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Fri, 12 February 2016
Merkel's liberal refugee policy 'unsustainable in long-term'

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23:32   Merkel's liberal refugee policy 'unsustainable in long-term'
Germany's liberal refugee policy which ushered in 1.1 million asylum-seekers last year is not sustainable, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls warned today, as Chancellor Angela Merkel said a group of EU countries may take more in.
"This policy, which is justified temporarily, is unsustainable in the long term," Valls told German regional media group Funke, pointing to the limited capacity not just in Germany, but also across Europe, to receive newcomers. 

"We have to say this clearly: Europe cannot take in all migrants from Syria, Iraq or Africa. It has to regain control over its borders, over its migration or asylum policies," said Valls, who is travelling to southern Germany to attend the Munich Security Conference.

However Merkel, without naming the EU members involved, said there was "a group of countries" which may voluntarily accept more refugees in exchange for redoubled efforts from Turkey to tackle illegal immigration into, and out of, its territory.
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23:21   Would-be Boko Haram bomber 'caught by her ponytail'
A would-be suicide bomber who refused to detonate her explosives in northeast Nigeria was identified as she tried to flee because of her distinctive hairstyle, a military officer said today.
The officer, who was at the camp for displaced people in Dikwa, Borno state, when two other women blew themselves up on Tuesday, killing 58, said the third was spotted as she tried to leave.
"The Kanuri women are known for plaiting their hair but we realised over time from the bodies of female suicide bombers that they all had ponytails," he told AFP on condition of anonymity.
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23:15   Two soldiers injured in encounter with militants in J&K
Two security personnel were injured after an encounter broke out today between militants and security forces in a village in Kupwara district of north Kashmir.
Police assisted by army launched a cordon and search operation at Marseri village in Chowkibal area following specific information about a group of militants hiding in a house, officials said.
Soon after the cordon was established, the search party were attacked by the hiding ultras. The security forces then returned fire, they said.
Two security personnel, including an officer, were injured in the gunbattle which took place this afternoon, they said.
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22:46   Iraq PM vows to defeat Islamic State group by end of 2016
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi vowed today to drive the Islamic State group out of his country by the end of the year.
"We intend this year to make it the final year for the existence of Daesh in Iraq," he told an audience at the Munich Security Conference, using the Arabic acronym for IS, also called ISIS and ISIL.

"The area we have liberated so far is more than half of what was occupied by Daesh before. Now we have almost all governorates liberated from Daesh apart from Nineveh and part of al-Anbar."
Abadi said there had been major improvements to the quality of the Iraqi army since the early days of the IS advance in 2014, when many troops abandoned their equipment and fled battles against the jihadists.
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22:25   Taxi driver in UK found guilty of plotting to join ISIS
A 26-year-old taxi driver believed to be of Pakistani-origin, who planned to leave his pregnant wife in the UK to join the Islamic State in Syria and marry a 'jihadi bride', was found today guilty of terrorism charges by
a British court here.
Naseer Mirza Taj, from Bedford in the east of England, was a sympathiser of extremists and had plotted to travel to Syria and marry a jihadi bride, his trial at the Old Bailey court in London was told.

The jury found him guilty of preparation of terrorist acts and two counts of possessing terrorist information.

He will be sentenced at a later hearing in April.

Taj, believed to be of Pakistani-origin, was to travel to Syria via Turkey on December 31, 2014 but was arrested two days before he could leave.
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21:56   Scott Kelly from space: Earth's atmosphere 'looks very, very fragile'
one of his final interviews from the International Space Station, astronaut Scott Kelly said that the Earth's atmosphere "looks very, very fragile" and "like something that we need to take care of."


Kelly will return to Earth in March, but spoke with CNN's Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta via satellite. During his time at the space station, Kelly has remained active on social media and often shares his unique perspective of the planet by posting photos. Because of his spectacularly encompassing vantage point, Gupta asked Kelly how he would define the Earth's condition if it were a human body.

"There are definitely parts of Asia, Central America that when you look at them from space, you're always looking through a haze of pollution," Kelly said. "As far as the atmosphere is concerned, and being able to see the surface, you know, I would say definitely those areas that I mentioned look kind of sick."

Read more HERE.
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21:06   Columbine killer's mom speaks for first time
Her son and his friend killed 13 people at Columbine High School almost 17 years ago. Sue Klebold has lived with guilt since -- guilt for what her son did and how she, a loving mother, raised a boy who became a mass murderer.

She has spoken only a few times to the media in the past, but has never appeared on television. Her first TV interview, given to ABC's Diane Sawyer, airs Friday at 10 p.m. ET.

In it she talks about what life has been like after April 20, 1999, when her son, Dylan Klebold, and schoolmate Eric Harris committed what is the deadliest high school shooting in U.S. history. Clad in black trenchcoats and wielding four guns, the pair worked their way through the school after their plan to blow up hundreds of classmates failed.

Images of terrified students being led from the school with their hands on their heads became ingrained in national memory.JNU students' union prez arrested, varsity bars 8 students
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20:44   'Game of Thrones' is coming: HBO releases stills of new season
Winter has come, and spring -- and more specifically April 25 -- is just around the corner.

Which, for "Game of Thrones" fans, means only one thing -- a new season of HBO's hit dragons-and-daggers fantasy series is coming.

HBO has released its first stills from the new season, with production and behind-the-scenes photos showing some of the series' best-loved (and loathed) characters, including a white-eyed Arya Stark, blinded as punishment in the closing scenes of season 5.

The eagerly-awaited sixth season of the multiple Emmy-winning show navigates uncharted waters -- for the first time its interweaving plots will move ahead of its source material --- the wildly successful series of novels by author George R.R. Martin.
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20:25   World powers agree to 'cessation of hostilities' in Syria
Major world powers have agreed to a "cessation of hostilities" and to the delivery of immediate aid in Syria, US Secretary of State John Kerry announced early Friday.

