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Tue, 06 August 2013
Live! Al-Qaeda on the run? No way, say experts

Timeline  Refresh

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23:39   Taliban chief warns on keeping foreign troops in Afghanistan
The Taliban's reclusive leader, Mullah Mohammad Omar, has warned against keeping US-led foreign troops in Afghanistan after the coalition's military mission ends next year, saying insurgents will fight on until all foreign soldiers go home.

"The occupying countries should learn from the bitter experiences of the past 12 years. They should not try their fate once more by prolonging the occupation or by establishing permanent bases,' Mullah Omar said Tuesday in a statement he releases annually ahead of the Islamic Eid al-Fitr holiday.
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23:03   Officials: Car bombs kill 20 people in Iraq
Iraqi officials say a wave of car bombs, mainly targeting markets in and near Baghdad, has killed 20 people and wounded dozens.  

Police officials say the deadliest among today's attacks came before sunset, when a car bomb exploded near a market in Baghdad's southeastern suburbs of Nahrwan. That attack killed six people and wounded 17.
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23:01   Al-Qaeda on the run? No way, say experts
The continued closure of 20 U.S. embassies across the Middle East and parts of Africa amid increased al-Qaeda activity in the region is the latest example showing that US counterterrorism strategy has failed to adapt to the terrorists' spread, analysts say.

Despite the decimation of al-Qaeda's core leadership in Afghanistan and Pakistan, "Al-Qaeda has been able to morph over the past decade as a function of U.S. strategy countering it," says Hassan Mneimneh, an analyst at the German Marshall Fund.

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22:26   Russia backs Rowhani calls for nuclear talks
Russia today backed the new Iranian president's call for fresh negotiations without delay on Tehran's nuclear programme, while criticising calls by US lawmakers for harsher sanctions against Iran. 

Iranian President Hassan Rowhani said today at his first news conference since assuming office that Iran was ready for "serious" talks on its nuclear programme "without wasting time."
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22:08   'Terror attacks on armed forces have increased after Afzal Guru hanging'
The government today said incidents of terrorist attacks on armed forces have increased in Jammu and Kashmir in the aftermath of the hanging of Parliament attackcase convict Afzal Guru.    

"The reason for increase in terror attacks is due to stepping up of the attack on security forces planned by the militant groups in the aftermath of Afzal Guru's execution inFebruary, 2013," Minister of State for Home R P N Singh told the Lok Sabha in a written reply.
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21:52   BSF jawan, injured in cross-firing along LoC, airlifted to Delhi
A Border Security Force jawan who was injured in cross-border firing in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir has been airlifted to New Delhi for specialised treatment, a BSF officer said today.

Injured Head Constable Ram Niwas Meena has now been admitted in AIIMS, he said. "A sniper had fired from the Pakistan-side of the international border near Narainpur in the afternoon yesterday," the officer said.
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21:24   LoC killings: 'India has told Pak attack in unacceptable'
External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on killing of five soldiers along LoC: The government is in control of the situation. We have told Pakistan that the attack in unacceptable. We expect Pakistan to keep its promise of not allowing terrorists to operate in its territory. It will be fair to speak further once we get a response from Pakistan.       
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20:57   Central ministers from Seema-Andhra, Rayalaseema meet Sonia
Amid continuing protests over the creation of a separate Telangana state, Union ministers from the Seema-Andhra region met Congress President Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi and expressed the "sense of deprivation" prevailing in Andhra and Rayalseema regions.

During the meeting on Tuesday, Gandhi told them that a committee of three senior leaders will be formed, which will look into their grievances, as the ministers told her about apprehensions among people in their constituencies.

During their meeting with the Congress president, the ministers, including M M Pallam Raju, K S Rao, K Chiranjeevi, J D Seelam, Panabaka Lakshmi, D Purandheswari and Kruparani Killi, are learnt to have raised the demand that Hyderabad should be retained as permanent common capital of two Telugu-speaking states on the line of Chandigarh.
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20:51   US, UK evacuate their nationals from Yemen amid Qaeda threat
The United States today evacuated nearly 90 Americans from Yemen, while the UK has withdrawn all diplomatic staff in the country amid a worldwide terror alert linked to electronic intercepts from Al Qaeda leader Aymanal-Zawahiri, ordering a major attack since 9/11.   

The State Department said it had pulled all non-essential personnel from Yemen, and the Pentagon said the US Air Force had flown staffers out. Two US military planes carrying as many as 90 Americans from Yemen were en route to Ramstein Air Base in Germany, CNN reported.
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20:38   Ishrat case: CBI to take Gujarat cop PP Pandey into custody
The Central Bureau of Investigation will take Gujarat ADGP PP Pandey, chargesheeted in the Ishrat Jahan encounter case in custody, tonight, say sources.

The Gujarat IPS officer was given anticipatory bail by CBI court till July 31 in Ishrat Jahan encounter case.
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20:31   SC asks Centre to co-operate CBI in coal-gate probe
The Supreme Court today directed the Centre to provide "full co-operation" to the CBI in its probe in coal block allocations scam by providing it with all necessary information and files without any delay.   

