LIVE! Nitish dubs Modi as autocrat, says PM and Shah are rattled

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Sun, 25 October 2015

Nitish dubs Modi as autocrat, says PM and Shah are rattled

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20:51 13 injured as car crashes into nightclub in UK

Thirteen people, including six women were injured when a car crashed into a smoking area outside a nightclub in UK today and police have arrested a man on suspicion of drink-driving and dangerous driving.

An Audi A4 hit the area outside Streets nightclub, in Porthcawl, Bridgend county in South East Wales, early morning. The injured were aged between 17 and 43, with nine taken to hospital in Bridgend and four to Swansea - most with leg injuries. A 24-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of drink driving and dangerous driving, the BBC reported.

An 18-year-old woman is helping South Wales Police with their inquiries. Both have been taken to Bridgend police station. It is understood that seven men and six women in total were injured. Rachel Jones, 17, said her friends were injured in the incident and were undergoing surgery.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will unveil the statue of 12th century Indian philosopher Basaveshwara, who was one of the pioneers of the idea of democracy, during his UK visit next month.

Modi, who is travelling to the UK in the second week of November, will unveil the statue on November 14, 2015, on the banks of River Thames in the London Borough of Lambeth. Former Mayor of London Borough of Lambeth, Neeraj Patil, the architect behind the statue had met the Prime Minister on March 24, 2015, and extended an invitation on behalf of the British Indian community to unveil the statue during his visit to London.

The Prime Ministers' Office accepted his invitation. Prime Minister Modi, during his radio talk 'Mann ki Baat' today, said he was honoured to be unveiling the statue of Basaveshwara during his visit to London.

Sanitation workers unions today decided to call off their three-day-old strike following an assurance from Delhi Government, even as a section of workers said that they will continue their protest till all their demands are met by the authorities.

"We have decided to call off the strike after a meeting with Delhi Minister Sandeep Kumar who assured us that the government will give the remaining portion of grant for this financial year in December. "The decision to call off strike was also taken in view of the approaching Diwali festival," Sanjay Gehlot, president of Swatantra Mazdoor Vikas Sanyukt Morcha, said. Claiming that the Morcha represented 27 unions of MCD sanitation workers, Gehlot said the meeting was held after the strikers dumped garbage in front of the residence of Delhi Assembly Deputy Speaker Ram Niwas Goyal and burnt effigy of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

A senior government official said that the Delhi government will release the remaining portion of its annual grant to MCDs in December although it is payable in March next year. The government will also make efforts for payme

Hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi slammed the leaders of secular alliance accusing it of pursuing regressive agenda with "18th century mindset," Chief Minister Nitish Kumar hit back dubbing Modi an "autocrat" and said he and BJP chief Amit Shah have been rattled by feedback of an imminent defeat in the Bihar Assembly polls.

"The people of Bihar have made Shah and the autocrat (Modi) realise the power of democratic forces in this election... they have been rattled by an imminent defeat," Kumar said in a tweet. Addressing a series of election rallies, the Prime Minister today painted Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad as leaders with regressive agenda and with "18th century mindset," attacking the Bihar Chief Minister over the 'tantrik' controversy and said the RJD chief was leading the "Rashtriya Jadu Tona" party.

Kumar yesterday courted controversy as a video of his meeting with a 'tantrik' went viral in which the tantrik was heard asking the JD-U leader why he had teamed up with Prasad.

19:38 V K Singh shown black flags over Dalit remarks

Union Minister V K Singh, who kicked up a controversy by his remarks on the Faridabad Dalit burning incident, today refused to speak on the subject during the release of a book penned by him, as the Leftists staged protests and showed black flags against him.

"I will speak only about the book and the weather," Singh said when reporters tried to ask him questions on the incident on the sidelines of the release of the Hindi version of his book 'Courage and Conviction', named 'Sahash aur Sankalp' by West Bengal Governor K N Tripathi at the Raj Bhawan here.

Governor Tripathi, a former Speaker of the Uttar Pradesh assembly, was all praise for Singh and claimed that the former army chief had thought about the welfare of all irrespective of rank and position.

Singh was greeted with protests and shown black flags by Left Front supporters at different places over his comments since his arrival in the city for the book release.

A group of around 60 protesters waved black flags in front of the Raj Bhavan south gate and shouted slogans of "V K Singh go back" a short while before the book release function in the afternoon.

