Indian Sub-continent

KABUL (Reuters) - The U.S. special representative for Afghanistan showed Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Monday the draft of an agreement between the United States and the Taliban expected to clear the way for a phased U.S. troop withdrawal, officials said.

Zalmay Khalilzad, the Afghan-born U.S. diplomat who has completed nine rounds of talks with Taliban representatives, is meeting Afghan leaders in Kabul this week to build a consensus before the deal is signed.

New Delhi, Sep 2 (PTI) The country's manufacturing sector activity declined to its 15-month low in August, owing to slower increases in sales, output and employment, a monthly survey said on Monday.

The IHS Markit India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), fell to 51.4 in August, its lowest mark since May 2018, from 52.5 in July, as most survey indicators fell since July to signal a widespread loss of momentum.

New Delhi, Sep 1 (PTI) In an apparent sign of economic slowdown, India's GST collections in August dropped to Rs 98,202 crore from over Rs 1.02 lakh crore in the previous month, the finance ministry said on Sunday.

However, total Goods and Services Tax (GST) mop-up for August this year was 4.5 per cent higher than the Rs 93,960 crore collected in the same month last year.

Pathankot, Sep 2 (PTI) In a major boost to the Indian Air Force's combat capabilities, eight US-made Apache AH-64E attack helicopters are set to be inducted into the IAF on September 3, officials said on Monday.

Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa will be the chief guest during the induction ceremony, which will take place at the Pathankot Air Force station.

The AH-64E Apache is one of the world's most advanced multi-role combat helicopters and is flown by the US Army.

Bhavnagar (Guj), Sep 1 (PTI) A constable on Sunday allegedly killed his three children over a family dispute and then surrendered in Bhavnagar in Gujarat, police said.

Constable Sukhdev Siyal slit the throats of his three children at his home in the government quarters here over a family dispute on Sunday afternoon, Superintendent of Police Jaipal Singh Rathore said.

"He had a fight with his wife after which he killed his sons, Khushal (9), Uddhav (5) and Manmeet (3). Siyal was posted at the SP's office," an official said.

Mumbai, Sep 2 (PTI) Two-term Congress MLA and former Maharashtra minister Abdul Sattar joined the Shiv Sena on Monday.

Sattar, who represents Sillod Assembly seat in Aurangabad district, joined the Sena in the presence of party chief Uddhav Thackeray at the latter's residence here.

Bengaluru, Sep 2 (PTI) ISRO on Monday successfully carried out the separation of lander 'Vikram' from Chandrayaan-2 orbiter, the space agency said.

During the one hour separation window starting 12.45 pm, 'Vikram' was separated at 1.15 pm, the Indian Space Research Organisation said.

"Yes, the separation was successfully carried out," an ISRO official told PTI.

Srinagar, Sept 2 (PTI) The situation in Kashmir was calm as the restrictions have been eased out in most areas across the valley, but normal life remained affected for the 29th consecutive day on Monday, officials said.

Barricades have been removed from most areas of the valley, but deployment of security forces continued on the ground to maintain law and order, they said.

New Delhi, Sept 2 (PTI) The five-year ban imposed on Jamaat-e-Islami, Jammu and Kashmir, by the Centre for the outfit's active support to terror and secessionist activities has been confirmed by a tribunal headed by a Delhi High Court judge.

The tribunal, presided over by Justice Chander Shekhar, after going through innumerable evidence and deposition by witnesses observed that the "inescapable conclusion" is that the JeI, its office-bearers and members have been actively indulging in unlawful activities.

New Delhi, Sep 2 (PTI) India has accepted the consular access extended by Pakistan to death-row convict Kulbhushan Jadhav and a senior Indian diplomat will meet him on Monday, official sources said as tensions over Kashmir simmer between the two countries.

Charge d' Affaires at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad Gaurav Ahluwalia will meet Jadhav, the sources said.