LIVE
Wed, 30 September 2015
Sharif brings up ceasefire violations, proposes peace agenda at the UN
Timeline Refresh
23:51 HC notice to Dera Sacha Sauda head, CBFC over 'MSG-2'
The Chhattisgarh High Court today issued notices to Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh who has produced, directed and acted in the film `Messenger of God-2' (MSG-2), and others on a petition which alleges the film hurts the sentiments of tribal communities.
Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastav issued notices to Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, Chhattisgarh government, Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry and the Central Board of Film Certification, seeking replies within five weeks.
Advocate Rajni Soren, representing the petitioner `Chhattisgarh Adivasi Sarwa Samaj', said the film presents the tribal customs in an objectionable manner and the petition demands that cases under IPC and SC, ST Prevention of Atrocities Act be registered against the producers of the movie.
23:22
Sharif added that cooperation, not confrontation, should define the relationship between India and Pakistan.
23:15 Sharif brings up ceasefire violations, proposes peace agenda at the UN
Pakistan once again raised the Kashmir issue at the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday. A third of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's speech focused on the Kashmir issue.
While ending his speech, Sharif proposed a peace agenda with India.
23:01 Dadri: National Minorities Commission seeks report from DM
Taking a strong note of the Dadri incident, National Commission for Minorities today sought a report from the district administration, after which it would take up the matter with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.
Responding to concerns expressed by lawyer-activist Shehzad Poonawalla, the Commission stated it was monitoring the measures being taken by the district administration to bring the perpetrators of the "ghastly" crime to justice.
"The NCM strongly condemns this cowardly and reprehensible attack on an innocent Muslim which also resulted in severe injury to his 23-year-old son.
22:51 Bomb attacks in China's Guangxi kill 6
A series of package bombs exploded on Wednesday in the southwest China city of Liuzhou, killing at least seven people and injuring 51, state media said.
The official Xinhua news agency said police had determined the blasts were a "criminal" act and identified the suspect as a 33-year-old local man surnamed Wei, but added the investigation was continuing.
Read this story HERE
22:04 VVIP choppers case: ED attaches assets of Tyagi family
Initiating fresh action in the AgustaWestland money laundering probe case, the Enforcement Directorate has attached assets worth about Rs 7 crore alleged to be in the name of cousins of former IAF chief S P Tyagi.
Sources said the properties attached under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act are located in and around the national capital region and the estimated book value of the assets is about Rs 7 crore.
About five immovable assets have been attached as part of the fresh orders and they are in the name of the family members of ex-IAF chief Tyagi, they said. The ED has been probing the VVIP helicopters purchase under PMLA and has questioned Tyagi's cousin Sanjeev in the past.
22:03 Russia conducts first airstrike in Syria
Russia has conducted its first airstrike against ISIS in Syria, a Russian Defense Ministry spokesman said Wednesday.
The airstrike targeted ISIS military equipment, communications centers, vehicles and ammunition, Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said, as part of pinpoint strikes against ISIS ground targets.
Image for representation only
Read this story HERE
21:39 Bharti breaks down during interrogation
Former Delhi Law minister Somnath Bharti broke down during questioning by investigators, who today took him to his Dwarka residence where he came face to face with his wife in connection with the dowry harassment and attempt to murder case.
The police also added Section 212 of IPC (harbouring offender) in the FIR registered against Bharti, and said that so far they have identified five persons who allegedly sheltered the legislator while he was on the run.
"We have added Section 212 of IPC in the existing FIR and shall ask the court for an extension of Bharti's police custody at least by a day.
21:31 Two gunmen killed in attack on police officer in Pak
Two gunmen were today shot dead when they attacked a senior Pakistani police officer in Karachi's crime-infested Lyari area. Lyari Superintendent Police Aftab Nizamani was patrolling with his guards when the gunmen opened fire on his car, officials said.
However, the police officer escaped unhurt as his security guards fired back killing the two gunmen.
The two attackers are yet to be identified. Lyari has become notorious for gang wars with criminals carrying out a reign of terror in the low income area which remains the stronghold of the Pakistan Peoples Party which rules the southern Sindh province.
