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Sat, 25 April 2015
TERRIFYING: Nepal earthquake's severity captured on CCTV

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23:25   TERRIFYING: Nepal earthquake's severity captured on CCTV
The earthquake that originated in Nepal's Kathmandu Valley on Saturday has caused the deaths of over a thousand people and untold destruction.

While pictures of damaged roads and heritage sites reduced to rubble showed the aftermath of the natural disaster, two videos posted by Kishor Rana on Facebook showed exactly how powerful the earthquake was.

Watch these absolutely terrifying videos HERE
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22:48   UN promises help to Nepal after devastating quake
The UN today expressed "shock and sadness" at the devastating earthquake in Nepal that killed nearly 1,500 people and promised to assist in international rescue and rehabilitation efforts.

The UN Population Fund said in a statement it is particularly concerned about the fate of pregnant women who have been affected by the tragedy, including those who might face potentially life-threatening complications. "All efforts will be exerted to support their safety and the safety of their babies," UNFPA Executive Director Babatunde Osotimehin said.

He said the agency is "shocked and saddened" by the death of hundreds of people, the widespread destruction and the displacement of possibly hundreds of thousands of people.

"UNFPA stands ready to join the international community's efforts in extending all needed assistance to the Government and people of Nepal," he said.
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22:40   US sending disaster response team to Nepal
The US is sending a disaster response team to earthquake-hit Nepal and has authorised an initial $1 million to address the immediate needs in the country.

The assistant secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Nisha Desai Biswal, said the US is working through USAID's Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance to provide assistance to earthquake victims in Nepal. 

US OFDA chief Jeremy Konyndyk said $1 million has been authorised to address immediate needs.

"The USAID, the OFDA is launching a disaster assistance response response team to respond to the Nepal quake and has authorised an initial $1 million to address immediate needs," he wrote on twitter.
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22:26  
Sonil Dedhia/Rediff.com reports: A major fire erupted at the slums near the Bandra west station's platform No 1, causing a major traffic jam. Twelve fire tenders have been rushed to the spot.

All trains have been diverted for now. The reason for the fire is still unknown.
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22:18   India has mobilised all resources to help Nepal: Parrikar
Assuring full help to Nepal in wake of the devastating earthquake, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday said all resources are being mobilised to help the Himalayan country. 

He said that the Indian Air Force has been pressed into service to take National Disaster Response Force teams, doctors, clothes, medicines, water among others to Nepal, where nearly 1,500 people were killed after a powerful earthquake measuring 7.9 on Richter scale struck earlier in the day.

"As directed by the prime minister, we have mobilised all resources to support Nepal. We have at present diverted three aircraft and two helicopters to carry the NDRF team, doctors, food, water and medicine among others to Nepal," Parrikar told PTI.
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22:08   Diageo asks Mallya to quit USL board; alleges fund diversion
Alleging fund diversion to Kingfisher and other UB group entities, United Spirits' new owner Diageo has asked Vijay Mallya to step down as chairman and director of the Indian liquor firm, a demand he outrightly rejected.

Diageo, which has bought controlling stake in United Spirits from UB Group, asked Mallya to step down following "various improprieties and legal violations" were found after a probe it conducted into loans given by USL to various UB Group companies.

However, Mallya refused to resign and said the inferences and allegations are unjustified and false. USL, the erstwhile flagship firm of Mallya-led UB Group, has already seen a number of exits from its board and top management since the probe was launched by UK-based Diageo.

"At its meeting held on April 25, the Board discussed and considered in detail the report submitted by the MD and CEO in relation to the inquiry... 

"The inquiry revealed that between 2010 and 2013, funds involved in many of these transactions were diverted from the company and/or its subsidiaries to certain UB Group companies, including in particular, Kingfisher Airlines Ltd," USL Board said in its inquiry report.
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21:09   Quake: Minor cracks in 6 buildings in Delhi
Six buildings in Delhi developed minor cracks today due to the tremors, epicentred in Nepal, which shook northern and eastern parts of the country.

Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, who held a meeting with Delhi Disaster Management Authority and other government agencies to take stock of the situation, was informed that there was no significant damage to any building and there was no cause for any concern.

The three Municipal Corporation commissioners, who were at the meeting, said hairline cracks were seen in three buildings in east district, minor cracks were reported in two buildings in south and one building was affected in north district.

