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Prime Minister Theresa May's government will publish draft legislation in the first week of June that would allow Brexit to proceed if approved by parliament, a Downing Street spokesman announced on Tuesday.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/pakistan/pakistan-media-and-people-scared-of-speaking-against-cpec-us-lawmakers-told-218824">Pakistan media and people scared of speaking against CPEC, US lawmakers told</a>

People and the media in Pakistan are "scared" of speaking against the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as those critical of it are being suppressed, treated as anti-national or branded as terrorists, a former official in the Obama administration has told US lawmakers.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lankan-police-make-arrests-amid-violence-after-easter-attack-218825">Sri Lankan police make arrests in connection to violence after Easter attack</a>

Sri Lankan police arrested 23 people on Tuesday in connection with a spate of attacks on homes and shops, in what's believed to be a reprisal for the Easter bombings that killed more than 250 people.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/juan-guaido-blasts-venezuela-regime-after-security-forces-block-congress-218827">Juan Guaido blasts Venezuela regime after security forces block congress</a>

Juan Guaido accused the Venezuelan government of trying to "gag" congress after security forces prevented opposition lawmakers from entering the National Assembly on Tuesday, two weeks after the opposition leader's failed uprising against President Nicolas Maduro.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sudan-army-rulers-protesters-agree-on-3-year-transition-period-218834">Sudan army rulers, protesters agree on 3-year transition period</a>

Sudanese army rulers&nbsp;and protest leaders Wednesday agreed on a three-year transition period for transferring power to a full civilian administration even as negotiations over a new sovereign ruling body remain unfinished.

&nbsp;

British government to put forward Brexit bill in June Prime Minister Theresa May's government will publish draft legislation in the first week of June that would allow Brexit to proceed if approved by parliament, a Downing Street spokesman announced on Tuesday.

British government to put forward Brexit bill in June Prime Minister Theresa May's government will publish draft legislation in the first week of June that would allow Brexit to proceed if approved by parliament, a Downing Street spokesman announced on Tuesday. Pakistan media and people scared of speaking against CPEC, US lawmakers told People and the media in Pakistan are "scared" of speaking against the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as those critical of it are being suppressed, treated as anti-national or branded as terrorists, a former official in the Obama administration has told US lawmakers. Sri Lankan police make arrests in connection to violence after Easter attack Sri Lankan police arrested 23 people on Tuesday in connection with a spate of attacks on homes and shops, in what's believed to be a reprisal for the Easter bombings that killed more than 250 people. Juan Guaido blasts Venezuela regime after security forces block congress Juan Guaido accused the Venezuelan government of trying to "gag" congress after security forces prevented opposition lawmakers from entering the National Assembly on Tuesday, two weeks after the opposition leader's failed uprising against President Nicolas Maduro. Sudan army rulers, protesters agree on 3-year transition period Sudanese army rulers and protest leaders Wednesday agreed on a three-year transition period for transferring power to a full civilian administration even as negotiations over a new sovereign ruling body remain unfinished.

News brief: Big stories of the day

Indian companies are increasingly eyeing Mongolia's oil and gas sector with first every exhibition on the energy sector with the participation of several companies and an agreement on an India built a Mongolian oil refinery.&nbsp;

Engineers India Ltd (EIL) and Mongolia's Mongol Refinery have signed an agreement on the Project Management Consultancy (PMC) for setting up of the first oil refinery in the eastern province of DornoGobi. The agreement was signed in the presence of Mongolian Minister of Mining Dolgorsürengiin Sumyaabazar and the Ambassador of India to Mongolia MP Singh.

India will help build Mongolia's second oil refinery and has extended a $1 billion Line of Credit to the country for it. The refinery will be built in the city of Sainshand in Dornogobi province and will have a capacity of 1.5 MMTPA which will be implemented with Exim Bank funding.

During the visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 2015 visit to the country, which was the first ever visit of an Indian PM to the landlocked country, $1 billion credit line was announced which is being used to build the first ever oil refinery for the country. Last year Mongolian PM Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh and Home Minister Rajnath Singh took part in the groundbreaking ceremony for that Oil Refinery. It is expected to be completed by mid-2023.&nbsp;

In a bid to increase engagement between oil and gas companies to both countries, EIL along with Mongol Refinery and Ministry of Mining of Mongolia earlier this week organised an exhibition in Mongolia and saw the participation of Mongolian Foreign Minister Oyun-Erdene, along with Mongolian Minister of Mining Dolgorsürengiin Sumyaabazar and head of Cabinet Secretariat.

G Ganbold, Mongolia's ambassador to India told WION, " Around 35 Indian companies participated in the exhibition. Mongolia government and business community showed interest in working with Indian companies. There will be second expo in August in which Indian pharma companies will participate."

Mongolia currently exports crude oil to China and imports petroleum products from Russia. India led refineries will help Ulaanbaatar reduce its dependency on Moscow and Beijing. According to the Petroleum Authority of Mongolia, the country has reserves of 2.3 billion barrels of oil.

There has been a number of high-level visits from India to Mongolia including a visit by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Home minister Rajnath Singh to the country.&nbsp;

While Mongolia sees India as its third neighbour and a spiritual neighbour and New Delhi wants to realise the huge potential of bilateral relations with the country. India was the first country to establish diplomatic relations with Mongolia after it came out of Communist Bloc.

Indian companies are increasingly eyeing Mongolia's oil and gas sector with first every exhibition on the energy sector with the participation of several companies and an agreement on an India built a Mongolian oil refinery.

Indian companies are increasingly eyeing Mongolia's oil and gas sector with first every exhibition on the energy sector with the participation of several companies and an agreement on an India built a Mongolian oil refinery. Engineers India Ltd (EIL) and Mongolia's Mongol Refinery have signed an agreement on the Project Management Consultancy (PMC) for setting up of the first oil refinery in the eastern province of DornoGobi. The agreement was signed in the presence of Mongolian Minister of Mining Dolgorsürengiin Sumyaabazar and the Ambassador of India to Mongolia MP Singh. India will help build Mongolia's second oil refinery and has extended a $1 billion Line of Credit to the country for it. The refinery will be built in the city of Sainshand in Dornogobi province and will have a capacity of 1.5 MMTPA which will be implemented with Exim Bank funding. During the visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 2015 visit to the country, which was the first ever visit of an Indian PM to the landlocked country, $1 billion credit line was announced which is being used to build the first ever oil refinery for the country. Last year Mongolian PM Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh and Home Minister Rajnath Singh took part in the groundbreaking ceremony for that Oil Refinery. It is expected to be completed by mid-2023. In a bid to increase engagement between oil and gas companies to both countries, EIL along with Mongol Refinery and Ministry of Mining of Mongolia earlier this week organised an exhibition in Mongolia and saw the participation of Mongolian Foreign Minister Oyun-Erdene, along with Mongolian Minister of Mining Dolgorsürengiin Sumyaabazar and head of Cabinet Secretariat. G Ganbold, Mongolia's ambassador to India told WION, " Around 35 Indian companies participated in the exhibition. Mongolia government and business community showed interest in working with Indian companies. There will be second expo in August in which Indian pharma companies will participate." Mongolia currently exports crude oil to China and imports petroleum products from Russia. India led refineries will help Ulaanbaatar reduce its dependency on Moscow and Beijing. According to the Petroleum Authority of Mongolia, the country has reserves of 2.3 billion barrels of oil. There has been a number of high-level visits from India to Mongolia including a visit by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Home minister Rajnath Singh to the country. While Mongolia sees India as its third neighbour and a spiritual neighbour and New Delhi wants to realise the huge potential of bilateral relations with the country. India was the first country to establish diplomatic relations with Mongolia after it came out of Communist Bloc.

Indian companies eyes Mongolia's oil and gas sector

The year-long trade war with China is pushing American companies to source more from GSP countries such as India, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia and Turkey, a latest report said Tuesday warning that cancelling GSP benefits to India would only help China.

The Coalition for GSP, a group of American companies and trade associations, in a report on Tuesday said the latest official trade figures shows that the Generalised System of Preference or GSP saved American companies USD 105 million in March, an increase of USD 28 million (36 per cent) from March, 2018 and the second-highest level on record.

In the first quarter of 2019, GSP saved American companies USD 285 million. That is USD 63 million more than the first quarter of 2018 -- itself a record-shattering year.

GSP is the largest and oldest US trade preference programme and is designed to promote economic development by allowing duty-free entry for thousands of products from designated beneficiary countries.

On March 4, President Donald Trump announced that the US intends to terminate India's designations as a beneficiary developing country under the GSP programme. The 60-day notice period ended on May 3.

According to the Washington DC-based Coalition for GSP, products hit by Section 301 tariffs when imported from China account for 90 per cent of increased GSP imports in 2019.

Overall, GSP imports rose by about USD 760 million, with USD 672 million coming on products on China Section 301 lists. GSP imports of products on those Section 301 lists increased 19 per cent while GSP imports of other products increased by just five per cent.

Noting that imports from China, subject to new tariffs, are down significantly, the coalition said countries from which GSP imports of products on China Section 301 lists have increased the most in the first quarter of 2019.

According to the report, India benefits the most from this.

"For India, 97 per cent of increased 2019 GSP imports are on the China Section 301 lists. GSP imports on Section 301 lists increased by USD 193 million (18 per cent), while imports of everything else increased by just USD seven million (two per cent)," it said.

Similarly, for Turkey, 97 per cent of increased 2019 GSP imports are on the China Section 301 lists. For the Philippines, GSP imports of products on China 301 lists growth helped offset declining GSP imports of all other products. South Africa, Brazil and Egypt saw similar increases in Section 301-affected products offset losses of other products, it said.

GSP imports from Indonesia grew only twice as much on affected products, the report said. Yet, even here, growth rates are faster for products on the Section 301 lists: GSP imports of products affected by new China tariffs grew by 22 per cent, while imports of other products grew by 15 per cent.

"Not only would terminating GSP for India, Turkey or others under review (Thailand, Indonesia) hurt many American companies and workers that have relied on GSP for years, it would also reduce viable sourcing options for companies looking to buy less from China in response to Section 301 tariffs -- thereby undermining the president's own objectives," the coalition said.

In another report, the coalition said cancelling GSP for India would benefit China.

Referring to the results of a recent survey, the coalition said 30 per cent of companies would look to source more from China if GSP benefits went away.

That was about the same share of companies reporting they would source more from any of the approximately 120 remaining GSP countries and much higher than those would source more from non-China, non-GSP countries (NAFTA, EU, Japan etc.).

While President Donald Trump has tweeted about raising tariffs on China to create additional negotiating leverage, terminating GSP for India would&nbsp; 
undermine it, it said.

For some products such as luggage, simultaneously ending GSP for India and raising List 3 tariffs from 10 per cent to 25 per cent would make Chinese products more competitive compared to India, not less, it said.

That is because there is a significant overlap between products imported from India under GSP and Chinese imports targeted by the Administration for Section 301 tariffs, it said.

Over 75 per cent of India's GSP imports are included on one of the Section 301 lists.

Given the head-to-head competition between India and China on many of these products, ending GSP for India would have the same effect as lowering tariffs on China, the report said.

"And we can see that the Administration's tariffs on China do seem to have impacted both imports from India under GSP and from China so far in 2019," it said.

In the first two months of 2019 (most recent data available), GSP imports from India are up significantly for products on the Section 301 lists, but down slightly for products where China does not face new tariffs, according to the coalition.&nbsp;

It is the opposite for China: imports are down significantly for products facing new tariffs, and up slightly for those that do not, it said.&nbsp;

"New tariffs on China presumably would amplify these trends -- but new tariffs on India would mitigate them. That puts the Administration at a crossroads: is increased leverage on China or India a higher priority? Because the data show you cannot raise tariffs on one without helping the other," the coalition said in its report.&nbsp;

The year-long trade war with China is pushing American companies to source more from GSP countries such as India, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia and Turkey, a latest report said Tuesday warning that cancelling GSP benefits to India would only help China.