In the past, senior police officials, paramilitary rangers and even traffic police officials have come under attack in Karachi where the federal government is carrying out a clean-up operation against militancy, target killings and sectarian violence.
20:35 Cong claims credit for sentencing of 2006 Mumbai train blasts case
Congress today said the sentencing of convicts in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts case was the culmination of "pointed, precise and prompt action" by the then Vilasrao Deshmukh government and "strongest and quickest" steps by the former Manmohan Singh dispensation.
"We are happy and we welcome the fact that within eight- odd years, the trial court has been able to arrive at a primary conclusion" "This whole process was done on a priority basis by all agencies of the state and wherever required the central government, taking the strongest and the quickest steps both in the investigation and in the prosecution", party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters.
He said that the then Congress government in Maharashtra took "pointed, precise and prompt action" following the horrendous events of July 2006. He noted the way the then prime minister had taken up the issue with Pakistan leading to a joint anti-terror mechanism.
20:30 2008 Malegaon blasts: NIA refutes prosecutor's claim in SC
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has termed as "unwarranted and baseless" the allegations levelled by its ex-special public prosecutor Rohini Salian that she was asked to "go soft" against the accused in the 2008 Malegaon blasts case.
Refuting Salian's claims before the Supreme Court, the NIA said that no accused was granted bail since June 2014 when prosecutor was allegedly asked to "go soft".
"It is worth mentioning that all bail orders in Malegaon blasts case have been obtained by the accused persons when the respondents were represented through Rohini Salian that no bail has been granted by any court to any person arrested in the case since June 2014 when, as alleged by Salian, the 'go soft' message was passed on to her," an affidavit submitted by NIA before the apex court said.
Salian, who was SPP in the case, had stirred a controversy by alleging that an NIA officer had told her to "go soft" on the accused and claimed the same officer had told her that she would be replaced.
20:07 AAP not supporting any party in Bihar: Kejriwal
As Bihar heads for a fierce political battle, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today said AAP was not extending support to any political party in assembly polls, hinting not much should be read in his recent visit to Patna and reports of his closeness with Nitish Kumar.
"I am not supporting anyone in Bihar and I have not gone their for campaigning. I had gone (Bihar) for a workshop on governance organised by the Bihar Chief Minister before the dates for elections were announced," he said.
The JD-U had supported AAP during the Delhi assembly polls and also during AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal's Varanasi fight against Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha polls.
Both Kejriwal and Kumar share a personal rapport. Kejriwal hinted that not much should be read about reports of closeness with State Chief Minister Kumar.
20:06 B'desh PM downplays possible IS link to Italian's murder
Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today downplayed a suspected Islamic State link to the murder of an Italian aid worker here despite the terror group reportedly claiming responsibility for the killing.
"A message from Chicago claimed link of IS with the killing. But anybody from Bangladesh didn't claim it so far. Our intelligence has no information like that," said Hasina at a press briefing in New York where she is attending the UN General Assembly session.
The premier, however, acknowledged a possible link to "international terrorism" saying certain elements in Bangladesh want to destabilise the country and "have connection with international terrorism".
"There is certainly a strong force behind the killing. So they want to create a situation," she said.
19:03 Former US president Carter to build homes in Nepal
Former US president Jimmy Carter who has been diagnosed with cancer will travel to quake-hit Nepal to build homes with 1,500 volunteers in November.
In August, 90-year-old Carter said he had been diagnosed with cancer in his brain but still hoped to make a scheduled trip to Nepal.
"I really wanted to go to Nepal to build houses," he had said.
NGO Habitat for Humanity in a press statement today said that Carter had received consent from his medical team to travel to Nepal.
Carter and his wife Rosalynn will participate in Habitat for Humanity's 32nd annual Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project from November 1 to 6 in Chitwan in southern Nepal.
18:53 Smoking in cars carrying children illegal in UK from tomorrow
Smoking in cars while travelling along with children in the UK will be banned from tomorrow and could attract fines of up to 2,500 pounds, in a bid to protect under 18-year-olds from the dangers of second-hand smoke.
