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Sun, 29 March 2015
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20:53   Five dead, nine injured in explosion at firecracker unit in AP
At least five workers, mostly women, were killed and nine others injured in an explosion and subsequent blaze at a firecracker manufacturing unit in a village of Andhra Pradesh's Visakhapatnam district today, the police said. 

The incident occurred this evening at Gokulpadu village in Visakhapatnam district between 4:30 pm and 5 pm under S Rayavaram police station limits, district Superintendent of Police, K Pravin said.

"Five bodies were recovered from the spot. Nine others were injured, of which condition of four persons is critical," the SP told PTI over phone. 

Most of the deceased are women working at the unit, he said. The blaze soon spread to the adjoining areas, but fire engines were pressed into service which brought it under control, he said.
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20:30   Srikanth Kidambi beats Viktor Axelsen to win India Open
World No. 4 Srikanth, who had clinched the Swiss Open earlier this month, also made his second successive finals after prevailing over Chinese qualifier Xue Song 21-16 21-13 in a 42-minute match.

Second seed Srikanth unsurprisingly overcame Song to take a 2-1 lead in their head-to-head. He will take on Danish Viktor Axelsen in the final, whom the Indian defeated earlier this month in the Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold final at Basel in their only career meeting.

Read this story HERE
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20:07   Man held for jumping out from emergency exit door of flight in Mumbai
man for has been arrested for opening the emergency exit door of a Chandigarh-Mumbai flight and jumping off at the aircraft's wing while it had landed at the parking bay of Mumbai airport, police said today.

"We have arrested Akash Jain, 27, yesterday for endangering the life of other passengers and security of the aircraft," an official of Airport police station said.

The police said after he jumped from the flight (from the aircraft's wings), he straight away walked towards the exit of the airport. The police said that Jalandhar-based Jain fled from home with Rs 30,000.

Though first he had planned to go to Goa via Mumbai, later changed his plan on reaching Pune. It is also being probed that if he suffers from any mental ailment, they said.
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19:58   Avalanche warning issued in Kashmir
Authorities today issued an avalanche warning for seven districts of Kashmir division in view of incessant rainfall over the past 24 hours.

The warning was issued by Divisional Commissioner (Kashmir) for next 24 hours in avalanche prone areas of Kulgam, Pulwama, Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora, Ganderbal and Kargil districts, an official spokesman said.

The people living in these districts were advised not to venture in avalanche-prone areas during the next 24 hours, the spokesman said. "During heavy snowfall, people are advised not to occupy and temporarily evacuate those locations which are under fall line of avalanches," he said.
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19:52   Disappointed that AAP leadership did not inform me: L Ramdas
Admiral L Ramdas, who was today removed as the AAP's internal Lokpal, expressed disappointment that the party leadership took the step without informing him about the decision.

He said, in an informal meeting last month, the party had actually requested him to continue for additional five years. "It is with great surprise and sadness that I heard today from a reporter that the Aam Aadmi Party no longer requires my services as its internal Lokpal.

Various media reports have subsequently confirmed this news. "I am disappointed that the leadership of the party did not... inform me first before making this decision public. I still await their phone call," Ramdas said in a statement.

The AAP today removed Ramdas and Prashant Bhushan as the chief of n national disciplinary committee, a day after the latter and senior leader Yogendra Yadav were expelled from the national executive.
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19:25   Delhi Police forms women's groups to check eve teasing
In an initiative to boost confidence among women and instill a sense of fear among eve teasers, the Delhi police has launched a campaign in Delhi University where girls, trained in unarmed combat, will patrol crime-prone areas along with policewomen and catch anybody making nuisance.

"The campaign 'She to Shakti' was launched at the varsity's north campus. Girls will be patrolling in groups of 20 each. They have also been given especially designed khaki jackets with 'Shakti' written upon it," Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Madhur Verma told PTI.