The year-long trade war with China is pushing American companies to source more from GSP countries such as India, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia and Turkey, a latest report said Tuesday warning that cancelling GSP benefits to India would only help China. The Coalition for GSP, a group of American companies and trade associations, in a report on Tuesday said the latest official trade figures shows that the Generalised System of Preference or GSP saved American companies USD 105 million in March, an increase of USD 28 million (36 per cent) from March, 2018 and the second-highest level on record. In the first quarter of 2019, GSP saved American companies USD 285 million. That is USD 63 million more than the first quarter of 2018 -- itself a record-shattering year. GSP is the largest and oldest US trade preference programme and is designed to promote economic development by allowing duty-free entry for thousands of products from designated beneficiary countries. On March 4, President Donald Trump announced that the US intends to terminate India's designations as a beneficiary developing country under the GSP programme. The 60-day notice period ended on May 3. According to the Washington DC-based Coalition for GSP, products hit by Section 301 tariffs when imported from China account for 90 per cent of increased GSP imports in 2019. Overall, GSP imports rose by about USD 760 million, with USD 672 million coming on products on China Section 301 lists. GSP imports of products on those Section 301 lists increased 19 per cent while GSP imports of other products increased by just five per cent. Noting that imports from China, subject to new tariffs, are down significantly, the coalition said countries from which GSP imports of products on China Section 301 lists have increased the most in the first quarter of 2019. According to the report, India benefits the most from this. "For India, 97 per cent of increased 2019 GSP imports are on the China Section 301 lists. GSP imports on Section 301 lists increased by USD 193 million (18 per cent), while imports of everything else increased by just USD seven million (two per cent)," it said. Similarly, for Turkey, 97 per cent of increased 2019 GSP imports are on the China Section 301 lists. For the Philippines, GSP imports of products on China 301 lists growth helped offset declining GSP imports of all other products. South Africa, Brazil and Egypt saw similar increases in Section 301-affected products offset losses of other products, it said. GSP imports from Indonesia grew only twice as much on affected products, the report said. Yet, even here, growth rates are faster for products on the Section 301 lists: GSP imports of products affected by new China tariffs grew by 22 per cent, while imports of other products grew by 15 per cent. "Not only would terminating GSP for India, Turkey or others under review (Thailand, Indonesia) hurt many American companies and workers that have relied on GSP for years, it would also reduce viable sourcing options for companies looking to buy less from China in response to Section 301 tariffs -- thereby undermining the president's own objectives," the coalition said. In another report, the coalition said cancelling GSP for India would benefit China. Referring to the results of a recent survey, the coalition said 30 per cent of companies would look to source more from China if GSP benefits went away. That was about the same share of companies reporting they would source more from any of the approximately 120 remaining GSP countries and much higher than those would source more from non-China, non-GSP countries (NAFTA, EU, Japan etc.). While President Donald Trump has tweeted about raising tariffs on China to create additional negotiating leverage, terminating GSP for India would undermine it, it said. For some products such as luggage, simultaneously ending GSP for India and raising List 3 tariffs from 10 per cent to 25 per cent would make Chinese products more competitive compared to India, not less, it said. That is because there is a significant overlap between products imported from India under GSP and Chinese imports targeted by the Administration for Section 301 tariffs, it said. Over 75 per cent of India's GSP imports are included on one of the Section 301 lists. Given the head-to-head competition between India and China on many of these products, ending GSP for India would have the same effect as lowering tariffs on China, the report said. "And we can see that the Administration's tariffs on China do seem to have impacted both imports from India under GSP and from China so far in 2019," it said. In the first two months of 2019 (most recent data available), GSP imports from India are up significantly for products on the Section 301 lists, but down slightly for products where China does not face new tariffs, according to the coalition. It is the opposite for China: imports are down significantly for products facing new tariffs, and up slightly for those that do not, it said. "New tariffs on China presumably would amplify these trends -- but new tariffs on India would mitigate them. That puts the Administration at a crossroads: is increased leverage on China or India a higher priority? Because the data show you cannot raise tariffs on one without helping the other," the coalition said in its report.

GSP countries such as India, Thailand to benefit from trade war with China: Report

Election Commission(EC) today banned <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/mamata-banerjee-government-out-to-destroy-everything-in-bengal-pm-modi-219017">campaigning in nine West Bengal constituencies</a>&nbsp;in the Lok Sabha elections from 10 pm on Thursday night.

EC said the decision to cut short the campaign in West Bengal was taken after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/lok-sabha-polls-2019-bjp-tmc-row-heats-up-in-west-bengal-as-amit-shah-pm-modi-attack-mamata-219015">violence in the last 24 hours</a>.&nbsp;No election campaigning will be held in Dum Dum, Barasat, Basirhat, Jaynagar, Mathurapur, Jadavpur, Diamond Harbour, South and North Kolkata parliamentary constituencies from 10 pm tomorrow till the conclusion of polls, the EC declared.

Trinamool Congress workers and BJP workers were involved in clashes during a roadshow in BJP president Amit Shah's roadshow on Tuesday. BJP president Amit blamed the Trinamool Congress behind violence in West Bengal even as the TMC hit back at the BJP.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee attacked the BJP saying: "What does Amit Shah think of himself? Is he above everything? Is he God that no one can protest against him?"&nbsp;

Clashes erupted in Iswarchandra Vidyasagar college as the institution was ransacked.&nbsp;

"The Commission is deeply anguished at the vandalism done to the statue of Vidyasagar. It is hoped that the vandals are traced by the state administration," the election body said.

"This is probably the first time that ECI has invoked Article 324 in this manner but it may not be last in cases of repetition of lawlessness and violence which vitiate the conduct of polls in a peaceful manner," it said. 
&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/bjp-tmc-battle-out-on-the-streets-mamata-banerjee-protests-in-kolkata-219002/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

BJP president Amit Shah said BJP workers weren't behind the vandalisation of a bust of educationist and social reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar.

The countdown of chief minister Mamata Banerjee's days in power will begin on May 23, when general election results will be declared, Shah warned.&nbsp;

At a press conference a day after the violence, Shah said it would have been difficult for him to survive the attack on his convoy if the CRPF personnel weren't present.

"I want to tell the Election Commission that it has become a mute spectator to attempts to rig polls in West Bengal. It should immediately intervene. History-sheeters...Are arrested during elections across the country. In Bengal, they are released after furnishing a bond. What is this double standards from the EC? Why is it silent," he said.

Shah said election observers in their reports have said polls in the state cannot be conducted fairly till such miscreants are arrested but the EC did not act. It raises a lot of questions on the election watchdog's impartiality, he said.

Election Commission(EC) today banned campaigning in nine West Bengal constituencies in the Lok Sabha elections from 10 pm on Thursday night. EC said the decision to cut short the campaign in West Bengal was taken after violence in the last 24 hours.

Election Commission(EC) today banned campaigning in nine West Bengal constituencies in the Lok Sabha elections from 10 pm on Thursday night. EC said the decision to cut short the campaign in West Bengal was taken after violence in the last 24 hours. No election campaigning will be held in Dum Dum, Barasat, Basirhat, Jaynagar, Mathurapur, Jadavpur, Diamond Harbour, South and North Kolkata parliamentary constituencies from 10 pm tomorrow till the conclusion of polls, the EC declared. Trinamool Congress workers and BJP workers were involved in clashes during a roadshow in BJP president Amit Shah's roadshow on Tuesday. BJP president Amit blamed the Trinamool Congress behind violence in West Bengal even as the TMC hit back at the BJP. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee attacked the BJP saying: "What does Amit Shah think of himself? Is he above everything? Is he God that no one can protest against him?" Clashes erupted in Iswarchandra Vidyasagar college as the institution was ransacked. "The Commission is deeply anguished at the vandalism done to the statue of Vidyasagar. It is hoped that the vandals are traced by the state administration," the election body said. "This is probably the first time that ECI has invoked Article 324 in this manner but it may not be last in cases of repetition of lawlessness and violence which vitiate the conduct of polls in a peaceful manner," it said. BJP president Amit Shah said BJP workers weren't behind the vandalisation of a bust of educationist and social reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar. The countdown of chief minister Mamata Banerjee's days in power will begin on May 23, when general election results will be declared, Shah warned. At a press conference a day after the violence, Shah said it would have been difficult for him to survive the attack on his convoy if the CRPF personnel weren't present. "I want to tell the Election Commission that it has become a mute spectator to attempts to rig polls in West Bengal. It should immediately intervene. History-sheeters...Are arrested during elections across the country. In Bengal, they are released after furnishing a bond. What is this double standards from the EC? Why is it silent," he said. Shah said election observers in their reports have said polls in the state cannot be conducted fairly till such miscreants are arrested but the EC did not act. It raises a lot of questions on the election watchdog's impartiality, he said.

Lok Sabha polls 2019: Election Commission bans campaigning in nine West Bengal constituencies due to violence

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj Tuesday held "constructive" talks with her Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif and conveyed to him that India will take a decision on import of Iranian oil after the Lok Sabha polls, keeping in mind its commercial, economic and energy security interests.

The talks between the two foreign ministers came 12 days after the US ended six-month-long exemptions from sanctions to India and seven other countries to buy oil from Iran. &nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Relations spanning millennia 
 
EAM <a href="https://twitter.com/SushmaSwaraj?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SushmaSwaraj</a> and Iranian Foreign Minister <a href="https://twitter.com/JZarif?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JZarif</a> held constructive discussions on all bilateral issues of mutual interest. Good exchange of views on the evolving regional situation, including Afghanistan. <a href="https://t.co/bF04by3HLj">pic.twitter.com/bF04by3HLj</a>
— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia/status/1128223564182634496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 14, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Zarif's visit here came amid escalating face-off between Iran and the United States on Tehran's nuclear programme.&nbsp;

In a tweet, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar described the discussions between Swaraj and Zarif as "constructive". &nbsp; &nbsp; 
"EAM @SushmaSwaraj and Iranian Foreign Minister @JZarif held constructive discussions on all bilateral issues of mutual interest. Good exchange of views on the evolving regional situation, including Afghanistan," he said.

Official sources said Swaraj reiterated the position that a decision will be taken after the elections based on commercial considerations, energy security and economic interests.

In the meeting, Zarif recalled the steps announced by President Hassan Rouhani on May 8 including decisions linked to the export of enriched uranium and heavy water, the sources said.

The Iranian Foreign Minister also mentioned that 60 days timeline has been given to EU-3 and other parties to Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA for restoring Iran's oil and banking channels, the sources said.

In a televised address, Rouhani had on May 8 said that Iran would suspend some parts of its "commitments" to the JCPOA, but will not fully withdraw from it.

In the meeting with Zarif, the Indian side reiterated its position on JCPOA and said New Delhi would like all parties to continue to fulfill their commitments and that they should engage constructively to the issues peacefully, the sources said.

They said the visit took place at Zarif's own initiative to brief India on the Iranian approach to the recent developments in the region, including on JCPOA, and to review bilateral cooperation.&nbsp;

"This was part of their consultation with other countries in the region including Russia, China, Turkmenistan, and Iraq over the last few days," said a source.

In the meeting, Swaraj and Zarif shared their views on the situation in Afghanistan and agreed to maintain close coordination on the evolving situation, the sources said.

They said both sides expressed satisfaction at the operationalisation of the interim contract on the Chabahar port between India Ports Global Limited (IPGL) and Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO).

The US sanctions on Iran is unlikely to impact the Chabahar port project.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj Tuesday held "constructive" talks with her Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif and conveyed to him that India will take a decision on import of Iranian oil after the Lok Sabha polls, keeping in mind its commercial, economic and energy security interests.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj Tuesday held "constructive" talks with her Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif and conveyed to him that India will take a decision on import of Iranian oil after the Lok Sabha polls, keeping in mind its commercial, economic and energy security interests. The talks between the two foreign ministers came 12 days after the US ended six-month-long exemptions from sanctions to India and seven other countries to buy oil from Iran. Relations spanning millennia EAM @SushmaSwaraj and Iranian Foreign Minister @JZarif held constructive discussions on all bilateral issues of mutual interest. Good exchange of views on the evolving regional situation, including Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/bF04by3HLj — Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) May 14, 2019 × Zarif's visit here came amid escalating face-off between Iran and the United States on Tehran's nuclear programme. In a tweet, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar described the discussions between Swaraj and Zarif as "constructive". "EAM @SushmaSwaraj and Iranian Foreign Minister @JZarif held constructive discussions on all bilateral issues of mutual interest. Good exchange of views on the evolving regional situation, including Afghanistan," he said. Official sources said Swaraj reiterated the position that a decision will be taken after the elections based on commercial considerations, energy security and economic interests. In the meeting, Zarif recalled the steps announced by President Hassan Rouhani on May 8 including decisions linked to the export of enriched uranium and heavy water, the sources said. The Iranian Foreign Minister also mentioned that 60 days timeline has been given to EU-3 and other parties to Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA for restoring Iran's oil and banking channels, the sources said. In a televised address, Rouhani had on May 8 said that Iran would suspend some parts of its "commitments" to the JCPOA, but will not fully withdraw from it. In the meeting with Zarif, the Indian side reiterated its position on JCPOA and said New Delhi would like all parties to continue to fulfill their commitments and that they should engage constructively to the issues peacefully, the sources said. They said the visit took place at Zarif's own initiative to brief India on the Iranian approach to the recent developments in the region, including on JCPOA, and to review bilateral cooperation. "This was part of their consultation with other countries in the region including Russia, China, Turkmenistan, and Iraq over the last few days," said a source. In the meeting, Swaraj and Zarif shared their views on the situation in Afghanistan and agreed to maintain close coordination on the evolving situation, the sources said. They said both sides expressed satisfaction at the operationalisation of the interim contract on the Chabahar port between India Ports Global Limited (IPGL) and Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO). The US sanctions on Iran is unlikely to impact the Chabahar port project.

India will take a decision on import of Iranian oil after polls: Swaraj 

The Meteorological centre on Wednesday said thunderstorm and lightning are likely to occur in parts of <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/cyclone-fani-cm-naveen-patnaik-writes-to-pm-modi-seeks-centres-help-218444&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwi31tvC253iAhUFiXAKHblgDSQQFjAGegQIBhAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw3BHqKPQjs8JE3RyOovMA7p">Odisha </a>today.

The alert comes days after <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/odisha-pegs-cyclone-fani-loss-at-rs-12000-crore-seeks-relaxation-of-norms-218998&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwi31tvC253iAhUFiXAKHblgDSQQFjAAegQIABAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw3u341gr4spITOS3Ms3oYWR">Cyclone Fani wreaked havoc in the state</a>, claiming the lives of as many as <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/death-toll-from-cyclone-fani-rises-to-64-after-odisha-confirms-fresh-casualties-218229&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwi31tvC253iAhUFiXAKHblgDSQQFjAEegQIARAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw3g4BVrU5lipJkIqjxNQBOW">64 people.</a>

Odisha's Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) said, "Dangerous thunderstorm and lightning alert for Betanati and Barsahi blocks of Mayurbhanj district and Remuna, Nilagiri and Baleswar blocks of Baleswar district today."

The official also said heavy thunderstorm and lightning is likely in areas such as Thakurmunda, Kaptipada and Hatadihi blocks of Mayurbhanj district, Anandapur and Ghasipura blocks of Keonjhar district, Khaira block of Baleswar district, Bonth and Bhadrak blocks of Bhadrak district.

