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Wed, 25 February 2015
Cong to hold Chintan Shivir in Amethi on Feb 28
Timeline Refresh
23:48 UN calls on Libyan parties to resume peace dialogue
The UN has appealed to all parties in Libya to resume dialogue on the future of the war-wracked North African state following a decision by the country's parliament to suspend participation in the UN-brokered peace talks.
The chamber of representatives of the internationally recognised government of Al-Thinni voted in favour of suspending its participation after the deadly bombing in the eastern town of Al-Qubbah which killed at least 40 people and gravely injured civilians.
The bombing was carried out by the Islamic State in retaliation to the attack carried out by Egypt in Derna after the killing of 21 Coptic Christians by the IS.
The UN appealed to all parties not to let this "window of opportunity to slip away" and reiterated the neutrality of the United Nations to the Libyan leaders.
23:31 Cong to hold Chintan Shivir in Amethi on Feb 28
Congress will hold a 'Chintan Shivir' here on February 28 where people from different walks of life will discuss and make resolutions to boost the party.
The day-long camp will be held at the guest house of Sanjay Gandhi Hospital at Munshiganj, vice president Rahul Gandhi's Amethi representative Chandrakant Dubey and president of district Congress committee Yogendra Mishra said today.
The camp is being organised on the instructions of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul to revamp the party, they said.
They also said that 'at least 10 groups consisting 20 to 25 persons from different walks of life including party activists, intellectuals, ex-force men and farmers will take active part in the discussion and give resolutions on how to boost the party'.
22:32 30-hour encounter ends in Shopian, both militants killed
Mukhtar Ahmad reports from Srinagar: Two militants of Hizbul Mujaheedin outfit were killed in over 30-hour-long fierce gunfight in south Kashmir Shopian district on Wednesday evening.
Four army troopers including a senior officer were injured during the fierce encounter which began Tuesday afternoon after troops of counter insurgency, Rashtriya Rifles and police jointly surrounded a house in Heff Shirmaal village in Shopian district on specific information about presence of militants inside it.
"During the late afternoon of February 24, specific intelligence about the presence of terrorists in village Heff Shirmal of Shopian district was received. A joint operation was launched by the army and the Special Operations Group of police by 3:40 pm. The terrorists were holed up in a house in village. As soon as the troops closed on to the house, the terrorists opened heavy volume of fire,' a defence spokesman said in a statement.
22:12 UN defends its decision to defer Lanka war crime probe report
The UN Human Rights Council today defended its move to defer the release of a report into alleged war crimes committed during Sri Lanka's civil war as a "very rational" decision taken in a "relatively unique" case.
The President of the UN Human Rights Council Joachim Rucker said that the decision to defer the release of the report on the human rights violations in Sri Lanka to September of this year was "very rational".
Speaking ahead of the 28th session of the UNHRC, Rucker emphasised that both the stepping down of the Chairperson of of the Commission of Enquiry on the 2014 Gaza Conflict, William Schabas, and the Lanka report deferral were "relatively unique cases" and warned against drawing conclusions of a general nature about them.
The report, which was earlier scheduled to be released on March 25 was deferred by six months last week, following request by the country's newly-elected government for more time to conclude its internal probe.
22:09 US secret Service consulting with French on drone case in Paris
Read full story HERE.
The Secret Service is in contact with French officials regarding this week's mysterious drone incidents in Paris, a law enforcement official tells CNN.
For at least the last two days, unmanned aerial vehicles have been spotted flying over high profile sites in Paris, including the Eiffel Tower and the U.S. Embassy in France, French officials said. It is unclear, authorities have said, who is flying the aircraft.
"We had folks from Paris calling us yesterday because of all the UAV's over there," the official said.
Meanwhile, the Secret Service will be busy over the coming days and weeks conducting readiness drills to better prepare officers for drone incidents around the White House.
Read full story HERE.
21:56 France plans broader dialogue with its large Muslim minority
France outlined plans for a broader dialogue with its Muslim minority on Wednesday after the faith's official council proved unable to deal with the challenges presented by Islamist radicalisation.
Attacks by French Islamists on the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo and a kosher grocery in Paris last month, in which 17 people were killed, have been followed by a sharp rise in attacks on French mosques, putting Europe's largest Muslim minority in the spotlight.
Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said the government would consult twice a year with a wide range of Muslim leaders, including not only the official French Muslim Council but also imams and intellectuals not represented in it, on problems facing the community.
Read full story HERE.
Read full story HERE.
21:38 115 fresh cases of swine flu in Delhi
The national capital today reported 115 fresh cases of swine flu, taking the total number of cases so far this year to 2,571.
According to the health department of Delhi government today, 594 tests were carried out, of which 115 were tested positive.
No deaths were reported today.
21:04 Rahul could be elevated as Con prez later this year
Rahul Gandhi's sudden sabbatical to reflect upon the future course of the party may be a prelude to his elevation as Congress President.
There are indications that Gandhi, who is currently the Vice President, could be made the party chief later this year as the tenure of Congress President Sonia Gandhi comes to an end in September.
While it is not clear whether the elevation could happen at the AICC session itself, which is expected to be held in the first week of April, top party sources do not discount the possibility of the Congress Vice President taking over as the party chief finally this year.
Sonia Gandhi has been the longest-serving Congress President since 1998, when she took over the reins of the party from Sitaram Kesri.
20:31 NDA's land bill against farmers: Ramdev aide
Yoga guru Ramdev's aide Balkrishna today said that NDA's bill to amend the Land Acquisition Act was against the interest of farmers and appealed the Centre to revise it.