"It was observed that women, if given a chance and a systematic platform, were willing to join hands with law enforcement machinery to contribute towards women safety," he said.
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18:40   BSF jawan hurt in pressure bomb blast in Chhattisgarh
A BSF jawan was injured when he accidentally stepped on a pressure bomb planted by naxals in Chhattisgarh's Kanker district today, police said.

The incident occurred between Sulangi and Siksod villages under Siksod police station limits this afternoon, Kanker DySP (Anti-Naxal operation) Jayant Vaishnav told PTI. On getting information that naxals had blocked Sulangi-Siksod Road by felling trees, a joint team of the Border Security Force and the district force was dispatched to the spot.

While sensitising the route, BSF constable Vinod Chauhan accidentally came in contact with the pressure bomb which exploded, Vaishnav said, adding that Chauhan sustained grievous injuries on his leg. After administering him first aid at a local hospital, Chauhan was subsequently airlifted to Raipur for further treatment, he added.
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18:10   'Al Qaeda discussed strategies to combat Climate Change, IPR'
Al Qaeda, responsible for numerous terror strikes across the globe, once discussed surprising agendas like combating climate change and intellectual property, newly-emerged documents and letters show.

A trove of documents that were among those seized in the 2011 raid on then Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, were presented recently during the trial of Pakistani national Abid Naseer at a Brooklyn court.

The documents, which consist of correspondence between Osama and senior Al Qaeda leaders, show the state of the global terror operation in the months leading up to his death.

They paint a picture of an organisation crippled by the US drone campaign, blindsided by the Arab Spring and struggling to maintain control over its affiliates and yet still chillingly resolute in its mission to strike the US.
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18:03   Beef ban is nothing but diversion from core issues: Congress
Terming the banning of beef in Maharashtra a diversion from core issues concerning people of the state, Congress today said the BJP-led government has shown its true colours after coming to power.

AICC General Secretary Mohan Prakash said that at a time when farmers are reeling under severe debt due to crop loss in the state, the Devendra Fadnavis government is concentrating on playing "unnecessary appeasement politics". 

"Instead of addressing core issues, the government is trying to divert the minds of people by banning beef which will really not help the state economy in any way. Their agenda is not to address the real problems. 

They have shown (their) true colours after coming to power," Prakash said. He was addressing a gathering at the inauguration of Congress leader Narayan Rane's election office ahead of the Kherwadi Assembly by-poll.
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18:02   Heavy rains cause flash floods in J-K`
Heavy rains pounded several areas of Kashmir damaging many houses and led to closure of Srinagar-Jammu national highway because of landslides with water level in Jhelum river also rising fast.

Heavy rains since yesterday has resulted in damage to at least 44 structures, including 18 houses, due to landslides in Chrar-e-Sharief area of Kashmir, officials said.

The rainfall has forced closure of the Srinagar-Jammu national highway due to landslides at some places, an official of the Traffic department said. He said the road was closed yesterday for repairs but fresh downpour has resulted in the arterial road remaining closed for the second day today. 

Although the water level in Jhelum was still four feet below the danger mark of 18 feet at Ram Munshi Bagh in the city, the rise of two feet in the past five hours has resulted in panic among the residents, the officials said.

Photograph courtesy: Twitter/ahmermkhan
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17:56   1,811 stone-pelters granted amnesty in J-K: govt
The Jammu and Kashmir government today said that 1811 stone pelters have been granted amnesty in the state.

Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said this in a written reply to a question of National Conference member Ali Mohammad Sagar in the Legislative Assembly. "1811 persons involved in stone pelting incidents have been granted amnesty under amnesty scheme 2011", he said. Sayeed further said that as on March 2015, 37 persons are detained under Public Safety Act in various jails.

Out of these, 17 are locals and 20 foreigners, he said, adding, of the 17 locals, two are local militants, four over- ground workers, three stone-pelters, five timber smugglers, two habitual criminals and one separatist. Eleven foreigners are in jails outside the state, he said, adding, it will not be feasible to disclose the particulars of prisoners alongwith other details keeping in view their security and security of their families.
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17:55   BBC chief gets death threats after Clarkson sacking
The chief of the BBC has reportedly received death threats after his decision to sack the network's popular motoring-show host Jeremy Clarkson, forcing the Scotland Yard to investigate the claims.

The metropolitan police said they were investigating the alleged death threats made to director-general Tony Hall by email on Wednesday.

Hall had announced that the contract of popular 'Top Gear' presenter Jeremy Clarkson with the network would not be renewed after he was involved in an alleged brawl with a producer.

"The police in Westminster are investigating an allegation of threats to kill. The allegation was reported to police on Wednesday, March 25," a police spokesperson said.

"The threat was made by email. Enquiries continue to establish from where the email was sent, although the content of the message suggests from outside the UK. No arrests have been made," the spokesperson added.

A BBC spokesperson said: "We wouldn't comment on security matters."
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17:40   No need to panic, govt monitoring rains: J&K Dy CM
Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh today assured there was no need to panic in the wake of heavy rains in the Kashmir, as the government was on full alert.

"The state administration is on full alert in the wake of heavy rains in the Valley. The situation is being monitored continuously," Singh informed the assembly after members from different parties raised the issue of the flood threat.

"People should not panic and assured that all precautionary measures have been put in place," he said. "

The Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed is on way to Srinagar to personally monitor the situation arising due to incessant rains in the Valley," an official spokesman said.

The deputy chief minister informed that the water level at 11 am at Sangam stood at 12 ft against danger level of 18 ft. At Ram Munshibagh, the water level was at 12.6 ft against alarm level of 16 ft, while at Asham it was 8.5 ft against alarm level of 30 feet, he said.
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16:51   Antidepressants found at home of Andreas Lubitz
German investigators found antidepressants in the apartment of Germanwings co-pilot Andreas Lubitz this week, according to news reports.

Die Welt, a German newspaper, cited an unidentified senior investigator who said that Lubitz suffered from a severe "psychosomatic illness" and that German police seized prescription drugs that treat the condition. 

Lubitz suffered from a "severe subjective burnout syndrome" and from severe depression, the source told Die Welt.
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15:46   5 militants killed in Pak's restive Balochistan
At least five suspected militants were killed today in a clash with Pakistani security forces in the country's restive Balochistan province, where a search operation is underway following a recent attack on oil tankers.

Six others were also injured besides the five militants killed during a search operation in Mastung area of the province, said Khan Wasay, a spokesman for the Frontier Corps. 

The forces were backed by helicopters from the interior ministry during the search operation that was launched after five oil tankers carrying fuel for a Chinese company working on the Saindak Project in Balochistan's Chaghi district were set ablaze on Monday.

The attackers, suspected to be Baloch separatist militants, also kidnapped four drivers of the oil tankers.

"The militants who have been killed or injured were carrying out terrorist attacks in the area and recently torched five oil tankers carrying fuel for the Saindak project in the area," Wasay said.
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15:29   Azam Khan 'gifts' broom, pen to MLAs; taunts Modi
UP minister Azam Khan, known for his frequent barbs against the Prime Minister, surprised MLAs from all parties with unusual 'gifts' of a broom and a pen along with a letter asking them to decide which among the two can take on the evils in the society.

"I am giving two gifts (pen and broom). You all should decide which one could eradicate sins in the society and which reminds you that you can not treat the society only by slogans," he said.

Khan's gift is seen as a covert attak on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has given slogan for 'Swacch Bharat Abhiyan'. The minister, earlier during the session, had attacked the PM on the issue by saying that he had given broom in people's hand and took away pen from them.
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15:23   Dornier crash: Lt Shekhawat cremated with full honours
Mortal remains of Lt Kiran Shekhawat, the woman officer who died in the line of duty, was today consigned to flames with full military honours in Kurthala village.

Commoners and political leaders, cutting across party lines paid their homage to the departed soul.

