LIVE
Sat, 09 April 2016
Mogadishu blast kills 3, injures 5

Timeline  Refresh

image
22:46   Mogadishu blast kills 3, injures 5
At least three people were killed and five others were wounded Saturday when a car bomb detonated near a restaurant in Mogaishu, the Somali capital, according to the Somali National News Agency.

The explosion took place at lunchtime, the agency reported, quoting officials.

There were no immediate reports of a claim of responsibility.

The Somali government, with help from the United States and the African Union, is battling the militant group Al-Shabaab, which is affiliated with al-Qaeda. And at least four Al-Shabab militants were killed Thursday in heavy fighting in the central part of the country, the agency reported.

Somalia, a country about the size of Texas, is located on the horn of Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. Al-Shabab has been waging an insurgency in the country for about 10 years.
image
22:24   Austria plans to seize house where Hitler born
The Austrian government says it plans to seize the house where Adolf Hitler was born to stop it being a focal point for Nazi sympathisers.
Officials say the decision was taken after several years of discussion about how to prevent neo-Nazi interest.
Hitler was born in the house in the town of Braunau am Inn in April, 1889.
The property has been leased from its owner by the government since 1972, and it was used for many years as a centre for people with disabilities.

But it fell empty in 2011 following a dispute between the government and the owner, Gerlinde Pommer, who refused to grant permission for renovation.

The new plan would include an offer of compensation from the state to her, interior ministry spokesman Karl-Heinz Grundboeck said.

"We are currently examining the creation of a law, which would force a change of ownership and pass the property to the Republic of Austria.
image
21:44   Migrant crisis: 'First deaths in Aegean' since Turkey deal
Four women and a child have died after their boat capsized off the Greek island of Samos.

They are thought to be the first deaths in the area since a new deal with Turkey came in to force on Monday with the aim of deterring migrants.

Five other people were saved and a search is under way for four more.

This week, dozens of migrants were returned to Turkey under the new deal with the EU, which has been criticised by human rights groups.

Survivors from the latest drowning told officials that they were travelling on a 3.5-metre (11.5ft) vessel made of plastic.

Read more HERE.
image
20:45   Pak Navy successfully test-fires shore-based anti-ship missile
Pakistan Navy today successfully test-fired shore-based anti-ship missile 'Zarb', bolstering its defence mechanism.
The missile was launched from a coastal site and successfully hit the surface target in the Arabian Sea, a statement released by Director General Public Relations said.

Naval chief Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah said the launch of new missile system was part of Pakistan Navys continuous effort to enhance its capabilities. 

He termed the successful test as hallmark of Pakistan Navys preparedness.

Deputy Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi said that with the successful test launch significant capability has been added to the Pakistan Navy's arsenal. 

He said that it would further bolster the defence mechanism of the country and contribute towards peace and stability in the region, according to the statement.
image
20:37   Paris attacks suspect Abrini charged with 'terrorist murders'
Belgian-Moroccan Mohamed Abrini has been charged with "participation in the activities of a terrorist group and terrorist murders" over the November 13 Paris massacres, Belgian prosecutors said today.
But "it was not possible yet to confirm that Mohamed Abrini indeed was the third suspect", the so-called "man in the hat" seen with the two suicide bombers at Brussels airport on March 22, the prosecutor's office said in a statement. 
image
20:21   Jaya announces prohibition in TN if AIADMK voted back to power
Seeking to turn the tables on the opposition which is promising prohibition if voted to power, AIADMK supremo and Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today assured a dry law in Tamil Nadu in a staggered manner.
     
Launching a tirade against arch rival and DMK chief M Karunanidhi for supporting prohibition, she pointed out that he had relaxed the dry law in 1971 and was raking up the matter for poltical reasons.

"Listen voters, prohibition was launched in Salem in 1937 and was extended in a phased manner and on January 30 1948, total prohibtion was launched in TN," she said launching her party's election campaign at the Island grounds here. 

Jayalalithaa noted that prohibition was relaxed in 1971 August by the Karunanidhi government.