He spoke in Munich, Germany, where top diplomats from more than a dozen countries, including the United States and Russia, met to hammer out a deal.

"I'm pleased to say that as a result today in Munich, we believe we have made progress on both the humanitarian front and the cessation of hostilities front, and these two fronts, this progress, has the potential -- fully implemented, fully followed through on -- to be able to change the daily lives of the Syrian people," Kerry said.

"First, we have agreed to accelerate and expand the delivery of humanitarian aid beginning immediately," he told reporters.
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20:23   UK daily 'Independent' to go online-only
One of Britain's leading daily newspapers, 'The Independent', today announced it will end its print edition and switch to 'digital only' mode from next month amid falling readership.
Launched in 1986, the editorial team at The Independent is currently led by an Indian-origin editor Amol Rajan and is known as a campaigning voice among media outlets in the UK.

The ESI Media-owned newspaper was in the news earlier this week for its decision to revert back to using Bombay instead of Mumbai when referring to the Indian city in future as a reaction to Hindu right-wing agenda, which Rajan blamed for forcibly pushed through the name change in 1995.

Rajan is expected to continue as editor.

"The newspaper industry is changing, and that change is being driven by readers. They're showing us that the future is digital," said ESI owner Evgeny Lebedev, a Russian billionaire.
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19:57   Bihar BJP Vice President Visheshwar Ojha shot dead
In a shocking incident, BJP state vice-president Visheshwar Ojha was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Ara district in Bihar.

Ojha, a BJP candidate from Shahpur constituency in the 2015 assembly elections, had declared 10 charges of attempt to murder (IPC Section-307). 

Ojha was the runner-up in the constituency by polling over 54,000 votes. The election was won by the RJD's Rahul Tiwary with over 69,000 votes.


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19:57   Sheena murder case: Peter to stay in jail; bail plea rejected
The bail plea of former media baron Peter Mukerjea, arrested in the Sheena Bora murder case, was today rejected by a special CBI court which observed that charge sheet was yet to be filed and investigation in the matter was still on.

Since investigation into the case was still on, it's not the right stage to grant bail to Peter, judge H S Mahajan maintained. 

The bail plea will be considered once charge sheet is submitted, he added.

Peter, whose wife Indrani Mukerjea is the prime accused in the case, was arrested on November 19 for his alleged role in the murder conspiracy. 

The 59-year-old was questioned by CBI for two weeks after which he was remanded in judicial custody and sent to the Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai. 
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19:41   Kanhaiya's arrest: JNUSU says students being 'witch-hunted'
The JNU students union today condemned the arrest of its president Kanhaiya Kumar in connection with an event on the campus against hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, saying the students are being "witch-hunted" and police is targeting them mindlessly. 

"The police is mindlessly patrolling the campus and the students are being witch-hunted and demonised for doing nothing. What is the proof that Kanhaiya was there among those raising anti-India slogans? Has he been spotted in any picture or video? Why are all JNU students being given 'anti-national' certificates. We condemn the arrest," said JNUSU vice
president Shehla Rashid Shora.

Agitated over Kanhaiya's arrest, the students gathered outside the Vice Chancellor's office demanding intervention on the issue. 

"Why is the administration not protecting students against this selective targeting by ABVP. Why police have been given such a free hand to rashly pick students from campus? Why were the cops not uniformed? If there has to be an inquiry, why no protocols are being followed," said a member of the All India Students Association. 
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19:40   Siachen demilitarisation only when Pak accepts conditions: Army commander
A top army commander today made it clear that Pakistan's suggestion for demilitarisation of Siachen can be implemented only when that country accepts "some basic conditions" of India which are not agreeable to them.

"Our stand is clear. If we have to talk about the withdrawal (of troops from Siachen), first the actual positions on the ground, where we are today and where our posts are, needed to be authenticated. 

"There are some basic conditions that have to be met before any withdrawal can be spoken about. Some of these are not agreeable to the other country and therefore, this agreement has not taken place...talks are going on," General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of Northern Command Lt Gen D S Hooda said at a press conference in Udhampur, J&K.

His comments came in response to suggestion by Pakistan's High Commissioner Abdul Basit yesterday for "urgent" resolution of Siachen issue by mutual withdrawal of troops in the wake of recent avalanche tragedy there in which 10 soldiers died.

"These tragedies only reinforce the need to resolve the issue...urgently and through peaceful means, through dialogue," Basit 
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18:50   After Shatrughan Sinha, another BJP MP praises Nitish Kumar
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today came in for praise from yet another BJP lawmaker. After Bharatiya Janata Party lawmakers Shatrughan Sinha and Kirti Azad, BJP lawmaker RK Sinha lauded the chief minister's commitment to the development of Bihar.


"Bihar is on the path of development under his leadership. There is no doubt about the intentions of Nitish Kumar," the Rajya Sabha member told the media in Patna.


RK Sinha said Kumar had a clean image and was a gentleman. "Nitish Kumar is also a development-oriented man and Bihar will develop under his leadership."Sinha advised Kumar to focus on law and order. Shatrughan Sinha is a Lok Sabha member from Patna and Azad was elected from Darbhanga in Bihar.
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18:29   AAP doesnt understand the grammar of governance: Yogendra Yadav
"In assessing a new experiment like that of the AAP government, one must resist the temptation of listing all that is wrong or promises not fulfilled. One year is too short a time to judge any government. Besides, this government has gone through a series of unusual difficulties, both internal and external, that make it harder to assess its intent and outcomes. The benefit of doubt, if any, must rest with the new government, not its critics."