Nepal's new president will be elected in parliment on Wednesday after political parties failed to come up with a consensus candidate. With the promulgation of the Constitution on September 20, it was required to elect a new president within a month of the commencement of the Parliament session.

As per the schedule finalised by parliament, the political parties were given a deadline till today to come up with consensus candidates for the posts of president and vice president.

However, with political parties failing to come up with consensus candidates, the election for the new president and vice president will take place on Wednesday, officials said. Incumbent president Ram Baran Yadav was elected as the first president of Nepal in 2008 after the country was declared a republic.

Candidates for the post of president will have to register by Tuesday afternoon.

19:11 China tightens rules for film ticket sales

China's film watchdog will take strict action against box office frauds to improve management of cinema ticket sales in the the world's second largest movie market after Hollywood.

The State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television said more technical measures along with strict regulations will be issued to improve management of cinema ticket sales which also include blacklisting of wrongdoers and publish their names.

Reacting to reports that domestic movies are inflating box office figures, Li Dong, deputy head of SARFT movie fund commission, admitted that problems exist in ticket sales. "Statistics from the nation digital ticketing platform show that a few cinemas and distributors have manipulated viewing figures and sales.

For example 300 tickets may be sold in a hall of 200 seats and all tickets sold are counted at full price," Li told state run CCTV.

In a new twist to Aarushi-Hemraj murder case, it has emerged that CBI does not have complete raw footage of narco-analysis conducted on Krishna, assistant of Rajesh Talwar, in its records. A new video purportedly of the test conducted on Krishna has surfaced on social networking site YouTube which is 58.55- minute long.

CBI sources claimed the agency, in its records, has only about 45 minutes of video of the test conducted on Krishna at Forensic Science Laboratory, Bangalore. A source, who had been privy to the probe, said the new footage on social media appeared to be genuine.

The narco tests were conducted on servants, including Krishna, by the first team of CBI under the then Joint Director Arun Kumar which suspected their involvement but could not produce any legally admissible evidence against them.

The new video which has been posted on the YouTube on October 22 has a length of 58.55 minutes with the person, who posted the video, claiming that another part will be made public soon.

Four persons, including an Indian MBA student, were killed and 47 others injured in a horrific car crash in the US when a suspected drunk woman driver rammed into a large crowd during a homecoming parade of a top university in Oklahoma.

Three adults were pronounced dead at the scene, while the fourth victim, a two-year-old boy, died from his injuries at a hospital, according to a Stillwater police statement.

Nikita Nakal, 23, of Mumbai was identified as among the victims of the accident yesterday by University of Central Oklahoma President Don Betz.

Authorities identified the driver as 25-year-old Adacia Avery Chambers, who was taken into custody on suspicion of driving while under the influence of alcohol. Chambers drove through barricades set up for the Oklahoma State University's homecoming parade before she crashed into the crowd, police said.

In a sudden move, Punjab police chief Sumedh Singh Saini was today shunted out by the state government which is under intense attack over handling of the situation arising out of desecration of Sikh holy book even protests over the issue were on the decline.

Suresh Arora, a 1982-batch IPS officer who was serving as chief director of Vigilance Bureau, was appointed as the new director general of police in place of Saini who was shifted as director housing corporation, an official spokesman said.

Arora had played a crucial role in fighting terrorism and was posted as the SP (headquarters), Amritsar, during Operation Black Thunder I, and as SSP Amritsar at the time of Operation Black Thunder II.

Saini was believed to be close to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and Congress and most of the Sikh organisations were against his holding the post of the DGP.

India discard Manoj Tiwary, who was involved in an ugly on-field altercation with Gautam Gambhir in a Ranji Trophy match, today claimed that the Delhi skipper had made racist remarks about former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly and Bengalis.

"He made racist remarks about Sourav Ganguly and Bengalis. I spoke to Sourav Ganguly and he is very upset that his name has been dragged in the matter. We will never accept anything against Sourav Ganguly," Tiwary said. "Gautam Gambhir is not saying the truth. If I had done what Gambhir is saying why have I been fined 40 percent and him 70 percent," the Bengal cricketer added.

Gambhir and Tiwary had nearly came to blows on Day 3 of the Ranji Trophy match between Delhi and Bengal at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium here yesterday and umpire K Srikanth had to step in to defuse the situation.