"Agricultural land is everyone's need as our life depends on it. The land acquisition bill brought in by the Centre goes against the interest of farmers. So the legislation should be redrafted and revised keeping in mind the interest of farmers and all sections of society," Balkrishna told reporters in Udham Singh Nagar district here.
Balkrishna was here on his way to Nepal.
Uttarakhand High Court yesterday allowed Balkrishna, an accused in a forgery case, to go to Nepal on a six-day visit from February 25 to March 2.
20:11 ISIS and Boko Haram uniting?
Read full story HERE.
Observers of Boko Haram, which has inflicted years of terror on northern Nigeria, note that its actions in the last six months have frequently mimicked those of ISIS -- from punishments such as stoning and beheading of its victims to taking territory and an increasingly sophisticated use of social media that's very much in the ISIS "style."
The latest sign that Boko Haram is wooing ISIS came on Sunday with a series of tweets released by jihadist site Afriqiyah Media, which declared its own allegiance to ISIS in December. One tweet quoted Boko Haram's own media arm as saying: "We give you glad tidings that the group's Shurah Council is at the stage of consulting and studying, and we will let you know soon the group's decision in respect to pledging allegiance to the Caliph of the Muslims Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, may Allah preserve him," according to a translation by SITE Intelligence.
The message was purportedly posted on February 9.
Read full story HERE.
20:04 Swine flu claims 51 more lives, death toll rises to 926
Swine flu has claimed 51 more lives raising the death toll to 926 and the number of people affected by the disease crossed the 16,000 mark even as the Government said today there is no need to panic.
The concern over the spiralling swine flu cases was also reflected with High Courts acting on Public Interest Litigations on the threat posed by the disease.
Delhi High Court sought the Centre and city government's response within a week on the steps it has taken to deal with swine flu while the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court directed Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary, Medical (Health) of Uttar Pradesh to make medicines and special masks available within two to three days.
19:50 22 killed as bus overturns on expressway in China
At least 22 people have been killed and 38 others injured when a bus overturned on an expressway in northwest China during the week-long Chinese New Year holidays, state media reported today.
The accident took place last night in Bachu County, Kashgar Prefecture of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
The 428-km-long expressway links Kashgar - located near the border with Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan - with Aksu in the southwestern part of Xinjiang Province.
The injured have been rushed to hospital.
A record 1.15 billion trips were made by Chinese people during the week-long Spring Festival that ended yesterday.
Every year, millions of Chinese return to the cities where they work or attend school after reuniting with family during the Spring Festival.
The pre and post holiday travel rush known as "Chunyun" in Chinese has also been called the world's largest human migration.
19:40 Over 6,000 Indians are in jails of 71 countries: Govt
As many as 6,443 Indians are detained in jails in 71 countries for various offences and 74 missing defence personnel, including 54 prisoners of war, are believed to be in Pakistani jails since 1971, Lok Sabha was informed today.
While the maximum number of 1,534 Indians are detained in Saudi Arabia followed by 833 in UAE, as many as 352 of them are in Pakistan and 73 in Sri Lanka.
"6,443 Indian nationals are detained in jails in 71countries," External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said in awritten reply in Lok Sabha. "According to available information 74 missing defence personnel, including 54 prisoners of war are believed to be in Pakistani jails since 1971," she said.
The Minister said government has repeatedly taken up the matter with Pakistan government through diplomatic channels and during high-level contacts for securing the release Indian prisoners of war, but Pakistan does not acknowledge the presence of any Indian PoW in its custody.
19:36 Paris night drone mystery deepens
Drones have appeared over landmarks in central Paris for the second night running and police are no closer to knowing who is operating them.
There were five sightings between 11.00 pm on Tuesday and 02.00 am on Wednesday, French media report.
Up to three drones were seen near the Invalides military museum, Place de la Concorde and two of the old city gates.
Flying drones over Paris at night is illegal and daytime flights require authorisation from the city.
Read full story HERE.
Read full story HERE.
18:57 Mufti to meet Modi on Friday just ahead of swearing-in
PDP patron Mufti Mohammed Sayeed will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the first time on February 27 after which a swearing-in ceremony is likely to be held on March 1, two months after the results for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls were announced.
79-year-old Sayeed's meeting with Modi is expected to be a mere photo opportunity as all the issues between the two parties have been sorted out and a "comprehensive document" for governance has been framed.
Though March 1, considered as an 'auspicious day', is being favoured by both the parties for the swearing-in in Jammu, PDP chief spokesman Naeem Akhtar said "a final decision on oath taking will be taken only after the meeting between the PDP patron and the Prime Minister".
During the meeting, Sayeed is expected to invite Modi for the swearing-in function. This is for the first time that BJP will be part of the ruling benches in the state.
79-year-old Sayeed's meeting with Modi is expected to be a mere photo opportunity as all the issues between the two parties have been sorted out and a "comprehensive document" for governance has been framed.
Though March 1, considered as an 'auspicious day', is being favoured by both the parties for the swearing-in in Jammu, PDP chief spokesman Naeem Akhtar said "a final decision on oath taking will be taken only after the meeting between the PDP patron and the Prime Minister".
During the meeting, Sayeed is expected to invite Modi for the swearing-in function. This is for the first time that BJP will be part of the ruling benches in the state.
18:33 Encounter in Shopian
A fierce encounter between security forces and militants underway in Shopian (J&K), 2 jawans and one major injured, 3 militants killed, search ops on.