Police will issue an on-the-spot 50 pounds fine which could increase to up to 2,500 pounds if the person, caught smoking in cars in the presence of children, is taken to courts.
Police chiefs, however, said that they will not be heavily enforcing the ban. Officers will often let motorists off with a warning, exercising "education not prosecution."
18:50 Robert Mugabe to the UN: 'We are not gays'
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has once again come out in the open to tell the West that his country will not accept homosexuality, telling the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Monday: "We are not gays."
Addressing what he called the "new" human rights agenda being pushed by the West and referring specifically to the issue of homosexuality, Mugabe, who is also the current African Union (AU) chair, said: "We reject attempts to prescribe new rights that are contrary to our values, norms, traditions and beliefs. We are not gays".
Homosexuality is illegal in Zimbabwe and Mugabe, 91, has in previous years made headlines after he told gay people to go to "hell". He also stated that those of homosexual orientation were lower than "pigs, goats and birds".
Read more HERE.
18:40 Pope met secretly in US with anti-gay marriage county clerk
Pope Francis met secretly while in the United States with a Kentucky county clerk who defied a court order to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, a media report said today, citing her lawyer.
Kim Davis and her husband Joe were sneaked into the Vatican embassy on Thursday and met the pope for about 15 minutes, Davis's lawyer, Mathew Staver, told the The New York Times.
Staver said the meeting was arranged through Vatican officials.
"The pope came to her and held out his hand," Staver said. "He thanked her for her courage and told her, 'Stay strong.'"
Davis landed in jail earlier this month for refusing a federal judge's orders to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, which the US Supreme Court legalised nationwide in June.
18:03 Authorities confirm man killed over 'beef' had only eaten mutton
The local administration in Noida have confirmed that the meat stored in Akhlaq's home was simply mutton and not beef as was being rumoured by his murderers.
"We have got the meat samples picked up from Akhlaq's fridge tested by our animal husbandry department experts who said quite affirmatively that it was not beef at all," Noida district magistrate N P Singh told Sharat Pradhan/ Rediff.com.
Full report soon on Rediff.com.
17:50 Russia tells India it is starting air, rocket attacks in Syria
Russia today conveyed to India that it is starting air and rocket attacks on terrorists locations in Syria following a request of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for military assistance in fighting against ISIS and other terrorist groups.
The Russian Embassy here officially informed the External Affairs Ministry that in accordance with the request of the Syrian President for providing military assistance in fighting against ISIS and other terrorist groups in Syria, Russia begins air and rocket attacks on terrorist locations on all territory of the Syria today, a release from the embassy said.
The release from the embassy came as Russian President Vladimir Putin today won permission from parliament to carry out air strikes in Syria, in what would be Russia's first engagement in a distant war operation since the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.
17:44 Maha govt hikes tax on cigarettes, liquor, beverages, diamond
The Maharashtra Government on Wednesday decided to increase, value added tax on petrol and diesel by Rs 2 per litre. VAT on liquor, cigarettes and aerated drinks have also been increased by five per cent. The government claims the tax hike on these items is intended to generate revenue to tackle the drought crisis in the state.
VAT on diamond, gold and the jewellery made out these commodities has been increased from 1 to 1.20 per cent.
The new rates would be applicable from Thursday.
State Finance Minister Sudhir
Mungantiwar told reporters that due to decline in global prices of oil,
17:33 Series of bombs in China kills at least three
A series of package bombs exploded on Wednesday in China's southwestern city of Liuzhou, killing at least three people, state television said, publishing images of a collapsed building, a plume of smoke and streets strewn with rubble.
Police did not say who they considered responsible for the attacks in Guangxi province that injured at least 13 people, said China Central Television, which posted photographs of the devastation on its microblog.
Thirteen places received the package bombs, from hospitals and shopping malls to prisons, transport stations and town government offices, state radio said in an online report.
Read more HERE.
