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Tue, 09 February 2016
Refugee crisis: Why Scandinavian countries are trying to look bad

Timeline  Refresh

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23:29   Refugee crisis: Why Scandinavian countries are trying to look bad
Denmark has had its fair share of bad press lately.

In British newspaper The Guardian, an opinion cartoon depicting Danish PM Lars Lokke Rasmussen as a Nazi with a pork fetish was a new low in the press coverage of the small kingdom, which normally attracts praise for its happy people and social equality.

Just days ago, the New York Times deemed a new set of policies relating to refuges "cruel." Elsewhere in Scandinavia the same reversal of policies is taking place -- all designed to reverse the image of the Scandinavian countries as welcoming societies.

Read more HERE.
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22:29   Siachen survivor's family arrived in New Delhi
The family members of Siachen avalanche survior Lance Naik Hanamanthappa have arrived in New Delhi.

"We can't even describe how happy we are," Subhash, Brother-in-law of Lance Naik Hanamanthappa.

Hanamanthappa Koppad, who was miraculously found alive after remaining buried under snow for six days, is comatose and his condition is extremely critical, Army Hospital Research and Referral said after he was flown in to New Delhi from Siachen Glacier on Tuesday.
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21:33   IS car bomb in Syrian capital kills 10
A suicide car bomber dispatched by the Islamic State group struck near a police officers' club in the Syrian capital today, killing at least 10 people and destroying a number of cars.
Syrian state TV reported the toll and showed footage of the blast scene in Damascus, including several damaged vehicles and a burnt-out car. The police officers' club was next to a vegetable market.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition group that tracks the civil war, said the blast killed eight policemen and wounded 20.

The IS group claimed the bombing in a statement circulated by its followers on Twitter, saying it was carried out by a fighter known as Abu Abdul-Rahman al-Shami. It vowed more attacks.
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21:21   London School of Economics releases Ambedkar archives
UK's prestigious London School of Economics has released archival documents on Dr B R Ambedkar, one of its famous students and architect of the Indian Constitution, to mark his 125th birth anniversary.
Ambedkar was studying at the Columbia University in 1920 when economist Edwin R Seligman wrote to Professor Herbert Foxwell, teaching at London School of Economics, asking him to help Ambedkar with his research.

"I find he has already taken his doctor's degree and has only come here to finish a research. I had forgotten this. I am sorry we cannot identify him with the School but there are no more worlds here for him to conquer," Foxwell wrote to LSE secretary Mrs Mair soon after.
The Dalit leader's student days in London were marked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last November when he opened a museum at his former home in north London.
Ambedkar went on to register for a master's degree and completed a PhD thesis at LSE. 
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21:16   Family of Siachen avalanche survior Lance Naik Hanamanthappa leaves for Delhi
The family members of Siachen avalanche survior Lance Naik Hanamanthappa have left for New Delhi.

Hanamanthappa Koppad, who was miraculously found alive after remaining buried under snow for six days, is comatose and his condition is extremely critical, Army Hospital Research and Referral said after he was flown in to New Delhi from Siachen Glacier on Tuesday.

Fortunately, there was no cold exposure-related frost bite or bony injuries to him, a medical bulletin issued by the hospital said.

Hanamanthappa is still critical.
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20:36   Peshawar school carnage: Pak SC stays execution of 3 convicts
Pakistan's Supreme Court today stayed the execution of three men convicted by a military court for their involvement in the Peshawar school carnage that killed at least 150 people, mostly children, in 2014.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Dost Muhammad and Justice Qazi Faez Isa ordered a stay on the implementation of the military court decision, which convicted Mohammad Zubair, Ali Rehman and Taj Mohammad, the Dawn reported.

The families of the convicts had challenged the military court verdict through petitions filed in the Peshawar high court, however, after PHC dismissed the appeals, they moved the Supreme Court through advocate Latif Afridi.

During the hearing, Afridi claimed that the high court did not even open the record and dismissed the appeals without hearing them.

The court issued notices to the attorney general and jail branch, and directed the former to explain the dismissal of the appeals. The hearing was subsequently adjourned to February 16, the report said.

The attack by Taliban on an army-run school in Peshawar on December 16, 2014 killed at least 150 people, mostly children.

On December 2 last year, four terrorists involved in the massacre were hanged at a civil jail in Kohat. The hangings were the first executions of civilians convicted by Pakistan's military courts.
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20:11   Special prayers at Varanasi ghat for Siachen survivor
Special prayers are being offered at Ganga Ghat in Varanasi for speedy recovery of Lance Naik Hanumanthappa Koppad, who was rescued from Siachen after being buried under 35-ft snow for six days.

Koppad is comatose and has been put on life support. Doctors said his condition is 'extremely critical'. They said the next 24 hhours are crucial for his recovery.
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19:40   Siachen tragedy: Jaya announces Rs 10 lakh each to kin of 4 TN jawans
Tamil Nadu government today announced Rs 10 lakh each to the families of four army jawans from the state killed in the avalanche in Siachen.

Announcing the relief, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in a statement here expressed grief over the death of Havildar M Elumalai of Vellore, Havildar S Kumar of Theni, Sepoy G Ganesan from Madurai and Sepoy N Ramamurthy from Krishnagiri district and conveyed her sympathies their families.