That's former AAP member Yogendra Yadav's assessment of Arvind Kejriwal's year as Delhi CM. Read
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18:13   Farewell, Lance Naik
Lance Naik Hanamanthappa was cremated at his village in Betadur in Karnataka. Hundreds lined up to pay their respects to the soldier who survived an avalance in Siachen but lost his battle with life. That's his wife Mahadevi and daughter Nethra. 
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17:53   Ashok Chawla new TERI chief
Just in: Ashok Chawla appointed new Teri chief. Chawla headed the Competition Commission of India, an organisation set up to sensitise enterprises about fair trade regulations while also cracking down on the violators. His tenure ended on January 7. Prof. BV Sreekantan resigns as the Chairman of the Governing Council.
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17:52   TERI council sends Pachauri on indefinite leave
The Energy and Resources Institute's (Teri) executive vice-chairman RK Pachauri has been asked to go on indefinite leave. Pachauri who is facing sexual harassment charges from two former employees, has gone on leave. The environment think tank's governing council met today to decide his future role.

The governing council made the following decisions today:

-- RK Pachauri will be on leave from all three bodies - TERI, TERI Governing Council, and TERI University till further review by the Council. 

--  TERI governing council says 33 per cent of NGO's staff are women and the council supports rights of women and has ensured a safe workplace for employees.

-- TERI governing council confirms full executive powers to Dr. Ajay Mathur, appoints Ashok Chawla as new chairman.


The decision comes within four days of Teri announcing to its employees on February 8 about the elevation of Pachauri as executive vice-chairman.

A 29-year-old researcher lodged a police complaint against Pachauri in February 2015 of sexual harassment. Within days, another woman made a similar complaint. The complainants and activists have expressed shock at his recent elevation.
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17:38   JNU student prez gets three-day police custody
JNU Students' Union President Kanhaiya Kumar remanded to three days police custody by Delhi court in connection with a case of sedition.
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17:20   Oracle to set up campus in Bengaluru, CEO Catz tells Modi
So, that's what the meeting this morning was about!

Global computer giant Oracle is planning to set up a campus in Bengaluru and start an initiative to help more than half a million students in India develop computer science skills.


This was conveyed by Oracle's global CEO Safra Catz to Prime Minister Narendra Modi when she called on him Delhi on Friday.


"She apprised the Prime Minister of Oracle's plans for a state-of-the-art campus in Bengaluru and an initiative to help more than half a million students in India develop computer science skills through Oracle Academy," a PMO statement said.


Oracle is of the view that the plans are likely to boost Modi's 'Make in India' initiative, and strengthen India's position as a world-class design and manufacturing hub, the statement said. Modi appreciated these initiatives, it added.


Pic: Oracle's global CEO Safra Catz met Prime Minister Narendra Modi this morning.
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17:15   Magnitude-6.5 earthquake hits Indonesian island
A magnitude-6.5 earthquake struck the island of Pulau Sumba in Indonesia on Friday, the US Geological Survey said. The quake occurred at a depth of 30 kilometers. The USGS estimated that the likelihood of casualties and significant damage was low.

Pulau Sumba is on the southern end of Indonesia.
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17:08   Police seek 5-day custody for JNU student prez
A day after a case under charges of sedition was registered against unknown persons in connection with the Afzal Guru episode in JNU campus, police has arrested the varsity's student union president, after conducting a search operation in the campus.

Kanhaiya Kumar (pictured), the president of Jawaharlal Nehru University Student's Union (JNUSU) was arrested by the police on Friday afternoon. "Some policemen in plain clothes came to the campus, conducted a random check at various places including the hostels and convention centre and picked up Kanhaiya,' said a student from the campus.  The Delhi Police has sought a 5-day police custody for Kanhaiya Kumar.

Meanwhile, taking note of the events in the campus, the Vice Chancelor M Jagadesh Kumar has said that the incident is a work of the "fringe elements' in the campus.
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16:46  
Update on the Sheena Bora murder case:


-- Indrani Mukerjea's judicial custody extended till Feb 25th.

--  Mumbai Court rejects Peter Mukerjea's bail plea.
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16:44  
Dr. RK Pachauri is on leave from his position as Chancellor of the TERI University: TERI
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16:19   Cong targeted Modi due to its congenital dislike for him: BJP
BJP today kept up its attack on Congress over David Headley's deposition that Ishrat Jahan, who was killed in 2004, was an LeT terrorist, accusing it of "whitewashing" facts due to its "congenital dislike" for Narendra Modi because it foresaw him as a "political threat".


Seeking an apology from Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, then Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and other party leaders lined up to "weave a fictional tale" to target Modi, then Gujarat Chief Minister, BJP also virtually defended the police personnel arrested for killing Ishrat in an alleged fake encounter in 2004, saying the then UPA government made sure they were put behind bars.


"A battery of Congress leaders were lined up who went on giving statements there are evidences (against BJP leaders), there are conversations happening, there are people who said the man with white beard and black beard. It was done because Congress has a congenital dislike for Modi.


"He much to their dislike was the state's chief minister. Who much to their dislike ran the state so successfully that they foresaw a potential political threat to themselves and so they targeted him... They wove theories like white beard, black beard," Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said at a party briefing.


References to 'white beard' and 'black beard' were made in leaked telephonic conversations of police personnel and others related to the case and BJP's rivals had then alleged that they meant Modi and then state home minister Amit Shah, now party chief. BJP had called it a conspiracy by the UPA government to target them.


