Timeline Refresh
The Election Commission led by Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath concluded its two-day visit to review poll preparedness in Maharashtra. The EC held interactions with election officials, state administration and political parties. Addressing a press conference, Sampath said that the Maharashtra state electoral office has been asked to communicate constantly with voters even after summary revision ends on July 31.
Addressing the summit of Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa in Fortaleza, he noted that the region stretching from Afghanistan to Africa is "experiencing turbulence and conflict" and "remaining mute spectators to countries being torn up can have grave consequences".
Modi, who is attending the Summit for the first time,said, "I firmly believe that terrorism, in any shape or form,is against humanity. There should be zero tolerance towards terrorism".
He underlined that the "choices we make now will shape the future of not just our countries, but the world at large". The PM referred to the issue of cyber world and said, "Cyber space is a source of great opportunity" but"cyber security has "become a major concern".
Heavy rains have hit Mumbai and its suburbs all day. Latest reports suggest that Harbour and Central Line local trains are running 15-20 minutes late. Some reports have also stated that locals on Western line are also running 20-25 minutes late.
Numerous city suburbs like Bhandup, Vikhroli, Mulund, Andheri and Hindmata Chowk have been waterlogged. Reports of heavy traffic snarls are coming in from the arterial Western Express Highway, LBS Marg. More to follow.
Claudio Gallo on RT.com: My apparently weird thesis is: the neoliberal system ruling directly or indirectly the greater part of the world is producing a disastrous anthropological mutation that is leading to a kind of planetary totalitarianism.
First let's clarify the lexis. Neoliberalism is generally an economic philosophy established in the 20th century by figures like Friedrich Hayek and Milton Friedman.
Typical of that thought is the belief that the only unifying feature of society is the individual, together with the faith that the free market can regulate society better by itself than any external regulation.
Neoliberals are always in favor of any deregulation and privatization. Historically the market's auto-regulation is known as the classical liberal theory of the invisible hand. Usually it is attributed to Adam Smith, although the Scottish economist used it very rarely and apparently with a more restricted meaning.
Anyway, the invisible hand is now forming an integral part of the neoliberal theory, which considers any public intervention in the economy to be the work of the devil. The magic power of the invisible hand needs a society of pure individuals to work: everyone pursuing their best interest, the healthy egoism of society's atoms.
Alchemically, this composite of egoisms will result in maximized benefit for the entire society. It is a machine that never stops, a "perpetuum mobile' [perpetual motion] in which unlimited production goes with unlimited desire. There are literally no limits.
In the course of the past five summits and several ministerial and official processes, BRICS has made major strides in pursuit of these goals.
The meeting in Brazil will usher in the second cycle of BRICS Summits. We meet at a time of political turmoil, conflict and humanitarian crisis in several parts of the world, and persisting weakness and risks in the global economy." That's the PM's statement before he left for the summit. Read
Many emerging economies have experienced a slowdown, which has increased the challenge of pursuing inclusive and sustainable economic development.
Modi is visiting Brazil at the invitation of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff to attend the Sixth BRICS Summit being held in Fortaleza and Brasilia on 15-16 July.
The prime minister is accompanied by a high-level delegation that includes Minister of State for Finance Nirmala Sitharaman, National Security Adviser A K Doval and Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh.
While China is all set to get the Brics bank headquarters, India's demand for an equal share in the Brics bank may be accepted. PM Narendra Modi has also suggested that the Brics bank be called New Development Bank.
The leaders of the five emerging market economies are expected to sign a deal on Tuesday that creates the $100 billion bank and a reserves fund of the same size to challenge Western dominance over global finance.
The five nations are Brazil, China, India, Russia and South Africa.
Read Sushant Sareen's column on why Vaidik's meeting with Saeed is extremely problematic.
However, no news yet of the 40 Indian construction workers, mostly from Punjab, who were abducted from Iraq's Mosul town.
George Osborne @George_Osborne, British Conservative party politician and chancellor of the exchequer tweets: Very warm welcome to Priti Patel @priti4witham who joins Treasury team as Exchequer Secretary - strong addition to our excellent HMT team.
Here's a backgrounder of Priti Patel.
The denial of entry to Madras High Court Judge, Justice D Hariparanthaman into the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association Club for wearing dhoti, has triggered a controversy with several parties like DMK and the Congress condemning it.
When he alighted from his official car at the club premises to participate in a book release function, organised by T S Arunachalam, a former Chief Justice of the High Court, some staff of the club told him that he could not enter wearing dhoti as they had instructions from the office-bearers not to allow anyone in the premises who violated the club's dress code.
only allows members or guests dressed in full trousers, shirts or T shirts with collars and leather shoes to access the club. And so it told the dhoti-clad Justice Hariparanthaman, who had come there to attend a book release function on July 11, as it turned him away.
"After over 60 years of Independence, I can't accept this. They can have rules for their members, not for visitors who come on invitation," said the Judge crossly. Political leaders backed him.
The two leaders, who arrived almost at the same time in this seaside city of Brazil last evening to attend the BRICS Summit, engaged shortly thereafter for what was described as "good discussions and good meeting". The meeting - first between the two leaders - was scheduled for 40 minutes but it went on for 80 minutes as it was a free-wheeling discussion without any constraints.
Kodnani on Tuesday sought the relief while citing her deteriorating health.
Justice Anant S Dave, however, recused himself from hearing Kodnani's bail plea. As the case came up for hearing, the judge said, "not before me,' without giving any reasons.
The bail application is likely to be heard on Wednesday before another judge.
