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Fri, 19 June 2015
Church gunman charged with 9 counts of murder

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23:30   Can this app cure jet lag?
We've all been there: wide awake in bed, staring at the ceiling, body clock exacting revenge for being forced to fly long haul.Jet lag is the bane of the frequent flier, but what's the cure?

Some swear by sleeping tablets, others by booze and others, for reasons that aren't exactly clear, by sex pills.Now there's another option that doesn't risk blackouts, hangovers or that thing that Viagra does.

Read this story HERE
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23:20   Yemen crisis: Geneva talks fail to produce ceasefire
Peace talks between Yemen's warring factions have failed to produce a ceasefire agreement, according to the country's exiled foreign minister.

Riad Yassin blamed the failure of talks in Geneva on the rebel Houthi side, which he said had stalled progress.

Yassin said that efforts would continue to find a peaceful solution to the conflict, but added no date had been set for a second round of talks.

Read the story HERE
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22:55   Charleston shooting revives 2012 gurdwara attack memories
The shootout inside a black church in South Carolina that claimed nine lives has revived memories of the grisly 2012 shooting rampage at a Wisconsin Gurdwara that had killed six Sikhs.

Dylann Roof, 21, murdered nine people, including pastor and South Carolina State Senator Clementa Pinckney, during a prayer meeting at the historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston on Wednesday night.

He was later arrested and has reportedly told investigators that he wanted to start a race war. In August 2012, a White supremacist had gone on a shooting rampage inside the Wisconsin Gurdwara that had shocked the consciousness of the entire nation.
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22:24   Church gunman charged with 9 counts of murder
Dylann Roof admits he did it, two law enforcement officials said -- shooting and killing nine people he'd sat with for Bible study at a historically black church in Charleston, South Carolina.

But why? To start a race war.That's what Roof told investigators, according to one of the officials.

Read this story HERE
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22:15   SSchools, colleges in Mumbai to remain closed tomorrow
Following Meteorological Department's predictions of heavy to very heavy rainfall in the next 24 hours, Maharashtra government today announced that all schools and colleges will remain closed on Saturday in Mumbai and neighbouring Thane district. "Based on heavy rainfall predictions of IMD, Schools and colleges of Mumbai and Thane will officially remain close tomorrow," state education minister Vinod Tawde told reporters.

Tawde, who is also the guardian Minister for Mumbai suburbs also visited the control room of Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai at its headquarters.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena Party President Uddhav Thackeray, his son and Yuva Sena chief Aditya and Mumbai BJP chief MLA Ashish Shelar also visited the BMC's control room to take stock of the situation.
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21:15   India-born Steve Rai becomes Vancouver police deputy chief
India-born Steve Rai has been appointed the new deputy chief constable of Canada's Vancouver Police Department. Vancouver Police chief Adam Palmer announced yesterday that Rai has joined the department's executive team as the new deputy.

Born in Punjab, Rai has been serving the police department for the past 25 years. His brother Roger is also a police officer assigned to the Downtown Eastside.

Rai drew on his cultural background to work extensively, at the street level, with the District's South Asian community, using his skills in the Punjabi language.

He also completed assignments in the Vancouver Police Jail, as a Recruiting Unit investigator, and a secondment to the former Coordinated Law Enforcement Unit, according to a press release from Vancouver Police Department.
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21:09   Letter threatens bomb explosions in Coimbatore on August 15
A letter stating that bombs would explode in ten places in the city during the Independence Day celebrations on August 15 has been received by a police station.

The threat letter was purportedly written by one Rajesh, who claimed to be a Maoist sympathiser, and was received last night at Ramanathapuram police station. It asked the police to take measures to prevent the explosions, the police said today.

The Tamil Nadu Q Branch Police have arrested five Maoists recently on the outskirts and three of them are lodged in Central jail here. Two others -- a couple Roopesh and Shyna -- have been taken to Kerala and lodged in a jail there in connection with some cases against them in the state.
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21:00   No need for poor to practice yoga: Lalu
M I Khan reports from Patna: Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav on Friday said that there was no need for the poor to practice yoga. He added that yoga has been practiced by who those have eaten funds of poor and became rich and super rich.

"Poor and poorest of the poor have no need to practice yoga because they have not accumulated fat on their bodies," Lalu said in Patna at a party function.

Lalu claimed that he also did not need to practice yoga.

"Poor people have to be provided adequate food first for their survival. There are 14 crore poor people in the country who are fighting hunger,' he said. He said that the landless farmers, poor labourers, milkmen and rickshaw-pullers do not have potbellies because they work hard. 

"What is the need for them to practice yoga?"Lalu said.
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20:05   Mumbai's Western Railway services cancelled AGAIN
Suburban trains of Western Railway have been suspended again between Andheri and Churchgate due to rise in water level at Matunga Road and at Elphinstone Road. 