Meanwhile, Bhubaneswar`s Meteorological Centre said, "Moderate thunderstorm or lightning with light rainfall and gusty wind speed reaching 30 to 40 kmph likely to occur at one or two places over the districts of Anugul, Dhenkanal, Cuttack and Balangir between 3-3.45 pm&nbsp;and 3-6.45 pm.

"Fani made landfall in Odisha on May 3, with Puri recording the maximum number of casualties (39), according to official estimates released by the Odisha government on Saturday.

According to government data, livestock casualties are over 34 lakhs and over one crore sixty-five lakh people were adversely affected by 'Fani'&nbsp;in the state.

The Meteorological centre on Wednesday said thunderstorm and lightning are likely to occur in parts of Odisha today. The alert comes days after Cyclone Fani wreaked havoc in the state, claiming the lives of as many as 64 people.

The Meteorological centre on Wednesday said thunderstorm and lightning are likely to occur in parts of Odisha today. The alert comes days after Cyclone Fani wreaked havoc in the state, claiming the lives of as many as 64 people. Odisha's Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) said, "Dangerous thunderstorm and lightning alert for Betanati and Barsahi blocks of Mayurbhanj district and Remuna, Nilagiri and Baleswar blocks of Baleswar district today." The official also said heavy thunderstorm and lightning is likely in areas such as Thakurmunda, Kaptipada and Hatadihi blocks of Mayurbhanj district, Anandapur and Ghasipura blocks of Keonjhar district, Khaira block of Baleswar district, Bonth and Bhadrak blocks of Bhadrak district. Meanwhile, Bhubaneswar`s Meteorological Centre said, "Moderate thunderstorm or lightning with light rainfall and gusty wind speed reaching 30 to 40 kmph likely to occur at one or two places over the districts of Anugul, Dhenkanal, Cuttack and Balangir between 3-3.45 pm and 3-6.45 pm. "Fani made landfall in Odisha on May 3, with Puri recording the maximum number of casualties (39), according to official estimates released by the Odisha government on Saturday. According to government data, livestock casualties are over 34 lakhs and over one crore sixty-five lakh people were adversely affected by 'Fani' in the state.

Thunderstorm, lightning alert issued for parts of Odisha

Amid continued violence in West Bengal in the Lok Sabha elections, BJP president <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/tmc-govt-undemocratic-nationalist-govt-will-rule-west-bengal-after-may-23-says-bjps-yogi-adityanath-218951">Amit Shah's roadshow at Calcutta University</a> on May 14th caught everyone's attention. Amit Shah in a press conference today alleged that it would have been impossible for him to come out of the roadshow alive if the security forces hadn't shielded him.

Despite the violence, the BJP president continued the roadshow for one and a half hours on the streets of West Bengal. Meanwhile, chief minister Mamata Banerjee and PM Modi have been having heated exchanges in the poll season.

Shah's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/tmc-is-responsible-for-violence-in-west-bengal-during-elections-says-amit-shah-218876">roadshow in Kolkata was attacked</a> on Tuesday after Banerjee had asserted that TMC will take revenge against BJP, PM Modi claimed at a rally.

"Didi's (Mamata) goons carrying guns and bombs are bent upon destruction ... her government is out to destroy everything in the state. People's conviction and courage will evict the torturous rule", the Indian prime minister told a poll rally at Taki on the Indo-Bangla border in North 24 Parganas district.

"Didi is frightened by the rise of BJP in West Bengal. The people of the state had given respect to her&nbsp;by making her the chief minister. But power-drunk Mamata Banerjee is throttling democracy", PM Modi said.

However, TMC’s Derek O’Brien hit out at&nbsp;Shah claiming he&nbsp;had hired goons.

Derek O’Brien attacked the BJP president saying: “It is the saddest press conference that we have held in 21 years. President of BJP hired goons from outside Bengal yesterday. What happened yesterday hurts ethos of Bengal, they have hurt the Bengali sentiments by destroying the statue of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, a Bengali polymath from the Indian subcontinent, and a key figure of the Bengal Renaissance.”

Parts of the city lurched into a flurry of violence as Shah's convoy was attacked with stones allegedly by&nbsp;TMC supporters from inside the hostel of Vidyasagar College, triggering a clash between supporters of the two parties.

Both sides put out videos to push&nbsp;their point of view, TMC videos showed violence being triggered by BJP cadres, on the other hand, BJP president also presented pictures of the police beating BJP participants at the roadshow. &nbsp;

As the political tit-for-tat battle played out in the open, O’Brien alleged that central forces who have been sent on the election duty have been supporting the BJP polling agents at the booths. &nbsp;

West Bengal is a key state in the present Lok Sabha elections with 42 seats on offer. BJP won just two seats here in the last elections in 2014. Early trends suggest BJP may lose 50 per cent seats in Uttar Pradesh which is being led by chief minister Adityanath.

The BJP is, therefore, eyeing a major chunk in West Bengal with at least 20 seats to fill the void and make up the deficit with results due to be announced on May 23rd after the seventh phase of polls on May 19th.

Amid continued violence in West Bengal in the Lok Sabha elections, BJP president Amit Shah's roadshow at Calcutta University on May 14th caught everyone's attention.

Amid continued violence in West Bengal in the Lok Sabha elections, BJP president Amit Shah's roadshow at Calcutta University on May 14th caught everyone's attention. Amit Shah in a press conference today alleged that it would have been impossible for him to come out of the roadshow alive if the security forces hadn't shielded him. Despite the violence, the BJP president continued the roadshow for one and a half hours on the streets of West Bengal. Meanwhile, chief minister Mamata Banerjee and PM Modi have been having heated exchanges in the poll season. Shah's roadshow in Kolkata was attacked on Tuesday after Banerjee had asserted that TMC will take revenge against BJP, PM Modi claimed at a rally. "Didi's (Mamata) goons carrying guns and bombs are bent upon destruction ... her government is out to destroy everything in the state. People's conviction and courage will evict the torturous rule", the Indian prime minister told a poll rally at Taki on the Indo-Bangla border in North 24 Parganas district. "Didi is frightened by the rise of BJP in West Bengal. The people of the state had given respect to her by making her the chief minister. But power-drunk Mamata Banerjee is throttling democracy", PM Modi said. However, TMC’s Derek O’Brien hit out at Shah claiming he had hired goons. Derek O’Brien attacked the BJP president saying: “It is the saddest press conference that we have held in 21 years. President of BJP hired goons from outside Bengal yesterday. What happened yesterday hurts ethos of Bengal, they have hurt the Bengali sentiments by destroying the statue of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, a Bengali polymath from the Indian subcontinent, and a key figure of the Bengal Renaissance.” Parts of the city lurched into a flurry of violence as Shah's convoy was attacked with stones allegedly by TMC supporters from inside the hostel of Vidyasagar College, triggering a clash between supporters of the two parties. Both sides put out videos to push their point of view, TMC videos showed violence being triggered by BJP cadres, on the other hand, BJP president also presented pictures of the police beating BJP participants at the roadshow. As the political tit-for-tat battle played out in the open, O’Brien alleged that central forces who have been sent on the election duty have been supporting the BJP polling agents at the booths. West Bengal is a key state in the present Lok Sabha elections with 42 seats on offer. BJP won just two seats here in the last elections in 2014. Early trends suggest BJP may lose 50 per cent seats in Uttar Pradesh which is being led by chief minister Adityanath. The BJP is, therefore, eyeing a major chunk in West Bengal with at least 20 seats to fill the void and make up the deficit with results due to be announced on May 23rd after the seventh phase of polls on May 19th.

Lok Sabha polls 2019: BJP-TMC row heats up in West Bengal as Amit Shah, PM Modi attack Mamata

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/as-temperatures-rise-pre-monsoon-rainfall-records-27-dip-imd-214086">monsoon is likely to be delayed this year</a> as its arrival expected on June 6, five days after its normal onset date, the India Meteorological Department(IMD) said on Wednesday.

"This year, the statistical model forecast suggests that the monsoon onset over Kerala is likely to be slightly delayed," the IMD said. "The southwest monsoon onset is likely to set over Kerala on June 6th with a model error of plus or minus 4 days."

"Conditions are becoming favourable for advance of southwest monsoon over the southern part of Andaman Sea, Nicobar Islands and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal during May 18-19," it added.

The normal onset date for monsoon over Kerala is June 1, which also marks the official commencement of the four-month rainfall season.&nbsp;

The IMD and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/monsoon-likely-to-hit-kerala-on-june-4-three-days-after-normal-onset-date-skymet-218751">private weather agency Skymet</a> were unanimous on the prediction of the late arrival of monsoon this year. The Skymet had said on Tuesday that the monsoon would hit the Kerala coast on June 4, with an error margin of two days.

If the monsoon arrives late, it will be third such instance since 2014 when it arrived on June 5, followed by June 6 in 2015 and June 8 in 2016.

The delay in the arrival of monsoon may not necessarily have an impact on the overall rainfall. Last year, it had hit Kerala on May 29, three days before the normal onset date. Yet, the country received 'below-normal' rainfall.

Similarly, in 2017, the monsoon arrived in Kerala on May 30, but the overall rainfall was 95 per cent of the long period average (LPA), which falls under the below normal category.

In its initial forecast released in April, the IMD had predicted a near-normal rainfall with an LPA of 96 per cent, which falls on the border of 'below-normal' and 'normal' rainfall category. On the other hand, the Skymet has predicted a 'below-normal' rainfall with an LPA of 93 per cent.

The monsoon is likely to be delayed this year as its arrival expected on June 6, five days after its normal onset date, the India Meteorological Department(IMD) said on Wednesday.

The monsoon is likely to be delayed this year as its arrival expected on June 6, five days after its normal onset date, the India Meteorological Department(IMD) said on Wednesday. "This year, the statistical model forecast suggests that the monsoon onset over Kerala is likely to be slightly delayed," the IMD said. "The southwest monsoon onset is likely to set over Kerala on June 6th with a model error of plus or minus 4 days." "Conditions are becoming favourable for advance of southwest monsoon over the southern part of Andaman Sea, Nicobar Islands and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal during May 18-19," it added. The normal onset date for monsoon over Kerala is June 1, which also marks the official commencement of the four-month rainfall season. The IMD and private weather agency Skymet were unanimous on the prediction of the late arrival of monsoon this year. The Skymet had said on Tuesday that the monsoon would hit the Kerala coast on June 4, with an error margin of two days. If the monsoon arrives late, it will be third such instance since 2014 when it arrived on June 5, followed by June 6 in 2015 and June 8 in 2016. The delay in the arrival of monsoon may not necessarily have an impact on the overall rainfall. Last year, it had hit Kerala on May 29, three days before the normal onset date. Yet, the country received 'below-normal' rainfall. Similarly, in 2017, the monsoon arrived in Kerala on May 30, but the overall rainfall was 95 per cent of the long period average (LPA), which falls under the below normal category. In its initial forecast released in April, the IMD had predicted a near-normal rainfall with an LPA of 96 per cent, which falls on the border of 'below-normal' and 'normal' rainfall category. On the other hand, the Skymet has predicted a 'below-normal' rainfall with an LPA of 93 per cent.

Monsoon likely to be slightly delayed, will arrive over Kerala on June 6: IMD

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/there-is-no-clash-between-different-civilisations-says-president-xi-amid-us-china-trade-war-218993">There is no clash between different civilisations, says President Xi amid US-China trade war</a>

Chinese President Xi Jinping declared Wednesday there was "no clash" of civilisations and denounced racial supremacy as "stupid" amid tensions with the United States and concerns over Beijing's rising global power.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/iaf-gives-wing-commander-abhinandan-falcon-slayer-patch-for-striking-down-pak-f-16-218982">IAF gives Wing Commander Abhinandan 'falcon slayer' patch for striking down Pak F-16</a>

The Indian Air Force(IAF) has given the "Falcon slayer" patch to Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman after he reportedly shot down a Pakistani F-16 during an air duel on February 27th with the Pakistan Air Force(PAF) post the Balakot strikes a day earlier.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/would-be-abuse-of-french-legal-system-if-ex-interpol-chiefs-wife-wanted-political-asylum-in-france-china-218936">Would be abuse of French legal system if ex-Interpol chief's wife wanted political asylum in France: China</a>

China on Wednesday said France granting asylum to the wife of former Interpol chief Meng Hongwei - who has been charged in China with accepting bribes - would be an abuse of its own legal procedures.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-moon-mission-chandrayaan-2-will-have-13-payloads-isro-218948">Chandrayaan-2 will have 13 payloads, one passive experiment from NASA: ISRO</a>

India's second Moon mission that is planned for a July launch will have 13 payloads and one passive experiment from American space agency NASA, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said Wednesday.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/facebook-to-curb-live-streaming-amid-pressure-over-christchurch-call-218959">Facebook to curb live streaming amid pressure over 'Christchurch Call'</a>

Facebook announced Wednesday it would tighten access to its live streaming feature as New Zealand's premier Jacinda Ardern and French leader Emmanuel Macron prepared to launch the global "Christchurch Call" initiative to tackle the spread of extremism online.

There is no clash between different civilisations, says President Xi amid US-China trade war Chinese President Xi Jinping declared Wednesday there was "no clash" of civilisations and denounced racial supremacy as "stupid" amid tensions with the United States and concerns over Beijing's rising global power.