In an effort to reach out to the Dalits, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today invoked B R Ambedkar in the context of his upcoming trip to Britain,saying he was excited about it as he would be visiting the Dalit icon's house there. "A day after Diwali (November 11), I am going to Britain. ... I am excited about my visit to Britain and the reason for it is special. A few weeks back, I had gone to Mumbai to lay foundation stone for a big memorial for Ambedkar.... "Now, in London, I will formally inaugurate the house where Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar lived, which recently became Indian government's property and a place of inspiration for 125 crore Indians," he said.

On his first visit to Britain, Modi is expected to have a two-day stay there before travelling to Turkey to attend the G-20 Summit. During his visit to Britain, he will hold talks with Prime Minister David Cameron and meet other leaders besides addressing the Indian diaspora at Wembley stadium. He noted that the issue related to acquisition of 'Ambedkar House' had been entangled for several years and now it is the property of 125 crore Indians.

17:13 Egypt's Sisi on maiden India visit this week

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi will visit India for the first time this week to attend the third India-Africa Forum Summit to boost bilateral ties and invite increased investment, especially in the new, ambitious Suez Canal project. Sisi appreciates the close historical bilateral relations between the two countries.

Both countries are interested in developing the relations and build on it, presidential spokesperson Alaa Youssef said late yesterday. "Egypt's participation in the Summit is to highlight its leading role in Africa and internationally.

It also highlights Egypt's keenness on boosting relations with Africa and India," Youssef said, adding that the president will start his trip on Tuesday by visiting the UAE, India and Bahrain. "The summit will discuss ways to develop the economic cooperation between India and Africa and enhancing the investments exchange as India became one of the best commercial partners to Africa," he added.

During his maiden visit to India, Egypt's former army chief Field Marshal Sisi will meet President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and a number of officials and businessmen.

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitleyon Sunday said that the Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who at a point was fighting against 'jungle raj' (lawlessness) in Bihar, is now sitting in the lap of Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and aiding it.

"Nitish was fighting against jungle raj in Bihar for so many years and now he is sitting in the lap of the founder of 'jungle raj'. It is very clear that the dominant force in the Mahagathbandhan is the RJD. Nitish Kumar and the JD (U) are the grand alliance's mask. Both (Nitish and Lalu) ruled Bihar for twenty-five years. But today also the Biharis are moving out of the state in search of opportunities," Jaitley told the media.

Two helicopters will be deployed round-the-clock as part of security arrangement during the four-day India-Africa Forum Summit starting tomorrow, which will be attended by the heads of 54 African states. While one chopper will be dedicated to surveillance, the other will be for handling contingencies.

The helicopters will be provided by Indian Air Force, said Joint Commissioner of Police (Security) T S Luthra.

However, no helicams or unmanned aerial devices shall be used for surveillance during the period. A separate control room has been set up to monitor central venue, Indira Gandhi Stadium, and the VVIP routes, Luthra said.

Around 200 CCTV cameras have been installed at the venue and 300 more in central Delhi areas including ITO, Delhi Secretariat, Raj Ghat and all areas in the vicinity of Indira Gandhi Stadium, the main venue for the summit, he said.

A mother, who slapped her four-year- old daughter in public has been arrested and cautioned even as authorities placed the child on social care, British media reported.

The child was taken away from the 35-year-old mother who slapped her, then swore at and pushed a woman who intervened. The mother was at Derby Bus Station on Wednesday evening when she was seen slapping the child. Police initially arrested the mother on suspicion of common assault, interviewed her and gave her two cautions.

The Derbyshire police said the child was now being looked after by social care. It is legal for a parent to physically punish a child in the UK if the punishment is "reasonable".

However, the Children Act 2004 removed the defence of "reasonable chastisement" in England and Wales for any punishment towards a child that leads to bruising, swelling, cuts, grazes or scratches, the BBC reported.

The UN has expressed concern over continued blockade of a key border trade point with India that has impeded supply of essential goods to the earthquake survivors in the Himalayan region of Nepal ahead of the winters.

The landlocked country is reeling under acute shortage of fuel due to the blockade that has continued for over a month now and hit supplies of commodities like cooking gas.

"When faced with tough challenges like the monsoon season, landslides and difficult terrain, we are proud of how we have been able to support the Government and people of Nepal and respond to the challenges overall, said Jamie McGoldrick," Jamie Mcgoldrick, UN Resident Representative and Coordinator in Nepal, adding: "But present conditions are a concern." "Since the end of September, fuel in short supply has impeded progress."