Earlier, train services had resumed around 4.20 pm, although commuters complained of the trains running at a snail's pace. Mumbai's public transport was hit on Friday after the city received an unprecedented 283 mm of rainfall. The civic body chief and the state CM has asked Mumbaikars to stay indoors and travel only in case of emergency. 

The civic body chief also warned that heavy rains would continue for the next 24 hours. 
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19:59  
Here's an update for Mumbaikars: Those wishing to use the Santacruz Subway should find an alternative route as it is still closed due to waterlogging. 
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19:56   US church shooter charged with 9 counts of murder
Dylann Roof, the man behind the fatal church shooting at a historic black church has been charged with nine counts of murder and a weapon charge. Police spokesman Charles Francis said that the 21-one-year-old is charged with the 10 total counts in the Wednesday night fatal church shooting. 

The weapon charge against Roof is possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime. Under South Carolina law, it's illegal to use a weapon such as a knife or gun to commit a violent crime whether or not the weapons is legally owned.
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19:47   St Stephen's student accuses professor of sexual assault
A student of Delhi University's St Stephen's college has accused a college professor of sexual harassment and alleged that the principal tried to protect him when the matter was reported to the college authorities. The student who is doing her PhD under the supervision of Satish Kumar, an assistant professor in the college's chemistry department, has lodged an FIR against him alleging that she was sexually assaulted by him. 

The victim has also alleged in her complaint that college principal Valson Thampu had "criminally intimidated her to give a written application to him expressing her consent to close the matter in college itself in order to not cause any delay or problems in completion of her PhD".
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19:19   Fake degree case: Police custody of Tomar extended by 2 days
A Delhi court extended the police custody of former Delhi law minister Jitender Singh Tomar, who has been arrested in an alleged fake degree case, by two days. Tomar also moved a fresh bail plea on which the court sought police reply and listed the matter for further hearing on Monday.
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19:07   It's going to be a half day for offices near Rajpath tomorrow
Offices in South and North Blocks, and in neighbouring areas will be closed early tomorrow to make arrangements for international Yoga day celebrations at Rajpath here on Sunday. In connection with the arrangements, offices in 47 government buildings situated in and round Rajpath would be closed by 1 pm on Saturday and remain closed till the function is over on June 21, 2015 (Sunday), an order issued by Department of Personnel and Training said.
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19:02  
JUST IN: A five-year-old child and 60-year-old man died after being electrocuted in Mumbai's Wadala area, which was one of the worst hit areas. 
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18:48   Air India's Delhi-Bhopal plane develops snag, lands safely
An Air India plane with 71 people on board developed a technical snag while landing at Raja Bhoj airport in Bhopal today but managed to touch down safely. 

The Delhi-Bhopal flight number 833 developed the snag while landing at 2.40 pm, Air India station manager Feroz Khan said. 

He said the aircraft was to return to Delhi from Bhopal airport at 3.30 pm but has been grounded now, he added. 

Raja Bhoj airport director K Gunasekaran said the plane had 64 passengers and seven crew members on board and all of them were safe.  
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18:10   BJP rejects demand for Sushma, Vasundhara's resignations
The BJP today rejected the demand for resignation of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundahara Raje over their alleged links with scam-tainted Lalit Modi, saying there is "no technical or legal" basis for it. 

Party spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said while the party's top leadership has made its position clear on the issue of Swaraj, the validity of the documents produced against Raje are not yet verified. 

"The question is imaginary. There is no technical and legal basis that you can say there is any point of impropriety," he said to questions on whether there will be action against Swaraj and Raje. 

 To a question on whether they will be removed, he said, "The very question is imaginary and there is no reason behind it."
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17:55   Bhopal resident files plea for stripping Sachin of Bharat Ratna
The Madhya Pradesh high court has admitted a petition seeking the  stripping of the Bharat Ratna awarded to cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar for allegedly using the "fame" of the honour in "earning money by endorsing commercial products". 

A high court bench, comprising Chief Justice A M Khanwilkar and Justice K K Trivedi, yesterday issued a directive to the assistant solicitor general to find out if there are any Supreme Court guidelines (do's and dont's) for Bharat Ratna awardees and get back to it in a week's time. 

The petitioner, V K Naswah, a resident of Bhopal, stated that Sachin is a popular figure and has accomplished many a world record in cricket for the country. Naswah accused Sachin of exploiting the "fame" of the highest civilian award to promote commercial products and earn money which he said was against the dignity, legacy, and tenets of the highest civilian award. 