There is no clash between different civilisations, says President Xi amid US-China trade war Chinese President Xi Jinping declared Wednesday there was "no clash" of civilisations and denounced racial supremacy as "stupid" amid tensions with the United States and concerns over Beijing's rising global power. IAF gives Wing Commander Abhinandan 'falcon slayer' patch for striking down Pak F-16 The Indian Air Force(IAF) has given the "Falcon slayer" patch to Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman after he reportedly shot down a Pakistani F-16 during an air duel on February 27th with the Pakistan Air Force(PAF) post the Balakot strikes a day earlier. Would be abuse of French legal system if ex-Interpol chief's wife wanted political asylum in France: China China on Wednesday said France granting asylum to the wife of former Interpol chief Meng Hongwei - who has been charged in China with accepting bribes - would be an abuse of its own legal procedures. Chandrayaan-2 will have 13 payloads, one passive experiment from NASA: ISRO India's second Moon mission that is planned for a July launch will have 13 payloads and one passive experiment from American space agency NASA, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said Wednesday. Facebook to curb live streaming amid pressure over 'Christchurch Call' Facebook announced Wednesday it would tighten access to its live streaming feature as New Zealand's premier Jacinda Ardern and French leader Emmanuel Macron prepared to launch the global "Christchurch Call" initiative to tackle the spread of extremism online.

Seeking a relaxation in disaster assistance norms, the Odisha government Wednesday estimated a tentative loss of Rs 12,000 crore due to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/cyclone-fani-around-20-lakh-trees-uprooted-in-odisha-218405">cyclone Fani that killed at least 64 people</a> and damaged more than 5 lakh dwelling units in the state's coastal districts.

The state government, which has launched a massive restoration work in the cyclone-ravaged areas, in a preliminary report to a visiting inter-ministerial team, said an initial assessment has put the overall loss at approximately Rs 12,000 crore.

While the loss to public properties was to the tune of Rs 5,175 crore, expenditure towards relief and response stands at Rs 6,767.56 crore, the report said.

"We have submitted a tentative loss figure to the central team. This amount may increase as the officials will undertake a door-to-door survey to access the actual loss caused by the cyclone. The government will prepare a full report on the loss after the completion of the detailed survey," Special&nbsp; 
Relief Commissioner (SRC) B P Sethi said.

In its preliminary report, the state government has estimated the highest loss in the power sector at Rs 1,160 crore, while the loss in the Panchayati raj and the drinking water department stands at Rs 587 crore.

"The loss shown in the preliminary report is purely tentative. It will go up as we get a detailed report," Chief Secretary A P Padhi said after a meeting with the central team, which wrapped up its three-day visit to the cyclone-hit areas.

Stating that there has been huge losses to public and private infrastructure in the calamity, Padhi said, "We have urged the central team to consider revising the norms of the NDRF and the SDRF so that the loss in the power sector can be covered."

Padhi said while the NDRF and SDRF norms include assistance for loss due to the damage of 220 KV, 132 KV, 33 KV, 11 KV and low tension power supply, there was no provision for losses in the high tension (HT) power supply.

As many as 75 towers have been uprooted by the high-velocity winds in Puri district alone and a huge investment is required to make them operational.

Vivek Bharadwaj, Additional Secretary in the Union Home Ministry, who is heading the team, said: "There has been massive destruction to houses, hotels and livelihood means of the affected people. Puri has been severely hit in the cyclone."

Noting that the central government has been assisting the cyclone-ravaged state and will continue to do so in restoration and rehabilitation works, Bharadwaj said there is a need to further strengthen the MGNREGA scheme in order to provide livelihood means to the affected people.

He said there has been a substantial loss to betel vines and coconut plantations.

"Keeping in view the gravity of the devastation, the Odisha government's action in providing relief and other assistance to the affected people is praiseworthy," Bharadwaj said, adding that people have been provided with relief immediately after the cyclone.

"The people have been given rice, cash and tarpaulin sheets," he said.

The 11-member central team visited some of the worst-affected areas in Puri, Khurda and Cuttack districts, besides the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) region, during its visit.

Seeking a relaxation in disaster assistance norms, the Odisha government Wednesday estimated a tentative loss of Rs 12,000 crore due to cyclone Fani that killed at least 64 people and damaged more than 5 lakh dwelling units in the state's coastal districts.

Seeking a relaxation in disaster assistance norms, the Odisha government Wednesday estimated a tentative loss of Rs 12,000 crore due to cyclone Fani that killed at least 64 people and damaged more than 5 lakh dwelling units in the state's coastal districts. The state government, which has launched a massive restoration work in the cyclone-ravaged areas, in a preliminary report to a visiting inter-ministerial team, said an initial assessment has put the overall loss at approximately Rs 12,000 crore. While the loss to public properties was to the tune of Rs 5,175 crore, expenditure towards relief and response stands at Rs 6,767.56 crore, the report said. "We have submitted a tentative loss figure to the central team. This amount may increase as the officials will undertake a door-to-door survey to access the actual loss caused by the cyclone. The government will prepare a full report on the loss after the completion of the detailed survey," Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) B P Sethi said. In its preliminary report, the state government has estimated the highest loss in the power sector at Rs 1,160 crore, while the loss in the Panchayati raj and the drinking water department stands at Rs 587 crore. "The loss shown in the preliminary report is purely tentative. It will go up as we get a detailed report," Chief Secretary A P Padhi said after a meeting with the central team, which wrapped up its three-day visit to the cyclone-hit areas. Stating that there has been huge losses to public and private infrastructure in the calamity, Padhi said, "We have urged the central team to consider revising the norms of the NDRF and the SDRF so that the loss in the power sector can be covered." Padhi said while the NDRF and SDRF norms include assistance for loss due to the damage of 220 KV, 132 KV, 33 KV, 11 KV and low tension power supply, there was no provision for losses in the high tension (HT) power supply. As many as 75 towers have been uprooted by the high-velocity winds in Puri district alone and a huge investment is required to make them operational. Vivek Bharadwaj, Additional Secretary in the Union Home Ministry, who is heading the team, said: "There has been massive destruction to houses, hotels and livelihood means of the affected people. Puri has been severely hit in the cyclone." Noting that the central government has been assisting the cyclone-ravaged state and will continue to do so in restoration and rehabilitation works, Bharadwaj said there is a need to further strengthen the MGNREGA scheme in order to provide livelihood means to the affected people. He said there has been a substantial loss to betel vines and coconut plantations. "Keeping in view the gravity of the devastation, the Odisha government's action in providing relief and other assistance to the affected people is praiseworthy," Bharadwaj said, adding that people have been provided with relief immediately after the cyclone. "The people have been given rice, cash and tarpaulin sheets," he said. The 11-member central team visited some of the worst-affected areas in Puri, Khurda and Cuttack districts, besides the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) region, during its visit.

Odisha pegs Cyclone Fani loss at Rs 12,000 crore, seeks relaxation of norms

The Indian Air Force(IAF) has given the "Falcon slayer" patch to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/iaf-recommending-wing-commander-abhinandan-varthaman-for-wartime-gallantry-award-vir-chakra-212112">Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman</a> after he reportedly shot down a Pakistani F-16 during an air duel on February 27th with the Pakistan Air Force(PAF) post the Balakot strikes a day earlier.

Wg Cdr Abhinandan Varthaman’s unit also calls itself "AMRAAM dodgers" as MiG-21 evaded 4-5 AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles fired by Pakistani F-16. The Pakistani F-16 is fitted with AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles with pinpoint strike accuracy which is considered far superior to MiG-21's R-73 missile.

Abhinandan has the unique distinction of being the only pilot in the world to have <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bengaluru-artist-creates-typewriter-portrait-of-wing-commander-abhinandan-204743">shot down an F-16 combat</a> aircraft from a MiG-21 Bison aircraft.&nbsp;

IAF had earlier lauded the fighter pilot's exploits in the MiG 21 Bison against the far superior Pakistani F-16 aircraft saying he "hunted the hunter".

Posting a poem on its official Twitter handle @IAF_MCC, 'Sabke Bass Ki Baat Nahi', written by Bipin Allhabadi, the IAF described the fighter pilot's feat as something that is not possible for everyone.

What Abhinandan Varthaman did is not everyone's cup of tea. He hunted the hunter, the poem said.

After being shot down over Pakistan air space during a dogfight with Pakistani jets, Wing Commander Abhinandan spent two days in Pakistan's custody after which he was released, walking through the Attari-Wagah border escorted by Pakistani officials and commandos as India rejoiced.

The Indian Air Force operation took place in the aftermath of the Pulwama terrorist attack on February 14th in which 40 CRPF soliders were killed. On Februrary 26th, Indian fighter jets led by Mirage 2000 bombed Jaish-e-Mohammed(JeM) terror camps in Balakot, deep inside Pakistan. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The Indian Air Force(IAF) has given the "Falcon slayer" patch to Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman after he reportedly shot down a Pakistani F-16 during an air duel on February 27th with the Pakistan Air Force(PAF) post the Balakot strikes a day earlier.

The Indian Air Force(IAF) has given the "Falcon slayer" patch to Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman after he reportedly shot down a Pakistani F-16 during an air duel on February 27th with the Pakistan Air Force(PAF) post the Balakot strikes a day earlier. Wg Cdr Abhinandan Varthaman’s unit also calls itself "AMRAAM dodgers" as MiG-21 evaded 4-5 AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles fired by Pakistani F-16. The Pakistani F-16 is fitted with AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles with pinpoint strike accuracy which is considered far superior to MiG-21's R-73 missile. Abhinandan has the unique distinction of being the only pilot in the world to have shot down an F-16 combat aircraft from a MiG-21 Bison aircraft. IAF had earlier lauded the fighter pilot's exploits in the MiG 21 Bison against the far superior Pakistani F-16 aircraft saying he "hunted the hunter". Posting a poem on its official Twitter handle @IAF_MCC, 'Sabke Bass Ki Baat Nahi', written by Bipin Allhabadi, the IAF described the fighter pilot's feat as something that is not possible for everyone. What Abhinandan Varthaman did is not everyone's cup of tea. He hunted the hunter, the poem said. After being shot down over Pakistan air space during a dogfight with Pakistani jets, Wing Commander Abhinandan spent two days in Pakistan's custody after which he was released, walking through the Attari-Wagah border escorted by Pakistani officials and commandos as India rejoiced. The Indian Air Force operation took place in the aftermath of the Pulwama terrorist attack on February 14th in which 40 CRPF soliders were killed. On Februrary 26th, Indian fighter jets led by Mirage 2000 bombed Jaish-e-Mohammed(JeM) terror camps in Balakot, deep inside Pakistan.

IAF gives Wing Commander Abhinandan 'falcon slayer' patch for striking down Pak F-16

Two warships of the Indian Navy--INS Kolkata and INS Shakti--are participating in a three-day Singapore naval and maritime event being held here, according to an official statement.&nbsp;

The International Maritime Defence Exhibition Asia (IMDEX Asia-2019) commenced on May 14 and will also witness the participation of some of India's leading engineering and shipbuilding firms, including Larsen &amp; Toubro and BrahMos, which makes the state-of-the-art air, sea and ground-launch cruise missiles.

"Vice-Admiral M S Pawar, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff led the delegation to the Asia Pacific gathering of naval and maritime event," the Indian High Commission here said in a statement. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

INS Kolkata is an advanced stealth destroyer capable of engaging multiple threats from the air, sea and underwater and has been designed and built in India.

INS Shakti is a fleet support ship to provide fuel, provisions and munitions to warships at sea.

Following IMDEX, Indian Naval ships together with an Indian Navy surveillance aircraft P8I will participate in the 26th edition of Singapore India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) scheduled from May 16 to 22, 2019.&nbsp;

SIMBEX is the longest uninterrupted naval exercise that India has with any other country, the statement said.

Regular participation by the Indian Navy in the IMDEX and SIMBEX reflects the importance India attaches to the exercises and the broader strategic partnership with Singapore and it also reaffirms our Act East Policy, it said.

The 26th SIMBEX is taking place 6 months after the last edition that took place in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal from November 11 to 21 last year.&nbsp;

It involved live weapon firings and complex military manoeuvres, including those of aircraft and submarines.&nbsp;

The 25th SIMBEX was witnessed by Singapore's Minister of Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen.

Earlier in October 2018, India's Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman visited Singapore to participate in the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting-Plus.

The Indian Army and the Singapore Army recently held their 12th edition of the annual exercise Bold Kurukshetra, an annual joint training exercise for Armoured Units from April 8 to 12, 2019, at the Indian Army training facility at Babina in Uttar Pradesh, the statement said.

Likewise, Air Forces of both countries will exercise together later this year in India, it said.

India and Singapore share a strong and rapidly growing defence relation which is the key pillar of India Singapore strategic partnership based on deep mutual trust and goodwill and shared interest in rules-based order, maritime security and an open, inclusive and peaceful Indo-Pacific region.

Our defence relation includes annual ministerial dialogue, Secretary level defence policy dialogue, Staff talks between the three wings of the armed forces, mutual logistics support, regular exercises and exchange of ship visits, the statement said.&nbsp;

Two warships of the Indian Navy--INS Kolkata and INS Shakti--are participating in a three-day Singapore naval and maritime event being held here, according to an official statement.

