Timeline Refresh
Hagel, during a speech in 2011 said, "India for some time has always used Afghanistan as a second front, and India has over the years financed problems for Pakistan on that side of the border".
Malik told reporters that he had asked Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai and Indian authorities to clear their positions on the matter.
"A team of NIA and SIB (Hyderabad) arrived here this morning," a senior police official told PTI on condition of anonymity.
With investigators trying to put together pieces ofevidence, nearly 40 people have been questioned by the police and central probe agencies, for the blasts in Hyderabad that left 16 dead on February 21.
Aesha Mohammadzai emerged as an emblem of the horrors of the Taliban when her mutilated face appeared on the cover of Time magazine in August 2010.
Now, she has begun a new chapter in her life after doctors at Bethesda Naval Hospital near Washington succeeded in rebuilding her nose using skin from her forehead and her arm.
At least 20 fire engines have been rushed to Matke Wali Gali in Sadar Bazar to battle the blaze. The fire department says that the fire is not massive but they have sent the extra fire engines as it is a congested area and has plastic factories, the report said.
More details are awaited.
"Some people are trying to defame the NCP. If they try to attack us by doing nautakni (theatrics), we are ready to give a befitting reply. We have done good developmental work and that is why people are electing us", Ajit said while addressing party workers at Guhagar in coastal Ratnagiri district.
Three people have been killed and seven injured during a shooting at a factory near the Swiss city of Lucerne, local media quote officials as saying. The killer is among the dead, police and prosecutors are reported as saying.
Shooting broke out in the canteen at the Kronospan wood processing plant in the town of Menznau at around 09:00 (08:00 GMT). Police and rescue services are at the scene and the entire area is currently sealed off.
"The workers were eating a snack in the cafeteria during the morning, and there was a massacre," said a man quoted by the Swiss news website 20minutes, who had phoned the factory to check on the welfare of his father.
Rebutting Maharashtra Navnirman Sena allegations that its party workers were involved in the attack on Raj Thackeray's convoy in Ahmednagar district, NCP today claimed that the stone pelting incident was "stage-managed".
"Stone pelting on Raj's convoy was stage-managed. NCP has no history of politics of destruction unlike the MNS which has mastered the art of misguiding the youth and making them anti-social elements", said party spokesperson Nawab Malik.
He, however, admitted that NCP activists held a demonstration and waved black flags at Raj Thackeray's convoy at Bhingar town in Ahmednagar district in western Maharashtra last night. Raj, who has been on a statewide tour, had gone there for some party-related work. "Our workers did stage a demonstration and waved black flags at Raj's convoy to protest against his derogatory remarks against our leaders in his Solapur rally," Malik told reporters.
Following the TMC's lead, the BJP also walks out of the House.
Kamal Nath says, "They (the TMC and the BJP) are running away from a JPC.
Jaitley says the JPC probe will not be able to find the bribe givers.
If you've just joined us, The BJP asked the government to disclose the names of two families which were allegedly paid kickbacks in the controversial VVIP chopper deal.
Taking part in a debate in the Rajya Sabha on the issue, BJP leader Prakash Javadekar said all those who were the beneficiary in the deal must be bought to book, whether they are in Italy or India. Also, those in Italy should be brought to India to face law, he added.
"The money trail must also be established. Further, Letter Rogatory (LRs) must be issued,' Javadekar demanded.
Antony adds, " My ministry has shown no mercy to corrupt companies."
Rediff.com's Archana Masih spoke to Meghalaya Governor Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary, a former head of the Border Security Force and the National Security Guard, in a rare and candid interview in Shillong. Read
Tension brewed in parts of Mumbai and adjoining Thane districts today following yesterday's incident of stone pelting on Raj Thackeray's convoy by alleged NCP workers in Ahmednagar district, with MNS supporters attacking NCP office in Ambernath and calling a bandh.
Angry MNS workers burnt effigies of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and blackened his posters in some parts of the city.
Incidents of stone throwing were also reported from city suburbs including Chembur, Kurla and Bandra, police said. In Thane's Ambernath, MNS workers attacked NCP office and tried to enforce a bandh today.