Officials said their teams had visited these sites and cracks were assessed. "There has been no significant damage to any structure or building and there is no cause for concern," an official statement said.
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20:55   Indian army recovers 18 bodies from Mount Everest base camp
An Indian army mountaineering team has found 18 bodies on Mount Everest after a the earthquake in Nepal unleashed an avalanche on the mountain, according to an army spokesman.

Nepal's tourism ministry could only confirm 10 deaths, but spokesman Gyanendra Shrestha said that the death toll could rise, and that the avalanche had buried part of the base camp.

More details are awaited.
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20:51   25 tourists from Telangana stuck in quake-hit Nepal
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has ordered the tourism department to extend necessary help to 25 tourists from the state who are stranded in Kathmandu.

The tourism department has been asked to make arrangements to locate and bring them back, an official release here said. Though tremors were felt in some parts of neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, the state itself felt no tremors after a massive earthquake hit Nepal and north India this morning. 

The state government has also requested the Indian embassy in Nepal to find out if any more tourists from Telangana are stranded. Senior state officials are also in contact with the Nepalese officials.
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20:47  
Just in: Airel has made their calling to Nepal from India for four days.
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20:04  
External Affairs Minister Swaraj tweeted that "Indian Air Force is evacuating 250 persons from Kathmandu today. Please ask your relatives to get in touch with Indian mission there". India will also be sending ready-to-eat meals and medical items as part of the relief supplies tomorrow, the Foreign Secretary said, adding these will be distributed among the locals there. 

 Image: Inside the C-17 aircraft as it is being readied for take off for Nepal with rescue personnel and load.
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19:26   Mild tremors in Chhattisgarh, no casualties
Mild tremors caused by a massive earthquake in Nepal today were also experienced at various places in Chhattisgarh. However, no loss to human life or damage to property was reported in the state.

"Mild tremors were felt in Raipur, Bilaspur, Sarguja and Bastar regions at around 11:41 AM, which are measured at 5 on Richter Scale," said M L Sahu, Director, Meteorological Centre, based in Raipur district. He said reports from other such centres are also being sought.

Revenue and Disaster Prevention department Secretary R Pisda said, "two tremors were felt in various districts between 11 pm-12:15 pm, but there are no reports so far about any damage to property, or casualties."
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19:25   The NDMA helpline numbers
And these are the National Disaster Management Authority helpline numbers for the missing persons in the Nepal earthquake:

011-26701728

011-26701729

09868891801


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19:16   Nepal quake claims 26 lives across India , 100 injured
A powerful earthquake, epicentred in Nepal, today shook northern and eastern parts of India, killing 34 people and injuring about 100 others as houses and buildings collapsed or were damaged.

States such as Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal were the worst affected parts of India and massive rescue and relief operations were initiated on war-footing basis with Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself monitoring the situation and issuing directives.

Union Home Secretary L C Goyal told a press conference here in the evening that 34 people had died due to earthquake in various parts of the country.

Of them, 23 died in Bihar, eight in Uttar Pradesh and three in West Bengal, he said. Nearly 100 people were injured in these states.
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18:34   180 bodies retrieved from debris of Nepa's historic tower
Nepal's 19th-century old nine- storey Dharhara tower in the heart of the capital today became a burial ground for hundreds of visitors who had come to see the panoramic views of the Kathmandu valley from the top of the minaret.

The 50.5-metre-high historic tower was reduced to just its base after a powerful earthquake measuring 7.9 on Richter scale struck Nepal today flattening the minaret and trapping hundreds of visitors under its debris. At least 180 bodies have been retrieved from the rubble so far, the police said, adding that several people were still trapped under the debris.

Rescue workers were seen retrieving bodies from the debris and the people on the spot desperately tried to dig through piles of bricks and dust with their bare hands.
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18:18   Chennai records very low intensity tremors
Very low intensity tremors were felt in some areas here today, alarming people as they rushed out of a few commercial and residential complexes, officials said.

"The tremors that were felt in Chennai were of very low intensity," a senior IMD official in-charge of seismology monitoring told PTI. "The intensity is obviously less as it depends on the distance from the epicentre of the earthquake," he added. 

"The intensity of tremors is also determined by a host of other factors including presence of rocks and fault line," he said. "People can feel the tremors well only if it exceeds the moderate level of five on the Richter Scale."
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18:12   5 dead, 13 injured as quake jolts Tibet
At least five persons, including an 83-year-old woman, were today killed in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region after a powerful earthquake of 7.9 magnitude jolted neighbouring Nepal. 

The earthquake killed five people and seriously injured 13 in Tibet, state-run Xinhua news agency cited local authorities as saying. The woman was killed after her house collapsed in Nyelam County in Shigatse City.