Two warships of the Indian Navy--INS Kolkata and INS Shakti--are participating in a three-day Singapore naval and maritime event being held here, according to an official statement. The International Maritime Defence Exhibition Asia (IMDEX Asia-2019) commenced on May 14 and will also witness the participation of some of India's leading engineering and shipbuilding firms, including Larsen & Toubro and BrahMos, which makes the state-of-the-art air, sea and ground-launch cruise missiles. "Vice-Admiral M S Pawar, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff led the delegation to the Asia Pacific gathering of naval and maritime event," the Indian High Commission here said in a statement. INS Kolkata is an advanced stealth destroyer capable of engaging multiple threats from the air, sea and underwater and has been designed and built in India. INS Shakti is a fleet support ship to provide fuel, provisions and munitions to warships at sea. Following IMDEX, Indian Naval ships together with an Indian Navy surveillance aircraft P8I will participate in the 26th edition of Singapore India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) scheduled from May 16 to 22, 2019. SIMBEX is the longest uninterrupted naval exercise that India has with any other country, the statement said. Regular participation by the Indian Navy in the IMDEX and SIMBEX reflects the importance India attaches to the exercises and the broader strategic partnership with Singapore and it also reaffirms our Act East Policy, it said. The 26th SIMBEX is taking place 6 months after the last edition that took place in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal from November 11 to 21 last year. It involved live weapon firings and complex military manoeuvres, including those of aircraft and submarines. The 25th SIMBEX was witnessed by Singapore's Minister of Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen. Earlier in October 2018, India's Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman visited Singapore to participate in the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting-Plus. The Indian Army and the Singapore Army recently held their 12th edition of the annual exercise Bold Kurukshetra, an annual joint training exercise for Armoured Units from April 8 to 12, 2019, at the Indian Army training facility at Babina in Uttar Pradesh, the statement said. Likewise, Air Forces of both countries will exercise together later this year in India, it said. India and Singapore share a strong and rapidly growing defence relation which is the key pillar of India Singapore strategic partnership based on deep mutual trust and goodwill and shared interest in rules-based order, maritime security and an open, inclusive and peaceful Indo-Pacific region. Our defence relation includes annual ministerial dialogue, Secretary level defence policy dialogue, Staff talks between the three wings of the armed forces, mutual logistics support, regular exercises and exchange of ship visits, the statement said.

Indian warships take part in international maritime defence exhibition in Singapore

<a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/chandrayaan-2-modules-getting-ready-for-launch-in-july-isro-215126&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiizpqzqZ3iAhWLQY8KHbIlADsQFjAAegQIBBAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw1v-mBKK7Z6P4RJkCsLoaJ5">India's second Moon mission</a> that is planned for a July launch will have 13 payloads and one passive experiment from American space agency NASA, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said Wednesday.

"Thirteen Indian payloads (8 on the orbiter, 3 on lander and 2 on rover) and one passive experiment from NASA," ISRO said in a mission update but did not specify them or their objective.

The spacecraft with a mass of 3.8 tonnes has three modules--Orbiter, Lander (Vikram) and Rover (Pragyan).

All the modules are getting ready for <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ex-isro-chief-says-chandrayaan-2-will-look-for-specific-minerals-on-moons-surface-215526&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiizpqzqZ3iAhWLQY8KHbIlADsQFjABegQIDhAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw0pwwVwLdLstj7VXAJs2cAU">Chandrayaan-2</a> launch during the window of July 9 to July 16, 2019, with an expected Moon landing on September 6, the space agency had said earlier this month.

The orbiter will orbit 100 km from the lunar surface, while Lander (Vikram) will do the soft landing near the south pole of the moon, and Rover (Pragyan) will conduct in-situ experiments.

The orbiter and lander modules will be interfaced mechanically and stacked together as an integrated module and accommodated inside the GSLV MK-III launch vehicle, ISRO has said, adding the rover is housed inside the lander.

After launching into earth-bound orbit by GSLV MK-III, the integrated module will reach Moon orbit using orbiter propulsion module, and subsequently, the lender will separate from the orbiter and soft land at the predetermined site close to the lunar South Pole.

Further, the rover will roll out for carrying out scientific experiments on the lunar surface, ISRO has said, noting that instruments are also mounted on lander and orbiter for carrying out scientific experiments.

ISRO Chairman K Sivan had said in January, "We are going to land at a place where nobody else has gone-the Moon's the South Pole... It is unexplored region."

Chandrayaan-2 mission is an advanced version of the previous Chandrayaan-1 mission about 10 years ago.

Chandrayaan-1 had 11 payloads- five from India, three from Europe, 2 from USA and 1 from Bulgaria, and the mission had the credit for the discovery of water on the lunar surface.

The 1.4-tonne spacecraft was launched using PSLV and the orbiter had orbited 100 km from the lunar surface.

India's second Moon mission that is planned for a July launch will have 13 payloads and one passive experiment from American space agency NASA, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said Wednesday.

India's second Moon mission that is planned for a July launch will have 13 payloads and one passive experiment from American space agency NASA, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said Wednesday. "Thirteen Indian payloads (8 on the orbiter, 3 on lander and 2 on rover) and one passive experiment from NASA," ISRO said in a mission update but did not specify them or their objective. The spacecraft with a mass of 3.8 tonnes has three modules--Orbiter, Lander (Vikram) and Rover (Pragyan). All the modules are getting ready for Chandrayaan-2 launch during the window of July 9 to July 16, 2019, with an expected Moon landing on September 6, the space agency had said earlier this month. The orbiter will orbit 100 km from the lunar surface, while Lander (Vikram) will do the soft landing near the south pole of the moon, and Rover (Pragyan) will conduct in-situ experiments. The orbiter and lander modules will be interfaced mechanically and stacked together as an integrated module and accommodated inside the GSLV MK-III launch vehicle, ISRO has said, adding the rover is housed inside the lander. After launching into earth-bound orbit by GSLV MK-III, the integrated module will reach Moon orbit using orbiter propulsion module, and subsequently, the lender will separate from the orbiter and soft land at the predetermined site close to the lunar South Pole. Further, the rover will roll out for carrying out scientific experiments on the lunar surface, ISRO has said, noting that instruments are also mounted on lander and orbiter for carrying out scientific experiments. ISRO Chairman K Sivan had said in January, "We are going to land at a place where nobody else has gone-the Moon's the South Pole... It is unexplored region." Chandrayaan-2 mission is an advanced version of the previous Chandrayaan-1 mission about 10 years ago. Chandrayaan-1 had 11 payloads- five from India, three from Europe, 2 from USA and 1 from Bulgaria, and the mission had the credit for the discovery of water on the lunar surface. The 1.4-tonne spacecraft was launched using PSLV and the orbiter had orbited 100 km from the lunar surface.

Chandrayaan-2 will have 13 payloads, one passive experiment from NASA: ISRO

With Mansarovar yatra all set to begin, India has said that the visit is important not only for spiritual purposes but also helps build India-China relationship.

Speaking at the Computerized Draw of lots for Kailash Manasarovar Yatra 2019 Foreign Secretary said, "Our ministry's consistent effort has been to get as many applications as we can because we think this yatra is important not only for those going for spiritual or religious purposes but also to build relations between India and China."

In all ministry of external affair has received 2996 application, out&nbsp;of which 2256 are male applicants, 740 are female applicants.&nbsp;

There are two routes to go the annual yatra--via Lipulekh pass in Uttrakhand &amp; Nathu La pass in Sikkim.

Number of batches for Lipulekh route is 18 with yatris per batch at 58 while for Nathu La, number of batches stands at 10 with 48 yatris per batch. Two liaison officer will assist each batch of yatris.&nbsp;

Nathu La route has been been opened a few years ago and is fully motorable and requires minimum of walking.&nbsp;

Around 624 Senior citizens applied for the yatra and will be preferred via Nathu La route. Lipulekh route is mountainous and the terrain is challenging.

The Foreign Secretary said, "Our hope and endeavour that we provide the first chance to those who didn't have the chance to go to the yatra--the first time applicants and we give priority to them."&nbsp;

Time taken in Nathula is 21 day and the cost is $2200 while Lipulekh is 20 day and costs $900.&nbsp;

With Mansarovar yatra all set to begin, India has said that the visit is important not only for spiritual purposes but also helps build India-China relationship.

With Mansarovar yatra all set to begin, India has said that the visit is important not only for spiritual purposes but also helps build India-China relationship. Speaking at the Computerized Draw of lots for Kailash Manasarovar Yatra 2019 Foreign Secretary said, "Our ministry's consistent effort has been to get as many applications as we can because we think this yatra is important not only for those going for spiritual or religious purposes but also to build relations between India and China." In all ministry of external affair has received 2996 application, out of which 2256 are male applicants, 740 are female applicants. There are two routes to go the annual yatra--via Lipulekh pass in Uttrakhand & Nathu La pass in Sikkim. Number of batches for Lipulekh route is 18 with yatris per batch at 58 while for Nathu La, number of batches stands at 10 with 48 yatris per batch. Two liaison officer will assist each batch of yatris. Nathu La route has been been opened a few years ago and is fully motorable and requires minimum of walking. Around 624 Senior citizens applied for the yatra and will be preferred via Nathu La route. Lipulekh route is mountainous and the terrain is challenging. The Foreign Secretary said, "Our hope and endeavour that we provide the first chance to those who didn't have the chance to go to the yatra--the first time applicants and we give priority to them." Time taken in Nathula is 21 day and the cost is $2200 while Lipulekh is 20 day and costs $900.

Mansarovar yatra to help build ties with China: India

A video of a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) trooper feeding a hungry child on a Srinagar street went viral on the social media on Tuesday. Watch full video to know more.

Video of Pulwama attack survivor feeding Kashmiri child in Srinagar goes viral

WhatsApp clones and software tools that cost as little as $14 are helping Indian digital marketers and political activists bypass anti-spam restrictions set up by the world's most popular messaging app.

The activities highlight the challenges WhatsApp, which is owned by Facebook Inc, faces in preventing abuse in India, its biggest market with more than 200 million users.

With fervent campaigning in India's staggered general election, which concludes on May 19, the demand for such tools has surged, according to digital companies and sources in the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its main rival, the Congress party.

After false messages on WhatsApp last year sparked mob lynchings in India, the company restricted forwarding of a message to only five users. The software tools appear to overcome those restrictions, allowing users to reach thousands of people at once.

Divya Spandana, the social media chief of the Congress, and the BJP's IT head, Amit Malviya, did not respond to requests for comment.

Rohitash Repswal, who owns a digital marketing business in a cramped, residential neighbourhood of New Delhi, said he ran a 1,000 rupee ($14) piece of software round-the-clock in recent months to send up to 100,000 WhatsApp messages a day for two BJP members.

"Whatever WhatsApp does, there's a workaround," Repswal said during an interview at his small, two-bedroom house.

Reuters found WhatsApp was misused in at least three ways in India for political campaigning: free clone apps available online were used by some BJP and Congress workers to manually forward messages on a mass basis; software tools which allow users to automate delivery of WhatsApp messages; and some firms offering political workers the chance to go onto a website and send bulk WhatsApp messages from anonymous numbers.

At least three software tools were available on Amazon.com's India website. When purchased, they arrived as compact discs tucked inside thin cardboard casings, with no company branding.

WhatsApp declined a request to allow testing such tools for reporting this story.

"We are continuing to step up our enforcement against imposter WhatsApp services and take legal action by sending cease and desist letters to hundreds of bulk messaging service providers to help curb abuse," a spokeswoman said. "We do not want them to operate on our platform and we work to ban them".&nbsp;

WhatsApp clones

Modified versions of popular apps have become common as technically-savvy hobbyists have long reverse-engineered them. Tools purporting to bypass WhatsApp restrictions are advertised in videos and online forums aimed at users in Indonesia and Nigeria, both of which held major elections this year.

For Indian politicians, WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter are key campaigning tools to target the country's near 900 million voters.

Two Congress sources and one BJP source told their workers used clone apps such as "GBWhatsApp" and "JTWhatsApp", which allowed them to cut through WhatsApp's restrictions.

Both apps have a green-colour interface that closely resembles WhatsApp and can be downloaded for free from dozens of technology blogs. They are not available on Google's official app store but work on Android phones.

WhatsApp describes such apps as "unofficial" and says its users can face bans, which means the company can block the account associated with a particular mobile number if it detects unusual activity. Some Congress workers said they did not care.

"WhatsApp occasionally bans some of these numbers, but the volunteers would use new (mobile) sim cards to sign up," said a Congress member with direct knowledge of the activities.

In Mumbai, a person in the social media team of a senior BJP candidate said no restrictions on JTWhatsApp meant his team could easily send forwards to up to 6,000 people a day, as well as video files containing political content which would be far bigger in size than allowed on the official WhatsApp service.

Reuters was not able to ascertain the overall scale of such activities and found no evidence that BJP and Congress leaders officially ordered workers to campaign this way.

'Business sender'

In New Delhi, digital marketer Repswal said he would typically charge 150,000 rupees ($2,161) for a month's service for creating digital content, providing a database of mobile numbers and then sending 300,000 WhatsApp messages.

He uses a piece of software named "Business Sender" which he said he also sells for 1,000 rupees ($14).

A person can add many mobile numbers in a field and compose messages with pictures. Using a so-called "Group Contacts Grabber" feature, the user can also extract a list of mobile numbers from a particular WhatsApp group with a click of a button.

Repswal didn't name the two BJP members he worked for, but in a demonstration for Reuters, added dozens of mobile numbers in the software, typed a test message saying "your vote is your right" and hit "send". Then, his WhatsApp web version started delivering the messages almost robotically, one after the other.

Business Sender was "not supported or endorsed" by WhatsApp and was developed by "Tiger Vikram Mysore INDIA", its system properties said.

A member of the software support team at Business Sender, Rajesh K., declined to identify the developer by his real name, but said the tool was designed in Lebanon about four months ago and takes advantage of what he called a "loophole" in WhatsApp's system.

"This is not rocket science or fabricated software," said Rajesh. "There are hundreds of such software available."

In April, when a Reuters reporter responded to a text message with an "Election Special" offer of sending 100,000 "bulk WhatsApp" messages for 7,999 rupees ($115), he was invited to an office in a dusty industrial area of Noida in northern Uttar Pradesh state.

"How many messages you want to send, tell us: 10,000, 1 million, 2 million," a representative asked, while showing a black-coloured, password-protected website they use for sending bulk WhatsApp messages.