Naswah said that Sachin should return the award on moral grounds and if he fails to do so, the central government should strip him of the honour. 
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17:36   NIA gets 14 days custody of Burdwan blast suspect
A Kolkata court today remanded Burdwan blast accused and key JMB figure Noor-ul-Haque, who was arrested yesterday, to 14 days' custody of the National Investigation Agency till July 3. 

The remand order was passed by additional sessions judge Gopal Chandra Karmakar. 

The NIA counsel had sought a 14-day custody citing the gravity of the incident, its international ramifications and investigation into the conspiracy angle. 

Haque, alleged to be the financial brain behind the banned Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh terror outfit, was arrested by the NIA from outside Howrah railway station yesterday.
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17:34   Mithi river overflow could lead to more flooding in Mumbai
The water level in Mumbai's Mithi river has gone up to 2.5 metres, and hovers dangerously below its overflow mark of 2.7 metres.   

With no let-up in rains, the river could spill over any time, and flood the already-waterlogged areas.
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17:24  
Traffline Mumbai tweets that both lanes of the Bandra-Worli Sealink working fine on, with moderate traffic due to the heavy rain.
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17:22   3 arrested, 8 cops suspended for hooch tragedy
Eight personnel of the Malwani police station have been suspended in connection with the hooch tragedy. This was announced by Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria. 

Meanwhile, the death toll in the hooch tragedy in Mumbai has gone up to 41. While 13 people died last night in the tragedy that struck on Wednesday, the casualty figure rose to 41 as per the latest update available, said Mumbai police spokesperson Dhananjay Kulkarni.

The police have arrested three persons in this regard and booked them under sections 304 (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 328 (causing hurt by means of poison, etc. with intent to commit an offence) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the IPC.
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17:13   Suspect in US church shooting confesses, reports CNN
Dylann Roof, who was arrested for shooting and killing nine people at a historical black church in Charleston, South Carolina, has confessed to his crime, cnn.com has reported quoting to two law enforcement officials. 

You can read more about it here.
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17:09   Resignation of Swaraj, Vasundhara only way to save monsoon session: Jairam
There is a deep nexus between a "proclaimed offender", PM, Sushma Swaraj, Vasundhara Raje and Amit Shah, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said today, on the Lalit Modi issue.

He also said there was no way out other than the resignation of Swaraj and Raje for "saving" the monsoon session of Parliament which is due in July.
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17:06   Advani calls off meet with Kejriwal, may happen next week
A meeting between BJP L K Advani and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was called off, triggering speculation whether the BJP had a hand in the cancellation. Interestingly, Kejriwal, who had, like other opposition leaders, shared Advani's fears on the possibility of imposition of Emergency in India, had sought an appointment with the BJP veteran. 

Sources in Kejriwal's office said it was conveyed to them by Advani's office that he has some engagements and cannot meet the chief minister as decided earlier. 

Advani's office said the meeting will be rescheduled to some time next week because he will not be in town on Saturday and Sunday. 

The Delhi chief minister, the sources said, wanted to discuss with Advani the demand for full statehood to Delhi besides other issues.
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17:00  
Just In: Western Railway, one of the two services that keep Mumbai running, has announced that suburban services from Churchgate to Andheri and beyond have resumed at 16.20 hrs.
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16:34   Vasundhara is 'Jhansi ki Rani', says Swamy, will sail through
BJP leader Subramanian Swamy today extended his support to Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, who is embroiled in the Lalitgate row, calling her 'Jhansi ki Rani' and "capable of sailing through any controversy on her own". 

"Raje is Jhansi ki Rani, who has the capability to protect herself from any odd and if the need arises, I would help her," he said, while comparing the minister to the popular freedom-fighter. 

Responding to questions on why no party leader has so far issued any statement in the chief minister's support like in the case of Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, who is also facing allegations pertaining to Lalit Modi, the leader said, "I know her (Raje). She is capable of protecting herself very well. She does not need the support of any party cadre. 

"What Raje did was just a small favour to an old friend on humanitarian ground, which was not a crime," he said.
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16:31   Babu Bajrangi withdraws bail plea after HC rejects it
Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Babu Bajrangi, undergoing life imprisonment in the 2002 Naroda Patiya riot case, today withdrew his plea seeking regular bail after the Gujarat high court observed the application should be rejected as bail cannot be granted only on medical grounds. 

A division bench of Justices Mohinder Pal and R D Kothari ordered that Bajrangi's application be "dismissed as withdrawn". 

Bajrangi had moved the HC through his advocate Pravin Gondaliya seeking regular bail on medical grounds for treating his eye ailment and also sought suspension of the sentence awarded to him by a special trial court. 

However, the HC observed the plea should be rejected as bail cannot be granted only on medical grounds because any prisoner can be provided with treatment as per the jail manual and existing laws. 