18:20 Rahul on leave
Rahul Gandhi could not have chosen a worse moment for self-introspection, coinciding as it does with a parliamentary budget session. Read
18:18
Sonia Faleiro on why Modi is no champion of India's women. Read
17:07 Uddhav orders Sainiks to warn farmers against Modi's land act
Uddhav Thackeray, Shiv Sena chief, has ordered party's workers to travel across Maharashtra to inform farmers that the government's planned land reforms are designed to gyp them. The Sena is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's coalition government; it also co-governs Maharashtra with Modi's party, the BJP.
The government says the new proposal balances the rights of farmers with the urgent need to provide land for projects worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
The Opposition - and allies of the BJP like the Sena and the Akali Dal - disagree. Since yesterday, thousands of farmers have gathered in Delhi at a massive sit-in led by Gandhian activist Anna Hazare.
The government says the new proposal balances the rights of farmers with the urgent need to provide land for projects worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
The Opposition - and allies of the BJP like the Sena and the Akali Dal - disagree. Since yesterday, thousands of farmers have gathered in Delhi at a massive sit-in led by Gandhian activist Anna Hazare.
17:03 Delhi's AAP govt keeps poll promises: Announces cheaper power, free water
Fulfilling its election promises, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi today slashed power tariff by 50 per cent for those households which consume up to 400 units per month.
The government has also decided to provide 20,000 litres of free water to every household.
However, water tariff will be charged if the consumption limit exceeds 20,000 litres.
The free water scheme will come into force from March 1.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who made the announcement at a press conference, said consumers getting free water will not be required to pay for sewer charges.
The government has also decided to provide 20,000 litres of free water to every household.
However, water tariff will be charged if the consumption limit exceeds 20,000 litres.
The free water scheme will come into force from March 1.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who made the announcement at a press conference, said consumers getting free water will not be required to pay for sewer charges.
16:58 Men!
This picture that has been retweeted a number of times is apparently from the Delhi assembly and all those men eyeballing that woman as she takes her seat are AAP MLAs.
Eleven days after forming the Delhi government, Arvind Kejriwal's AAP has delivered on its big-ticket election promises: cheaper water and power today.
Eleven days after forming the Delhi government, Arvind Kejriwal's AAP has delivered on its big-ticket election promises: cheaper water and power today.
16:54 Haryana paid Rs 5.5 crore as legal fees for a single case
To fight high-profile cases, state and Central governments often hire senior lawyers. But the previous Haryana government under chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda of the Congress was billed an unusually high amount - a whopping Rs. 5.5 crore - to prosecute workers accused of violence at Maruti's plant in Manesar, in the western part of the state.
Read more
Read more
16:33
Central Hall of Parliament was flooded with leaflets and text messages about whispers of a possible change of Karnataka chief minister. And leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjuna Kharge is said to be behind this drama.
16:32
A day of firsts in Parliament. There was 92 per cent attendance during Question Hour today, for one. The Prime Minister was on roster duty in the Lok Sabha so BJP MPs were in their allotted seats and there was not a mewl of protest heard from the Opposition benches.
Then at 11 am when Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan took her seat, she went straight to Question Hour with no obituary reference. The Speaker also allowed an extra five minutes for Question Hour to be completed.
Then at 11 am when Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan took her seat, she went straight to Question Hour with no obituary reference. The Speaker also allowed an extra five minutes for Question Hour to be completed.
16:06 Rahul likely to take over as Congress president in April
So, Rahul Gandhi is likely to take over as Congress President in April. His elevation as party president was a foregone conclusion, but there is still the matter of a tussle about the choices for his team, with which even Sonia Gandhi is said to be not comfortable. Rahul wanted to completely change the team that would assist him in running the party.
The Congress vice-president is on leave, ostensibly, to mull over recent events. A party leader even posted pictures of Rahul on Twitter, holidaying in Uttarakhand, but the Congress said the pictures were taken many years ago.
Read: Rahul Gandhi and the Art of Vacationing
The Congress vice-president is on leave, ostensibly, to mull over recent events. A party leader even posted pictures of Rahul on Twitter, holidaying in Uttarakhand, but the Congress said the pictures were taken many years ago.
Read: Rahul Gandhi and the Art of Vacationing
15:55 Freebie time in Delhi
Delhi govt likely to announce free 20,000 liters of water to every household per month and may slash power tariff by 50 per cent for consumption up to 400 units per month.
15:43 Mehbooba Mufti centre of attraction in Lok Sabha today
PDP's Mehbooba Mufti was the centre of attraction in the Lok Sabha today. She entered the House and sat behind Congress president Sonia Gandhi and SP chief Mulayam Singh.
Neither leader greeted Mehbooba.
However, the cold shoulder was more than made good by the BJP MPs who welcomed her with broad smiles. A few even loudly called out to her and asked her to come over and sit on the treasury benches. In fact, TMC's Dinesh Trivedi and a few AIADMK MPs went over to her and greeted her.
Mehbooba Mufti greeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Lok Sabha as she occupined a seat in the Opposition benches.
This comes in the aftermath of Mehbooba meeting BJP president Amit Shah at his residence yesterday and sealing the deal for a BJP-PDP alliance in Jammu and Kashmir.
Neither leader greeted Mehbooba.
However, the cold shoulder was more than made good by the BJP MPs who welcomed her with broad smiles. A few even loudly called out to her and asked her to come over and sit on the treasury benches. In fact, TMC's Dinesh Trivedi and a few AIADMK MPs went over to her and greeted her.
Mehbooba Mufti greeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Lok Sabha as she occupined a seat in the Opposition benches.
This comes in the aftermath of Mehbooba meeting BJP president Amit Shah at his residence yesterday and sealing the deal for a BJP-PDP alliance in Jammu and Kashmir.
