<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/world-bank-retains-indias-growth-rate-for-fy19-20-at-75-224461">The World Bank</a> said on Friday it had withdrawn $300 million of funding for a new capital in Andhra Pradesh after the central government dropped support for the project.

The Beijing-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), that was due to finance $200 million of the project, then said it was reviewing its involvement.&nbsp;

The construction of the city, known as Amaravati, is the brainchild of the state's former chief minister, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/central-budget-disappointing-says-chandrababu-naidu-233470 ">N&nbsp;Chandrababu Naidu</a>, who lost power in elections in May.&nbsp;

The two banks were due to provide the lion's share of the $715 million cost of critical funding for transport, sanitation and water supply.

The World Bank's withdrawal was reported by Indian media on Thursday but the federal government's involvement in that decision has not been previously disclosed, nor had the AIIB's plans for a review.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the project in 2015, but he and Naidu fell out after Naidu's party broke from Modi's ruling coalition last year.&nbsp;

"The government of India has withdrawn its request to the World Bank for financing the proposed Amaravati Sustainable Infrastructure and Institutional Development Project," Sudip Mozumder, a New Delhi-based spokesman for the bank, told Reuters.&nbsp;

"The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has been informed that the proposed project is no longer under preparation following the government’s decision."&nbsp;

AIIB spokeswoman Laurel Ostfield told Reuters in Beijing that it was aware the World Bank has dropped the project from its investment pipeline.

"Our investment committee will be discussing our involvement in the project early next week," he said.&nbsp;

Dr P Lakshmi Narasimham, the commissioner of the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority, the state body overseeing construction of the city, declined to comment on the implications of the funding withdrawal.&nbsp;

The Amaravati project, built on greenfield land on the banks of the sacred Krishna River, has been beset by accusations from activist groups of corruption and environmental damage. The state government has denied the accusations.

Andhra Pradesh was split in two in 2014, with the new state of Telangana containing the historic capital, Hyderabad, though both states agreed to share it for 10 years.

"For a change, good sense has prevailed upon the bank to withdraw from the disastrous programme," Sreedhar R., the director of the Environics Trust, one of the activist groups that has been critical of the project, said in a statement.&nbsp;

"This also vindicates our stance that (AIIB) which is a co-financier in the project, can no longer hide behind the World Bank which it has been doing." 
&nbsp;

The World Bank said on Friday it had withdrawn $300 million of funding for a new capital in Andhra Pradesh after the central government dropped support for the project.

The World Bank said on Friday it had withdrawn $300 million of funding for a new capital in Andhra Pradesh after the central government dropped support for the project. The Beijing-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), that was due to finance $200 million of the project, then said it was reviewing its involvement. The construction of the city, known as Amaravati, is the brainchild of the state's former chief minister, N Chandrababu Naidu, who lost power in elections in May. The two banks were due to provide the lion's share of the $715 million cost of critical funding for transport, sanitation and water supply. The World Bank's withdrawal was reported by Indian media on Thursday but the federal government's involvement in that decision has not been previously disclosed, nor had the AIIB's plans for a review. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the project in 2015, but he and Naidu fell out after Naidu's party broke from Modi's ruling coalition last year. "The government of India has withdrawn its request to the World Bank for financing the proposed Amaravati Sustainable Infrastructure and Institutional Development Project," Sudip Mozumder, a New Delhi-based spokesman for the bank, told Reuters. "The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has been informed that the proposed project is no longer under preparation following the government’s decision." AIIB spokeswoman Laurel Ostfield told Reuters in Beijing that it was aware the World Bank has dropped the project from its investment pipeline. "Our investment committee will be discussing our involvement in the project early next week," he said. Dr P Lakshmi Narasimham, the commissioner of the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority, the state body overseeing construction of the city, declined to comment on the implications of the funding withdrawal. The Amaravati project, built on greenfield land on the banks of the sacred Krishna River, has been beset by accusations from activist groups of corruption and environmental damage. The state government has denied the accusations. Andhra Pradesh was split in two in 2014, with the new state of Telangana containing the historic capital, Hyderabad, though both states agreed to share it for 10 years. "For a change, good sense has prevailed upon the bank to withdraw from the disastrous programme," Sreedhar R., the director of the Environics Trust, one of the activist groups that has been critical of the project, said in a statement. "This also vindicates our stance that (AIIB) which is a co-financier in the project, can no longer hide behind the World Bank which it has been doing."

World Bank pulls $300 million of funding for Amaravati after Delhi drops support

A massive blast ripped through the Yima gasification plant&nbsp;in central <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/chinas-debt-tops-300-of-gdp-now-15-of-global-total-institute-of-international-finance-237113">China on Friday</a>, news agency AFP reported citing local media.&nbsp;

The powerful explosion is reported to have shattered windows and doors of buildings in a three-kilometre (1.9-mile) radius.

The blast took place in Sanmenxia city of central China's Henan province. It took place at around at 5:50 pm local time (0950 GMT).

"Many windows and doors within a three-kilometre radius were shattered, and some interior doors were also blown out by the blast," CCTV said on its social media account.

The number of casualties or the cause of the explosion is not yet known; more details are awaited.

This comes just months after over 70 people got killed in an explosion at a chemical plant in eastern Jiangsu province in March.

Hundreds of people were injured in the powerful explosion that blew out windows of nearby residential buildings.

China's worst industrial accidents came in 2015 when chemical blasts in the northern port city of Tianjin killed at over 160 people.

(With inputs from AFP)&nbsp;

A massive blast ripped through the Yima gasification plant in central China on Friday, news agency AFP reported citing local media. The powerful explosion is reported to have shattered windows and doors of buildings in a three-kilometre (1.

A massive blast ripped through the Yima gasification plant in central China on Friday, news agency AFP reported citing local media. The powerful explosion is reported to have shattered windows and doors of buildings in a three-kilometre (1.9-mile) radius. The blast took place in Sanmenxia city of central China's Henan province. It took place at around at 5:50 pm local time (0950 GMT). "Many windows and doors within a three-kilometre radius were shattered, and some interior doors were also blown out by the blast," CCTV said on its social media account. The number of casualties or the cause of the explosion is not yet known; more details are awaited. This comes just months after over 70 people got killed in an explosion at a chemical plant in eastern Jiangsu province in March. Hundreds of people were injured in the powerful explosion that blew out windows of nearby residential buildings. China's worst industrial accidents came in 2015 when chemical blasts in the northern port city of Tianjin killed at over 160 people. (With inputs from AFP)

Massive blast rocks gas plant in central China, casualties unknown: State media

Low-cost airline GoAir has put a new management team in place as it embarks on an aggressive expansion plan to capture the space vacated with the grounding of Jet Airways.

Miranda Mills, a former executive of Airbus and Rolls Royce, has been appointed as the new Chief Operating Officer. She will join in August and will report to Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Jeh Wadia.

Mills bring with her over 25 years of experience in the aerospace industry.

Sanjay Gupta will be the new Chief Financial Officer while Arjun Dasgupta will take over as the Vice President for International Operations, the company said in a statement.

