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Sat, 07 February 2015
Organisers prohibited from transmitting Togadia's speech
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23:39 Organisers prohibited from transmitting Togadia's speech
After the Vishwa Hindu Parishad said it had arranged to telecast live it's leader Praveen Togadia's speech through video-conferencing at the 'Hindu Virat Samavesha' in Bengaluru tomorrow, police issued an order, prohibiting organisers from displaying and transmitting his speech through any form of media for two days.
City Police Commissioner M N Reddi in a statement that he was imposing an order, prohibiting Keshav Hegde, VHP organising secretary, and other organisers of the Samavesha from displaying and transmitting any speech of Togadia through audio, visual and any other media at the venue for two days, from 6 pm on February 7 to 6 pm on February 9.
23:16 Painting breaks sale record at nearly $300m
A painting of two Tahitian girls by the French artist Paul Gauguin has been sold for $300 million (Rs 1,861 crore), making it the most expensive work of art ever sold. Nafea Faa Ipoipo, or When Will You Marry?, was painted in 1892 and had been owned by a Swiss collector.Before the Gauguin sale, The Card Players by Paul Cezanne was the most expensive work of art sold for more than $250 million.
22:27 Bihar CM Manjhi arrives in Delhi
A defiant Bihar Chief MinisterJitan Ram Manjhi, who refused to step down after the ruling Janata Dal-United elected Nitish Kumar as the legislature party leader, flew in to Delhi from Patna to attend the NITI Aayog meet tomorrow.
Manjhi said he will attend the meeting where PrimeMinister Narendra Modi will seek views of chief ministers and Lt governors on Budget 2015-16, flagship schemes and infrastructure projects like rail and roads to put the economy on high growth trajectory.
The rebel CM could be looking at wooing BJP in a bid to stay in power. There was no official word on whether he would separately meet the PM and BJP leaders.
22:15 Nitish Kumar to stake claim to govt formation on Sunday
And moving to Bihar, Rediff.com's M I Khan reports: Janata Dal-United's Nitish Kumar will stake claim to government formation on Sunday, a senior party leader said. The latest development comes after 20 ministers, all loyalists of Nitish Kumar, submitted their resignation to principal secretary to the governor. Former Bihar CM Nitish Kumar was today elected as the head of the JD-U's Legislature Party.Bihar CM Jitan Ram Manjhi had recommended the dissolution of state assembly in the Cabinet meeting that took place today.
Image: JD-U's Sharad Yadav and Nitish Kumar hug after Kumar was made the head of the Legislature Party. Photograph: PTI photo
22:03 Pakistan ban on YouTube to remain indefinitely
The suspension of video-sharing website YouTube is likely to continue in Pakistan for an indefinite period, officials said today, as authorities have failed to come up with a solution for filtering objectionable or 'blasphemous' material without blocking the site.
Pakistan's Supreme Court ordered government to filter all unwanted content before restoring the website after it was blocked in 2012 following uploading of the controversial film Innocence of Muslims that caused an uproar in the conservative Islamic nation.
An official of Pakistan Telecom Authority said that so far no method has been found to selectively stop obscene and anti-Islamic content on the site.
21:52 Over 13,000 held in Pakistan anti-terror crackdown
Police in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province have arrested over 13,000 suspects in anti-terror crackdowns after the federal government formed the National Action Plan to quell militancy following the Peshawar school massacre. In congruence with the action plan, the police arrested 13,144 suspects across the province and seized huge quantity of arms and ammunitions in the past one month, officials said.
Pakistan formed the NAP after the Peshawar school attack on December 16 that killed 150 people, mostly children, in consultation with political parties and the military.
21:26 You rejected politics of caste, religion: Kejriwal to voters
Aam Aadmi Party's Arvind Kejriwal tweeted his thanks after polling ended in Delhi. "My sincere thanks to all the selfless volunteers of AAP, who worked round the clock for their country. AAP is because of you. My gratitude to Delhiites for their support. You rejected politics of caste, religion. Hope the final results are as per exit polls," the AAP chief tweeted.
20:53
JUST IN: 20 ministers resign in show of support for Nitish Kumar. Today, the Janata Dal-UnitedLegislature Party elected Nitish Kumar as its leader who will stake claim to form government in Bihar.