15:15 Pachauri admitted to hospital a day after he resigned as UN climate panel chief
Dr Rajendra K Pachauri admitted to hospital in Delhi. After facing allegations of sexual harassment, Dr Pachauri stepped down as Chairperson of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) with effect from Tuesday. The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) also announced that Dr Pachauri, who is its director general, has proceeded on leave for the time being.
Pachauri is accused of sexually harassing a colleague at TERI.
Pachauri is accused of sexually harassing a colleague at TERI.
14:55 Prosecution: Cant provide clone of victims cellphone
The prosecution Tuesday informed an additional sessions court in Goa that it cannot give a cloned copy of the victim's phone to Tehelka founder-editor Tarun Tejpal in connection with a sexual assault case.
Tejpal has been chargesheeted for allegedly sexually harassing a junior colleague during an event in Goa in November, 2013.
Tejpal has been chargesheeted for allegedly sexually harassing a junior colleague during an event in Goa in November, 2013.
14:47 Govt holding talks for return of Kashmiri Pandits to Valley
The Centre has held a series of deliberations with Jammu and Kashmir government and representatives of Kashmiri migrants in last one year for their return and rehabilitation in the Kashmir Valley, Rajya Sabha was informed today.
MoS Home Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary said, during the last one year, a series of deliberations have been held with the representatives of Kashmiri migrants and the state government. The state government has sent a proposal to the tune of Rs 5,820 crore on April 15, 2014.
MoS Home Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary said, during the last one year, a series of deliberations have been held with the representatives of Kashmiri migrants and the state government. The state government has sent a proposal to the tune of Rs 5,820 crore on April 15, 2014.
14:45 ISIS threatens to kill 150 Christians
ISIS holding 150 Assyrian Christians hostage, expected to release message today threatening to kill them, official tells CNN.
A Syrian Christian group representing several NGO's inside and outside Syria said it had verified at least 150 people missing, including women and elderly, who had been kidnapped by the militants.
A Syrian Christian group representing several NGO's inside and outside Syria said it had verified at least 150 people missing, including women and elderly, who had been kidnapped by the militants.
14:31 Sonia congratulates Advani on 50th wedding anniversary
Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday congratulated L K Advani on his 50th wedding anniversary, saying it was also a "special day' for her as it was on this day 47 years ago that she got married to Rajiv Gandhi.
"On the auspicious occasion of your 50th wedding anniversary, I send my warm felicitations to you and Mrs Kamala Advani. Over half-a-century you have enjoyed a close companionship, giving strength and support to each other through all life's ups and downs and that is indeed a great blessing!' Gandhi said in a letter to the BJP veteran.
The Congress President wished the two "many more years together' in good health and happiness.
"On the auspicious occasion of your 50th wedding anniversary, I send my warm felicitations to you and Mrs Kamala Advani. Over half-a-century you have enjoyed a close companionship, giving strength and support to each other through all life's ups and downs and that is indeed a great blessing!' Gandhi said in a letter to the BJP veteran.
The Congress President wished the two "many more years together' in good health and happiness.
14:18 Article 370 remains, says govt as BJP-PDP freeze on deal
There is no proposal under consideration of the government "to delete" Article 370 of the Constitution, which gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir, Rajya Sabha was informed today.
"No, sir. There is currently no such proposal under consideration," Minister of State for Home Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary said in reply to a written question on whether government intends to delete Article 370. Chaudhary said Article 370 was made in the Indian Constitution for continuance of the state of Jammu and Kashmir with the Union of India on the basis of Instrument of Accession.
"Thus, Article 370 is a device to continue the existing relationship of state of Jammu and Kashmir with the Union of India.
"Through this Article, the Union Parliament gets jurisdiction to enact laws on matters specified either in the Instrument of Accession or by later addition with concurrence of the government of state of Jammu and Kashmir," he said.
"No, sir. There is currently no such proposal under consideration," Minister of State for Home Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary said in reply to a written question on whether government intends to delete Article 370. Chaudhary said Article 370 was made in the Indian Constitution for continuance of the state of Jammu and Kashmir with the Union of India on the basis of Instrument of Accession.
"Thus, Article 370 is a device to continue the existing relationship of state of Jammu and Kashmir with the Union of India.
"Through this Article, the Union Parliament gets jurisdiction to enact laws on matters specified either in the Instrument of Accession or by later addition with concurrence of the government of state of Jammu and Kashmir," he said.
14:10 Special three-day Holi celebrations for Vrindavan widows
For thousands of widows residing in the five shelter homes run by the Sulabh International, this Holi will be a special one as a three-day program has been arranged for them in Vrindavan.
A unique initiative has been taken this time to bring widows from Varanasi for the three-day event starting on March 3 and concluding on the day of Holi- March 6, an official of the Sulabh International, Madan Jha said in Agra.
"Holi will bring some colour to the lives of the Vrindavan widows," he added. Last week the Varanasi shelter home inmates had celebrated Holi at the Assi Ghat on the bank of Ganges in Varanasi, he said.
A unique initiative has been taken this time to bring widows from Varanasi for the three-day event starting on March 3 and concluding on the day of Holi- March 6, an official of the Sulabh International, Madan Jha said in Agra.
"Holi will bring some colour to the lives of the Vrindavan widows," he added. Last week the Varanasi shelter home inmates had celebrated Holi at the Assi Ghat on the bank of Ganges in Varanasi, he said.