"As regards ongoing investigation by the CBI, we have made i tclear that all necessary information as required by CBI and all necessary files that may be needed for inquiry/investigation has to be provided by all concerned," a bench headed by Justice R M Lodha said. It asked the concerned authority to provide "full cooperation" to the agency and "all files sought by it must have to be supplied at the earliest without any delay".
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20:20   LoC killings: BJP workers protest outside Antony's house
NDTV reports: Bharatiya Janata Party workers were protesting outside Defence Minister AK Antony's house against the killing of five soldiers along the LoC. The police use water cannons on the protestors, who were chanting slogans of 'Pakistan hai hai!'
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20:02   BJP appeals UP guv for revocation of SDM's suspension
A delegation of Uttar Pradesh unit of BJP today appealed state Governor B L Joshi to intervene into the suspension of IAS Durga Sakthi Nagpal and said that it should be revoked immediately.

A delegation of BJP leaders led by state chief Laxmi Kant Bajpai called on the Governor at Raj Bhawan and handed over a memorandum in this connection.

The BJP leaders said the state government made a Local Intelligence Unit report as the basis of action against Nagpal, which was contrary to its claims.

In the memorandum, they said the suspension proved the general perception that the IAS was removed because of the pressure from sand mining mafias, was right.

The delegation questioned that if law and order and demolition of the wall was the reason of Nagpal's suspension then why no action was taken against officers of various districts, including Lucknow, where communal violence took place.
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19:16   Subrata Roy not liable for refunding Rs 24,000 crore: Sahara to SC
The Sahara group today told the Supreme Court that its chief Subrata Roy is not liable for refunding Rs 24,000 crore collected by its two firms from investors, countering the arguments of SEBI which wanted his passport to be impounded till the contempt plea against him and companies is decided.

Senior advocate Ram Jethmalani, appearing for a Sahara firm facing contempt for not refunding the amount as per apex court order, submitted that the redemptions have already been made by Sahara firms.
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19:09   Live! Former US president George W Bush undergoes heart surgery
Former US President George W. Bush in hospital after procedure to open blocked heart artery; blockage found during a physical. 
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19:05  
Shiv Aroor: Disgraceful muddle: Now PRO (Defence) in Jammu issues a 'regret' saying it meant 'persons dressed in Pak Army uniform'. Censoring the Army!
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19:02   Companies Bill, 2012 introduced in Parliament
Corporate affairs minister Sachin Pilot introduces the Companies Bill, 2012, amidst din in the Rajya Sabha. P J Kurien, deputy chairman Rajya Sabha, points out that because of Ramzan many MPs may want to observe prayers and therefore the Companies Bill should be taken up for discussion tomorrow. Rajya Sabha has been adjourned for the day.
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18:44  
12 interesting facts about Raghuram Rajan, the new RBI governor. Read
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18:39   Live! LoC killings: PM tells Antony to look after families of slain soldiers
LoC killings: PM Dr Manmohan Singh speaks to defence minister AK Antony. The prime minister is yet to give a statement on the incident. The PM said he is worried about the families of the five slain soldiers and says Antony should ensure they are looked after.  
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18:33  
Anand Mahindra votes for new RBI governor Raghuram Rajan. "It's not just his impressive haul of alphabets: IIT,IIMA,MIT.Also his experience and intellectual integrity.Raghu's made of the 'right stuff'"
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18:20   LoC in numbers
As per statistics, last month itself there were half a dozen incidents on the border including firing on troops at the posts.

17 militants were killed in 12 infiltration bids besides 11 ceasefire violations and 3 attacks in which one porter was killed and 5 others were injured last month.

This month till date, there were 4 ceasefire violations, two infiltration bids resulting in killing of 4 militants and one junior commissioned officer
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18:19   Security tightened at LoC
Amid tension triggered by the killing of five Indian soldiers by Pakistani troops, patrolling and security have been heightened along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir.

"Patrolling and security have been heightened along the border with Pakistan after today's attack by Pakistani troops in which five Indian jawans," a senior Army officer told PTI.

He said troops have been asked to be on high alert in view of the apprehension of more such attacks along the LoC.

According to defence sources, about 20 Pakistani soldiers intruded into the Indian territory past midnight and ambushed the patrol party at Sarla post in Poonch sector.

A Subedar and four jawans of the 21 Bihar Unit were killed in the attack which took place at around 2 am.
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18:07   Antony: Armed forces are on round-the-clock vigil
Defence minister AK Antony's statement in the Rajya Sabha on the LoC incursion: Our armed forces are on round-the-clock vigil.  Indian army is a position to tackle every situation.

Antony got a lot of flak from the opposition after his statement in the Lok Sabha that men dressed in Pakistani army uniforms had killed the five Indian jawans.    
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17:37   Live! SP may revoke Durga Shakti's suspension when she answers chargesheet
Samajwadi Party may revoke IAS officer Durga Shakti suspension once she responds to the chargesheet, says CNN IBN. 
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17:22   Live! Union minister Narayanasamy wants shakti for Durga, meets Mulayam
Minister of state in the PMO and personnel V Narayanasamy today met Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav over the suspension of IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal.