15:08 Two villagers injured in Pak firing at IB

Mukhtar Ahmad/Rediff.com reports: Two villagers were injured in the continuing Pakistan firing in the Samba sector of the international border in the Jammu region on Sunday.A senior Border Security Force officer said Pakistan resorted to heavy firing and shelling in the Samba sector on Saturday night.

"The firing started around 9 p.m. and continued through the night till 5 a.m. The firing was, however, restricted in Samba sector only.

He said that while 'it caused no loss of life or material on our side, two civilians were injured in the firing who were evacuated to hospital for treatment'.The officer said that the BSF retaliated effectively.

"Mortar fire was also exchanged,' he added. The firing has triggered panic and tension in the villages along the IB.

Minister for Industries and Commerce, Chander Prakash Ganga visited the villages hit by cross border firing to assess the damage.While interacting with affected families, the minister assured them all necessary help from the government and directed civil administration and police to be vigilant in the said areas and immediately respond at times of border shelling.

He also directed concerned officers to remain present in their respective jurisdictions to deal with any emergency situation and for prompt action.

Ganga asked people to remain vigilant and also advised the villagers to stay indoors and at safer places during cross border shelling. The local residents demanded construction of bunkers in the border villages.

MIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi has been denied permission to hold a rally here tomorrow for a civic by-election by Pune police, citing possibility of a law and order problem. Owaisi was scheduled to address a rally in support of his party's candidate Mazhar Maniyar for the Kondhwa by-poll to be held here on November 1.

The Kondhwa police, in a communication to the organisers said the permission to address a rally was denied as there was a possibility of Owaisi's speech causing communal tension in the city.

All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen city unit leader Azhar Tamboli, who had filed an application seeking permission for the Telangana MLA's public rally, has criticised the police's decision to disallow it, saying it amounted to violation of freedom of speech and right to campaign.

Venting his exasperation for not being able to campaign during the Assembly polls underway in Bihar, disgruntled BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha today said that his absence on the campaign trail was "not by choice".

"My party workers, friends, supporters and well-wishers, wonder why I am not seen on campaign trail....I assure them it is not by choice," he said in a series of tweets three days ahead of third phase of assembly polls, that includes six assembly constituencies under Patna Sahib Lok Sabha seat which he represents.

Sinha, who has had an uneasy relationship with the state unit BJP leaders for years, blamed some "insecure" local leaders for being instrumental in keeping him "out" of campaigning for the party by feeding misinformation to the top leadership.

"(I have) Been kept out, thanks to insecure local leaders who we know very well....who have fed matter of convenience stories to the party leaders," he said, but refused to name those leaders who had worked against him.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today made a scathing attack on RJD chief Lalu Prasad on his home turf, calling him a "tantrik" (occultist) and his party "Rashtriya Jadu Tona Party" as he reached out to the youth and weaker sections, promising a six-point programme for the state's development.

Amid indications that the caste and reservation debate dominating the polls scenario here could be detrimental to NDA's prospects, the prime minister raised the development pitch promising "bijli-paani-sadak" (electricity, road and water) and "kamai, padhai, and dawai" (earning, education and medicines) for each family in the state. Blaming "Bade bhaai (Lalu) and Chhote Bhaai (Nitish Kumar) for problems plaguing the state, Modi insisted that the only plank NDA has is of "development".

Hitting back at the grand alliance's "Bihari versus Bahari (Bihari versus outsider)" barb to attack BJP, which is fighting the polls under the leadership of Modi and Amit Shah, the Prime Minister took up the issues of migration and unemployment among youths.

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has apologised for aspects of the Iraq war and admitted that the conflict played a role in the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

According to the Guardian, Blair's apology has sparked claims of attempted "spin" before the Chilcot inquiry findings.

Blair expressed regret over the failure to plan properly for the aftermath of the toppling in 2003 of Saddam Hussein and the false intelligence used to justify it.

When asked if the Iraq war was the main cause of the rise of ISIS, Blair said that there were "elements" of truth in the statement.

He admitted that those who removed Saddam in 2003 bore some responsibility for the situation on 2015.

13:42

In a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his alleged failure to deliver on his election promises, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said the PM had made 'tactical silence' as a weapon of choce which was in stark contrast to his "unmatched theatrics and rhetoric by using unsubstantiated facts".

