Live! Sundar Pichai welcomes PM Modi at Google

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Sun, 27 September 2015

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23:44 Sundar Pichai welcomes PM Modi at Google

And the prime minister has now reached the offices of Google where CEP Sundar Pichai welcomed him.

And here is what thewrap has to say about Priyanka Chopra's spy series Quantico.

Read it here

23:37

And Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) tweets: Oh the irony of listening to the PM talking about digital India while we in J&K spent 3 days totally disconnected due to his party & allies.

23:14

The moment when Modi choked with emotion.

"I am from a very ordinary family, a very poor family. I sold tea in railway stations. There are so many parents who have sacrificed their own lives to fulfil the dreams and aspirations of their children," he said.

23:10

The Q&A has ended. The session lasted around 45 minutes where the prime minister fielded around five questions.

23:08 Modi turns emotional talking of mother's sacrifice

On Zuckerberg's question about the role of the PM's mother behind his success, Modi's voice became heavy with emotion.

He said," She worked at other peoples' houses so that I could grow up."

As the Q&A came to an end, Modi was seen wiping his eyes.

22:56

"In last 15 months 87 pc growth in FDI from only the US, 40 pc growth overall Modi tells Facebook townhall," speaking in Hindi throughout.

"India has 3D -- Demographic Dividend, Democracy and Demand," he says.

22:55 Women must be part of the decision-making process: Modi@townhall

A lot of things are said about Indian women, so we want to know what are your plans for women and girls, and what is your thinking about womens equality?

Answer: Every society has gods, but all societies have male gods. In India alone we have female deities. But yes, over thousands of years there may have been some divergences, corruption.

As far as the government is concerned, for us to keep our tryst with destiny, it cannot be done by keeping 50 pc locked up inside homes. The female population has to march alongside towards progress and development, and the government must ensure that.

Women must be part of the decision-making process. They must be empowered in families too.

22:50

Modi also took a dig at the social media restrictions in China. The tech-crowd, cheered in support.

"As you know, the internet services are different in China. But I am the same even in China. I wished their leader, a happy birthday on their social social media. I even wished the Israeli PM on Hanukkah in Hebrew. And it went viral," he said.

"But the best thing was that I got a reply back in Hindi, saying 'Thank You', he said.

22:40 I-ways as important as highways, Modi answers first FB town hall question

"I-ways as important as highways," Modi answers first FB town hall question

"Earlier people lived where rivers flowed, now they live next to highways. In times to come, cities will come up where optical fiber networks come up," Modi told the FB town hall.

22:33

My dream is to convert Indian economy into $20 trillion from the present USD 8 trillion: Modi@Facebook HQ.

22:25 You went to a temple in India, look where you have reached, Modi tells Zuckerberg

The PM has started speaking now:

"I am really happy to be here today. Science and technology, its something that if Mark hadn't mentioned that today, the world probably wouldn't have known about it," he starts his speech.

"Mark, you went to a temple in India, look where you have reached," Modi tells Zuckerberg.

And the Q&A with Modi has started. Zuckerberg is speaking now. he is eloquent and Modi looks on a little amused.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived at the Facebook HQ to address Townhall Q&A with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg in Menlo Park, California.

More details are awaited

21:20

PM Modi also changed his Facebook profile picture thanking Zuckerberg for his support.

"I changed my DP in support of the efforts towards a Digital India, Modi said on his Facebook page.

21:15 Zuckerberg changes profile picture to support Digital India

Ahead of a proposed meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberk today changed his profile picture on social media in support of Digital India.

In a Facebook post, he (Zuckerberg) said, "I changed my profile picture to support Digital India, the Indian government's effort to connect rural communities to the internet and give people access to more services online. Looking forward to discussing this with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Facebook today. Show your support for Digital India at fb.com/supportdigitalindia.'

As many as 14,000 Ganesh idols were immersed in the Hussain Sagar lake, a police official said here today, adding that the immersion process is expected to go on till tomorrow morning.