This prompted Bajrangi's lawyer to withdraw the application, which was allowed by the HC.
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16:07   Rs 150 crores spent on Mumbai's monsoon-preparedness!
As lakhs of Mumbai commuters bore the brunt of monsoon woes today, opposition leader in Maharashtra legislative council Dhananjay Munde sought a probe by the Anti Corruption Bureau into the alleged nullah( (sewerage) cleaning scam. 

The rains caused water-logging in almost all low-lying areas of Mumbai and its suburbs including Kurla, Chembur, Tilak Nagar, Andheri, Parel, Lower Parel, Thane, Navi Mumbai and Dombivili. 

"There's a huge scam in pre-monsoon preparedness work including nullah cleaning works. The scam amounts to Rs 4,000 crore in the last 10 years," Munde said. Where have the Rs 150 crore spent on nullah cleaning this year gone, Munde added. 

"It is a huge embarrassment that the financial capital comes to a standstill in the very first rains of the season," he said. 

Mumbai BJP unit Secretary Vivekanand Gupta, whose party shares power with the Shiv Sena in the state, also demanded a probe by the ACB into funds spent on monsoon readiness. 

Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson Sachin Sawant said the claims by Shiv Sena leaders on monsoon-preparedness have fallen flat with the first real rains of the season.
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15:49   CNR Rao conferred Japan's top civilian award
Eminent scientist, Bharat Ratna C N R Rao was today conferred Japan's highest civilian award for promoting academic interchange and mutual understanding in science and technology between the two countries. 

He was presented with the 'Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star' and certificate by Japanese Ambassador to India Takeshi Yagi in the presence of senior officials of the department of science and technology, which Rao has helped shape up over the years. 

"I believe the future of India and Japan are connected together. India has to realise Japan as its greatest strength in Asia and Japan has to realise India is its greatest friends. The future of Asia depends on these two countries working together," Rao said after being bestowed with the honour.
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15:47   Sensex defies Mumbai's rain woes, up by 200 points
Just In: Sensex rises 200.34 points to close at 27,316.17; Nifty gains 50.35 points to 8,224.95.
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15:36   Roti, kapda, makaan most important, says 'homeless' Union minister
Rural Development Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh today vent unhappiness over not getting his allotted accommodation despite being a Cabinet Minister for more than seven months, saying he understood the plight of those without a house. 

"Roti, kapda aur makaan are essential requirements and if all three are assured to a person then his efficiency will definite increase," he said addressing a workshop on housing. "Till today I have not got a house though I am a minister for the last seven months. I know what problem it causes if one does not have a house," the minister said. 

Though Singh has been allotted 22 Akbar Road bungalow, he could not occupy it as the house is yet to be vacated by senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Ambika Soni. 

"Ambika Soni has not vacated yet and has got a court stay (against vacating)," he said.
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15:23   Mumbai received one foot of rainfall in 24 hours
Just In: Mumbai has received 283 mm of rainfall over the last 24 hours.
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15:18   Normal flights from Mumbai after 4 pm, say airport officials
Flight operations at Mumbai's airport were delayed by 30 minutes and three services had to be diverted due to incessant rain that has been lashing since late last evening. Domestic flights after 4 pm are expected to be on schedule. 

"The airport is operational but the flights are delayed by 30 minutes," a spokesperson for the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport said. 

One flight each of Indigo and Jet Airways had to be diverted to Ahmedabad, while a Go Air flight had to be sent to Vadodara, she said. 

The delays are due to "ATC congestion" as the rain has affected flight timings. 

As for the visibility, the spokesperson said, it is at a comfortable 800-1,000 metres at present which can support flight operations. A visibility of less than 500 metres can affect flight operations, she said. 

The CSIA, which includes both the domestic as well as international terminals, is one of the busiest in the country.
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15:15   India to give consular access to jailed fishermen
India today said it would give consular access to jailed fishermen from Pakistan and other nations so that their identity could be established, a day after it announced that 88 Pakistani fishermen would be released over the weekend as a "goodwill" gesture. 

The government will facilitate visits of officials of Pakistan and other nations to prisons to identify and establish nationality of fishermen lodged there, a home ministry official said. 

This came a day after New Delhi announced that it would release 88 Pakistani fishermen over the weekend as a "goodwill" gesture after Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed the decision to his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif earlier this week.
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15:03  
Just In: The Shiv Sena, which has turned 50, has cancels its foundation day event scheduled in Mumbai this evening following the heavy rains.
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14:55  
Just In: Long-distance trains are resuming service, local trains still disrupted, say railway officials.
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14:55   Attorney general favours security clearance for Sun TV network
Following the I&B ministry seeking legal opinion from him over the ministry of home affairs' denial of security clearance to Sun TV network citing economic security, since criminal cases were pending against the Maran brothers, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi has said: 'There is no economic security contemplated in the Constitution; it is not only the constitutional right of broadcasters under freedom of expression but of viewers also.' 

