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Mon, 30 April 2012
BJP: OK with Kalam for prez, but he has to contest

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18:29   Price wars and India's telecom sector
On the Wall Street Journal: Investors in India's telecom sector who thought that pricing sanity had returned to the highly competitive industry may be in for a surprise. Read
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18:24   26/11 mastermind challenges India's cross-examination refusal

The alleged mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi has challenged India's refusal to allow Pakistani lawyers to cross-examine Indian witnesses in a Pakistan court.

Lakhvi's lawyer argued that under international laws they have the right to question witnesses in the case, including Mumbai's Chief Investigation Officer Ramash Mahale; Magistrate Rama Vijay Sawanth, who recorded the confessional statement of Ajmal Kasab (the only attacker captured alive by the police); Dr Shaliesh Mohiti and Dr Ganash Dhondiraj, who conducted post-mortems of the 166 people killed in the attack.

He accused Indian Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam of preventing the defence lawyers from questioning these witnesses.

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18:13   Why should Hikaka resign, asks Orissa CM

Four days after the release of Jhina Hikaka from Maoist captivity, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today questioned why the MLA, belonging to his
party the BJD, should resign and said he was looking forward to meeting him.

"Why should anyone who has been elected democratically resign under pressure? I do not believe in that at all," Patnaik told reporters replying to a question whether Hikaka should resign as demanded by the Maoists.


"I have spoken to Hikaka after his release. I am looking forward to see him," Patnaik said. He said that Hikaka along with his wife and two sons were on their way to the state capital. The Maoists, who had hauled up Hikaka before a 'praja' (people's) court before releasing him unharmed on April 26 after 33 days in captivity, had asked him to resign within 15 days and claimed that the legislator had given a written assurance to them as such and that he would also quit the BJD. Hikaka, on his part, had not cleared the air.

Yesterday he had said that the Maoists were likely to release a new audio tape which would make everything clear.

BJD's senior MP Pyari Mohan Mohapatra had stated that the Assembly speaker would not accept Hikaka's resignation. 

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18:04   Mumbai cop gets bail in rape case, victim yet to file FIR

The Bombay High Court today granted anticipatory bail to rape accused ACP Anil Mahabole, observing that prima facie no case was made out for even registration of an FIR against him. 

 

Mahabole, accused of raping a middle-aged housewife, had moved the High Court after the sessions court rejected his anticipatory bail application. 

 

"The victim has to come forward and say that she was raped. She has not said so in her statement to the investigating officer. There is no forcible sexual intercourse disclosed. Hence there is no case even for registration of FIR," Justice A M Thipsay said.

 

Also read: ACP Mahabole and the J Dey murder

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17:58   Enrica Lexie marines set for a fortnight more in jail

The judicial remand of the two marines of Italian ship Enrica Lexie, charged with shooting dead two Indian fishermen off Kerala coast, was extended by 14
days by a court in Kollam, Kerala, today. 

Latore Massimiliano and Salvatore Girone were arrested on February 19 and charged with murder of fishermen Valentine Jalastine and Ajesh Binki,
who took to sea from Neendakara in Kollam. 

The accused were in police custody for the first 14 days and had been lodged in a special cell in the central prison since March 5 after the court remanded them in judicial custody. The ship is still anchored off Kochi Port as plea of the vessel owners for permission to sail out is before the Supreme Court, which is expected to give its order tomorrow.

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17:53   Pantaloon to spin off retail business

Pantaloon Retail (India) Ltd. will spin off its branded retail business and sell a stake in the new company to Aditya Birla Nuvo Ltd., Pantaloon's parent said Monday.

The Future Group said in a statement that Aditya Birla Nuvo will subscribe to debentures amounting to 8 billion rupees ($152.3 million) issued by Pantaloon Retail in the new entity. These debentures will convert into equity on completion of the demerger process.

 

Read the report on the Wall Street Journal.