"About 14,000 idols were immersed in the Hussain Sagar lake (in Hyderabad city). Around 3,000 idols were immersed in surrounding areas of the city. No untoward incidents have been reported so far. We expect this to continue til tomorrow morning," Hyderabad's Additional Commissioner of Police Anjini Kumar said.

After auction of the customary "Balapur Ganesh Laddu", the grand event of Ganesh idols immersion (main procession) began here during afternoon with much fanfare and tight security.

The famous "laddu" which went under the hammer for Rs 9.50 lakh last year, fetched Rs 10.32 lakh at the auction this year, organisers of the two-decade-old tradition said.

The police served a notice to senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh at his official residence here today for alleged irregularities in appointments at the Madhya Pradesh State Assembly secretariat between 1993 and 2003.

Since the MP Chief Minister himself was out of Bhopal, his staffers were handed over the notice asking Singh to appear at the office of City Superintendent of Police, Jehangirabad to record his statement on September 30 in connection with the alleged recruitment scam, police official Saleem Khan told PTI today.

In February this year, the police had booked All Indian Congress Committee general secretary Digvijay Singh, former MP assembly speaker Sriniwas Tiwari and others under different sections of the Indian Penal Code, including forgery, conspiracy, cheating, misuse of office and other sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, after a complaint lodged by the MP Assembly secretariat.

20:28 Astrosat satellite launch countdown on

PSLV-C30 carrying India's Astrosat satellite to be launched on September 28 from Sriharikota, countdown begins.

If the mission succeeds, ISRO will become the fourth space agency to have such frontline capabilities.

AstroSat comes in the wake of the highly-successful Mangalyaan mission, which made global history just a year ago when India became the first country to reach the Red Planet on its debut attempt. The Mars Orbiter Mission, or MOM, and AstroSat are comparable in both being low-cost missions with limited scientific capabilities.

The Astrosat has cost Rs 178 crore to make and has been made ready in ten years though it was conceived more than 20 years ago.

ISRO asserts that "India will be the only country having a multi-wavelength space-based observatory capable of monitoring intensity variations in a broad range of cosmic sources".

Demanding declassification of the files relating to the death of former PM Lal Bahadur Shastri, his son has decided to write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, days after the West Bengal government released 64 secret files on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

Congress leader Anil Shastri today said he would write to the Prime Minister seeking declassification of the files on his return from abroad.

"Truth must come out and whatever documents are there should be in public domain," he said, insisting it was necessary in view of continued doubts surrounding Shastri's sudden death in Tashkent in the Soviet Union on January 11, 1966, aged 61.

A Gurgaon resident got an electricity bill over Rs 85 crore for one month.

"Normally we used to get bill around Rs 2,200-2,500,we're in a big trouble," said the resident of the billed household, HS Verma.

Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra shot 208.8 points to clinch the gold medal in the 10 metre air rifle event at the Asian AirGun Championship in New Delhi on Sunday.

London Olympics bronze medallist Gagan Narang and Chain Singh finished fourth and sixth respectively in the event.

All the three shooters have already secured quota places for next year's Rio Olympics.

An international shooting competition is being held in India after a gap of almost five years, the last being the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games.

Read more HERE.

18:53 CLP extends 'unstinting' support to Virbhadra

The Congress Legislature Party today extended "unflinching" support to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh after CBI conducted raids at his residences on the day of his daughter's wedding in connection

with an alleged disproportionate assets case.

The CLP leaders met here under the chairmanship of Chief Minister and unanimously adopted a resolution thanking AICC President Sonia Gandhi for 'supporting' Virbhadra Singh Congress government in the state on CBI raids and issue of misuse of central investigating agencies against Congress-ruled states.