Accompanied by the navy officials, the body of the young officer was brought here wrapped around in a tricolour. Besides the family members of the officer, local villagers, officials of the civil and police administration, former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, BJP leader Rao Narbir Singh and Indian National Lok Dal party's area MLA Zakir Hussain, were among others to offered homage to the deceased officer.
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15:05   Athawale invites AAP dissidents Yadav, Bhushan to join RPI
Terming the ouster of Aam Aadmi Party's founding members Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav from AAP's national executive as "unjust", RPI-A chief Ramdas Athawale today invited the duo to join his party. 

"Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav had a key role to play in the magnificent victory of Aam Aadmi Party in the Delhi Assembly polls. Removing them from the party's national executive is an injustice to them. I invite them to come and be a part of the RPI," Athawale told reporters. T

The RPI is founded on the principles of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, and thus, is party of the common man, the Rajya Sabha MP said. Bhushan and Yadav were removed from AAP's national executive yesterday for their 'anti-party activities', a decision termed as a "murder of democracy" by them.
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15:03   Bieber sued by Toronto Uber driver for alleged 2013 assault
Justin Bieber has been sued by the Toronto SUV limousine driver that alleged the pop star punched him in the head repeatedly back in December 2013.

The driver, Abdul Mohar, is asking for $850,000 in damages, and seeking a court order preventing Bieber, 21, from coming within 100 meters of him, according to documents filed in Toronto. Mohar, 34, said after picking up a group of six men via transportation app Uber on December 30, 2013 in Toronto, a man he later identified as Bieber punched him in the head because he refused to turn the limo's music up louder.

In a statement to the Toronto Star, Mohar claims Bieber punched him "very hard" after climbing into the front seats and turning the stereo's music to full volume.

Bieber's lawyer, Brian Greenspan, called the lawsuit against his client "totally without merit."
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14:42   UP civil services prelims paper allegedly leaked, probe on
The question paper of Uttar Pradesh Provincial Civil Services preliminary examination was today allegedly leaked on WhatsApp messenger before the start of the examination after which police swung into action.

"The paper was leaked at about 9.15 am on WhatsApp before start of the examination. It has matched with the original paper of PCS preliminary. We have informed the Chief Minister and Chief Secretary in this regard," Director General of Police A K Jain told reporters. 

He said that police has got initial leads in the case. "STF teams are working on it and we will soon workout the paper leak," Jain said.
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14:27  
Admiral Ramdass has also been removed from post of internal Lokpal.
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14:01   Prashant Bhushan removed from AAP's national disciplinary committee
Aam Aadmi Party founding members Prashant Bhushan has been removed from the national disciplinary committee. The party has appointed Dinesh Vaghela, a tea vendor from Gujarat the new head.

More details are awaited.
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13:50   Keralites stranded in Yemen seek help
A group of stranded Keralites in strife-torn Yemen has desperately sought help from Indian authorities for their evacuation from that country. 

Talking to a Malayalam news channel today from Sana'a, a person, identified as Jido, said a group of 60 persons including women and children were now staying in a flat in great fear and anxiety as frequent explosions and gun battles were occurring in and around the area.

"No one has gone out of the flat for the past five days. We are living here in fear. Anything can happen, we want urgent steps from authorities to rescue us from here," Jido said.

"Our food stock and water may last for two more days," he said, adding, "power supply is on now, but we do not know when it will stop."
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13:14   Physicist Stephen Hawking to trademark his name
World-renowned British physicist Stephen Hawking is set to trademark his name, joining the ranks of celebrities such as JK Rowling and David Beckham who have turned their names into brands.  

Hawking, 73, has applied to the Intellectual Property Office to have his name formally registered, while another English physicist, Brian Cox, has already made the move.

