Top 5 news at 1pm on Aug 14: Pak HC Basit's provoking remarks on Kashmir; Sonia Gandhi discharged and more

Speaking at the celebrations of the 70th Independence Day in Pakistani High Commission in Delhi, Basit said that he dedicates the ‘Jash-e-Azadi’ to freedom struggle of Kashmiris. Meanwhile, Pakistan Army violated four-month long ceasefire by firing at two places and shelling mortars in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday morning. Congress president Sonia Gandhi discharged today after 11 days of hospitalisation after being treated for her illness and shoulder injury. Here are the top 5 stories of the hour. 

1. We dedicate Pak Independence Day to Kashmir’s freedom: Pak High Commissioner Basit

Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit, on Sunday, called upon international community ‘to ensure implementation of the relevant UN resolutions to settle the long-standing Jammu & Kashmir dispute’. Speaking at the celebrations of the 70th Independence Day in Pakistani High Commission in Delhi, Basit said that he dedicates the ‘Jash-e-Azadi’ to freedom struggle of Kashmiris. 

2. Pakistan violates ceasefire in JK, 8000 people displaced

After a lull of over four months, the ceasefire on the Line of Control was violated again with Pakistan Army firing at two places and shelling mortars in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir on sunday morning. Indian troops retaliated to the firing which was still going on when last reports came in. The Pakistan Army resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violation along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir," Defence Spokesman Lt Col Manish Mehta said here.

3. Sonia Gandhi discharged from hospital after 11 days

Congress president Sonia Gandhi discharged today after 11 days of hospitalisation after being treated for her illness and shoulder injury. The Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, where she was admitted on August 3, said her medical condition was stable and has been advised rest. Sonia Gandhi's medical condition at the time of discharge from the hospital is stable. She has been advised rest and continuation of medicines. Mrs Gandhi is likely to visit the hospital for further evaluation of her condition in the coming week," said D S Rana, Chairman of Board of Management of the hospital.

4. IMF paper raises concerns over India’s ability to curb inflation

An IMF paper has raised question marks over the ability of RBI to target inflation through monetary measures, saying the size of formal financial sector is small in India and may undermine the effectiveness of interest rate changes on aggregate demand. The IMF working paper assumes significance as the Reserve Bank of India has recently implemented an inflation-targeting regime that requires it to hit publicly announced targets for retail inflation, based on Consumer Price Index (CPI).

5. Michael Phelps golden finale, gets 23rd Olympic gold with relay win

Michael Phelps closed out the Rio Olympics in the only way imaginable. Golden. Phelps put the United States ahead to stay on the butterfly leg of the 4x100-meter medley relay and Nathan Adrian finished it off, giving the most decorated athlete in Olympic history his 23rd career gold medal Saturday night. If that was the end, and Phelps insists it is, what a way to go out. He has 28 medals overall, having won five golds and a silver at these games.