Narayanasamy said the Centre had sent its final reminder to the Uttar Pradesh government in the matter and a final decision would be taken today.

So far, the UP government has not sent any reply to the Centre on this issue. 
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16:59  
CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechuri was signing a document in the Central Hall. On seeing this, many MPs including Dr V Maitreyan went up to him and told him to read out the contents of the letter as it may be about Narendra Modi's visa to the US. There was much laughter, but Yechury did not get provoked.

What's the Yechury-Modi visa story? Read
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16:56  
Here's what happened in Parliament before proceedings were repeatedly disrupted over the LoC killings. When Sonia Gandhi spotted Union Minister of state for Railways Kotla Suryaprakash
Reddy in Central Hall asked him to walk with her to the Parliamentary office of Congress Party. Congress leader Suryaprakash Reddy asked six ministers of Kiran Kumar Reddy's cabinet to walk with Sonia Gandhi, as well.

The buzz is that Sonia Gandhi agreed to constitute a committee to
study the Seemandhra Congress leaders grievances and till such time that is done, they should not disrupt proceedings in Parliament. 
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16:46  
Killing of five jawans - The country and the Army have to suffer this humiliation because we have a weak and indecisive Government, tweets Sushma Swaraj.
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16:46  
Naming the nameless. The five armymen killed by the Pakistan army last night.  1. Naik Premnath Singh, Sepoy Vijay Kumar Rai, Sepoy Raghu Prasad, Lance Naik Shambhsaran Rai and Naik Pandalik Mane.
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16:35   Dalit scholar arrested for anti-SP-pro-Durga Facebook post, given bail
Just in: Dalit scholar Kanwal Bharti has been arrested for his comments in support of IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal. Kanwal's Facebook post says that the Samajwadi Party has become blind to people's problems in their lust for power. He was arrested on the basis of an FIR filed by UP minister Azam Khan's aide. He has since been released on bail.  
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16:31   Live! 'Govt giving Pak escape route by saying attack carried out by men in uniform'
Army chief General Bikram Singh to visit LoC Poonch tomorrow, tweets Shiv Aroor of Headlines Today.

Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Arun Jaitley speaking now. Jaitley says the LoC incursion may have been an isolated incident, but it happens too often for India to ignore. "The government says the attack was carried out by men wearing the Pak army uniform, which gives Pakistan an escape route. We need freedom from terrorism. India's sovereignity at stake," said Jaitley.
Deep sense of sadness and anger over the attacks

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15:55   Sonia on LoC killings: India won't be cowed down by blatant acts of deceit
Congress president Sonia Gandhi's first statement since Pakistan army's ambush along the LoC. Five Indian jawans were killed and one seriously injured in the unprovoked attack.

Sonia says, "India cannot be cowed down by such blatant acts of deceit. I urge the government to take appropriate action against the LoC killings." And of course, the PM is yet to react.
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15:48  
Here's more on the new IIT, IIM, MIT grad and now RBI governor Raghuram Rajan. Read
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15:42   Raghuram Rajan appointed as next RBI governor
Just in: Raghuram Rajan appointed as next RBI governor. Rajan, the top adviser in the finance ministry since last year and a former International Monetary Fund chief economist, will succeed incumbent D Subbarao. Subbarao's term at the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is due to expire in September.
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15:32   Security under scrutiny: Post-mortem of the Dera Ismail jail attack
Pakistan probably needs to look at its internal security issues before going about killing Indian jawans. The Taliban's invasion on the fortified Dera Ismail Khan jail on July 29 once again exposed the 'protocol-oriented' conventional 'peace-time' security that has consistently failed while facing the militants' tactics of fourth generation warfare. Read
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15:29   Live! Antony on LoC killings: Indian army is fully prepared
Defence Minister AK Antony's statement in Parliament begins on the LoC violation last night. "Government of India has lodged a strong protest with the government of Pakistan over the unprovoked attack. Our army is fully ready to tackle any situation that arises out of it. The government extends its full support to the families of the martyrs who made the supreme sacrifice," said Antony.

Antony said the ambush was carried out by 20 men dressed in Pakistan army uniforms. "I assure the house that the Indian army is fully prepared," Antony reiterated. "The Army is fully ready to take all necessary steps to uphold the sanctity of LoC," he said.

Seventeen infiltration bids were foiled this year, said Antony, but there were over 40 incursions this year.

The Lok Sabha has adjourned for the day.

Express your solidarity with our jawans. Light a candle right here.
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14:54   Live! LoC killings: India summons Pak deputy envoy, lodges strong protest
The Ministry of External Affairs has summoned the deputy envoy of Pakistan and lodged a strong protest. 
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14:51   Snake escaped from pet shop 'strangles' two young boys to death in Canada
In a bizarre incident, (no, it's not news from Parliament) two young boys, aged five and seven, were sleeping at a friend's apartment late on Sunday in the small town of Campbellton, Canada, when they were surprised by a snake.