13:30 Changing landscape
Land devoted to non-agricultural use has increased three-fold since Independence. It is set to increase further and faster, according to this article extracted from the latest State of India's Environment report, published by Down To Earth and Centre for Science and Environment. Read
13:25 The honeymoon murder: a father's tale
Vinod Hindocha has just written a book about his daughter Anni Dewani who was murdered in South Africa. Amit Roy looks at the celebrated case from the father's viewpoint. Read
13:22
Indian Foreign Secy S Jaishankar to visit Pakistan on March 3-4, 2015. He will hold a meeting with Foreign Secy Aizaz A Chaudhry.
13:19
Congress protests over the land acquisition bill in Delhi.
12:59 'Islamic State wants to terrorise the world'
"No other terror organisation has valued popular consensus as Islamic State does -- instead of repressing people, IS wants to gain their support. This is a major innovation in terrorism," terrorism expert Dr Loretta Napoleoni tells Rediff.com's Archana Masih and Syed Firdaus Ashraf. Read
12:58 Spain arrests 4 people suspected of recruiting for ISIS
From Spain, they used the Internet and social media to recruit and indoctrinate young, potential Islamist militants to work for ISIS.
They even attracted Facebook followers as far away as Latin America, the United States, Belgium and France.But on Tuesday, Spain's Civil Guard forces arrested four suspects in different parts of the country suspected of recruiting for ISIS, the Interior Ministry said in a statement.
Read
They even attracted Facebook followers as far away as Latin America, the United States, Belgium and France.But on Tuesday, Spain's Civil Guard forces arrested four suspects in different parts of the country suspected of recruiting for ISIS, the Interior Ministry said in a statement.
Read
12:48 'Man who posted pics of Rahul has nothing to do with Cong, Gandhis'
Congress spokesperson PC Chacko has rubbished claims that party vice-president Rahul Gandhi is holidaying in Uttarakhand.
Chacko told ANI, "Jagdish Sharma (man who posted pics of Rahul Gandhi) has nothing to do with the Congress or the family. How come he is issuing a statement about our Vice President I do not know."
Sharma, is in fact, national vice president, Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC). He posted pictures of Rahul Gandhi, and said he was camping near Gangotri in the hills of Uttarakhand.
Chacko told ANI, "Jagdish Sharma (man who posted pics of Rahul Gandhi) has nothing to do with the Congress or the family. How come he is issuing a statement about our Vice President I do not know."
Sharma, is in fact, national vice president, Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC). He posted pictures of Rahul Gandhi, and said he was camping near Gangotri in the hills of Uttarakhand.
Sharma tweeted that the Congress scion was in Uttarakhand and not in Bangkok and visits Uttarakhand every year.
12:38 Renuka on Rahul's holiday: Don't speculate, ask him when he's back
Congress leader Renuka Chowdhury on reports that Rahul is holidaying in Uttarakhand: "There is no need for speculation. When Rahul Gandhi comes back why not ask him directly?"
Renuka Chowdhury has been in the news of late for holding up an Air India flight to Hyderabad from Delhi for 45 minutes as she was allegedly busy shopping.
And that's the Congress party leader Jagdish Sharma who tweeted the pictures of "Rahul in Uttarakhand".
Renuka Chowdhury has been in the news of late for holding up an Air India flight to Hyderabad from Delhi for 45 minutes as she was allegedly busy shopping.
And that's the Congress party leader Jagdish Sharma who tweeted the pictures of "Rahul in Uttarakhand".
12:32 Why Salem could not be given death sentence
Salem's lawyer Sudeep Pasgola argued that he could not be given the death sentence as it would violate the treaty between the India and Portugal.
On Feb 16, the special TADA court had found Salem and two others - Mehndi Hasan and Virendra Jhamb - guilty of the murder of Jain, who was shot dead outside his Juhu residence March 7, 1995 following a property dispute.
Salem, Hasan and Jhamb were charged and convicted for offences like murder and criminal conspiracy.
Additional Sessions Judge V.A. Sanap will pass the order on punishment.
The case is one of the most important for the Indian legal and law enforcing authorities as it involves a wanted absconding accused extradited to face the law.
On Feb 16, the special TADA court had found Salem and two others - Mehndi Hasan and Virendra Jhamb - guilty of the murder of Jain, who was shot dead outside his Juhu residence March 7, 1995 following a property dispute.
Salem, Hasan and Jhamb were charged and convicted for offences like murder and criminal conspiracy.
Additional Sessions Judge V.A. Sanap will pass the order on punishment.
The case is one of the most important for the Indian legal and law enforcing authorities as it involves a wanted absconding accused extradited to face the law.
12:30 Salem to be transferred to Thane jail
Yesterday, the Bombay High Court cleared the decks for the transfer of the convicted gangster and terrorist Abu Salem from the Taloja prison. The State government had told the court that according to Intelligence inputs, Salem faced threat there and needed to be transferred to the Thane prison.
12:27 Gangster Abu Salem gets life term in Pradeep Jain murder case
Gangster Abu Salem has been given a life term in the murder of Mumbai realtor Pradeep Jain.
A former associate of wanted terrorist and mafia don Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar, the 47-year-old Salem is currently lodged in Taloja Central Jail in adjoining Raigad district.
In the Jain murder trial, special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam had initially demanded the death penalty, which he later converted to a life sentence owing to conditions of the extradition treaty between India and Portugal.
A former associate of wanted terrorist and mafia don Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar, the 47-year-old Salem is currently lodged in Taloja Central Jail in adjoining Raigad district.
In the Jain murder trial, special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam had initially demanded the death penalty, which he later converted to a life sentence owing to conditions of the extradition treaty between India and Portugal.