NCP activists were furious at Thackeray's criticism of Pawar, nephew of party supremo Sharad Pawar.
Minister of State for Home Mullappally Ramachandran said the issue of repealing/amending AFSPA has been under consideration of the government and Justice Jeevan Reddy Committee and the Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) have also made certain recommendations on the subject.
"Now the Group of Ministers has to take a final decision on the ARC recommendation. On direction of the GoM, comments of the state governments concerned on the ARC recommendation have been called for.
"On such security-related issued, all factors, including the ground reality are taken into consideration before taking a decision and hence no time limit can be specified," Ramachandran told Rajya Sabha.
Several groups and political parties in Jammu and Kashmir and north eastern region have been demanding either repeal or amendment to AFSPA which has been in force in some of the disturbed regions in the country.
Hearing his plea yesterday, Justices Naresh Patil and A R Joshi asked the Prison Superintendent to examine the convict, Atmaram Dengle, and submit the medical reports about his condition to the court within two weeks.
Dengle wrote a letter to the High Court which has been converted into a writ petition. He pleaded in the letter that he was advised to undergo weight loss surgery as he weighed 145 kgs, which was considered as overweight.
Dengle further submitted that he was suffering from diabetes, blood pressure, blood clotting and asthma. He said he was not able to perform daily chores as he was obese and overweight.
At 8 pm the Swiss Guards who stand as sentries at the residence will march off in a sign that the papacy is vacant.Benedict will move into a convent in the Vatican in April, after it has been restored.
On Friday, cardinals in Rome will begin meetings known as "general congregations" to prepare for the secret conclave that will elect a new pope.This week Benedict changed Church rules so that cardinals could begin the conclave earlier than the 15 days after the papacy becomes vacant prescribed by the previous law. -- Reuters
He will also continue to be known by his papal title of Benedict XVI, rather than reverting to Joseph Ratzinger.
He will wear his distinctive white cassock without any cape or trimmings.
He will surrender his gold ring of office, known as the fisherman's ring, and his personal seal will be destroyed in the same way as when a pope dies.
Benedict will also give up wearing his specially-made red leather loafers, instead wearing brown shoes hand-made for him by a craftsman during a brief visit to Mexico last year, the Vatican said.
Gandhi won his parliamentary election after he spent 19 days in jails in Pilibhit and Etah before being granted bail. He has denied that his speeches were designed to incite communal hatred.
51 witnesses called by the prosecution did not give any evidence or statement that implicated Mr Gandhi. The Uttar Pradesh police has been investigating the case.-- NDTV
Tension brewed in parts of Mumbai and adjoining Thane districts today following yesterday's incident of stone pelting on Raj Thackeray's convoy by alleged NCP workers in Ahmednagar district, with MNS supporters attacking NCP office in Ambernath and calling a bandh.
Angry MNS workers burnt effigies of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and blackened his posters in some parts of the city.
Incidents of stone throwing were also reported from city suburbs including Chembur, Kurla and Bandra, police said. In Thane's Ambernath, MNS workers attacked NCP office and tried to enforce a bandh today.
NCP activists were furious at Thackeray's criticism of Pawar, nephew of party supremo Sharad Pawar, whom the MNS leader blamed for the severe drought in several parts of the state.
Thackeray had at a public meeting in Solapur recently attacked Pawar, who headed the water resources ministry between 1999 and 2009, for allegedly having failed to check water scarcity despite huge spendings on irrigation projects.
There have been allegations of a Rs 70,000 crore scam in the irrigation department, which has been with NCP since inception of Congress-NCP government in Maharashtra in 1999.
Meanwhile, MNS MLA Ram Kadam issued an open threat to NCP leaders and workers if they continued to target Thackeray. "We know how to give tit for tat. We believe in replying in the language people choose to speak to us. They (NCP leaders) have forgotten that they have to move in Maharashtra.... Their homes are in Mumbai," he said while speaking to a TV news channel.
Haqqani was Pakistan's ambassador to the United States.
Balle Balle! Read
Speaking on the issue in the Rajya Sabha, Khurshid said, "Our position is clear... We want resettlement and rehabilitation. We are not just concerned, we have made special efforts. Three lakh displaced Sri Lankan Tamils have been helped by the Indian government.