Specifically, the I&B ministry had asked if economic violations constitute a threat to the security of the country and whether, on these grounds,  broadcasting licences be denied  

Earlier, the MHA had denied security clearance to Sun TV's 33 TV channels citing economic security, as well as 40-odd radio channels. However, difference of opinion arose between the I&B ministry and the MHA over this issue. 

The network, one of the largest media conglomerates in the country, had applied for a 10-year renewal of security clearances of its 33 channels last year.   

It remains to be seen now if the government goes with the AG's view, or backs the home ministry's denial of permission to Sun TV. If the latter, the decision is expected to have major ramifications on Tamil Nadu politics.
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14:34   Sisodia's car found overspeeding, fined by traffic cops
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia's car was found overspeeding by traffic policemen who fined his driver in the Khajuri Khas area in North East district. 

The traffic policemen on duty at Khajuri Khas Chowk present inside the interceptor vehicle detected the overspeeding car on June 12 evening and sent a message to the next junction to stop the car. 

"Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was travelling inside the car which was stopped by the traffic policemen and a challan of Rs 400 was issued for overspeeding," said a senior officer of the traffic department. 

Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Muktesh Chander said that the policemen only did their duty.
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14:33   Anand held by Grischuk in Norway Chess
Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand's hunt for elusive victory continued as he was again held to a draw by Alexander Grischuk of Russia in the third round of Norway chess tournament, a part of the Grand Chess tour. 

With his third draw in as many games, Anand inched himself up to 1.5 points out of a possible three and other results in the round helped the Indian jump to joint fourth spot in the rankings with six rounds still remaining in the strongest tournament of the year.
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14:20   Captain Cool loses cool, now loses 75 pc of match fees
India's ODI captain, MS Dhoni, on Thursday lost his cool and shoved Bangladesh's fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman, injuring him. The left-arm pacer, who made his ODI debut on Thursday, had to go off the field for treatment. 

For his show of aggression, Dhoni has now been fined 75 per cent of his match fees.   

Hopefully, after this, we will once again see the familiar Captain Cool.
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14:14   Rawat government does U-turn, U'khand to celebrate yoga day
Withdrawing its decision to stay away from International Yoga Day celebrations, the Uttarakhand government has now decided to officially be a part of the event with Chief Minister Harish Rawat scheduled to inaugurate a state-level yoga workshop here on June 21.

A state-level workshop on yoga will be held at Pavilion Ground in Dehradun on June 21 to mark the occasion where Chief Minister Harish Rawat will be the chief guest, principal secretary, health, Om Prakash said yesterday, adding that the state health minister Surendra Singh Negi will also be present.   

At a press conference on June 17, Rawat had termed International Yoga Day as a "propagandist exercise" and has said that there will be no official programme.   

"Though not interested in any drum-beating about it, we will soon come up with a detailed action plan for the promotion of yoga from September onwards," he had said.

Though no reason was officially given for the change in stand, according to officials, it could have been done owing to the earlier decision not going down well with people who feel Uttarakhand has an edge over other states when it comes to efforts for yoga promotion and it should not fritter an opportunity to link it with tourism which is the mainstay of its economy.   

Haridwar-based institutions like Patanjali Yogpeeth, Shantikunj and Devsanskriti Vishwa Vidyalaya have been doing a lot over the years for the promotion of yoga and have grandiose plans to hold yoga sessions on June 21 to mark the event.
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13:59   Surya to start shooting Singam 3, will Devgn follow too?
Tamil director Hari will be teaming up with superstar Surya for the third instalment of their hit action series Singam, making it the first Tamil franchise to continue the story beyond two parts.

"This is the first time the third part of a film with the same storyline takes shape," Hari said in a statement.   

He said though successful horror flicks, directed by Ragava Lawrence, like Muni and Kanchana had sequels, they were released with different scripts. 
While Anushka Shetty had starred opposite Surya, 39, in Singam and its sequel, Shruthi Haasan joins the cast this time.
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13:55   Stay at home, be safe, Maharashtra CM tells Mumbaikars
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis tweets: Almost 4m high tide expected around 2 pm.Appealing everyone to avoid going near the sea. Please avoid going out of homes. Be safe!
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13:37   Here's where Union ministers will be on yoga day
With Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading the International Yoga Day event in Delhi, several of his cabinet colleagues will be in various states on Sunday to spread awareness about the traditional science.   

While External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will lead the mega event at the United Nations headquarters, Home Minister Rajnath Singh will participate at a yoga event in Lucknow.   

Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu will travel to Chennai where 30,000 people are expected to participate while Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma will visit his constituency in Noida to take part in the event.   

Law Minister D V Sadananda Gowda will be in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerela to participate in a mega event, while Health Minister J P Nadda will take part in a yoga event scheduled to be held at Sanjeevaiah Park in Hyderabad.   

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar will leave Delhi early in the morning for Meerut where he will take part in a yoga event, while Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi will participate in an event in her constituency Pilibhit.   

Shripad Naik, Minister for AYUSH, the coordinating ministry for the event on June 21 said various Union ministers have been assigned different states by the government.   

Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram will visit Jeypore in Odisha on June 21 where he will perform yoga as well as address the gathering.   

Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajvardhan Rathore will be in Delhi. HRD Minister Smriti Irani will be in Shimla.   

The Centre has planned a mega event at Rajpath on IYD where around 35,000 people including government officials, armed forces personnel, NCC cadets and foreign diplomats are expected to take part.
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13:11   13 killed in hotel blaze in Uttar Pradesh
Thirteen persons, including two doctors and a journalist, were killed today and 10 injured when a fire broke out in a hotel in Babaganj area in Pratapgarh, UP. 

The incident occurred at about 4.30 am in Goyal Residency Hotel. Fire engulfed the four-storey building killing 10 persons on the spot. 

Thirteen persons were injured in the blaze, superintendent of police Balikaran Yadav said, and were rushed to hospital. Three of them succumbed to injures during treatment at a hospital in nearby Allahabad district. 

Prima facie the cause of fire appeared to be short circuit. Pratapgarh is about 170 km from state capital Lucknow.
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13:10  
Just In: The Supreme Court extends by eight weeks the facilities of Sahara chief Subrata Roy in Tihar jail for arranging the amount needed for his release.
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13:02  
Just In: With visiting Tanzanian President Jayaka Mirisho Kikwete cancelling his private dinner on Thursday night due to ill-health, Indian authorities have placed the highest priority on his medical care.
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12:56   J&K authorities gear up to foil separatists' march
Authorities today imposed restrictions in parts of Srinagar and north Kashmir to prevent the separatists' plan to visit Sopore where militants have shot dead six persons in the last three weeks. 

Restrictions were imposed in Khanyar, Safakadal, Nowhatta, Rainawari, M R Gunj and Kralkhud areas of downtown Srinagar as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order, a police official said. 

Restrictions were also imposed in Maisuma police station area near Lal Chowk and Parimpora, on the outskirts of the city, which connects the highway from Srinagar to Sopore in north Kashmir.

Also, curbs on the movement of people were put in place in Sopore township, 50 km from Srinagar. 

Authorities yesterday placed under house arrest top separatist leaders to prevent them from visiting the town.
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12:53   As Mumbai reels under heavy rains, Maharashtra CM takes charge
As Mumbai reels under the monsoon shower and the civic body comes under fire from citizenry for failing to prevent water-logging despite spending crores of rupees, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has reached the control room of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, better known as BMC, to monitor the situation for himself.   

The situation is expected to turn grim when when high tide sets in at 2.29 pm, posing a risk to low-lying areas that are already flooded.  

Mumbai's civic body has an annual budget running into thousands of crores, and it is said to be bigger than the budget of some of our smaller states.

In the meantime, with no respite in rains, the Bombay high court has shut down, Mumbai University has cancelled its exams scheduled for the day, and political parties have cancelled their briefings. 
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12:32   When the President, PM had a quick chat
Tanzanian President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete is unwell, which was why he arrived in Rashtrapati Bhavan half an hour behind schedule. This provided a window of opportunity to President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to have a quiet meeting inside  the presidential palace. 

What did they discuss, you want to know? Cannot have been Team India's defeat in Bangladesh, can it?
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12:29   PM Modi, Swaraj meet in Rashtrapati Bhavan
For the first time since Modigate, embattled External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj was seen talking to Prime Minister Narendra Modi when both received the visiting Tanzanian President Jakaya Mrisho Kkkwete in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday.

Watching the photo op, political commentators who've made reading Prime Minister Modi's body language are sure he wants to keep away from any controversy involving Sushma or Lalit Modi.

See if you can spot Swaraj in the image alongside, of the Tanzanian president being introduced to foreign ministry officials in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan.
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12:25   Modi-Shah meet amid pressure to sack Swaraj, Vasundhara
BJP chief Amit Shah met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi amid mounting pressure from the Opposition to sack External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje for their alleged ties with scam-tainted Lalit Modi. 

Sources said that Shah, who had gone to the PM's residence along with a delegation of UP farmers last evening, stayed back and had a detailed discussion with him on Modigate. 