17:32 Cops caught on camera showering money on dancers
A video made by unidentified individuals shows policemen in Varanasi caught showering currency notes on dancers.
16:51 1995 Jammu blast case: Hizbul terrorist gets life
The Supreme Court has set aside the acquittal of a Pakistan national, a Hizbul Mujahideen operative, who was involved in the serial blasts at Maulana Azad Memorial Stadium in Jammu during Republic Day function in 1995 that had claimed eight lives.
A bench of Justices A K Sikri and U U Lalit, while relying on the confessional statement of Ghulam Nabi given before CBI, said, "the confession of an accused is a substantive piece of evidence and his conviction can be founded on such confession itself."
The court asked Nabi, who has been convicted under the now repealed Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA), to appear before it for advancing arguments on quantum of sentence in the case.
Three bomb explosions had taken place in the Maulana Azad Memorial Stadium in Jammu aimed to kill then Governor Lt General K V Krishna Rao during his address to a huge gathering of about 40,000 people, including dignitaries, VIPs, senior government officers, political leaders and citizens on Republic Day in 1995. Rao had a narrow escape.
Read more HERE.
16:48 US, India, Japan hold 1st trilateral ministerial dialogue
Amid China's growing assertiveness in South China Sea, India, Japan and the US at their first-ever trilateral ministerial dialogue here called for a
peaceful settlement of disputes, freedom of navigation and unimpeded lawful commerce including in that area.
Representing a quarter of the world's population and economic production power, the three countries also agreed to work together to maintain maritime security through greater collaboration while highlighting the growing convergence of their interests in the Indo-Pacific region.
The meeting was attended by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, her Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida and US Secretary of State John Kerry.
In a media note released after the meeting yesterday, the three ministers highlighted the growing convergence of their respective countries' interests in the Indo-Pacific region.
"They also underscored the importance of international law and peaceful settlement of disputes; freedom of navigation and overflight; and unimpeded lawful commerce, including in the South China Sea," the media note said.
16:40 Dadri lynching: UP govt announces Rs 10 lakh compensation
An ex-gratia compensation of Rs 10 lakh was today announced by the UP government to the kin of a 50-year-old man, who was allegedly lynched by a mob following rumours that his family was involved in the slaughter of a cow in Dadri area of Gautam Buddha Nagar district.
Chief Minister Akhilseh Yadav has also instructed the District Magistrate and Senior Superintendent of Police, Noida to provide full protection to the family of the victim.
"Chief Minister has announced Rs 10 lakh ex-gratia to the kin of the deceased in the Dadri mob lynch. UP Government will bear all the medical expenses of the other victim in the incident," an official spokesman said here.
16:09 Govt to do away with job interviews after PM Modi's request
The government has decided to do away with the process of interviews for junior posts. This comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi called to end the culture of 'sifarish'. The new system will come into effect from January 1 next year, skill tests and physical tests will not be dispensed with and candidates will have to prove their competence before being recruited, according to the report.
16:01
JUST IN: SC awards rigorous life imprisonment to Pak nationalGhulam Nabi in a case relating to 1995 serial blasts at R-Day function in Jammu.
15:56 Caught on camera: Leopard gets head stuck in utensil in Rajasthan
Thirsty kya? A leopard got his head stuck in a utensil in Rajsamand, Rajasthan. After a while, forest department official freed the leopard from the utensil.
15:15 On judgment day, 7/11 victim receives good news
Mahendra Pitale, a man who lost his hand in the 7/11 Mumbai blasts, has a reason to smile today. On the same day that the MCOCA court awarded the death sentence to 5 and awarded life imprisonment to the 7 others, Pitale has been appointed by the Railways.
BJP's Kirit Somaiya has been following up the cases of the victims and trying to ensure that they receive fair compensation.
Click on the image to read his appointment letter
15:01
JUST IN: Maharashtra to hike tax on cigarettes, liquor, beverages, diamondand gold to raise funds for tackling drought.
14:49 Air India's nonstop Delhi-Calif flight at PMO's behest?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the non-stop Air India flight from Delhi to California at the end of his community reception at the SAP Center, San Jose, on September 27.