20:36 This is unprecedented: Delhi records 67.08% voter turnout
After hours of polling, it's over. Polling in Delhi has come to an end with a 67.08 per cent voter turnout. This is the highest voter turnout in the capital.
The Election Commission announced that over 89 lakh people cast their votes in Delhi today. Chandra Bhushan Kumar, the Delhi chief electoral officer said, "We are happy to announce this election has been unprecedented in terms of voter turnout, poll percentage has crossed 67.08 per cent."
Back in 2013, the voter turnout had been recorded at 65.63 per cent.
20:09 Want to sent a bouquet to BJP, says Yogendra Yadav
"Want to send a bouquet to BJP, whose local leadership did the rest for us, says Yogendra Yadav from the Aam Aadmi Party after exit polls predicted that the AAP would emerge as the clear winner in the Delhi assembly polls.
19:40 Like to thank all of Delhi voters for a high turnout: Bedi
Bharatiya Janata Party's chief ministerial candidate held a conference in which she thanked the people of Delhi for coming out and voting. She said, "I would like to thank all of Delhi voters for a high turnout.Whatever the people of Delhi have decided, is their right."
On the exit polls, which is predicting a win for the AAP, she said, "Whatever I have seen on the TV on the exit poll predictions is till 3 PM.We should wait till the February 10 for the final results. The 3 PM to 6 PM result analysis has not yet been assessed.I would like to thank the BJP for such faith in me. I hadn't heard such praise ever in life."
19:03 Voting time extended for those in queue before 6 pm
In view of the heavy voter turnout, the Election Commission has extended the voting time beyond the scheduled deadline of 6 pm to enable those in the queues to exercise their franchise. Large number of voters were still queuing up outside polling stations in various localities beyond the official deadline of voting. The commission said all those who entered the booth premises before 6 pm will be able to vote.
18:51 Delhi votes: 67% voter turnout at 6 pm
After voting, the final voter turnout in Delhi is 67%. The voter turn out has been higher than the turnout in the Lok Sabha or the 2013 Delhi assembly elections. Voters came out of their homes on Saturday to elect a new government after the Kejriwal-led government resigned after being in power for 49 days. In 2013, the voter turnout had been recorded at 65.63 per cent.
The counting of these results will be made on Tuesday.
However, these are not final figures, as the CEC had said that all those standing in queue would be allowed to vote.
18:31 High turnout is a victory for democracy: Shazia Ilmi
New member of Bharatiya Janata Party, Shazia Ilmi today said that the high voter turnout 'is a victory for democracy'. She added that a lot was at stake for the AAP. "The AAP which is taking about free Wi-Fi is not making it clear as to to what telecom operator is going to pay for it.The party talks about corporate funding for the BJP, but they don't say how they have managed a large scale campaign with big hoardings, TV and radio campaigning."
18:26
After casting their votes, the chief ministerial candidates from the Congress, BJP and AAP took to Twitter.
Ajay Maken from the Congress wrote, "End of a hectic campaign and elections! Thanks Delhi for a good turnout! May the most capable ones win- I sincerely pray."
BJP's Kiran Bedi said, "Love it when mothers and fathers are bringing their daughters meet with me while on the round, saying make them like you. A small revolution?"
AAP's Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, "We have done our work with honesty and selflessness. Now the future is in God's hands."
18:17 Saradha scam: Matang Sinh taken into custody till Feb 11
Former Union minister Matang Sinh has been taken into CBI custody till February 11 in connection to the Saradha scam. The Central Bureau of Investigation had arrested him last week on charges of conspiracy, cheating and misappropriation. The agency had, during investigation, found that Sinh's companies allegedly received Rs.28 crore from Saradha group chief and prime accused Sudipta Sen.
18:07 As voting nears its end, AAP and BJP both claim victory
With only one hour to go and a voter turn out of 63 per cent, the BJP and the AAP are both claiming victory in the Delhi assembly elections. Celebrations have already begun outside the respective party offices, with each claiming to have won the elections.
However, the true result will only be announced on Tuesday.
17:47 Delhi votes: 63% voter turnout till 5 pm
With an hour left to cast their vote, Delhi's poll percentage at 5 pm had crossed the 60 mark and risen to 63 per cent. Voters have been waiting in queue to cast their vote and decide their future. Delhi has been under President's rule since the Kejriwal-led government had resigned after being in power for 49 days.
