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India-Pak FS talks over: Islamabad press statement starts and ends with Kashmir

Pakistan Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry met his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar at the South Block in New Delhi after arriving in the national capital on 26 April. He is also slated to attend the senior officials' meeting of the 'Heart of Asia'-Istanbul Process conference.

Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit, after the meeting, said in a statement "The meeting provided a useful opportunity to exchange views on recent developments in bilateral context. In line with our Prime Minister's vision of peaceful neighbourhood, the Foreign Secretary underscored Pakistan's commitment to have friendly relations with all its neighbours, including India."

"All outstanding issues including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute were discussed. The Foreign Secretary emphasized that Kashmir remains the core issue that requires a just solution, in accordance with UNSC resolutions and wishes of the Kashmiri people," he added.Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit received Foreign Secretary Chaudhary at the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

SC extends Italian marine Latorre's stay outside India till 30 September

The Supreme Court on 26 April has extended Italian marine Massimiliano Latorre's stay outside India till 30 September, allowing him to stay in Italy for a few more months. The Apex Court has asked the Italian marine to provide a fresh undertaking before 30 April that he would return when required by the court.

Earlier in January, the Supreme Court had extended his stay outside India till 30 April. The apex court had on 13 July last year allowed Latorre to stay in Italy for another six months on medical grounds after the Indian Government did not object to his plea.

PSU banks, RBI figures differ on loan write-offs

RTI responses show that there are huge discrepancies between Reserve Bank of India figures relating to banks, and the information supplied by public sector banks to the RBI.

For instance, while the RBI says Punjab National Bank wrote off over Rs 8,500 crore in the last two years, PNB says it made no write-offs in this period. And while the Bank of India says its write-offs in the last two years were more than Rs 17,700 crore, the RBI says they were Rs 2,567 crore, according to The Indian Express.

These discrepancies show that the extent of the bad loans may still not be clear.

TN CM Jaya worth Rs 113.73 crore, down from last declaration of Rs 117.13 crore

According to her affidavit as she filed her nomination on Monday for the elections in Tamil Nadu, chief minister J Jayalalithaa declared assets worth Rs 113.73 crore, down by Rs 3.40 crore from the Rs 117.13 crore she had declared in the 2015 bypoll.

Jayalalithaa declared Rs 41.63 crore in movable assets and nearly Rs 72.10 crore in immovable assets, according to The Indian Express, but said "various deposits and shares with companies have been seized by the police and with the custody of the court..." (In connection with the disproportionate assets case against her.) "As the possession is not with me, the value could not be ascertained."

Sushma hospitalised after breathing difficulties

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj was admitted to the pulmonary medicine department of the All India Institute of Medical Science on Monday at about 5 pm, after complaining of breathing difficulties.

According to sources at AIIMS, the 64-year-old was shifted to the hospital's cardio-neuro centre at about 10 pm. Her condition is reported to be stable, says The Indian Express, but the nature of her illness is not known.

Delhi's National Museum of Natural History destroyed in overnight fire

The National Museum of Natural History in central Delhi hasbeen completely destroyed in a fire that broke out at about 1.45 am today.

The fire started on the top floor of the museum, which is located in the FICCI building in Mandi House, and spread to all six floors.

It was brought under control only by 5 am by 35 fire engines, and doused completely by 7 am, according to NDTV. Everyone in the building had been safely evacuated by the time the fire brigade arrived.

Two firemen were seriously injured and rushed to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital.

Kanhaiya 'strangulation' incident unlikely to be investigated

The Mumbai Police are unlikely to investigate the alleged scuffle between JNU students union leader Kanhaiya Kumar and a co-passenger on a Mumbai-Pune flight on Sunday morning.

The police filed a non-cognisable complaint in the case, a category that does not require further investigation, says the Hindustan Times.

According to Kanhaiya's friend, the two JNU students were attacked by a fellow passenger while they boarded a flight to Pune from Mumbai on Sunday. The passenger, Manasjyoti Deka, allegedly pushed Kanhaiya while trying to reach his window seat, which led to an argument and an attempt by Deka to strangulate Kanhaiya.

BJP to counter Uttarakhand in Parliament with Agusta

To counter the Congress party's demand for a discussion on President's Rule in Uttarakhand in Parliament, the ruling BJP has decided to bring up the issue of the Agusta Westland VVIP chopper case, which an Italian court had on Monday commented upon to the detriment of the then UPA government.

Senior BJP MP Bhupender Yadav said that he has moved a calling-attention motion and a motion seeking a short discussion on the issue in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. On Monday in the Lok Sabha, BJP member Meenakshi Lekhi raised the issue during zero hour, according to The Economic Times

Govt plans 'India, Land of Yoga' campaign with Julia Roberts

The tourism ministry is planning a global campaign to project India as the land of yoga, with Hollywood actor Julia Roberts as the campaign's face.

Roberts has been associated with yoga since she shot for the film Eat Pray Love at an ashram near Gurugram in 2009.

"The plan has to be approved by tourism minister Mahesh Sharma and the Prime Minister's Office before we approach the actress, but having an international face recognised for practicing yoga is crucial for the success of the campaign," said a tourism ministry official, according to The Telegraph.

'Unknown sources' constitute 54% of 5 national parties' income

India's election watchdog Association of Democratic Rights has found that 54 per cent of the total income of national level political parties in 2014-15 was from unknown sources.

The ADR analysed the income and expenditure of the BJP, CPM, CPI, BSP and the NCP, based on their income tax returns submitted to the Election Commission of India. It found that among the five parties, the NCP was the only one to make the details of all voluntary donations public, according to The Telegraph, while the sources of about 50 per cent of the voluntary contributions to the BJP are unknown.