Assuring implementation of prohibition in Tamil Nadu, where liquor sales fetches about Rs 30,000 crore revenue, she said "when AIADMK assumes power again, total prohibition will be implemented in a phased manner," drawing loud applause. 
image
20:12   4.5-magnitude earthquake jolts Nepal
An earthquake measuring 4.5 on the Richter Scale today hit Kathmandu and its surrounding areas, nearly a year after two devastating tremors killed over 9,000 people in Nepal.
No loss of life was reported.

The epicentre of the quake lied near Bhainsepati of Lalitpur, according to the National Seismological Centre.

The residents of the city rushed out of their houses when the quake hit the city at around 7 PM. 
image
19:52   Somalia executes two Shebab fighters for killing journalist
Two members of Somalia's Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab jihadist group were executed by firing squad today for the murder of a journalist killed by a car bomb last year, a judge said.
Abdirisak Mohamed Barow et Hassan Nur Ali, who admitted being Shebab members during their trial, were shot today morning in Mogadishu, Abdulahi Hussein Mohamed, deputy judge of the supreme military court told reporters. 

"Both of them were found guilty of murdering journalist Hindiyo Haji Mohamed whose car was blown with explosive device," Hussein said.
National television journalist Mohamed was killed in December when his car blew up as he returned home from a university class in Mogadishu.
The military court recently rejected an appeal by the men -- and indeed increased their sentence from life imprisonment to execution.
image
19:19   'No comparison between beef ban demand, call for liquor ban'
In remarks that may kick up a debate in poll-bound Kerala, a senior CPI(M) leader today said there is no comparison between Sangh Parivar's demand for a complete ban on beef and Catholic Church's call for a ban on liquor.

Opposing Sangh outfits' demand for beef ban in the country, CPI(M) Politburo member M A Baby said buffalo meat contains lot of proteins while liquor is a social threat.

"These are two separate issues," he told reporters when asked how he, as a Communist leader, compares the Catholic church's demand for total liquor prohibition and Sangh outfits' demand for beef ban in a liberal society.

"Beef is a food item which gives lot of protein to the poor. Liquor is a social threat. So liquor and beef cannot be compared," the CPI(M) leader said at a meet-the-press programme, organised by the Ernakulam Press Club.
image
18:20   6th suspect arrested in Brussels attacks raids: official
A sixth person was arrested over the Brussels airport and metro bombings, in raids which netted Paris attacks suspect Mohamed Abrini, Belgian prosecutors said today.
The Belgian federal prosecutor's office had said that five people were arrested in the raids yesterday, but a spokesman confirmed a sixth was being held when contacted today. He declined to give any details. 
image
17:49   North Korea boasts test of engine technology for intercontinental missile
North Korea tested a new engine for an intercontinental ballistic missile, according to its state-run news agency.

In a clear challenge to the United States, the KCNA proclaimed: "The great success made in the test provided a firm guarantee for mounting another form of nuclear attack upon the U.S. imperialists and other hostile forces."

This is the latest in a litany of reports made by the North Korean regime about its weapons development. This year alone, the country has that said it successfully conducted a hydrogen bomb test and miniaturized nuclear warheads to fit on ballistic missiles.

Read more HERE.
image
17:35   Bangladeshi al Qaeda wing declares war on atheists
Bangladeshi officials are investigating a claim of responsibility by al Qaeda's wing in South Asia for the machete murder of a secular blogger in the capital of Dhaka.

"We are seriously looking into it," said Anisul Huq, Bangladesh's minister for law.

"Unless we are totally sure that this claim ... is authentic, I don't think we will be commenting on it."

Read more HERE.
image
16:52   Thinking of implementing odd-even for 15 days every month: Kejriwal
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal lists out the rules and exceptions for the second round of the odd-even scheme being implemented in the national capital from April 15. 

Here are the highlights:

1) Chief ministers of states will be exempted
2) Vehicles carrying children wearing school uniform will be exempted
3) Metro will do 252 more trips, 30 more coaches have been added
4) Delhi CM and ministers are NOT exempted 
5) We are thinking about implementing Odd-Even for 15 days every month
image
16:33   Shoe thrown at Delhi CM Kejriwal during odd-even announcement
A man identified as Ved Sharma has been detained after he hurled a shoe at Arvind Kejriwal this afternoon when the Delhi chief minister had just begun giving out details of the odd-even scheme for cars which will run again from April 15. The shoe landed near Kejriwal, missing him.