Kodnani has submitted in the bail plea that her appeal challenging the judgement of special court is pending before the Gujarat High Court since December 2012.
The appeal is not likely to be heard in near future, considering this she shouldbe released on bail, the plea said.Kodnani further contended that the Naroda Patia special trial court had relied upon the testimonies of many of the witnesses, which is not considerable as per the provisions of the law.
Kalbe Jawwad who? Read this interview on Rediff.com: 'Islam says the person who has been hurt has the right to pardon the accused. So don't ask me on whether I will pardon Narendra Modi or not. Go and ask this question to Gujarati Muslims who have been hurt.'
The two gang rapes in Mumbai involving two women -- a telephone operator and a photojournalist -- took place within a few weeks at the Shakti Mills compound in Central Mumbai last year, shocking the metropolis.
The 18-year-old telephone operator was gang-raped in the deserted premises in July last year while the 22-year-old photojournalist was brutalised on August 22, 2013.
The scribe was raped by Vijay Jadhav, Kasim Bengali, Salim Ansari, Siraj Rehman and a minor boy when she had gone to the desolate mill compound with a male colleague on an assignment.
While the three common convicts were awarded death penalty, Siraj was sentenced to life term in the photojournalist case.
The two leaders, who arrived almost at the same time in Fortaleza on Monday evening for attending the BRICS summit, engaged shortly thereafter for what was described as "good discussions and good meeting".
The meeting was scheduled for 40 minutes but it went on for 80 as it was freewheeling discussion without any constraints. The two leaders appeared well-prepared for the meeting as both of them referred to the statements made by the other before they assumed power, Akbaruddin said.
He quoted Xi as saying that "when India and China meet the world watches us".
The civil services board has approved the whistle-blower's deputation.
In January, the Haryana government had sought a CBI probe into Khemka's role in allotment of work for roofing sheets for warehouses.
Khemka had left the Hooda government embarrassed in October 2012, when he had cancelled the mutation of a Rs 58-crore land deal between United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra's company, Skylight Hospitality, and reality giant DLF.
The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the Cabinet met on Tuesday morning and accepted the proposal, which went into effect at 9 am.
It calls for a cease-fire to begin within 12 hours of "unconditional acceptance' by the sides, followed by the opening of Gaza's border crossings and talks in Cairo within two days. Read
"In any case Hafiz Saeed is a terrorist. With regard to India he is a criminal. Whenever he comes to India, he will brought as a criminal under the Indian law and order system," Madhav said.
His comments come after Congress party, includings its Vice President Rahul Gandhi, described Vaidik as an "RSS man" and questioned whether the Indian High Commission in Islamabad had facilitated the meeting between him and Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed.
"It would have been good if Ved Vaidik didn't meet Hafeez Saeed. But he went as a journalist, it's not against the nation. A journalist can put his thoughts across, not everyone will accept it."
Supreme Court lawyer and BJP leader Ram Jethmalani says he doesn't see what the argument is about. "Ved Vaidik is a free man and he went to Pak to interview Hafeez Saeed." When asked to comment on Rahul Gandhi's claim that Vaidik is an RSS man, he said testily, "Dont talk to me about Rahul Gandhi."
And journalist Rezaul Hasan Laskar tweets: I know why Hafizsab started calling Vaidik bhaisab & blabbering about his 3 wives - it was the blinding impact of that red waistcoat.
The daughter of a Jewish watchmaker from Latvia and middle-class woman from Britain, Gordimer started writing in earnest at the age of nine and produced 15 novels as well as several volumes of short stories, non-fiction and other works.
She was published in 40 languages around the world. Her literary gaze was unsparing on both white minority rule and the governing African National Congress (ANC). Read more
At the meeting in Brazil, which was to have lasted about 40 minutes but stretched to 80, the Chinese President invited PM Modi to Beijing for a summit of Asia and Pacific (APEC) leaders in November. Modi posted a picture of the meeting and tweeted, "Had a very fruitful meeting with Chinese President Mr. Xi Jinping. We discussed a wide range of issues."
Read more
Vaidik, however, said he had no reason to apologise and had met Saeed as a journalist."I am a journalist of repute and have a right to meet anyone I want,' said Vaidik.
"It is laughable when people say that that the meeting was held at the behest of someone in the Indian government. That is not correct. Let people say what they want to,' he said.
Vaidik said he would appreciate if people stopped speaking nonsense and calling the meeting stage managed.
Read the interview on Rediff.com.
Vaidik said today, that if the government or the opposition calls him to Parliament, he is ready to share all records of every meeting he had in Pakistan. "No intel agency person has come to me. They probably need okay from senior govt official. I am ready to speak to anyone," Vaidik said. "Congressmen have no issue to raise right now so they are raising this one. This is okay with me, this is their attack on Modi Govt," he added.
Read more HERE
No jail time for former TVU students in visa fraud case
Govt rules out changes in AFSPA in Jammu and Kashmir
Anti-Israel protests rock Kashmir Valley
Delhi gang rape: SC stays execution of 2 convicts
Rahul thought Congress is a lab, destroyed it: Ex-party MP
Uproar in Parliament over journalist meeting Hafiz Saeed
Cong opposing PM secy's appointment for the heck of it: BJP
764 firms polluting Ganga; 48 told to shut down: Govt
Coming soon: BrahMos-Mini missile
ISIS sympathisers to strike Mumbai during Ramzan?
Tamil Nadu govt takes note of dhoti controversy
MP: 7 children killed, 9 injured in wall collapse