"Modiji was always unmatched in theatrics, rhetoric and using unsubstantiated facts. Now tactical silence is his new weapon of choice," Kumar said in a series of tweets ahead of Modi's rallies in Bihar today.

"The saga continues, so let us brace ourselves for a repeat performance in Bihar," he said, alluding to Modi's rhetorical skills.

Kumar questioned Modi for his silence on promises like bringing back black money from abroad, hike in MSP for farmers, employment for youths, special status for Bihar among others and charged the Prime Minister with conveniently forgetting all those pomises made during the general elections last year.

13:24 Telugu actor Mada Venkateswara Rao passes away

Veteran Telugu actor Mada Venkateswara Rao died here after a brief illness. He was 65. The actor, known for his comedy roles, passed away after undergoing treatment for a brief period at a private hospital here last night, family members said.

Born in 1950, Mada shot to fame with his role as an eunuch in film "Chillara Kottu Chittemma", directed by Dasari Narayana Rao in 1977. The noted comedian has acted in over 300 films, including some films of other regional languages.

He was popular for his roles in films like "Muthyala Muggu", "Lambadolla Ram Das", "Mayadari Malligadu". Before venturing into films, Mada worked as an engineer in the state electricity department.

13:18 Normalcy returns in Kashmir after three days

Life returned to normal in all parts of Kashmir after three days of curfew-like restrictions in some parts of the city over protests against the death of Udhampur petrol bomb attack victim.

Restrictions on the movement of people were lifted from the six police station areas of the city -- Rainawari, Safakadal, Maharajgunj, Nowhatta, Khanyar and Maisuma -- after three days, a police official said.

"The shops have opened across the valley while transport is also plying normally," the official said.

He said house arrest restrictions on all separatist leaders, except Syed Ali Shah Geelani, have been lifted while JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik who was lodged at police station Kothibagh for past three days, has been released. The vendors have set up their stalls at the weekly flea market, popularly known as Sunday market, despite rainfall since yesterday.

12:56

"I want to ask 'loktantrik' (democratic) Nitish ji and Lalu ji, who claims to be the biggest 'tantrik' of India, that who forced the youth of Bihar to become 'bahari' (outsider)? You trampled Bihar during your rule but the youth have finally woken up to your lies," the prime minister said.

12:53 Lalu claims to be India's biggest 'tantrik': Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday attacked the duo of Lalu and Nitish saying the 'brothers' were single-handedly responsible for trampling Bihar's development and warned them that their 'days are over'.

The prime minister blamed Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Rashtriya Janata (Dal) supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav for destroying the prospects of the youth of Bihar which was forcing them to leave the state.

12:09 PM Modi Addresses Rally in Bihar's Chhapra

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is addressing first of his four rallies in Bihar today in Chhapra.

"This election will bring double joy to the entire nation. Bihar will celebrate two Diwalis this year. First one on November 8. I have come here to seek blessings from people of Bihar after Dussehra," he says.

Geeta, the deaf-mute Indian woman living in Pakistan after accidentally crossing the border over a decade ago, will return home tomorrow with both governments completing all formalities.

Geeta was reportedly just 7 or 8 years old when she was found sitting alone on the Samjhauta Express by the Pakistan Rangers 15 years ago at the Lahore railway station. Geeta, now 23, was adopted by the Edhi Foundation's Bilquees Edhi and lives with her in Karachi. Fahad Edhi of the Edhi Foundation told PTI that Geeta would leave by a PIA flight tomorrow morning at 8 am for New Delhi.

"She will be accompanied by me, my father Faisal Edhi, my mother and my grandmother Bilqees Edhi," Fahad said. He said they had got assurances that they would remain in New Delhi until Indian authorities completed DNA tests to confirm the parentage of Geeta.

"We are going with her because she recognised the family in the photograph sent to us by the Indian high commission as her family. But the DNA tests will confirm this," Fahad said. He said Indian authorities had assured them that if the DNA tests came negative Geeta would be placed in safe custody.

"She has been with us for so many years, she is like a family member and we would like her to stay with us. But obviously she wants to be in her country and with her real family," he said.

11:55

Modi had invited ideas from the people for the 13th edition of his radio programme.

"Have an idea for Mann Ki Baat programme this Sunday? Share it on the MyGov Open Forum,' the prime minister had tweeted.

11:43 Titanic lifeboat biscuit sells for 15,000 pounds at auction

The "world's most valuable biscuit" which survived the sinking of the Titanic more than a century ago, has been sold at auction for 15,000 pounds, fetching more than 5000 pounds then the expected price.