Sharma, who  is believed to be from a lesser known breakaway faction of AAP called the Aam Admi Sena, was whisked away as soon as her hurled the shoe and a CD at Kejriwal. 

He claimed that he had done a sting operation on Kejriwal regarding an alleged CNG scam in Delhi.
image
15:41   Maharashtra stands to lose Rs 100 crore if IPL is shifted: Thakur
A day after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said he is fine with the IPL moving out of the drought-affected Maharashtra, his party colleague and BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur warned that doing so will result in a loss of Rs 100 crore for the state. 

"Maharashtra gains Rs 100 crore from IPL and if the tournament goes out of the state, it will be a loss for the state," Thakur said. Faced with criticism over huge quantity of water usage for pitches for IPL, Fadnavis had yesterday said "we do not have any problem, if IPL is shifted from Maharashtra this season. No potable water will be provided for IPL this year." 

Thakur suggested the money earned from IPL can be better utilised by the Maharashtra government for tackling drought and taking relief measures for the affected population. It can be noted that Maharashtra will be hosting 18 matches, spread across Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur, during the this year's season of the popular domestic T20 tournament. 

He clarified the BCCI, too, is very concerned about the water crisis in the state and does not want to use potable water for maintaining the grounds. It is also mulling to adopt drought-hit villages along with the franchises, who have been asked to prepare a report on what else can be done on the drought-mitigation front, Thakur said. 

The franchises and BCCI will be presenting their side to the Bombay high court on April 12 during hearing of a petition on shifting the IPL matches out of the state in the wake of water scarcity, he said.
image
15:14   China blocks Economist, Time websites over Xi Jinping articles
The Economist and Time have joined the list of foreign news websites currently blocked in mainland China. The sites appear to have been censored as a result of recently published cover articles in the magazines critical of the growing power of China's president, Xi Jinping. 

According to GreatFire.org, a website that tracks internet and social media censorship in China, The Economist's website and its cover article have been completely censored since April 2.  

GreatFire.org also shows that those searching for the Time website or the magazine's cover article have experienced frequent connection resets since April 5. The two magazines published cover articles online this week examining the tightening control Xi has exerted over Chinese politics and the cult of personality he has built around himself.
image
14:32   Tourists in Goa to have a tough time as taxis to off road on April 11
Tourists in Goa may face a difficult time on April 11 as all the 15,000-odd taxi operators in the state have decided to keep their vehicles off the road demanding a ban on rent-a-car and related businesses.

All Goa Tourist Taxi Owners Association and South Goa Tourist Taxi Owners Association is spearheading the strike demanding a ban on rent-a-car and rent-a-bike businesses claiming it has severely affected their business.

"The taxi owners are forced to act this way because the state government has miserably failed to look into our demands. The government has left us with no other option than to show the strength on the streets. Not a single taxi will ply on Monday (April 11)," Vinayak Nanoskar, general secretary, All Goa Taxi Owners' Association said.

"This is required to make government understand our importance in the tourism trade," he added.

There are in all 15,000 taxi operators who are affiliated to both these organisations.

"No taxi will be available at the airport, railway station or hotels. Even all the taxi stands across the state will be closed. We have also appealed passenger rickshaws to join us and they have agreed. Its a do or die situation for us," Nanoskar said.
image
14:18   UN chief offers his "good offices" to resolve Indo-Pak issues
With Pakistan announcing that the bilateral peace process with India has been "suspended", UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said that the offer of his "good offices" to help resolve the conflict stands but it is up to both nations to seek it. 

"Whenever there is a conflict, an issue, between member states, the Secretary-General's offer for good offices stands as a matter of principle. But, that has to be agreed on and asked for by both parties," Ban's spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters.

Dujarric was responding to a question at his daily briefing about whether the Secretary-General would like to offer his good offices given that the peace talks between India and Pakistan were "interrupted" again.