The party also thanked the Central Congress High Command for giving a 'strong support' to the state government by highlighting the high-headedness of Central BJP leadership in the media and for misusing the Central Investigating Agencies, especially Central Bureau of Investigation, to destabilize the strong and popular democratically elected Congress Government.

The party also accused the Centre of adopting double standards by protecting the BJP-led governments in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra ridden with scams like Vyapam, PDS Scandal, Mining Scam and Chakki scandal etc.

Manipur Governor Syed Ahmed passed away at a private hospital here this morning, family sources said.

Ahmed was suffering from cancer and admitted to Lilavati Hospital in suburban Bandra last week, they said.

He was 73 and is survived by wife, one son and two daughters.

He was sworn in as the Governor of Manipur on May 16, 2015. Ahmed, a former Congress leader from Maharashtra, was shifted to the north-eastern State from Jharkhand, where he was appointed Governor on August 26, 2011 when the UPA Government was in power at the Centre.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has tweeted that six more Indians have passed away in the Hajj Stampede that claimed over 700 lives.

"Unfortunately, there are six more Indians taking the toll (of Hajj stampede) to 35," Swaraj tweeted.

Saudi Arabia is still grappling to come to terms with the worst tragedy to hit the annual pilgrimage in 25 years that has claimed 719 lives so far.

Clashes have broken out at the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem between Israeli security forces and Palestinians.

Eyewitnesses said that the trouble flared after soldiers entered the compound.

Police have used stun grenades and rubber bullets against the Palestinians, with an Al Jazeera correspondent at the scene reporting: "It doesn't appear as if the clashes went far beyond the gate where police entered, nor are there reports of any injuries."

The security forces entered the holy site after "masked youths hurled stones and fireworks at police," Israeli police said.

Read more HERE.

The French military has carried out its first airstrikes against ISIS in Syria, according to a statement from the office of France's presidency.

The country had announced earlier this month that it would expand its aerial campaign against ISIS in Iraq -- which it began a year ago as part of a U.S-led coalition -- to include the militant group's positions in Syria.

The French president's office said that the strikes in Syria, which began Sunday, were based on intelligence gathered from air surveillance operations conducted over Syria during the past two weeks.

"Our country confirms its firm commitment to the fight against the terrorist threat Daesh (ISIS). We will strike whenever our national security is at stake," the statement read.

Read more HERE.

15:42

Just in: Ban on mobile internet services in Jammu & Kashmir extended till 10 am tomorrow, landline broadband till 8 pm on Sunday.

15:38 Smartwatch credited with saving US teen's life

An 18-year-old boy in the US has credited a smartwatch for saving his life after the device alerted him that his heart rate was much higher than normal, leading to the diagnosis of a life-threatening condition.

Paul Houle, a senior at Tabor Academy in Marion, Massachusetts, felt back pain after participating in two football practices in sweltering heat.

"I thought I was just sore and a little out of shape because the practice was hard. I didn't think much of it," Houle said.

Back at his dorm room after practice, Houle checked his Apple Watch's heart rate monitor. The watch indicated his heart rate was 145 beats per minute, a full 60 to 80 beats higher than an average resting heart rate.

15:24 Beckhams rocked by explosive spats

David and Victoria Beckhams marriage has been rocked by explosive foul-mouthed rows.

The couple have been putting on a united front despite spending a large amount of time apart due to work commitments around the globe.

But sources claim tensions were simmering at a party in Victorias clothing store during London Fashion Week. David, 40, left stony-faced with his wife, 41, clinging to his arm behind him.

One said: Behind the scenes, there appears to be a lot of tension. Victoria is very tired and stressed from working so hard, whereas David has a more relaxed lifestyle now hes retired.

Read more HERE.

The wait continues for the naming of a new Uttar Pradesh Lokayukta as a meeting today to decide on the same failed to do so with the Allahabad High Court Chief Justice questioning the validity of the process.

Chief Justice DY Chandrachud took up the issue of the validity of the process in light of the Lokayukta amendment Bill passed recently in the state Assembly.

"The Chief Justice was of the view that as a Bill was passed in the state Assembly, deciding on the name of the Lokayukta could amount to its contempt. He suggested that legal opinion be taken for the same," said Leader of Opposition in UP Assembly, Swami Prasad Maurya.

The Chief Justice along with Maurya had met Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav at his official residence to finalise the name of the new Lokayukta.

"The name of the Lokayukta could not be discussed. After seeking legal opinion, a meeting will again be held next week when Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav agrees for the same," added Maurya.

He said that although he pointed out at the meeting that the Bill was still pending before the Governor and the old process was still valid, the Chief Juistice still pressed for taking legal opinion.

The UP Assembly had last month passed the Uttar Pradesh Lokayukta and Up-Lokayukta (Amendment) Bill, 2015, to amend Lokayukta Act, dropping the Allahabad High Court Chief Justice from the selection committee.

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei demanded Saudi Arabia apologise today for a stampede that killed nearly 770 pilgrims at the hajj, at least 144 of them Iranians.

"Instead of passing the buck and playing a blame game, the Saudis should accept their responsibility and apologise to the world's Muslims and the bereaved families," Khamenei said in comments reported by the official IRNA news agency.

Iranian leaders have been fiercely critical of Saudi authorities' handling of safety at the hajj and questioned whether Riyadh was fit to continue organising the annual pilgrimage.

Khamenei's comments came just hours after Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir hit back at the criticism from its regional rival, saying it "shouldn't play politics with a tragedy".

Iraq says it has reached a deal to share intelligence with Russia, Iran and Syria in the fight against ISIS militants.

The announcement on Saturday from the Iraqi military cited "the increasing concern from Russia about thousands of Russian terrorists committing criminal acts within ISIS."

The news comes amid US concerns about Russia's recent military buildup in Syria and would appear to confirm American suspicions of some kind of cooperation between Baghdad and Moscow.

A US-led coalition has been carrying out an aerial bombing campaign against ISIS positions in Iraq and Syria since last year. But now Russia is upping its presence in the region.

Read more HERE.

Amid demands that MPs should not be allowed to decide their salaries, The government has proposed to set up a three-member panel to recommend pay and perks of lawmakers.

The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs has proposed a 3-member independent Emoluments Commission to recommend salaries and other allowances for the Members of Parliament.

The proposal is part of the agenda notes prepared for the two-day All India Whips Conference to be held at Visakhapatnam, next week.

"The setting up of an independent Emoluments Commission for recommending the salaries and allowances of the Members of Parliament will not only put to rest the public outcry and media criticism over MPs themselves deciding their salaries, it will also provide an appropriate opportunity to take into consideration the huge responsibilities and the important role they play in our representative democracy.

13:02 Devotees bid adieu to Lord Ganesha

The ten-day-long Ganesh Chaturthi culminated here as thousands of devotees today immersed idols of the elephant-headed deity at various designated spots across the city amidst fanfare and tight security.

The civic administration, Mumbai Police, fire brigade, SRPF (State Reserve Police Force) and ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police) forces have put in place elaborate security arrangements to ensure a peaceful 'visarjan' (immersion).

Apart from 71 natural immersion spots, 26 artificial spots have been created across the city and in the suburbs, a Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) release said.

A team of 150 trained fire brigade volunteers and lifeguards have been deployed at major immersion sites like Girgaum Chowpatty, Juhu beach, Powai lake, Dadar, Madh jetty, Marve.

Cranes, watchtowers and floodlights were installed at most of the major immersion spots, beside 103 CCTV cameras fixed at different locations in South Mumbai that will allow security forces to keep a close vigil on the immersion activity which is on since early this morning.

FTII student leader Vikas Urs has said that the strike will continue but the hunger strike will be called off.

"After the I&B ministry sent us a letter we decided to call of the hunger strike," said Urs.

