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Fri, 26 June 2015
At least 5 Britons among 37 killed in Tunisia attack: UK Foreign Secretary

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23:58   At least 5 Britons among 37 killed in Tunisia attack: UK Foreign Secretary
Of the thirty seven people who were killed in an attack near two hotels in the Tunisian resort town of Sousse, five were British nationals say BBC reports. 

A dozen more people were reported to have been hospitalised. The attack is in the vicinity of the Imperial Marhaba Hotel. 

According to the BBC, at least one gunman has been shot dead and another is being pursued, officials say.

An armed man "entered through the back of the hotel and opened fire", said Tunisian Interior Ministry spokesman Mohamed Ali Aroui.
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23:37   Disney bans selfie sticks over safety fears
Disney on Friday became the latest major tourism operator to ban selfie sticks as part of a growing backlash against the extendable devices.

The ban covers Disney theme parks in the United States, Paris and Hong Kong.

"We strive to provide a great experience for the entire family, and unfortunately selfie sticks have become a growing safety concern for both our guests and cast," said Kim Prunty, a Disney spokeswoman.

Read more HERE.
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23:13   UN chief Ban condemns attacks in Tunisia, Kuwait, France
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned the terrorist attacks in Tunisia, Kuwait and France today and called for the perpetrators of "appalling acts" of violence to be swiftly brought to justice. 

The UN chief affirmed that far from weakening the international community's resolve to fight the scourge of terrorism, these heinous attacks would only strengthen the commitment of the UN to help defeat those bent on murder, destruction and the annihilation of human development and culture, a statement released by his spokesperson said. 

He said those responsible for these "appalling acts" of violence must be swiftly brought to justice. Ban extended condolences to the families of those killed and injured in today's attacks and expresses solidarity with the peoples and governments of Tunisia, Kuwait and France. 

54 people were killed in attacks across the three countries today.
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22:43   Italy arrests suspected Al-Qaeda bomber at Rome airport



Italian police said on Friday they had arrested a suspected Al-Qaeda militant accused of participating in a 2009 bombing in Pakistan that killed more than 100 people and providing shelter for another man suspected of planning a suicide attack in Italy.

The Pakistani man was arrested late on Thursday at Rome's Fiumicino airport, police on the island of Sardinia said in a statement.

They said the arrest was linked to a broader anti-terrorism operation in Italy in April, in which 10 people were detained and a further eight sought for arrest on suspicion of belonging to an armed group that had plotted attacks in Pakistan, Afghanistan and the Vatican.

Read more HERE.
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21:46   Bobby Jindal's Indian-American comment backfires after campaign launch
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination in 2016, becoming the first Indian-American politician to run for the highest office in the nation.

But comments he made during his initial campaign launch on Wednesday have critics slamming him for what some say is an attempt to distance himself from his Indian heritage.

As he officially threw his hat into the ring for the Republican nomination, he said was "done with" describing Americans by their origin or ethnicity. Both of Jindal's parents are Indian immigrants.

"We are not Indian-Americans, African-Americans, Irish-Americans, rich Americans, or poor Americans. We are all Americans," said Jindal, during his campaign launch in New Orleans.

People quickly took issue with his remarks, with some, including Silicon Valley Actor Kumail Nanjiani, making fun of Jindal.

Read more HERE.
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21:45   Tunisia cannot face Islamic militants alone, president says
Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi told AFP on Friday his country cannot stand up to the Islamic militant threat alone, after a gunman killed 28 people at a tourist resort.

"We note that Tunisia faces an international movement. It cannot respond alone to this. On the same day at the same time France has been the target of such an operation, and Kuwait too," Essebsi said.

"This proves the need for a global strategy and that all democratic countries must now join forces."

Read full story HERE.
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21:22   This is a victory for America: Obama on legalisation of gay marriage in US
United States President Barack Obama issues a statement after the Supreme Court legalised same-sex marriages across the nation. Here is what he said:  

"Our nation was founded on a bedrock principle: That we are all created equal."

"Progress on this journey often comes in small increments, sometimes two steps forward, one step back"

"Sometimes, there are days like this -- when that slow, steady effort is rewarded with justice that arrives like a thunderbolt."