The cracker- was found by James and Mabel Fenwick, who were passengers on board the SS Carpathia, which went to the aid of survivors from the ship. It is understood a Greek company bought it at the auction held at Henry Aldridge & Son in Devizes, Wiltshire. Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge said the Spillers and Bakers Pilot cracker, from a survival kit in a lifeboat, was "the world's most valuable biscuit", BBC reported.

The Spillers & Bakers "Pilot" biscuit was kept as a souvenir by Fenwick in an envelope with a note, "Pilot biscuit from Titanic lifeboat April 1912." Also, a photograph purporting to show the iceberg that sank the ill-fated liner sold at the same auction for 21,000 pounds.

The picture was taken by a steward on another ship which passed the iceberg.

11:18

PM is talking about organ donation.

"A student from Kerala was called by AIR and she shared her feedback on Mann Ki Baat. This is inspiring and other Kendras must try to do same," he says.

"Some girls from Kerala asked me to talk about organ donation. Devesh from Delhi called and shared the same sentiment. Organ donation is an important issue. The need for kidneys, heart and livers is high but less number of transplants happen," he says.

11:15 Organ donation must become a strong movement:Modi On Mann Ki Baat

PM Modi is addressing the nation on Sunday through his monthly radio programme Mann ki Baat.

"Today India and South Africa are playing the 5th ODI. Both teams won two matches so it'll be an interesting match. My best wishes," he says.

10:20 Bengali actor Pijush Ganguly is dead

Bengali film, television, and stage actor Pijush Ganguly, who met with an accident last week, passed away at a Kolkata hospital early today.

Ganguly, 50, was survived by his wife and a son.

"He died at 2.45 am because of multi-organ failure and fat embolism in a case polytrauma after he met with a road accident on Tuesday," said a senior official of the Belle Vue Clinic, where he had been admitted.

His condition turned critical yesterday and he had been put under ventilation with full life support as his parameters had been fluctuating massively.

The noted character actor's condition deteriorated so much that doctors had to cancel the second operation which was slated last afternoon.

Ganguly and dancer Malabika Sen were injured when his MUV collided head-on with a bus at Santragachi in Howrah district on October 20 when they were returning to the city after a show. Sen is now out of danger.

Ganguly started his career as a stage actor and later worked in television and films.

He acted in acclaimed films like Gaynar Baksha by Aparna Sen, Laptopby Kaushik Ganguly, Byomkesh Bakshi by Anjan Dutta, Iti Srikanta by Anjan Das and Mahulbanir Sereng by Sekhar Das.

A major fire broke out in Mumbai's iconic Crawford market in the wee hours of today, gutting over 60 shops.

Fire brigade officials said there was no casualty reported in the blaze.

"Our control room received an alert at 5:23 am that a massive fire broke out at Crawford market. Soon 10 fire tenders and eight water tankers were pressed into action," a fire brigade official told PTI.

The official said the blaze has been brought under control but efforts to douse it completely was still on.

Over 60 shops, mostly selling perfumes and packaging material, were gutted, and the cause behind the blaze is yet to be ascertained, he said.

Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta visited the spot and asked locals who gathered around the market to keep a safe distance from the mishap site.

Crawford market is located in the vicinity of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and the shops were mostly housed in old structures.

Photograph alongside is by ANI.

00:13 Golf banned by Chinas Communist Party

Golf and gluttony have been banned for China's 88 million Communist Party members, as Beijing steps up a high-profile war on corruption. Chinese President Xi Jinping has launched a wide-ranging crackdown on graft which has seen scores of officials being investigated and jailed since he took power in 2012.Observers say the anti-corruption drive lacks transparency and has been used to cement Xi's grip on power by removing potential opponents.

00:03 Russia and Ukraine to ban direct flights

Direct flights between Ukraine and Russia will stop on Sunday, as new sanctions initiated by Kiev come into effect.Moscow first called Kiev's ban on Russian airlines "madness", then announced that it would mirror the move.Ukraine now says flights will end at midnight on Saturday, after last-minute crisis talks failed. Up to 70,000 passengers a month will be affected.

The sanctions are intended to punish Russia for annexing Crimea and supporting armed rebels in eastern Ukraine. The fact that they have been introduced now, when a ceasefire is finally holding on the ground, shows how bitter relations remain.

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