It had escaped from a pet store that specialised in exotic animals located on the floor below the apartment. Read
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14:48   Shinde undergoes surgery for lung ailment
Here's why Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde is not in Parliament. Shinde was operated upon for a lung ailment at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai on Sunday.

His daughter Praniti Shinde said he was admitted on Saturday evening and underwent the scheduled operation at Breach Candy Hospital late on Sunday morning.Shinde is said to be under the care of Dr R K Deshpande and Dr A Jog, who specialise in oncology. More
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14:44   India donates $20,000 for Jalalabad terror-attack victims
MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin tweets: India assists local govt in Jalalabad in treatment of those injured in attack on consulate with contribution of $20,000.


At least 12 people were killed in the deadly attack targeting the Indian Consulate in Jalalabad city, bordering Pakistan, in the backdrop of reports that the Inter Services Intelligence-backed Haqqani Network, among others, were again plotting to attack Indian interests in Afghanistan.

"This attack has once again highlighted that the main threat to Afghanistan's security and stability stems from terrorism and the terror machine that continues to operate from beyond its borders," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said.
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14:32   Unfortunate people have started reacting in a partisan manner: Cong
Minister of Information and Broadcasting Manish Tewari assured MPs that the Ministry of Defence would come out with an appropriate response.

"It is very unfortunate that even before the full details of the incident are in, people have started reacting in a matter which is extremely partisan. There are certain issues which are above politics. Let's ascertain all the details and I am confident that the Ministry of Defence will come out with an appropriate response,' he told media here today.

Tewari also requested opposition parties to stop politicising this issue. "I would like to request our friends in the opposition that there are certain issues on which you do not need to play politics with national security,' he said.
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14:24   Why India has a sand mafia
Illegal sand mining in India is something of an open secret but it has been brought under the scanner in recent days after a civil servant named Durga Shakti Nagpal was suspended from her post late last month. So, what is sand mining all about? Read
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14:18   Why Mani Shankar Aiyar tried to attack SP's Naresh Agarwal in RS today
Former Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar (Cong) said there were equally serious issues concerning rise in natural gas prices listed for the Question Hour and asked SP members if they were not concerned about increase in gas prices.

To this, Samajwadi Party member Naresh Agarwal made an insinuation against Aiyar which RS chairman Hamid Ansari immediately expunged.

"How dare you call me that," Aiyar said, as he charged towards Agarwal. Aiyar was, however, stopped by other members.

Former Law Minister Ashwani Kumar too said Agarwal should not have made such objectionable remarks. "Aap ney itni badi baat kaisey kahi (how could you say such a big thing)," he asked.

Sensing the mood of the members, Ansari adjourned the House till noon. After the House was adjourned, some MPs including D Raja (CPI) appeared to be telling Agarwal that his remarks against Aiyar were not Parliamentary.
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13:56   The devil is in the detail
The Food Security Bill is up for discussion in Parliament. Read this while you await that. 
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13:53   Seizing the opportunity
Unilateral moves by India towards rebuilding bridges of peace and friendship with Pakistan need not be a political liability, writes Sherry Rehman (Pakistan's former I&B minister) and Amitabh Mattoo (director of the Australia India Institute). Read
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13:44  
A PIL has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking the quashing of all proceedings against suspended UP IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal.
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13:41   UP Waqf Board: Land mafia demolished mosque wall to frame Durga Shakti
More shakti for Durga. The UP Waqf Board says Durga Shakti Nagpal was trying to reclaim Waqf land, which angered the sand mining mafia active in the area.

According to a letter addressed by the Waqf Board to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav copies of which have also been sent to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and Gautam Budh Nagar District Magistrate Kumar Ravikant Singh, the IAS officer did not order the demolition of the mosque wall as claimed by the state government.

A team of the committee connected to the Waqf Board visited Kadalpur, the village where the wall was demolished, after the incident and it has now said that Durga Shakti Nagpal had no role in bringing down the wall.

The report of the committee in fact praises Durga for beginning the process of reclaiming Waqf Board land which was allegedly encroached upon by the sand mining and land mafia. -- CNN IBN
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13:39   Sarpanch at LoC: Heard firing for a long time last night
Mohammad Fazl, a former sarpanch of Chakan-da-Bagh, where the LoC violation happened last night, tells CNN IBN that he heard firing at night and was awake till 3 am. "It is common here.. we heard firing for a long time yesterday," he said. 
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13:27  
The NCW chief has also written to the UP CM asking under what circumstances the IAS officer, Durga Shakti Nagpal, was dismissed. 
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13:26   UP Waqf Board: Mosque wall was demolished by land mafia to frame Durga Shakti
Update on the Durga Shakti Nagpal story.

The Samajwadi Party today suggested that IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal, who was controversially suspended last month in Uttar Pradesh, should apologise. "She did not do her duty....she destroyed the credibility of the cadre," said Ahmed Hasan, a minister in the state government that's headed by Akhilesh Yadav.

