The fuselage of the ill-fated Indian Navy's Dornier aircraft was today salvaged from the bottom of the sea, about 25 nautical miles off the Goa coast, Defence sources said. 

Tortuous negotiations aimed at ending fears that Iran will acquire nuclear arms shifted into top gear today, with the Iranian foreign minister saying he was confident the outstanding hurdles blocking a deal could be overcome.

Al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate and its allies seized today the city of Idlib, only the second provincial capital to be lost by the regime in more than four years of war. 

Amanda Knox says she's "so grateful to have my life back' after Italy's highest court overturned her murder conviction in the slaying of her roommate.

Anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare today termed the tussle in the AAP as the party's "internal matter" and said he was in no position to offer any advice to its warring leaders. 

Telugu writer Kona Venkat and producer DVV Danayya were robbed of cash and gold ornaments at knife-point in Mahabubnagar district of Telangana, police said today. 

Nigerians turned out in their millions Saturday to vote in a presidential election that analysts say is too close to call between President Goodluck Jonathan and former military dictator Muhammadu Buhari.

Russia today announced initial plans to build a new orbital space station together with NASA to replace the International Space Station (ISS), which is set to operate until 2024. 

UN staff were evacuated from Yemen's capital today after a third night of Saudi-led air strikes, as President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi urged his Arab allies to bomb Iranian-backed rebels into submission. 

The Budget session of Rajya Sabha was cut short today with the House being prorogued to pave the way for re-promulgation of the controversial Land Acquisition Ordinance. 

The Malaysian chapter of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Art of Living has received threatening letters from the Islamic State terror group, a close aide of the spiritual leader claimed today.

The German co-pilot accused of crashing a passenger plane in the French Alps frequented a gliding club near the crash site as a child with his parents, according to a member of the club. 

India has successfully launched its satellite IRNSS-1D from Sriharikota onboard workhorse PSLV-C27 to pave the way for the country's own navigation system on par with the GPS of US.

Just in: Activist Medha Patkar resigns from the primary membership of the Aam Aadmi Party.

"I condemn what happened to Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan," she said on the infighting in party. "I have always said AAP's processes were not proper. Many state units wanted me to take tough action," she added.

The two AAP founder members were expelled from party's national executive for alleged anti-party activities.   

Arvind Kejriwal has once again joined the ongoing AAP national council meet in Delhi. He had left after the ouster of rebel leaders following an emotional speech.

Just in: Mizoram governor Aziz Qureshi sacked, reports PTI. 

The US has voiced its disappointment with India for voting against the benefits of same-sex partners at the UN.   

Addressing the gathering at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, US Ambassador to India Richard Verma talked about strategic plus partnership between India and the US but maintained that it was not always that the two countries need to agree with each other.   

"We were disappointed, for example, by India's support this week for the attempt to strip benefits from UN staff in same-sex relationships. We will continue to support the rights of LGBT individuals in India, in international institutions, and around the world," he said.   

India was among the 43 countries along with China, Egypt,Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia that voted in support of a Russia-drafted resolution that proposed removing benefits for same-sex partners of UN staff. But the resolution failed to pass in the General Assembly committee after 80 nations opposed it.   

New Delhi, however, justified its move to vote in favour of the resolution saying it was against the unilateral decision of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to change the system of entitlements without consulting member countries.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi today met the farmers who have suffered losses due untimely rains in her Rae Bareli constituency and visited the families of the victims of the recent Bachrawan train accident and assured them of all possible assistance.


The Congress chief, who represents Rae Bareli in the Lok Sabha, drove straight to Pachwar village after landing at the Fursatganj airport this morning to take stock of the losses suffered by the farmers because of the recent untimely rains and hailstorm. The farmers apprised Gandhi of their plight and claimed that no administrative official has visited the village for conducting a survey so that compensation could be given to them.

Gandhi gave a patient hearing to the farmers. She also visited Bandipur and Shivpuri villages where the farmers showed her damages to wheat and mustard crops in the fields to stress the magnitude of their losses. The farmers also drew her attention to the poor state of tube-wells in the area because of which they were facing immense hardship and alleged that the administration was neither cooperating nor listening to their grievances.

