Indian Sub-continent

ISLAMABAD, Oct 2 (APP): President Dr. Arif Alvi on Wednesday said that India’s illegal and unilateral alteration of the disputed status of Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJK) and its demographic structure contravened numerous UNSC Resolutions, international law and it’s own prior commitments.

He said Jammu and Kashmir was not an internal matter of India, rather it was a longstanding internationally recognized dispute on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council.

ISLAMABAD, Oct 2 (APP): Pakistan on Wednesday summoned the Indian Deputy High Commissioner again and condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Indian occupation forces along the Line of Control (LoC) on October 1, 2019, in which an old woman embraced martyrdom and three other civilians sustained serious injuries.

Director General (South Asia and SAARC) Dr Mohammad Faisal summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner Gaurav Ahluwalia, a foreign office statement issued here said.

PESHAWAR, Pakistan, ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Afghan Taliban officials were due in Pakistan on Wednesday, the insurgent group said, even as the top U.S. diplomat involved in talks with the militants also met government officials there.

It was however not known if the Taliban and the U.S. official would meet.

The Taliban delegation will be led by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, to discuss “important issues” with Pakistani officials in the capital, Islamabad, Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen said on Twitter.

New Delhi, Oct 2 (PTI) Trade ministers of 16 RCEP countries, including India and Japan, will hold a crucial meeting in Bangkok next week to take stock of the negotiations that are in the last phase, an official said.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will attend the eighth RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) Ministerial Meeting being held in Bangkok from 10-12 October.

The official said that this would probably be the last ministerial-level meeting as only a few issues like rules of origin are pending for finalisation.

Jerusalem, Oct 2 (AFP) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's lawyers arrived for his pre-indictment hearing on corruption allegations Wednesday and pledged to convince prosecutors to drop the cases against him.

Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit had in February announced his intention to indict the premier for bribery, fraud and breach of trust pending a hearing in three separate cases.

He is accused of acting on behalf of wealthy supporters and businessmen in exchange for gifts or favourable news coverage.

Lucknow, Oct 2 (PTI) Taking a swipe at the BJP, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi on Wednesday said it should first pursue the path of truth shown by Mahatma Gandhi and then talk about him.

She made the remarks before participating in a silent march organised here by the Congress on 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

"It was the order of Gandhiji to pursue the path of truth. First, the BJP should pursue the path of truth and then talk about Gandhiji," the Congress leader said.

Muzaffarnagar (UP), Oct 2 (PTI) An abandoned baby girl wrapped in a plastic bag was found in a forested area in Uttar Pradesh's Shamli district, a police official said on Wednesday.

Some people passing through the area, near Banat town under Babri police station limits, found the newborn after they heard her cries, he said.

The police reached the spot and took the child to a hospital where she is undergoing treatment, the official said.

Srinagar, Oct 1 (PTI) A notification was on issued on Tuesday for the election of chairpersons of Block Development Councils (BDC) in 310 blocks of Jammu and Kashmir, the first polls in the state after abrogation of its special status on August 5.

Chief Electoral Officer Shailendra Kumar, while issuing the notification, said the elections will be held on October 24.

According to the notification, the last date for filing of nominations will be October 9, while the scrutiny of nominations will be done on October 10.

Jalna, Oct 1 (PTI) A man was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly robbing six temples in Maharashtra's Jalna district, police said.

Babasaheb Narayan Wange, a resident of Sanjay Nagar here, had broken into Sai Baba temple at Ambad Naka, Tulja Bhavani temple at Golapangri and four others in Badnapur and Gondi villages, Crime Branch official Rajendra Singh Gour said.

"We have recovered ornaments of deities, temple bells, lamps, incense sticks and coconuts from the accused," he added.

Thane, Oct 2 (PTI) A four-year-old girl was allegedly raped at a creche by an ATM security guard in Maharashtra's Thane city, police said on Wednesday.

The accused, identified as Dashrath Kamble (42), has been arrested, a police spokesperson said.

The incident took place on Sunday after the girl's mother left her at the daycare facility located in Yashodhan Nagar area here, she said.