And, according to the Telegraph, Kolkata, thereby hangs a tale.
'Air India is preparing to deploy a Boeing 777-200 LR (Long Range) aircraft for the thrice-a-week Delhi-San Francisco flight at the behest of the Prime Minister's Office without prior route viability studies, multiple sources in the airline have told The Telegraph,' reports Sumi Sukanya.
A top official in the national carrier told the newspaper that the airline had examined the route option in 2009 itself but a decision was kept in abeyance because Air india's other long-haul flights were getting a poor response.
'However, the PMO indicated that announcing a new flight to connect the two countries now would be a good idea,' the official told the Telegraph, and that the decision was hence taken "hurriedly" ahead of Modi's US visit.
Read the full report here.
14:16 Mizo NGOs plan drive against homosexuals
Here's some troubling news from the north-east.
'Non-governmental organisations in Mizoram have decided to launch a drive against same-sex couples living in Aizawl and its adjoining areas,' reports Nilotpal Bhattacharya in the Telegraph, Kolkata.
Homosexuals living in Mizoram will be identified by organisations like the Mizo Zirlai Pawl, Young Mizo Association, Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl and Mizoram Upa Pawl which intend to "take action" against them, the report says.
'Homosexuality is against the teachings of Christianity. It's a sin. God has created men and women and they should follow the natural path. Marriage is a union of a man and a woman and legalisation of same-sex marriage will certainly destabilise the family system and result in harmful consequences for society at large,' Lalhmachhuana, president of the MZP, tells Nilotpal.
'The younger generation might get motivated by seeing them (homosexuals) and so we have decided to launch the drive,' he adds.
The date of launching the drive will be finalised in the MZP's next meeting that is expected to be held soon.
You can read the full report here.
13:46
JUST IN: Russian Parliament gives Vladimir Putin permission to carry out air strikes in Syria, says top aide
13:23 Wanted death for all, say victims of 7/11 Mumbai train blasts
"For the hundreds killed in the blasts, thousands affected indirectly, only five have been awarded death sentence. I expected death for all accused," said Padamchand Gandhi (51), soon after he heard about the verdict from outside Mumbai.
While life has moved on for him, frequent medical complications are a constant reminder of the 2006 blasts that damaged both his eardrums and injured his limbs as metal shards flew into his body. Everyone
should be hanged. They have been proven guilty, Gandhi added.
Read more HERE
12:55
More on the 7/11 Mumbai blasts case: Defence lawyer Khan Abdul Wahab said it was unfortunate that death sentences have been awarded to the five convicts. Wahab said they will appeal against the verdict in the Bombay high court once they get a copy of the judgment, in the next three to four days.
-- Prasanna Zore/Rediff.com
12:35 Will move High Court, says legal aide of Mumbai train blasts convicts
After the MCOCA court awarded the death sentence to 5 and life imprisonment to the remaining convicts, a legal aide to the convicts has decided to move the High Court, saying they were unhappy with the judgment. He said, "The real culprits were never caught. We will move the High Court now."
Earlier this morning, the special MCOCA judge handed down the sentences in the train blasts case, which claimed the lives of 188 and injured almost 850 people.
12:11 5 Mumbai train blasts convicts get death sentence
A special MCOCA court has awarded the death sentence to 5 of the Mumbai train blasts convicts. Reports state that the five planters of the bombs -- Kamal, Faisal, Ehtesham, Naveed & Asif -- have been awarded the death sentence. The remaining seven convicts have been awarded life imprisonment.
On July 11, 2006, several bomb blasts ripped through Mumbai's local trains in a synchronised attack in the evening peak hours in Borivli, Churchgate, Virar, Matunga, Khar, Jogeshwari. Altogether 188 people were killed and 816 injured.
11:49 On Ankit Fadia, Digital India ambassador, government's no and then a yes
Ankit Fadia, who calls himself an ethical hacker, has been named brand ambassador for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Digital India' plan, a decision that has touched off a firestorm on social media.