Continuing the party's rant against the bureaucrat, he described her as "mindless" and added, "When we reveal which family she belongs to, then you will realize what are you supporting." -- NDTV.

Yadav and his party say that on July 27, Ms Nagpal endangered communal harmony in a village in Noida by asking for the removal of a wall of a new mosque being built there, funded partly by local Samajwadi leaders.

Meanwhile, more support for Nagpal: Punjab deputy chief minister says Nagpal is welcome to join her home cadre in Punjab.

UP Waqf Board says the mosque wall was demolished by the land mafia to frame Nagpal and the board would write to President asking for her reinstatement.
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13:19  
The Rajya Sabha was adjourned thrice in the pre-lunch sitting after uproar over the Telangana issue and the killing of Indian soldiers by Pakistani troops.
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13:13   J-K girl to get passport, CID gives her the all clear
In other news: A 15-year-old girl from Jammu and Kashmir will be getting her passport after the state CID has given her a clean chit. The CID has cleared the verification to help Sufaira Nazir get a passport and the case has now been now put on fast track.

Sufaira had applied for the passport after she got a one-year US scholarship under the India-US youth exchange study programme in March. But Sufaira's dream hit a bureaucratic hurdle after she was denied a passport on the ground that her uncle was a terrorist who surrendered some time back.  More
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13:07   Army: All five jawans died of gunshot wounds, no mutilations or beheadings
This is what the happened at the LoC according to the army.
"A party of six jawans was on routine patrolling between fencing and the post, when Pakistan troops attacked them by opening firing near Sarla battalion post area along LoC in Poonch district during pre-dawn time," an Army officer said, adding that the Pakistan Army had violated the ceasefire agreement.

The deceased jawans belonged to 21 Bihar Regiment post at Sarla forward area along the LoC in Chakan-Da-Bagh sector of Poonch.

Giving details, the officer said the patrol had lost contact with the Army unit around 0115 hours, close to the time of the attack.

"We sent a patrol to the area around 0530 hours today and found five jawans dead with gunshot wounds. One was injured and he is in utter shock," he said.

The bodies have been brought back to unit area, he said. Asked whether Pakistan's Border Action Team (BAT) was involved in the attack, he said it was carried out by the troops of 2 PoK Brigade, which is deployed in that sector. The officer said all the jawans have died of gunshot wounds and there was no beheading or mutilation of bodies.
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12:51   Antony's statement in Parliament at 3 pm today
Defence minister AK Antony to make a statement in Parliament at 3 pm today. The Lok Sabha has been adjourned till 2 pm. MPs head to the canteen for a subsidised lunch.
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12:45   BJP chorus in Parliament: Congress ka haath, Pakistan ke saath
The BJP raises slogans in the House, "Congress ka haath, Pakistan ke saath."

Yashwant Sinha observes that the government is playing politics even when there is such a serious issue being discussed. "Why is the BJP not allowed to make a statement in the house? Mulayam Singh (whose Samajwadi Party is an UPA ally) was allowed to speak. I want an explanation," says Sinha. 
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12:40   BJP: Congress has to decide if it's with Pakistan or India
BJP senior leader Yashwant Sinha speaking in the Lok Sabha while leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Arun Jaitley, holds forth in the Rajya Sabha.

Sinha says our Parliament, our jawans, our countrymen have the strength and wherewithal to give a fitting reply to Pakistan. Complete chaos in the LS, even as Sinha continues his speech.

Sinha wants a statement from the PM and Defence minister AK Antony. He says when Mulayam Singh was speaking, the house heard him out. "Now when the BJP is speaking the Congress will not hear us out. They are stooges of Pakistan," says an angry Sinha.  "Are they with Pakistan or India, the Congress has to decide now," he thunders.
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12:36   15 Pak soldiers ambushed Indian jawans: Army
Army sources say at least 15 to 16 Pakistani jawans crossed over to the Indian side and fired indiscriminately at the soldiers, killing five and gravely injuring one.

With folded hands, Mulayam Singh beseeches the PM to make a statement on the LoC killings. "PM should reply on all border issues," he says.   
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12:30   SP moves adjournment motion in Parliament over LoC killings
Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh moves an adjournment motion on the LoC killings. Singh gives the example of how despite the "India-Chini bhai bhai" years, China had betrayed India in 1962.

"Nehruji was deeply hurt by China's betrayal. China is not to be trusted. What is the government doing about ceasefire violations? China is preparing to attack India; it's just a matter of time," he says.

"We have a threat from both China and Pakistan. Both the countries are waiting at our borders. It is time to take action against both the countries for repeated violations into our borders," he said.