'I was grieved to know that four soldiers from Tamil Nadu who were involved in guarding the nation were killed in the avalanche,' she said in a statement.   Jayalalithaa said she had ordered granting a sum of Rs 10 lakh each to the families of the deceased.
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19:12   Pachauri's promotion makes my flesh crawl, says complainant in open letter
The complainant in the sexual harassment case against RK Pachauri hit out at the governing council of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) for "promoting" him as executive vice chairman, describing it as a "shameless" act. This is what she writes in a open letter.


"Shamelessness abounds! The news of promotion of a man who stands booked on charges of sexual harassment at a workplace, stalking and criminal intimidation by the country's who's who makes my flesh crawl.

"While a prayer lay in the Hon'ble High Court of Delhi  seeking suspension of R K Pachauri (in compliance with the basics of the SH act so that my rights to work are unaffected), TERI's Governing Council held a meeting around the same time because the man was looking to maintain his foothold in TERI.  It was around 03 Oct, 2015 that I first heard of this from some current and former colleagues. I was sceptical in thinking that the organisation would not pour cheap, third rated oil to the existing smouldering fire.

"I was so wrong!

"I was then made aware that the esteemed Governing Council of TERI is due to meet again in the same month and this time, as per some genuine well-wishers, the plan was to throw mud on me as well as the entire process and thus facilitate a promotion for R K Pachauri. The Governing Council of TERI met twice within a month to address insecurities of R K Pachauri and could not even hold a meeting over my complaint or my letter to them (dated 03 April, 2015)  nor could they meet to discuss the ICC report presented on 19 May, 2015. They had the time and the will to convene two board meetings in a span of one month. This was very unheard of considering that TERI GC would only meet once every year per Rules and Regulations of TERI.

"For a research organisation, priority was given to meetings held by Senior Directors and Area Convenors to corner my colleagues, to get them to have me agree on a reconciliation, saying things like "Ask your lady friend to settle out of court. That would be best for her as she has nothing more left to achieve". Not a day passed without a message showing up on my mobile, warning me or bringing forth concerns. One told me: "We are hearing that 'Victim' has settled. I told them clearly that the complainant has not settled and she wouldn't. But they don't seem to believe me". Another said:  "They were asking me about your family background". Yet another: "My computer is always watched by the IT Department because they know that I support you".

"The ICC was dissolved. The ICC president resigned from her job at the Institute. The external member of the ICC is a woman who has expertise in the said field and a novice was brought in as her replacement for matters of convenience. The current ICC has his people. TERI and RK Pachauri are in-separable.

"Was I really hoping that the hostility would end? It only went from bad to worse.

"The GC's new candidate to lead TERI (into darkness) is in the middle of four court cases (yes, one ICC report snowballed into five court cases) and facing grave criminal charges. With such qualifications he is deemed fit to lead an organisation. If that was not enough, the Governing Council is considering giving him operational powers. Reason being, it is required for foreign funding.

"Right, the act of persistence  is best performed by a man  who doesn't understand meaning of the word 'no'.

"For someone in my position who has had zero support from the organisation, being made made privy to such developments was most disturbing.  What in the world was I to expect and why would I risk more than what is lost already. Not just the Governing Council but others in TERI have shown where their conscience leans (if any). If quitting was not enough, TERI Media Executive went ahead and publicized information leading to my identity to the Press.  Those women who did not testify to the ICC were "rewarded" with unjust promotions in designations, projects and travel approvals (to name a few) and continued to remain quiet, remain involved.

"I spoke up and was quarantined from work. Not allowed to resume work and no earnings for a long time. No money and a tainted Curriculum Vitae gave me sleepless nights. It was getting beyond my dignity to be associated with such an organisation and in the best of my interest, I quit. I felt most lighter in my mind and body on quitting TERI.

"I deserved better.

"I use this platform to further convey that the case stands as it is, I assure I will take it to its logical conclusion."
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19:12   Shatrughan meets BFFs Nitish, Lalu
Actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha, who is not on good terms with BJP presently after being sidelined in recent Bihar elections, has met "dear friends" Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad separately.


Sinha, who is the BJP Lok Sabha member from Patna Sahib, had a cordial meeting with Prasad at Patna Airport today. Prasad, accompanied by wife Rabri Devi, exchanged pleasantries with Shatrughan and his elder brother Lakhan Sinha and went for nice photo-op of the interaction.


Sources close to Sinha who were with him at the time said Prasad in a lighter vein patted the 'Bihari Babu' for single- handedly taking on the leadership of BJP for trying to sideline him.


"It's a matter of appreciation that you alone had posed a challenge to BJP leadership," the RJD supremo said. Sinha, who is the second term MP from Patna Sahib, had a warm and cordial meeting with Nitish Kumar at a marriage function here last night during which they shared fond memories and affection for each other.


Sources said Kumar quipped during meeting, "election time was good that we used to meet very often unlike now. We should meet more frequently". When asked about his meeting with rivals Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad, Sinha told PTI "I believe in the maxim 'once a friend always a friend'."


"We know each other very well since long and our friendship should not be seen only from political angle...it's friendship forever," the actor-turned BJP leader
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18:25   The nine bravehearts who did not survive the Siachen avalanche
The army this evening confirmed recovering the mortal remains of the nine soldiers buried under the Siachen Glacier avalanche debris.  "The rescue operations were launched at Siachen to locate and retrieve the 10 soldiers buried under more than 30 feet of snow and ice after an avalanche stuck their post in the early hours of  February 3," said defence spokesman SD Goswami.