WhatsApp clones and software tools that cost as little as $14 are helping Indian digital marketers and political activists bypass anti-spam restrictions set up by the world's most popular messaging app.

WhatsApp clones and software tools that cost as little as $14 are helping Indian digital marketers and political activists bypass anti-spam restrictions set up by the world's most popular messaging app. The activities highlight the challenges WhatsApp, which is owned by Facebook Inc, faces in preventing abuse in India, its biggest market with more than 200 million users. With fervent campaigning in India's staggered general election, which concludes on May 19, the demand for such tools has surged, according to digital companies and sources in the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its main rival, the Congress party. After false messages on WhatsApp last year sparked mob lynchings in India, the company restricted forwarding of a message to only five users. The software tools appear to overcome those restrictions, allowing users to reach thousands of people at once. Divya Spandana, the social media chief of the Congress, and the BJP's IT head, Amit Malviya, did not respond to requests for comment. Rohitash Repswal, who owns a digital marketing business in a cramped, residential neighbourhood of New Delhi, said he ran a 1,000 rupee ($14) piece of software round-the-clock in recent months to send up to 100,000 WhatsApp messages a day for two BJP members. "Whatever WhatsApp does, there's a workaround," Repswal said during an interview at his small, two-bedroom house. Reuters found WhatsApp was misused in at least three ways in India for political campaigning: free clone apps available online were used by some BJP and Congress workers to manually forward messages on a mass basis; software tools which allow users to automate delivery of WhatsApp messages; and some firms offering political workers the chance to go onto a website and send bulk WhatsApp messages from anonymous numbers. At least three software tools were available on Amazon.com's India website. When purchased, they arrived as compact discs tucked inside thin cardboard casings, with no company branding. WhatsApp declined a request to allow testing such tools for reporting this story. "We are continuing to step up our enforcement against imposter WhatsApp services and take legal action by sending cease and desist letters to hundreds of bulk messaging service providers to help curb abuse," a spokeswoman said. "We do not want them to operate on our platform and we work to ban them". WhatsApp clones Modified versions of popular apps have become common as technically-savvy hobbyists have long reverse-engineered them. Tools purporting to bypass WhatsApp restrictions are advertised in videos and online forums aimed at users in Indonesia and Nigeria, both of which held major elections this year. For Indian politicians, WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter are key campaigning tools to target the country's near 900 million voters. Two Congress sources and one BJP source told their workers used clone apps such as "GBWhatsApp" and "JTWhatsApp", which allowed them to cut through WhatsApp's restrictions. Both apps have a green-colour interface that closely resembles WhatsApp and can be downloaded for free from dozens of technology blogs. They are not available on Google's official app store but work on Android phones. WhatsApp describes such apps as "unofficial" and says its users can face bans, which means the company can block the account associated with a particular mobile number if it detects unusual activity. Some Congress workers said they did not care. "WhatsApp occasionally bans some of these numbers, but the volunteers would use new (mobile) sim cards to sign up," said a Congress member with direct knowledge of the activities. In Mumbai, a person in the social media team of a senior BJP candidate said no restrictions on JTWhatsApp meant his team could easily send forwards to up to 6,000 people a day, as well as video files containing political content which would be far bigger in size than allowed on the official WhatsApp service. Reuters was not able to ascertain the overall scale of such activities and found no evidence that BJP and Congress leaders officially ordered workers to campaign this way. 'Business sender' In New Delhi, digital marketer Repswal said he would typically charge 150,000 rupees ($2,161) for a month's service for creating digital content, providing a database of mobile numbers and then sending 300,000 WhatsApp messages. He uses a piece of software named "Business Sender" which he said he also sells for 1,000 rupees ($14). A person can add many mobile numbers in a field and compose messages with pictures. Using a so-called "Group Contacts Grabber" feature, the user can also extract a list of mobile numbers from a particular WhatsApp group with a click of a button. Repswal didn't name the two BJP members he worked for, but in a demonstration for Reuters, added dozens of mobile numbers in the software, typed a test message saying "your vote is your right" and hit "send". Then, his WhatsApp web version started delivering the messages almost robotically, one after the other. Business Sender was "not supported or endorsed" by WhatsApp and was developed by "Tiger Vikram Mysore INDIA", its system properties said. A member of the software support team at Business Sender, Rajesh K., declined to identify the developer by his real name, but said the tool was designed in Lebanon about four months ago and takes advantage of what he called a "loophole" in WhatsApp's system. "This is not rocket science or fabricated software," said Rajesh. "There are hundreds of such software available." In April, when a Reuters reporter responded to a text message with an "Election Special" offer of sending 100,000 "bulk WhatsApp" messages for 7,999 rupees ($115), he was invited to an office in a dusty industrial area of Noida in northern Uttar Pradesh state. "How many messages you want to send, tell us: 10,000, 1 million, 2 million," a representative asked, while showing a black-coloured, password-protected website they use for sending bulk WhatsApp messages.

Lok Sabha polls 2019:  How $14 software tool helps overcome WhatsApp controls

BJP worker Priyanka Sharma, who was released on bail on Wednesday said ''I'll&nbsp;fight the case, won't apologise''.&nbsp;

''My bail was granted yesterday, but I wasn't released for another 18 hours. They didn't allow me to meet my advocate and family. They made me sign an apology,'' she added.

Earlier Supreme Court pulled up the West Bengal government over the delay in the release Sharma who was arrested for sharing a meme of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

However, Sharma's lawyer told the apex court that she was released at 9:40-10:00 am.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted bail to Sharma. While the apex court first asked the BJP worker to apologise to Mamata Banerjee, the condition was later waived off.

Sharma's counsel NK Kaul told the Supreme Court Sharma was forced to sign an apology letter prepared by the Police which stated that she will not post similar meme again.

Meanwhile, the top court said that it will hear Sharma's application seeking action against the West Bengal police authorities in July first week.

BJP worker Priyanka Sharma, who was released on bail on Wednesday said ''I'll fight the case, won't apologise''. ''My bail was granted yesterday, but I wasn't released for another 18 hours.

BJP worker Priyanka Sharma, who was released on bail on Wednesday said ''I'll fight the case, won't apologise''. ''My bail was granted yesterday, but I wasn't released for another 18 hours. They didn't allow me to meet my advocate and family. They made me sign an apology,'' she added. Earlier Supreme Court pulled up the West Bengal government over the delay in the release Sharma who was arrested for sharing a meme of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. However, Sharma's lawyer told the apex court that she was released at 9:40-10:00 am. The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted bail to Sharma. While the apex court first asked the BJP worker to apologise to Mamata Banerjee, the condition was later waived off. Sharma's counsel NK Kaul told the Supreme Court Sharma was forced to sign an apology letter prepared by the Police which stated that she will not post similar meme again. Meanwhile, the top court said that it will hear Sharma's application seeking action against the West Bengal police authorities in July first week.

'Will fight case, won't apologise', says BJP youth wing convenor Priyanka Sharma  

The central government has extended the ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for another five years with immediate effect, a Home Ministry notification issued Tuesday said.

The ban was extended under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, it said.

LTTE's continued violent and disruptive activities are prejudicial to the integrity and sovereignty of India, the notification said.

The outfit continues to adopt a strong anti-India posture and poses a grave threat to the security of Indian nationals, the notification said.

The central government has extended the ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for another five years with immediate effect, a Home Ministry notification issued Tuesday said.

The central government has extended the ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for another five years with immediate effect, a Home Ministry notification issued Tuesday said. The ban was extended under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, it said. LTTE's continued violent and disruptive activities are prejudicial to the integrity and sovereignty of India, the notification said. The outfit continues to adopt a strong anti-India posture and poses a grave threat to the security of Indian nationals, the notification said.

Government extends ban on LTTE for five more years: Home Ministry

A Sri Lankan software engineer suspected by authorities in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-province-under-indefinite-curfew-after-first-riot-death-218558">Sri Lanka</a> of having provided technical and logistical support to the Easter Sunday suicide bombers was monitored by Indian intelligence agencies three years ago for links with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-one-person-killed-in-mob-attack-despite-nationwide-curfew-218497">Islamic State</a> suspects, investigators said.&nbsp;

Four sources in Sri Lankan investigating agencies said they believed Aadhil Ameez, a 24-year-old, was the link between two groups that carried out the attacks on churches and hotels that killed more than 250 people and wounded hundreds more.

Aadhil has been arrested and is in police custody, the sources said. His arrest has not been made public, but when asked by Reuters, Ruwan Gunasekera, the main spokesman for the Sri Lankan police, confirmed Aadhil was taken into custody on April 25, four days after the attacks.&nbsp;

The spokesman declined to give more details.

A police official at India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) and another police official in the western state of Gujarat said they were providing assistance to Sri Lankan authorities.

Aadhil, who describes himself on his LinkedIn profile as a senior engineer/programmer/web designer with a masters degree in computer science and a bachelors in political science from UK&nbsp;universities, could not be reached for comment.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/police-impose-curfew-on-sri-lanka-town-after-mosques-attacked-218239/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

He does not yet have a lawyer and under Sri Lanka’s tough new emergency laws imposed after the attacks, he can be held indefinitely.

His father, M&nbsp;Ameez, who lives in Aluthgama, a town south of Colombo, denied that Aadhil was involved with the plotters and said such “allegations are lies”.&nbsp;

The Indian investigators said they had been monitoring Aadhil since 2016 and named him in two chargesheets filed in Indian courts against suspected Islamic State operatives as being one of their contacts.

According to one of the chargesheets, reviewed by Reuters, he showed up in Facebook, WhatsApp and Telegram chat with two of the suspects who are on trial for plotting an attack on a synagogue in the western city of Ahmedabad.

The two suspects Ubed Ahmad Mirza, a lawyer, and Stimberwala Mohamed Kasim, a hospital technician, were accused of planning “lone-wolf” attacks, according to the charge sheet.

Lawyers for both men rejected the allegations and said they were innocent. Both lawyers declined to comment on the possible role of Aadhil.

Aadhil has also been named in another charge sheet filed in court by the NIA for providing propaganda and online material to three Indians arrested in early 2016 for promoting Islamic State.

The three men, Sheikh Azhar ul-Islam, Adnan Hassan and Mohammed Rafiq Sadique Shaikh are on trial in a special Delhi court facing charges of criminal conspiracy to propagate the ideology of Islamic State, recruit, raise funds and facilitate the travel of people to Syria, according to the charge sheet.

Sheikh Mohammad Munawar, a cousin of ul-Islam, said the charges were fabricated and that he had no criminal record ever.

Families of the other two accused could not be reached. Their lawyers were not immediately available for comment.

Reuters was unable to determine when the Indians informed Sri Lankan authorities of the surveillance. The two officials declined to say whether they continued to keep Aadhil under surveillance after they completed an investigation of the cases in India.

Indian intelligence services warned Sri Lankan authorities of a possible attack at least three times in April alone, officials have said.&nbsp;

LINK BETWEEN GROUPS

Sri Lankan authorities have said two local Islamist groups - the National Tawheed Jamaath (NTJ) led by radical preacher Zahran Hashim and the Jamathei Millathu Ibrahim (JMI) - were involved in the synchronized blasts in Colombo, the island nation’s capital, and two other towns. Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Two sources in Sri Lanka’s police Criminal Investigation Department and two military officials said Aadhil was the link between the two groups.

The groups used the dark web and WhatsApp to communicate, they said.

However, investigators don’t know yet whether Aadhil was simply a facilitator for the bombers, or if he was also one of the ring leaders involved in planning and executing the attacks.

Last week, police raided IT firm Virtusa, where Aadhil had interned in 2013, according to his profile. One current employee has been detained for questioning in connection with the attacks, police say, but no other details have been provided. 
 
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ONLINE CHATS

India, with one of the world’s largest populations of Muslims, has claimed success in foiling several Islamic State cells, mostly in southern and western India.

Court documents reviewed by Reuters show that the online conversations between the Sri Lankan and the two Indians in western India began in the summer of 2016 and lasted until the arrest of the two Indians in late 2017. The documents describe how Aadhil Ax, as he called himself online, asked the Indians if they had heard about the atrocities being committed against Muslims in Sri Lanka by the majority Buddhist community.

He talked about his own experiences: that he had been in jail, that his house had been torched and that he limped because of beatings, the documents seen by Reuters show. Investigators and neighbours in Sri Lanka say none of these was true.

The Sri Lankan investigators interviewed by Reuters say Aadhil made claims he was a journalist and a PhD candidate in some of his online postings, which also were false.

They said they believed Aadhil, operating largely from his home, was a key part of the Easter bombings plot and helped in communications and training.

“He was the main technology person for them,” said one of the CID sources involved in the investigation. The source said Aadhil was helped in this by Abdul Latheef Mohamed Jameel, one of the eight suicide bombers who detonated his explosives at a guesthouse after failing to do so at Colombo’s luxury Taj Samudra hotel.

About a week before the bombings, Aadhil met Jameel, Zahran the extremist preacher, and Inshaf Ibrahim and Ilham Ibrahim, the two brothers from a family engaged in the spice trade in Colombo, the other sources said. The latter three men blew themselves up in five-star Colombo hotels.

The CID source said that Aadhil, Zahran and the Ibrahim brothers had leased land in Wanathawilluwa town in the north and set up a training camp. Police raided the place in January this year and discovered a large number of explosives, but did not know at the time who had leased it.

When police raided Aadhil’s home four days after the bombings, all his computer files were found to have been deleted.

“He seems to have played an important role in setting up communications for the attackers, helping organize meetings and training camps,” said one of the military sources.&nbsp;

A Sri Lankan software engineer suspected by authorities in Sri Lanka of having provided technical and logistical support to the Easter Sunday suicide bombers was monitored by Indian intelligence agencies three years ago for links with Islamic State suspects, investigators said.