The BJP and Shiv Sena have also demanded action against China and Pakistan and an end to dialogue and debate.  
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12:22   Pakistan on LoC killings: There was NO indiscriminate firing from our side
Pakistani security officials denied any involvement in the deaths of Indian soldiers on the disputed and heavily militarised border in Kashmir. There was no indiscriminate firing from our side, a security official said. -- Reuters. 
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12:17  
Army sources tell CNN IBN that no border meeting has been sought with the Pakistan army as yet. 
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12:16   Who said what on the killings of the jawans
Union Minister Farooq Abdullah: The incident will affect the process of normalisation between India and Pakistan. The hand of friendship cannot be extended from one side only. Pakistan has to stop the killings of Indian soldiers. The dialogue process cannot resume if such a situation continues.

The Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Arun Jaitley: The incident has serious defence, security and foreign policy implications.

BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad: The Government should come out with a clear-cut and firm response to the latest Pakistani attack which has become a weekly affair.

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi:  Government is lax in securing Indian borders.

Gurudas Dasgupta of CPI: The Government should take up the issue strongly with Pakistan.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Shukla: Defence Minister A K Antony will make a statement in Parliament on the issue.

Former Army Chief Shankar Roy Choudhary
: India should be wary of any peace overtures of Pakistan.
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12:12   Live! Parliament Day 2: AK Antony makes a statement on Uttarakhand, NOT LoC
Defence minister AK Antony addressing the Lok Sabha. Antony is giving a statement on Uttarakhand. Union minister Jairam Ramesh sitting behind Antony looks puzzled.

The Opposition wants Antony to speak on the LoC violations by Pakistan and China instead. The Speaker says the statement will be on Uttarakhand because it was a national tragedy. "Show some respect," she beseeches.
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12:07   PC, Sibal, Moily pass the buck to Rajiv Shukla
Point to be noted in Parliament today. Senior Congress ministes Kapil Sibal, P Chidambaram and Veerappa Moily who were present in the Rajya Sabha today did not bother to defend the UPA when the opposition took up the matter of Pakistani and Chinese aggression and demanded the PM make a statement in the House. Junior minister Rajiv Shukla was left holding the baby.

There was marked confusion in treasury benches and none of the senior leaders present chose to make a statement. In fact, they were seen smiling at each other. 
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11:58   Telangana disrupts day 1 of Parliament, jawans' deaths day 2?
The first day of the monsoon session of Parliament yesterday was disrupted with MPs from the ruling Congress and TDP opposing creation of Telangana state. Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj pointed out on Twitter that Lok Sabha could not transact any business "because Congress MPs from Andhra disrupted the proceedings".

Read: Hyderabad Blues: Is Telangana a Good Idea?

Also read: Old men and the state
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11:52   BJP blames govt for disruptions in Parliament
Even as the ceasefire violation derailed Parliament proceedings, the BJP today said it wants discussion on the Food Security and Land Acquisition Bills and their passage, but insisted that the government should first ensure smooth functioning of the House.

In effect, the BJP put the onus of smooth functioning of the House on the government and said it is ready to cooperate on passage of key Bills. 
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11:47  
BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain asks the government to act on ceasefire violations, saying dialogues are not enough.

Narendra Modi tweets again: From Chinas intrusions to Pakistans ambushes- UPA Government has been absolutely lax in securing Indian borders. When will Centre wake up?


Both houses of Parliament have called for the Prime Minister to make a statement on the death of the five jawans in Jammu and Kashmir.
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11:33  
Defence minister AK Antony to make a statement in Parliametn on the ceasefire violation and the killing of five Indian jawans, post noon. 
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11:31   Sena advocates eye-for-an-eye response to LoC killings
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut wants an eye-for-eye. "Our jawans will be demoralised with continued ceasefire violations and killings of our men. We need to meet force with force," he said. 

BJP senior leader Murli Manohar Joshi says there is noting to be done till Pakistan puts and end to terror activities.

At least 70 infilatration attempts have taken place in the first six months on this year.
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11:25  
The Lok Sabha has also been adjourned till noon after uproar over the killing of five jawans at the Pakistan border, Telangana and other issues.
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11:24  
NDTV's Nitin Gokhale tweets: I want to see mombattiwallahs to step up and say what they feel about the killing of Indian soldiers on the LoC. Or do they lack courage?
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11:23   Rajya Sabha adjourned till noon
The upper house of Parliament has been adjourned till noon. Continued uproar in the Rajya Sabha over the ambush by Pakistani soldiers, killing five Indian jawans.  
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11:22   Modi tweets on Pak ambush
The attack on the Indian soldiers happened at midnight. The soliders were part of an area domination exercise. The Pakistan army ambush was around 8-10 men strong, say early reports.

And here's a tweet from Gujarat CM Narendra Modi: Dastardly ambush by Pakistan last night in the Chakan da Bagh area of Poonch leading to death of 5 Indian Soldiers is unacceptable.  
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11:18   Live! Parliament Day 2: AK Antony to brief house on Pak killings
MoS Home RPN Singh says such ceasefire violations are most unfortunate. It will hit relations between India and Pakistan.

National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah says that the incident affects normalisaton of relations between India and Pakistan.

In Parliament, BJP senior leader Arun Jaitley says defence, foreign policy relations, are going to be affected with the ceasefire violations. The opposition wants answers from the defence minister foreign minister and the prime minsiter. 