Image: Congress's Sheila Dikshit flashes her finger after casting her vote
17:06 JDU MLAs elect Nitish Kumar as leader of Legislative party
Manjhi had recommended the dissolution of state assembly in the Cabinet meeting that took place today. Two thirds of the ministers opposed Manjhi's proposal.
Janata Dal-United legislature party has elected Nitish Kumar as its leader and sacked Bihar CM Jitan Ram Manjhi.
16:58 EC dismisses AAP's charge of slow voting at polling booths
AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal alleged on Twitter that it was taking so long to vote that people were heading back home.
Chief Election Commissioner HS Brahma said that is not correct and he has not received any complaints of this nature so far.
The Chief Election Commissioner said he has instructed his team to ensure that "no voter has to wait in line for more than 35-40 minutes."
16:28 Islamic State says airstrike killed US hostage, US skeptical
Islamic State extremists claimed that an American woman held hostage by the group has been killed in a Jordanian airstrike in northern Syria, but the government of Jordan dismissed the statement as "criminal propaganda" and the US said it had not seen any evidence to corroborate the report.
The woman was identified as Kayla Jean Mueller, an American who went to Syria to do aid work, but there was no independent verification of the militants' claim. The statement appeared on a militant website commonly used by the group and was also distributed by Islamic State-affiliated Twitter users.
15:47 Jordan says pilot murder 'turning point' in IS fight
The burning alive of a Jordanian pilot by the Islamic State group is a "turning point" in the kingdom's fight against the jihadists, a minister said in remarks published today.
Air strikes carried out so far by Jordan's air force were "the beginning of an ongoing process to eliminate" IS, Interior Minister Hussein Majali said, quoted by government newspaper Al-Rai.
15:47 TransAsia starts pilot retraining after deadly crash
TransAsia Airways cancelled dozens of flights today, the first day of a pilot retraining programme, as rescuers retrieved four more bodies from its second deadly crash in Taiwan in seven months.
Taiwan's Civil Aeronautics Administration ordered all the airline's staff who fly ATR planes to take tests on operating the aircraft after it emerged the pilots may have inexplicably shut off one of the engines before Flight GE235 went down last week.
15:39 Manjhi proposes dissolution of Bihar Assembly
Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi proposes dissolution of Bihar Assembly at Cabinet meeting. He has the support of 7 ministers but is opposed by 21 pro-Nitish Kumar ministers, says Finance Minister Bijendra Yadav.
Bihar governor has accepted the chief minister's recommendation of dismissal of two ministers - Rajiv Ranjan Singh Lallan and P K Shahi.
Manjhi today visited Janata Dal-United leader Nitish Kumar in the presence of party president Sharad Yadav to reconcile after Bharatiya Janata Party's top leadership in Delhi made it clear not to support Manjhi.
15:06 New sanctions proposed for Islamic State group oil trading
A proposed UN resolution to crack down on the financing of terrorist groups calls for sanctions on individuals and companies trading oil produced by the Islamic State and other Al-Qaida-linked groups.
The Russian-sponsored resolution, obtained yesterday by The Associated Press, would also require all 193 UN member states to take "appropriate steps" to prevent the trade in antiquities and other items of historical, cultural, rare scientific and religious importance illegally removed from Syria.
15:05 AAP charges Model Code violation by Bedi, complains to EC
AAP has filed a complaint against BJP's chief ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi with the Election Commission over an alleged violation of the Model Code of Conduct in her constituency, Krishna Nagar.
In its letter to the poll watchdog, AAP accused Bedi of holding a road show and a bike rally this morning with hundreds of workers carrying "campaign material" and "talking to voters".
14:03 Manjhi likely to resign as Bihar CM
The JD-U appears to have quelled the rebellion led by Chief Minsiter Jitan Ram Manjhi.
Reports claimed, Saturday, that Manjhi has agreed to make way for the return of Nitish Kumar as the chief minister.
The development came after Manjhi met Kumar at the latter's residence today amid pressure from the party leadership to not create a spit in the party.
However, the sudden change in Manjhi's hard line against any rapprochement on the issue of chief ministership has come as a surprise.