The quake was felt in the cities of Lhasa and Shigatse. Houses were damaged in Nyelam County and telecommunication services were interrupted in counties on the China-Nepal border.
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17:08   8 dead in Everest avalanche post quake
At least eight people have been reported killed after an earthquake triggered a "huge avalanche" near the Everest Base Camp.

A Nepal tourism official said the part of the Everest base camp was buried.

"The toll could go up, it may include foreigners as well as sherpas," Gyanendra Shrestha said.

Romanian mountaineer Alex Gavan said there was panic as the avalnche hit.

"Everest base camp huge earthquake then huge avalanche from pumori. Running for life from my tent. Unhurt. Many many people up the mountain," he tweeted.

Images from Everest showed belongings scattered on the ground and snow covering tents.
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17:05   NDRF personnel, relief material onboard IAF's c-130 J Super Hercules
Indian Air Force's C-130 J Super Hercules aircraft today took off from the Hindon airbase in New Delhi carrying National Disaster Response Force personnel and relief material to Nepal in the wake of the devastating earthquake that has hit the Himalayan country.  

Defence sources said a C-17 Globemaster is carrying a 40-member strong Rapid Reaction Aero Medical Team and doctors, besides relief material to the country after India assured Nepal of all help.   

An 1L-76 transport aircraft will also take off soon with more National Disaster Relief Force personnel on board.   

After dropping the NDRF team, C-130 J will perform aerial recces to check road communication to Pokhara and return to Hindon, defence ministry spokesperson Sitanshu Kar tweeted.   

The defence ministry has already put the Indian Army, Border Roads Organisation and IAF on standby for any task in view of the earthquake.
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16:54   Nearly 125 Indians stranded in Nepal
Nearly 125 people from Maharashtra and Telangana are stranded in Nepal after a high-magnitude earthquake struck the Himalayan nation. 

According to officials at the Maharashtra Information Centre in Delhi, around 80 people from Nashik had gone to Nepal for pilgrimage while 15-20 people were on a trekking expedition.

"We have been receiving calls from people from the state, but we are not able to reach them. Around 80 people from Nashik had gone for pilgrimage while the remaining had gone for trekking," said an official at the MIC.

Meanwhile, 25 tourists from Hyderabad, who are in Kathmandu are safe.

Tour organiser Gowrishankar, who took the tourists, said members of their group were safe and moved to an open ground, close to Pashupatinath temple.
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16:46   My prayers are with the people of Nepal, says Rahul Gandhi
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, reacting to the Nepal earthquake, hsa said: My thoughts and prayers are with the people affected by the massive earthquake in Nepal and parts of India. I hope damage to life and property is limited and those in need receive assistance at the earliest.
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16:39   125 Indian tourists from Maharashtra, Telangana stranded in Nepal
Nearly 125 people from Maharashtra and Telangana are stranded in Nepal after a high-magnitude earthquake struck the Himalayan nation. 

According to officials at the Maharashtra Information Centre in Delhi, around 80 people from Nashik had gone to Nepal for pilgrimage while 15-20 people were on a trekking expedition. 

"We have been receiving calls from people from the state, but we are not able to reach them. Around 80 people from Nashik had gone for pilgrimage while the remaining had gone for trekking," said an official at the MIC. 

Meanwhile, 25 tourists from Hyderabad, who are in Kathmandu are safe. Tour organiser Gowrishankar, who took the tourists, said members of their group were safe and moved to an open ground, close to Pashupatinath temple. 

"I was in the bathroom on the fourth floor of my hotel when I experienced tremors. Immediately, I took a bed spread and ran down to the floor. 

"Now, all of us are safe in an open ground, close to the Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu," he said. 

Gowrishankar further said they were "fortunate" that there was no damage to their hotel even as some buildings in the vicinity collapsed. 

The group comprising people from Hyderbad left on April 17 and were scheduled to return to Hyderbad after visiting Varanasi.
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16:38   Tremors kill woman in Tibet
Just In: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ordered the immediate dispatch of relief and medical teams to Nepal, and directed the evacuation of Indian tourists from there..
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16:24   Tremors kill woman in Tibet
An 83-year-old woman was killed in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region today after a powerful earthquake of 7.9 magnitude jolted neighbouring Nepal.   

The woman was killed after her house collapsed in Nyalam county in Shigatse City, the State-run Xinhua news agency cited local authorities as saying.   