Dr Hamid Ansari beseeches the house not to disrupt proceedings. "We have said that Defence minister AK Antony will make a statement in the House. The honourable minsites are expected to remain in the house till such time that the house is functioning."

Dr Ansari wants to move on to the Question Hour. But amid the uproar, he is forced to adjourn the house. 
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11:09   Uproar in Parliament over ceasefire violations
Day 2 of the monsoon session of Parliament begins. In the Rajya Sabha, chairperson Dr Hamid Ansari beseeches the house to listen to Rajeev Shukla, who is trying to make a statement on the ceasefire violations. 
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11:02   Govt: Defence minister aware of incident, will take necessary steps
The first reaction from the government on the ceasefire violation. Congress spokesperson Rajeev Shukla says the defence minister is aware of the incident and will take necessary steps.

Defence minister AK Antony yet to comment. 

Ravi Shankar Prasad adds that both Pakistan and China have been continuously violating ceasefire norms, but nothing is being done.
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10:59   My heartfelt condolences to the soldiers' next of kin: Omar
Defence sources today said the Pakistani soldiers intruded into the Indian territory past midnight and ambushed the Sarla post on the Indian side of the LoC. Five Indian soldiers were killed, the sources said.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah tweeted, "(I) was briefed early this morning about the news that five of our soldiers had been killed on the LoC. My heartfelt condolences to their next of kin.

"These incidents don't help efforts to normalise or even improve relations with Pak and call in to question the Pak Govt's recent overtures," he said.

Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh is taking stock of the situation, Army sources said in Delhi. The incident could cast a shadow on the resumption of the Indo-Pak dialogue process expected later this month.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif are slated to meet in New York next month on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session.
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10:54  
BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad jumps in. Asks what is the government's policy on Pakistan and to end ceasefire violations. 
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10:53   India ready to talk to Pakistan without 26/11 rider
While the families of the five jawans killed have to grapple with what lies ahead for them, India and Pakistan will resume talks in less than a month and New Delhi has not pre-conditioned them to the progress in the 26/11 case. Read
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10:45  
NDTV's Nitin Gokhale tweets: 1 Subedar, 4 jawans killed confirmed. They were on a area domination patrol from the Saral post.
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10:44  
In January, this year, one soldier from an Indian Army patrol was beheaded, the other killed at the LoC. The attack was carried out by Special Services Group of Pakistan Army.
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10:42   Live! Five soldiers killed in Pak army ambush along LoC
Five soldiers feared killed in an attack by the Pakistan army at Chakan da Bagh along the LoC. The Army's 21 Bihar regiment is posted here along the Poonch sector. The soldiers were apparently ambushed by the Pakistan army. Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah has condemned the attack.  Details awaited.
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10:12   Indian post attacked in Poonch; casualties feared
Just In: Indian post comes under attack along LoC in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir, casualties feared: Defence sources
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09:59   Sensex falls 106 points in early trade
The BSE benchmark index Sensex fell by nearly 106 points in early morning trade today on fresh selling in funds amid a weak trend in the Asian region. 

The 30-share barometer, which had gained 18.24 points yesterday, fell 105.62 points, or 0.55  per cent, to 19,076.24 in the first few minutes of trading with realty, banking and consumer durable stocks leading the decline.

Similarly, the broad-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty declined by 49.20 points, or 0.87 per cent, to 5636.20.
Brokers said fresh selling by funds amid a weak trend on Asian bourses mainly influenced the trading sentiments here.

In the Asian region, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index fell 0.99 per cent, while Japan's Nikkei was down 1.36 per cent in early trade. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.30 per cent lower in yesterday's trade.
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09:57   Durga didn't demolish mosque wall: Waqf Board
Zee News reports: Amid a full-blown political war over the suspension of an IAS officer, a committee affiliated to UP Sunni Central Waqf Board praised Durga Shakti Nagpal and asserted that she had played no role in bringing down a wall of an under-construction mosque in Gautam Budh Nagar. 

After visiting the Kadalpur village in Dankaur area after the incident, the committee deduced that the IAS officer had just visited the area to review the situation and had advised villagers to follow the directions of Supreme Court in constructing the mosque. 

The committee also mentioned that it was Durga who began the process of reclaiming the encroached waqf board land, triggering a backlash against her by the sand mining and land mafias. 

The committee has sent a report to the UP government, urging it to reinstate the IAS officer soon. 
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09:23   Ishrat Jahan case: Verdict on ADGP Pandey's bail plea today
A CBI court will on Tuesday pronounce its order on the anticipatory bail application filed by Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Prithvi Pal Pandey, an accused in the Ishrat Jahan encounter case. 

Judge Gita Gopi is likely to pass the order today. 

The Gujarat High Court had restrained the CBI from arresting the senior IPS officer till August 6. 

The 1982-batch IPS officer was Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime), Ahmedabad, when Ishrat Jahan and her three associates were eliminated in stage shootout. 