Shah is understood to have discussed possible damage control measures in the wake of fresh disclosures indicating links Raje and Swaraj had with the former IPL boss. 

The sources said Shah is also in touch with RSS leadership on the issue. 

While BJP's top leaders have come out in support of Swaraj, they are yet to openly back Raje.
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12:05   Case against BJP corporator for inciting communal hatred
A BJP corporator has been booked for inciting communal hatred after he allegedly tried to stop a Muslim woman from taking possession of a house she had bought in a Hindu-dominated area. 

A case has been registered against the corporator of ward 36 Vidhya Saran, alias Bittu, under Section 153A of the IPC at Khatghar police station after the incident last night, the police said. 

According to police sources, a local resident Shashi Prabha had sold a house to Rehana Bi in Mohalla Gadikhanna. 

"When Rehana came to occupy the house after the registry of the property, local residents stopped her from entering the house," said Anil Kumar Raghav, inspector, Kathghar police station. 

It is alleged Saran too reached the area and stopped Rehana from taking possession of the house. 

"He told Rehana why she wanted to stay here when it is a Hindu-populated area. He said the neighbours will object to her foods habits and other religious activities," sources alleged. 

The BJP corporator, however, claimed that he had only tried to mediate in a dispute over property as the house owner had also sold the property to Ankit Sharma.
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11:49   Low-lying areas in Mumbai flooded, 120 suction pumps in service
Mumbai has been lashed by monsoon showers since last night, and the average rainfall recorded in the 24 hours ending 8 am today is -- City 188 mm, Eastern Suburbs 155 mm, Western Suburbs 172 mm.

Adding to the city's woes, high tide (4.47 metres) is expected at 2:29 pm today.

According to a statement issued by the BMC, as many as 120 suction pumps have been pressed into service to drain out water in low-lying areas.  
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11:42   Sahara chief may get bail after submitting bank guarantee to Sebi
The Supreme Court on Friday said that Sahara chief Subrata Roy's release from jail is subject to furnishing Rs 5,000 crore in cash and Rs 5,000 crore in bank guarantee. 

The court said Rs 36,000 crore has to be paid by Sahara to SEBI in 18 months and nine instalments from the date of release of Roy. 

Rs 3,000 crore will be the first instalment and in case of two defaults, SEBI can encash the bank guarantee to be furnished by Sahara. 

If there is a failure to comply with the directions of the court in making payments, Roy will have to surrender to custody.

Roy and two other jailed directors of Sahara to deposit their passport on release and shall not leave the country. 

Further, Roy has to keep the Delhi police posted about his movement in the country.

The apex court also extended by eight weeks Roy's custody in Tihar jail for arranging the amount for his release. 

After the pronouncement of verdict, Roy's counsel expressed difficulty in furnishing bank guarantee of Rs 5,000 crore.

Roy and two of his group directors have been in jail since March 4 last year for not complying with the court's order to return Rs 24,000 crore to investors. This money had been collected by two of his group companies.
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11:31   Jairam Ramesh to 'expose' another Lalit Modi today?
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, who turns 45 today, has begun to take an interest in allocating the party spokespersons not only for the daily AICC briefings but also for debates on popular TV news channels. 

Thus it is that Jairam Ramesh will brief the media today at the AICC on Sushma Swaraj and Vasundhara Scindia's woes. 

According to AICC sources, Jairam Ramesh is expected to expose yet another scandal concerning Lalit Modi.
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11:17   ICHR member-secretary Ravindran quits
Gopinath Ravindran, member secretary of Indian Council of Historical Research, has quit midway in his tenure amid reports that he had developed sharp differences with chairperson Y Sudershan Rao over the functioning of the body. 

Ravindran was a UPA appointee and his three-year term was to expire in 2016. 

If accepted by ICHR, his resignation has to be placed before the HRD ministry. 

 Sources said Ravindran resigned earlier this week. Differences between Ravindran and ICHR had become apparent when he had objected to the council's decision to scrap the editorial board and the advisory committee of the prestigious Indian Historical Review, the ICHR's journal, having eminent historians like Romila Thapar. 

Reports suggest he was not being consulted on various other issues ever since the the ICHR was reconstituted by the Smriti Irani-led HRD ministry early this year.
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11:14   SC gives more time to CBSE for conducting AIPMT
Just In: The Supreme Court has extended the time for conducting  the All India Pre Medical and Dental Test-2015, and directed the Central Board for Secondary Education to declare the results by August 17.
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10:57   Rajasthan CM cancels Punjab visit with Shah, Rajnath, fuels speculation
Amid the raging Lalitgate row, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje today cancelled her visit to Punjab where she would have come face-to-face with BJP president Amit Shah for the first time since the damaging revelations. 

