependency on foreign equipment manufacturers for their subsystems and components. The need of the hour, therefore, is to progressively reduce dependence on foreign manufacturers and develop comprehensive capabilities ourselves."

He also stated that the defence firms of the country have a huge opportunity in contributing to the domestic market in addition to the exports. Singh also voiced Centre's desire to encourage private industry investment in the defence sector.

"For the participation of Indian companies in the defence sector, a slew of measures have been put in place for the investment by private players. Up to 49 per cent of investment is allowed through automatic route and 100 per cent via government route on case to case basis."

"Also, a number of policies have been introduced for the development of defence infrastructure and promote indigenous development. In pursuit of Make In India, M&amp;M is the most preferred category for procurement and it is expected to promote indigenously designed products to bring significant development in defence, research and development," he added.

"We have just approved the proposal for providing test facilities of government entities to the private defence sector. A formal order on the same will soon be issued. This has removed various bottlenecks which used to come in way of using test facilities by private entities," Singh further stated.

The Union Defence Minister also urged the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to establish manufacturing facilities for their products in India and invest in the country through Foreign Direct Investment, joint ventures or via defence offset route.

He also informed the gathering that the Central Government has revised defence product list for the purpose of issuing industrial licenses under the Industries Development and Regulation Act, 1951.

"Testing equipment, production of equipment have been removed from the list. This has certainly reduced the entry barriers for the industry, especially the small and medium segment. The initial validity of the industrial license has also been increased from 3&nbsp;years to 15 years with a provision to the further extend it by 3 years on case to case basis," he added.

Singh also mentioned about Balakot airstrike and stated, "Indian Air Force is a technologically advanced and extremely potent force, the recent offensive strike against terrorist outfits in our neighbourhood speaks volumes about the reach and lethality of the formidable arm of the Indian Armed Forces."

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said that in order to modernize the Indian Air Force there is a need to develop indigenous technology in the defence sector and reduce dependence on foreign manufacturers.

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said that in order to modernize the Indian Air Force there is a need to develop indigenous technology in the defence sector and reduce dependence on foreign manufacturers. While speaking at the seminar on 'Modernization and Indigenization Plans of Indian Air Force' in New Delhi, the Union Minister said, "There is a sizeable dependency on foreign equipment manufacturers for their subsystems and components. The need of the hour, therefore, is to progressively reduce dependence on foreign manufacturers and develop comprehensive capabilities ourselves." He also stated that the defence firms of the country have a huge opportunity in contributing to the domestic market in addition to the exports. Singh also voiced Centre's desire to encourage private industry investment in the defence sector. "For the participation of Indian companies in the defence sector, a slew of measures have been put in place for the investment by private players. Up to 49 per cent of investment is allowed through automatic route and 100 per cent via government route on case to case basis." "Also, a number of policies have been introduced for the development of defence infrastructure and promote indigenous development. In pursuit of Make In India, M&M is the most preferred category for procurement and it is expected to promote indigenously designed products to bring significant development in defence, research and development," he added. "We have just approved the proposal for providing test facilities of government entities to the private defence sector. A formal order on the same will soon be issued. This has removed various bottlenecks which used to come in way of using test facilities by private entities," Singh further stated. The Union Defence Minister also urged the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to establish manufacturing facilities for their products in India and invest in the country through Foreign Direct Investment, joint ventures or via defence offset route. He also informed the gathering that the Central Government has revised defence product list for the purpose of issuing industrial licenses under the Industries Development and Regulation Act, 1951. "Testing equipment, production of equipment have been removed from the list. This has certainly reduced the entry barriers for the industry, especially the small and medium segment. The initial validity of the industrial license has also been increased from 3 years to 15 years with a provision to the further extend it by 3 years on case to case basis," he added. Singh also mentioned about Balakot airstrike and stated, "Indian Air Force is a technologically advanced and extremely potent force, the recent offensive strike against terrorist outfits in our neighbourhood speaks volumes about the reach and lethality of the formidable arm of the Indian Armed Forces."

Reduce dependence on foreign manufacturers: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on modernising Indian Air Force

Over 6,000 people in East Delhi have been shifted from low-lying areas to safer places on Tuesday as the water level in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/yamunas-water-level-crosses-warning-mark-delhi-chief-minister-arvind-kejriwal-calls-for-emergency-meeting-243997">Yamuna river has crossed the "danger mark."</a>

"Currently, the Yamuna river is flowing at 250.99 above the danger mark. We have made all necessary arrangements. Around 6000-7000 people in East Delhi district from low-lying areas have been shifted to 1100 tents. We are also ensuring them three-time food and drinking water. Sanitation facilities and electricity are also being provided. Our health check-ups teams are also there for their examination," Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Arun Gupta told ANI.

The magistrate said that the administration has requested the people to not go in low-lying areas in Yamuna belt.

Gupta said the water level will decrease gradually from Wednesday. "There is a possibility that after Wednesday, the water level will decrease gradually," he said.

The river was flowing at 205.94 meters, 0.61 meters above the "danger mark" of 205.33 meters. The water level is expected to rise further as Haryana released 1.43 lakh cusec water on Monday evening.

The Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had chaired a high-level meeting of Cabinet ministers and officers of concerned departments to take stock of preparedness for any situation arising out of excess water in the river.

After meeting, he urged the people living on the Yamuna floodplains and low-lying areas to move to safer places.

As a precautionary measure, vehicular movement on 'Loha Pul', an old iron bridge over the river connecting East Delhi to Old Delhi, was closed.

The Yamuna level is expectedly going to rise to 207 metres as the highest amount of water -- 8,28,000 cusec -- was released in the history of Hathni Kund barrage on Sunday.

The Delhi government has set up 2120 tents for 23860 people who are expected to be affected due to the excess water resulting in Yamuna's overflow.

Over 6,000 people in East Delhi have been shifted from low-lying areas to safer places on Tuesday as the water level in Yamuna river has crossed the "danger mark.

Over 6,000 people in East Delhi have been shifted from low-lying areas to safer places on Tuesday as the water level in Yamuna river has crossed the "danger mark." "Currently, the Yamuna river is flowing at 250.99 above the danger mark. We have made all necessary arrangements. Around 6000-7000 people in East Delhi district from low-lying areas have been shifted to 1100 tents. We are also ensuring them three-time food and drinking water. Sanitation facilities and electricity are also being provided. Our health check-ups teams are also there for their examination," Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Arun Gupta told ANI. The magistrate said that the administration has requested the people to not go in low-lying areas in Yamuna belt. Gupta said the water level will decrease gradually from Wednesday. "There is a possibility that after Wednesday, the water level will decrease gradually," he said. The river was flowing at 205.94 meters, 0.61 meters above the "danger mark" of 205.33 meters. The water level is expected to rise further as Haryana released 1.43 lakh cusec water on Monday evening. The Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had chaired a high-level meeting of Cabinet ministers and officers of concerned departments to take stock of preparedness for any situation arising out of excess water in the river. After meeting, he urged the people living on the Yamuna floodplains and low-lying areas to move to safer places. As a precautionary measure, vehicular movement on 'Loha Pul', an old iron bridge over the river connecting East Delhi to Old Delhi, was closed. The Yamuna level is expectedly going to rise to 207 metres as the highest amount of water -- 8,28,000 cusec -- was released in the history of Hathni Kund barrage on Sunday. The Delhi government has set up 2120 tents for 23860 people who are expected to be affected due to the excess water resulting in Yamuna's overflow.

Over 6,000 in east Delhi shift to tents as Yamuna water level crosses 'danger mark'

US President Donald Trump on Sunday hailed progress in negotiations on an Afghanistan peace deal, saying that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/fears-in-us-of-bad-peace-deal-with-the-taliban-243743">talks with both the Taliban</a> and the Afghan government are going well.

But while Trump said the United States has things "under control," <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/over-40-dead-100-injured-as-blast-rips-through-wedding-party-in-afghanistans-kabul-243740">a massive bombing in Kabul</a> highlighted the rampant violence still plaguing Afghanistan and the major challenges it would face even if an agreement is reached.

"We're having very good discussions with the Taliban. We're having very good discussions with the Afghan government," Trump told reporters.

Expectations are rising for a deal in which the United States would start withdrawing its soldiers from Afghanistan after nearly two decades of war that has ground into a stalemate.

"We've really got it down to probably 13,000 people and we'll be bringing it down a little bit more and then we'll decide whether or not we'll be staying longer or not," Trump said.

"We have things under control very well with the small force. We can probably make it a little bit smaller and then we'll decide," he said, adding: "It'll depend on the Taliban, it'll depend on the Afghan government."

A US-Taliban agreement would not by itself bring an end to Afghanistan's war, as the insurgents would still need to make a deal with the Washington-backed government in Kabul.

Bombing highlights challenges

Trump reiterated Sunday that the United States would maintain an intelligence presence in the country even if it withdraws troops, in order to guard against potential militant threats.

"I think it's very important that we continue intelligence there in all cases, because it is somewhat of a nest for hitting us," the president said.

Washington is keen to end its involvement in Afghanistan, where it has spent more than $1 trillion and Trump has said since the start of his presidency that he wants troops out.

In return, the Taliban would commit to various security guarantees, including that the Islamist hardliners who long harboured Al-Qaeda would not allow Afghanistan to become a jihadist safe haven -- but any such promise would be tough to keep.

On Saturday, a bombing at a packed Afghan wedding hall killed at least 63 people, underscoring both the inadequacy of Afghanistan's security forces and the massive challenges they face.

The Islamic State group claimed the attack, saying that one of its fighters blew himself up at a "large gathering" in Kabul while others "detonated a parked explosives-laden vehicle" when security forces arrived.

While the police and army claim they prevent most bombings from ever happening, insurgents pull off horrific attacks with chilling regularity.

And even as Trump claimed progress in talks, little has changed for Afghans on the ground.

A UN tally found last year was the deadliest on record, with at least 3,804 civilian deaths caused by the war -- including 927 children.&nbsp;

And according to the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), more than 217,000 people had to flee their homes because of fighting during the first seven months of 2019, prompting a huge need for humanitarian aid across the war-torn nation.

US President Donald Trump on Sunday hailed progress in negotiations on an Afghanistan peace deal, saying that talks with both the Taliban and the Afghan government are going well.

US President Donald Trump on Sunday hailed progress in negotiations on an Afghanistan peace deal, saying that talks with both the Taliban and the Afghan government are going well. But while Trump said the United States has things "under control," a massive bombing in Kabul highlighted the rampant violence still plaguing Afghanistan and the major challenges it would face even if an agreement is reached. "We're having very good discussions with the Taliban. We're having very good discussions with the Afghan government," Trump told reporters. Expectations are rising for a deal in which the United States would start withdrawing its soldiers from Afghanistan after nearly two decades of war that has ground into a stalemate. "We've really got it down to probably 13,000 people and we'll be bringing it down a little bit more and then we'll decide whether or not we'll be staying longer or not," Trump said. "We have things under control very well with the small force. We can probably make it a little bit smaller and then we'll decide," he said, adding: "It'll depend on the Taliban, it'll depend on the Afghan government." A US-Taliban agreement would not by itself bring an end to Afghanistan's war, as the insurgents would still need to make a deal with the Washington-backed government in Kabul. Bombing highlights challenges Trump reiterated Sunday that the United States would maintain an intelligence presence in the country even if it withdraws troops, in order to guard against potential militant threats. "I think it's very important that we continue intelligence there in all cases, because it is somewhat of a nest for hitting us," the president said. Washington is keen to end its involvement in Afghanistan, where it has spent more than $1 trillion and Trump has said since the start of his presidency that he wants troops out. In return, the Taliban would commit to various security guarantees, including that the Islamist hardliners who long harboured Al-Qaeda would not allow Afghanistan to become a jihadist safe haven -- but any such promise would be tough to keep. On Saturday, a bombing at a packed Afghan wedding hall killed at least 63 people, underscoring both the inadequacy of Afghanistan's security forces and the massive challenges they face. The Islamic State group claimed the attack, saying that one of its fighters blew himself up at a "large gathering" in Kabul while others "detonated a parked explosives-laden vehicle" when security forces arrived. While the police and army claim they prevent most bombings from ever happening, insurgents pull off horrific attacks with chilling regularity. And even as Trump claimed progress in talks, little has changed for Afghans on the ground. A UN tally found last year was the deadliest on record, with at least 3,804 civilian deaths caused by the war -- including 927 children. And according to the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), more than 217,000 people had to flee their homes because of fighting during the first seven months of 2019, prompting a huge need for humanitarian aid across the war-torn nation.

US president Donald Trump hails 'very good' discussions with the Taliban

As rains continue to wreak havoc in Kerala, the death toll has gone up to 121 with 21 still missing, news agency ANI reported on Saturday.

The state government has set up 805 camps for 1,29,517 persons from 41,253 families.

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Kerala: Death toll in flood-related incidents rises to 121. 40 people injured, 21 still missing. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KeralaFloods?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KeralaFloods</a> <a href="https://t.co/FchLlaiG98">pic.twitter.com/FchLlaiG98</a>
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According to data, a total of 1,75,373 people are staying at 1,057 rescue and relief camps across the state.

On August 14, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh for the families of people who lost their lives due to floods in the state.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday expressed solidarity with the flood-affected states and assured all possible support required in tackling the situation.

Hundreds of lives have been lost in flood-hit Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Bihar and Assam where thousands of hectares of crops have been washed away.

As rains continue to wreak havoc in Kerala, the death toll has gone up to 121 with 21 still missing, news agency ANI reported on Saturday. The state government has set up 805 camps for 1,29,517 persons from 41,253 families.

As rains continue to wreak havoc in Kerala, the death toll has gone up to 121 with 21 still missing, news agency ANI reported on Saturday. The state government has set up 805 camps for 1,29,517 persons from 41,253 families. Kerala: Death toll in flood-related incidents rises to 121. 40 people injured, 21 still missing. #KeralaFloods pic.twitter.com/FchLlaiG98 — ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2019 × According to data, a total of 1,75,373 people are staying at 1,057 rescue and relief camps across the state. On August 14, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh for the families of people who lost their lives due to floods in the state. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday expressed solidarity with the flood-affected states and assured all possible support required in tackling the situation. Hundreds of lives have been lost in flood-hit Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Bihar and Assam where thousands of hectares of crops have been washed away.

Death toll rises to 121 with 21 still missing in flood-hit Kerala

The death toll due to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/step-in-for-relief-work-in-flood-rain-hit-areas-jp-nadda-urges-bjp-workers-243943">cloudburst in Arakot village of Uttarkashi</a>&nbsp;in Uttarakhand rose to 17 as personnel of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) launched an operation to rescue people stranded in the affected area on Monday morning.

"Seventeen people have died in the cloudburst in Mori tehsil," Secretary (Incharge) Disaster Management, SA Murugesan, told ANI.

For relief and rescue operations in the affected areas of Mori Tehsil of the district, the state government has pressed two helicopters into action that reached the village with communication equipment and ropes in the morning.

Makuri, Tikochi, Arakot are the most affected villages in the Mori area.

Relief teams were facing problems to reach the area due to damaged roads, an official said.

Three medical teams have also reached Arokot from Naugaon and Purola areas to deal with medical emergencies.

The SDRF has rescued an injured from Sanel and admitted him to a hospital in Arakot.

&nbsp;As many as 170 people have been shifted to the forest rest house.

The administration is also distributing relief material in the area and has started working to restore a bridge and wireless tower to resume communication in the region, an official said.

One team of SDRF personnel has been kept ready at Sahastradhara on standby mode.

On Sunday, police had recovered bodies of six people including a Nepali national in the border area of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarkashi.

Bad weather conditions on Sunday hampered the rescue operation in the region.

A cloudburst had hit Mori Tehsil in Uttarkashi district on Sunday, prompting the state government to dispatch teams of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) to carry out rescue and evacuation operations.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted widespread rainfall over the next three days in Uttarkashi.

All schools in Tehri, including government and private, will remain shut on Monday.&nbsp;

The death toll due to cloudburst in Arakot village of Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand rose to 17 as personnel of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) launched an operation to rescue people stranded in the affected area on Monday morning.

The death toll due to cloudburst in Arakot village of Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand rose to 17 as personnel of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) launched an operation to rescue people stranded in the affected area on Monday morning. "Seventeen people have died in the cloudburst in Mori tehsil," Secretary (Incharge) Disaster Management, SA Murugesan, told ANI. For relief and rescue operations in the affected areas of Mori Tehsil of the district, the state government has pressed two helicopters into action that reached the village with communication equipment and ropes in the morning. Makuri, Tikochi, Arakot are the most affected villages in the Mori area. Relief teams were facing problems to reach the area due to damaged roads, an official said. Three medical teams have also reached Arokot from Naugaon and Purola areas to deal with medical emergencies. The SDRF has rescued an injured from Sanel and admitted him to a hospital in Arakot. As many as 170 people have been shifted to the forest rest house. The administration is also distributing relief material in the area and has started working to restore a bridge and wireless tower to resume communication in the region, an official said. One team of SDRF personnel has been kept ready at Sahastradhara on standby mode. On Sunday, police had recovered bodies of six people including a Nepali national in the border area of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarkashi. Bad weather conditions on Sunday hampered the rescue operation in the region. A cloudburst had hit Mori Tehsil in Uttarkashi district on Sunday, prompting the state government to dispatch teams of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) to carry out rescue and evacuation operations. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted widespread rainfall over the next three days in Uttarkashi. All schools in Tehri, including government and private, will remain shut on Monday.

Death toll reaches 17 in Uttarakhand cloudburst, SDRF launches rescue operation

The RBI on August 7, 2019, reduced the repo rate by 35 bps from 5.75 per cent to 5.40 per cent. This is the fourth consecutive cut in a row this year. It also tempered the GDP growth estimates to 6.9 per cent in line with CRISIL.

While the rate cut is 10 bps more than street estimates, it highlights that the central bank recognises the severity of the current slowdown. Including this rate cut, RBI has reduced repo rate (the rate at which it lends to banks) by 110 bps this year (1.10 per cent), and it is at its lowest level in the last nine years.

The RBI governor in a press briefing expressed confidence that this cut would give a boost to investment, consumption and growth. While decline in rate cuts are likely to reduce EMIs for individuals and cost of borrowing for corporates, it alone is not likely to spur growth.

Firstly, the banks do not pass on the full benefits of rate cuts to consumers. Out of the 75-bps rate cut before the August announcement, banks have passed on only 29 bps benefit to end consumers, less than 40 per cent.

Generally, it takes two to three months for transmission, some could argue. Even by this logic, banks have passed on only 60 per cent&nbsp;benefit. Private banks have been laggards compared to public sector banks. Also, lenders generally pass on more benefits on new loans rather than existing ones.

Just because the EMIs have come down, people would not be tempted to invest in two-wheelers, cars and real estate as consumption depends a lot on sentiment. Consumer confidence declined in July 2019 due to deterioration in sentiments on jobs, price levels and the general economic situation, according to RBI’s own survey.

For the first time in the last decade, FMCG companies are witnessing a decline in their volumes, 5.5 per cent in Q1 FY20 versus 12 per cent in Q1 FY19, according to a Prabhudas Liladhar report. Rural demand has been badly hit due to low farm incomes and wage growth.

The real estate sector is sitting on an all-time high inventory of 12.76 lakh houses in the top 30 cities. The entire auto industry is witnessing a slowdown as never before. Maruti Suzuki reported its sixth consecutive monthly sales decline with numbers falling 33 per cent in July 2019 while TVS Motors reported a decline of 13 per cent.

Maruti for the sixth month in a row has announced production cuts of 25 per cent. As per reports, 2.3 lakh workers have been laid off. This has had a knock-on effect on OEM and auto ancillary sectors, which employ significant number of contractual workers.

Since auto and real estate sectors contribute 15 per cent-17 per cent to India’s GDP, their slowdown has had a direct impact on other sectors like metals and mining, cement and tyre manufacturing, among others.&nbsp;

The manufacturing industry is operating at a capacity utilisation of 75 per cent. Growth in eight core sectors fell to four-year low of 0.2 per cent in June 2019.&nbsp;

Until and unless the manufacturing industry sees a permanent revival in demand and reduction in idle capacity utilisations, it may not think of fresh investments.

Banks, on the other hand, are still reeling from high NPAs. The delay in IBC insolvency cases is hurting the banks, which continue to adopt a selective and cautious approach to lending. Even the retail portfolio of banks is showing signs of stress. The liquidity crunch, post the IL&amp;FS default and the NBFC crisis has not helped matters.

The Indian economy is facing an acute demand side issue and RBI cannot fix it alone. The government missed the opportunity to leave more money in the hands of people through tax cuts in Budget 2019. Instead, the finance minister increased taxes on the super-rich, which has acted as a dampener.

Since tight fiscal math prevents the government from increasing its spending, like it did, post the global financial crisis, India will need to fall back on private consumption expenditure to boost demand and growth. The new Direct Tax Code, which is expected to propose sweeping changes in tax rates should be implemented next year without fail. Till then, all eyes on the festive season! 
 
(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-are-the-rate-cuts-enough-to-boost-growth-2782948">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp;

The RBI on August 7, 2019, reduced the repo rate by 35 bps from 5.75 per cent to 5.40 per cent. This is the fourth consecutive cut in a row this year. It also tempered the GDP growth estimates to 6.

The RBI on August 7, 2019, reduced the repo rate by 35 bps from 5.75 per cent to 5.40 per cent. This is the fourth consecutive cut in a row this year. It also tempered the GDP growth estimates to 6.9 per cent in line with CRISIL. While the rate cut is 10 bps more than street estimates, it highlights that the central bank recognises the severity of the current slowdown. Including this rate cut, RBI has reduced repo rate (the rate at which it lends to banks) by 110 bps this year (1.10 per cent), and it is at its lowest level in the last nine years. The RBI governor in a press briefing expressed confidence that this cut would give a boost to investment, consumption and growth. While decline in rate cuts are likely to reduce EMIs for individuals and cost of borrowing for corporates, it alone is not likely to spur growth. Firstly, the banks do not pass on the full benefits of rate cuts to consumers. Out of the 75-bps rate cut before the August announcement, banks have passed on only 29 bps benefit to end consumers, less than 40 per cent. Generally, it takes two to three months for transmission, some could argue. Even by this logic, banks have passed on only 60 per cent benefit. Private banks have been laggards compared to public sector banks. Also, lenders generally pass on more benefits on new loans rather than existing ones. Just because the EMIs have come down, people would not be tempted to invest in two-wheelers, cars and real estate as consumption depends a lot on sentiment. Consumer confidence declined in July 2019 due to deterioration in sentiments on jobs, price levels and the general economic situation, according to RBI’s own survey. For the first time in the last decade, FMCG companies are witnessing a decline in their volumes, 5.5 per cent in Q1 FY20 versus 12 per cent in Q1 FY19, according to a Prabhudas Liladhar report. Rural demand has been badly hit due to low farm incomes and wage growth. The real estate sector is sitting on an all-time high inventory of 12.76 lakh houses in the top 30 cities. The entire auto industry is witnessing a slowdown as never before. Maruti Suzuki reported its sixth consecutive monthly sales decline with numbers falling 33 per cent in July 2019 while TVS Motors reported a decline of 13 per cent. Maruti for the sixth month in a row has announced production cuts of 25 per cent. As per reports, 2.3 lakh workers have been laid off. This has had a knock-on effect on OEM and auto ancillary sectors, which employ significant number of contractual workers. Since auto and real estate sectors contribute 15 per cent-17 per cent to India’s GDP, their slowdown has had a direct impact on other sectors like metals and mining, cement and tyre manufacturing, among others. The manufacturing industry is operating at a capacity utilisation of 75 per cent. Growth in eight core sectors fell to four-year low of 0.2 per cent in June 2019. Until and unless the manufacturing industry sees a permanent revival in demand and reduction in idle capacity utilisations, it may not think of fresh investments. Banks, on the other hand, are still reeling from high NPAs. The delay in IBC insolvency cases is hurting the banks, which continue to adopt a selective and cautious approach to lending. Even the retail portfolio of banks is showing signs of stress. The liquidity crunch, post the IL&FS default and the NBFC crisis has not helped matters. The Indian economy is facing an acute demand side issue and RBI cannot fix it alone. The government missed the opportunity to leave more money in the hands of people through tax cuts in Budget 2019. Instead, the finance minister increased taxes on the super-rich, which has acted as a dampener. Since tight fiscal math prevents the government from increasing its spending, like it did, post the global financial crisis, India will need to fall back on private consumption expenditure to boost demand and growth. The new Direct Tax Code, which is expected to propose sweeping changes in tax rates should be implemented next year without fail. Till then, all eyes on the festive season! (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Oil rises more than 1% after a drone attack on Saudi field

Bihar former chief minister Jagannath Mishra passed away in Delhi on Monday after a prolonged illness. He was 82.

Jagannath Mishra was elected for&nbsp;three-time as a chief minister of Bihar.

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Bihar former Chief Minister Jagannath Mishra has passed away in Delhi after prolonged illness. <a href="https://t.co/zyDlVD4HBP">pic.twitter.com/zyDlVD4HBP</a>
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Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has expressed his grief over the death of Jagannath Mishra.

"Jagannath Mishra was a famous leader and educationist. He made an invaluable contribution to the politics of Bihar and India. His death is an irreparable loss in the field of politics, society, and education," Nitish Kumar said in a statement.

A three-day state mourning has been declared in Bihar.&nbsp;

The former chief minister&nbsp;will be cremated with state honours.

Bihar former chief minister Jagannath Mishra passed away in Delhi on Monday after a prolonged illness. He was 82. Jagannath Mishra was elected for three-time as a chief minister of Bihar.

Bihar former chief minister Jagannath Mishra passed away in Delhi on Monday after a prolonged illness. He was 82. Jagannath Mishra was elected for three-time as a chief minister of Bihar. Bihar former Chief Minister Jagannath Mishra has passed away in Delhi after prolonged illness. pic.twitter.com/zyDlVD4HBP — ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2019 × Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has expressed his grief over the death of Jagannath Mishra. "Jagannath Mishra was a famous leader and educationist. He made an invaluable contribution to the politics of Bihar and India. His death is an irreparable loss in the field of politics, society, and education," Nitish Kumar said in a statement. A three-day state mourning has been declared in Bihar. The former chief minister will be cremated with state honours.

Former Bihar chief minister Jagannath Mishra passes away at 82

Even as Pakistan continues to face massive international pressure over tackling terrorism, the country's Army continues to push infiltrators across the Line of Control (LoC) to carry out their nefarious activities in India.

But with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/india-planning-bigger-attack-than-balakot-imran-khan-in-pok-assembly-243024">Prime Minister Imran Khan</a> repeatedly stating that his government has been taking steps to crack down on the menace, a rift could widen between the cricketer-turned-politician and the armed forces over providing support to jihadi groups operating unabated on its soil.

It is a well-known fact that terror groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) enjoy the patronage of the Pakistan Army. Terrorists like Hafiz Saeed are regularly seen ranting anti-India rhetoric and collecting the so-called "donations" in their "charitable organisations" to fuel unrest in the neighbouring country.

It may be recalled that in October 2017, Pakistan Army spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor said that the country was working on a "mainstreaming" programme to induct members of armed groups into the political process.

According to a commentary written by EFSAS, a European-based think-tank, the integration of terrorists and terror-linked groups into Pakistan's mainstream politics is an aim, according to Ghafoor, "to develop a constructive role for them".

A classic example of Pakistan harbouring terrorists is the US raid at Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden's compound in the garrison town of Abbottabad in 2011. The raid ultimately killed the notorious 9/11 attacks mastermind, ending a nearly 10-year search. The dramatic development left Islamabad red-faced as they had repeatedly denied Osama's presence in the country.

Similarly, following the designation as a global terrorist by the UN in May, JeM chief Masood Azhar has been shifted to a safe house in Islamabad from his residence in Bahawalpur by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), sources said in May. Pakistan has been hiding Azhar and his relatives from the public glare ever since the terror group carried out the gruesome Pulwama attack in February, which killed 40 CRPF personnel, fearing a direct Indian strike on him.

"Pakistan has not dealt effectively (militarily, politically, or legally) with domestic extremists and is also afflicted by spillover from events in Afghanistan. Attempts to manipulate violent groups to use them against India have contributed to the loss of control and credibility," The Express Tribune quoted Martha Crenshaw, a terrorism expert professor as saying.

Watch:&nbsp;Has Imran Khan delivered 'Naya Pakistan'?

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/has-imran-khan-delivered-naya-pakistan-243964/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Imran Khan, who assumed office last year, in an election widely termed as rigged by the Pakistan Army, had recently visited the US where he made a startling revelation that his country has around 30,000-40,000 terrorists.

Imran Khan's revelation in the US that there are terrorists in Pakistan has irked Army generals who train terror groups.

He even went on to say that there was no room for any "jihadi outfits or culture" in Pakistan. He claimed that his government made "sincere efforts" in eradicating the culture of "jihadism" and terrorism from the country through what he said short-term and long-term policies.

In an indirect admission that the Balakot was a major operation that rattled Pakistan, Imran Khan said in his Independence Day address that India was planning an even bigger operation in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in the aftermath of the abrogation of Article 370 by New Delhi.

"We have information and we have had two National Security Committee (NSC) meetings. The Pakistan Army has full knowledge that India has made a plan to take action in PoK. Just like how after Pulwama, they took the action in Balakot, according to the information we have, they have made more sinister plans now," Khan said while addressing the Legislative Assembly in Muzaffarabad, PoK on the occasion of 73rd Independence Day of Pakistan.

Imran Khan's latest admission hasn't gone down well with the Army which kept denying that the incident indeed took place. The Army had even invited a group of foreign journalists to the site and tried to claim that no air raid had taken place and no casualties were reported.

Action against terrorism, because of international watch and diplomatic pressure, means Imran Khan earning wrath of the Army, which shields and trains terrorists. Pakistan has a history of the Army taking power by usurping governments. Though Imran Khan is a pawn in their hands, they would not hesitate to gain control.

Reportedly, Azhar was granted "VVIP shield" in the wake of the Pulwama attack in February even as Pakistan took control of the "Islamic seminaries" of the terror group in Bahawalpur.

Both Azhar and Saeed are wanted by New Delhi for their roles in terror attacks in India. Saeed, who carries a USD 10 million bounty on his head, is the mastermind of the gruesome 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, while Azhar's JeM attacked the Indian Parliament in 2001 and most recently carried out the Pulwama attack.

Recently, India abrogated Article 370 that granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Rattled by the neighbouring country's historic move, Islamabad has ramped up its rhetoric against New Delhi and is endlessly trying to internationalise the strictly internal Indian matter.

The move was "condemned" by both the Imran Khan government and the Pakistan Army who said they would continue to "stand in solidarity" with the Kashmiris and would respond to what it called any "Indian misadventure".

Unsurprisingly, Azhar, in a purported message, claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi "accepted his defeat" over the Kashmir issue by stripping its special status and said that industrialists will buy land there which will result in Kashmiri Muslims "losing their existence".

Meanwhile, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has given a stern message to Pakistan to "swiftly" complete its action plan to curb terror financing by October or face consequences by getting itself blacklisted, which could pose problems to the country's already stagnant economy.

Even as Pakistan continues to face massive international pressure over tackling terrorism, the country's Army continues to push infiltrators across the Line of Control (LoC) to carry out their nefarious activities in India.

Even as Pakistan continues to face massive international pressure over tackling terrorism, the country's Army continues to push infiltrators across the Line of Control (LoC) to carry out their nefarious activities in India. But with Prime Minister Imran Khan repeatedly stating that his government has been taking steps to crack down on the menace, a rift could widen between the cricketer-turned-politician and the armed forces over providing support to jihadi groups operating unabated on its soil. It is a well-known fact that terror groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) enjoy the patronage of the Pakistan Army. Terrorists like Hafiz Saeed are regularly seen ranting anti-India rhetoric and collecting the so-called "donations" in their "charitable organisations" to fuel unrest in the neighbouring country. It may be recalled that in October 2017, Pakistan Army spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor said that the country was working on a "mainstreaming" programme to induct members of armed groups into the political process. According to a commentary written by EFSAS, a European-based think-tank, the integration of terrorists and terror-linked groups into Pakistan's mainstream politics is an aim, according to Ghafoor, "to develop a constructive role for them". A classic example of Pakistan harbouring terrorists is the US raid at Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden's compound in the garrison town of Abbottabad in 2011. The raid ultimately killed the notorious 9/11 attacks mastermind, ending a nearly 10-year search. The dramatic development left Islamabad red-faced as they had repeatedly denied Osama's presence in the country. Similarly, following the designation as a global terrorist by the UN in May, JeM chief Masood Azhar has been shifted to a safe house in Islamabad from his residence in Bahawalpur by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), sources said in May. Pakistan has been hiding Azhar and his relatives from the public glare ever since the terror group carried out the gruesome Pulwama attack in February, which killed 40 CRPF personnel, fearing a direct Indian strike on him. "Pakistan has not dealt effectively (militarily, politically, or legally) with domestic extremists and is also afflicted by spillover from events in Afghanistan. Attempts to manipulate violent groups to use them against India have contributed to the loss of control and credibility," The Express Tribune quoted Martha Crenshaw, a terrorism expert professor as saying. Watch: Has Imran Khan delivered 'Naya Pakistan'? Imran Khan, who assumed office last year, in an election widely termed as rigged by the Pakistan Army, had recently visited the US where he made a startling revelation that his country has around 30,000-40,000 terrorists. Imran Khan's revelation in the US that there are terrorists in Pakistan has irked Army generals who train terror groups. He even went on to say that there was no room for any "jihadi outfits or culture" in Pakistan. He claimed that his government made "sincere efforts" in eradicating the culture of "jihadism" and terrorism from the country through what he said short-term and long-term policies. In an indirect admission that the Balakot was a major operation that rattled Pakistan, Imran Khan said in his Independence Day address that India was planning an even bigger operation in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in the aftermath of the abrogation of Article 370 by New Delhi. "We have information and we have had two National Security Committee (NSC) meetings. The Pakistan Army has full knowledge that India has made a plan to take action in PoK. Just like how after Pulwama, they took the action in Balakot, according to the information we have, they have made more sinister plans now," Khan said while addressing the Legislative Assembly in Muzaffarabad, PoK on the occasion of 73rd Independence Day of Pakistan. Imran Khan's latest admission hasn't gone down well with the Army which kept denying that the incident indeed took place. The Army had even invited a group of foreign journalists to the site and tried to claim that no air raid had taken place and no casualties were reported. Action against terrorism, because of international watch and diplomatic pressure, means Imran Khan earning wrath of the Army, which shields and trains terrorists. Pakistan has a history of the Army taking power by usurping governments. Though Imran Khan is a pawn in their hands, they would not hesitate to gain control. Reportedly, Azhar was granted "VVIP shield" in the wake of the Pulwama attack in February even as Pakistan took control of the "Islamic seminaries" of the terror group in Bahawalpur. Both Azhar and Saeed are wanted by New Delhi for their roles in terror attacks in India. Saeed, who carries a USD 10 million bounty on his head, is the mastermind of the gruesome 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, while Azhar's JeM attacked the Indian Parliament in 2001 and most recently carried out the Pulwama attack. Recently, India abrogated Article 370 that granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Rattled by the neighbouring country's historic move, Islamabad has ramped up its rhetoric against New Delhi and is endlessly trying to internationalise the strictly internal Indian matter. The move was "condemned" by both the Imran Khan government and the Pakistan Army who said they would continue to "stand in solidarity" with the Kashmiris and would respond to what it called any "Indian misadventure". Unsurprisingly, Azhar, in a purported message, claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi "accepted his defeat" over the Kashmir issue by stripping its special status and said that industrialists will buy land there which will result in Kashmiri Muslims "losing their existence". Meanwhile, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has given a stern message to Pakistan to "swiftly" complete its action plan to curb terror financing by October or face consequences by getting itself blacklisted, which could pose problems to the country's already stagnant economy.

Imran Khan's tackling of terrorism may irk Pakistan Army

As the water level of the Yamuna <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-on-high-alert-as-yamuna-water-level-continue-to-rise-243959">crossed the "warning mark"</a> in the national capital, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday called for an emergency meeting of officials concerned to assess the preparations.

"Am meeting officers from all concerned depts at 1 pm to assess the situation and the preparations," the chief minister tweeted in response to a Twitter user Manoj Misra's concern over the situation.

Mishra tweeted on Sunday, "Beware Delhi. Release of 8.47 lakh cusec at Hathnikund (HKB) at 1900 hrs today is highest ever recorded. Tho presumably d 1978 flood was bigger but no records exist 4 there was no one at then Tajewala barrage 2 record. If level in Delhi crosses 207.49 (1978) then this is biggest!"

The river on Monday morning was flowing at 204.70 meters, higher than the warning mark at 204.50 meters, after the release of huge amounts of water from Hathni Kund Barrage in Haryana. The "danger mark" is 205.33 meters.

The Delhi government has issued orders for the evacuation of people from low-lying areas and civil defence volunteers have been deployed for rescue operations.

"We have deployed forces. Our department is ready for rescue operations. We got to know that water has been released from Hatni Kund Barrage. We will ensure that people shift to safer places," Lalit Goyal, Civil Defence Officer, told ANI.

As the water level of the Yamuna crossed the "warning mark" in the national capital, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday called for an emergency meeting of officials concerned to assess the preparations.

As the water level of the Yamuna crossed the "warning mark" in the national capital, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday called for an emergency meeting of officials concerned to assess the preparations. "Am meeting officers from all concerned depts at 1 pm to assess the situation and the preparations," the chief minister tweeted in response to a Twitter user Manoj Misra's concern over the situation. Mishra tweeted on Sunday, "Beware Delhi. Release of 8.47 lakh cusec at Hathnikund (HKB) at 1900 hrs today is highest ever recorded. Tho presumably d 1978 flood was bigger but no records exist 4 there was no one at then Tajewala barrage 2 record. If level in Delhi crosses 207.49 (1978) then this is biggest!" The river on Monday morning was flowing at 204.70 meters, higher than the warning mark at 204.50 meters, after the release of huge amounts of water from Hathni Kund Barrage in Haryana. The "danger mark" is 205.33 meters. The Delhi government has issued orders for the evacuation of people from low-lying areas and civil defence volunteers have been deployed for rescue operations. "We have deployed forces. Our department is ready for rescue operations. We got to know that water has been released from Hatni Kund Barrage. We will ensure that people shift to safer places," Lalit Goyal, Civil Defence Officer, told ANI.

Yamuna's water level crosses 'warning mark', Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal calls for emergency meeting

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