The Mumbai college girl and her three associates -- Javed Pranesh Gopinath Pilai, Amjad Ali and Jishan Johar -- were killed by the Gujarat Police on June 15, 2004. 
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09:21   Parliament to debate Food Security ordinance today
The second day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament is set to witness a fierce debate on the UPA government's ambitious Food Security Ordinance, which is being projected as a game changer for nearly 67% of the country's total population. 

Among other issues, which are likely to impact the proceedings of the two Houses on Tuesday, are Telangana and the suspension of IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal by the Akhilesh Yadav government of Uttar Pradesh. 

Though the political parties have indicated their willingness to debate the Food Security ordinance, the opposition is likely to press for key changes to the anti-poverty legislation. 

The government had last month issued an ordinance -- a provision to enact laws when Parliament is not in session -- to give 67% Indians, or about 800 million people, the legal right to cheap food. 
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09:20   Rajiv assassin Nalini likely to be produced before court
Nalini Sriharan, a convict in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case and serving life term, is likely to appear before the Judicial Magistrate Court-I here on Tuesday. 

The court had summoned Nalini to appear before it in connection with the recovery of mobile phone and SIM card from her cell at the Special Prison for Women. 

A mobile and an active SIM card were seized from a cloth bag in Nalinis cell on April 20,2010 during a surprise check. A complaint was registered and the Bagayam Police had later filed a chargesheet in the case. 

The court had earlier directed the police to produce Nalini before it on July 29 but since the police were yet to arrest her in connection with the case, they could not do so. 

The court had then directed the police to produce Nalini today. 
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09:20   Telangana likely to rock Parliament for the second day
The second day of Parliament's Monsoon Session on Tuesday is also likely to be disrupted by MPs opposed to the creation of a separate Telangana state, after a ruckus over the issue washed away the first day yesterday. 

Uproarious scenes were witnessed in both Houses yesterday over the decision to form Telangana even as the government said substantive and procedural issues related to the new state would be dealt with in a Cabinet note being prepared. 

There were also demands for creation of new states, including Bodoland out of Assam. Two members from Bodo areas also staged a protest outside Parliament building to press the demand in the wake of Telangana decision. 

Both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha could not function normally as they witnessed slogan-shouting by members from Andhra Pradesh against the proposal to form Telangana and demanding justice to the people of the Seemandhra region. 

Due to the uproar, both the Houses were adjourned repeatedly without transacting any substantial business. 
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03:47   Is Snowden in Russia good for US

It was with a heavy heart that I heard Edward Snowden has been granted, and apparently accepted, temporary asylum in Russia for one year. Short of locking him naked in solitary confinement as an example to other leakers, as was done to Bradley Manning, Russia is exactly where the American intelligence community wants Snowden.

 

Read jailed former US spy 'Falcon's opinion piece on CNN

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03:13   Here's Jeff Bezos' Letter To Washington Post Employees
Jeff Bezos wrote a letter to Washington Post employees about his $250 million decision to buy the newspaper. Interestingly, he doesn't really say why he decided to do it: 

Read the letter on Business Insider

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02:53   Live! Amazon CEO buys Washington Post for $250 million

Jeff Bezos, the founder and chief executive of Amazon.com Inc., is buying the Washington Post Co.'s flagship newspaper and some related publishing assets for $250 million.

 

Mr. Bezos is buying the publishing business as an individual, and not in his capacity as CEO of Amazon, according to the  announcement. Washington Post Chairman and CEO Donald E. Graham said the company decided to sell the business "only after years of familiar newspaper-industry challenges made us wonder if there might be another owner who would be better for the Post."

 

Mr. Bezos's "technology and business genius, his long-term approach and his personal decency make him a uniquely good new owner for the Post," Mr. Graham said in the prepared statement.

 

Read the full report on WSJ

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01:17   Live! US extends embassy closures after intercepted Qaeda message

CNN: What started as an unprecedented move to close almost two dozen diplomatic posts for a day has broadened to week-long closures for most of them as the United States mulls the threat of a possible attack.

A trio of factors prompted officials to extend most of its embassy and consulate closures until Saturday: an intercepted message among senior al Qaeda operatives, the end of Ramadan, and concerns over several major prison breaks in the region.

Originally, officials decided to close 22 embassies and consulates this past Sunday -- a day when they would normally be open for business.

But Sunday afternoon, the State Department extended embassy and consulate closures in 15 of the locations through Saturday, and added four other posts -- all in Africa -- to the list. This brings the total to 19.

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00:28   Clashes erupt after Turkey trial verdicts

Protesters have clashed with police forces as a Turkish court handed down judgements in a conspiracy case that has exposed deep divisions in the country.

 

After the verdicts were announced on Monday, fierce clashes erupted between police and about 10,000 protesters near the courthouse in Silivri, a town in the outskirts of Istanbul Demonstrators threw stones at riot police who responded with water cannon, tear gas and rubber bullets to break up the protest that was blocking traffic.

 

Read the full report on Al Jazeera

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