"Due to back pain, the chief minister's doctor has advised her to take rest so she has cancelled her visit to Punjab today," Raje's press advisor said. 

Raje, who is embroiled in a controversy over allegedly favouring tainted IPL chief Lalit Modi's immigration plea in London, was scheduled to share the dais with BJP chief Amit Shah and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh at the function in Anandpur Sahib, to celebrate 350 years of the key Sikh shrine. 

Significance was being attached to the meeting as none of the BJP central leaders or the government has come to her defence since the issue came out in public.

While on the topic of Vasundhara Raje, have you read our report, Raje may go, Swaraj likely to survive?
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10:51  
Due to heavy rains in Mumbai, NCPA has postponed the inauguration of Symbiosis photo exhibition that was scheduled for today at its Piramal gallery.
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10:47   Death toll in Mumbai hooch tragedy rises to 25
At least 25 people have died after they consumed spurious liquor in a slum in suburban Malad, Mumbai, police said today.

Mumbai Police spokesperson Dhananjay Kulkarni said many people drank the concoction last night and by 7:30 pm this evening, 25 people have lost their lives while some others have been admitted in a critical condition in the KEM and Shatabdi hospitals.

The people who died had been admitted in Prime Hospital, Shatabdi Hospital, BMC Hospital and Siddharth Hospital across the city.
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10:44   Participants from across the globe to attend yoga day celebrations in Dubai
Dubai is all set to host the largest International Yoga Day on Sunday and its two-day curtain raiser ceremony at the Consulate of India saw diplomats, dignitaries and yoga enthusiasts from different countries.   

Participants of more than 100 nationalities are expected to attend the event in Dubai.    

Yoga mentors from eminent schools of yoga from India including AD Mohan from Swasth yoga and ayurveda, Rishiji Nityapragi from Art of Living would attend the event. 
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09:44   10 killed, 12 injured in hotel fire in Uttar Pradesh's Pratapgarh
Ten people have been killed and 12 injured after a fire broke out at a hotel in Pratapgarh, near Allahabad.

The fire broke out after a shot circuit at the hotel around 5 am this morning.
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09:39   PM greets Rahul Gandhi on his birthday
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended birthday greetings to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who turned 45 today. 

"Wishing the Congress Vice President, Shri Rahul Gandhi a Happy Birthday. I pray for his good health & long life," Modi tweeted.
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09:04   Heavy rain disrupts train services in Mumbai
Heavy rains that lashed Mumbai overnight has led to waterlogging and traffic snarls at several locations in Mumbai today. 

Train services have been suspended in the city and all schools have been closed. 

Operations between the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and the Kurla suburb on the crucial Central Railway line have stopped. 

Several trains on the Western Railway line have also been suspended. 

Several low-lying areas are water-logged leading the city's BEST buses to alter their routes.

From 8 am to 8 pm on Thursday, the city received 60.34 mm rainfall. 
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03:22   Hey you, stop ignoring climate change, says the Pope
You could be forgiven for thinking the reason the world isn't doing nearly enough to fight climate change is that the American Ostrich Politicians are holding us back.

You know these guys: Rick Santorum, Ted Cruz, Jeb Bush. These AOPs have their heads stuck so far in the sand that they aren't willing to see that climate change is real, that we're largely causing it -- and that failing to act puts the entire world at serious risk.

Read this story HERE
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01:27  
Less than 200 moderate Syrian rebels have started training with U.S. military advisers through a new Pentagon-run program, and none has graduated, a defense department spokesman said on Thursday.


The program, run at training sites in Jordan and Turkey, was developed to help the rebels counter the Islamic State, which has control of broad areas in Iraq, and exercises even greater sway in Syria.

Col. Steve Warren, a Pentagon spokesman, said Thursday that more than 6,000 rebels have been recruited, but there are a variety of problems in getting them to and through training.

Read this article HERE
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01:12   World's refugee population hits all-time high of 60mn, half of them childreN
The number of displaced persons worldwide is at an all-time high of almost 60 million, half of whom are children, according to a new report from the UN refugee agency.

The causes are war, conflict and persecution, largely stemming from Syria.

Read this story HERE
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00:31   Onus of normalising ties on Pakistan: Jaitley
The onus of creating an environment for improving Indo-Pak ties and normalising the bilateral relationship is more on Pakistan and depends on the kind of "provocation" that comes from that country, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said today.

"With Pakistan, the border frequently becomes tensed, where there are exchanges on that border. I think the message in the context of Pakistan is that India is interested in improving the relationship with Pakistan and therefore the onus of the responsibility for creating an environment in which the relationship can grow would also depend much more on Pakistan and the kind of provocation that comes from there," Jaitley said.

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