The big news: Himachal Pradesh, J&K, Punjab on high alert after heavy rain, and 9 other top stories
Other headlines: Nirmala Sitharaman responded to Rafale deal allegations, and the SC referred a plea against female genital cutting to a Constitution Bench.
A look at the headlines right now:
- Heavy rain triggers landslides in several districts of Himachal Pradesh: Punjab issued red alert as heavy rainfall lashed state for third straight day while the IMD put five districts of Kerala on yellow alert on Tuesday and Wednesday.
- Nirmala Sitharaman calls Rafale deal row a battle of perceptions: Rahul Gandhi, who is touring Amethi, said ‘chaukidar’ Modi talked about everything but Rafale.
- SC refers plea seeking ban of female genital cutting to five-judge Constitution Bench: In an earlier hearing, the court had said the practice cannot be constitutional as it is ‘solely used to make a woman more appealing to her husband’.
- Stranded naval commander Abhilash Tomy rescued by French vessel, says Indian Navy: The naval commander was stranded in the South Indian Ocean after suffering a back injury while taking part in the Golden Globe Race.
- Kerala nun rape-accused former Bishop Franco Mulakkal sent to judicial custody till October 6: The former bishop of Jalandhar diocese will be lodged at the Pala sub-jail.
- Opposition candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih claims victory in Maldivian presidential election: Solih said the Maldivian Democratic Party-led Opposition coalition has won the election with a ‘comfortable majority’.
- India compares Pakistan to a ‘one-trick pony’ ahead of high-level UN General Assembly session: Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had said he would present the nation’s ‘unequivocal support to the cause of Kashmir’.
- Price of petrol crosses Rs 90 in Mumbai as fuel rates continue to surge: A litre of diesel on Monday cost Rs 78.58 in Mumbai and Rs 74.02 in New Delhi.
- Narendra Modi inaugurates Sikkim’s first airport at Pakyong: The prime minister said this was India’s 100th operational airport.
- SC tells Gujarat to respond to plea alleging Sanjiv Bhatt is being stopped from moving top court: The former Indian Police Service officer was arrested on September 5 for allegedly planting drugs on a lawyer in 1996.