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Damascus, Sep 1 (IANS) An Israeli missile strike hit the international airport of Syria's northern city of Aleppo, causing material damage, a Syrian military statement said.

Local news websites on Wednesday said the missiles came from over the Mediterranean, Xinhua news agency reported.

Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor, said Israel fired four missiles against the airport and surrounding warehouses, causing explosions to "what is believed to be a shipment of Iranian missiles".

The Israeli attack on Wednesday is the 22nd against Syrian sites this year, following a deadly strike earlier last week in the city of Masyaf.

--IANS
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New Delhi, Sep 1 (IANS) The Indian and Chinese armies have once again held talks on the Line of Actual Control (LAC). It is being told that this conversation has taken place at the Division Commander level.

According to defence sources, an Indian Army and Chinese Army Division Commander level meeting was held on Wednesday to discuss routine matters related to maintaining peace along the Line of Actuality in the Ladakh sector.

Sources familiar with the matter said such meetings are held regularly after every three months at various levels to discuss the issues of maintaining peace and border management.

The meeting comes at a time when it is being claimed that the Chinese PLA is continuing heavy construction activities along the LAC to further upgrade its military infrastructure and connectivity in the region.

During the talks, the Indian and Chinese sides under the leadership of the division commanders discussed issues related to peace in the Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) sector and other areas.

Earlier, India and China held talks in the Chushul sector in the wake of recent airspace violations by the Chinese Air Force, where India warned China against any misadventure.

--IANS
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By Brij Khandelwal
Agra, Aug 31 (IANS) Another attempt to force change the name of the Taj Mahal to "Tejo Mahal" fell flat, after noisy scenes and frayed tempers in a special session of the Agra Municipal Corporation on Wednesday.



A corporator had moved a resolution demanding the name change, on the basis of claimed "historical evidence" that the Taj Mahal was originally a Hindu temple.

But due to the din, and groups of corporators shouting slogans, the matter could not be taken up. Mayor Navin Jain adjourned the house indefinitely, after failing to bring the session to order.

While the Hindutva group was adamant to move the resolution, the BSP and Congress corporators opposed the initiative, claiming that the High Court and the Supreme Court, had already dismissed the plea.

Outside the house, various Hindutva groups continued to shout slogans, as corporation officials tried hard to pacify the agitated members of the house.

Senior BJP corporator Anurag Chaturvedi told IANS that the initiative was legally flawed and could not be pursued. The property belongs to the ASI, therefore only the Union government could take a decision.

The term of the Agra Municipal Corporation ends in November. Ahead of the elections, the parties are trying to raise the pitch.

Meanwhile, the Agra tourism industry has suggested to maintain the status quo. A new tourist season begins from September 27. "Therefore, efforts should be made to maintain peace and harmony," a tourism stakeholder said.

--IANS
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Srinagar, Aug 31 (IANS) Over a dozen senior Congress leaders and party workers in Jammu and Kashmir resigned on Wednesday to support Ghulam Nabi Azad.

Leading the group, former J&K Congress president and minister, Peerzada Sayeed said that he was feeling sad to leave the party with which he was associated for more than 35 years.

"The party has shrunken due to the wrong policies of the Congress high command. We have decided to join Azad sahib to strengthen democracy in J&K and to help the people who have suffered a lot," Sayeed said.

Prominent among those who resigned are Muhammad Muzaffar Parray, a former legislative and Vice President of J&K Congress; and Haji Abdul Gani Khan, the Congress district president Srinagar.

--IANS
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New Delhi, Aug 31 (IANS) As BJP has already started preparations for the forthcoming Assembly elections to be held in Madhya Pradesh in 2023, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan met BJP National President J.P. Nadda to discuss the political situation in the state and revamp the state Cabinet.

Before the 2023 Assembly elections to be held in Madhya Pradesh, the BJP now wants to complete the process of making all political appointments as soon as possible. Along with this, the exercise of filling the vacant ministerial posts in the state Cabinet has also started.

Amid the recent talks of cabinet expansion in the state, Chouhan met Nadda on Tuesday which has further intensified the news speculated across political circles.

According to top party sources, during his meeting with Nadda, the Madhya Pradesh CM informed him about the political situation in the state and conveyed the wishes of all top leaders and discussed the core issues concerning the party organization and his government.

Sharing the photos of meeting Nadda, Chouhan tweeted, "Today, in New Delhi made a courtesy call on BJP National President JP Nadda ji and on this occasion informed him about various works and efforts for the development and public welfare in the state."

Shivraj further said, "I sincerely thank Nadda ji for his continuous cooperation, support and guidance."

The Chief Minister wants to get all the regional and caste equations right before the 2023 Assembly elections by expanding the state Cabinet this time. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who recently visited Madhya Pradesh, had discussed the election preparations in the state while reviewing the work of the party organization and state government.

On Tuesday, Chouhan also met President Droupadi Murmu and invited her to come to Madhya Pradesh while congratulating her formally on winning the recent presidential election.

--IANS
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Chitradurga (Karnataka), Aug 30 (IANS) Karnataka Police on Tuesday produced two minor victims before the Chitradurga District and Session's court to record their statements in connection with the sexual assault case against prominent Lingayat seer Dr Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru.

The girls will record their statements under CrPC Section 164 before the judge in confidential proceedings.

If they stick to their earlier allegations against the accused seer, the police department will initiate the arrest proceedings, according to sources.

The sourves also explained that the seer will be subjected to the medical test.

Meanwhile, a group of 20 religious seers held a press conference in the premises of the Murugha mutt in Chitradurga, claiming that the accused is innocent and he is being framed.

Basavakumara Swamiji, Madara Channaiah Sree, Shanthaveera Sri, Immadi Siddarameshwara Sri extendED their support to him.

"Murugha seer brought about a revolution in the society in terms of breaking the shackles of caste. The charges are being made by vested interests who are not tolerant of his progress," Madara Channaiah Sree stated.

"It is a conspiracy. The true facts will come out in the investigation. "Since, the case is in the court, we don't want to talk any further," Immadi Siddarameshwara Sri said, adding that the "decision to nominate his predecessor and administrator is the prerogative of Swamiji".

--IANS
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