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17:51   Microsoft buys stake in Barnes & Noble's digital business
Back to business -- Microsoft Corp will invest $300 million in Barnes & Noble Inc's digital and college businesses, valuing them at $1.7 billion. Shares of Barnes & Noble jumped 79 percent. Read the report on Reuters.
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17:48   Dumped dentist pulls out all ex's teeth

On a lighter note, a scorned dentist is facing jail time after surgically removing all of her ex-boyfriend's teeth after he dumped her, authorities in London said.

Read the Huffington Post story.

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17:35   PM picks Army chief who will accept Siachen pact
On the Sunday Guardian: How Bikram Singh, the next Army chief, will help the Prime Minister reverse India's position on Siachen so that the PM can leave his peace mark on Indo-Pak relations. Read
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17:23   PDO says all-clear for Omar is a 'shameful coverup'

Update on the all-clear given to Omar and his parymen in the activist's death.

 

The ruling National Conference in J-K today said its stand has been vindicated by the magisterial inquiry report into the death of Syed Mohammad Yousuf while the opposition PDP dismissed the findings as a "cover-up" exercise. 

 

"Our party's stand is vindicated. There was nothing as such (as was being alleged) and the inquiry has proved it," National Conference spokesman Tanvir Sadiq said. He said since Bedi commission is carrying out a separate inquiry "there is not much to say yet". "(But) we have complete faith in the  justice and complete faith in the commission," the NC spokesman said. 

 

In a statement, a PDP spokesman said that the projection of this report by the government as a "clean chit to the high and mighty is like adding insult to injury.....  "It is a shameless attempt to cover up something that increasingly looks fishy and suspicious...," he said. 

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17:15   Nupur Talwar reaches Dasna jail, night at cell no 13

Nupur Talwar spends the night at Dasna jail, Ghaziabad. The bail hearing continues at the Sessions court tomorrow.  

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17:13   Nupur Talwar escapes media mob, driven inside jail
Nupur Talwar reaches Dasna jail. TV reports show a huge media contingent outside the jail as she is driven inside. The authorities upped her security ensuring she did not get off outside the jail and walk in as is the norm, because of the baying mob outside.
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17:05   BJP rejects Pranab, Hamid Ansari for Prez race

In other news, the BJP has rejected Pranab Mukherjee's candidature for President of India, saying he is a Congressman. The BJP also turned down vice president Hamid Ansari's name saying "he is not of that stature".

The BJP said they were fine with former president APJ Kalam, provided the SP supported it and if he agreed to contest.

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16:54  

Nupur Talwar being taken to Dasna jail, show TV images.

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16:53   Nupur Talwar trends on Twitter

Smita Prakash: Nupur Talwar's lawyer seems a bit too exuberant about his client going to jail, even if for one night.

 


Rishiraj Hebbar: I think Nupur Talwar should turn approver against her husband and seek immunity in Aarushi murder case.

 

mohan amin: Nupur Talwar's Jaisi Karni Waisi Bharni

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16:49   Security tightened ahead of Nupur's night in jail

Rajesh Talwar's bail ends on May 11. When his bail comes up for hearing again, the CBI is likely to oppose the bail. The Dasna jail, meanwhile, is all set to receive Nupur Talwar. She will be lodged at the women's cell and given basic facilities.

According to a Zeenews report: "Aarushi's mother will stay in the cell no 13 of the district jail which is reserved for women prisoners," said the Dasna jail superintendent, while refusing to divulge further details.

"All preparations have been made ahead of Nupur Talwar's arrival this evening. She will be given basic facilities including clean drinking water, proper meals, access to library etc which are given to all jail inmates as per prison manual," said the superintendent.

The Dasna prison official also said that the security inside the jail and the barrack where Nupur Talwar would be lodged has been tightened and nobody will be allowed to enter that premises without prior permission. 

