Indian Sub-continent

New Delhi, Oct 28; GANASHAKTI: India has taken up Pakistan's denial of use of its airspace to the prime minister's flight with the International Civil Aviation Organisation, government sources said on Monday ahead of Narendra Modi's visit to Saudi Arabia on a bilateral visit.

India sought overflight clearance from Pakistan for the prime minister's aircraft to go to Saudi Arabia on Monday, but Islamabad cited alleged human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir to deny the request.

Mau, Oct 27 (PTI) A youth was allegedly beaten to death by some people in the Sarai Lakhansi area of this Uttar Pradesh district, police said on Sunday.

The incident took place Saturday night, Circle Officer (city) Rajkumar said.

Shahid, 20, was beaten up by some people weilding clout in the area. He sustained serious injuries and was rushed to a hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead, he said.

New Delhi, Oct 27 (PTI) A layer of haze blanketed the national capital and its air quality dipped to "very poor" category with revellers continuing to defy with impunity the Supreme Court-enforced two-hour limit for bursting crackers on Diwali on Sunday.

Ear-deafening booms, toxic smoke and ash from firecrackers filled the air as the overall air quality index crossed the "severe" mark at many places.

New Delhi, Oct 28 (PTI) A delegation of over 25 European Union MPs on Monday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval ahead of their planned visit to Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, sources have said.

The delegation was briefed about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and cross-border terrorism emanating from across the border, they said.

The delegation of EU members of parliament will meet Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday evening.

Chandigarh, Oct 27 (PTI) Manohar Lal Khattar took oath as Haryana chief minister for the second time on Sunday and will lead the BJP-JJP coalition government in the state.

JJP leader Dushyant Chautala took oath as the deputy chief minister.

Haryana Governor Satyadeo Narain Arya administered oath at a ceremony held at the Raj Bhawan here on Diwali day.

ISLAMABAD, Oct 27 (APP): Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Sunday said India should realize that it could not fool the world over Indian Occupied Jammu and Kahsmir (IOJ&K) forever and its tried and trite accusations of terrorism, while simultaneously being the principle perpetrator of it, have little import with the international community.

New Delhi, Oct 26; GANASHAKTI - CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Saturday termed as "preposterous", Prime Minister Narendra Modi's claim that the turnout in the recently held Block Development Council (BDC) elections in Jammu and Kashmir was an indication of the region's faith in democracy.

Yechury said this is no sign of "normalcy" and the prime minister is resorting to "falsehoods and propaganda".

Islamabad, Oct 27; GANASHAKTI: Pakistan observed black day on Sunday in support of Kashmiris, with Prime Minister Imran Khan reaffirming his country's "unflinching moral, political and diplomatic support" to the people of Kashmir.

Khan said the black day being observed in Pakistan and across the world on Sunday is distinct from the past and demanded immediate lifting of the curfew and communications blackout in Kashmir.

He reaffirmed Pakistan's "unflinching moral, political and diplomatic support" to the people of Kashmir.

Srinagar, Oct 26 (PTI) National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, who is currently in detention under the Public Safety Act (PSA) has been greeted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his 82nd birthday, NC sources said on Saturday.

The sources said Abdullah, who turned 82 on October 21, received a letter from the Prime Minister greeting him on his birthday.

Jammu, Oct 26 (PTI) The National Conference on Saturday hoped that Lt Governor- designate Girish Chander Murmu would appreciate the "sentiment and sensitivity" of the people and would accord priority to the restoration of the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir.

It also hoped the change of guard in the Raj Bhavan would usher a new era of confidence for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.