12:25 The man who knew too much
Santanu Saikia had managed to perfect and profit from the practice of hacking into the physical network of government files that is the warp and weft of Delhi journalism. Read
12:21 Arrest warrant against B'desh former PM
Arrest warrants have been issued against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in cases filed by Bangladesh's Anti Corruption Commission. Dhaka's Third Metropolitan Special Judges Court scrapped bails for the former prime minister after she failed to appear in a hearing of the Zia Orphanage Trust and Zia Charitable Trust graft cases on Wednesday.
12:08 Verdict in Arms Act case against Salman postponed to March 3
The verdict in the Salman Khan black buck case has been adjourned till March 3. Salman is guilty of possession and use of illegal arms to poach chinkaras and black bucks, an endangered species of deer, 16 years ago.
The next hearing is on March 3.
The next hearing is on March 3.
12:00 Rahul Gandhi holidaying in Uttarakhand, says Cong leader
The mystery of Rahul Gandhi's whereabouts seems to have been solved. Or may be not.
Rahul Gandhi, for those who are not aware of what this is about, is on a two-week leave, ostensibly to "reflect on the future".
While the party refuses to give details about his whereabouts, a Congress leader Jagdish Sharma, posted some pictures of Rahul Gandhi on Twitter saying that Mr G is holidaying in Uttarakhand.
"I posted pictures of Rahulji to debunk the wrong reports that were doing the rounds about him being in Bangkok," Jagdish Sharma told ANI.
Congress party, in its official response, has steered clear of questions whether Rahul Gandhi is in India or abroad and whether he was angry and sulking.
But senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh tweeted yesterday saying, "If Rahul wans (sic) to reflect what went wrong why criticize him? Everyone wants some peace to reflect. Only timing could have been better."
That's the picture Congress leader Jagdish Sharma posted, saying Mr G was in Uttarakhand.
Rahul Gandhi, for those who are not aware of what this is about, is on a two-week leave, ostensibly to "reflect on the future".
While the party refuses to give details about his whereabouts, a Congress leader Jagdish Sharma, posted some pictures of Rahul Gandhi on Twitter saying that Mr G is holidaying in Uttarakhand.
"I posted pictures of Rahulji to debunk the wrong reports that were doing the rounds about him being in Bangkok," Jagdish Sharma told ANI.
Congress party, in its official response, has steered clear of questions whether Rahul Gandhi is in India or abroad and whether he was angry and sulking.
But senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh tweeted yesterday saying, "If Rahul wans (sic) to reflect what went wrong why criticize him? Everyone wants some peace to reflect. Only timing could have been better."
That's the picture Congress leader Jagdish Sharma posted, saying Mr G was in Uttarakhand.
11:45 Mangalore church vandalised week after Modi's reassurance
Just in: The St Joseph's church in Mangalore has been attacked. Reports say that the window panes of the church were broken. Details awaited.Five churches have been attacked in New Delhi in the last two months.
On February 5, a church in South Delhi's Vasant Kunj area was vandalised in the early hours. Expressing grave concern, the Union Home Ministry wrote to the Delhi Police Commissioner asking for a detailed report on the police action so far in other such attacks and seeking details of security provided to other religious places.
Last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi came out strongly against attacks on churches in Delhi, while speaking at a church event in the capital.
Strongly condemning recent attacks on churches, PM Modi assured the Christian community that the government would 'act strongly' without tolerance for fanaticism of any kind.
Pic: Protesting Christians detained outside the Sacred Heart Church in New Delhi last week.
On February 5, a church in South Delhi's Vasant Kunj area was vandalised in the early hours. Expressing grave concern, the Union Home Ministry wrote to the Delhi Police Commissioner asking for a detailed report on the police action so far in other such attacks and seeking details of security provided to other religious places.
Last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi came out strongly against attacks on churches in Delhi, while speaking at a church event in the capital.
Strongly condemning recent attacks on churches, PM Modi assured the Christian community that the government would 'act strongly' without tolerance for fanaticism of any kind.
Pic: Protesting Christians detained outside the Sacred Heart Church in New Delhi last week.
10:38 2 CRPF COBRA troopers killed in Naxal ambush in Bihar
Maoists blew up a vehicle carrying Central Reserve Police Force personnel, killing two and injuring 10 others, in Gaya district of Bihar.
Commandos of Commando Battalion for Resolute Action, a CRPF unit trained to tackle Maoist issue, were returning to their base after conducting a search operation. The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital.
"The team was returning to their base after search operation when suddenly a blast took place when they were near the camp and the soldiers in the vehicle were injured. One soldier died on the spot and other when he reached here. Ten injured are here in the hospital," said Deputy Inspector General, P K Srivastava.
According to reports, the Maoists also fired at the personnel after the blast.
10:35 Two terrorists killed in Shopian encounter
Two unidentified terrorists were today killed in an encounter with security forces in south Kashmir's Shopian district.
"Two terrorists have been killed. The operation is still going on," Superintendent of Police, Shopian, Altaf Khan said.
The encounter began yesterday after security forces received specific intelligence input about the presence of terrorists in Hef Shermal area of Shopian, 52 kms from here.
As the joint team of police and army began a search operation in the area, the hiding terrorists opened fire on them triggering an encounter.
Khan said the operation was halted for the night but the gunfight resumed this morning and two terrorists were gunned down in the early hours.
"We believe one more terrorist is still trapped and the firing is going on," the SP said.
The identity and group affiliation of the slain terrorists are yet to be ascertained, the officer said.
10:24 Sensex trades high on global cues, budget hopes
The benchmark BSE Sensex rose over 228 points in early trade today amid a firming global trend and hopes of a growth-oriented Budget.
Further, covering-up of short positions by speculators ahead of Thursday's monthly expiry in the derivatives segment, supported the upside.