13:13 AAP is buying voters for Rs 300, alleges Bedi
Speaking to a TV news channel BJP's Kiran Bedi alleged that AAP workers were "forcing people" to vote for it and even abusing women at a voting booth, citing a purported video of some voter confirming these allegations.
"AAP is buying voters for Rs 300. Young girls are saying they were offered money and free food. Women are being threatened. Her party alleged that AAP volunteers tried to manhandle BJP candidate Nupur Sharma.
Reacting to the charge, AAP spokesperson Atishi Marlena said, "the BJP's claims are becoming increasingly more far-fetched."
12:51 US accuses 6 immigrants of helping Islamic State group
Six Bosnian immigrants have been accused of sending money and equipment to terrorists oversees, including fighters with the Islamic State group and al-Qaida in Iraq, the US attorney's office announced.
An indictment unsealed yesterday in St Louis said the defendants donated money themselves and in some cases collected funds from others in the US and sent the donations oversees.
12:49 U'khand minister Rakesh passes away
Uttarakhand Minister Surendra Rakesh died at a Gurgaon hospital this morning after battling with cancer for over a year. Admitted to the hospital since October 14 last year, 48-year-old Rakesh breathed his last at 9.30 AM, his principal private secretary K K Madan said.
12:17 Marathon chanting of Hanuman Chalisa sets world record
A Guinness World Record was created for the largest gathering ever to attend the chanting of 'Hanuman Chalisa' held on Tenali-Burripalem, Road in Andhra Pradesh.
About 1.30 lakh devotees led by Mysore seer Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swami set a world record by chanting the 'Hanuman Chalisa' for four hours.
The spiritual event was organised by Sri Ganapathi Sachidanda Swamy of Sri Datta Peetham in Mysore. The event was supervised by representatives of the Guinness World Records.
A certificate was handed over to Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda Swami in the presence of Tamil Nadu governor K Rosaiah, local MLA Alapati Rajendra Prasad and MLC Nannapaneni Rajakumari.
12:02 Delhi polls could be a 'wave election' says AAP
"We are looking at an election which could be a wave election, which could even be a landslide election," AAP leader Yogendra Yadav told a TV news channel.
There is a contest in the middle class areas, where every vote can matter, but outside the middle class areas, it is clearly one-sided," the AAP leader said.
11:08 Delhi polls: Congress will not extend support to AAP: Maken
Congress leaderAjay Maken on Saturday said that his party will neither take nor extend any support to the Aam Aadmi Party for the government formation in Delhi, even as polling was on in the city.
"We will neither take nor extend any support to AAP for Government formation," he told the mediapersons.
10:11 Police seize narcotics hidden in orange crates at LoC
The cross Line of Control trade has again been hit following recovery of narcotics hidden in Orange boxes by police and custom authorities late Friday.
Mukhtar Ahmad reports from Srinagar:
The narcotics hidden in 97 Orange boxes were recovered by the authorities during a check up of the trucks coming from Muzaffarabad at the Salamabad trade facilitation centre near Uri in north Kashmir Baramulla district yesterday.
09:07 Delhi Polls: PM asks 'young friends' to vote in record numbers
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today asked voters in Delhi, especially the youth to go out and vote in record numbers
"As Delhi votes today, urging voters to go out & vote in large numbers. I particularly call upon my young friends to vote in record numbers," he tweeted.
02:15 Uber to launch 'panic button' for users in India
Uber is launching a "panic button" and other safety features for users in India, following news that Mumbai was readying a ban on the ride-sharing service.
The move also follows concerns about Uber's practices in the wake of rape allegations against a driver in New Delhi last year.
Uber said in a blog post that starting February 11 riders in India would have an "in-app panic (SOS) button that allows a rider to alert the local police at the push of a button in case of an emergency."
Riders will also have a "safety net" feature allowing them to share their trip details and real-time location with up to five friends and family members.
A spokeswoman for Uber said these initiatives were "specific to India."
Uber said it faced "some misconceptions" about its safety initiatives in India. It noted that it already conducts background checks on driver applicants and this week launched a "third party driver screening program" which goes beyond the standard transport licensing process.
The California-based startup which operates in more than 50 countries said that it had established in India "a dedicated team and process to manage emergencies" if anyone uses the panic button. The team will be available 24 hours a day and can notify police.