Introducing a fresh chill in Indo-Pak ties, Pakistan High Commissioner to India, Abdul Basit on April 7 said the bilateral peace process stands "suspended".

He also poured cold water on India's expectations that a team of NIA investigators would be allowed to visit Pakistan in connection with the Pathankot terror strike probe on the basis of reciprocity, a Pakistani Joint Investigation Team having just concluded a visit to India.
image
13:47   Mamata hits back at PM Modi, terms BJP as Bhayanak Jali Party
Countering Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks that Trinamool Congress stood for Terror, Maut and Corruption, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee  termed the BJP as Bhayanak Jali Party.

Hitting back at the prime minister, the Trinamool Congress head honcho also said that his comments do not befit the office he holds and dared him to arrest her. "I fight with my head held high. I never bow my head before anyone. The prime minister can arrest me if he wishes to, I don't care," she said while addressing an election rally in West Bengal's Asansol.

Mamata further told the prime minister that she was not his "domestic help" and said that he spoke like an RSS volunteer. "Making big speeches is easy but working for people is difficult. The prime minister spoke like a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh worker," she said.

Regretting that PM Modi made personal attacks on her whenever he came to the state, she said one needed to be more retrained in his public utterances.
image
13:40  
JUST IN: TMC leader Joydev Jana attacked by unknown people last night as he was returning home; taken to hospital where doctors confirmed his death.
image
12:59   Naqvi to offer chadar on behalf of PM at Ajmer Dargah
With the message of peace and communal harmony, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today handed over a 'chadar' to Minister of State for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi to be offered at the dargah of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti in Ajmer.

Naqvi will offer the chadar tomorrow morning. Along with the chadar, the PM \ gave a message of peace and harmony which would be read out by Naqvi tomorrow at the dargah. Thousands of pilgrims have thronged Ajmer for the 804th Urs of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, revered equally by Hindus and Muslims around the world.
image
12:29   Raj Thackeray dares Owaisi: `Come to Maharashtra, I'll put a knife to your throat`
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray slammed the Owaisi brothers (Asaduddin and Akbaruddin). Alleging the Asaduddin Owaisi and Akbaruddin Owaisi are financed by BJP, Thackeray dared the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslim chief to come to Maharashtra. 

"Come to Maharashtra, I will put a knife to your throat,' he challenged Asaduddin Owaisi on his remark that he would not chant 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' even if a knife is put to his throat.
image
12:01   How Modi saves time on foreign tours
Check-in bags are not coming off Air India One these days, as on most of the nights, the prime minister aims at sleeping on the plane rather than in foreign hotels to shorten his trips. 

In his latest trips to Belgium, US and Saudi Arabia between March 30 and April 2, Narendra Modi spent three nights on Air India One -- while in transit from Delhi to Brussels, from Brussels to Washington DC and from there to Riyadh.  

Read more HERE
image
11:41   'I'm a law-abiding citizen, cooperating with I-T department'
Amitabh Bachchan said he is a law-abiding citizen of the country and has been cooperating with the Income Tax Department following the article carried by DNA on April 8 talking of  brush with the Income Tax Department right from 2009 and how his loans were paid off using offshore entities ('Amar Singh lobbied with former PM Chandrashekhar to bail out Bachchan').

He also  denied being part of any company in tax-haven Panama."I am happy that the government of India has instituted a thorough investigation on this issue, for, I myself am keen to know how my name appears in connection with those four companies," the 73-year-old actor added.

The Congress had on Thursday demanded that Bachchan be removed as Maharashtra's ambassador for the 'Save Tiger' project and as advisor for the development of BKC's International Financial Centre after his name surfaced in the Panama Papers.

Read his full statement HERE.
image
11:23   It's a big honour to introduce the Royal couple: Shah Rukh
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan says it's a great honour for him to introduce Britain's Royal couple Prince William and Kate Middleton. They are arriving on their first visit to India on Sunday, April 10. 

They Royal couple will be given a starry reception on their arrival in the city which will be attended by film stars including SRK, Aamir Khan, Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor, Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, according to the British High Commission. 