The quake was felt in the cities of Lhasa and Shigatse. Houses were damaged in Nyalam county and telecommunication services were interrupted in counties on the China-Nepal border. 
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16:22   24-hr control room in MEA, Nepal thanks India for assistance
In the wake of the devastating earthquake in Nepal, a control room has been set up in Ministry of External Affairs to provide all help and information round the clock.

The numbers to the 24-hour Control Room are +91 11 2301 2113, +91 11 2301 4104 and +91 11 2301 7905, an official statement said.

Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh has expressed solidarity with Nepal, saying India stands by it in this hour of distress.

"Will be our endeavour to extend all support & assistance to those affected," he tweeted.

Ambassador-designate of Nepal here Deep Kumar Upadhyay said his country needs mobile medical assistant units from India, besides other help.

He thanked India for stepping in and offering help saying, "We have been in touch with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Our President is in touch with them and they have offered to help us. I thank India on behalf of Nepal for assisting us".

Meanwhile, India has kept its transport aircraft and C17 Globemaster, C-130 Hercules and helicopters on standby. 
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16:22   MEA sets up control room, helpline for Nepal quake
In the wake of the devastating earthquake in Nepal, a control room has been set up in the ministry of external affairs to provide all help and information round the clock.   

The numbers to the 24-hour control room are +911123012113, +911123014104 and +9111 301 905, an official statement said.  

Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh has expressed solidarity with Nepal, saying India stands by it in this hour of distress.   

"Will be our endeavour to extend all support & assistance to those affected," he tweeted.   

The ambassador-designate of Nepal Deep Kumar Upadhyay said his country needs mobile medical assistant units from India, besides other help.   

He thanked India for stepping in and offering help saying, "We have been in touch with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Our president is in touch with them and they have offered to help us. I thank India on behalf of Nepal for assisting us".   

Meanwhile, India has kept its transport aircraft and C17 Globemaster, C-130 Hercules and helicopters on standby.
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16:19   IAF jets set to rush aid to quake-hit Nepal
The Indian government has swung into action to provide relief to quake-hit Nepal.

Ministry of Defence Spokesperson Sitanshu Kar tweeted: 'One C-17 Globemaster III will fly later this afternoon from Hindan to Kathmandu carrying Radiological Medical Team and docs.'

'An IL-76 aircraftof IAF will leave at 1800 hrs for Kathmandu from Bhatinda carrying National Disaster Relief Force teams.'
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16:16   101- quake casualties reported from India
There are reports of 10-12 casualties in some states but we are awaiting confirmation. Damage to property has been also reported, says Home Minister Rajnath Singh.   

The government has placed its disaster response agencies on full alert, he added.
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16:14  
Ministry of Defence Spokesperson Sitanshu Kar Tweets: An IL-76 aircraftof IAF will leave at 1800 hrs for Kathmandu from Bhatinda carrying National Disaster Relief Force teams.
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15:59   Indian airlines cancel flights to Nepal till further orders
Domestic airlines today put on hold their services to the Nepal capital Kathmandu, following the closure of runway due to a powerful earthquake that rocked central part of the Himalyan country, causing extensive damage to buildings. 

All Indian carriers -- national airline Air India and private carriers IndiGo and SpiceJet -- have put on hold their flight services till they get a go-ahead from the Nepalese aviation authorities. 

"We operated three flights to Kathmandu. While the morning flight from Delhi operated as per the schedule, the two other services, one from Delhi and another from Kolkata are on hold as of now. We will operate them as soon as we get a nod from the aviation authorities in Kathmandu," an Air India spokesperson said.

Budget carrier SpiceJet and IndiGo have also decided not to operate till they get a clearance from the Nepal government. "As of now we are not operating to Nepal because of the runway closure," a SpiceJet official said. "We have offered the cargo-belly space to the NGOs and other agencies for transporting relief material free of cost," he added. 

IndiGo said that it had called back its Delhi-Kathmandu flight. "Kathmandu Airport is shut. We are in crisis response mode," IndiGo president Aditya Ghosh said. "In this sort of situation, one can't predict when the operations would be resumed. Our top priority right now is safety of our staff and passengers," he said. 

IndiGo has also waived cancellation charges for its flights to Nepal for one week, Ghosh added. 

A Jet Airways spokesperson said its flight which was on its way to Kathmandu, that is diverted to Lucknow, would come back to Mumbai, while its Delhi-Kathmandu-Delhi flight has been cancelled. 