Air India and aviation authorities today termed as false claims of a security scare onboard a recent Delhi-bound Air India flight from London.       

Nothing unusual was reported on the flight AI-112, which had departed from London Heathrow Airport on March 17 for Indira Gandhi International airport in New Delhi, officials said,adding, "There is no truth" in the reports which have appeared today about a hijack scare on the plane.       

A section of media has reported that there was an aborted hijack attempt on the national carrier's London-Delhi flight. They said the crew had become suspicious about a passenger, who "feigned" illness, and the other passengers, who claimed to be doctors and offered to help him on the flight, as they were "all Pakistani and insisted on meeting the captain".       

"There is no truth in it," Civil Aviation Secretary V Somasundaram told PTI when contacted.       

Air India too issued a statement saying all such claims were totally false and there were no Pakistani nationals as mentioned in these reports.

It's been an ugly turn of events for the Aam Aadmi Party. Wonder of Arvind Kejriwal's one time mentor Anna Hazare has to say?

"This is AAP's internal matter, why would I get into it? It's beyond my understanding," says Hazare.   

Yogendra Yadav has been asked as to what can he do in the party now that he is now expelled for a key panel. "I am here for the volunteers who have done more for the party than what Prashantji and me have done."

"We will sit together and decide the future course of action," adds Prashant Bhushan.   

The rebel take questions from the media.

Is Kejriwal a dictator, Prashant Bhushan is asked.

"I have been asking to tell Arvind Kejriwal to curb his dictatorial tendencies and I have failed. They have taken a more ugly form. Kejriwal ruthlessly stifles any defiance," he says.      

Addressing the media after Yadav and Bhushan, Dharamvir Gandhi , says "I have 40 years of experience behind me, I know what democracy is, I know the values."  

After Yogendra Yadav, senior leader Prashant Bhushan addresses the media. "Since day before yesterday, we have felt that this national council meet would be orchestrated. Legitimate members of AAP were denied entry to the meet."

"We told them it must be ensured that the meeting be videographed, and voting to take place through a secret ballot. In the SMS sent to Admiral Ramdas, it was said that his term as AAP Lokpal has expired."   

Yogendra Yadav says he is ashamed about what happened at the AAP meet. "But please do not judge us on what happened today. There are some great people in the party."

"Aaj humne wakai mai bahut chota kaam kiya hai, par hum itne chote hai nahi," he appeals.    

There was complete drama at the party, says Yogendra Yadav.

"'After Kejriwal delivered his speech, around 10 people stood up and started shouting slogans against us. Gaddaron ko nikalo!' was the slogan raised against us. Arvind bhai just stood there watching. He did not intervene even when fracas started."

In fact, Kejriwal was provoking members at the meet. There were professional bouncers at the meet. Two bouncers came, took Ramzan Chaudhary and dragged him out of the hall and started beating him up," he says.

"I went to Arvindji and Manishji and told them that national council members are being beaten. Arvindji just stood there," he recalls.  

Aam Aadmi Party rebel leaders Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan, who were expelled from the party national executive, address the media. Alleging that his supporters were beaten at the meet, he paraded them in front of the press.

"The things we saw today are worse than what happens in other parties. Today, the kind of drama we saw in the highest decision-making body of the AAP was shameful," he says.   

"The Lokpal Admiral Ramdas has been called in all AAP meetings so far. But he was told specifically yesterday to stay away to avoid confrontation."

"Today, when I went to the meeting, slogans were being raised against me. A lot of national council members were removed at the meet," he adds.

Photograph: ANI/Twitter

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said his upcoming visit to France, Germany and Canada was aimed at boosting India's economy and creating jobs.

"My France, Germany & Canada visit is centered around supporting India's economic agenda & creating jobs for our youth," he tweeted ahead of his three-nation tour from April 9 to 16.

In the first leg of the tour, he will visit France. "Will discuss strengthening India-France economic co-operation & visit some high-tech industrial units outside Paris," Modi said in another tweet.

Talking about Germany, the second country of his visit, the PM said, "Chancellor (Angela) Merkel & I will jointly inaugurate @Hannover_Messe (festival) where India is a partner country."

He will be visiting Canada in the third and last leg of the eight-day tour. "Looking forward to enhancing ties with Canada & interacting with leaders, captains of industry & diaspora in Canada," he said.

Modi also re-tweeted a tweet of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper which said, "Happy to announce Prime Minister of India, @NarendraModi will be visiting Canada this spring." Thanking Harper for this, Modi wrote, "...Will be wonderful to meet you in Canada."

The Aam Aadmi Party party formally announces that Yogendra Yadav, Prashant Bhushan, Anand Kumar and Ajit Jha have been removed from the national executive.

There was vote through the show of hands and only eight people backed the the rebels. 247 people backed the resolution while 54 abstained from meeting, said AAP's Pankaj Gupta from the venue of the meet in New Delhi.

"The national council has taken an unanimous decision, 247 people have signed that resolution. The reports of scuffle during AAP NC meeting are completely baseless and untrue," said Sanjay Singh

Talking to the media after a dramatic meet, Aam Aadmi Party's Ahustosh, who is pro-Kejriwal, said, "Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan indulged in anti-party activities. They should respect the decision of the party. A secret ballot is not democratic and hence was not allowed at the meet."   

He denied claims of violence during the meet. "The allegations made by Bhushan and Yadav are hypocritical. The meeting was videographed and was peaceful," he said.  

There were goons at the Aam Aadmi Party meet who beat up supports of Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan, they allege after they were dropped from the party's national executive.

Yadav said, "Mayank Gandhi was dragged by bouncers during the meet and kicked. Arvind Kejriwal just pretended to he helpless and watched. He did not intervene."  

"The entire meet was a sham and our demand was discussion was not met. Kejriwal attacked Bhushan and me in his speech to the council," he added.

The AAP no longer stands united. There are two camps -- one supporting Arvind Kejriwal and the other supporting the rebel duo.

There is a split in the AAP's parliamentary party as well. Patiala Member of Parliament Dharm Vira Gandhi has decided to back Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan.

Gandhi, who is leader of the AAP parliamentary party, was heckled at the national council as he announced his support for the rebels, reports our Delhi correspondent.    

AAP has four MPs from Punjab -- Sangrur's Bhagwant Singh Maan, DV Gandhi, Harinder Singh Khalsa from Fategarh and Sadhu Singh from Faridkot. Insiders say all the four are disgruntled, however, two openly revolted against Arvind Kejriwal.

The resolution to expel rebel leaders Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan was supported by 280 national council members of the AAP. Eight opposed and 10 abstained from voting.

Sources say that AAP chief Kejriwal also did not vote.   

Apart from Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan,  Yadav's supporters Anand Kumar and Ajit Jha were also removed from the national executive.

"There was no neutral factor, Lokpal was absent, our voices were suppressed, we didn't get a chance to answer. They called MLAs but did not allow our party Lokpal, this was an illegal meeting," said Prashant Bhushan after the meet.

"What Arvind said yesterday in that sting that we should be kicked out, today we have literally been kicked out," he added.

"Sirf hangama hua hai, dhakka mukki hui hai, bogus voting hui hai, aur kuch nahii hua! It is a mockery of everything," said Yadav.
 
However, the party says that Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan will continue to remain primary members of AAP.

The Aam Aadmi Party national council has passed a resolution to sack founding members and rebel leaders Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan from the party's key panel.

The decision was taken at the party's national council meet, which was attended by AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal.

"Democracy has been killed. There was violence during the meeting and my colleague was attacked. The Lokpal was not allowed to attend the meet," Yadav said.

The internal rift within the party had widened after Yadav and Bhushan were accused of working for the party's defeat during the Delhi assembly polls last month. The party has also been rocked by a sting featuring an alleged telephonic conversation between Kejriwal and AAP leader Umesh Singh.

In their discussion, Kejriwal reportedly used strong language against Yadav and Bhushan and threatened to quit the AAP to launch a new party.

AAP's Kumar Vishwas, who is expected to chair the crucial party meet, amid all the chaos tweets along with this picture: Dear @imVkohli & @AnushkaSharma , luv to see the togetherness in this low. Well played. Stay together, stay happy! 

The all important national council meet has just begun. AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal is attending the meet and so are rebel leaders Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan.     

AAP rebel leader Yogendra Yadav has a change in mind. He has decided to attend the meeting that is expected to decide his fate.

But before entering the venue, he said, "Some members have been allowed now. I'm going inside and will try for others to be allowed or register my protest."

Earlier, Yadav had said that he would stand outside the venue till the last national council member is allowed in.

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal arrives at Kapashera where he's likely to address the national council but won't wait for vote. The AAP meet will be chaired by Kumar Vishwas after party Lokpal Ramdas was directed not to attend.

Meanwhile, AAP rebel leader Yogendra Yadav, whose fate is likely to be decided today, has refused to attend the meet. He is sitting on a dharna with AAP's NC members who he alleges have been denied entry to the venue.   

Chinese President Xi Jinping today said that China stands ready to sign treaties of friendship and cooperation with all its neighbours to provide strong support for the development of bilateral relations as well as prosperity and stability in the region.   

Treaties of friendship have been signed with eight neighbouring countries and Beijing is holding discussions with ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations), Xi said addressing the China sponsored Boao Forum for Asia annual conference held in the country's southern island of Hainan.   

"China stands ready to sign such a treaty with all its neighbours and to provide strong support for the bilateral relations as well as prosperity and stability in the region,"he said.   

Referring to an old Chinese proverb 'Close neighbours are better than distant relatives', Xi said that China is working actively to develop win-win cooperation with neighbours.   

About 15 world leaders, including Nepalese President Ram Baran Yadav and Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena attended the meeting.

Arvind Kejriwal's supporters raise slogans against Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan outside the venue for AAP's national council meeting.

AAP volunteers were seen outside the meeting with posters calling the rebel leaders traitors.

"A social movement was started for this? Look at these posters -- volunteers using words like 'gaddar, murdabad', is unfortunate," Yogendra Yadav said. 

AAP's Yogendra Yadav tweets this letter to Lokpal asking him not to attend today's meet where rebel leaders are likely to be sacked.     

As the Aam Aadmi Party meets today to decided the fate of its rebel leaders Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav, its Lokpal Ram Das has been asked to stay away.

It is a sad day for AAP. The Lokpal has been told not to attend the meeting. I received a call for Ram Das and he expressed his sadness," Yadav told the media.

AAP is expected to expel Yadav and Bhushan today. 

Just in: Two Naxals have been killed in an encounter with the CRPF in Dubiahi area of Latehar, Jharkhand. Search operations are underway. 

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena's youngest brother died today in hospital after being attacked by a man wielding an axe two days earlier, police said.

"Priyantha Sirisena died this morning in the hospital," police spokesman Ruwan Gnasekera said.

Priyantha, 40, a businessman, was attacked owing to a personal dispute on Thursday night in his hometown of Polonnaruwa, 215 kilometres north-east of the capital Colombo. He was airlifted to Colombo from Polonnaruwa on same night.

He was under intensive care for severe head injuries. His death came as the president was in China on a state visit. The attacker, a friend of the deceased, has been arrested and remanded till April 8, police said.

The war withing the Aam Aadmi Party appears to be taking one ugly turn after another and now its split looks imminent.

At the crucial national council meet today, the party is expected to expel senior party leaders Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan.

Ahead of today's meet Yadav said, "It is an important day for AAP today. The future of the party will be decided. In a battle with power, passion always wins." 

The situation worsened when another sting op last night showed Kejriwal using expletives against Yadav and Bhushan and even threatening to form a new party.

TV channels aired the conversation purportedly between Kejriwal and one Umesh Singh, a party worker, in which the AAP chief loses his cool and tells the worker to better go and work with Yadav and Bhushan.

Last afternoon, Yadav and Bhushan held an explosive presser in which they called the AAP chief a dictator.

  

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