The other appointments include Samir Patel who will head network planning, Harjinder Singh Bhasin (airports), Shabnam Syed (marketing and e-commerce), Graham Parker (revenue management) and Richard Nanton (flight operations).

GoAir operates about 285 flights a day to 24 domestic destinations and has four international services.

On Thursday, it announced five new international services to the Gulf region, two to Bangkok and eight new domestic services.

The carrier with 11.1 per cent domestic market share is expanding its India operations from Hyderabad with eight new flights covering cities such as Cochin, Chennai, Jaipur, Bengaluru, Chandigarh and Patna.

Its new international services are Delhi-Abu Dhabi, Mumbai-Abu Dhabi, Mumbai-Muscat, Delhi-Bangkok, Kannur-Dubai, Mumbai-Bangkok and Kannur-Kuwait.

"We have embarked on an aggressive expansion plan and the new flights are a manifestation of that strategy," said Wadia.

"This is a milestone moment for us to have announced seven new international destinations within a year of commencement of our international operations. The global and regional expansion has been planned to allow quick and convenient connections for passengers and is a reflection of our continued journey towards excellence," he said.

GoAir has 51 aircraft and plans to expand its fleet further. Till date, it has flown over 73.3 million passengers since its inception. The company aims to touch the magic figure of 100 million passengers in the next two years. 
&nbsp;

Low-cost airline GoAir has put a new management team in place as it embarks on an aggressive expansion plan to capture the space vacated with the grounding of Jet Airways.

Low-cost airline GoAir has put a new management team in place as it embarks on an aggressive expansion plan to capture the space vacated with the grounding of Jet Airways. Miranda Mills, a former executive of Airbus and Rolls Royce, has been appointed as the new Chief Operating Officer. She will join in August and will report to Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Jeh Wadia. Mills bring with her over 25 years of experience in the aerospace industry. Sanjay Gupta will be the new Chief Financial Officer while Arjun Dasgupta will take over as the Vice President for International Operations, the company said in a statement. The other appointments include Samir Patel who will head network planning, Harjinder Singh Bhasin (airports), Shabnam Syed (marketing and e-commerce), Graham Parker (revenue management) and Richard Nanton (flight operations). GoAir operates about 285 flights a day to 24 domestic destinations and has four international services. On Thursday, it announced five new international services to the Gulf region, two to Bangkok and eight new domestic services. The carrier with 11.1 per cent domestic market share is expanding its India operations from Hyderabad with eight new flights covering cities such as Cochin, Chennai, Jaipur, Bengaluru, Chandigarh and Patna. Its new international services are Delhi-Abu Dhabi, Mumbai-Abu Dhabi, Mumbai-Muscat, Delhi-Bangkok, Kannur-Dubai, Mumbai-Bangkok and Kannur-Kuwait. "We have embarked on an aggressive expansion plan and the new flights are a manifestation of that strategy," said Wadia. "This is a milestone moment for us to have announced seven new international destinations within a year of commencement of our international operations. The global and regional expansion has been planned to allow quick and convenient connections for passengers and is a reflection of our continued journey towards excellence," he said. GoAir has 51 aircraft and plans to expand its fleet further. Till date, it has flown over 73.3 million passengers since its inception. The company aims to touch the magic figure of 100 million passengers in the next two years.

GoAir appoints new management team to expand operations

The government is in talks with foreign lenders to provide as much as $14.5 billion in credit to millions of its small firms, two officials said, in a sign the country's banking system may not be robust enough to do the job on its own.

The government is in discussions with multiple foreign lenders, including Germany's state-owned development bank KfW Group, the World Bank and some Canadian institutions to extend lines of credit to small enterprises, one of the officials, who did not want to be identified, told Reuters.

KfW's India office confirmed the discussions, though the main focus was on credit lines to support small businesses'&nbsp;solar power generation. The talks were at an early stage, KfW said.

The World Bank's India spokesperson did not reply to an email seeking comment.

The official said the government plans to source up to 1 trillion Indian rupees of loans from foreign institutions because Indian banks were not in a position to provide enough capital for the small business sector, which is seen as critical to job creation.

“We are exploring, we are having discussions with various funding agencies if something can be done (for small and medium firms),” the second official said.

The officials did not provide full details of the discussions they are having with banks, or identify all those they are talking to, but said talks are at a very early stage.

India's micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) ministry is discussing the proposal to pull in foreign banks with the country's ministry of finance, which will make a final call, the second official said.

The push for foreign loans comes on the heels of the Indian government's announcement earlier this month that it plans to borrow about 700 billion rupees by issuing overseas sovereign bonds.

India's 63 million firms in the micro, small and medium firm sector are responsible for more than a quarter of the country's manufacturing and services output, and must be re-energised for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government to kick-start the economy.&nbsp;

Gross domestic product growth fell to a five-year low of 5.8 per cent&nbsp;in the January-March quarter, well below the 8 per cent-plus rates that the government is targeting.

But credit availability for small and medium firms, which also account for about 45 per cent&nbsp;of India's total exports, has worsened due to a liquidity crisis in the country's shadow banking industry that has seen big lenders struggling to remain solvent.&nbsp;

State-owned banks, which dominate the sector, have not been able to drive increased lending because they are burdened with more than $145 billion in bad loans.

This has led to a severe credit squeeze for smaller firms. They pay up to 17 per cent&nbsp;annual interest on loans from banks, while the shadow banks, which are also known as non-banking financial companies (NBFCS) can charge as much as 20 per cent.

Last month, a study by a Reserve Bank of India panel said the overall deficit in credit for the MSME sector is estimated at about 20 trillion rupees to 25 trillion rupees.&nbsp;

But lending to such firms can be risky as some lack proper financial information, such as historical cash flow data, which makes challenging for banks to assess the credit risks.

To mitigate such risks for foreign banks, the loans would be given sovereign guarantees and be routed through Indian government agencies such as the Small Industries Development Bank of India, the first official said. 
&nbsp;

The government is in talks with foreign lenders to provide as much as $14.5 billion in credit to millions of its small firms, two officials said, in a sign the country's banking system may not be robust enough to do the job on its own.