Alongside, a file photograph of the Tribhuvandas airport in Kathmandu.
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15:47   Modi speaks to Nepal PM, assures all help
Just In: Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks to his Nepalese counterpart Sushil Koirala, assures him all help.
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15:45   Quake flattens historic Dharahara Tower, hundreds feared trapped

At least 110 people were killed and heavy casualties feared as a strong earthquake measuring 7.9 on Richter scale struck Nepal on Saturday, bringing down a number of buildings including the centuries-old Dharhara tower in the heart of the capital trapping scores of people.


Dharahara Tower or Bhimsen Tower, a 19th century nine-storey tall tower in Kathmandu, has collapsed due to the quake that struck earlier in the day, say reports. 

Nearly 400 people are believed to be trapped.

Twitter user @StefSimanowitz posted this haunting image
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15:44  
Rajiv Pratap Rudy tweets: Very sad to hear loss of lives in Nepal & Bihar - 150 lives lost so far due to severe earthquake.
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14:00   Masarat Alam's bail plea rejected
A local court in Budgam on Saturday rejected the bail application of hardline Hurriyat Conference leader Masarat Alam Bhat.

"The court has rejected the bail application of Bhat. The grounds on which the plea was rejected will be known when we get the detailed order copy," the Hurriyat leader's counsel Shabir Ahmad Bhat said.

The 45-year-old separatist leader, arrested last week on charges of waging war against the country and sedition, was booked under Public Safety Act on Thursday and shifted to Kotbhalwal Jail in Jammu. 

Bhat was arrested on April 16 in the case relating to hoisting of Pakistani flag and anti-India slogans during a rally in Hyderpora area on April 15 organised by the Hurriyat to welcome Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
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13:59   Quake: PM Modi speaks to Nepal President
Reaching out to Nepal which has been struck by a strong magnitude quake, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today spoke to the country's President Ram Baran Yadav.

"PM is trying to reach Nepal PM Sushil Koirala, who is abroad. He has spoken to President of Nepal Ram Baran Yadav," the PMO tweeted. 

A high-intensity quake shook Nepal's capital, causing extensive damage to buildings.

Prime Minister has also taken report of the situation in districts of UP and Bihar that are bordering Nepal besides speaking to the Sitamarhi MP.
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12:44   Shutdown in Kashmir over separatist leader Masarat Alam's arrest
Separatist leaders in Kashmir have called a shutdown in the Valley on Saturday to protest against the detention of hardliner Masarat Alam Bhat under the Public Safety Act.

Under PSA, Masarat Alam, who was released from jail only last month, could be kept in detention for two years without any trial.

His release by the new PDP-BJP government in Jammu and Kashmir had triggered a huge controversy.

Alam, who was released from jail in March after spending more than four years in jail under PSA, was arrested on April 17 on charges of waging war against the country and sedition after he hoisted a Pakistani flag and chanted anti-national slogans during a rally organised for hardline Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

He was earlier this week again booked under the stringent PSA and quickly moved out of the Valley to Kotbhalwal Jail in Jammu.

The 45-year-old hardliner had been remanded to a seven-day police custody after his arrest.

Police had registered a case against Bhat, Geelani and several other separatist leaders under Sections 121-A (waging war against the country), 124 (Sedition), 120-B (Criminal Conspiracy), 147 (rioting) of Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) among others. Alam is the only one to have been arrested so far in the matter.
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12:06   7.5 scale Nepal quake triggers major tremors in North India
The tremors could be linked to the 7.5 magnitude quake reported by the United States Geological Survey 35 kilometers east of Lamjung, Nepal.

Reports of tremors have been coming in many parts of northern India.

News agency PTI reported that in Delhi and NCR region tremors were felt for a minute at 11.44 am.

Tremors have reportedly been felt in Delhi, Patna, Ranchi and Lucknow.

More details are awaited.
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10:46   PM Modi takes a 33 km ride on Delhi Metro
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday hopped into the Delhi Metro for a ride from Dhaula Kuan to Dwarka.

The PM was accompanied by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval for the estimated 33-km journey.

He later posted this on Twitter: "Sreedharanji ('Metroman' and Principal Advisor to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation) would always tell me to experience the Delhi Metro. Today I had the opportunity to do so on the way to Dwarka. Really enjoyed the ride. Thanks Delhi Metro. Thanks Sreedharan ji! "
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09:41   Mountaineer Mastan Babu to be cremated today
Top Indian mountaineer Malli Mastan Babu, who died while scaling a mountain between Argentina and Chile, will be cremated on Saturday in his native village in Andhra Pradesh.