"There will be lot of actors and friends so it will be fun. I think it's a big honour to be there and introduce them and be nice. "We will decide if they want to see the film ('Fan') or not. In England they still watch our films. So hopefully let's see," Shah Rukh said when asked if he is planning a special screening of "Fan" for the Royal couple.

image
11:09   Ambedkar's birth anniversary to be observed for first time at UN
The birth anniversary of B R Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution and Dalit rights activist, would be observed at the United Nations for the first time with focus on combating inequalities to achieve Sustainable Development Goals.

The permanent mission of India to the UN in association with the Kalpana Saroj Foundation and Foundation For Human Horizon will commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of Ambedkar on April 13 at the UN headquarters here, a day before his birthday.

On the occasion, a panel discussion will be organised on 'Combating inequalities for the achievement of SDGs'.

"Babasaheb's birth anniversary to be observed at UN for the first time with focus on combating inequalities to achieve SDGs," India's permanent representative to the UN Syed Akbaruddin tweeted.
image
10:34   Vijay Mallya seeks more time from ED, says can't appear today
Vijay Mallya has written to the Enforcement Directorate seeking more time to appear before it. Mallya says he can't appear today as he is negotiating with banks. 

The agency had issued fresh summons, also the third, last week to  Mallya asking him to appear before it on April 9, after he sought two extensions from the earlier dates of March 18 and April 2 citing certain official reasons. 

Mallya was first summoned by the agency to "appear in person" at its office in Mumbai on March 18 but he sought more time citing his prior engagements, following which the agency asked him to depose on April 2. 

Mallya, who is facing legal proceedings for alleged default of loans worth over Rs 9,000 crore from various banks, was also on Friday directed by the Supreme Court to disclose by April 21 the total assets owned by him and his family in India and abroad.
image
10:28   Tanker water used to fill sacred pond in Maharashtra
Ramkund, the sacred pond on the banks of Godavari river  which had dried up, was finally filled with water from tankers and wells. Nashik mayor Ashok Murtadak said he had appealed to owners of water tankers to pour water in Ramkund. 

"They (owners of water tankers) gave response and filled Ramkund yesterday using waters from 50-60 tanks," he said. 

It was for the first time in last 139 years that Ramkund had dried up as water stock in Gangapur dam had gone down due to severe drought and scanty rainfall last year.
image
09:49   Panama Papers: PM Modi wants first report in 15 days
Keen to probe the Panama Papers revelations at the earliest, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked for a report within 15 days. PM Modi has sought a report with a fortnight of it first appearing in the Indian Express on April 4.

The newspaper said that PM Modi on his arrival from his five-day Belgium-US-Saudi Arabia official trip at around 1:30 am on the intermediate night of April 3-4, called officials at 7.30 am to discuss the Panama Papers issue.

Expressing concern, the PM asked them to ensure that the matter is probed at the earliest. 

Importantly, the PM was clear in his mind that the matter should not be referred to the Special Investigation Team on blackmoney. 

The PM felt that the matter should be probed by a small group of domain experts as the handing over the case to the SIT would mean a delay as the team will take its own time to arrive at conclusions.
image
08:56  
JUST IN: This will be a huge jolt for the Congress in Assam. The Assam Pradesh Congress spokesperson Pramod Swami has quit the party and joined the BJP.
image
08:44   Ajit Doval calls Pakistan's NSA, complains about Basit's statement
Indian National Security Adviser NSA) Ajit Doval contacted his Pakistani counterpart Nasir Khan Janjua and expressed his dissatisfaction over Pakistans High Commissioner Abdul Basit's remarks.

Source say that Doval asked his Pakistani counterpart to reject the high commissioners statement.

Doval said that the statement may also negatively affect the upcoming expected visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi if Pakistan does not takes a clear stance over the issue.

Pakistani High Commissioner Abdul Basit, in a talk with the media, had earlier stated that Pakistan is desirous of peaceful relations with its neighbor but India was not cooperating on any level.

Basit added that India is not willing for comprehensive talks with Pakistan, which was why the peace process remained suspended between both countries. 

TOP STORIES