The government is in talks with foreign lenders to provide as much as $14.5 billion in credit to millions of its small firms, two officials said, in a sign the country's banking system may not be robust enough to do the job on its own. The government is in discussions with multiple foreign lenders, including Germany's state-owned development bank KfW Group, the World Bank and some Canadian institutions to extend lines of credit to small enterprises, one of the officials, who did not want to be identified, told Reuters. KfW's India office confirmed the discussions, though the main focus was on credit lines to support small businesses' solar power generation. The talks were at an early stage, KfW said. The World Bank's India spokesperson did not reply to an email seeking comment. The official said the government plans to source up to 1 trillion Indian rupees of loans from foreign institutions because Indian banks were not in a position to provide enough capital for the small business sector, which is seen as critical to job creation. “We are exploring, we are having discussions with various funding agencies if something can be done (for small and medium firms),” the second official said. The officials did not provide full details of the discussions they are having with banks, or identify all those they are talking to, but said talks are at a very early stage. India's micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) ministry is discussing the proposal to pull in foreign banks with the country's ministry of finance, which will make a final call, the second official said. The push for foreign loans comes on the heels of the Indian government's announcement earlier this month that it plans to borrow about 700 billion rupees by issuing overseas sovereign bonds. India's 63 million firms in the micro, small and medium firm sector are responsible for more than a quarter of the country's manufacturing and services output, and must be re-energised for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government to kick-start the economy. Gross domestic product growth fell to a five-year low of 5.8 per cent in the January-March quarter, well below the 8 per cent-plus rates that the government is targeting. But credit availability for small and medium firms, which also account for about 45 per cent of India's total exports, has worsened due to a liquidity crisis in the country's shadow banking industry that has seen big lenders struggling to remain solvent. State-owned banks, which dominate the sector, have not been able to drive increased lending because they are burdened with more than $145 billion in bad loans. This has led to a severe credit squeeze for smaller firms. They pay up to 17 per cent annual interest on loans from banks, while the shadow banks, which are also known as non-banking financial companies (NBFCS) can charge as much as 20 per cent. Last month, a study by a Reserve Bank of India panel said the overall deficit in credit for the MSME sector is estimated at about 20 trillion rupees to 25 trillion rupees. But lending to such firms can be risky as some lack proper financial information, such as historical cash flow data, which makes challenging for banks to assess the credit risks. To mitigate such risks for foreign banks, the loans would be given sovereign guarantees and be routed through Indian government agencies such as the Small Industries Development Bank of India, the first official said.

Government seeks to tap foreign lenders for loans to its small firms: Report

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/sensex-tanks-over-500-points-auto-stock-suffer-the-most-237078">Indian shares fell sharply on Friday afternoon</a> to close at their worst levels since mid-May, as investors fretted over weak corporate earnings and the government's refusal to tweak the surcharge on foreign investors.

The broader NSE Nifty dropped 1.53 per cent to 11,419.25, while the benchmark BSE&nbsp;Sensex&nbsp;closed 1.44 per cent lower at 38,337.01. The indexes posted their second straight weekly loss.

Whatever hopes there were around the finance minister removing the surcharge on foreign investors have been dashed, said Neeraj Dewan, a director with Quantum Securities, New Delhi, adding that sentiment had also been dampened by weak earnings by some lenders.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Thursday that foreign portfolio investors could instead register as companies to avoid a new tax surcharge imposed on individual tax payers as well as trusts in the budget for the fiscal year that began on April 1.

Corporate earnings for the June quarter have also failed to impress investors, with several lenders flagging stress in their books. IT heavyweight Tata Consultancy Services Ltd, which kicked off the results season last week, also reported lower margins.

Financial and auto stocks accounted for most of the losses.

Bajaj Finance Ltd declined 4.2 per cent, while Indiabulls Housing Finance Ltd dropped 3.7 per cent.

RBL Bank Ltd plunged 13.7 per cent to its lowest close since Oct. 29 after the lender highlighted risks to its asset quality, despite reporting a 41 per cent&nbsp;jump in quarterly profit.

Larger rival Yes Bank Ltd reported a weak quarter earlier this week, sparking a sell-off in its stock. Its shares declined 3 per cent&nbsp;in the current session.

Auto maker Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd was the biggest loser in the market, sliding 4.4 per cent to its lowest close since Feb. 2016, while peers Tata Motors Ltd and Eicher Motors Ltd dropped 3.7 per cent-4 per cent, driving the Nifty Auto index 3.3 per cent lower.

Meanwhile, electricity producer NTPC Ltd was the top gainer among the seven stocks in the green on the NSE Nifty, closing 2.2 per cent higher.

The Mumbai market moved inversely to its global peers, which rose as investors bet on a US&nbsp;interest rate cut at the end of July after a speech by a top Federal Reserve official further cemented expectations for one. 
&nbsp;

Indian shares fell sharply on Friday afternoon to close at their worst levels since mid-May, as investors fretted over weak corporate earnings and the government's refusal to tweak the surcharge on foreign investors.

Indian shares fell sharply on Friday afternoon to close at their worst levels since mid-May, as investors fretted over weak corporate earnings and the government's refusal to tweak the surcharge on foreign investors. The broader NSE Nifty dropped 1.53 per cent to 11,419.25, while the benchmark BSE Sensex closed 1.44 per cent lower at 38,337.01. The indexes posted their second straight weekly loss. Whatever hopes there were around the finance minister removing the surcharge on foreign investors have been dashed, said Neeraj Dewan, a director with Quantum Securities, New Delhi, adding that sentiment had also been dampened by weak earnings by some lenders. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Thursday that foreign portfolio investors could instead register as companies to avoid a new tax surcharge imposed on individual tax payers as well as trusts in the budget for the fiscal year that began on April 1. Corporate earnings for the June quarter have also failed to impress investors, with several lenders flagging stress in their books. IT heavyweight Tata Consultancy Services Ltd, which kicked off the results season last week, also reported lower margins. Financial and auto stocks accounted for most of the losses. Bajaj Finance Ltd declined 4.2 per cent, while Indiabulls Housing Finance Ltd dropped 3.7 per cent. RBL Bank Ltd plunged 13.7 per cent to its lowest close since Oct. 29 after the lender highlighted risks to its asset quality, despite reporting a 41 per cent jump in quarterly profit. Larger rival Yes Bank Ltd reported a weak quarter earlier this week, sparking a sell-off in its stock. Its shares declined 3 per cent in the current session. Auto maker Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd was the biggest loser in the market, sliding 4.4 per cent to its lowest close since Feb. 2016, while peers Tata Motors Ltd and Eicher Motors Ltd dropped 3.7 per cent-4 per cent, driving the Nifty Auto index 3.3 per cent lower. Meanwhile, electricity producer NTPC Ltd was the top gainer among the seven stocks in the green on the NSE Nifty, closing 2.2 per cent higher. The Mumbai market moved inversely to its global peers, which rose as investors bet on a US interest rate cut at the end of July after a speech by a top Federal Reserve official further cemented expectations for one.

Nifty, Sensex see heavy selloff, close at worst levels since mid-May

A key gauge of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-people-have-freedom-of-religion-us-should-stop-using-issue-of-religion-to-interfere-china-236881">China</a>'s debt has topped 300 per cent&nbsp;of gross domestic product, according to the Institute of International Finance (IIF), as Beijing steps up support for the cooling economy while trying to contain financial risks.

China's total corporate, household and government debt rose to 303 per cent&nbsp;of GDP in the first quarter of 2019, from 297 per cent&nbsp;in the same period a year earlier, the IIF said in a report this week which highlighted rising debt levels worldwide.

The IIF is a private global financial industry association, based in Washington.

"While authorities' efforts to curb shadow bank lending (particularly to smaller companies) have prompted a cutback in non-financial corporate debt, net borrowing in other sectors has brought China's total debt to over $40 trillion - some 15 per cent&nbsp;of all global debt," the report said.

"Of note, onshore bond issuance suggests a big pickup in borrowing by local governments and banks this year."