Rising for the second straight session, the 30-share barometer spurted by 228.67 points, or 0.79 per cent, to 29,233.33.
The index had gained 29.55 points in yesterday's session.
All sectoral indices, led by oil & gas, metal, realty and banking were trading in positive zone with gains up to 1.03 per cent.
Similarly, the National Stock Exchange index Nifty was trading above the 8,800-mark by gaining 60.10 points, or 0.69 per cent, to 8,822.20.
Brokers said pre-Budget buying by optimistic participants on hopes of growth-oriented measures and foreign capital inflows mainly buoyed the trading sentiments.
10:19 Centre asks MP governor R N Yadav, accused in exam scam, to quit: report
NDTV reports: Madhya Pradesh Governor Ram Naresh Yadav has been asked by the home ministry to resign after his name cropped up in a multi-crore exam scam
The scam also involves politicians and government officials.
Yadav, who has been governor since 2011, has been accused of taking money from candidates applying for the position of Forest Guards in 2013. He has been booked for corruption, misuse of his official position and cheating. 70 others have been named in the case.
Reportedly, the 86-year-old used his letterhead to recommend names of candidates.
According to legal experts, though the STF has booked the Governor for his alleged role in the scam, it would have to obtain Presidential sanction to charge sheet him.
His son Shailesh Yadav's involvement is also being examined by the Special Task Force set up to investigate the case.
10:08 Verdict in Salman Khan's 16-yr-old arms case today
A court in Jodhpur will on Wednesday pronounce its judgment in a case of possession and use of illegal arms by Bollywood actor Salman Khan.
"The case relates to both possession and use of illegal arms and the chief judicial magistrate's court has kept February 25 for judgment," public prosecutor N.K. Sankhla of the court in Jodhpur, 330 km from Rajasthan capital Jaipur, told reporters.
Salman Khan is likely to be present in court during pronouncement of the judgment.
He and a few other Bollywood stars were accused of poaching blackbucks on the midnight of Oct 1-2, 1998 during the shooting of Hindi movie "Hum Saath Saath Hain".
Two blackbucks, a protected animal under the Wildlife Protection Act, were killed on the outskirts of Kankani village near Jodhpur.
The star was also accused of carrying and using illegal arms. He is also alleged to have been carrying arms with expired license.
09:22 Nothing wrong in saying Mother Teresa's service was aimed at conversion: Sena
CNN-IBN reports: The Shiv Sena has reportedly backed RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's claims on Mother Teresa. It has reportedly said that there's nothing wrong in saying that her service was aimed at conversion.
08:46 Abu Salem set to be sentenced by Mumbai court today
Gangster Abu Salem, who has been accused of murdering Mumbai realtor Pradeep Jain, is expected to be sentenced by a court here on Wednesday.
47-year-old Salem, who was extradited by Portugal after ten years, is a former associate of wanted terrorist and mafia don Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar and is lodged in Taloja Central Jail in adjoining Raigad district at present.
In the Jain murder trial, special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam had initially demanded the death penalty, which he later converted to a life sentence owing to conditions of the extradition treaty between India and Portugal.
Salem's lawyer Sudeep Pasgola argued that he could not be given the death sentence as it would violate the treaty between the two countries.
On February 16, the special TADA court had found Salem and two others -- Mehndi Hasan and Virendra Jhamb -- guilty of the murder of Jain, who was shot dead outside his Juhu residence on March 7, 1995 following a property dispute.
08:43 Congress 'Zameen Wapsi Andolan' against Land Ordinance today
Demanding the withdrawal of the BJP government's Land Ordinance which is being considered as anti-farmer, the Congress on Wednesday will hold a protest rally called 'Zameen Wapsi Andolan' at Jantar Mantar.
Top Congress brass, including president Sonia Gandhi's political secretary Ahmed Patel, AICC general secretaries Digvijay Singh, Madhusoodhan Mistry, Ajay Maken, former Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh, Salman Khursheed, Jitender Singh, Raj Babbar, Deepinder Hooda, Sushmita Deb, will oppose the bill in public and carry out a massive rally at around Noon.
04:11 IS militants seize Christian villages in northeast Syria
Islamic State militants seized a string of Christian villages in northeastern Syria and kidnapped scores of civilians, according to human-rights groups and local residents.
Read this story HERE
02:43 Apple's Siri will soon understand English with Indian accent
Buzz has it that Apple's Siri will soon be able to understand English with Indian accent. The Cupertino giant has released a new beta of iOS 8.3 that introduces several new languages to the much popular digital voice assistant found on Apple's iOS devices.
These include: Russian, Danish, Dutch, Thai, Turkish, Swedish, and Portuguese. Much to the joy of iOS users in India, the iOS 8.3 beta 2 adds English with Indian accent support for Siri.
Read this story HERE
02:36 Why Sean Penn's joke was so offensive?
It was the jab heard around the world. At Sunday night's Academy Awards ceremony, Sean Penn veered off-script in an utterly offensive way.
Presenting "Birdman" director Alejandro Gonzalez Iarritu with his prize for best picture, Penn quipped, "Who gave this son of a bitch his green card?"
Read this story HERE
02:17 Armed groups raid South Sudan school, abduct 89 children
Armed groups raided a South Sudanese school and seized 89 children who were taking their exams, the United Nations said Saturday.
The abduction occurred near Malakal, where thousands of people have taken refuge following months of violence in the nation.
Read this story HERE
02:14 Russia has lied about its activities in Ukraine: Kerry
Accusing Russia of "lying" about its activities in Ukraine, US Secretary of State John Kerry today said Moscow is engaged in the most overt and extensive propaganda exercise since the very height of the Cold War.