Fadia, 30, is one of the four names announced by the government. The controversy erupted two days ago when Fadia posted on Facebook that he had been appointed ambassador for Digital India, at a time the mega project was the highlight of PM Modi's meetings with Silicon Valley giants in the US.
As the declaration raised scorn on Twitter, the government issued a denial and said on Tuesday: "There has been no such move to appoint a brand ambassador as reported." But the post on the government's publicity website was removed within an hour, and in the evening, another press statement confirmed the names of four brand ambassadors.
11:37 PM's visit strengthened Indo-US bonds: American lawmakers
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's just concluded US visit has strengthened the bonds between the two largest democracies of the world and opened up new avenues of co-operation, top American lawmakers have said. "There are many different areas and sectors where the US and India's growing friendship will cover mutually beneficial ground. Prime Minister Modi's second visit to the US has allowed us to continue to strengthen those bonds and explore new opportunities for us to work together," Democratic Congresswoman from Hawaii, Tulsi Gabbard, said.
Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, who also met Modi in San Jose, said Modi's visit to Silicon Valley is symbol of the collaboration and cooperation between the US and India. Congressman Matt Salmon said the India and the US were natural partners. "Our growing cooperation on issues like counter-terrorism, peacekeeping, and maritime security is a
positive development for the region and the world," he said.
"At the same time, our economic and commercial ties have not kept pace with our deepening political ties," he said.
10:59 India pips US, China as the top FDI destination in 2015
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has got a return gift as he came back from the two-nation tour - India has become the top destination for FDI in the world.With $31 billion of foreign capital inflows, India has surpassed China and the US to take the pole position in attracting largest FDI in the first half of 2015, a report in The Financial Times said.
The report has come just as Modi has concluded his tour of Ireland and the US. He is slated to visit the UK in November. The FT report said India has attracted $31 billion of FDI in the first half of 2015, ahead of $28 billion of China and $27 billion of the US.
India is tracking well ahead of where it was at this time last year: it has more than doubled its midyear investment levels, attracting $30 billion by the end of June 2015 compared with $12 billion in the first half of last year.
10:50 'No upper caste CM if BJP wins Bihar'
In an attempt to counter the aggressive pitch by the Janata Dal-United-Rashtriya Janata Dal-Congress alliance, the Bharatiya Janata Party has announced that if the party won the Bihar elections, either an OBC or EBC will become the next chief minister.
Bihar BJP president Mangal Pandey said, "Though the party has not decided yet to name its chief ministerial candidate, one thing is clear; either an OBC or EBC will become the next chief minister.'
Pandey, considered close to BJP president Amit Shah, said that name of chief ministerial candidate will be formally decided by the party parliamentary board.
-- MI Khan in Patna
10:33 Rule by RSS
India recently saw the three-day spectacle (September 2-4) of a 'performance review' and 'course correction' of a constitutionally elected Union government by an unelected organisation, the RSS.
In these columns, BJP general secretary Ram Madhav called it "a family get-together" and asked us to avoid looking at RSS-BJP relationship through the prism of existing models elsewhere. I agree. This is a unique relationship, anathema to any modern liberal democracy, and it deserves an original description.
Read more HERE
10:23 Civic polls: Cong & NCP eye tie-up; Sena awaits BJP's response
With just a month to go for the civic polls in Kalyan-Dombivli and Kolhapur, the Congress and NCP are eyeing to join hands, just as the Shiv Sena expects a "positive response" from the BJP for a pre-poll alliance for the two municipal bodies. The election in these two municipal corporations are scheduled to be held on November 1.
Maharashtra unit chief of Congress Ashok Chavan said his party is open for an alliance with the NCP, provided its local leadership is comfortable working with that party. The state unit president of NCP Sunil Tatkare also said a ""positive response" is expected from Congress for a pre-poll alliance.
10:17 Pakistan hits back over PoK report, claims visuals doctored
A day after the Pakistan government's brutality in the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir was exposed, the nation claimed that the visuals were doctored and called it a propaganda of the Indian media.