"The minister said that India has made constant efforts to persuade the Sri Lankan government to stand committed to human rights.
"We expect the Sri Lankan government to stand by their commitment," he said, adding, "Full and final settlement is required. No space should be left for doubt."
"India wants a prosperous and united Sri Lanka and is committed to bring justice to Lankan Tamils," said Khurshid.
Also read: Torture and rape of Tamils is widespread', says Human Rights Watch report
Angry MNS workers burnt effigies of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit pawar and blackened his posters in some parts of the city. Incidents of stone throwing were also reported from city suburbs including Chembur, Kurla and Bandra, police said.
In Thane's Ambernath, MNS workers attacked NCP office and tried to enforce a bandh today.
However, NCP spokesman Mahesh Tapase, whose office was targeted in Ambernath around midnight, claimed his party workers foiled attempts by MNS men to enforce a bandh. Minor clashes were reported between activists of the two parties but there was no official confirmation.
NCP activists were furious at Thackeray's criticism of Pawar, nephew of party supremo Sharad Pawar, whom the MNS leader blamed for the severe drought in several parts of the state.
"It is not as bad as compared to other states... Delhi stands at 16th-17th place as compared to other states," Minister of State for Home Affairs told Rajya Sabha during Question Hour.
He said several measures have been taken to check crime in the city following the gangrape incident here in December last year and that a "large number of women are going confidently to the police station and registering complaints".
"If you say that crime against women has increased, it is because of these complaints," he said. The Minister said departmental proceedings have been drawn against police officers for not registering complaints including against IPS officers.
So this survey is bukum? Delhi most unsafe metro, Mumbai safest. Read
It is believed Steenkamp broke the news of the baby to the Blade Runner on the night of her killing, the Daily Star reports. Pistorius has denied her murder, insisting he mistook his girlfriend for an intruder at his home.
Reports in a US magazine claim Steenkamp was overjoyed about becoming a mum and could not wait to tell the Olympics and Paralympics star, the paper said.
The attack took place at Muriwai Beach, 40 kilometres west of Auckland at about 1:30 pm (NZ time) today, police said, and is the first confirmed shark fatality in the country for more than 35 years. The victim was a 47-year-old man, who witnesses said was a local who had been swimming about 100 metres offshore when he was attacked.
They reported seeing a huge patch of blood in the water and said swimmers, including a large group of students on an excursion to the beach, scrambled for shore as the cry of "shark" went up.
Tuesday morning, as one of the balloons prepared to land, an explosion pierced the air, followed by a spreading billow of smoke. More on the devastating accident yesterday.
Papal audiences are normally held inside a Vatican hall in the winter.But such is the level of interest that the event is being held outdoors and 50,000 tickets have been requested. As many as 200,000 people may attend.
After Benedict XVI steps down on Thursday, he will become known as "pope emeritus". There has been no papal resignation since Pope Gregory XII abdicated in 1415.
The confirmation came as expected after GOP resistance was broken in a cloture vote to end debate earlier in the afternoon.
Hagel, a 66-year-old Vietnam War veteran, will succeed current Pentagon chief Leon Panetta, who made no secret his desire to retire.
Omar made public today his meeting the Prime Minister a few days ago and his writing a letter to him earlier on February 19, hours after opposition PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed released a letter he wrote to Manmohan Singh demanding the body of the Parliament attack convict be returned to his family for proper burial. Read
"He has made no such statement. You are talking about some lecture given in a university two years ago. I cannot react to something he said about two years ago," Khurshid told media outside Parliament.
Khurshid earlier in the day said Indian Embassy in Washington has conveyed New Delhi''s concern in this regard.
"What we had to say, we have said it through our High Commission. At this point of time, we don''t require to say anything further officially. We welcome the new political developments there. But we will not speak further on the discussions that are presently on there until it comes to us in a formal manner," he added.
"A compensation of Rs two lakh will be paid to the kin of those who have died in the fire and Rs 50,000 to those injured," Banerjee said after visiting the market housing a godown-cum-office complex in the Sealdah area in central Kolkata, where the inferno has already claimed 18 lives and left several others injured.