Uber said it is not recommending physical panic buttons, saying they "cause confusion and are prone to wear and tear, but will allow independent drivers to install them with safeguards.
02:13 Scenes from daily life inside ISIS-controlled Mosul
As ISIS continues to ravage large swaths of Syria and Iraq, it is increasingly difficult for unfiltered news to make its way to Western audiences.
Vanityfair.com received this dispatch from a Syrian who traveled to Mosul to capture images.
To protect this individual's security in an area where speaking candidly about ISIS is dangerous, it kept all identifying details confidential.
Artist Molly Crabapple sketches the sources descriptions and images of life in Mosul, an Iraqi city transformed under militant control.
Check them out HERE
02:09 Saddam Hussein's hanging noose up for auction
The rope used to execute ousted Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein could be yours for the right price.
Ex-Prime Minister Mowaffak Al-Rubaie has put the item up for sale more than eight years after he witnessed Saddam hanged in 2006.
An unidentified senior Iraqi political official told the Middle East news site Al-Araby al-Jadeed this week that several individuals from Israel, Iran and Kuwait are vying to purchase the rope -- with one making a $7 million bid.
And despite the ridiculous offer, Al-Rubaie says he wants even more, according to the Middle East Monitor.
He told the Independent in 2013 that his men brought him back the segment of the rope "after they cut Saddam down".
01:59 Pope Francis rapped for spanking 'howler'
Pope Francis came under fire today after an off-the-cuff remark in which he defended the right of parents to spank their children.
In comments during his weekly general audience on Wednesday, the pontiff described a good father as one who knew how to forgive but also how to "correct with firmness."
"Once, in a meeting with married couples, I heard a father say 'I sometimes have to smack my children a bit, but never in the face so as to not humiliate them'," Francis said.
"How beautiful! He knows the sense of dignity! He has to punish them but does it justly and moves on."
The comment made no waves in Italy but has been severely criticised in Germany, one of several countries which completely outlaws all forms of corporal punishment.
"There is no way of hitting children with dignity," the country's Minister for the Family, Manuela Schwesig says in an interview with Die Welt, due to be published on Saturday.
The German Association for Children's Aid called on the pope to correct his own error.
"This pope is particularly humane, but anyone can make a mistake. By suggesting it is okay to hit a child if it is done with dignity, he completely misses the point."
01:58 Ex-Mauritius PM Ramgoolam arrested: media reports
Police in Mauritius arrested the former prime minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam today, media reports said, sparking angry demonstrations from supporters in the Indian Ocean island nation.
Ramgoolam, 67, who accepted defeat in parliamentary polls in December, was arrested and held in prison for questioning this afternoon, L'Express and Le Mauricien newspapers reported, quoting his lawyer.
An AFP reporter said scuffles broke out between his supporters and those of the government on the streets of the capital, but police separated the two sides.
However, the situation remained tense on the popular tourist island, the reporter added.
In December, Ramgoolam, who had wanted to run for the presidency had he won the polls but in a crushing defeat even lost his own parliamentary seat, said the "elections were carried out with respect to democracy."
Le Mauricien newspaper said the arrest was connected to a burglary that took place in 2011 at a beach property belonging to Ramgoolam.
Police have been seeking to question Ramgoolam for allegedly lying about his presence at the scene of the robbery, and asking a businessman to give false testimony to the police. It remains unclear why Ramgoolam may have lied about his presence at the property.
01:29 Top headlines at this hour:
NYT edit asks Modi to break "deafening silence" on religious intolerance
Bihar CM seeks dismissal of Nitish's close aides, writes to Governor
Bukhari bats for AAP but party says it doesn't need his support
Greenpeace activist would do anti-national activities: Govt tells HC
Dhoni becomes a father, wife Sakshi gives birth to a baby girl
Auditors raise red flag over Jet Airways' going concern status
Bihar CM seeks dismissal of Nitish's close aides, writes to Governor
Bukhari bats for AAP but party says it doesn't need his support
Greenpeace activist would do anti-national activities: Govt tells HC
Dhoni becomes a father, wife Sakshi gives birth to a baby girl
Auditors raise red flag over Jet Airways' going concern status
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