Pakistan's National Security Advisor Sartaj Aziz said, "Pakistan remains committed to finding a just and peaceful resolution to the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. Pakistan's principled position on the Kashmir dispute is based on the UN Security Council Resolutions, which remain unimplemented to this day. India decided to try to quell the Kashmiri struggle by use of brute force. As a result, more than 90,000 Kashmiris have been killed by Indian security forces over the last two decades in Indian Occupied Kashmir."
On Tuesday, visuals showed how the Pakistani establishment is using brutal force to quell rebellion in the region, resorting to massive human rights violation even though Islamabad has never lost an opportunity to hit out at New Delhi over Kashmir and the alleged attempts to suppress the people living in the Valley.
09:56 Why Narendra Modi hugs the headlines
Narendra Modi is the most physically demonstrative Indian leader in years. During his visit to the US, he enveloped Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg in a massive hug and reprised the embrace with US President Barack Obama in New York. In August, he hugged the crown prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, inspiring some droll memes.
Read more HERE
09:34 Income tax department raids Tamil film actor Vijay's house
Income Tax officials raided the premises of Tamil actor Vijay and producers and director of Tamil movie Puli this morning in connection with alleged tax evasion. Sources said I-T sleuths were conducting raids on 25 premises belonging the cast and crew members of the movie. The movie is slated for release on Thursday.
09:29
Achche din! Day after the rate cut, Sensex above 26000, up over 200 points. Nifty hits 7900
09:11 'We aren't murderers of your loved ones', 7/11 blasts convicts to victims' kin
Reaching out to the victims of the 7/11 Mumbai train blasts, 12 convicted men have written an open letter to them. The 17 page letter written by all the 12 convicts sympathizes with the victims of the July 11, 2006 serial blasts for the loss of their loved ones but emphasizes several times that they are not the 'real' culprits and the case was fabricated by Anti Terrorist Squad and the government to cover up their inability in arresting original perpetrators of the attack.
"Your happiness and relief is natural. But we are sorry to say your happiness is fictitious and not real as we twelve are not the murderers of your loved ones but are ourselves victims," reads the letter.
09:00 Germany pledges 100 million euros for refugees
Germany has committed an additional 100 million euros (Rs 741 crore ) to UN agencies to improve assistance for refugees in their home regions. "Those who take care of refugees, -- especially the World Food Program and the UN refugee agency -- are dramatically underfunded," German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said. "I think we have every reason to try everything so that people do not leave the countries neighbouring Syria because they face food shortages, he said.
08:28 Man killed by mob over beef rumours
A 50-year-old man was beaten to death by a mob near Delhi on Monday night, allegedly over rumours that his family had stored and eaten beef.
Mohammad Akhlaq and his son were dragged out by villagers in Dadri in Uttar Pradesh just outside the capital, and beaten with bricks. Akhlaq died and his son is critical in hospital. When the police arrived, the mob was still assaulting the men.
Six men were arrested last night. Akhlaq's family says they only had mutton in their fridge. The police have taken the meat sent it for forensic testing.
07:51 Nawaz Sharif faces flak for missing Malala speech?
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is getting flak from his home press for not being present when Malala spoke at the UN summit and received a standing ovation. Some reported that had Sharif been present, he could have made the 'Malala moment' a Pakistani one, and that it might have made both Pakistan and the PM look better on the world stage.
Sharif did arrive on the opening day of the Sustainable Development Summit, but he was late for the events by few hours after having made a London stopover to spend time with his sons.
07:46 Mumbai train blasts convicts to know of fate today
A sessions court will announce sentences for the 12 people convicted in the 11/7 serial train blasts today. The prosecution has sought death for eight people.
Special MCOCA judge Yatin Shinde will pronounce the quantum of sentence over two weeks after the 12 were found guilty of the blasts that claimed 188 and injured 829 commuters in seven blasts, in first-class suburban railway compartments in 2006.
02:50 Typhoon makes landfall in eastern China; 2 dead in Taiwan
China ordered tens of thousands of boats back to shore and closed tourist attractions as a typhoon made landfall in the eastern province of Fujian early on Tuesday after leaving two dead and hundreds injured in Taiwan.