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16:39   Sessions court reserves final bail order tomorrow
Nupur Talwar will spend the night in Dasna jail, which is also where her husband Rajesh Talwar had been sent immediately after their daughter Aarushi's murder in 2008. However, the bail hearing will continue in the sessions court tomorrow.
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16:37   Aarushi case: Nupur Talwar WILL go to jail tonight

Just in: The Sessions Court has turned down Nupur Talwar's plea for interim bail in the Aarushi-Hemraj murders. This means Nupur is headed to jail today. This is the first time Nupur Talwar will be jailed in the case, unlike her husband Rajesh, who was jailed immediately after the murder in 2006.

The Sessions court reserves the final order tomorrow.

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16:30   London Olympics: Surface-to-air missiles on top of flats!

In other news: Ground-to-air missiles are to be sited on the roof of a block of flats near the Olympic site as part of a huge security operation to protect the Games. The Army will station soldiers and high-velocity surface-to-air missiles on the residential block in East London to ward off airborne terror threats.

 

Read  more on the Daily Mail

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16:26   India, Pak for meaningful talks to demilitarise Siachen: Govt

India and Pakistan have agreed to hold meaningful and result-oriented discussion to demilitarise Siachen glacier region where 26 soldiers died during deployment last year, government told the Lok Sabha today. In a written reply, Defence Minister A K Antony said, "The number of casualties in Siachen in last one year is 26." 

On diplomatic measures for demilitarisation of Siachen glacier region, he said, "12th round of Defence Secretary-level talks were held between India and Pakistan on May 30-31,2011... It was agreed to continue the discussions in a meaningful and result-oriented manner."  Both sides welcomed the ongoing dialogue process which is contributing to an enhanced understanding of each other's position, Antony said.

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16:14   If Rajesh is on bail, so should Nupur, argue lawyers

Back at the sessions court, Nupur Talwar's lawyers argue that the CBI had conceded that there was insufficient evidence against the couple, which is why they had filed a closure report in the double murder case.

The lawyers also said that since her husband Rajesh had got bail, Nupur should also get bail citing the parity clause. Arguments for and against still being heard.

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16:06   Ae meri zohra jabeen Achala Sachdev passes away

Achala Sachdev broke her leg around three-and-a-half months ago at her home. Since then, she had been undergoing treatment at the Poona Hospital and Research Centre. The MRI scan indicated that a clot that had formed in the artery close to the heart had moved away and fragmented into smaller clots and entered the brain vessels.

She is survived by her son, Jyotin and her daughter, who stays in Mumbai.

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16:02   Ae meri zohra jabeen Achala Sachdev passes away

Yesteryear actor Achala Sachdev passed away at a hospital in Pune. She was 88 and had worked in more than 250 movies.

If her name doesn't strike a chord, she was Kajol's grandmother in Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge and Balraj Sahni's wife in BR Chopra's Waqt (of Ae Meri Zohra Jabeen Meri fame).

 

Read: Bollywood shuns bedridden Achala Sachdev

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15:56   Einstein starved his wife of sex?

Prof Albert Einstein, who laid down major fundamentals in physics, may have starved his wife of sex by demanding her to obey a cruel list of rules, a new
book has claimed.

According to the book, titled 'Einstein: His Life and Universe', the scientist barred his wife Mileva Maric from sitting with him or going out together -- and even ordered -- "Stop talking to me if I request it." 

And, Einstein, famous for his theory of general relativity, made clear that sex was a no-no: "You will not expect intimacy from me," 'The Sun' reported.
The cruel list of rules, revealed in the book, insisted his wife tidied his study, did his laundry regularly and gave him "three meals regularly".

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15:48   Think Again: Al Qaeda
A year after Osama bin Laden's death, the obituaries for his terrorist group are still way too premature. Read the essay on the Foreign Policy.
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15:39   President Obama, Warrior in Chief
The opinion piece on the New York Times: The president who won the Nobel Peace Prize less than nine months after his inauguration has turned out to be one of the most militarily aggressive American leaders in decades. Read
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15:30   The house we blew down

For all of us who think the Talwars killed their daughter, here is an insightful piece on Tehelka, which says why the couple has been wronged. Read

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15:28  

The SC order on the release of the Italian ship Enrica Lexie has been postponed to tomorrow.

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15:17  

Also read: The disastrous presidency of Pratibha Devisingh Patil.

On Firstpost.com.

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15:16   Prez august office, let's not speculate: Cong

In other news, the Congress today sought to distance itself from the speculation over the names of possible Presidential candidates, saying the formal process to choose the next President is yet to take off. 

 

"The President of India is an extremely august office. This is not an office which should be brought into the realm of unnecessary speculation. While it is true that the term of the current President will be ending in July it is also a fact that formally the process to choose the next President has not kicked off," Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said outside Parliament. 

 

President Pratibha Patil's term is going to end in July this year. 

 

Congress leader and Defence Minister A K Antony had yesterday met DMK chief M Karunanidhi as part of the consultation process among UPA allies on the Presidential election.

 

Karunanidhi today said in Chennai, "We expect a good President. Antony proposed (some names) and so did I. But wecannot tell you the details."

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15:11   Nupur Talwar moves court for interim bail
Back to the Nupur Talwar bail plea currently being heard at the Sessions court. The defence team has sought interim bail pending the court's final decision on her bail application. Decision on whether it's jail or bail, in a bit. Stay with us.
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15:09   Parl committee upholds Army chief's concern over defence shortage

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence tables its report saying there is a huge gap between sanctioned and existing machinery and ammunition in the Army, thereby substantially endorsing Army chief General V K Singh's concern about critical shortages.

The committee has found significant gaps between the number of sanctioned and existing helicopters. It has found that not one of the sanctioned 60 weaponized advance light helicopters has been inducted and there is a shortage of another 76 advance light helicopters, and about 20 Cheetah and Chetak helicopters. 

Gun shortage is also at a critical level, while the upgradation of the Bofors gun was taking a long time. The report said it was alarmed at the way the deficiency has been allowed to persist.

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14:59   Sessions court begins hearing Nupur's bail plea

Meanwhile, the sessions court has begun hearing Nupur Talwar's bail plea. This afternoon, the special CBI court remanded her to judicial custody, refusing to grant her bail, saying it had no jurisdiction to do so.

Nupur Talwar's lawyers filed the bail application with the sessions court thereafter. However, it seems more than likely that Nupur, who is accused in the double murders of her daugher Aarushi and servant Hemraj, will spend the night in jail.  

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14:49   Crushing the Aravalis to dust
The SC mining ban may have saved the Aravalis in Haryana. But it's getting blasted to bits in Rajasthan. Revati Laul tracks the illegal business that could be worth over Rs 50,000 crore. Read the report on Tehelka.com
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14:43   How a would-be great power hobbles itself

Basharat Peer's essay on Foreign Affairs... Read

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14:37   On Twitter
Sucheta Dalal @suchetadalal  Like Parrikar [Goa CM], Dinesh Trivedi [former railway minister] travels simple 2, stops at tiny coffeshp 2 discuss  #Moneylife evnt; flatly refuses car or ceremony! Rare netas
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14:29  

As we await the order on the Enrica Lexie, read this on the Wall Street Journal.

Why Katherine Boo's new work, Behind the Beautiful Forevers, is just good, not great. Read

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14:26   SC order on Enrica Lexie release at 2:45 pm

At 2:45 pm, the Supreme Court will giver its order on the release of the Italian cargo ship Enrica Lexie. The SC has objected to the compromise reached between the families of the two victims killed by the Italian marines and the Italian government.

Italy has reportedly offered Rs 1 crore each as compensation to the families of the two fishermen who were killed in February this year when two marines on board an Italian ship, Enrica Lexie, fired at them, 'mistaking' them to be pirates.

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14:20   Indias national monsoon mission
India's current antiquated methods of forecasting the all-important monsoon rains is getting a re-vamp. Biman Mukherjee on the Wall Street Journal.
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14:14   Oh my goodness, don't indulge in speculation: Pranab on prez

The DMK today conveyed its acceptance of the Congress' presidential candidate -- Vice President Hamid Ansari or Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee. When asked, Mukherjee expressed surprise, "Oh my goodness! Don't indulge in speculation," he said smiling.

This latest development comes a day after the UPA's trusted Lieutenant, Defence Minister AK Antony, met DMK Chief M Karunanidhi at his CIT Colony residence in Chennai. DMK leader TR Baalu, Karunanidhi's daughter and Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi, her mother Rajathiammal and TKS Elangovan were present with Karunanidhi for the meeting.

More on NDTV.com

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14:04   US envoy to Pak says no bounty announced for Hafiz Saeed

If you've missed this, here's a must read: The American Ambassador to Pakistan, Cameron Munter, said yesterday that the US government did not announce any bounty for Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed, a suspect in the Mumbai terror attacks case.

 

He blamed the Pakistani media for "misreporting" the issue."Pakistani media is very active and responsible but it misreported the issue of Hafiz Saeed. Though Hafiz Saeed is a suspected accused of the Mumbai terror attacks, the US government didn't place any bounty/head money for him," Munter was quoted by the Dawn newspaper as saying.

 

He said this while replying to various queries during a media talk after addressing the annual dinner of the American Business Forum (ABF) on Sunday.

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13:59   Govt to allow more cotton exports

Commerce Minister Anand Sharma today said that the government will allow more cotton exports. The cotton export issue was raised in Parliament today with JDU leader and NDA convener Sharad Yadav demanding that the government open a war room to deal with the crisis faced by cotton farmers. He pointed out that although there had been record production of cotton over the past one year, there was no proper storage space and the procurement process was poor.

"The grains are rotting and farmers are suffering. The government is not taking any steps to sort this issue. What is the government doing on this? There is no coordination between the states and the Centre on the issue," said Yadav.

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13:39   Adarsh: Money laundering case against ex-Maha CM
The Enforcement Directorate has registered a money laundering case against former Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan and 13 others in the Adarsh scam.
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13:34   Maya, Shinde spend 10 minutes together
In Parliament, Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde walked up to Mayawati  inside the Rajya Sabha just before the Chairman arrived and spent a little over 10 minutes talking to her. The tete a tete was watched with rapt attention by the Treasury as well as the Opposition benches.
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13:26   15 minutes of Maya in Parliament
Our sources in Delhi tell us that former UP CM Mayawati was given 15 minutes to speak on the SC/ST reservations issue in the Rajya Sabha today. A special consideration was shown to the BSP leader as SC Mishra,  the deputy leader of the BSP wanted the chairman to give special permission for Mayawati to be heard.
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13:14   Year on, Osama death pictures will NOT be released: US

Moving on from the Nupur Talwar story to the Osama bin Laden death anniversary reports, the US today said it does not plan to release images related to the covert raid that killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan fearing that this might incite emotions.

"There's no need to release the photos and video because there's no doubt whatsoever that Bin Laden is dead," Deputy National Security Adviser to US President Barack Obama, John Brennan said.

"What we don't want to do is put out anything that is going to unnecessarily incite emotions on this issue. We believe that it's unnecessary to put something like that out," Brennan said, ruling out any possibility to release these pictures.

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13:12  

barkha dutt @BDUTT  Nupur Talwar, mother of Arushi surrenders in court, applies for bail. One of those episodes where I wonder if the truth will ever be known

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13:04  
Inside the court, Nupur Talwar was seated on a bench next to her husband Rajesh Talwar, who is also a co-accused in the double murder.
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13:02   Ghaziabad court cannot grant bail
The magistrate hearing the case at the Ghaziabad court, says Nupur Talwar's bail plea was rejected because the court does not have the jurisdiction to grant bail. The bail can therefore only be decided by the sessions court, which her lawyers will approach. As of now, Nupur Talwar is still inside the court.
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12:58   Don't jail me, I'm traumatised enough: Nupur

The CBI court delivering its verdict summarily rejected Nupur Talwar's bail plea. Her plea that she be given bail because she is a woman whose daughter has been murdered, did not hold water. Nupur said she was traumatised enough after the murder of her daughter and sending her to jail would serve no purpose.

This, apparently, had the opposite effect on the court, which rebuked her for trying to "emotionally blackmail" it.

Even as her lawyers move the sessions court, Nupur will spend at least two days in prison before the court can take up her plea.

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12:50  
Nupur Talwar's lawyers will be approaching the sessions court for bail now.
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12:49   Aarushi murder: Mother Nupur to go to jail at 4 pm
Nupur Talwar's bail plea has been rejected in the double murder case of her daughter Aarushi and servant Hemraj. This means that Nupur who is in judicial custody will be sent to jail. Her lawyers say that she will aproach the sessions court for bail, then the Allahabad court and finally the Supreme Court. But for today, she will be going to jail at around 4 pm.
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12:45   Mullah Omar and Osama bin Laden: Like minds
Documents found in Osama's Abbottabad compound show how limited our knowledge of the Taliban is. On the Guardian.
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12:38   Peter Bergens Manhunt: The decade-long hunt for Osama bin Laden
A new book chronicles the 10-year search for the world's most-wanted terrorist. Ex-CIA official Bruce Riedel on the myths of Osama -- and what the Pakistanis don't know. More on the Daily Beast.
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12:35   How Obama got Osama: A detailed account

It's been a year since that day, so here's a meticulously reported account from Showdown --  veteran journalist David Corn details the tense deliberations leading up to the decision to raid the Abbottabad compound on May 1, 2011.

 

Read

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12:28   Osama's dead, but how much does it matter?
The effects of bin Laden's death on al Qaeda and the Middle East will be profound, but the most surprising could be in Washington. On the Foreign Policy, as well. Read
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12:26   Osama the Icon
Also on Foreign Policy: The global cult of the terrorist mastermind. Read
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12:24   Cairo, the dog who brought down Osama

In other news, it's a year since that historic morning when Osama bin Laden was killed in Abbottabad, Pakistan. A slew of stories around that incident.  

 

On the Foreign Policy: It was just one year ago that the world first heard of Cairo, the dog who joined the mission that took down the world's most hunted terrorist, Osama bin Laden. The news sparked something of a sensation, and while Cairo might be the world's best-known war dog, he's far from a lone fighting force. The world of combat canines is vast, with a long and rich history, and these dogs have footholds on war fronts where you'd least expect to find them. Read

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12:16   Nupur recites Hanuman Chalisa in court
In court, Nupur Talwar, who was accompanied by her husband Rajesh Talwar,
was seen reciting the Hanuman Chalisa. Nobody was allowed in the court room except the CBI officials and lawyers for the dentist couple.
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12:12   Jailed former BJP prez Bangaru Laxman quits party

Former BJP president Bangaru Laxman who sentenced to four years in jail last week has resigned from the BJP National Executive.

 

Read: BJP distances itself from Bangaru

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12:03   Probe exonerates Omar Abdullah in party activist's death

Meanwhile, relief for J&K CM Omar Abdullah.

A magisterial probe today said that the National Conference activist Haji Yusuf died a natural death, thereby exonerating Omar Abdullah and his close aides in the case.

The contents of the report were made public today. In his final report submitted to the state government, the additional district magistrate has concluded that Haji died Sep 30 last year due to "cardiovascular arrest without any external physical assault or injury".

Haji had died in mysterious circumstances after he was summoned to the chief minister's residence, triggering a political furore. The government had ordered a magisterial probe into Haji's death.

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11:59  
The CBI court has postponed its order on Nupur Talwar's bail plea to 12:30 pm.
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11:57  
The double murder the CBI is referring to is this: Nupur Talwar's daughter, Aarushi was found dead with her throat slit at their Noida residence on May 15, 2008. The other murder refers to Hemraj, the family retainer, whose body was recovered from the terrace of the house the next day.
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11:55   CBI opposes Nupur's bail plea: Crime too heinous

Opposing the Nupur Talwar's bail plea, the CBI files its reply in the special  Court. It says the bail should be rejected since the crime is a double murder and no bail is granted in such cases.

Nupur's plea says she be granted bail on the grounds that she is a woman, but the CBI says given that she has evaded trial and not appeared in court on several occasions earlier, her bail plea be rejected.

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11:51   CBI: Crime too heinous for Nupur to get bail

Back to Nupur Talwar's bail hearing: The CBI tells the court that Nupur Talwar has been evading court and had been delaying the probe into the double murder right from the start. The CBI says the crime is too heinous for bail to be given to Nupur. The CBI says that both the SC and the HC are hearing the plea so the CBI court cannot give her bail.  

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11:45   Bird-hit Kozhikode-Dubai AI flight makes emergency landing
An Air India Express flight makes an emergency landing in Kozhikode. The flight was headed for Dubai and made an emergency landing after it was hit by a bird. All aboard are reported to be safe.  
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11:37  

Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha has been adjourned till noon after uproar over the demand for a separate Telangana, precisely what happened last week.

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11:36   Nupur: Will not leave Delhi without court's permission
Nupur has also told the court that she will not leave Delhi without the court's permission. It may be recalled that on April 1, a Ghaziabad court had issued a non-bailable warrant against Nupur Talwar, but officers who went to arrest her could not find the dentist at the couple's homes in Noida and Delhi. The CBI sought a warrant against Nupur for failing to appear in court despite directions. Rajesh, arrested after the murder in May 2008 but released on bail, was present in court and asked it to grant time to his wife who has skipped three hearings. 
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11:33   Nupur: Won't evade trial, don't send me to jail
The verdict in Nupur Talwar's bail plea should be out any time now. Nupur tells the court that sending her to jail will not serve any purpose, and promises not to evade trial proceedings. She applied for bail on the grounds that her husband, Dr Rajesh Talwar, a co-accused in the case, was granted bail.
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11:26   Telangana issue disrupts Parliament
In Parliament, disruptions over Telangana continue. Sushma Swaraj appeals to Lok Sabha Speaker to stall Question Hour and ask government to address the issue.
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11:19   Osama files show al-Qaida, Taliban leaders in close contact

Jason Burke on the Guardian: Documents found in the house where Osama bin Laden was killed a year ago show a close working relationship between top al-Qaida leaders and Mullah Omar, the overall commander of the Taliban, including frequent discussions of joint operations against Nato forces in Afghanistan, the Afghan government and targets in Pakistan. Read

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11:10   Delhi, Kabul to share real time intel info on Taliban

India and Afghanistan are looking to revamp their intelligence sharing system after the recent multiple strikes byTaliban in Kabul and other parts of Afghanistan.

Ahead of foreign minister S M Krishna's meeting with his Afghan counterpart Zalmai Rassoul this week, government officials said the two countries have decided to shun the practice of sharing intelligence through "routine" letters and will instead focus on transferring intelligence inputs immediately. 

Read the full report on the Times of India.

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11:08   Want to sail on the Titanic? Wait till 2016

Clive Palmer, one of Australia's richest men, has commissioned a Chinese state-owned company to build a 21st Century version of the Titanic.

The mining billionaire told Australian media that construction will start at the end of next year. It would be ready to set sail in 2016. The plan, he added, is for the vessel to be as similar as possible to the original Titanic in design and specifications, but with modern technology.

 

More on the bbc.

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11:04   Rahul's first visit to UP after poll debacle

In UP, Rahul Gandhi arrived on a three-day visit of his Parliamentary constituency Amethi, the first after his party's dismal show in the Uttar
Pradesh assembly election. 

 

The Congress General Secretary will meet party workers and review the party's performance during his visit. "During the visit Rahul will be meeting party workers and review the party's performance. Why the party lost and the reasons behind it will be reviewed," Congress state president Rita Bahuguna Joshi said.

 

She said victory and defeat are part of the election process but the focus of the party was to strengthen the organisation and as of now it was focusing on local bodies polls, likely to be held later this year. Asked about the preparations for the 2014 general elections, Joshi said there was a lot of time for that but the present focus was on local bodies polls.


 

"With BSP not contesting local bodies polls and SP having little presence, Congress will try to perform well", she said.

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11:01   Aung San Suu Kyi agrees to swear oath in Parliament
A BBC newsflash says Aung San Suu Kyi has agreed to swear oath in the Burmese parliament. Aung San Suu Kyi won her seat in by-elections in Myanmar this month, but few predicted the scale of her party's landslide victory. The National League for Democracy (NLD) won all but one of the seats it contested.
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10:58   Kidnapped British doctor found beheaded in Pakistan
In other news, the body of Red Cross worker Khalil Dale was found dumped by roadside in a region afflicted by separatist and Taliban violence. Read the Guardian report.
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10:52   Nupur Talwar bail plea hearing on
Right now, Nupur Talwar's bail plea is being heard in the Ghaziabad court after she surrendered this morning and was taken into custody by the CBI.
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10:49   Decision on jail or bail for Nupur Talwar at 11:30

CBI to respond to Nupur Talwar's bail application by 11.30 am. If the court rejects the plea, Nupur will be sent to jail. The court could also issue a notice to the CBI on Nupur's bail plea. If that happens, Nupur can seek interim relief.

 

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10:41  
Nupur's lawyers will be filing for regular bail, but if the magistrate rejects her bail plea, she could be sent to judicial custody.
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10:38   Nupur Talwar surrenders in Aarushi murder case
Nupur Talwar has surrendered before the Ghaziabad court in the double murder case of her daughter Aarushi and servant Hemraj. The warrant against Talwar has been pending since April 11.
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10:33   Nupur Talwar likely to surrender today

Nupur Talwar, mother of murdered teenager Aarushi, reaches Ghaziabad special court. In what could be turn out a cruicial day in the Aarushi Talwar murder case, Nupur Talwar is likely to surrender before a special CBI court in Ghaziabad.

On Friday, the Supreme Court directed her to surrender before the CBI court in Ghaziabad. A special bench of justice AK Patnaik and  justice KS Khehar asked Nupur -- accused of dodging several summons -- to appear before the trial court on April 30.

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10:31   Headlines this morning

Cong sounds out Karuna on Ansari, Pranab for President (The Times of India)

Congress has begun wooing allies for a consensus on its choice for President. Besides Ansari and Pranab, Meira Kumar is its third probable. Read

 

Nominating Sachin to Rajya Sabha is Cong's 'Dirty Picture': Bal Thackeray (The Times of India)
Shiv Sena chief's tirade against Tendulkar is in sharp contrast with his estranged nephew Raj Thackerays support for his best friends new assignment. Read

 

MEA said no to 39 trips by 25 Union ministers (Indian Express)
In foreign visits, ministers, former PMs spent Rs 499.89 cr in 2011-12 against budgeted Rs 46.95 cr. Read

 

Aarushi case: Nupur Talwar may surrender, apply for bail (Hindustan Times)
Nupur Talwar, facing an arrest warrant in the double murder of her daughter Aarushi and domestic help Hemraj, is likely to surrender before a special CBI court in Ghaziabad today. Read

 

To woo CMs, Centre will clip NCTC wings (Hindustan Times)
In an effort to break the stalemate over setting up of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), the government has offered to make a climbdown on the proposed outfits controversial search and arrest powers. Read

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