"When all Americans are treated as equal, we are all more free."

"Today should also give us hope that on the many issues with which we grapple, often painfully -- real change is possible."

"We are a people who believe that every single child is entitled to life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

"This ruling is a victory for America. It's a victory for their children, whose families will now be recognized as equal to any other."

"This ruling is...a victory for gay and lesbian couples who have fought so long for their basic civil rights."

"We've made our Union a little more perfect."


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21:10   India, Pak in thrilling draw at Hockey World League
India and Pakistan played out a thrilling 2-2 draw in the Hockey World League semi-finals at the KHC Dragons Stadium, in Antwerp, on Friday.

Ramandeep Singh scored India's goals, while Pakistan captain Muhammad Imran accounted for Pakistan's.
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21:09   Sri Lankan parliament dissolved, fresh polls in August
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena today dissolved the parliament, paving the way for fresh parliamentary elections in mid August, eight months ahead of the schedule.

President Sirisena has signed the relevant gazette notification and sent to the government printer, a presidential source said.

The government printer's office confirmed the receipt of the duly signed notice from the president. The long awaited dissolution of the 225-member house will pave the way for a fresh parliamentary election mid August, sources said.

The election will come eight months ahead of the scheduled date in April 2016. However, the president had promised to dissolve the parliament on April 23 of this year at the conclusion of 100 days of his new government.

He held the decision back to implement his reforms '" both constitutional and electoral.
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20:43   Raje was Lalit Modi's business partner, says Congress
Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje was a direct beneficiary of controversial cricket tycoon Lalit Modi's Rs 13-crore investment in a firm owned by her son, the Opposition Congress alleged today, as the politician fends off demands for her resignation.

The Congress released papers filed by Raje ahead of her election in 2013 in which she said she owned nearly 3,000 shares in Niyant Heritage Hotels Limited, owned by her son, Dushyant Singh, who is a law-maker, NDTV reports.

In Rajasthan, BJP leaders said the shares were gifted to Raje by her son and daughter-in-law and the fact that she declared them among her assets proves she has nothing to hide.  
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20:24   900 pilgrims evacuated from rain-hit Uttarakhand
Nine hundred persons were today evacuated by choppers from Kedar valley, Hemkund Sahib and Badrinath areas with nearly half a dozen roads and bridges in Chamoli and Rudraprayag districts damaged by first monsoon showers and yatra to the Himalayan shrines severely affected for the second consecutive day.

Additional Chief Secretary Rakesh Sharma, who visited areas close to Kedarnath and Badrinath earlier in the day to assess the situation, said from Kedar valley, Hemkund Sahib and Badrinath in Chamoli district a total of 900 persons were evacuated.

There are no pilgrims left in Kedarnath at the moment and all of them have been brought down to Sonprayag, who may resume their journey when the weather improves, Sharma told reporters on his return from the affected areas.

Similarly, many of those stuck in Badrinath and Hemkund Sahib areas have been brought down to Joshimath and Ghanghariya, he said, adding, choppers will make sorties even tomorrow to ferry pilgrims who are stuck on way to Badrinath and the Sikh shrine of Hemkund Sahib.
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20:16   Tunisia student behind attack on Sousse hotels, hunt on for 2nd gunman
An update on the Tunisia attack:  One of the gunman behind the attack at the beach resorts in Sousse that left 27 left has been identified as a Tunisian student previously unknown to police, reports the AFP news agency.

"He is Tunisian, originally from the Kairouan region (in central Tunisia). He is a student," Secretary of State for Security Rafik Chelly told the private Mosaique FM radio.

The hunt for the second gunman is still on. 
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19:45   US Supreme Court rules gay marriage is legal nationwide
Just in: In a historic ruling, the United States Supreme Court has ruled that same-sex marriage is a legal right across the nation.

Justice Anthony Kennedy writing for the majority ruled that marriage is all constitutional right. Before the ruling on Thursday, gay couples could marry in 37 states in addition to Washington DC.

It is unclear how soon marriage licenses will be issued in states where gay unions were previously prohibited.

Read the complete ruling here

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19:34   2nd suspect arrested in connection with terror attack in France
According to the CNN, a second suspect was arrested in connection with the terror attack in southeastern France that saw one man beheaded and several injured. 

"The first suspect is somebody who was in touch with (Muslim fundamentalist) Salafists." French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said.

The man had been under surveillance but was not previously involved in terrorist activities, he said. 
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19:18   Tunisia attack: Search for second gunman on
Interior Ministry spokesman Mohammed Ali Aroui says the police operation to catch a second gunman behind the attack on the beach resort is ongoing and the exchange of fire is continuing, reports AP.

He says one gunman behind 'the terrorist attack was killed during an exchange of fire with security forces'.

Photograph: Twitter/MouradTeyeb
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19:17   Centre asks CBI to probe Teesta Setalvad's company
The government has asked the Central Bureau of Invgestigation to investigate activist Teesta Setalvad's organisation, who has been accused of embezzling funds meant for Gujarat riot victims.

The Home ministry has ordered the agency to freeze the accounts of Teesta company. The CBI has also been asked to investigate the transfer of funds from US-based Ford Foundation to Ms Setalvad's company Sabrang.
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18:32  
If people are put in the dock for links to Lalit Modi, then why did Priyanka and Robert Vadra met him (Lalit Modi) when UPA was in power, he said. 
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18:31   Secret draft not addressed to UK court: BJP on Lalit Modi-Raje row
The secret draft by Vasundhara Raje was not addressed to any court: Rajasthan BJP on Lalit Modi row.

The signed document being raised by Congress led to no help for Lalit Modi, said the BJP's Rajendra Rathore.

Until the date of the signature, the ED had not made any decision on Lalit Modi, nor was he declared an absconder, said Ashok Parnami of the BJP.
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18:23   We stand by her: Raj BJP 'fully' backs Raje
The Rajasthan BJP asserted in a press conference that it "fully supports" Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, who is engulfed in the Lalit Modi controversy, rejecting Opposition demands for her resignation.

As the Congress upped the ante pressing for Raje's removal, a BJP spokesperson said, "The BJP fully supports Vasundhara Raje who is our tallest leader in Rajasthan. Congress is targeting our popular leaders and we stand by her."
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18:08   27 feared dead as 2 beach resorts attacked in Tunisia
And several sources are now reporting that the death toll has go as high as 27.

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18:02  
Sousse is one of Tunisia's most popular beach resorts in north Africa, which attracts tourists from Europe, as well as neighboring countries.
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17:56   At least 19 dead as 2 beach resorts attacked in Tunisia
Latest reports are putting the casualties at 19. The number is likely to go up.
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17:53  
And Gary Pine tweets again: Other that a few minor injuries from people exiting the beach, looks like all guests and staff are safe.
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17:49  
And a British tourist  John Yeoman, tweeted this image from inside the hotel while the attack is ongoing.

He has barricaded himself inside his room
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17:43  
Some people have tweeted pictures of bodies on the beach, but their authenticity could not be confirmed.
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17:40  
Gary Pine, a guest staying at the hotel tweeted: Gunshots on the beach, mass panic here. Confusion rife. (@ El Mouradi Palm Marina in Sousse
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17:40  
Gary Pine, a guest staying at the hotel tweeted: Gunshots on the beach, mass panic here. Confusion rife. (@ El Mouradi Palm Marina in Sousse
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17:37   Tourist resort under terrorist attack in Tunisia, at least 7 dead
Reuters is reporting that a beach resort in the Tunisian city of Sousse has come under a terrorist attack. Gunfire exchange has been heard inside the hotel. 

Imperial Marhaba, the five-star resort has come under attack, and multiple fatalities have been reported. 

More details are awaited.
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17:24   Hours after Jaitley-PM meeting, Rajasthan CM to hold presser at 6 pm
Rajasthan chief minister to make a statement shortly. Rajasthan BJP State President Ashok Parnami and Health Minister Rajendra Rathore to hold a press conference at 6 pm in Jaipur.


This comes after Finance Minister Arun Jaitley met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah in separate meetings this afternoon.


While no details of the two meetings were available, it is being speculated that the subject of the meetings were allegations being faced by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje.
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17:21   Hollande confirms beheading was a terror attack
French President Francois Hollande has confirmed that the incident at a factory in southeastern France was a "pure terrorist attack".


Hollande said a body had been found, along with a severed head with a message. He said a suspect had been arrested and identified.'


Le Monde newspaper cited unidentified sources as saying that two people rammed a vehicle into the building, causing the explosion. Banners in Arabic that haven't yet been examined were found at the scene, the paper added
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17:05  
Suspect arrested in French gas factory attack known to intelligence services, French Interior Minister.
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17:01   Axis Bank queues up, cuts base rate by 10 bps to 9.85%
A day after its bigger rival ICICI Bank cut its lending rate, the third-largest private lender, Axis Bank, today lowered its base rate by 0.10 per cent to 9.85 per cent, effective June 30.


The Shikha Sharma-led bank has cut its base rate, or the minimum lending rate, by 0.10 per cent to 9.85 per cent, a bank spokesman said. With this, the bank has passed on a 0.30 per cent reduction to borrowers this fiscal as against the 0.75 per cent repo rate cut by RBI since January.


Still, the base rate is higher than the 9.7 per cent offered by ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and the State Bank of India. SBI was the first off the block to lower its base rate earlier this month after RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan in the policy meet on June 2 asked banks to pass on the benefit to consumers.
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16:42   The peculiar protocol problem of Chandrababu Naidu
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is caught up with a peculiar protocol problem. Naidu will not receive President Pranab Mukherjee at Hyderabad airport on June 29, instead he has sought permission to be at Tirupathi airport on June 30 for the formal ceremony.


So, the reason Naidu wants to receive the President at Tirupathi is that Hyderabad falls under Telangana after the bifurcation, while Tirupathi is in Andhra Pradesh.

Pranab Mukherjee is scheduled to visit Tirumala Tirupathi temple in Andhra Pradesh on July 1, but sources tell us that KCR wants the president to make a stopover at the Yadagirigutta shrine as well.


Watch this space for developments.
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16:31   Explosions in Kuwait mosque during Friday prayers
Explosion hits Shia mosque in Kuwait City during Friday prayers, with casualties reported, the Al Arabiya channel reports.


Just a few hours ago, one person was been killed in a suspected terror attack in a gas factory in Saint-Quentin-Fallavier, in the Isere area of southeastern France.


Initial reports said that several explosions were heard and many others were injured.


A single attacker stormed the building in his car, and exploded several gas canisters that he was carrying with him, according to local media.


The decapitated head was kept in front of the factory gate, and an Islamist flag was found next to it.


According to several reports, the victim was not a factory employee. One man was arrested but it was not clear if he was the attacker, according to the social media.
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16:14   Will KCR, Naidu make up?
More on the KCR, Chandrababu Naidu saga.

As a senior statesman President Pranab Mukherjee has been tasked to bring a thaw in relations between Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu and Telangana CM K Chandrashekhar Rao.
 

The President who is in Hyderabad for eight days has confirmed that he will impress upon both the CMs to concentrate on development work rather than get into to petty politicking.


An insider confirmed that the President's word is likely to be taken  seriously by the two CMs. In fact, the initiative is at the behest of the central government.
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15:56   Audi crash: No bail for Jahnvi Gadkar
Mumbai Audi crash: Kurla Court rejects bail plea of lawyer Jahnvi Gadkar, accused of mowing down two people, under the influence of alcohol.

Gadkar, who was involved in a hit-and-run accident which killed 2 people on June 8 is in a 14-day judicial custody till June 26.

Gadkar, 35, had crashed her Audi Q3 into a taxi killing two people and injuring three others. Tests showed Gadkar's blood samples had three times the permitted level of alcohol on the day of the accident.


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15:22   1 killed at French terror attack, beheaded body found with Islamist flag
French media reports that at least one person has been found decapitated and others injured after a man allegedly burst into an office near the eastern city of Grenoble in France carrying an Islamic banner.

There were also reports of an explosion or a series of explosions at the place, which is believed to be a gas or chemical company in the town of St. Quentin-Fallavier, southeast of Lyon.


One of the attackers has been taken into custody and was being questioned by the French police. A local newspaper said the slain victim's head was found yards away from their body. Details awaited.
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14:36   NO signature campaign by MLAs, Rajasthan CM's office slams rumours
Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje's office  issues a statement over reports of a show of strength by party MLAs.


Raje's office blamed the media saying, it was trying to malign the image of the CM. The statement said there was no signature campaign by 120 MLAs in the CM's favour. Vasundhara Raje meets party MLAs every Friday, this has nothing to do with show of strength, her office said.


The 62-year-old leader has a history of locking horns with the central leadership when attempts were made to clip her wings. When then BJP president Rajnath Singh asked her to step down as leader of opposition in the state after a rout in the 2009 polls, she sent 57 of the party's 78 MLAs to Delhi, in a show of strength, and threatened to walk out of the party.


However,  a top BJP leader told Rediff.com that neither External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj nor the Rajasthan Chief Minister would be asked to resign, despite the growing calls from the Opposition for them to quit over the help extended to former IPL chief Lalit Modi.


The senior leader said that the external affairs minister had done nothing wrong and therefore the chapter was closed.


In the case of Raje, the leader said that only after proper investigation by the party, will leaders resign in such circumstances -- now or in future.

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14:28   BJP, Cong spar over Lalit Modi tweets
On the back foot in the row over its leaders' purported help to Lalit Modi, the BJP today alleged links between the former IPL boss and the Gandhi family as it pointed to claims by him of "running into" Priyanka Gandhi in London.


BJP, which charged that it was these links which had "prevented" Modi's extradition under UPA rule, demanded that Congress President Sonia Gandhi make a statement on the matter.


That invited a sharp attack from the opposition, which said that Lalit Modi's tweets were a case of "chhota Modi" helping "bada Modi" (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) through "lies".


Seeking to turn the tables on Congress, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said, "Today's big revelation is the fact that Lalit Modi had met the Gandhi family. Only yesterday he met Priyanka Gandhi and Robert Vadra. Why have they met him? "Let me categorically put today that the issue is about Lalit Modi and Gandhi family... BJP demands Sonia Gandhi make a statement why the Gandhi family has been in touch with Lalit Modi all these years. Patra further claimed that the then Finance Minister P Chidambaram "did not want Lalit Modi's extradition from Britain despite the fact that UK was ready for extradition". "Who was preventing them? The Gandhi family," he alleged. "The matter starts and ends at the door of 10, Janpath."


But lashing out at BJP over the charges, Congress said that running into anybody in a restaurant was not a crime and that Lalit Modi was working at the behest of BJP to divert attention to "non-issues". Congress's chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said that BJP should tell its "black money stooges to not rely on red-herrings" to divert attention from the issue.
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14:10   TMC's Derek O'Brien turns photographer
Social media savvy Rajya Sabha politician Derek O'Brien of the Trinamool Congress is in Mumbai today and tweeted this picture asking for comments. @quizderek tweeted: Is the amateur photographer improving ? #Mumbai


Milind Deora, who has engaged with O'Brien on Twitter on several occasions earlier (all lighthearted banter) responded saying @quizderek "Pretty good".

O'Brien replied tweeting, @quizderek  @milinddeora Nice that you are encouraging an amateur... good host . Catch you soon


@milinddeora replies: @quizderek it's a Mumbai thing. Can't help it. Enjoy you're stay.
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13:41   Death of a journalist
The death of Shahjahanpur-based freelance journalist Jagendra Singh of burn injuries earlier this month, continues to raise questions. And, instead of inspiring confidence that it would ensure a fair and impartial probe into the death, the Akhilesh Yadav government is focussing its energies on limiting the political damage from the allegations of the involvement of State Minister Ram Murti Verma in the case. Read
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13:35   Many little Emergencies
The Emergency was a conjuncture of different complexes. Individual elements of these complexes are always with us. Can they combine to create a potent and irreversible subversion of democracy? Most familiar is the Emergency as a personality complex: an individual, like Indira Gandhi, convinced of their own power, egged on by the sycophancy of supporters, using all authoritarian means to silence dissent. But for all her grievous faults, Gandhi was, as P.N. Dhar put it, "a half-hearted authoritarian".


Read Pratap Bhanu Mehta's column for the Indian Express.
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13:29  
JK Rowling gives Harry Potter fan excellent advice on what to read during Ramadan. Read
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13:25   Harry Potter prequel to hit London theatre in 2016
JK Rowling fans, heads up. Rowling tweets to say, "I'm also very excited to confirm today that a new play called Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will be opening in London next year."


The play will "explore the previously untold story of Harry's early years as an orphan and outcast" according to a statement issued in 2013, when the play was first announced.
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12:54   First proof, then probe, CM tells Opposition on Munde's chikki 'scam'
Govt ready for probe into alleged irregularities in awarding contracts by Woman and child welfare ministry under Pankaja Munde if Opposition gives evidence, says Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis.


Maharashtra Minister Pankaja Munde was at the centre of a controversy with the Congress accusing her of involvement in a "scam" by clearing purchases worth Rs 206 crore through Government Resolutions on a single day instead of inviting tenders, in violation of the norms.


The alleged purchases relate to a host of items including snacks, mats, dishes and books for children under the integrated child development services by the women and child development ministry which Munde heads.


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12:23  
Digvijaya Singh on Lalit Modi's tweets: Is Priyanka Gandhi holding any official position and did she recommend anybody? How is she in the wrong? Agar Robert Vadra aur Priyanka Gandhi Lalit Modi se London mey miley to ye kya koi apraadh hai?
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12:14   Myanmar's top army brass to visit Delhi for anti-rebel strategy
The military delegation will be in Delhi "shortly' and confer with top Indian Army officials as well as those in the ministry of external affairs to evolve a road map for a counter-insurgency strategy, reports Nitin Gokhale. Read
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12:12   Vasundhara Raje to stay on for NOW
A top Bharatiya Janata Party leader has said that neither External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj nor Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje will be asked to resign, despite the growing calls from the Opposition for them to quit over the help extended to former IPL chief Lalit Modi.


The senior leader said that the external affairs minister had done nothing wrong and therefore the chapter was closed.


In the case of Raje, the leader said that only after proper investigation by the party, will leaders resign in such circumstances -- now or in future.


-- Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com  
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12:08   Maharashtra CM Fadnavis to visit NYC on Monday
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will visit the New York city next week to invite investment and expertise from the US to his state in various sectors and will meet political and business leaders during the trip, being pegged as 'Mumbai meets Manhattan'.


During the day-long visit on June 29, Fadnavis is expected to meet the Governor of New Jersey Chris Christie as well as other senior political leaders from New York City and neighbouring Connecticut. India's Consul General Dnyaneshwar Mulay told reporters here that given the large population of Indians in the New York-New Jersey area, Fadnavis will hold meetings with the states' leadership and promote the state as an attractive investment destination not only among the diaspora but to a larger American audience.
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11:57   Make non-veg cooking optional in hotel mgt courses, says BJP minister
Cow slaughter banned and beef exports damned, the BJP government at the Centre is on the horns of a new dilemma: can students pursuing hotel management opt out of non-vegetarian cooking that is a mandatory part of their coursework now? The idea may leave a sour taste with the hospitality industry. Read more
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11:42  
Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala on the Lalit Modi tweet: "Neither Smt Priyanka Gandhi nor Robert Vadra have ever interacted socially with Lalit Modi. We request the Modi Govt & their black money stooges to answer real issues that people want PM Modi, EAM and Rajasthan CM to answer."
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11:28   Lalit Modi tweets: Happy to meet Gandhi family in London
Just as the Congress sharpened its rusty weapons against the BJP over the Lalit Modi issue, the former IPL chief's tweet this morning has left the ruling party particularly happy.


Modi tweeted this morning that he had bumped into Congress presdient Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi at a restaurant in London. And for good measure, also added that met Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and her husband Robert Vadra there.

The three-part tweet read: "Happy to meet the Gandhi Family in London. I had run into Robert and Priyanka separately in a resturant - they were with Timmy Sarna. He has my no. They can call me. Will tell them what I feel about them exactly. Will mince no words. Will make no deal. But tell them witch hunt will now make them realize I was (emoticon of an angel)."


The BJP was quick to react, with spokesperson Sambit Patra saying, "We want to ask questions as to why the Gandhi family was constantly in touch with Lalit Modi. As to why yesterday also they were meeting Lalit Modi
It's thus obvious that none other than Sonia Gandhi can bring this to forefront."
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11:14  
President Pranab Mukherjee met former President Pratibha Devisingh Patil at her residence in Pune yesterday. 
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11:10  
So far, the BJP is going with the argument that Vasundhara Raja changed her mind at the last minute about backing the immigration appeal of Modi. 
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10:42   Despite ban, Maggi being sold at Rs 102 per packet in South Delhi
The once easily available two-minute noodle, sold for just Rs 10 is now being sold in certain parts of the Capital for as much as Rs 102. The recent ban on Maggi noodles resulted in Nestle pulling out all its stock from the shelves of stores across the city. Some shops, however, seem to have kept their final batch.

Read the full story HERE
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10:36  
JUST IN: No fresh FIR against Jagdish Tytler on allegations of influencing witness and money laundering in connection with 1984 riots case: CBI tells Delhi court. 
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10:13   Can't rule out another Emergency with dynastic parties: Amit Shah
BJP president Amit Shah came down heavily on the Congress and said that the Emergency perpetuated sycophancy and dynasty in the party as Indira Gandhi brooked no opposition. He said it was parties run by "dictatorial mindset" which could think about bringing Emergency and asked people to vote for an ideology and not an individual if they wanted to avoid such a scenario again. 

The BJP chief said of the plethora of parties in India - more than 1,600 in all -- just a few, including the BJP, practised internal democracy, adding that the possibility of Emergency could not be ruled out as long as parties run by dynasties had a chance to rule the country. 
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10:01   Char Dham yatra suspended as rain lashes Uttarakhand
In the wake of frequent spells of rain which have lashed all parts of Uttarakhand ever since monsoon officially arrived in the hill state on Wednesday, Char Dham yatra at Kedarnath, Badrinath and Hemkund Sahib has been suspended. 

The yatra has been suspended for at least three days while no more pilgrims are allowed to proceed from Rishikesh. "The resumption of the yatra will depend on weather. Same goes for Badrinath and Hemkund," Rudraprayag district magistrate Raghav Langhar said.
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09:48   Satnam Singh scripts history, becomes 1st Indian to be drafted in NBA
Satnam Singh has become the first Indian to be drafted in NBA League. Dallas Mavericks have picked Punjab hoopster. He is set to become only second Indian-origin basketball player after Sim Bhullar to feature in the NBA. The 7 feet 1 inches tall hoopster from the IMG Academy is one of the 91 players -- 48 players from colleges and post-graduate institutions and 43 international players -- who were nominated as early entry candidates for the 2015 NBA Draft presented by State Farm.
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09:43   France may offer asylum to Snowden, Assange
France's Justice Minister has canvassed possible asylum for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden as WikiLeaks and French newspapers promise further revelations of US espionage against the French government and private companies.  

Justice Minister Christiane Taubira said that she "wouldn't be surprised" if France decided to offer political asylum to Assange, who is living at Ecuador's embassy in London, and  Snowden, who remains in exile in Russia.
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09:08   Vasundhara Raje should step down: RSS
Time may have finally run out for Vasundhara Raje. According to highly-placed sources, BJP's ideological mentor RSS says she must face the axe for becoming the proverbial chink in the Modi government's armour. 

"We have so far believed in maintaining a policy of zero tolerance against corruption and it must be upheld. Allegations against several BJP leaders have surfaced in the recent past, but we expect things within the BJP to be put in order in the next seven to 10 days. Vasundhara Raje should step down. The situation is being made to look worse than it is by the media. These issues will be resolved soon," a senior RSS functionary said.
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08:44   No question of going soft on accused in Malegaon blasts case: NIA
Responding to report on Special Public Prosecutor Rohini Salian saying she had been asked by the National Investigation Agency to go "soft' on the 2008 Malegaon blasts case from the time "the new government came to power', NIA Director General Sharad Kumar on Thursday said there was "no question of going soft' on any accused. 

"The trial in the case still hasn't started, and there is absolutely no question of going soft or hard on anyone. We had applied for custodial interrogation of three accused, and this is pending before the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, our investigations are on. None of our officers have met her (Salian) and said anything inappropriate. I have verified this," Kumar said. 
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08:17   Plane with 9 aboard crashes in Alaska
A small plane carrying a pilot and eight passengers from a cruise ship was believed to have crashed in Ketchikan, Alaska. There is no word yet on the condition of those on the plane.The plane was on a shore excursion, sold through Holland America Line, when the accident happened about 20 miles northeast of Ketchikan, near Ella Lake.

The United States Coast Guard and local search and rescue teams are en route to the accident site. The National Transportation Safety Board said it is gathering information about the incident, but does not have many details so far.
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04:08   Mother, baby survive 4 days in the jungle after plane crash
A mother kept herself and her infant son alive forfour days in a dense jungle of Colombia after the plane that they were passengers in crashed and caught fire.

Mara Nelly Murillo Moreno, 19, suffered a broken ankle when the plane that she and her 5-month-old boy were flying in crashed Saturday in the western Colombian department of Choc.
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03:19   US says Iran nuclear deal deadline may 'slip'
High-stakes talks to nail down a historic deal with Iran to curtail its nuclear programme may "slip" past a June 30 deadline, a top US official has admitted ahead of crunch weekend negotiations in Vienna. 

"We may not make June 30, but we will be close," the senior official told reporters as top US diplomat John Kerry prepared to head today for what could be the last talks between Iran and global powers on the deal.
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02:28   Fake degrees have become a political trend: Uddhav Thackeray
Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray took potshots at the BJP here today and said that it has become a trend to display fake degrees. "It has become a trend in politics to display fake degrees. 

Simply do the right thing. Why run behind false things," Thackeray said, without naming anybody including Maharashtra Education Minister Vinod Tawde or Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani, at a book launch function in suburban Dadar.
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02:28   Switzerland to extradite Bosnian Muslim war crimes suspect
Switzerland today authorised the extradition of former Bosnian Muslim commander Naser Oric to Bosnia rather than Serbia, which had issued the war crimes warrant for his arrest. 

Oric, who led Muslim forces in Bosnia's east during its 1992-1995 civil war, was arrested on June 10 in Geneva, accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity against ethnic Serbs during the conflict.
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01:27   Significant rights abuses by Indian security forces: US report
Abuses by police and security forces were among the most significant human rights problems in India last year, a US government report today said even as it noted last year's Indian general election as the largest ever in history. 

"India's parliamentary contest in April 2014 was one of the largest elections in history," Secretary of State John Kerry said in his preface to the State Department's annual Congressional-mandated report in which he noted that around the world, more people chose their leaders in competitive elections than ever before.
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01:26   Pak alleges BBC report on MQM confirms India hand in unrest
Pakistan today said the BBC report that alleged the MQM received funds and training from India confirmed its "suspicions" about an Indian hand in creating instability in the country. 

This was stated by Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan while talking to the media after meeting with British High Commissioner Philip Barton here after a scathing BBC report alleging that India provided funds and training to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.
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00:43   Greece debt talks: Crisis deepens amid deadlock
Greece and its international creditors remain in deadlock over its debt crisis despite a series of top-level meetings.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras failed to reach a deal with Greece's lenders, then a meeting of European finance ministers broke up without progress.

The Athens government faces default if it fails to make a 1.6bn (1.1bn) IMF debt repayment by Tuesday.
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00:42   Karachi heat wave claims more lives
The unforgiving heat has spared no one. The very young, the very old and those in the prime of their lives.

Corpses covered in flies lie outside city morgues. Inside, bodies up on bodies are piled high.Hospitals are overwhelmed, relying on volunteers and donors for ice, water and even spare beds.

By Thursday, the death toll from the oppressive heat wave in Sindh province topped 1,000.
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00:38   Iceland remains most peaceful nation in the world: Study
In search of peace? Maybe it's time to move to Iceland.According to the nonprofit Institute for Economics and Peace, the thinly populated island in the midst of the North Atlantic has retained its place as the most peaceful country in the world.

The institute released its Global Peace Index for 2015this week, which ranks 162 nations around the globebased on factors like the level of violent crime, involvement in conflicts and the degree of militarisation.

Read more here

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