India and the US, the world's two largest democracies, have the responsibility to shape the future of peace, stability and prosperity in Asia Pacific region which would determine the course of this century, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday.

Observing that India and the US are located at the two ends of the Asia Pacific region, the Prime Minister said, "We have the responsibility to shape a future of peace, stability and prosperity in this region."

Modi, who is scheduled to meet President Barack Obama tomorrow inNew York, said the dynamic Asia Pacific Region will shape the course of this century.

"Indians and Americans have worked together to shape the knowledge economy. They have made us aware of the vast potential of technology," Modi said in his address on Digital India before top American CEOs from the Silicon Valley.

Former prime minister Lal Bahadur Shashtri's grandson Vibhakar Shastri said on Sunday that the declassification of the Shashtri files was very important.

"There was no discord between our family&Nehru-Gandhi family.But still, declassification of LB Shastri files needed," Vidhakar said.

11:51 Pop stars, world leaders rally to end poverty

Some of the biggest names in music and politics from Beyonce to European prime ministers rallied in a concert aimed at mobilizing action to eradicate extreme poverty.

Before thousands of people in New York's Central Park and a far greater audience on television, the Global Citizen Festival sought to use entertainment to broaden support for new United Nations development goals.

Beyonce, playing just her second concert this year, was the top attraction for many fans who obtained tickets not by paying but by committing to activism ranging from writing letters to volunteering.

Other performers included rock veterans Pearl Jam and Coldplay, fresh English pop sensation Ed Sheeran, socially conscious rapper Common and -- in an effort to raise the profile of the festival in India -- leading Bollywood singer Sunidhi Chauhan.

11:48 FTII Students call off hunger strike

The FTII students who have been on a hunger strike have agreed to end the strike after the Information & Broadcasting ministry replied back to their letter.

Addressing a press conference in Pune on Saturday, student leaders Vikas Urs , Rakesh Shukla and Himanshu Shekhar had said that they had written to the I&B ministry and were awaiting a reply.

Academic activities at the premier institute has been suspended since the last 107 days with students going on strike over the election of Gajendra Chauhan as chairperson of the body.

For more than two weeks, students have started a relay hunger strike, with Shekhar having fasted for almost 17 days.

A meeting is set to take place on the morning of September 29 to pound out the details to end the strike.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has met representatives of the Sikh and Gujarati communities in San Jose at the start of his "tech-startup-energy-diaspora oriented" weekend visit to the Silicon Valley.
Soon after his hour-long photo session with eminent community leaders, Modi met with two separate delegations of Sikh and Gujarati communities.
The two delegations submitted memorandums to the prime minister.

07:06 PM Modi meets Apple CEO Tim Cook

Apple CEO Tim Cook called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a one-on-one meeting at Hotel Fairmont.

"Dialling India for Digital. An exciting evening begins, as Apple CEO @tim_cook calls on PM @narendramodi," tweeted MEA official spokesperson Vikas Swarup.

"We have a unique tie with India. Our founder Steve Jobs went to India for inspiration. Apple CEO @tim_cook tells PM," he said in another tweet.

Reports suggest that Apple is looking to invest in building manufacturing capacities in India, which could come as a major boost for Prime Minister Modi's 'Make in India' project.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited American automobile giant -- Tesla Motors -- at their plant in Fremont, where he discussed ideas of electricity generation in rural India.

The prime minister was welcomed by JB Straubel, Tesla's Chief Technology Officer, and Deepak Ahuja, Chief Financial Officer.

"Engines of the future. PM @narendramodi takes a tour of @TeslaMotors, leading builder of electric cars," Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.

Seen in the image is Tesla CEO Elon Musk giving a presentation to the prime minister.

"Sharing a vision. CEO @elonmusk engineer, inventor and investor gives a presentation to PM @narendramodi," Swarup tweeted.

He was later given a general tour through the production area and was seen being briefed by Straubel about the displays, the technology used and the automobiles in the factory.