China's economic growth slowed to 6.2 per cent&nbsp;in the second quarter, its weakest pace in at least 27 years, as demand at home and abroad faltered in the face of mounting <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pompeo-calls-chinas-treatment-of-uighurs-stain-of-the-century-237014">US&nbsp;trade pressure</a>.

Watch:&nbsp;China's economic growth slowest in 27 years

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/china-economic-growth-slowest-in-27-years-236265/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

To revive investment and protect jobs, Beijing has been encouraging banks to lend more, particularly to struggling smaller firms. It has also unveiled billions of dollars in tax cuts and infrastructure spending.

In the first half of this year, local governments' total net bond issuance reached 2.1765 trillion yuan ($316.5 billion), the finance ministry said on Tuesday.

Chinese officials have said repeatedly said debt risks are manageable overall.

A key gauge of China's debt has topped 300 per cent of gross domestic product, according to the Institute of International Finance (IIF), as Beijing steps up support for the cooling economy while trying to contain financial risks.

A key gauge of China's debt has topped 300 per cent of gross domestic product, according to the Institute of International Finance (IIF), as Beijing steps up support for the cooling economy while trying to contain financial risks. China's total corporate, household and government debt rose to 303 per cent of GDP in the first quarter of 2019, from 297 per cent in the same period a year earlier, the IIF said in a report this week which highlighted rising debt levels worldwide. The IIF is a private global financial industry association, based in Washington. "While authorities' efforts to curb shadow bank lending (particularly to smaller companies) have prompted a cutback in non-financial corporate debt, net borrowing in other sectors has brought China's total debt to over $40 trillion - some 15 per cent of all global debt," the report said. "Of note, onshore bond issuance suggests a big pickup in borrowing by local governments and banks this year." China's economic growth slowed to 6.2 per cent in the second quarter, its weakest pace in at least 27 years, as demand at home and abroad faltered in the face of mounting US trade pressure. Watch: China's economic growth slowest in 27 years To revive investment and protect jobs, Beijing has been encouraging banks to lend more, particularly to struggling smaller firms. It has also unveiled billions of dollars in tax cuts and infrastructure spending. In the first half of this year, local governments' total net bond issuance reached 2.1765 trillion yuan ($316.5 billion), the finance ministry said on Tuesday. Chinese officials have said repeatedly said debt risks are manageable overall.

China's debt tops 300% of GDP, now 15% of global total: Institute of International Finance

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/suspected-arsonist-believed-his-novel-was-stolen-by-japanese-studio-report-237091">The fire that tore through a building</a> in Japan killing 33 people may have spread so fast not only because it was fuelled by petrol but because it was funnelled up a spiral staircase and there were no sprinklers to douse it, experts said on Friday.

A man shouting "die" and screaming accusations of plagiarism sloshed what appeared to be petrol in the three-storey Kyoto Animation building on Thursday before setting it ablaze.

That alone could have been enough to make it impossible for victims to escape, architects said.

But an open, three-storey spiral staircase inside the building created an especially deadly environment for fire.

"The structure of the building was that it had one spiral staircase penetrating through three floors acting as a chimney, the most effective way of starting a fire," said Momoko Higuchi, a Tokyo-based architect.

"Because the fire was with petrol, the effect was like a bomb. Most died of smoke."

Watch:&nbsp;Suspected arson attack in Japan leaves at least 30 dead

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/kyoto-animation-studio-suspected-arson-attack-in-japan-leaves-at-least-30-dead-236927/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The building did not have sprinklers, nor indoor fire hydrants, but it did not have to have them under Japan's fire code, a Kyoto Fire Department official said.

An inspection of the building in October had found no fire safety problems, he said.

Buildings usually fall into different categories depending on size, said Shinichi Sugawara, a professor emeritus at Tokyo University of Science.

While fire shutters are often required around structures like spiral staircases, to enclose then to prevent the spread of fire, Sugawara said he had heard that they were not needed in this case.

Some Japanese media has said that was because of the building's relatively small floor space.

"I personally think that all places like that should have shutters, and all buildings should have sprinklers, regardless of size," he said.

But the most lethal factor may simply have been the petrol.

"Petrol vaporizes quickly and really burns fast, and given the kind of business it was, there may have been a lot of papers and things lying around," Sugawara added.

"Then the smoke would rise up the stairs."

The fire that tore through a building in Japan killing 33 people may have spread so fast not only because it was fuelled by petrol but because it was funnelled up a spiral staircase and there were no sprinklers to douse it, experts said on Friday.

The fire that tore through a building in Japan killing 33 people may have spread so fast not only because it was fuelled by petrol but because it was funnelled up a spiral staircase and there were no sprinklers to douse it, experts said on Friday. A man shouting "die" and screaming accusations of plagiarism sloshed what appeared to be petrol in the three-storey Kyoto Animation building on Thursday before setting it ablaze. That alone could have been enough to make it impossible for victims to escape, architects said. But an open, three-storey spiral staircase inside the building created an especially deadly environment for fire. "The structure of the building was that it had one spiral staircase penetrating through three floors acting as a chimney, the most effective way of starting a fire," said Momoko Higuchi, a Tokyo-based architect. "Because the fire was with petrol, the effect was like a bomb. Most died of smoke." Watch: Suspected arson attack in Japan leaves at least 30 dead The building did not have sprinklers, nor indoor fire hydrants, but it did not have to have them under Japan's fire code, a Kyoto Fire Department official said. An inspection of the building in October had found no fire safety problems, he said. Buildings usually fall into different categories depending on size, said Shinichi Sugawara, a professor emeritus at Tokyo University of Science. While fire shutters are often required around structures like spiral staircases, to enclose then to prevent the spread of fire, Sugawara said he had heard that they were not needed in this case. Some Japanese media has said that was because of the building's relatively small floor space. "I personally think that all places like that should have shutters, and all buildings should have sprinklers, regardless of size," he said. But the most lethal factor may simply have been the petrol. "Petrol vaporizes quickly and really burns fast, and given the kind of business it was, there may have been a lot of papers and things lying around," Sugawara added. "Then the smoke would rise up the stairs."

Spiral stairs, no sprinklers may have contributed to deadly Japan fire

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/bangladesh-floods-worsen-after-breach-death-toll-nears-100-in-india-236883">Rain-swollen rivers in Bangladesh</a> broke through at least four embankments, submerging dozens of villages and doubling the number of people fleeing their homes overnight to 400,000 in one of the worst floods in recent years, officials said on Friday.

Heavy rains and overflowing rivers have swamped 23 districts in northern and northwestern Bangladesh, officials said.

At least 30 people have been killed since the floods began last week.&nbsp;

“The government has opened more than 1,000 temporary shelters but due to deep waters and lack of communications, many people aren`t able to reach them," Raihana Islam, an official in the flood-afflicted district of Bogra, told Reuters.

Islam said scores of people had instead camped on embankments, railway lines and highways, where traffic has come to a standstill.

Aside from concern over crops, authorities are also worried that rising flood waters could take a toll on livestock.

South Asia receives monsoon rains between June and October that often lead to floods later in the season, but the intensity of the deluge in Bangladesh is uncommon.