"It is to the credit and dogged determination of the rescue teams which were working under extreme conditions that they have managed to extricate Lance Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad alive from under more than 30 feet of snow," he said. 


One junior commissioned officer and nine soldiers were trapped after an avalanche struck their post in the Siachen Glacier on February 3. 


"It is with deep regret that we wish to confirm that mortal remains of balance of nine martyrs including a Junior Commissioned Officer were also retrieved by the rescue teams.'  The spokesman said 'the mortal remains, after due formalities, will be flown to their home towns as soon as possible'. The names of the martyrs are:

1 Subedar Nagesha from Hassan Dist, Karnataka.
2 Havildar Elumalai from Vellore Dist, Tamil Nadu.
3 Lance Havildar S Kumar from Teni Dist, Tamil Nadu.
4 Lance Naik Sudheesh from Kollam District  Kerala.
5 Sepoy Mahesha from Mysore Dist, Karnataka.
6 Sepoy Rama Moorthy from Krishnagiri Dist, Tamil Nadu.
7 Sepoy Mustaq Ahmed from Kurnool Dist, Andhra Pradesh.
8 Sepoy Nursing Assistant Suryawanshi from Satara Dist,  Maharashtra.
9. Sepoy Ganesan from Madurai Dist, Tamil Nadu.                            


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18:12  
Congress leader Anand Sharma signs the condolence book at at former Nepal PM Sushil Koirala's funeral. The EAM led an all-party delegation of Sharma, Yechury and JD-U chief Sharad Yadav to Kathmandu for the funeral.
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18:10  
CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury signs the condolence book at at former Nepal PM Sushil Koirala's funeral.
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18:08  
EAM Sushma Swaraj signing the condolence book at former Nepal PM Sushil Koirala's funeral.
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18:01   The nine who couldn't make it
The nine bravehearts who couldn't make it out alive from the Siachen avalanche. RIP. The mortal remains of the all nine men have been retrieved.

The only survivor, Lance Naik Hanumanthappa is in hospital in a comatose condition and continues to be in shock with low blood pressure, the Army R&R hospital said today. He has pneumonia and his investigations have revealed liver and kidney dysfunction. Fortunately there was no cold exposure related frost bite or bony injuries to him. He is being treated by a team of intensivists, neurologist, nephrologist, endocrinologist and surgeons.
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17:52   Sushma-led delegation in Nepal for Koirala's funeral
External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj arrives at a stadium in Kathmandu where the mortal remains of former Nepal PM Sushil Koirala is being kept for public viewing. 

Swaraj led an all-party delegation to Nepal for the funeral of Koirala, who passed away early in the day.

"Together with Nepal, at its time of loss. Minister Swaraj is leading an all-party delegation for funeral of former Koirala," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.

The delegation comprised Congress leader Anand Sharma, JD(U) President Sharad Yadav, CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.

Koirala, who was the Prime Minister of Nepal from 11 February 2014 to 10 October 2015, died due to pneumonia at his residence early today. He was 79.
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17:03  
Viewpoint: Will 2016 be a turning point for free speech in India?
Read Nilanjana S Roy's piece for the BBC.
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16:55   'Lance Naik Hanumanthappa was buried under 35-ft of ice'
The full text of the Health bulletin issued by the Army Hospital Research and Referral (R&R) in New Delhi today:


L/Nk Hanamanthappa K of 19 MADRAS, was buried under 35 ft of ice and snow at 20500 ft for five days since the avalanche at Siachen on 03 Feb 16.

He was rescued from the site on 08 Feb 16.

On recovery, he was found to be conscious but drowsy and disoriented.

He was severely dehydrated, hypothermic, hypoxic, hypoglycemic and in shock. He was immediately resuscitated by the doctors at the site, who had been there for the past five days in the hope of a survivor. He was treated with warm intravenous fluids, humidified warm oxygen and passive external rewarming.

He was flown out from the site on 09 Feb 16 by helicopter along with a Medical Specialist to the Siachen base camp, from where he was brought to the Thois air base. He was then transferred to Delhi by a fixed wing aircraft of the IAF along with a Critical Care Specialist of the IAF and Medical Specialist from the Siachen Base Camp.


He is currently comatose and continues to be in shock with low blood pressure. He has pneumonia and his investigations have revealed liver and kidney dysfunction. Fortunately there was no cold exposure related frost bite or bony injuries to him. He is being treated by a team of intensivists, neurologist, nephrologist, endocrinologist and surgeons.

He has been treated with fluids, drugs to bring up his blood pressure and antibiotics. He has been placed on a ventilator to protect his airway and lungs in view of his comatose state.

He remains extremely critical and is expected to have a stormy course in the next 24 to 48 hrs due to the complications caused by re warming and establishment of blood flow to the cold parts of the body.

General Dalbir Singh, COAS visited Army Hospital Research and Referral (R&R) today and commended the brave heart for his indomitable mental robustness and his refusal to give in to harsh elements of nature.

He also conveyed best wishes on behalf of all ranks of the Army for his early and complete recovery.
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16:51  
Digging in progress by the Indian Army and Indian Air Force rescue men at Siachen yesterday. The pictures were released by the Ministry of Defence.  
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16:49  
The Indian Army and Indian Air Force used ice cutters to get to the 10 men trapped under 25 feet of snow.  
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16:46   Rescue dogs were used to sniff out the jawans trapped in the avalanche
As the country prays for Lance Naik Hanumanthappa, the only survivor of the Siachen avalanche that killed nine jawans including a JCO, the army used dogs like this one in its rescue ops.

A sheet of ice a kilometre long crashing down on their post on February 3. It all happened so quickly that none of the 10 had time to react. All of them were buried under 25 feet of snow at the Siachen glacier. The Indian Army and Indian Air Force launched massive but extremely difficult operation to locate the Indian post and pull out the buried soldiers. Chances of any of them surviving under the snow in Siachen's extreme climate was dim.

On Monday night, a rescue team, which had been looking for signs of any surviving men, stumbled upon Hanamanthappa buried under the huge block of hardened snow. The medical team on the spot was astounded to see that Hanamanthappa was still breathing.


Experts said Hanamanthappa survived because he was trapped in an air bubble. From Siachen base camp, Hanamanthappa was brought to Partapur. From there, a chopper ferried him to Thoise base. A C-17 aircraft of the Indian Air Force brought him to Delhi
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16:28   Siachen survivor in coma, next 24 hours critical, says hospital
Lance Naik Hanumanthappa, who miraculously survived an avalanche in Siachen that killed nine colleagues, has been put on ventilator support, the first medical bulletin released by the Army Research and Referral Hospital said. The Lance Naik remains comatose and 'extremely critical', the report said.

"Hanumanthappa has pneumonia and his investigations have revealed liver and kidney dysfunction. He remains extremely critical and is expected to have a stormy course in the next 24 to 48 hours," the medical bulletin said.

"He was severely dehydrated, hypothermic, hypoxic, hypoglycemic and in shock. On recovery, he was found to be conscious but drowsy and disoriented," the bulletin said.

Hanumanthappa was flown to New Delhi  from the Siachen Glacier this morning in a special air ambulance and admitted to the Research and Referral Hospital. His condition is critical but stable and he is undergoing various tests in the hospital, army sources said.


Hanumanthappa, who hails from Karnataka, was found alive yesterday, buried under 25 feet of snow for six days after an avalanche hit his post at the altitude of 19,600 feet close to the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan.

The temperature at that altitude was minus 45 degrees Celsius. Nine other personnel at the post, including a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO), of Madras Regiment have died, according to Lt Gen D S Hooda, Northern Army Commander.
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16:14   Govinda to pay Rs 5 lakh compensation for slapping fan
Bollywood actor Govinda has offered to pay a compensation of amount Rs 5 lakh to the fan he slapped some years back. The Supreme Court has asked the actor to meet the complainant and apologise over the same, reports suggest.

SC has granted him a two weeks time to do the same. According to ANI, the complainant was quoted as saying that he is not satisfied with compensation, and that the actor should meet him first.

In the year 2008, complainant named Santosh Rai was slapped by Govinda, on the sets of his film Money Hai Toh Honey Hai at Filmistan Studio. The actor had reportedly done so because Santosh had entered the sets without any permission and was seen molesting and troubling the extra girls (dancers).
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15:48  
Sensex falls 266.44 points to close at 24,020.98. Nifty at 7,298.20.
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15:46   India beat SL by 97 runs to enter U-19 World Cup finals
Three-time champions India continued their invincible run to enter the ICC Under-19 World Cup final for a fifth time with an emphatic 97-run win over Sri Lanka in the semifinals in Mirpur today.

India did well to reach 267/9 after a shaky start before putting up an impressive effort with the ball to dismiss Sri Lanka for 170 in 42.4 overs.

The batting stars were Anmolpreet Singh (72 off 92) and Sarfaraz Khan (59 off 71), who amassed his fourth fifty plus scores in five innings player in the tournament. 

The three time champions now await either West Indies or hosts Bangladesh in the final to played on February 14. 
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15:22  
EAM Sushma Swaraj accompanied by MPs Anand Sharma, Sitaram Yechury, Sharad Yadav and NSA Ajit Doval leaves for Kathmandu. 
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15:17  
PM Modi with Army chief General Dalbir Singh at the hospital, presumably by Lance Naik Hanumathappa's bedside. 
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15:16   In able hands
PM Narendra Modi meets the team of doctors at the R&R Army Hospital in New Delhi where Lance Naik Hanumanthappa, the only survivor from Siachen avalanche has been admitted. 
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15:09   Najma may be HP governor, Naidu may go to TN, cabinet rejig in June
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has relentlessly centralised power in the prime ministers office, and has held his cards close to his chest, is considering a cabinet reshuffle in June, say sources.

First up, Modi is believed to have decided on deputing three of his senior Union Ministers -- Najma Heptullah, Kalraj Mishra and M Venkaiah Naidu -- as governors by early June.

According to highly-placed sources, Heptullah may be sent to Himachal Pradesh and Mishra to Kerala. Naidu is likely to be sent to Tamil Nadu when K Rosaiah retires in July 2016. By that time, the Tamil Nadu assembly elections would have ended.

P Sathasivam, who is serving as the governor of Kerala is being moved out once the state elections end.  Meanwhile, Naidu's Rajya Sabha term will end in June 2016. As the Urban Development minister, Naidu helms the Smart City initiative and the PM will have to find someone to replace him from a pool of candidates that is short on experience.

The PM has plans to move a few others for the BJP's organisational programmes. Interestingly, a cabinet reshuffle was expected before the Budget session, but due to pressures from many quarters it has been postponed. It is now certain that soon after the Budget session is over, Modi will not only usher in new inductions, but also portfolio changes.

The 'chemistry' between the PM and BJP president Amit Shah is still working well despite the debacle in Delhi and Bihar, and it is believed that Modi reposes the most confidence in Shah.

So, come June, the party will get a major facelift. Till then, plans of appointing new general secretaries and office bearers will be kept pending.
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14:11   PM salutes 'endurance, indomitable spirit' of Siachen survivor
PM leaves the Army RR Hospital after meeting the Lance Naik. "No words are enough to describe the endurance and indomitable spirit of Lance Naik Hanumanthappa. He's an outstanding soldier. A team of doctors is attending to Lance Naik Hanumanthappa. We are all hoping and praying for the best," the PM said after meeting the only survivor of the Siachen avalanche. All nine bodies have been recovered.
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14:03  
Bavaria train collision: German rescuers have found four dead at train crash site in Bavaria, about 150 injured, including 10 in very serious condition, says Reuters. 
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14:01   PM meets 'critical, but stable' Siachen survivor at Army hospital
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today went to Army's Research and Referral Hospital in New Delhi to see Lance Naik Hanumanthappa who was miraculously found alive after remaining buried under huge mass of snow for six days at Siachen Glacier.

"Going to see Lance Naik Hanumanthappa, with prayers from the entire nation," Modi tweeted just before visiting the hospital.


Hanumanthappa was flown to New Delhi  from the Siachen Glacier this morning in a special air ambulance and admitted to the Research and Referral Hospital. His condition is critical but stable and he is undergoing various tests in the hospital, army sources said.


Hanumanthappa, who hails from Karnataka, was found alive yesterday, buried under 25 feet of snow for six days after an avalanche hit his post at the altitude of 19,600 feet close to the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan.


The temperature at that altitude was minus 45 degrees Celsius. Nine other personnel at the post, including a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO), of Madras Regiment have died, according to Lt Gen D S Hooda, Northern Army Commander. "Five bodies have been recovered so far and four bodies have been identified," he has said.
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13:59  
Army Chief Dalbir Singh leaves Army RR Hospital where Lance Naik Hanumanthappa is admitted.
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13:47  
Maharashtra Govt tells Bombay HC that it supports entry of women in Haji Ali Dargah.
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13:43  
EAM Sushma Swaraj accompanied by Anand Sharma, Sharad Yadav, SR Yechuri and Ajit Doval is on her way to Nepal to pay homage to former PM Sushil Koirala who passed away today. 
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13:37   PM reaches Army Hospital to meet Siachen survivor
PM Narendra Modi arrives at the Army RR hospital for a full briefing on Lance Naik Hanamanthappa's condition. Army chief Gen Dalbir Singh theer as well. 
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13:22   Head-on collision between trains in Germany injures scores
BBC reports that two passenger trains have collided in the German state of Bavaria, with reports saying several people have been seriously injured.

The crash happened at Bad Aibling, a spa town about 60km south-east of Munich.

One of the trains was derailed in the crash and several carriages were overturned, German media reported.It is believed the trains collided head-on. Emergency services are at the scene.
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13:20   Train collision in Germany, hundreds injured
Head-on train collision in Germany kills several people, injures scores, says - German police. Details awaited. 
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13:18  
JUST IN: Chopper carrying Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and an MP makes emergency landing at Hindon airbase in Ghaziabad following a technical problem
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13:15   DD keen to auction soap opera slots
Doordharshan is keen to auction its entertainment slots blocked by soap operas and current affairs programmes.  The auction model promises to be tough.

Rumors are rife whether the annoucement will be made by Finance minister Arun Jaitley while reading out the Union Budget in the Lok Sabha on February 29. Jaitley is also I&B minister.

Insiders feel there is possibility of a working paper being put up after the Budget on the I&B website.

Prasar Bharti has submitted a note to the I&B ministry which outlines a plan to make schedules with public participation.

The public broadcaster is keen to rope in celebrated artists for spiritual events every day for 30 minutes. It also wants comedy shows.

In fact, Prasar Bharti has designed an e-auction and if it is implemented, DD will also compete with private TV channels in broadcasting news.  
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12:52   Siachen survivor reaches Delhi, family on the way
Lance Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad has landed in Delhi. His family members will leave for New Delhi via Goa.

The Lance Naik survived after being trapped in the avalanche at Siachen glacier last Wednesday. His wife Jayashri, child Netra, mother Basavva Ramappa Koppad, brother Govindappa Ramappa Koppad, brother-in-law Subhas Ashok Bilebal and nephew Ramappa Govindappa Koppad will leave for New Delhi.

Arrangements have been made to take them to New Delhi after the army officials confirmed the news of Koppad being miraculously alive and being treated at a hospital.
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12:32   We made a mock Taj, says Headley on Day 2 of deposition
The Lashkar-e-Taiba discussed a plan to attack a meeting of Indian defence scientists at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai about a year before the Pakistan-based terror group struck the city in November 2008, killing 166 people, terrorist David Headley said in court today.

Testifying via video link from an undisclosed location in the US for the second day, Headley told the Mumbai court that he had in 2007 attended a meeting of Lashkar operatives in Pakistan's Muzzafarabad, where the plan to attack Mumbai was discussed.

"We made a mock Taj," Headley said, and also, "They were discussing the entrance and exit of the Taj Mahal Hotel and the location of convention halls. They had information there was a meeting of Indian defence scientists in the near future... the plan was to attack during the meeting."

He said the meeting was attended by his Lashkar handler Sajid Mir and others and "it was decided that I should go to India". Headley said he was tasked with conducting a reconnaissance of the Taj Mahal Hotel.  

The iconic Taj Hotel was one of Mumbai's famous landmarks that the 10 Pakistani terrorists attacked on November 26, 2008. Headley, 55, conspired in the planning and execution of the deadly Mumbai attacks, filming the sites that would be attacked by terrorists operating in pairs. He told the court yesterday that he visited Mumbai seven times before 26/11 using a fake passport.

He has also detailed since yesterday how he joined the Lashkar-e-Taiba and trained under the terror group's top leaders Hafiz Saeed and Zaki ur Rehman Lakhvi, key plotters of the 26/11 terror attack, for which, he said, officers of Pakistan's spy agency ISI collaborated with them.

Headley is the first person to testify for an Indian terror case from a foreign country. In 2009, he was arrested in the US and agreed to share crucial information in exchange for a promise that he would not be extradited to India or be given the death penalty; he is serving a 35-year jail sentence. In December last year, he was pardoned by the Mumbai court after he turned approver or a prosecution witness.
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12:16   Siachen miracle survivor 'critical, but stable as wife prays desperately
Wife of Lance Naik Hanumanthappa, who has been found alive in Siachen six days after the avalanche, goes to a temple in Dharwad, Karnataka, to pray for his well-being. The condition of the Lance Naik, who was rescued from under 25 feet of snow, is critical, but stable.

A special medical team airlifted Hanamanthappa to Delhi on Tuesday morning.

Hanamanthappa who hails from Karnataka, was found alive on Monday after being buried under 25 feet of snow for six days after an avalanche hit his post at the altitude of 19,600 feet close to the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan where the temperature was minus 45 degrees Celsius.The other nine personnel at the post, including a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) and eight other ranks of Madras Regiment, have died, according to Lt. Gen D.S. Hooda, Northern Army Commander.


"Five bodies have been recovered so far and four bodies have been identified,' he has said.Lt. Gen. Hooda had earlier said, "Lance Naik Hanamanthappa has been found alive. He is critical but all attempts are being made to evacuate him to RR hospital in the morning. We hope the miracle continues. Pray with us.\


"The Army's rescue parties were cutting through up to 30 feet of ice at multiple locations where the soldiers could probably be buried. "The probable locations are identified using specialised equipment,' said the spokesman.
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11:38   Meet braveheart Indian Army porter Nima Norboo
Siachen is ultimately about valour, and going beyond the call of duty.   

And the inhospitable terrain has engendered many, many tales of surviving the odds, none as glorious, and incredible, as Lance Naik Hanamanthappa's.   

But there have been a few such remarkable tales to emerge from the icy heights.   

Rediff contributor, and one of the foremost experts on internal security in the country, Nitin Gokhale, who has also authored Beyond NJ9842, The Siachen Saga, highlights one such story.   

Of Indian Army porter Nima Norboo who lost three limbs in Siachen after a 25-hour ordeal stuck in a crevasse in 2010.   

'This Indian Army porter Nima Norboo lost three limbs in Siachen after a 25-hour ordeal stuck in a crevasse in 2010,' tweets Nitin.   

Truly a tale of grit and determination!
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10:42   Miracle survivor Lance Naik Hanamanthappa airlifted to Delhi
The condition of Lance Naik Hanamanthappa, who was rescued from under 25 feet of snow 6 days after the Siachen avalanche, is critical, but stable. 

A special medical team airlifted Hanamanthappa to Delhi on Tuesday morning.

Hanumantha's uncle Gadigeppa said: "We are happy. The entire village is happy and relieved. We were eagerly waiting for some news for past few days. It was difficult to even believe that he was saved. Now, we need everyone to pray for his survival." 

"We realized that Hanumantha was found, through the media only," he said. 

The soldier's mother and wife now want to travel but are waiting for the government to send some form of transport to help them. 

A junior commissioned officer and nine other ranks of Madras Regiment were buried after their post was hit by the avalanche at the altitude of 19,600 feet close to the Line of Control with Pakistan where the tempreature was -45C. 
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10:20   Only in India: Mosquitoes delay Mumbai-Kochi Air India flight
Rama Iyer, a professional working in the pharmaceutical sector in Mumbai, was scheduled to take a 05:30am Air India flight from the Mumbai airport to Kochi on Monday. 

The flight however got delayed for over an hour due to a rather strange issue, claims Rama, who was on a business trip. 

The cabin of the Air India flight AI054, he says, had a "lot of mosquitoes". 

"The passengers had already boarded the aircraft. And there were a lot of mosquitoes inside the cabin," he tells TNM, adding that it was not the passengers who seem to have complained, but the captain of the aircraft who asked them to deplane. 

"The captain announced that due to the 'mosquito menace', they were unable to take off. They asked the passengers to take their hand luggage and deplane while they fumigated the cabin," he further said.
- See more at: http://www.thenewsminute.com/article/only-india-passenger-says-mumbai-kochi-air-india-flight-delayed-due-mosquito-menace-38722#sthash.jCkZvXAc.dpuf
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10:17   US Sikh actor Waris Ahluwalia barred from US-bound flight over turban row
Sikh-American designer and actor Waris Ahluwalia said he was not allowed to board his Aeromxico flight Monday morning because of his turban, according to posts on Ahluwalia's social media accounts.

Ahluwalia, who is based in New York, was trying to fly back from Mexico City on Monday when he was reportedly refused. Ahluwalia posted a photo on his Instagram account of himself holding his ticket.

"This morning in Mexico City I was told I could not board my @aeromexico flight to NYC because of my turban. #FearisanOpportunitytoEducate #humanrights #dignity #lovenotfear," Ahluwalia wrote in the caption of his photo.

Read more HERE
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09:55   US one of the world's most fundamentalist countries: Noam Chomsky
The United States is a very fundamentalist, religious country -- one of the most extreme in the world, says Noam Chomsky, arguably that country's best-known political dissident of our times.

"And that's been true since its origins," he says, explaining this apparently ultra-religious facet of the US and its impact on electoral politics in an interview to The Wire.

There are not too many countries in the world where two-thirds of the population awaits The Second Coming, Chomsky said, adding that half of them think it is going to be in their lifetimes. 

"And maybe a third of the population believes the world was created 10,000 years ago, exactly the way it is now. Things like that are pretty weird, but that is true in the United States and has been for a long time."

Read more HERE
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09:48   India lost valued friend in Sushil Koirala's demise: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today condoled the death of former Nepal prime minister Sushil Koirala, saying "India lost a valued friend".

"Sushil Koirala ji's simplicity holds lessons for all of us. My condolences to the Koirala family and people of Nepal in this hour of grief," PM Modi said in a tweet.
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09:23   Lashkar plotted to kill defence scientists at Taj Hotel: Headley
Highlights from Headley's deposition today

* Headley suggested to LeT bosses Hafiz Saeed and Zakiur-Rehman Lakhvi to challenge decision of US govt designating LeT as foreign terrorist outfit.

* Headley says he was asked by LeT to gather military intelligence in India and also recruit someone from Indian military for spying.

* Saeed, Lakhvi worked in conjunction with Pak Army and ISI

* LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Hizbul Mujahideen and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen are all allies of United Jihad Council working in PoK.

* Headley tells court that his wife Faiza had in January 2008 complained to US Embassy in Islamabad that he was involved in terrorist activities.

* ISI Major Pasha joined Al Qaeda some years after I met him.

* Headley confirms that ISI was in constant touch with LeT, confirms the link between LeT, ISI and Al-Qaeda

*  Headley deposing before Mumbai court identifies photograph of Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi

* I met Zakiur Rehman LakhvI for the 1st time in 2003 in Muzaffarabad (PoK)  at headquarters of LeT.

* LeT members had planned to attack a conference meeting of Indian defence scientists to be held at Taj Hotel in Mumbai
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09:06   EC team in Puducherry, Tamil Nadu today
Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi and Election Commissioners A K Joti and O P Rawat will visit Puducherry and Tamil Nadu from today to take stock of poll preparations in the two states where assembly elections are due in the next couple of months. 

The EC has already been to Kerala, West Bengal and Assam where assembly elections are due in the coming months. 

On Wednesday, they will hold consultations with political parties and review poll preparedness with top civil and police officials. 

On Thursday, the EC top-brass will hold a similar exercise in Chennai.

While the term of assemblies in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal is coming to an end in May, the tenure of those in Kerala, Puducherry and Assam is coming to an end in June. 

The Commission is likely to announce the poll schedule for the five states in March.

Since the elections in five states are being held almost at the same time, the EC will take into consideration the availability of central forces while deciding the schedule.
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09:04   Vigil up in Kashmir on Afzal Guru hanging anniversary today
Security across Kashmir Valley has been tightened and several separatist leaders including Yasin Malik and Shabir Ahmad Shah were detained or put under house arrest ahead of the third anniversary of execution of Parliament attack case convict Mohammad Afzal Guru.

The Hurriyat Conference has called a strike today on the third anniversary of hanging of Guru, and on February 11 to mark the anniversary of execution of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front founder Mohammad Maqbool Bhat. 

While Guru was hanged on February 9, 2013 inside Tihar Jail in Delhi, Butt was executed on February 11, 1984. 

JKLF chairman Yasin Malik, along with his party colleagues Ashraf Bin Salam, Ghulam Mohammad Dar and Mushtaq Ahmad were taken into preventive custody at Abi Guzar in the heart of the city after the outfit took out a march, officials said. 

The officials said Shah, who heads Democratic Freedom Party, and several other separatist leaders were placed under house arrest in an attempt to scuttle protests.

The chairmen of rival factions of Hurriyat -- Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq -- are in Delhi while another separatist leader Nayeem Khan left for Mumbai on Monday, the officials said.
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08:47   Day 2: Headley continues to unmask 26/11 perpetrators
Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley on Tuesday continued his deposition for the second consecutive day before a court in Mumbai.

Headley, appearing from an undisclosed location via video conferencing, continued to spill the beans on LeT involvement with the 26/11 terror attacks.

In his first deposition on Monday, Headley told the court that Pakistani terrorists attempted to attack Mumbai twice before the 26/11 strikes that killed 166 people but failed both times.

Describing himself as a "true follower of LeT", Headley also admitted during his examination by special prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam that he joined the ranks of LeT after getting "influenced and motivated" by the speeches of terrorist outfit's founder Hafiz Saeed.

Headley, who is serving 35-year prison sentence in the US for his role in the Mumbai attacks, spoke about the role of Saeed, another LeT commander Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi as well as his handler in the outfit Sajid Mir. 
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08:44   Former Nepal PM Sushil Koirala passes away
Former Nepal prime minister and Nepali Congress chief Sushil Koirala succumbed to Pneumonia at his residence early Tuesday. He was 79.

Koirala, who was elected prime minister of Nepal on February 10, 2014, died at his residence in Maharajgunj in the outskirt of capital Kathmandu at 12.50 am (local time), Nepali Congress general secretary Prakash Man Singh said.

He had returned from the US after undergoing a successful treatment for the lung cancer and is credited with promulgating the new constitution of Nepal in September last year.

Koirala was suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and he succumbed to the disease.

His body will be taken to party's central office at sanepa, Kathmandu and kept there for last tributes from party cadres and others, Singh said.

Born in Banaras, India, Koirala entered politics in 1954 and was in political exile in India for 16 years following the royal takeover of 1960.

He also spent three years in Indian prisons for his involvement in a plane hijacking in 1973. 
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08:36   Disappointed but will not give up: Zuckerberg
Expressing disappointment on India's decision on net neutrality, Facebook founder and chief Mark Zuckerberg has said he is committed to keep working to break down connectivity barriers in India and around the world.

"Internet.org has many initiatives, and we will keep working until everyone has access to the internet," Zuckerberg said in a post on the Facebook yesterday, his first reaction to the ruling of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on net neutrality.

Backing Net neutrality, telecom watchdog TRAI yesterday barred operators from charging different rates for Internet access based on content, dealing a blow to Facebook's controversial Free Basics and other such plans. 

Facebook's Free Basics plan came in from major criticism from experts who alleged that it curbed one's freedom to access the internet of their choice. 

"Today India's telecom regulator decided to restrict programmes that provide free access to data. This restricts one of Internet.org's initiatives, Free Basics, as well as programmes by other organisations that provide free access to data," Zucerberg said.

"While we're disappointed with today's decision, I want to personally communicate that we are committed to keep working to break down barriers to connectivity in India and around the world. Internet.org has many initiatives, and we will keep working until everyone has access to the internet," he said. 
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01:59   Devansh death case: AIIMS panel counters Bassi, doesn't rule out sexual assault
The panel of doctors of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences that conducted post-mortem on six-year-old Devansh has not ruled out sexual assault, contrary to Delhi police's claim that the report they have received prima facie does not indicate so.

"We have not yet submitted the final postmortem report on as to what caused the death of the boy. We are waiting for the investigation report from the police. We are not ruling out anything including possibility of sexual assault as of now," said a senior AIIMS doctor.

Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi said that the post-mortem report of Devansh, who was found dead in a water reservoir at Ryan International School in south Delhi, prima facie does not indicate any sexual assault.

Meanwhile, parents of Devansh welcomed the Delhi government's recommendation for a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the incident, saying their hopes of getting justice have been strengthened.
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01:00   Siachen avalanche: One soldier found alive 25 feet under snow
Rescuers conducting the search operation after the massive avalanche in the Siachen Glacier have found one soldier alive, the Northern Army commander said

The soldier has been found buried 25 feet under snow in Siachen Glacier.

Earlier, all 10 soldiers who went missing after their post was hit by the massive avalanche on February 3 were declared dead.

Details about the identity of the soldier are awaited.
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00:52   UK summons North Korean envoy over rocket launch
Britain summoned North Korea's ambassador on Monday to condemn Pyongyang's announcement that it had put a satellite into orbit with a rocket launch.

The move announced on Sunday was widely seen as a disguised ballistic missile test and was swiftly criticised by the United Nations Security Council.

'I summoned North Korea's ambassador today to make clear in the strongest terms the UK's condemnation of the launch this weekend,' Britain's Asia minister Hugo Swire said in a statement released by the Foreign Office.

'This test, even if characterised as a space launch vehicle or launch of a satellite, clearly contributes to North Korea's development of nuclear weapon delivery systems and is a serious violation of UN Security Council Resolutions,' the statement said.

The UN has said it will speed up work on a sanctions resolution in response to what it called 'these dangerous and serious violations'.
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00:06   Pachauri to be first executive vice chairman of TERI
Notwithstanding allegations of sexual harassment by a former colleague, The Energy and Resources Institute chief R K Pachauri was on Monday appointed executive vice chairman of the green body after new director general Ajay Mathur took over the charge from him.

"Dr Ajay Mathur has joined as director general of TERI. The Governing Council of TERI has appointed Dr R K Pachauri as the executive vice chairman with immediate effect," a TERI official said.

The post of executive vice chairman has been recently created and Pachauri will be the first to hold the post.

Mathur is a former director general of Bureau of Energy Efficiency, an institution under the Power Ministry.

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