A Sri Lankan software engineer suspected by authorities in Sri Lanka of having provided technical and logistical support to the Easter Sunday suicide bombers was monitored by Indian intelligence agencies three years ago for links with Islamic State suspects, investigators said. Four sources in Sri Lankan investigating agencies said they believed Aadhil Ameez, a 24-year-old, was the link between two groups that carried out the attacks on churches and hotels that killed more than 250 people and wounded hundreds more. Aadhil has been arrested and is in police custody, the sources said. His arrest has not been made public, but when asked by Reuters, Ruwan Gunasekera, the main spokesman for the Sri Lankan police, confirmed Aadhil was taken into custody on April 25, four days after the attacks. The spokesman declined to give more details. A police official at India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) and another police official in the western state of Gujarat said they were providing assistance to Sri Lankan authorities. Aadhil, who describes himself on his LinkedIn profile as a senior engineer/programmer/web designer with a masters degree in computer science and a bachelors in political science from UK universities, could not be reached for comment. He does not yet have a lawyer and under Sri Lanka’s tough new emergency laws imposed after the attacks, he can be held indefinitely. His father, M Ameez, who lives in Aluthgama, a town south of Colombo, denied that Aadhil was involved with the plotters and said such “allegations are lies”. The Indian investigators said they had been monitoring Aadhil since 2016 and named him in two chargesheets filed in Indian courts against suspected Islamic State operatives as being one of their contacts. According to one of the chargesheets, reviewed by Reuters, he showed up in Facebook, WhatsApp and Telegram chat with two of the suspects who are on trial for plotting an attack on a synagogue in the western city of Ahmedabad. The two suspects Ubed Ahmad Mirza, a lawyer, and Stimberwala Mohamed Kasim, a hospital technician, were accused of planning “lone-wolf” attacks, according to the charge sheet. Lawyers for both men rejected the allegations and said they were innocent. Both lawyers declined to comment on the possible role of Aadhil. Aadhil has also been named in another charge sheet filed in court by the NIA for providing propaganda and online material to three Indians arrested in early 2016 for promoting Islamic State. The three men, Sheikh Azhar ul-Islam, Adnan Hassan and Mohammed Rafiq Sadique Shaikh are on trial in a special Delhi court facing charges of criminal conspiracy to propagate the ideology of Islamic State, recruit, raise funds and facilitate the travel of people to Syria, according to the charge sheet. Sheikh Mohammad Munawar, a cousin of ul-Islam, said the charges were fabricated and that he had no criminal record ever. Families of the other two accused could not be reached. Their lawyers were not immediately available for comment. Reuters was unable to determine when the Indians informed Sri Lankan authorities of the surveillance. The two officials declined to say whether they continued to keep Aadhil under surveillance after they completed an investigation of the cases in India. Indian intelligence services warned Sri Lankan authorities of a possible attack at least three times in April alone, officials have said. LINK BETWEEN GROUPS Sri Lankan authorities have said two local Islamist groups - the National Tawheed Jamaath (NTJ) led by radical preacher Zahran Hashim and the Jamathei Millathu Ibrahim (JMI) - were involved in the synchronized blasts in Colombo, the island nation’s capital, and two other towns. Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attacks. Two sources in Sri Lanka’s police Criminal Investigation Department and two military officials said Aadhil was the link between the two groups. The groups used the dark web and WhatsApp to communicate, they said. However, investigators don’t know yet whether Aadhil was simply a facilitator for the bombers, or if he was also one of the ring leaders involved in planning and executing the attacks. Last week, police raided IT firm Virtusa, where Aadhil had interned in 2013, according to his profile. One current employee has been detained for questioning in connection with the attacks, police say, but no other details have been provided. ONLINE CHATS India, with one of the world’s largest populations of Muslims, has claimed success in foiling several Islamic State cells, mostly in southern and western India. Court documents reviewed by Reuters show that the online conversations between the Sri Lankan and the two Indians in western India began in the summer of 2016 and lasted until the arrest of the two Indians in late 2017. The documents describe how Aadhil Ax, as he called himself online, asked the Indians if they had heard about the atrocities being committed against Muslims in Sri Lanka by the majority Buddhist community. He talked about his own experiences: that he had been in jail, that his house had been torched and that he limped because of beatings, the documents seen by Reuters show. Investigators and neighbours in Sri Lanka say none of these was true. The Sri Lankan investigators interviewed by Reuters say Aadhil made claims he was a journalist and a PhD candidate in some of his online postings, which also were false. They said they believed Aadhil, operating largely from his home, was a key part of the Easter bombings plot and helped in communications and training. “He was the main technology person for them,” said one of the CID sources involved in the investigation. The source said Aadhil was helped in this by Abdul Latheef Mohamed Jameel, one of the eight suicide bombers who detonated his explosives at a guesthouse after failing to do so at Colombo’s luxury Taj Samudra hotel. About a week before the bombings, Aadhil met Jameel, Zahran the extremist preacher, and Inshaf Ibrahim and Ilham Ibrahim, the two brothers from a family engaged in the spice trade in Colombo, the other sources said. The latter three men blew themselves up in five-star Colombo hotels. The CID source said that Aadhil, Zahran and the Ibrahim brothers had leased land in Wanathawilluwa town in the north and set up a training camp. Police raided the place in January this year and discovered a large number of explosives, but did not know at the time who had leased it. When police raided Aadhil’s home four days after the bombings, all his computer files were found to have been deleted. “He seems to have played an important role in setting up communications for the attackers, helping organize meetings and training camps,” said one of the military sources.

Sri Lankan software engineer, under Indian surveillance, key in Easter attack

Aam Aadmi Party's Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan and his supporters were booked for allegedly assaulting and threatening a man in Jamia Nagar in New Delhi, police said Monday.

A complaint was received from a man alleging that AAP supporters assaulted him because he was not supporting Khan and the party, a senior police officer said.

The man told police that Khan was present at the time of the incident, he said.

The incident took place Sunday evening after the polling concluded in the city, the officer said.

A case has been registered and police is probing the allegations, he said.&nbsp;

Aam Aadmi Party's Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan and his supporters were booked for allegedly assaulting and threatening a man in Jamia Nagar in New Delhi, police said Monday.

Aam Aadmi Party's Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan and his supporters were booked for allegedly assaulting and threatening a man in Jamia Nagar in New Delhi, police said Monday. A complaint was received from a man alleging that AAP supporters assaulted him because he was not supporting Khan and the party, a senior police officer said. The man told police that Khan was present at the time of the incident, he said. The incident took place Sunday evening after the polling concluded in the city, the officer said. A case has been registered and police is probing the allegations, he said.

AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan, supporters booked for 'assaulting' man

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-one-person-killed-in-mob-attack-despite-nationwide-curfew-218497">Sri Lanka: One person killed in mob attack despite nationwide curfew</a>

Mobs slashed to death a man despite a nationwide curfew imposed Monday night after communal riots spread to three districts north of the capital in a violent backlash against Easter suicide bombings.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-will-meet-putin-xi-at-g20-summit-in-japan-says-well-be-very-fruitfull-meeting-218514">Trump will meet Putin, Xi at G20 summit in Japan; says, we'll be very fruitful meeting</a>

President Donald Trump said Monday he expects to meet with the presidents of Russia and China next month at the Group of 20 summit in Japan.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/iranian-foreign-minister-javad-zarif-visits-india-as-us-sanctions-weigh-in-218495">Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif visits India as US sanctions weigh in</a>

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif arrived on Monday night in New Delhi to hold talks with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj primarily on the impact of the US ending waivers on import of oil from Iran, and ways to deal with it, official sources said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-taliban-claims-responsibility-for-quetta-blast-218492">Pakistan Taliban claims responsibility for Quetta blast</a>

Tehrik-i Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Pakistani Taliban, claimed responsibility for Pakistan's Quetta blast in which four policemen were killed.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood-star-doris-day-singer-of-que-sera-sera-dead-at-97-218502">Hollywood star Doris Day, singer of 'Que Sera, Sera,' dead at 97</a>

Actress Doris Day, who became one of the greatest box-office attractions of her time as the cheery, freckle-faced personification of wholesomeness, died on Monday at the age of 97, her foundation said on Monday.

Sri Lanka: One person killed in mob attack despite nationwide curfew Mobs slashed to death a man despite a nationwide curfew imposed Monday night after communal riots spread to three districts north of the capital in a violent backlash against Easter suicide bombings.

Sri Lanka: One person killed in mob attack despite nationwide curfew Mobs slashed to death a man despite a nationwide curfew imposed Monday night after communal riots spread to three districts north of the capital in a violent backlash against Easter suicide bombings. Trump will meet Putin, Xi at G20 summit in Japan; says, we'll be very fruitful meeting President Donald Trump said Monday he expects to meet with the presidents of Russia and China next month at the Group of 20 summit in Japan. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif visits India as US sanctions weigh in Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif arrived on Monday night in New Delhi to hold talks with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj primarily on the impact of the US ending waivers on import of oil from Iran, and ways to deal with it, official sources said. Pakistan Taliban claims responsibility for Quetta blast Tehrik-i Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Pakistani Taliban, claimed responsibility for Pakistan's Quetta blast in which four policemen were killed. Hollywood star Doris Day, singer of 'Que Sera, Sera,' dead at 97 Actress Doris Day, who became one of the greatest box-office attractions of her time as the cheery, freckle-faced personification of wholesomeness, died on Monday at the age of 97, her foundation said on Monday.

India has delayed the implementation of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/if-someone-attacks-us-on-our-doorstep-we-will-fight-to-the-finish-china-on-trade-war-with-us-218705">higher tariffs on some goods</a> imported from the United States to June 16, according to a government statement.

The new duties were to come into force from May 16.

Angered by Washington’s refusal to exempt it from <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-he-feels-us-china-trade-talks-going-to-be-very-successful-218515">new steel and aluminium tariffs</a>, New Delhi announced in June last year a plan to raise the import tax on US products such as almonds, walnuts and apples.

But since then, New Delhi has repeatedly delayed the implementation of the new tariffs. In October last year, Trump described India as a "tariff king" as he reiterated his allegations that New Delhi has a high tariff rate on various American products.

India's proposed retaliatory tariffs are far less than that by China on more than 800 American agricultural products which accounted for approximately $20.6 billion in exports to the US in 2017.

India ranked third as a destination for US apple exports in 2017, purchasing $97 million of US apples, or 10 per cent of the total exports. India's exports to the US in 2017-18 stood at $47.9 billion, while imports were $26.7 billion. The trade balance is in favour of India.

According to a US Congressional report, India's proposed retaliatory tariffs against US agricultural products including apples, almonds and lentils will have an adverse impact on American exports worth nearly $900 million.

Countries have imposed tariffs on American agricultural products to retaliate against actions the Trump administration took in March, 2018 to protect US steel and aluminium producers and in response to Chinese intellectual property rights and technology policies.

Since then, over 800 US food and agricultural products have been subject to retaliatory tariffs from China, the EU, Turkey, Canada and Mexico.

(Inputs: Reuters and PTI)

India has delayed the implementation of higher tariffs on some goods imported from the United States to June 16, according to a government statement. The new duties were to come into force from May 16.

India has delayed the implementation of higher tariffs on some goods imported from the United States to June 16, according to a government statement. The new duties were to come into force from May 16. Angered by Washington’s refusal to exempt it from new steel and aluminium tariffs, New Delhi announced in June last year a plan to raise the import tax on US products such as almonds, walnuts and apples. But since then, New Delhi has repeatedly delayed the implementation of the new tariffs. In October last year, Trump described India as a "tariff king" as he reiterated his allegations that New Delhi has a high tariff rate on various American products. India's proposed retaliatory tariffs are far less than that by China on more than 800 American agricultural products which accounted for approximately $20.6 billion in exports to the US in 2017. India ranked third as a destination for US apple exports in 2017, purchasing $97 million of US apples, or 10 per cent of the total exports. India's exports to the US in 2017-18 stood at $47.9 billion, while imports were $26.7 billion. The trade balance is in favour of India. According to a US Congressional report, India's proposed retaliatory tariffs against US agricultural products including apples, almonds and lentils will have an adverse impact on American exports worth nearly $900 million. Countries have imposed tariffs on American agricultural products to retaliate against actions the Trump administration took in March, 2018 to protect US steel and aluminium producers and in response to Chinese intellectual property rights and technology policies. Since then, over 800 US food and agricultural products have been subject to retaliatory tariffs from China, the EU, Turkey, Canada and Mexico. (Inputs: Reuters and PTI)

India postpones levying retaliatory tariff on US goods

Researchers from Botany department, Savitribai Phule Pune University have invented a new concept to degrade polythene.

Researchers have found that polythene can also be degraded by Fungi.&nbsp;

They have identified certain fungi with high polythene degradation potential from mangrove rhizosphere soil.&nbsp;

Dr AB Ade, Researcher, Savitribai Phule Pune University said, "We have focused on the biodegradable concept. For biodegrading, microbial degradation is one of the parts. During microbial degradation, bacteria and fungus come to the fore that are also known as scavengers of the ecosystem. They convert big pollutants into simple molecules. There are enzymes in microbes which are biocatalyst."

"If polythene strip is inserted into food material medium of microbes or plastic material is inoculated into it, microbes` enzymes will release into that compound and help in degradation," he said.&nbsp;

Polythene contributes to around 64 per cent of the total plastic waste and takes about 1,000 years to degrade under natural environmental conditions.&nbsp;

India generates about 25,940 tons of plastic and more than 97,000 tons of solid waste per day, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change had revealed in June 2018.