Representatives of the Sikh and Gujarati communities called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in San Jose today.

The prime minister exchanged pleasantries and shook hands with the members of the two communities.

"Continuing Community connect. Representatives of the Sikh and Gujarati communities call on PM @narendramodi," tweeted Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Vikas Swarup.

Prime Minister Modi earlier interacted with the members of the Indian community at Hotel Fairmont.

01:48 Modi lands in San Jose to a packed schedule

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in the West Coast of the USA.

Soon after landing, he tweeted: 'Landed in San Jose to a great welcome. Eagerly awaiting the programmes in the coming 2 days.'

Modi, who spent the last two days on the East Coast, in New York, will now drive down to the community lunch being hosted for him by the Indian consulate at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose. Read more about the lunch here.

Post-lunch Modi will drive down to meet Ellon Musk, the head of Tesla (which makes electric cars) and SpaceX with its huge plans for the internet using satellites, at his headquarters in Palo Alto. Renewable energy and Digital India are articles of faith with Modi, and Musk may have solutions for both.

Next is a series of meetings with the who's who of Silicon Valley -- from Apple's Tim Cook, to Google's Sundar Pichai to Microsoft's Satya Nadella, and others.

The evening will wind up with a Digital India dinner, again attended by Silicon Valley's greats.

Sunday morning is the keenly-awaited Facebook town hall, followed by the community reception in the evening, after which Modi leaves for New York for a summit with US President Barack Obama.

00:31 Yashwant criticises Modi for aligning with G4

Senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha has criticised the Narendra Modi government for following the footsteps of its predecessor UPA dispensation and aligning with Germany, Japan and Brazil in its quest for permanent membership of UN Security Council.

Sinha, a former external affairs minister, said India could have taken a path different from the G4 and need not have pursued the grouping with the "vigour" with which it is doing now.

Modi made a "mistake" by continuing with UPA's strategy of relying on G4, Sinha said, adding that it was one thing to align with developing countries and another to include two developed countries -- Germany and Japan -- in this group.

Asked if Modi should have pursued the UNSC permanent membership case differently rather than following Manmohan Singh government, Sinha said, "Yes, I would agree with that. The more we show the unity of G4, the greater will be the opposition to new inductions as permanent members and the chances will recede further.

"We need not have pursued the G4 with the vigour with which we are doing," Sinha told Karan Thapar on India Today TV when asked if this was a foreign policy mistake on India's part.

Patel quota stir leader Hardik Patel has said he would support Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in the upcoming assembly elections in the state as the Janata Dal-United leader belonged to his community.

"Kumar is a good chief minister and belongs to our community. Hence, we will support him in the election," he said.

Assembly polls in Bihar kick off next month. The 'grand alliance' of JD-U, RJD and Congress is pitted against a coalition of BJP, LJP, RLSP and HAM in Bihar.

In the steel city to participate in 'Karma Mahotsav', Hardik also spoke about the quota agitation he is spearheading and vowed to take it to its "logical end".

The family of former prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri has demanded the declassification of all documents related to him amid suspicion that some "foul play" could have led to his death in Tashkent nearly 50 years ago.

Shastri's son Anil Shastri, who is also a Congress leader, said when his father's body arrived in India, it had "blue marks" and "white spots", which indicated signs of "foul play" in his death on January 11,1966.

"I personally feel there could have been foul play. Can't say so conclusively, but the negligence is clear, everyone went scot free, no one was punished," he told CNN-IBN.

He said no post-mortem was carried out on the body, which could reveal the exact cause of death.

"There was a butler who was arrested and released. My mother wanted to meet him when she went to Tashkent. But she was told he could not be traced," Shastri said.

He also said that it was "very shocking that both his personal physician RN Chugh and personal assistant met with accidents. Both had to depose before inquiry commissions. Coincidence twice is a little improbable."

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