For Hawking, whose fame was recently boosted by the Oscar-winning success of the film 'The Theory of Everything', the primary aim is to prevent others from exploiting his name with inappropriate products.
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13:06   Jolie wins favourite villain trophy at Kids' Choice Awards
Actress-director Angelina Jolie has bagged the favourite villain trophy for her fearsome portrayal of a witch in Disney's "Maleficent" at the 28th Kids' Choice Awards. Jolie, 39, beat, Cameron Diaz ("Annie"), Donald Sutherland ("The Hunger Games"), Jamie Foxx ("The Amazing Spider-Man 2"), Lee Pace ("Guardians of the Galaxy") and Meryl Streep ("Into The Woods") to receive the award.

The actress was also the executive produce of the movie. Nick Jonas, who hosted the event, has won the best singer (male) award and Selena Gomez bagged the best female singer trophy, said The Hollywood Reporter.

"Dance Moms" has been declared the favourite reality show, while "The Voice" has got the honour of the favourite talent competition show.

Image: Actress Angelina Jolie touches a jet of slime as she walks on stage to accept the Best Villain Award at the 2015 Kids' Choice Awards in Los Angeles. Photograph: Mario Anzuoni/Reuters
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12:50   Rahul to be named to Cong top post by May?
Rahul Gandhi, who Congress chief Sonia Gandhi said will be "back soon" from his sabbatical, could replace his mother in the top party post as early as May.

The possibility of a meeting in May of the Congress Working Committee as also of the AICC either in Delhi or in party-ruled Himachal Pradesh or Uttarakhand is being talked about for that purpose with senior leaders saying the issue of the Congress chief's post will gain momentum after the return of Rahul, the party's vice president.

Amid a raging debate over Rahul's prolonged absence, Congress on March 26 came out with the schedule for its organisational elections under which the next party chief would be elected by September 30.

Party leaders insist that after his return likely next month from leave, Rahul is expected to take a call on when to assume the party chief's post. They added that the earlier he does it, the better it will be.
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12:20   AAP releases video of Kejriwal's speech at controversial meet
The AAP today released a 45 minute video of party chief Arvind Kejriwal's speech that he delivered at Saturday's National Council meeting, which saw the expulsion of Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav from a key party panel.

Read the story HERE
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11:55   What was in the mind of Andreas Lubitz?
As relatives and friends mourn the loss of their loved ones aboard Germanwings Flight 9525, the world community is stunned by the sequence of events that led to co-pilot Andreas Lubitz purposely crashing the plane into the French Alps, killing all 150 people on board.

Read this article HERE
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11:46   Modi discusses bilateral initiatives with Singapore leaders
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today met Singapore leaders and conveyed his condolences while underlining the importance of taking forward the initiatives in India inspired by late Lee Kuan Yew.

Modi, who arrived this morning to attend the State Funeral Services of Lee who died at the age of 91, met Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam today.

"Apart from conveying condolences, they discussed the prospects that in tune with the vision of late Lee India and Singapore can work together further," External Affairs Ministry spokesman Syen Akbaruddin told reporters. 

"Prime Minster Modi said two of his own projects, namely the public housing and Swatch Bharat projects, were inspired by Lee Kuan Yew's own efforts in Singapore," Akbaruddin said, adding that PM wished that India and Singapore can cooperate on these projects.
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11:41   Muzaffarnagar riots: SIT completes probe in 503 of 510 cases
The SIT probing the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots has completed its investigation in all cases except in seven, including one against BJP MLA Sangit Som.

The Special Investigation Team has completed its investigation in 503 cases out of 510, Additional Superintendent SIT, Manoj Jha said. The investigation in the remaining seven cases has not yet been completed as the SIT has not received technical reports sought from a laboratory, regarding those cases.

The pending cases include one against BJP MLA Sangeet Som, who was accused of uploading a video which reportedly sparked communal tension in the district and neighbouring areas. 1,481 accused who were found involved in the riots have been arrested, including 25 persons accused in six gang rape cases.
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11:30   Mizo govt vows firm action; Funeral held for slain policemen
The Mizoram government today vowed to take firm action against Hmar People's Convention-Democrats as a funeral was held here with full police honours for the three Mizoram policemen gunned down by suspected extremists of the Manipur-based outfit in an ambush yesterday.

Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla, his cabinet colleagues, legislators, chief secretary Lalmalsawma and senior officials paid their last respects by laying wreaths on the coffins of the slain policemen -- Sub Inspector Zoramthara Khawlhring, Constable Hmangaihmawia and driver Chuailova.

Lal Thanhawla said that the state government would give appropriate reply to the challenge thrown by the HPC-D which had ambushed the team of legislators and the guards.
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11:08   India deeply valued Lee's friendship and his support: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi o0mn Sunday lauded Singapore's founder and first premier Lee Kuan Yew as a 'global thinker' and said India deeply valued his friendship and his support for its economic progress.

Modi, who arrived in Singapore on Sunday morning to attend the state funeral services of Lee, said the former Singapore prime minister was 'among the tallest leaders of our times'.

Lee, 91, died of severe pneumonia on March 23.   Noting that Singapore's transformation in one generation is a tribute to Lee's leadership, Modi said his death marks the end of an era.

"He inspired not just Southeast Asia, but all of Asia, to believe in its own destiny," he said.

Image: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Singapore. Photograph: MEA
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10:55   BSF foils infiltration bid in J&K's Samba and Kathua district
Two separate infiltration bids by militants on the international border in Samba and Kathua districts of Jammu and Kashmir were foiled by the Border Security Force troops in the wee hours of Wednesday morning.

"BSF troops noticed suspicious movement alongside two border outposts early Wednesday morning on the IB in Samba and Kathua area. Troops fired at the insurgents forcing them to retreat back,' an army source said.

After the terror attacks on a police station in Kathua and an army camp in Samba districts last week authorities have maintained a high alert in the area. 
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00:15   Meredith Kercher's mother 'very shocked' by Amanda Knox decision
The mother of the murdered British exchange student who shared an apartment with Amanda Knox said Saturday she is "very shocked" that Italy's highest court overturned convictions against Knox and her ex-boyfriend.

Meredith Kercher's mother, Arline Kercher, told the United Kingdom's Press Association that she hadn't heard details about Friday's verdict but that she was "a bit surprised, and very shocked, but that is about it at the moment."
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00:10   Bombing in Yemen intensifies; Arab League to discuss military operation
In just a few weeks' time, good relations with neighbors have become a matter of survival for Yemen's President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi.

On Saturday, he rallied regional allies in Egypt, while they bombarded his enemies in his country.

After Houthi rebels occupied the capital Sanaa weeks ago, Hadi's government fled. When the President called for military intervention to beat back their attempt to overthrow him, adjacent countries answered this week with a grand airstrike operation.
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00:09   Nigeria election: Partial extension of voting to Sunday
Elections in parts of Nigeria have been extended until Sunday after delays and a number of attacks.

The delays were "not widespread" but were still "a matter of concern", an election official told the BBC.

Technical problems with new biometric cards slowed down voter registration, even affecting President Goodluck Jonathan.More than 20 people have reportedly been killed in various attacks by unknown gunmen.
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00:04   Delhi Police seizes haul of arms, ammunition from UP
Delhi Police seized 25 rifles and 5,975 cartridges during its raids at a gun house in Etah district of Uttar Pradesh as part of its probe into alleged pilferage of legitimate firearms and ammunition to criminals. 

On March 22, Special Cell had busted a gang involved in largescale diversion and illegal supply of legitimate factory-made weapons to criminals.
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00:03   23 'beheaded' in NE Nigeria on eve of election: lawmaker, nurse
Suspected Boko Haram gunmen beheaded 23 people and set fire to homes in Buratai, northeast Nigeria, on the eve of today's general elections, a federal lawmaker representing the area said. 

"There was an attack on Buratai late Friday by gunmen suspected to be insurgents....They beheaded 23 people and set homes on fire," said Mohammed Adamu, who represents the town some 200 kilometres from Borno's capital Maiduguri.

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