In order to combat plastic pollution and other environmental issues, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the occasion of World Environment Day had also pressed for the need to reduce usage of plastic.&nbsp;

Researchers from Botany department, Savitribai Phule Pune University have invented a new concept to degrade polythene. Researchers have found that polythene can also be degraded by Fungi.

Researchers from Botany department, Savitribai Phule Pune University have invented a new concept to degrade polythene. Researchers have found that polythene can also be degraded by Fungi. They have identified certain fungi with high polythene degradation potential from mangrove rhizosphere soil. Dr AB Ade, Researcher, Savitribai Phule Pune University said, "We have focused on the biodegradable concept. For biodegrading, microbial degradation is one of the parts. During microbial degradation, bacteria and fungus come to the fore that are also known as scavengers of the ecosystem. They convert big pollutants into simple molecules. There are enzymes in microbes which are biocatalyst." "If polythene strip is inserted into food material medium of microbes or plastic material is inoculated into it, microbes` enzymes will release into that compound and help in degradation," he said. Polythene contributes to around 64 per cent of the total plastic waste and takes about 1,000 years to degrade under natural environmental conditions. India generates about 25,940 tons of plastic and more than 97,000 tons of solid waste per day, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change had revealed in June 2018. In order to combat plastic pollution and other environmental issues, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the occasion of World Environment Day had also pressed for the need to reduce usage of plastic.

Researchers invent new concept to degrade polythene in Pune

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/police-imposes-night-curfew-in-sri-lanka-again-amid-violence-218754">Police imposes night curfew in Sri Lanka again amid violence</a>

Sri Lankan authorities on Tuesday imposed another night of curfew amid violence in the North-Western Province (NWP).

Police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said the night curfew will go into effect from 9:00 pm. Gunasekera added that NWP will be shutdown longer.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/if-someone-attacks-us-on-our-doorstep-we-will-fight-to-the-finish-china-on-trade-war-with-us-218705">If someone attacks us on our doorstep, we will fight to the finish: China on trade war with US</a>

A day after China retaliated with imposing $60 billion tariffs on US goods, the foreign ministry said it will remain calm and level-headed in the face of flip-flops and maximum pressure from the US side.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/after-cfo-jet-airways-ceo-vinay-dube-resigns-218733">After CFO, Jet Airways CEO Vinay Dube resigns</a>

Jet Airways said on Tuesday that Chief Executive Officer Vinay Dube had resigned with immediate effect.

Earlier today, Jet Airways' Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer Amit Agarwal had also resigned.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-army-to-move-air-defence-units-closer-to-pakistan-border-post-balakot-strikes-218676">Indian Army to move air defence units closer to Pakistan border post-Balakot strikes</a>

After a deep internal review of the recent conflict with Pakistan, the Indian Army is planning to deploy a number of its air defence units close to the border to thwart aerial threats emanating from Pakistan.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/pm-modi-challenges-opposition-to-prove-if-he-amassed-assets-kept-money-in-foreign-bank-218697">Prove I have benami property, money in foreign bank: PM Modi challenges Opposition</a>

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday threw an open challenge to the Opposition to prove if he had amassed any assets or kept money in any foreign bank.

Police imposes night curfew in Sri Lanka again amid violence Sri Lankan authorities on Tuesday imposed another night of curfew amid violence in the North-Western Province (NWP).

Police imposes night curfew in Sri Lanka again amid violence Sri Lankan authorities on Tuesday imposed another night of curfew amid violence in the North-Western Province (NWP). Police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said the night curfew will go into effect from 9:00 pm. Gunasekera added that NWP will be shutdown longer. If someone attacks us on our doorstep, we will fight to the finish: China on trade war with US A day after China retaliated with imposing $60 billion tariffs on US goods, the foreign ministry said it will remain calm and level-headed in the face of flip-flops and maximum pressure from the US side. After CFO, Jet Airways CEO Vinay Dube resigns Jet Airways said on Tuesday that Chief Executive Officer Vinay Dube had resigned with immediate effect. Earlier today, Jet Airways' Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer Amit Agarwal had also resigned. Indian Army to move air defence units closer to Pakistan border post-Balakot strikes After a deep internal review of the recent conflict with Pakistan, the Indian Army is planning to deploy a number of its air defence units close to the border to thwart aerial threats emanating from Pakistan. Prove I have benami property, money in foreign bank: PM Modi challenges Opposition Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday threw an open challenge to the Opposition to prove if he had amassed any assets or kept money in any foreign bank.

&nbsp;

The Iran nuclear deal, the Afghan peace process and India's import of Iranian oil were the three important subjects of discussion when <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/iranian-foreign-minister-javad-zarif-visits-india-as-us-sanctions-weigh-in-218495">Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif</a> met external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday.&nbsp;

Zarif's Delhi visit is part of tour to countries such as Russia, China, Turkmenistan and Iraq to brief about the Iran Nuclear deal among other issues.

This is the second visit by Iranian foreign minister to India this year and a significant one since it comes as tensions rise in West Asia due to Tehran - Washington showdown.

Saving the Nuclear Deal

Iran foreign minister Zarif briefed his country's position on the 2015 Iran Nuclear deal or Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and steps taken by Tehran as part of the deal.&nbsp;

Recalling the steps announced by Iranian President Rouhani on May 8 including decisions linked to the export of enriched material and heavy water, the visiting foreign minister mentioned that 60 days timeline given to EU-3 (France, Germany and UK) and other parties to JCPOA for restoring the oil and banking channels which has been blocked due to American sanctions.

New Delhi, reiterated its position on the deal and said it would like all parties to the agreement to continue to fulfil their commitments. Remember the US had withdrawn from the 2015 deal. Tehran is now banking on the EU to save the deal now.

Afghan Peace Process

The Afghan peace process was discussed by both sides with the spokesperson of the ministry of external affairs Raveesh Kumar in a tweet on the Zarif-Sushma meet said, "Good exchange of views on the evolving regional situation, including Afghanistan."

Iran's Chabahar port plays an important role in connecting India with Afghanistan and India last year took partial control of it. Chabahar port is also central to International North-South Transport (INSTC) Corridor which will connect Mumbai to Moscow.

Both sides expressed satisfaction at the operationalization of the interim contract on the &nbsp;Chabahar Port between India Ports Global Limited (IPGL) and Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO).

In January, India formally established shipping lanes with the Chabahar port and now every two weeks Indian ships go from three Indian ports—Mumbai, Kandla and Mundra to the port in Iran.

India has been engaging with regional countries such as Russia, Iran, China and Central Asian countries on the Afghan peace process and supports an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled process.

Import of Iran Oil

The Iranian Foreign Minister landed in Delhi from Turkmenistan on Monday. Speaking to media on his arrival, he lauded his countries ties with India and said New Delhi "is one of our most important partners - economic, political and regional."

On the oil Imports by India, Zarif said, "the two sides have designed a special financial system to augment trade and economic cooperation."

During the Tuesday talks, external affairs minister said New Delhi will take any final decision on continuation of import of Iran oil only after election results "keeping in mind our commercial considerations, energy security and economic interests."

India is one of the largest importers of Iranian oil, but due to the American sanctions faces pressure from Washington to cut oil imports from the west Asian country.

&nbsp;

The Iran nuclear deal, the Afghan peace process and India's import of Iranian oil were the three important subjects of discussion when Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif met external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday.

The Iran nuclear deal, the Afghan peace process and India's import of Iranian oil were the three important subjects of discussion when Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif met external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday. Zarif's Delhi visit is part of tour to countries such as Russia, China, Turkmenistan and Iraq to brief about the Iran Nuclear deal among other issues. This is the second visit by Iranian foreign minister to India this year and a significant one since it comes as tensions rise in West Asia due to Tehran - Washington showdown. Saving the Nuclear Deal Iran foreign minister Zarif briefed his country's position on the 2015 Iran Nuclear deal or Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and steps taken by Tehran as part of the deal. Recalling the steps announced by Iranian President Rouhani on May 8 including decisions linked to the export of enriched material and heavy water, the visiting foreign minister mentioned that 60 days timeline given to EU-3 (France, Germany and UK) and other parties to JCPOA for restoring the oil and banking channels which has been blocked due to American sanctions. New Delhi, reiterated its position on the deal and said it would like all parties to the agreement to continue to fulfil their commitments. Remember the US had withdrawn from the 2015 deal. Tehran is now banking on the EU to save the deal now. Afghan Peace Process The Afghan peace process was discussed by both sides with the spokesperson of the ministry of external affairs Raveesh Kumar in a tweet on the Zarif-Sushma meet said, "Good exchange of views on the evolving regional situation, including Afghanistan." Iran's Chabahar port plays an important role in connecting India with Afghanistan and India last year took partial control of it. Chabahar port is also central to International North-South Transport (INSTC) Corridor which will connect Mumbai to Moscow. Both sides expressed satisfaction at the operationalization of the interim contract on the Chabahar Port between India Ports Global Limited (IPGL) and Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO). In January, India formally established shipping lanes with the Chabahar port and now every two weeks Indian ships go from three Indian ports—Mumbai, Kandla and Mundra to the port in Iran. India has been engaging with regional countries such as Russia, Iran, China and Central Asian countries on the Afghan peace process and supports an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled process. Import of Iran Oil The Iranian Foreign Minister landed in Delhi from Turkmenistan on Monday. Speaking to media on his arrival, he lauded his countries ties with India and said New Delhi "is one of our most important partners - economic, political and regional." On the oil Imports by India, Zarif said, "the two sides have designed a special financial system to augment trade and economic cooperation." During the Tuesday talks, external affairs minister said New Delhi will take any final decision on continuation of import of Iran oil only after election results "keeping in mind our commercial considerations, energy security and economic interests." India is one of the largest importers of Iranian oil, but due to the American sanctions faces pressure from Washington to cut oil imports from the west Asian country.

Foreign minister Javad Zarif, Sushma Swaraj discusses Iran nuclear deal & Afghan peace process

Monsoon is likely to arrive in Kerala on June 4, three days after its normal onset date, marking the official commencement of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/monsoon-likely-to-be-near-normal-this-year-india-meteorological-department-210602">rainy season in the country</a>, private weather forecaster Skymet said Tuesday.

The normal onset date for monsoon over Kerala is June 1.

Skymet said monsoon will be "below normal" in the country with a Long Period Average (LPA) of 93 per cent and an error margin of five per cent.

"Arrival of monsoon over Andaman and Nicobar Islands will be on May 22, with an error margin of plus/minus 2 days. Southwest Monsoon 2019 is likely to make onset over Kerala on June 4, with an error margin of plus/minus 2 days.

"It seems that initial advancement of monsoon over peninsular India is going to be slow," Skymet CEO Jatin Singh said.

"All the four regions are going to witness lesser than normal rainfall, this season. Rainfall in East and Northeast India and central parts will be poorer than Northwest India and South Peninsula," Singh said.

According to Skymet, there are 55 per cent chances of a below-normal rainfall, which will have an influence of El Nino, a phenomenon linked to the heating of Pacific waters.

East and Northeast India will get 92 per cent of the LPA which falls under the below normal category.

The risk remains high for Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal, while it will be marginal for Northeast India, Skymet said.

Northwest India that comprises all north Indian states will receive 96 per cent rainfall of the LPA, which falls on the borderline of normal and below normal rainfall category.

Hilly states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are likely to perform better than the plains of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi- NCR, the Skymet said.

Central India is likely to receive rainfall of 91 per cent of the LPA. Rainfall in Vidarbha, Marathwada, west Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat will be "poorer than normal".

This is likely to aggravate the situation as Marathwada and several parts of Gujarat been facing farm distress and drought-like situation.

Conditions will be more or less similar in South peninsula.

"North interior Karnataka and Rayalaseema may see poor rainfall. Kerala and coastal Karnataka are likely to perform better," Skymet said.&nbsp;

Monsoon is likely to arrive in Kerala on June 4, three days after its normal onset date, marking the official commencement of the rainy season in the country, private weather forecaster Skymet said Tuesday.

Monsoon is likely to arrive in Kerala on June 4, three days after its normal onset date, marking the official commencement of the rainy season in the country, private weather forecaster Skymet said Tuesday. The normal onset date for monsoon over Kerala is June 1. Skymet said monsoon will be "below normal" in the country with a Long Period Average (LPA) of 93 per cent and an error margin of five per cent. "Arrival of monsoon over Andaman and Nicobar Islands will be on May 22, with an error margin of plus/minus 2 days. Southwest Monsoon 2019 is likely to make onset over Kerala on June 4, with an error margin of plus/minus 2 days. "It seems that initial advancement of monsoon over peninsular India is going to be slow," Skymet CEO Jatin Singh said. "All the four regions are going to witness lesser than normal rainfall, this season. Rainfall in East and Northeast India and central parts will be poorer than Northwest India and South Peninsula," Singh said. According to Skymet, there are 55 per cent chances of a below-normal rainfall, which will have an influence of El Nino, a phenomenon linked to the heating of Pacific waters. East and Northeast India will get 92 per cent of the LPA which falls under the below normal category. The risk remains high for Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal, while it will be marginal for Northeast India, Skymet said. Northwest India that comprises all north Indian states will receive 96 per cent rainfall of the LPA, which falls on the borderline of normal and below normal rainfall category. Hilly states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are likely to perform better than the plains of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi- NCR, the Skymet said. Central India is likely to receive rainfall of 91 per cent of the LPA. Rainfall in Vidarbha, Marathwada, west Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat will be "poorer than normal". This is likely to aggravate the situation as Marathwada and several parts of Gujarat been facing farm distress and drought-like situation. Conditions will be more or less similar in South peninsula. "North interior Karnataka and Rayalaseema may see poor rainfall. Kerala and coastal Karnataka are likely to perform better," Skymet said.

Monsoon likely to hit Kerala on June 4, three days after normal onset date: Skymet

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