Fujian authorities told more than 30,000 fishing boats, carrying around 160,000 people, to return to shore as Typhoon Dujuan approached on Monday, state media reported, citing the flood control office.
Image for representation only.
Read this story HERE
02:41 Yazidi girl remembers horror of helicopter escape from ISIS
The terror of the ordeal she -- and so many like her -- had endured was imprinted on the face of a young girl dressed in purple, as she sat opposite me on a mercy dash away from Mount Sinjar.
Read this story HERE
01:34 What has Vladimir Putin achieved on Syria after UN showdown?
Russian President Vladimir Putin made a dramatic push on Syria at a United Nations face-off with US rival Barack Obama. What does the Kremlin strongman want and, more importantly, what has he achieved so far?
Putin called in his speech to the General Assembly Monday for a broader UN-backed coalition to replace the current US-led grouping of Western and Sunni regional powers bombing Islamic State jihadists.
Putin called in his speech to the General Assembly Monday for a broader UN-backed coalition to replace the current US-led grouping of Western and Sunni regional powers bombing Islamic State jihadists.
Read this story HERE
01:12 Dhanush roped in as League brand ambassador for TN
Popular Tamil actor Dhanush was today roped in as brand ambassador of Hero Indian Super League football tournament's brand ambassador for Tamil Nadu.
"Dhanush will promote the sport and the league for the millions of football enthusiasts in the state of Tamil Nadu. As a passionate football fan, Dhanush will be wearing his team colours of Chennaiyin FC during the domestic football league," a release said.
"The inaugural season of the Hero Indian Super League revolutionised Indian football and brought quality football action for millions of fans across the country. This year, the league promises to be more competitive and captivating. As a keen football fan, I am excited to be a part of the league and promote the sport amongst all my fellow fans in our own language," Dhanush was quoted as saying.
00:47 Burdwan blast: Senior Jamaat Ul Mujahideen Bangladesh leader arrested
The Jharkhand police's Anti-Terrorism Squad arrested on Tuesday evening a 2014 Burdwan blast accused, a key operative of Bangladesh-based terrorist outfit Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh, from Ranchi-Ramgarh district border.
Tariq-ul-Islam alias Shadik alias Soman, a resident of Murshidabad district of Bengal, was arrested on a National Investigation Agency warrant, police said.Jharkhand additional director general of police (Operations) SN Pradhan said the arrest was the first success of the state ATS.
Though the Jharkhand ATS would be operational by mid-October, this operation was a test for the team, police said.
00:26 14 years after US invasion, Taliban offensive claims major city
The US military launched airstrikes against targets in Kunduz, Afghanistan on Tuesday, just a day after Taliban fighters caught the US army, the Afghan National Security Forces, and local security forces off guard by staging a massive military offensive to capture the key northern city.
Read this story HERE
00:26 Twitter looking to expand 140-character limit
Twitter users may soon be able to tweet more than just 140 characters at a time, a new report suggests.
According to Re/Code, the social network is working on a new product that will allow its users to tweet beyond the 140-character limit.
Read this story HERE
00:09 Top headlines of the last 24 hours
Setback for ISRO's Antrix; court orders it to pay $672 million as damages to Devas
No talking to boys, no Whatsapp, no birthdays: Chennai college's absurd rules for students
Italian aid worker killed in Bangladesh; IS claims responsibility
Modi supporters show slippers, chant PM's name at Nitish Kumar's rally
BSF rubbishes Pakistan's wall along border claim, calls it a 'story'
FTII students to continue stir as talks fail to end deadlock
No talking to boys, no Whatsapp, no birthdays: Chennai college's absurd rules for students
Italian aid worker killed in Bangladesh; IS claims responsibility
Modi supporters show slippers, chant PM's name at Nitish Kumar's rally
BSF rubbishes Pakistan's wall along border claim, calls it a 'story'
FTII students to continue stir as talks fail to end deadlock
TOP STORIES
© 2024 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances