LIVE! Sushma Swaraj likely to undergo kidney transplant on Saturday

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Fri, 09 December 2016

Sushma Swaraj likely to undergo kidney transplant on Saturday

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23:52 Do not give political colour to India's bid for nuke tech: FS to China

Calling for respecting each other's legitimate aspirations, India today said China should not give a political colour to its efforts to access civilian nuclear technology, a reference to Beijing's opposition to its NSG bid.

In his address to India China Think-Tanks Forum, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar also pitched for bilateral cooperation in dealing with "fundamentalist terrorism", expressing dismay over the two countries not being able to come together on the issue at critical international forums.

Talking about threat of terrorism, he said "As diverse and pluralistic societies, we both face threats from fundamentalist terrorism. Yet, we do not seem to be able to cooperate as effectively we should in some critical international forums dealing with this subject."

23:12

JUST IN: Jammu and Kashmir CM Mehbooba Mufti walks out of cabinet meeting after differences with BJP ministers over restructuring of state police

23:01 Maran claims he has done no wrong after CBI chargesheets him

Former Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran, who was today chargesheeted by the CBI for using high-speed data lines provided by state-run companies for the benefit of a TV channel run by his brother, claimed innocence, saying he has done "no wrong" and was ready to face the case

legally.

"I have repeatedly said I have done no wrong. A case related to this had come up before the Supreme Court last year and was heard by a bench headed by CJI T S Thakur, who had remarked that this case was made out because of political reasons," Maran, who was telecom minister between 2004 and

2007, said.

"An FIR that was filed 4 years ago and had been gathering dust has suddenly been revived now. I don't know the true background behind this. I have full faith in judiciary and I am ready to face the case legally....whatever the motive behind it," he said in a statement.

Maran, who has been accused of causing a loss of Rs 1.78 crore to the exchequer, said earlier the loss was pegged at Rs 484 crore, which was brought down to Rs 100 crore and now 1.78 crore.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is likely to undergo a kidney transplant on Saturday, a media report said.

Citing sources, IANS reported the operation may take place around 8.30 am.

AIIMS director MC Misra and surgeons VK Bansal and Sandeep Agarwal will be part of the team of doctors who would perform the transplant.

The organ for Sushma's transplant was being harvested from a living unrelated donor, according to the report.

Before a transplant, it is essential the recipient and the donor are fit for the procedure.

Apart from the surgeons, a team of doctors from other departments have also been constituted to monitor her health.

Swaraj, a severe diabetic patient, was undergoing dialysis whenever required.

US President Barack Obama ordered intelligence agencies to review cyber attacks and foreign intervention into the 2016 election and deliver a report before he leaves office on Jan. 20, homeland security adviser Lisa Monaco said on Friday.

Monaco told reporters the results of the report would be shared with lawmakers and others.

"The president has directed the intelligence community to conduct a full review of what happened during the 2016 election process ... and to capture lessons learned from that and to report to a range of stakeholders, to include the Congress," Monaco said during an event hosted by the Christian Science Monitor.

Monaco said cyber attacks were not new but might have crossed a "new threshold" this year.

Pakistan's new army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa today chaired a meeting to promote seven major generals to the rank of lieutenant generals, a major reshuffle ahead of the retirement of key military commanders.

The major generals were promoted after the Army Promotion Board met in Rawalpindi.

Those promoted include Maj Gen Nadeem Raza, Maj Gen Humayun Aziz, Maj Gen Naeem Ashraf, Maj Gen Muhammad Afzal, Maj Gen Sher Afgun, Maj Gen Qazi Ikram and Maj Gen Bilal Akbar, the army said in a statement.

Maj Gen Raza is presently working as commandant Pakistan Military Academy, Maj Gen Aziz as DG Welfare and Rehabilitation at GHQ, Maj Gen Ashraf at National Defence University, Maj Gen Afzal as DG Frontier Works Organisation, Maj Gen Afgun Inspector General Frontier Corps Balochistan, Maj Gen Ikram DG Personal Directorate at GHQ and Maj Gen Akbar as DG Rangers (Sindh).

Those promoted will be given new assignments.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of preparing an Islamic State inspired terror attack in the Netherlands after police found a loaded Kalashnikov and explosives alongside the groups flag.

The Dutch Public Prosecution Service (Openbaar Ministerie) said the 30-year-old suspect was taken into custody on Wednesday.

Searches of his home in Rotterdam uncovered an AL-47 with two loaded magazines, four boxes of highly explosive illegal fireworks, mobile phones and 1,600 in cash alongside an IS flag.

The suspect will remain in custody for at least two weeks as investigations continue.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi handpicked a trusted bureaucrat, little known outside India's financial circles, to spearhead a radical move to abolish 86 percent of the country's cash overnight and take aim at the huge shadow economy.

Hasmukh Adhia, the bureaucrat, and five others privy to the plan were sworn to utmost secrecy, say sources with knowledge of the matter. They were supported by a young team of researchers working in two rooms at Prime Minister Modi's residence, as he plotted his boldest reform since coming to power in 2014.

When announced, the abolition of high-value banknotes of 500 and 1,000 rupees came as a bolt from the blue.

The secrecy was aimed at outflanking those who might profit from prior knowledge, by pouring cash into gold, property and other assets and hide illicit wealth.

A 42-year-old man allegedly committed suicide after failing to withdraw cash to escape social ostracisation by a khap panchayat in eastern Rajasthans Karauli district, police said.

Police said Hari Mohan Chhipi of Barkheda village, around 180 km from Jaipur, jumped in front of a train on Tuesday, hours after he was allegedly asked by the traditional body of village elders to pay Rs 20,000 to his cousin over a land dispute.

According to the FIR, the khap panchayat slapped a fine of Rs 51,000 on Chhipi. He paid them Rs 11,000 twice after which the khap took the familys jewellery when Chhipi promised to pay the remaining amount in a few days.

On Tuesday, he approached the khap to buy more time to pay the fine. But the khap panchayat refused and asked him to pay them Rs 22,000 by the end of Tuesday.

Chhipi even sought a loan from his neighbours in the village but no one had so much money. He then failed to withdraw the amount from a local bank branch, which had run out of cash due to high demand after the governments decision to withdraw high-value banknotes, said Suresh, Chhipis brother, who lodged the FIR.

US President Obama has said he absolutely has been the victim of racism during his time in office.

The US President suggested the criticism he faced from whites in Southern states was a result of the colour of his skin.

He told CNN: "There's a reason why attitudes about my presidency among whites in Northern states are very different from whites in Southern states.

Are there folks whose primary concern about me has been that I seem foreign, the other? Are those who champion the "birther" movement feeding off of bias? Absolutely.

Racism was not a major element of mainstream Republican opposition to his presidency but was an issue on the political fringe, he added.

Obama has faced repeated questions about whether he was born in the US despite there being no evidence he was not.

US President-elect Donald Trump is among those who suggested Obama is not really American and that his birth certificate is a fake.

20:03

JUST IN: IED Blast near a petrol pump in Imphal, Manipur. 2 people injured

19:40 Railways, Metro, bus won't accept old Rs 500 notes after Dec 10

It is not so good news for people who have kept old Rs 500 notes to buy railway, metro or bus tickets as the government has decided to advance its last usage date from December 15 to December 10.

A notification was issued by the finance ministry indicating the changes.

In its FAQs, the Reserve Bank of India said using old Rs 500 notes will be discontinued with effect from December 10 midnight at railway ticketing counters, to buy tickets of government or public sector undertaking buses and to pay catering services on board during travel by rail.

It will also be discontinued for making payments to buy tickets for travel by suburban and metro rail services.

But the old Rs 500 notes will be accepted in government hospitals for medical treatment and pharmacies in government hospitals to buy medicines with doctor's prescription till December 15 as stated earlier.

It will also be accepted at milk booths operating under authorisation of the central or state governments, at crematoria and burial grounds, in all pharmacies on production of doctor's prescription and proof of identity and to purchase LPG cylinders.

Former media baron Peter Mukerjea, arrested in Sheena Bora murder case with his wife Indrani, today filed an application in the CBI court seeking permission to use a laptop in the prison so he could write his autobiography.

"I want to write an autobiography and for that I want a laptop without Internet in the jail,' Peter told the special CBI court judge H S Mahajan during the hearing today.

In a handwritten application, Peter also said he was finding it very difficult to write in long-hand. If allowed, he would work on the laptop for four hours a day and afterwards hand it back to jail authorities, the application said.

19:01 No birthday bash, says Rajinikanth

Tamil 'superstar' Rajinikanth has asked his fans to desist from celebrating his coming birthday on December 12 in view of the death of late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

Rajinikanth "requests his fans not to celebrate his birthday and avoid keeping banners and posters," his publicist said in a tweet.

When contacted, the publicist said the decision not to celebrate the birthday was taken in view of the demise of Jayalalithaa.

The 'Kabali' star turns 66 on December 12 and usually his birthday is celebrated in a grand manner by his fans.

Last year also, he did not celebrate his birthday following the torrential rains in Chennai and neighbouring districts that led to a deluge.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Pannerselvam, who assumed the top office after the passing away of incumbent and ruling AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa days ago, will chair the first meeting of his cabinet here tomorrow at the state secretariat.

The meeting is set to begin at 11.30 am when a resolution was expected to be adopted condoling the demise of the four-time chief minister Jayalalithaa on December 5, party sources said.

"Tamil Nadu Cabinet meeting tomorrow at 11.30 am. Honourable Chief Minister O Panneerselvam to chair the meet," AIADMK said in a tweet today.

Jayalalithaa, 68, died after suffering a cardiac arrest at the Apollo Hospitals while undergoing treatment for ailments since Sept 22.

Almost 85 per cent of country's cash dispensing machines had been recalibrated to fit the new notes till November 30 and the government has also advised banks to set up micro ATMs in rural areas to meet the cash

need post demonetisation, Parliament was informed today.

As on September 30, 2016 there were 2,11,594 ATMs of banks and 14,324 white label ATMs working across the country.

"There are 1,79,614 ATMs which have been recalibrated till November 30, 2016," Minister of State for Finance Santosh Kumar Gangwar said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

Gangwar said the government has advised banks to deploy micro ATMs in rural areas in all sub-service areas across the country.

He also informed the house that 1,14,036 micro ATMs have already been deployed as on December 2, 2016.

On being asked about the norms to set up ATMs, he said scheduled commercial banks, excluding regional rural banks, do not need the RBI permission to install ATMs at branches and extension counters.

The scheduled commercial banks can also install off-site ATMs without permission of the RBI subject to certain conditions, he added.

Besides, non-bank entities incorporated in India are also allowed to set up, own and operate ATMs that are known as White Label ATMs.

18:17

People block a road in Hyderabad after State Bank of India branch in Tolichowki failed to provide cash. Photograph: ANI

18:10

Industrial production contracts 1.9 per cent in October against 9.9 per cent growth in the same month last year.

17:45

State Bank of India to sell 3.9 pc stake in SBI Life to KKR, Temasek for Rs 1,794 crore.

17:43 Panel on digital payments submits report to FM

A committee, which was set up to suggest ways to make India a digital payment economy, today submitted its report to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

The panel, headed by former finance secretary Ratan P Watal, was set up in August.

It was entrusted with the task of recommending steps to promote card payments through incentives like tax rebates and cash back schemes.

The panel, sources said, reviewed the payments system in the country and recommended medium-term measures for encouraging digital payments, in line with global best practices.

It also studied the feasibility of creating a payments history of all card/digital payments and ensure that merchants/consumers can leverage the data to access "instant, low-cost micro-credit" through digital means and create necessary linkage between the payment history and credit information.

It has also recommended need for changes in the regulatory mechanism under various laws, relevant for the purpose of promotion of payments by digital modes.

It also suggested ways for leveraging Aadhaar, or any other proof of identity for authentication of card/digital transactions and setting up of a centralised KYC Registry.

The committee also delved into the scope of integration of all government systems like Public Finance Management System, PayGov, Bharatkosh and eKuber.

JUST IN: The Central Bureau of Investigation today arrested former IAF chief SP Tyagi for his alleged links with middlemen in the controversial Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland chopper deal.

Gautam Khaitan, Delhi-based lawyer and Sanjeev Tyagi alias Julie Tyagi were also arrested by the CBI.

The allegation against the former air chief was that he reduced flying ceiling of the helicopter from 6,000m to 4,500m (15,000ft) which put AgustaWestland helicopters in the race for the deal without which its choppers were not even qualified for submission of bids.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has hit back at Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar after he wrote a letter to the TMC chief expressing his displeasure over her allegations against the army for its recent exercise at toll gates in the state.

Attacking the government she said, "They are using the Army to achieve their political purpose."

"They don't know how to write a letter to a chief minister," she added.

Referring to Parrikar's letter, Mamata further said, "I take strong exception to your wild assertion."

Earlier, the defence minister wrote a letter to Mamata expressing 'deep pain' over her allegations and said they can 'adversely' impact the morale of the armed forces.

In a strongly-worded letter, Parrikar said that while political parties and politicians may have the luxury of making 'wild and unsubstantiated allegations against each other', one needs to be extremely careful while referring to the armed forces.

The Central Bureau of Investigation today filed a chargesheet against the then Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran and his brother Kalanithi among others for allegedly using 764 high-speed data lines at the former's residence which were used by a private TV channel causing loss of Rs 1.78 crore to the exchequer.

The chargesheet has been filed in a Special Court in Chennai under Indian Penal Code sections related to criminal conspiracy and forgery and relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, the CBI said.

The agency has alleged in the chargesheet that altogether 764 telephone numbers were provided to Dayanidhi for which no bills were raised causing a loss of Rs 1.78 crore to BSNL, Chennai and MTNL, Delhi.

The CBI also named the former minister's brother Kalanithi Maran who was Managing Director of Sun TV Network Limited, two the then Chief General Managers of BSNL, two executives of Sun TV network and an aide of Dayanidhi in the chargesheet.-- PTI

16:08 12 hurt as car rams into queue outside ATM

At least 12 persons were injured after a car, allegedly being driven by a drunk driver, today rammed into a queue outside an ATM in Solapur district, police said.

The injured have been admitted into a nearby hospital, where the condition of three is stated to be serious, police said.

The incident happened around 11 am at Atarnagar on the Solapur-Bijapur road, they said.

"We have registered a case against the driver under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and he has been arrested. Bijapur Road police is investigating the matter," Solapur CP Ravindra Sengaonkar said.

The car driver, who was allegedly in an inebriated state, was beaten up by the crowd and handed over to police.

JUST IN: The Supreme Court grants exemption to differently-abled persons from standing while the National Anthem is played in cinema halls.

Justice Dipak Misra while passing order said that differently-abled persons have exemption from standing while National Anthem would be played.

Earlier, the SC had made it compulsory for all cinema halls to play National Anthem at the start of every movie. -- ANI

Also read

His crusade made the national anthem a must at movie halls

I will not disrespect the National Anthem, but...

Crime Branch seized new notes worth Rs 10 lakh (approx) during a search operation near Gurugram, last night. Investigations are underway.

In Surat, Gujarat, police arrested four people carrying new notes worth Rs 76 lakh in new notes. The matter is under investigation.

Meanwhile, the income tax department conducted survey at Axis Bank's Chandni Chowk branch in New Delhi. 15 accounts at this branch are found to be fake and Rs 70 crore have been deposited in these fake accounts.

Since November 8, over Rs 450 crore have been deposited into different accounts in the Chandni Chowk branch of Axis Bank. ANI

14:51

Rajya Sabha adjourned for the day because of lack of quorum.

14:39

Scuffle broke out between police and locals after cops manhandled a lawyer in a queue outside a bank in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh. Photograph: ANI

14:08 SC asks Centre whether note ban decision was confidential

Supreme Court's three-judge bench hears plea on demoetisation matter.

Arguing for Centre, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi tells the SC that the government had taken all the necessary steps to ease inconveniences of the general public.

Prashant Bhushan tells the SC that there was no cash in ATMs, recalibration was not done well and cooperative banks were being discriminated.

SC asks the Centre to respond to whether district cooperative banks can be allowed to accept deposits in demonetised currency notes.

Supreme Court asks the Centre 'when you made the policy on demonetisation, was it confidential?'

The Chief Justice India asks Centre as to why order of the Union of granting limit of Rs 24,000 per day to a person was not been complied with?

The SC framed nine questions for adjudication to decide whether demonetisation was unconstitutional or not.

The SC will resume hearing the demonetisation matter on December 14.

As the other OBC groups in the AIADMK feel restive over the dominance of Thevars in the party in the wake of Jayalalithaa's demise -- both Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and Sasikala are Thevars -- all-out efforts are underway to ensure that this does not spill over into a full-scale war leading to a split in the party.

Sources said a peace formula is being worked out whereby the other caste groups, notably the Gounders, are pacified with distribution of important party posts.

It is the pressure to ensure that the party remains united, for at least a year if not longer, that is said to have led to squabbles among AIADMK's top leadership. Things could take a turn for the worse if these differences come out in the open.

A committee of chief ministers, bankers and technocrats, headed by Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu, met Reserve Bank of India Governor Urjit Patel and other deputy governors on Thursday to discuss how to implement the digital push at the state level and also the impact of demonetisation, reports Anup Roy in Business Standard.

The attendees discussed the road map towards complete digital transformation but more specifically how the push could be implemented at the state level.

'The committee discussed "using the current infrastructure (Aadhaar-enabled instruments, unified payment interface, point of sales machines, mobile phones etc) and how do we accelerate that,' Axis Bank Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Shikha Sharma told reporters after the meeting,' Roy reports, and that there was no time period fixed for the road map, but Sharma said the committee would look to implement it "as fast as we can'.

You can read the full report here.

South Korea parliament impeaches scandal-hit President Park Geun-hye, AFP reports.

Engulfed by a corruption scandal that has transfixed the nation and paralysed her administration, Park must now confront the prospect of going down as the first democratically-elected South Korean president to be kicked out of office.

This will result in immediate suspension of Park's substantial executive powers and their transfer to her prime minister.

She would be allowed to retain her title pending a ruling by the Constitutional Court which has up to six months to decide whether or not to ratify the impeachment and formally end her presidency.

Union ministers Venkaiah Naidu and Ananth Kumar speak on uproar created by the Opposition in the House and demand for PM's apology over 'demonetisation deaths'.

"Lakhs of people committed suicide due to distress under your (Congress) regime. Who are you preaching?" Naidu said.

"Nationally, the PM got a mandate in his favour in bypolls, internationally, he got it in the form of Time magazine's Person of the Year peoples choice poll, what more mandate do you want," Naidu asked the Opposition.

While Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar asked the Opposition to apologise instead of seeking an apology from the PM.

"The Opposition is running away from discussion as they dont have any logic. They must apologise," he said.

Meanwhile, replying to Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, Union minister Smriti Irani said, "His remarks only shake the Congress party, not anyone else. He overestimates his ability to speak."

Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson G V L Narasimha Rao said that the Congress vice president was not taken seriously even by his own party, adding that he is like Uttara Kumar of Mahabharata, who makes tall claims but in reality is a coward and comic character.

12:52

JUST IN: Two dead in explosion in Nirma factory in Bhavnagar(Gujarat).

More details awaited

12:17

JUST IN: Parliament security breach matter: Motion adopted in Lok Sabha to suspend Aam Aadmi Party MP Bhagwant Mann for remaining days of winter session.

Lok Sabha adjourned till Wednesday amid uproar.

12:07

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2.30 pm as uproar over demonetisation continues.

11:58 An earthquake will come if I'm allowed to speak in Lok Sabha: Rahul

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi addresses media after Lok Sabha was adjourned:

* Since a month we've been trying debate on demonetisation. We want the issue to be clear.

* The prime minister is speaking on the issue at different places in the country, why is he so scared of coming to Lok Sabha and speaking on it?

* This (note ban) is the biggest scam in the history of India. I want to speak in Lok Sabha about it. I will tell everything there.

* Government running from debate. If they allow me to speak then you will see what an earthquake will come.

A bank manager was allegedly confined and thrashed by a group of angry customers after the bank ran out of cash in Muzaffarnagar, police said on Friday.

As per the complaint filed by Anil Kumar, bank manager at Punjab National Bank branch at Jasoi village, he was attacked by a group of 20 people on Thursday after he announced that the bank had ran out of money, Station House Officer Bhanu Pratap Singh said.

An FIR has been registered against 20 persons, including four identified accused, for assaulting the bank official and disrupting official work, he said.

In another incident of raging dissatisfaction among people over lack of adequate cash in banks and ATMs, the road outside an SBI bank branch at Charthaval village in Muzaffarnagar was blocked by irate customers on Thursday evening.

The police said that the aggrieved customers were protesting against cash crunch.

A police team was sent to the spot to pacify them, they said, adding that the situation was brought to control.

Image for representation only. Photograph: PTI Photo

11:35

JUST IN: Both Houses adjourned till noon after uproar and sloganeering by opposition members over note ban issue.

11:31

Read Defence Minister Manohar Parrkar's letter to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee here.

11:28 Note exchange commissions fall in grey market

Money changers are now exchanging new currency for old for a 15% commission of the amount, down from 30-40% in the first two weeks after demonetisation was announced, reports Shrimi Choudhary in Business Standard.

'After the initial frenzy, the grey market rate for exchanging old currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 with new notes has cooled down. Money changers are now exchanging new currency for old for a 15 per cent commission of the amount, down from 30-40 per cent in the first two weeks after demonetisation was announced. Today, if one has to exchange unaccounted money worth Rs 1 lakh, the money operator will deduct Rs 15,000,' the report says.

You can read it here.

11:16

Lok Sabha adjourned till 11.30 am after uproar over note ban.

11:07 Hackers claim to have Mallya's bank details, baron says will fix it

Liquor baron Vijay Mallyas Twitter account has been hacked and details of his emails, passwords and bank accounts have been posted by a group called Legion

My account has been hacked by some one called Legion who are Tweeting now in my name. Simply ignore. Will fix this (sic), Mallya tweeted.

Outfit called Legion has hacked my e-mail accounts and are blackmailing me!! What a joke, he said in another tweeted.

Following are some of the tweets posted by Legion from Mallyas twitter handle:

Hello We are back with - Vijay mallya's assets at several banks All known passwords of Mr Mallya.

This is just a partial dump More data will be coming over the course of a few days ;) We are legion. Do not f*** with us.

Legion will release a list of all documents pertaining to mallya over the course of few days.

More info on Mallyas bank accounts & foreign assets will be published as the investigation is completed in some other matters.

We did not blackmail Mallya, any and all rumours are assumptions and fake! He is creating propaganda.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar writes to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, expressing pain over dragging the Army into a controversy.

'I have been deeply pained by your allegations as reported in the media. If only you had enquired with the concerned agencies of the state government, you would have come to know of the extensive correspondence between the army and the state agencies, including the joint inspection of sites carried out by them,' the defence minister wrote.

Last week, the CM objected to the presence of army personnel at toll plazas in the state, asking was it an 'army coup'. She alleged that the armed forces didn't take necessary permission from the state authorities to conduct such an exercise.

The army had later released its correspondence with the WB police to reject the charges.

'Your allegations in this regard run the risk of adversely impacting the morale of the country's armed forces,' Parrikar wrote in his letter to WB CM.

Political parties and the politicians mat have the luxury of making wild and unsubstantiated allegations against each other but one needs to be extremely careful while referring to our armed forces, Parrikar wrote.

Just In: Supreme Court upholds maintainability of appeals filed by Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala against the 2007 award of Cauvery water dispute tribunal. The court says its interim orders on the issue to continue.

10:33

Congress leaders wish party president Sonia Gandhi on her 70th birthday in New Delhi. Photograph: ANI

09:10 Cop suspended for slapping veteran in bank queue

An ex-serviceman was repeatedly slapped by a policeman in a bank queue in Bagalkot in Karnataka on Thursday.

The policeman has now been suspended. -- ANI

09:06 Anantnag encounter continues

Encounter between terrorists and security forces continues in Arwani, Anantnag.

At least three Lashkar-e-Tayyaba terrorists were killed in the encounter on Thursday.

The Railway authorities had suspended train services from Budgam-Banihal due to the encounter.

Fresh exchange of fire started between terrorists and security forces in the early morning hours.

Image for representation only.

08:18 PM Modi greets Sonia on 70th birthday

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Fridya greeted Congress president Sonia Gandhi on her 70th birthday wishing her a long life filled with good health.

Birthday wishes to Smt Sonia Gandhi. May Almighty bless her with a long life filled with good health (sic), Modi tweeted.

Gandhi was born on this day in 1946.

The PM's tweet extending birthday wishes to Gandhi was also retweeted by Union minister Smriti Irani.

An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 hit off the Solomon Islands at 1738 GMT on Thursday, the US Geological Survey said.

The quake was initially reported to be of magnitude 8.0.

"Hazardous tsunami waves from this earthquake are possible within the next three hours along some coasts of Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Nauru, New Caledonia, Tuvalu and Kosrae," the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.

00:10 Rolling Stone Mick Jagger father again at 73

Veteran British rocker Mick Jagger was today celebrating becoming a father again aged 73, his publicist said, as his Rolling Stones band look set to top the album charts for the first time in two decades.

The singer's 30-year-old ballerina partner Melanie Hamrick gave birth to a son in New York today, according to a statement released on behalf the singer.

Jagger's new son is some two and a half years younger than the singer's great-granddaughter, who was born in May 2014.

"Melanie Hamrick and Mick Jagger's son was born today in New York and they are both delighted," said publicist Bernard Doherty.

"Mick was at the hospital for the arrival. Mother and baby are doing well and we request that the media respect their privacy at this time."

Jagger already has seven children ranging in age from 17 to 46 from four previous relationships: Karis, Jade, Elizabeth, James, Georgia, Gabriel and Lucas.

He has five grandchildren and, since May 2014, a great-grandchild after his granddaughter Assisi gave birth to a baby girl.

The Syrian army has halted its attacks on Syria's Aleppo to allow for the evacuation of civilians, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday.

"I can tell you that today, combat operations by the Syrian army have been halted in eastern Aleppo because there is a large operation underway to evacuate civilians," he said in Munich, Germany, cited by Russian news agencies.

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