“The severity of the flood of this year is worse compared to recent years,” Ariful Islam, an executive engineer of Bangladesh Water Development Board, said.

The floods worsened after three embankments on the Brahmaputra river, which flows down from the Himalayas, through northeastern India and into Bangladesh, gave way late on Thursday, said Mohammad Moniruzzaman, an official in the federal agriculture ministry.

"The onrush of water submerged a vast area along with several dozen villages,” he told Reuters.

In the neighbouring Indian state of Assam, floods on the Brahmaputra and its tributaries since last week displaced some 5.8 million people, but the situation has improved with waters receding, a state minister said.

"While some people have started going back to their homes, about 70% continue to remain in makeshift relief camps," Assam Water Resources Minister Keshab Mahanta said.

Water levels were also coming down in the northern Indian state of Bihar, where floods have killed at least 78 people.&nbsp;

"We are now taking measures to prevent outbreak of any disease,” Manish Kumar, the emergency officer at Bihar’s worst flood-hit district of Sitamarhi, told Reuters.

Two people died in Sri Lanka and five were missing due to heavy rain which had forced hundreds to flee their homes across the island nation, the state-run Disaster Management Centre said.

The central districts of Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura were the worst affected. 
&nbsp;

Rain-swollen rivers in Bangladesh broke through at least four embankments, submerging dozens of villages and doubling the number of people fleeing their homes overnight to 400,000 in one of the worst floods in recent years, officials said on Friday.

Rain-swollen rivers in Bangladesh broke through at least four embankments, submerging dozens of villages and doubling the number of people fleeing their homes overnight to 400,000 in one of the worst floods in recent years, officials said on Friday. Heavy rains and overflowing rivers have swamped 23 districts in northern and northwestern Bangladesh, officials said. At least 30 people have been killed since the floods began last week. “The government has opened more than 1,000 temporary shelters but due to deep waters and lack of communications, many people aren`t able to reach them," Raihana Islam, an official in the flood-afflicted district of Bogra, told Reuters. Islam said scores of people had instead camped on embankments, railway lines and highways, where traffic has come to a standstill. Aside from concern over crops, authorities are also worried that rising flood waters could take a toll on livestock. South Asia receives monsoon rains between June and October that often lead to floods later in the season, but the intensity of the deluge in Bangladesh is uncommon. “The severity of the flood of this year is worse compared to recent years,” Ariful Islam, an executive engineer of Bangladesh Water Development Board, said. The floods worsened after three embankments on the Brahmaputra river, which flows down from the Himalayas, through northeastern India and into Bangladesh, gave way late on Thursday, said Mohammad Moniruzzaman, an official in the federal agriculture ministry. "The onrush of water submerged a vast area along with several dozen villages,” he told Reuters. In the neighbouring Indian state of Assam, floods on the Brahmaputra and its tributaries since last week displaced some 5.8 million people, but the situation has improved with waters receding, a state minister said. "While some people have started going back to their homes, about 70% continue to remain in makeshift relief camps," Assam Water Resources Minister Keshab Mahanta said. Water levels were also coming down in the northern Indian state of Bihar, where floods have killed at least 78 people. "We are now taking measures to prevent outbreak of any disease,” Manish Kumar, the emergency officer at Bihar’s worst flood-hit district of Sitamarhi, told Reuters. Two people died in Sri Lanka and five were missing due to heavy rain which had forced hundreds to flee their homes across the island nation, the state-run Disaster Management Centre said. The central districts of Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura were the worst affected.

Bangladesh rivers break their banks, forcing 400,000 to flee homes

Indian warships escorting merchant vessels in the Persian Gulf will remain deployed for the longer term, officials with direct knowledge of the matter said, as tensions between Iran and Western powers rise.

But the two ships, backed by surveillance aircraft, will not be part of a military coalition that the United States is assembling to safeguard the waters off Iran near the Straits of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's oil moves, the two officials said.&nbsp;

Since June following attacks on tankers that the United States blamed on Iran and Iran-aligned fighters, a charged Tehran denies, the Indian navy ships have been escorting Indian-flagged vessels in and out of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

"This is not going to stop, the situation being what it is, we will be there for the foreseeable future," said an official with knowledge of naval deployments.

India's navy, which has traditionally operated closer to home waters, has over the past year or so begun deployments across the Indian Ocean stretching from the Malacca Strait in Southeast Asia to waters off Africa, largely as a response to China's expanding weight across the region.

But the maritime operation in the Gulf is also to heed US&nbsp;President Donald Trump's call that major buyers of Middle East oil protect their own tankers, a second Indian official with knowledge of India's policy on the region said.&nbsp;

The issue figured during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with Trump on the sidelines of a G20 summit in Japan last month and Modi told the US&nbsp;leader he had sent ships to protect Indian-flagged vessels, the official said.&nbsp;

Trump has been putting pressure on European and Asian allies to shoulder security responsibilities and not depend on the United States alone.&nbsp;

Deepening regional tensions, Iran said on Thursday it had seized a foreign tanker smuggling fuel in the Gulf, and the US&nbsp;military commander in the region said the United States would work "aggressively" to ensure free passage of vessels.

Refuelling

On Friday, US&nbsp;officials will speak to members of the Washington diplomatic corps about the new initiative to promote freedom of navigation and maritime security around the Strait of Hormuz, the State Department said.

New Delhi will not be formally joining such a force, in large measure because that would pit it directly against Iran, with which it has had historical political and energy ties. It also has never been part of foreign military task forces, preferring to work under the United Nations flag instead, the first official said.

India is the biggest buyer of Iranian oil after China.

"We will be carrying out the force protection measures on our own for Indian-flagged vessels. So far, nearly two dozen ships have been provided security," the official said.

But there is coordination with the US&nbsp;military with which India has a logistics support agreement, the official said.

Indian naval ships operating in the Gulf have been fuelled by the large fleet of US&nbsp;tankers and such assistance will remain because of the indefinite length of operation, the official said.&nbsp;

There have been no incidents so far involving Indian commercial shipping in the vital waterways.&nbsp;

"I surmise in a conflict we will be neutral. We will be drawn into it only if our shipping is hit," said former Indian naval officer Abhijit Singh, who heads the Maritime Policy Initiative think-tank at the New Delhi-based Observer Research Foundation.

Singh said Indian navy ships had sailed in the Persian Gulf earlier though never exclusively to escort merchant marine.

About 15 Indian ships - destroyers, frigates, corvettes and large patrol vessels - are operating at the entry and exit points of the Indian Ocean, stretching from the Malacca Strait, through which much of China's trade and fuel is routed, to the Gulf of Aden in the west. 
&nbsp;

Indian warships escorting merchant vessels in the Persian Gulf will remain deployed for the longer term, officials with direct knowledge of the matter said, as tensions between Iran and Western powers rise.

Indian warships escorting merchant vessels in the Persian Gulf will remain deployed for the longer term, officials with direct knowledge of the matter said, as tensions between Iran and Western powers rise. But the two ships, backed by surveillance aircraft, will not be part of a military coalition that the United States is assembling to safeguard the waters off Iran near the Straits of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's oil moves, the two officials said. Since June following attacks on tankers that the United States blamed on Iran and Iran-aligned fighters, a charged Tehran denies, the Indian navy ships have been escorting Indian-flagged vessels in and out of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. "This is not going to stop, the situation being what it is, we will be there for the foreseeable future," said an official with knowledge of naval deployments. India's navy, which has traditionally operated closer to home waters, has over the past year or so begun deployments across the Indian Ocean stretching from the Malacca Strait in Southeast Asia to waters off Africa, largely as a response to China's expanding weight across the region. But the maritime operation in the Gulf is also to heed US President Donald Trump's call that major buyers of Middle East oil protect their own tankers, a second Indian official with knowledge of India's policy on the region said. The issue figured during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with Trump on the sidelines of a G20 summit in Japan last month and Modi told the US leader he had sent ships to protect Indian-flagged vessels, the official said. Trump has been putting pressure on European and Asian allies to shoulder security responsibilities and not depend on the United States alone. Deepening regional tensions, Iran said on Thursday it had seized a foreign tanker smuggling fuel in the Gulf, and the US military commander in the region said the United States would work "aggressively" to ensure free passage of vessels. Refuelling On Friday, US officials will speak to members of the Washington diplomatic corps about the new initiative to promote freedom of navigation and maritime security around the Strait of Hormuz, the State Department said. New Delhi will not be formally joining such a force, in large measure because that would pit it directly against Iran, with which it has had historical political and energy ties. It also has never been part of foreign military task forces, preferring to work under the United Nations flag instead, the first official said. India is the biggest buyer of Iranian oil after China. "We will be carrying out the force protection measures on our own for Indian-flagged vessels. So far, nearly two dozen ships have been provided security," the official said. But there is coordination with the US military with which India has a logistics support agreement, the official said. Indian naval ships operating in the Gulf have been fuelled by the large fleet of US tankers and such assistance will remain because of the indefinite length of operation, the official said. There have been no incidents so far involving Indian commercial shipping in the vital waterways. "I surmise in a conflict we will be neutral. We will be drawn into it only if our shipping is hit," said former Indian naval officer Abhijit Singh, who heads the Maritime Policy Initiative think-tank at the New Delhi-based Observer Research Foundation. Singh said Indian navy ships had sailed in the Persian Gulf earlier though never exclusively to escort merchant marine. About 15 Indian ships - destroyers, frigates, corvettes and large patrol vessels - are operating at the entry and exit points of the Indian Ocean, stretching from the Malacca Strait, through which much of China's trade and fuel is routed, to the Gulf of Aden in the west.

Indian warships to stay longer in Persian Gulf, won't join US coalition

It was an anticlimactic Thursday in Karnataka as a combative <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/no-trust-vote-today-as-karnataka-assembly-gets-adjourned-bjp-mlas-call-for-overnight-sit-in-236961">Congress-JD(S) coalition delayed the trust vote</a> by another day. However, after a day of chaos, the Governor has intervened with a letter to Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, asking him to hold the floor test by 1.30pm on Friday.&nbsp;

An earlier letter to the Speaker by Governor Vajubhai Vala to conduct the floor test by the end of Thursday was merely dismissed as a suggestion and not an order. "Though a message as contemplated under Article 175(2) is sent to the Speaker, I am informed that the House is adjourned today i.e, 18-07-2019. Under these circumstances, I require you to prove your majority on the floor of the house on or before 1.30 pm tomorrow" stated the Governor's letter.&nbsp;

The letter will further fuel debate in the house, with arguments also raging over the ambiguity over the constitutional right of a party to issue whip to its members during a trust vote. A whip, when issued, compels members to attend the house on the day of trust vote and vote in favour of the said party.&nbsp;

However, the Supreme Court verdict on Wednesday stated that the rebelling MLAs (whose resignations are yet to be accepted) cannot be compelled to attend the session. "SC says 15 MLAs ought not to be compelled to participate in the ongoing session of the house and an option should be given to them to attend or opt out. The SC order is curtailing my right under the 10th schedule of the constitution... Without even making me a party, SC has given this order" said CLP leader Siddaramaiah. In response, "Let me make it abundantly clear that this office is not restraining you (CLP leader) from acting as per your role... If a member of the house needs a leave of absence from the house, he should write a letter to me. I am at liberty to scrutinise the reason and will decide on whether to grant or not grant leave" said Speaker Ramesh Kumar.&nbsp;

Adding to the woes of the coalition government, another MLA Shrimanth Patil from Kagwad constituency slipped out from the resort where all the Congress MLAs had been holed up since Friday. While Patil sent a suspicious-looking letter without date or letterhead to the Speaker citing ill-health, Congress cried foul and claimed to be in possession of documentary evidence that proves the BJP had whisked him away.&nbsp;

Shortly afterwards pictures of BJP leader Lakshman Savadi escorting MLA Patil to the airport surfaced, adding more ammunition to the high-octane drama inside the Karnataka assembly. "We were all with Shrimanth Patil last night and he had dinner with us. Later, I was informed he is missing from the resort. He was healthy, but look at what the BJP has done" said Dinesh Gundu Rao, KPCC President.&nbsp;

Later in the night, the BJP released a counter video showing Shrimanth Kumar with his son at a hospital in Mumbai. Amidst the arguments and counter-arguments, Ramesh Kumar directed the Home Minister to dig into the truth behind Patil’s sudden disappearance from Bengaluru and submit a report on the same. With Patil gone, the coalition seems to have lost 20 votes that it had in its favour just a month ago.&nbsp;

Even as the pitched battle was on in the house, Ramesh Kumar sought assistance from the Advocate General Udaya Holla on the ambiguity over whip and its impact on the trust vote. The details of the discussion, however, remain undisclosed. As the day was closing with no signs of a trust vote, BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa, who hopes to be the next Chief Minister, thundered that his party leaders will stay put in the house all night as a mark of protest.&nbsp;

"Voting should take place at the earliest. Even the Governor has sent a message that the voting should have been completed by the end of the day. Without respecting the Governor’s words or the Supreme Court’s decision, they are discussing extraneous matters and using it as a delaying tactic. In protest the BJP has decided to go ahead with an overnight dharna inside the Vidhana Soudha" said Suresh Kumar, BJP leader.&nbsp;

In the 224 member house excluding the speaker, the coalition has 116 members. But looking at Thursday’s absentees, the house strength is down to 204, with the coalition having just 99 members, and the BJP sitting comfortably at 107. So then why is the coalition delaying the trust vote when the numbers clearly show the end is near? HD Kumaraswamy’s actions can be perceived in two ways. Firstly, he could be using the delay to pressurise the rebels with the threat of disqualification, hoping it will prompt them to return to the party fold. When an MLA gets disqualified he becomes ineligible to hold a ministership or position in the government until reelected.&nbsp;

Secondly, Congress and JD(S) are seeking to undo the Supreme Court order insulating the rebel MLAs, that does not compel them to attend the session despite a whip. If the Congress can get the Supreme Court to uphold the right of a party to issue whip to all its members(rebel or not), then the Congress &amp; JD(S) get solid grounds to move disqualification proceedings against the dissidents.&nbsp;

Currently, disqualification petitions have been submitted on relatively flimsy grounds of the MLAs skipping CLP meeting. Simply put, if Kumaraswamy knows he is going down, he might want to take those responsible down with him.&nbsp;

It was an anticlimactic Thursday in Karnataka as a combative Congress-JD(S) coalition delayed the trust vote by another day. However, after a day of chaos, the Governor has intervened with a letter to Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, asking him to hold the floor test by 1.

It was an anticlimactic Thursday in Karnataka as a combative Congress-JD(S) coalition delayed the trust vote by another day. However, after a day of chaos, the Governor has intervened with a letter to Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, asking him to hold the floor test by 1.30pm on Friday. An earlier letter to the Speaker by Governor Vajubhai Vala to conduct the floor test by the end of Thursday was merely dismissed as a suggestion and not an order. "Though a message as contemplated under Article 175(2) is sent to the Speaker, I am informed that the House is adjourned today i.e, 18-07-2019. Under these circumstances, I require you to prove your majority on the floor of the house on or before 1.30 pm tomorrow" stated the Governor's letter. The letter will further fuel debate in the house, with arguments also raging over the ambiguity over the constitutional right of a party to issue whip to its members during a trust vote. A whip, when issued, compels members to attend the house on the day of trust vote and vote in favour of the said party. However, the Supreme Court verdict on Wednesday stated that the rebelling MLAs (whose resignations are yet to be accepted) cannot be compelled to attend the session. "SC says 15 MLAs ought not to be compelled to participate in the ongoing session of the house and an option should be given to them to attend or opt out. The SC order is curtailing my right under the 10th schedule of the constitution... Without even making me a party, SC has given this order" said CLP leader Siddaramaiah. In response, "Let me make it abundantly clear that this office is not restraining you (CLP leader) from acting as per your role... If a member of the house needs a leave of absence from the house, he should write a letter to me. I am at liberty to scrutinise the reason and will decide on whether to grant or not grant leave" said Speaker Ramesh Kumar. Adding to the woes of the coalition government, another MLA Shrimanth Patil from Kagwad constituency slipped out from the resort where all the Congress MLAs had been holed up since Friday. While Patil sent a suspicious-looking letter without date or letterhead to the Speaker citing ill-health, Congress cried foul and claimed to be in possession of documentary evidence that proves the BJP had whisked him away. Shortly afterwards pictures of BJP leader Lakshman Savadi escorting MLA Patil to the airport surfaced, adding more ammunition to the high-octane drama inside the Karnataka assembly. "We were all with Shrimanth Patil last night and he had dinner with us. Later, I was informed he is missing from the resort. He was healthy, but look at what the BJP has done" said Dinesh Gundu Rao, KPCC President. Later in the night, the BJP released a counter video showing Shrimanth Kumar with his son at a hospital in Mumbai. Amidst the arguments and counter-arguments, Ramesh Kumar directed the Home Minister to dig into the truth behind Patil’s sudden disappearance from Bengaluru and submit a report on the same. With Patil gone, the coalition seems to have lost 20 votes that it had in its favour just a month ago. Even as the pitched battle was on in the house, Ramesh Kumar sought assistance from the Advocate General Udaya Holla on the ambiguity over whip and its impact on the trust vote. The details of the discussion, however, remain undisclosed. As the day was closing with no signs of a trust vote, BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa, who hopes to be the next Chief Minister, thundered that his party leaders will stay put in the house all night as a mark of protest. "Voting should take place at the earliest. Even the Governor has sent a message that the voting should have been completed by the end of the day. Without respecting the Governor’s words or the Supreme Court’s decision, they are discussing extraneous matters and using it as a delaying tactic. In protest the BJP has decided to go ahead with an overnight dharna inside the Vidhana Soudha" said Suresh Kumar, BJP leader. In the 224 member house excluding the speaker, the coalition has 116 members. But looking at Thursday’s absentees, the house strength is down to 204, with the coalition having just 99 members, and the BJP sitting comfortably at 107. So then why is the coalition delaying the trust vote when the numbers clearly show the end is near? HD Kumaraswamy’s actions can be perceived in two ways. Firstly, he could be using the delay to pressurise the rebels with the threat of disqualification, hoping it will prompt them to return to the party fold. When an MLA gets disqualified he becomes ineligible to hold a ministership or position in the government until reelected. Secondly, Congress and JD(S) are seeking to undo the Supreme Court order insulating the rebel MLAs, that does not compel them to attend the session despite a whip. If the Congress can get the Supreme Court to uphold the right of a party to issue whip to all its members(rebel or not), then the Congress & JD(S) get solid grounds to move disqualification proceedings against the dissidents. Currently, disqualification petitions have been submitted on relatively flimsy grounds of the MLAs skipping CLP meeting. Simply put, if Kumaraswamy knows he is going down, he might want to take those responsible down with him.

Karnataka Governor asks Chief Minister to hold floor test on Friday as Congress-JD(S) delay trust vote 

Life came to a standstill around Tughlakabad-Prahladpur area of the national capital after incessant rains flooded roads in the vicinity on Thursday causing major inconvenience to the commuters.

The heavy downpour also caused water-logging around the underpass Railway Bridge in the said area of South Delhi causing massive traffic snarls.

Commuters were stuck for hours in a traffic jam due to deluged roads and underpasses."Every time heavy rain lashes the national capital, residents here have to bear the brunt as the pedestrians have to wade through knee-deep water in order to cross the road," a resident told ANI.

"My office is just ten minutes away from my place, but today it took me at least one hour to reach till this underpass area, due to severe waterlogged roads and traffic jam. The responsible authorities should immediately do something in this direction as it is majorly affecting the commuters," Ashish, a commuter told ANI.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted continuous rainfall for the city for the next two days with the possibility of minimum and maximum temperatures settling at 24 degree Celsius and 33 degree Celsius respectively.

Traffic snarls were also seen in major areas such as RK Puram, DND Flyover and Mehrauli road, Dhaula Kuan and Najafgarh road among others.

Several commuters took to social media sites to vent their anger about the prevailing situation, including lashing out at cab drivers who were making the most of the situation by inflating their rates.

Rainfall is predicted to continue as the monsoon trough is passing via the National Capital territory.

According to Skymet, a private weather forecasting agency, the Monsoon trough will start shifting northwards after 48 hours, thus leading to an increase in the rainfall activities over northern parts of Punjab, Haryana and Northwest Uttar Pradesh.

According to weathermen, this, however, will lead to a reduction in the Monsoon rains over Delhi and NCR area. The isolated localised spell of rain may occur due to the presence of high humidity in the atmosphere.

Moreover, the convective clouds may develop, thus giving on and off short spells of rain.&nbsp;

Life came to a standstill around Tughlakabad-Prahladpur area of the national capital after incessant rains flooded roads in the vicinity on Thursday causing major inconvenience to the commuters.

Life came to a standstill around Tughlakabad-Prahladpur area of the national capital after incessant rains flooded roads in the vicinity on Thursday causing major inconvenience to the commuters. The heavy downpour also caused water-logging around the underpass Railway Bridge in the said area of South Delhi causing massive traffic snarls. Commuters were stuck for hours in a traffic jam due to deluged roads and underpasses."Every time heavy rain lashes the national capital, residents here have to bear the brunt as the pedestrians have to wade through knee-deep water in order to cross the road," a resident told ANI. "My office is just ten minutes away from my place, but today it took me at least one hour to reach till this underpass area, due to severe waterlogged roads and traffic jam. The responsible authorities should immediately do something in this direction as it is majorly affecting the commuters," Ashish, a commuter told ANI. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted continuous rainfall for the city for the next two days with the possibility of minimum and maximum temperatures settling at 24 degree Celsius and 33 degree Celsius respectively. Traffic snarls were also seen in major areas such as RK Puram, DND Flyover and Mehrauli road, Dhaula Kuan and Najafgarh road among others. Several commuters took to social media sites to vent their anger about the prevailing situation, including lashing out at cab drivers who were making the most of the situation by inflating their rates. Rainfall is predicted to continue as the monsoon trough is passing via the National Capital territory. According to Skymet, a private weather forecasting agency, the Monsoon trough will start shifting northwards after 48 hours, thus leading to an increase in the rainfall activities over northern parts of Punjab, Haryana and Northwest Uttar Pradesh. According to weathermen, this, however, will lead to a reduction in the Monsoon rains over Delhi and NCR area. The isolated localised spell of rain may occur due to the presence of high humidity in the atmosphere. Moreover, the convective clouds may develop, thus giving on and off short spells of rain.

Delhi rains: Water logging paralyses life in national capital

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday that he sees "more consistency than difference" in India's policy towards China despite the change of governments and held that a diplomat, as well as a minister, follows the policy of the government of the day.

His remarks came in Rajya Sabha during Question Hour when senior Congress member and former union minister Ambika Soni sought to know from the diplomat-turned-politician that whether he has changed his point of view on China after becoming a minister.

"Many of us know that there are other contentious issues between the two countries (India-China). We are all familiar with the views of the present Foreign Minister when he was Ambassador to China and subsequently. His personal views helped the government of the day enormously in sorting out many contentious issues. Has he changed his point of view after becoming a minister," she asked.

Responding to it Jaishankar said, "As a Minister or as a diplomat, you follow the policy of the government of the day."He said as far as "our policy" towards China is concerned, "honestly, I see more consistency than difference".

"I think it is India's endeavour to engage China. They are our largest neighbour. Between us, our ability to get along will define the Asian century. So, I have always believed, both as a Diplomat and today as the External Affairs Minister, that India-China relations are critical for both countries," he said.

Jaishankar was replying to questions in the House for the first time after becoming the minister and Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu hailed him.

"Today was the first time that Dr&nbsp;Jaishankar, the External Affairs Minister, got a chance to answer in Parliament and he did it extremely well," Naidu remarked.

Replying to a supplementary whether India and China are going to limit the stockpile of nuclear weapons, the Minister said the issue was being discussed in the Conference on Disarmament.

"Any agreement that India will accede to will have to be non-discriminatory and concerning all the countries with nuclear weapons," he said.

Asked whether government initiated any step to enhance relations between the Armies of two countries on regional and global strategic issues, Jaishankar said India has a number of dialogues with China.

"The Prime Minister engages the President of China at an informal summit. I have a dialogue with my counterpart which takes place every year. At the military level, we have a very, very detailed engagement." "We do discuss both military and strategic issues. In fact, in Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Dialogue we did discuss issues like Iran, JCPOA and issues like the INF treaty. There is a very healthy and a very candid discussion on a range of subjects," he said.

To a question on Brahmaputra river, he said both the countries have a mechanism called "Expert Level Mechanism" which looks at transnational river water issues."

Two rivers are dealt with by them - Brahmaputra and Satluj. We do engage China on river water issues, specifically, on the Brahmaputra. China has constructed dams on the Brahmaputra which they describe as run-of-the-river dams. We monitor these dams very, very carefully.

"We have suggested to the Chinese side that the data that they give us should not only relate to the flood season but to the dry season as well. So, on the entire issue regarding rivers and, specifically, the Brahmaputra, we are in very, very close touch," he said.&nbsp;

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday that he sees "more consistency than difference" in India's policy towards China despite the change of governments and held that a diplomat, as well as a minister, follows the policy of the government of the day.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday that he sees "more consistency than difference" in India's policy towards China despite the change of governments and held that a diplomat, as well as a minister, follows the policy of the government of the day. His remarks came in Rajya Sabha during Question Hour when senior Congress member and former union minister Ambika Soni sought to know from the diplomat-turned-politician that whether he has changed his point of view on China after becoming a minister. "Many of us know that there are other contentious issues between the two countries (India-China). We are all familiar with the views of the present Foreign Minister when he was Ambassador to China and subsequently. His personal views helped the government of the day enormously in sorting out many contentious issues. Has he changed his point of view after becoming a minister," she asked. Responding to it Jaishankar said, "As a Minister or as a diplomat, you follow the policy of the government of the day."He said as far as "our policy" towards China is concerned, "honestly, I see more consistency than difference". "I think it is India's endeavour to engage China. They are our largest neighbour. Between us, our ability to get along will define the Asian century. So, I have always believed, both as a Diplomat and today as the External Affairs Minister, that India-China relations are critical for both countries," he said. Jaishankar was replying to questions in the House for the first time after becoming the minister and Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu hailed him. "Today was the first time that Dr Jaishankar, the External Affairs Minister, got a chance to answer in Parliament and he did it extremely well," Naidu remarked. Replying to a supplementary whether India and China are going to limit the stockpile of nuclear weapons, the Minister said the issue was being discussed in the Conference on Disarmament. "Any agreement that India will accede to will have to be non-discriminatory and concerning all the countries with nuclear weapons," he said. Asked whether government initiated any step to enhance relations between the Armies of two countries on regional and global strategic issues, Jaishankar said India has a number of dialogues with China. "The Prime Minister engages the President of China at an informal summit. I have a dialogue with my counterpart which takes place every year. At the military level, we have a very, very detailed engagement." "We do discuss both military and strategic issues. In fact, in Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Dialogue we did discuss issues like Iran, JCPOA and issues like the INF treaty. There is a very healthy and a very candid discussion on a range of subjects," he said. To a question on Brahmaputra river, he said both the countries have a mechanism called "Expert Level Mechanism" which looks at transnational river water issues." Two rivers are dealt with by them - Brahmaputra and Satluj. We do engage China on river water issues, specifically, on the Brahmaputra. China has constructed dams on the Brahmaputra which they describe as run-of-the-river dams. We monitor these dams very, very carefully. "We have suggested to the Chinese side that the data that they give us should not only relate to the flood season but to the dry season as well. So, on the entire issue regarding rivers and, specifically, the Brahmaputra, we are in very, very close touch," he said.

India's policy towards China consistent through governments: S Jaishankar

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