Central minister M Venkaiah Naidu, state IT Minister P Raghunath Reddy and other state ministers and officials will attend the last rites, which will be performed with official honours.

The 40-year-old Mastan Babu went missing on March 24 while trying to scale solo a mountain Cerro Tres Cruces Sur. He was found dead on April 3 but the body could not be retrieved for several days due to adverse weather.

The body was finally brought down by a group of professional mountaineers. The government of India spent $100,000 on this effort.

The mortal remains were brought to Buenos Aires for autopsy. After embalming and completion of other formalities, it was flown to India.

The top mountaineer had achieved the feat of becoming the "fastest seven summiteer" in the world (172 days in 2006, during which he climbed seven summits on seven days of the week in each calendar month).
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04:32   'Fast and Furious 8' gets 2017 release date
"Fast and Furious 8" is a go.

The latest entry in Universal's blockbuster action franchise has been dated for April 14, 2017. The news was revealed during the studio's CinemaCon presentation following an emotional speech by Vin Diesel.

"We're going to make the best movie you've ever seen," the actor said in announcing the date.

Read full story HERE.
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04:32   War games off UK coast not response to Russia, says NATO
Huge military exercises are underway off and around Britain's coast, but NATO insists they are not a deliberate response to the Russian military's increasingly brazen behavior.

The British-led war games are code named Joint Warrior and the numbers are all big: 13,000 personnel from 14 countries operating more than 50 ships and submarines as well as 70 aircraft.

NATO says the planning started long before Russia renewed its status as the alliance's chief adversary.

For more than a year NATO has been condemning Russia's actions in Ukraine as well as its frequent, large scale, snap military drills and those long-range Bear bombers repeatedly flying very close to NATO airspace.

Read full story HERE.
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02:27   UN chief concerned about attacks on peacekeepers in Mali
United Nations Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon said today recent attacks on the UN mission in Mali highlighted the urgent need for a political settlement with rebels in the country's north. 

Seven UN peacekeepers were wounded yesterday in the most recent attack about 60 miles (100 kilometers) southwest of the northern city of Kidal. 

In all, five civilians have been killed since last week in attacks that also left 13 civilians and 16 peacekeepers wounded. 

"Attacks against civilians and UN peacekeepers constitute a serious violation of international law," Ban said through his spokesman, adding that those responsible should be brought to justice. 

"This series of attacks highlights the urgency of finding a political settlement and re-establishing security in the north of Mali." 

The UN mission's chief expressed hope that Tuareg rebels would sign a peace accord with the Malian government before a May 15 deadline.
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00:54   Iranian ships turn away from Yemen
A convoy of Iranian ships headed toward Yemen is now moving away from the war-torn country, days after the US deployed warships to the Yemeni coast, according to two US defense officials.

One of those American ships, the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, has also been redirected away from Yemen to the Persian Gulf.

The Iranian ships turned away from Yemen on Thursday and on Friday continued to move northeast, back in the direction of Iran.

"I think it's fair to say that this appears to be a de-escalation of some of the tensions that were being discussed earlier in the week," Pentagon Spokesman Col. Steve Warren told reporters Friday. He also said that there had been no communication between Iranian and US forces at any point.

Read full story HERE.
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00:37   Salman Khurshid plays Saif, German envoy SRK in Bollywood video

German Ambassador to India Michael Steiner paid tribute to the soft power of Bollywood by making his acting debut in a video on Shah Rukh Khan-Saif Ali Khan-starrer 2003 romantic drama 'Kal Ho Naa Ho'.

Steiner loved the title song of the Karan Johar-directed movie. The song, penned by Javed Akhtar and sung by Sonu Nigam, talks about living in now rather than thinking about past or future.

Besides Steiner, the tribute video stars his wife Eliese in the role earlier played by Preity Zinta while former foreign minister of India, Salman Khurshid filled in the role done by Saif.

The premiere of the music - "Lebe Zetzt-Kal Ho Naa Ho" was attended by actress Sharmila Tagore, Saif, Akhtar, Madhu Kishwar and director Sumit Osmand Shaw.

Steiner said working on the three-and-a-half-minute music video was tough and has renewed his respect for actors.

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00:12   New York's Statue of Liberty evacuated after bomb threat
New York's iconic Statue of Liberty and Liberty Island are being evacuated after reports of a suspicious package inside a locker, according to a senior law enforcement official and the National Park Service.

The evacuation followed a phoned bomb threat, the official said.

Images posted on social media showed crowds walking on ramps to awaiting ferries.

Read full story HERE.

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