Asked if Russia is lying when it says that there are no Russian weapons or troops in the Ukraine, Kerry replied in the affirmative.
"Yes," Kerry said when asked by Senator Thad Cochran: "Do you agree with me that when Russia says there are no Russian weapons or troops in the Ukraine, they're lying?" On being asked why do they lie, Kerry said, "You're asking me?" to peals of laughter.
01:49 'US, allies have not been able to sufficiently stop IS in Syria'
The US and its allies have been successful in checking the growth of Islamic State but they have not been able to sufficiently stop the terror group in Syria, US Secretary of State John Kerry said today.
"I believe Islamic State is being checked, but it is not being yet sufficiently stopped in Syria. There are a lot of reasons for that. But there are a lot of strategy discussions taking place right now with our allies and with others that I believe will mount a strategy necessary to deal with ISIL in Syria," Kerry told members of a Senate committee when asked about the growth of ISIL.
Responding to questions, Kerry acknowledged that there has been a slight increase of ISIL presence in Syria.
"But I can't by any means describe what is happening in Syria as a big advance. They've been stopped in Syria also," he asserted.
01:31 Nigeria: Suicide bombers kill 27 in separate bus station attacks
Suicide bombers targeting a bus station in Kano, Nigeria, killed 10 people and left several injured Tuesday, according to the city's police chief, just hours after a similar attack in Yobe state killed 17 people.
Image for representation only.
Read the full story HERE
00:53
Once the jewel-encrusted playthings of the Russian royal family, the first Faberge Imperial egg produced in almost a century is set to be unveiled in Qatar on Tuesday, its makers said.
Ninety nine years since Faberge made its last Imperial egg, for Tsar Nicholas II, the famous jewel maker will show off its newest creation at an exhibition of watches and jewellery in Doha.
Image for representation only.
Read this story HERE
00:39 Spouses of H-1B visa holders to get work permits in US
The United States today announced that it will provide work permits to spouses of H-1B visa holders beginning May 26, a move that is expected to benefit thousands of talented and professional Indian spouses who come to America but are unable to work.
Under existing laws, spouses of H-1B visa holders, many of whom are Indians, are not eligible to work. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services will begin accepting applications for work visas from H-1B spouses on May 26.
Once USCIS approves the 'Form I-765' and the H-4 dependent spouse receives an Employment Authorisation Card,, he or she may begin working in the US.
00:35 Runaway schoolgirls have crossed to Syria: UK police
The Scotland Yard believes that the three runaway British schoolgirls who boarded a flight to Turkey to reportedly join the dreaded Islamic State terror group have now crossed the border to Syria.
The girls reportedly on their way to join IS extremists were likely to have been smuggled across the border four or five days ago, the BBC reported. Earlier, the Scotland Yard had been forced to defend its reaction time to track the three missing teenagers after the Turkish Deputy Prime Minister, Bulent Arinc, accused the force of unnecessary delay by alerting them only three days later.
However, the metropolitan police stressed it began working with Turkish authorities a day after the girls went missing and as soon as they had established the facts.
00:23 Obama to announce troop adjustment in Afghanistan soon
US President Barack Obama would make an announcement on troop adjustment in Afghanistan soon as its evaluation is currently ongoing, Secretary of State John Kerry told lawmakers today.
"The president is on the right track (on his withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan). The evaluation that is going on now with respect to the adjustment on the troop is appropriate. And the president will make his decision shortly," Kerry said in his appearance before a Congressional committee.
The remarks were made in response to a question asked by Senator Thad Cochran -- "Do you support a conditions-based withdrawal in Afghanistan, of our military forces?".
Such a statement from the US secretary of state comes in the wake of repeated requests from new Afghan President Ashraf Ghani that the US should reconsider its decision on complete withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2016.
00:23 Drones hover over Paris landmarks and US Embassy
Read full story HERE.
Five drones were reportedly seen flying over sensitive and well-known areas of Paris overnight -- sightings that authorities are investigating, the city prosecutor's office said Tuesday.
The unmanned aerial vehicles were spotted over the Eiffel Tower, the Bastille, Place de la Concorde, Les Invalides and the U.S. Embassy, according to Agnes Thibault-Lecuivre, a spokeswoman for the Paris prosecutor's office. The drones were seen between midnight and 6 a.m.
The French aviation police are searching for the operators of the drones.
Read full story HERE.
00:17 Fear of passing on Ebola through sex drives abstinence, panic
Research has shown traces of Ebola in semen of some survivors for at least 82 days after the onset of symptoms and in vaginal secretions for a much shorter period.
Scientists say testes are a reservoir for Ebola because white blood cells, which protect the body against disease, are unable to effectively destroy the virus there.
Although there is no conclusive scientific proof these traces are infectious, anecdotal evidence of several cases in West Africa and confirmed transmission of Marburg, another viral haemorrhagic fever, have led experts to warn of the potential risk of sexually transmitted Ebola.
With the disease typically taking 15 to 21 days to run its course, this means traces of Ebola can remain in semen for around two months after recovery.
Read full story HERE.
00:12 4 more die of swine flu in Maharashtra, toll climbs to 103
Four more persons today succumbed to swine flu in Maharashtra, raising the toll due to the H1N1 virus to 103 in the state.
The total number of cases stand at 1,055 while 611 patients were discharged, a health official said.
He said 341 patients are still in hospitals and 46 of them are on ventilator.
On Saturday, Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration Harshadeep Kamble had said that both government and semi-government hospitals in Maharashtra have sufficient stock of swine flu drugs which are available free of cost.
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