Attacking Congress, she said when its ploy did not work, then a senior Intelligence Bureau official was "targeted" and the Special Director-rank officer was subjected to questioning by a DSP-rank CBI official.
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16:04  
2014 Sherwood College (Nainital) minor abuse case: Security guard Akash Mandal sent to 6 years imprisonment.
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16:02  
Powerful earthquake strikes Indonesia: Indonesian geologists.
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15:58  
Sensex ends 34.29 pts higher at 22,986.12 in volatile trade; Nifty inches up by 4.60 points to 6,980.95.
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15:43   Woman refused entry to Thailand after ripping pages from passport to use as loo roll
A woman has been refused entry to Thailand after ripping pages from a passport to use instead of toilet roll. The British traveller was turned back by border officers after they found missing pages, which she said she had used as toilet paper when drunk. Faye Wilson was escorted back to the UK when guards found the missing pages and she had tried to claim she had "lost' them. Read more
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15:26   Vedas, Upanishads don't discriminate, why does Sabarimala, asks SC on women ban
The Supreme Court today questioned the age-old tradition of banning the entry of women in the menstrual age (10 and 50) to the historic Sabarimala temple in Kerala, saying it cannot be done under the Constitution.

The court appointed Senior Advocate Raju Ramachandran as amicus curiae in the matter and observed that "discrimination against women would be examined under Constitutional provisions. emotional arguments are not permissible."


The matter was adjourned for six weeks as the temple management seeks six weeks time to collect all material to file a response.


The SC asked, "If Vedas and Upanishads don't discriminate why does Sabarimala?"


The bench is hearing a PIL filed by the Young Lawyers Association, seeking entry for all women and girls in the Sabarimala temple which, as a practice, does not allow girls after attaining puberty to enter the premises.
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15:05   Was abducted by 4 men who got tired of being on the run, says Snapdeal girl
For 25-year-old Dipti Sarna, a Snapdeal employee, the last 48 hours have been harrowing. Dipti went missing on February 10 near Ghaziabad and was located on Friday morning at Panipat.


India Today reports that she told the Ghaziabad Police that she had been kidnapped by four men with whom she had shared an auto on her way to the Ghaziabad bus stand from the Vaishali metro station.


Ghaziabad's SSP Dharmendra Singh told the media that the men appeared to be "illiterate and local goons" who got scared by the fact that the police had launched a massive manhunt for the girl. Fearing strict action by the police, the men let her go.


The police said no physical harm was inflicted on Dipti. They are giving her time to rest before they question her in order to prepare a sketch of the four men who had abducted her.


So far, Dipti has told the police that the four goons were scared of being caught by the police so they didn't take the risk of hiding anywhere for the night. They travelled with Dipti the entire night. Dipti recounted how she was made to walk nearly 10km, travel aboard an i10 car, and even a bike.


However, by morning, the men had enough of the running around and they put her on a train to Delhi at a suburban railway station. They even gave her some money.


At Narela station, Dipti finally got her bearings and called her father using a fellow passenger's phone.The Snapdeal employee told the police of how her abduction had taken place and revealed that the auto she was travelling in broke down halfway at Mohan Nagar which forced the rest of the occupants to board another auto to the Ghaziabad bus stand.


Minutes after that, the only other woman aboard the auto was forced off the auto by the four men near Hindon river.Dipti was talking to her friend at that time. The men snatched her bag and phone, but not before her friend heard her scream.


The men then drove the auto to a secluded spot near Raj Nagar extension, where they changed vehicles and then drove around before finally letting her go.
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14:39   Cong wanted to implicate Modi in Ishrat Jahan case: Venkaiah
Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu today alleged that Congress wanted to "implicate" the then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and "harass" present party president Amit Shah in the Ishrat Jahan encounter case, and said the party should "openly regret" its actions.


Naidu's comments come in wake of Pakistani-American terrorist David Headley's revelation yesterday before a Mumbai court that Ishrat, the 19-year-old girl from Mumbra near Mumbai, was actually a Lashkar-e-Taiba operative.


"Unfortunately, the earlier government tried to harass BJP leaders. They wanted to implicate the CM at that time and they've harassed my party president. Now, the truth has come out, they must realise their mistake and openly express regret for what they've done," he told reporters in Mumbai.


Charging Congress with playing politics on a critical issue like national security, Naidu said it is unfortunate that "some people" have more confidence in Ishrat Jahan than the facts which are coming out.


"It's a fact that these terrorists are being helped by some Indian people also. Without local cooperation, things will not happen," the senior BJP leader said on the sidelines of the annual Nasscom India Leadership Forum in Mumbai.


On questions being raised over how much importance one should attach to the statements of Headley, a double agent now under arrest, Naidu said the revelations have been done before a court and have evidential value now. "(When he says) whatever suits them, then he is credible. When it doesn't, he's not credible. Leave it to the courts. Evidence has come now for the first time," he said.


Naidu said his government is all for taking strong action on matters of national security, but blamed certain people for diverting attention by bringing religion into the picture. It is unfortunate that some people support hanged terrorists like Afzal Guru and Yakub Memon, he said.


Four persons -- Ishrat Jahan, Javed Shaikh alias Pranesh Pillai, Amjadali Akbarali Rana and Zeeshan Johar -- were killed in an encounter with Gujarat Police on the outskirts of Ahmedabad on June 15, 2004. The city crime branch had then said that those killed in the encounters were LeT terrorists and had landed in Gujarat to kill then Chief Minister Modi. CBI, which took over the probe from the Gujarat High Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT), had filed a charge sheet in August 2013, saying that the encounter was fake and executed in joint operation by the city crime branch and Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau (SIB)
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14:35   Pathankot spurs re-look
The commandos had heard the "click" but it was too late. The grenade went off in the officer's hand and his lungs got punctured.Today, a little over a month after Lt Col E.K. Niranjan's freak death, the National Security Guard said the commando force would "soon revise" its standard operating procedure (SOP) on handling explosives following "lessons" learnt from Pathankot.  Read more
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14:24   Nation will not tolerate insult to mother India: Irani
Denouncing the protest march in JNU against the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, HRD Minister Smriti Irani today said the nation will never tolerate "insult" to mother India.


"I want to say this much, that today is the day of worship of Goddess Saraswati. Saraswati blesses every family that whatever they speak is for progress and strengthening the nation. Let mother India be praised. Nation will never tolerate insult to mother India," she told reporters when asked about the incident at JNU. Earlier, while addressing the 'All India Principals Conference' where student recited Saraswati vandana, Irani said she felt satisfied that there are teachers who teach children to pray for the nation and "not anti-India slogans".


The conference was organised by Vidya Bharati-Akhil Bhartiya Siksha Sansthan, an RSS-linked organisation working in the field of education. The controversy at JNU erupted earlier this week when some students had pasted posters across the campus inviting people to a protest march against "judicial killing of Afzal Guru and Maqbool Bhatt" and in solidarity with "struggle of Kashmiri people for their democratic right to self- determination" at varsity's Sabarmati dhaba.


Members of ABVP objected to the event and wrote to the Vice Chancellor that such kind of protest should not be held on the campus of an educational institution, prompting the university administration to order cancellation of the march as they "feared" it might "disrupt" peace.
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14:17   In Siachen tragedy, a tale of an officer's priceless faith
In the collective shock of a country at the death, life and death of Lance Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad, one man stands tall: his commanding officer, Col Um Bahadur Gurung of the Indian Army's 19 Madras battalion.


Gurung kept hope alive and supervised the rescue and search at the post in Sonam after the wall of ice came down on his men on February 3. It was his faith that led the rescuers to Hanamanthappa and the others.


Hanamanthappa died a little before noon following multiple organ failure, three days after he was pulled out alive from the ice-and-snow debris and nine days after the avalanche that killed nine other soldiers. Read more
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13:59   Dear Independent, You've Got To Be Kidding Us About Bombay
A British newspaper has decided to cease referring to the city of Mumbai as that and will instead fall back to Bombay, the colonial-era name for India's greatest metropolis.

The decision, the paper's editor said, was a reaction to the growing intolerance in India as he saw it, and because if you call it Mumbai, you are doing the bidding of the Hindu nationalists. "If you call it what Hindu nationalists want you to call it, you essentially do their work for them," he said yesterday.

Read
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13:56   PM's Varanasi gets Rs 50 crore for metro, Rs 5 cr for ghats
UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav presents a Rs 3,46,935-cr budget for 2016-17 fiscal, an increase of 14.6 per cent over last year. Rs 50 crore earmarked for metro project in PM Narendra Modi's constituency Varanasi, Rs 5 crore for construction of ghats.
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13:45   Goa govt proposes to tag peacock, bison as nuisance animals
National bird peacock and state animal wild bison are among animals proposed to be listed by the Goa government as 'nuisance animals'.


"We have listed several wild species including wild bore, monkey, wild bison (Gaur), peacock as nuisance animals. These animals are creating problem for farmers and are destroying their cultivation in rural areas," Agriculture Minister Ramesh Tawadkar told reporters in Margao last evening.

The government's decision is likely to evoke strong resentment from the environmentalists as peacock is national bird and bison is declared as a 'protected species' and Goa's state animal and the move may make them vulnerable.
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13:36  
JNU campus row: JNUSU (Jawaharlal Nehru University students' union) President Kanhaiya Kumar arrested.
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13:33   I was also working with Al Qaeda: Headley
Pakistani-American Lashkar operative Headley continues his deposition before a Mumbai court via a video link on Friday. Updates...


-- I was also working for Al-Qaeda," says Headley.

-- Met Ilyas Kashmiri (Al Qaeda leader) in Feb 2009, he asked me to go to India to conduct recce for future attacks.

-- He asked me to survey the National Defence College (Delhi), Chabad House (Pushkar, Pune), & Chabad House (Goa).

-- Ilyas Kashmiri gave me money for air fare.

-- I didn't share these facts with LeT because I thought they won't allow this visit.

-- LeT intended to attack National Defence College (Delhi) many years ago.

-- Ilyas Kashmiri said National Defence College (Delhi) was a high value target and many senior Indian Army officers stay there.

-- Headley tells court that after 26/11 terror attack, Kashmiri asked him to go to India again as they were also interested in carrying out terror activities in India.
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13:13   Indian Valentine's Day rose exports expected to rise by 10%
With the shipment of red roses leaving for Europe over, the domestic industry estimates that India's exports for Valentine's Day this year will increase 10 per cent in value as well as volume over that a year ago even as the rapidly growing domestic market leaves fewer flowers available for exports. India may export 19 million stems of roses in February compared to 17 million stems a year ago, said Praveen Sharma, president of Indian Society of Floriculture Professionals.  Read more
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13:04  
Mortal remains of nine Siachen bravehearts awaiting airlift. Choppers waiting to move them to Base Camp. Weather still not clear, says Indian Army.
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13:02   Sonia, Rahul exempted from personal appearance in National Herald case
National Herald case: Supreme court refuses to stay trial court proceedings against Sonia and Rahul Gandhi but grants exemption to them from personal appearance for hearing on 20th Feb. SC removes all the observations made by Delhi HC Judge in his judgement.
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12:34   Manmohan Singh's mega interview: Modi should know he is PM of all of India
In this first exclusive interview since he demitted office (he has spoken only once before, on TV, in the wake of former president Dr Abdul Kalam's death), Dr Manmohan Singh speaks freely on a wide variety of subjects to India Today.


Q.What did you make of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's quick trip to Lahore?
A: I don't know if it was well-thought-out. There seems to be no evidence that the Pakistanis have taken action against those who perpetrated the crime in Pathankot. I read an article by the well-known Pakistani journalist Ayesha Siddiqa, who went to Bahawalpur, headquarters of the Jaish-e-Mohammed, soon after a great deal of noise was made that Pakistan had taken some action against the Jaish. But she said she didn't see any activity which was abnormal, the madrassa that is the headquarters of the Jaish seemed to be functioning as before, everything seemed quite normal. And now it comes out that Pakistan is asking-what it used to ask us-that you are not providing enough evidence. I think with regard to Pathankot, history is repeating itself."


Read  the must-read interview with Dr Manmohan Singh here.
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12:07   Shown pic of Kasab during deposition, Headley says, 'May God bless you'
More updates from David Headley's deposition:

-- "My wife met Hafiz Saeed and requested him to convince me to take her back as I had divorced her," Headley tells Mumbai court.


"My wife Faiza knew that I was a true follower of Hafiz Saeed who called me through somebody after hearing my wife's request.


"On 28th Nov 2008 I got a mail from my wife stating "Congratulations on your graduation, ceremony was great". She was talking about the 26/11 attacks," says David Headley after being asked by Public Prosecutor about what that mail meant.

"My wife gave me full credit for the successful terror attack."

When shown the picture of Ajmal Kasab, David Headley said "Rahmatullah Ali" (May God forgive you)." 
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12:07   Missing Snapdeal exec back home
Snapdeal exec Dipti Sarna, who was found in Panipat two days after she went missing, reunites with her family in Ghaziabad. 24-year-old Snapdeal employee Sarna, went missing from Ghaziabad on Wednesday, is safe, the police said.

Ghaziabad Police have claimed that her family got a phone call from her on Friday morning in which she said that she was safe.

Dipti had gone missing after taking an auto-rickshaw from the metro station in Vaishali area in Ghaziabad, Snapdeal had launched #HelpFindDipti to locate the 24-year-old who went missing from Ghaziabad on Wednesday.

City SP Salman Taj Patil said that Deepti was on her way from Vaishali metro station to the old bus stand of Ghaziabad where her father Narendra Sarna, a resident of Kavi Nagar, was waiting to pick her up. Sarna told the police that when the auto crossed the Hindon river bridge, Deepti called him and gave him the location. She was also heard shouting at the auto driver for taking a wrong route, he said, adding thereafter her phone was switched off. Upon information, police swung into action and launched a manhunt to search the girl. Ghaziabad police launched a search operation in the jungles of Morti near Raj Nagar extension, where her last location was traced to.

Pic: Dipti (in blue) with her family.
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12:01   Thousands queue up to pay last respects to Siachen hero in Hubballi
Lance Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad, whose miraculous survival days after an avalanche hit an Army camp on the Siachen Glacier transfixed the nation, died on Thursday morning, bringing the focus back on the challenges of military deployment on the glacier, with Pakistan indicating that it is willing to consider early de-militarisation.


The soldier of 19 Madras Regiment is survived by his wife and daughter.


The body of the soldier is now at his residence for the funeral rituals. It will be kept at a government school ground to allow people to pay their last respects. The funeral is likely to be held at about 12.30 pm.


Thousands have poured into Nehru stadium, Hubballi, to pay tributes to Hanumanthappa. After three hours the body was moved to his home in Betadur village for the last rites. 
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11:42   BJP asks Opposition to 'construct idols of terrorists and offer prayers'
The BJP on Friday hit back at the Opposition for targeting the ruling dispensation post David Headley's claim on Ishrat Jahan, saying the so called nationalist parties should construct the idols of terrorists in their party offices and offer prayers in front of them.


"The political parties, who love such terrorists, should construct their idols in their party offices and offer prayers in front of them every day," BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told ANI.


"It is only these people, who call India an intolerant nation. It is only these people, who are calling fidayeen Ishrat Jahan a martyr and also called Afzal Guru a great figure," he added. He also said that the Opposition, which is targeting the BJP, should be asked to put forth their views on tolerance and intolerance.


"Tolerance is not hailing the terrorists and calling the nationalists as anti-national. The entire sequence of events is extremely unfortunate," Naqvi said. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had yesterday sought an apology from the opposition parties for levelling false allegations against the BJP.


"You must have heard what David Headley has just said in the court that Ishrat Jahan was a suicide bomber. Ishrat Jahan regarding whom many accusations were levelled against our leader. Tell me, will the accusing political parties now apologise to the nation for trying to fool the people?" he said while addressing a rally in Trivandrum.


Ishrat's lawyer Vrinda Grover had yesterday said that Headley's version was not an evidence as per the Indian law as he was given a 'multiple choice question' by a 'Padma Shri' lawyer Ujjwal Nikam.


Ishrat's mother Shamima Kausar had also expressed her disappointment over Headley's claim. "I feel there is a conspiracy to defame my daughter in order to save someone. Who would know it better than a mother that how good her daughter was? My daughter was a very nice and kind person, and could not kill anyone," Kausar told ANI. "It's a conspiracy to defame my daughter, who was killed in a fake encounter. She was murdered," she added.
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11:36   I heard in news about Kasab's capture, entire LeT was saddened: Headley
Update on Headley's deposition:


--  Sajid Mir gave me one of those Indian cell phone numbers, asked me to visit Wagah border to check if its working in that area.

-- I heard in news that 1 terrorist named Ajmal Kasab was captured by force in Mumbai. Sajid Mir and entire LeT were saddened by this.


Photo courtesy: Sebastian D'souza/Mumbai Mirror
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11:31   Anti-India acts won't be tolerated: Rajnath on JNU row
Talking tough, Home Minister Rajnath Singh today warned of "strongest possible" action against those involved in raising anti-India slogans at an event in JNU campus here, saying such activities will not be tolerated.


"If anyone raises anti-India slogans, tries to raise questions on country's unity and integrity, they will not be spared. Stringent action will be taken against them," he told reporters in New Delhi.


The Home Minister said he asked the Delhi Police to take "strongest possible action" against those who were allegedly involved in anti-India acts in Jawaharlal Nehru University campus recently.


A group of students on Tuesday held an event on the JNU campus and allegedly shouted slogans against the government and the country over the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru in 2013.


The event occurred despite varsity administration having cancelled the permission following a complaint by ABVP members, who termed the activity as "anti-national". The Delhi Police yesterday registered a case of sedition in connection with the event following complaints by BJP MP Maheish Girri and ABVP.
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11:21   Picked Badhwar Park for landing site for tactical advantage: Headley
Headley also said that during his last visit, he had purchased five books from a shop at the Taj Hotel. "During the same visit I also visited the Nalanda book shop inside Taj Hotel where I purchased five books. One of the books was 'Indian Army Vision 2020'. I was interested to know the progress of the Indian Army in the future," he said.


When Judge G A Sanap asked Headley why he had purchased the other four books, he said, "The other books were pictorial and beautiful, hence I purchased them. There is nothing sinister about those books. The first book was sinister."


Headley told the court that he had finalised Badhwar Park in Cuffe Parade as a landing site for the ten attackers, as the area is covered with shanties and hutments from the main road, and hence he thought it would give tactical advantage to the terrorists.


"In May 2008, I visited US. I could not meet Tahawwur Rana (Headley's business partner), but I spoke with him on the phone. I said that I had gone to India and selected landing site," he said. Headley said that LeT commander Zaki-ur-Rehman wanted to finalise Gateway of India as the landing site for the 10 terrorists as it was very close to the Taj hotel.


"I, however, said it was not a good idea as the attackers would be required to go through Gateway of India by crossing naval installation and they could be detected. Zaki Sahab and others agreed to my suggestion," he said.


"When Zaki Sahab saw the targets I had selected, he said this was very important and has to be done properly. Zaki Sahab said surveillance for the attacks should be done properly. He said this would give a chance to take revenge for all the bomb blasts India had done in the past in Pakistan. Zaki Sahab wished me good luck," he said.


He told the court that the idea to divide the ten terrorists in different groups was also discussed in one of the meetings in Pakistan. Headley is serving a 35-year prison sentence in the US for his role in the Mumbai attacks, in which 166 people were killed.
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11:16   Told LeT not to attack Siddhivinayak, Naval base, reveals Headley on day 4
Day 4 of Pakistani-American terrorist David Headley's deposition.


Headley today told a Mumbai court that ISI and LeT wanted to target Mumbai airport and Naval air station during the 26/11 terror attack, and that he had videographed Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and was asked to recruit someone from there to work with the Pakistani spy agency.


Testifying via video-link from the US, he also told the court he was interested in developing close relations with a Shiv Sena member as he thought that LeT would be interested in future to either attack Sena Bhawan or assassinate its head.


"Major Iqbal expressed disapproval of certain areas I had recced as targets. I felt that Major Iqbal was unhappy because Mumbai airport was not selected and included as one of the targets for the 26/11 attack," Headley said.


In another major revelation, Headley said he had videographed BARC at Trombay in Mumbai in July 2008 and that LeT had asked him to recruit some employee of BARC who would work for ISI.


"I also visited and videographed BARC. Major Iqbal told me that in some future date I should recruit some employee of BARC who would give us classified information and would be ready to work for the ISI," Headley said, adding that he had handed over the video to Sajid Mir and Major Iqbal.


In further disclosures, 55-year-old Headley, who recently turned approver in the 26/11 case, said that after he had recced Mumbai, he had several meetings in Pakistan with LeT leader Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, Sajid Mir, Abu Kahfa and Abdul Rehman Pasha and Major Iqbal. Headley revealed that during his last visit to Mumbai in July 2008, prior to the 26/11 attacks, he had surveyed and videographed the Chabad House in south Mumbai.


"I don't know who was staying there. Sajid Mir and Pasha asked me to survey this place and said that it was an international location as it had Jewish and Israeli people," he said.


 Headley said he discouraged the LeT about Naval air station and Siddhivinayak temple as targets for the attack. "I discouraged them (LeT) about Naval air station and Siddhivinayak temple as targets as then all the ten attackers would have had to concentrate on one target only," he said.


He further disclosed that during this visit, he had also gone to Siddhivinayak temple and made a video of it. "I purchased the red and yellow wrist bands.... I forget the name of it. I thought that the ten youths could wear it as a cover so that people would think they were Indians.


"Nobody asked me to do so. I saw a man selling it outside the temple, so the thought occurred to me. After I returned to Pakistan, I gave those wrist bands to Sajid Mir and explained to him that practising Hindus in India wear this and hence, it would be a good idea if the ten gentlemen (attackers) also wear it as it would look like they are Hindus," he said.
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10:39   Met Rajaram Rege at Sena HQ, developed close ties with him: Headley
David Headley, Pakistani-American Lashkar-e-Tayiba operative, deposing in front of a Mumbai court via video conferencing made other startling revelations. 

- I met Rajaram Rege at Shiv Sena headquaters in Shiv Sena Bhavan in Dadar area of Mumbai and developed a close friendship with him

- I wanted to access the Shiv Sena Bhavan in case LeT is interested in attacking the building in future
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10:27   Kerala CM presents budget amid protests by Opposition
Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy presented the 2016-17 budget in the state assembly amidst protests and boycott by opposition Communist Party of India-Marxist-led Left Democratic Front demanding his resignation over solar and bar bribery scams. It was after a 29-year gap that the Kerala assembly saw a CM presenting the state budget. 

The LDF members holding banners and placards raised slogans for a while even as an unfazed Chief Minister continued with the budget presentation. After sloganeering, the LDF members marched out of theHouse and boycotted the budget presentation.
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10:17   Sedition case filed against JNU students in Afzal Guru row
Police on Thursday registered a case of sedition and criminal conspiracy against "unknown persons" for allegedly raising anti-India slogans at an event organised by some students in Jawaharlal Nehru University against the hanging of 2001 Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. Delhi Police took suo moto cognizance and registered an FIR, although separate complaints were already filed. 

Home Minister Rajnath Singh commenting on the issue said, "When someone is in the country and raises anti-national statements, raising questions on India's unity, diversity and sovereignty then they won't be forgiven. What happened in JNU was unfortunate and for that, I have already given the necessary instructions to the Delhi Police Commissioner."
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10:13   Sign up for creative writing workshop in Mumbai
Author Renu Balakrishnan ('I wrote this book on scraps of paper'), who has written and published short stories and a novel, Four Aleys, is organising a creative writing workshop in March and April 2016 at the Xavier Institute of Communication, Mumbai.

The course is designed to help you understand the genre and rules of writing creative non-fiction using the techniques of writing in scenes, using dialogue, developing characters, describing settings and other aspects of creative non-fiction writing.

With this course, you will also be able to analyse the structure of the personal essay and read, critique and appreciate elegant examples. And you will write your own essays.

The course comprises six sessions of two hours each, starting 6.30 pm, on March, 3, 10, 17, 23, 31 and April, 7, 2016, and will be held at the Xavier Institute of Communication (xaviercomm.org).

The fee for the course is Rs 5,500, and interested candidates can register and pay at the XIC, Mumbai, and collect reading and writing assignments for the first class.

For further details, phone: 022-22621366 or 22621639 or email: renu@rediffmail.com

A little more about Renu Balakrishnan. Apart from having published a novel, she has conducted writing workshops for writers and teachers in schools and colleges, attended a Master's in Education course at the Oxford Brookes University, the UK, and Creative Writing programmes at the New School. New York.
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10:01   Mortal remains of Siachen braveheart being taken to his home
The mortal remains of braveheart Lance Naik Hanumanthappa Koppad, who was trapped for six days at the Siachen Glacier under 35 ft of ice before being rescued on Monday night and lost his battle for life and passed away at around 11.45 am is now being transferred to his hometown in Dharwar (Karnataka) for last rites.

Several citizens and politicans paid their last respects to the martyr as his body was lying in state at Hubli. The 33-year-old is survived by his wife and two-year-old daughter. 
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09:38   National Herald case: SC to hear Sonia, Rahul's plea today
 The Supreme Court on Friday will hear the pleas of Congress President Sonia Gandhi and part vice president Rahul Gandhi against the Delhi High Court verdict refusing to quash summons issued to them in the National Herald case.
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09:27   No plans for joint maritime patrol with India: US
There is no plan of any India-US joint naval patrols either in the Indian Ocean or South China Sea, a top US official said as he dismissed the reports that both the countries were planning a joint maritime patrol. "At this time, I can say there is no plans for any joint naval patrols," said State Department Deputy Spokesman Mark Toner. 

"The US and India do have a shared vision of peace,stability and prosperity in Asia. We are committed to work together with others in the region to achieve our shared goals in an open, balanced and inclusive security structure," he said.
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09:04   Sanjeev Kapoor to prepare menu for railway food
The railway ministry has approached celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor to prepare the menu of food items that are served on trains. Kapoor, who has decades of expertise in commercial food and beverage industry, is a household name in the country, which is why the Railways asked him to prepare the menu, said senior officials in the ministry. "I won't be able to reveal much, but yes as an Indian I'm glad to be able to help Indian Railways," Kapoor said. 
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08:24   'Snapdeal employee, who went missing on Wednesday, found in Panipat'
Deepti Sarna, a Snapdeal employee, who went missing after taking an autorickshaw from the metro station in Vaishali area in Ghaziabad, has been found at Panipat, police source have said, adding that she is safe and that she called her family. On Wednesday, around 8.30 pm, she had become untraceable while travelling in an auto she had hired from outside Vaishali Metro Station. 

On Thursday morning, police started combing operation in the jungles of Morti near Raj Nagar extension under jurisdiction of Sihani gate police station. As per call details of Deepti's phone, that was her last location, Patil said.
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08:07  
JUST IN: David Headley begins testifying before Mumbai court through video link.
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08:05   ISI trains JeM and LeT terrorists: Former Pak president Pervez Musharraf
In a significant remark, former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf has pointed straight at the Inter-Services Intelligence for training Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists, while saying that 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed was a Pakistani hero. 

His comments have come in the wake of 26/11 attacks convict David Coleman Headley's deposition before a Mumbai court, saying that the ISI had a role in training the terrorists who were involved in the carnage.
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03:13   What would 'President' Trump actually do?
Donald Trump's loss to Ted Cruz in Iowa gave rise to a narrative that his support was rhetorical only, and that he would fail to translate his enormous media profile into votes. But his 19 point victory in New Hampshire belied this, and reinforced Trump's claim to be the favourite for the Republican nomination.

Trump's success is real, but it is far too early to call -- he has accumulated fewer than 20 of the 1,237 delegates he needs for the nomination.

But his victories do say something important about the mood of the U.S. electorate. The two candidates who entered the field as establishment favorites -- Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton -- have both struggled, though Bush, facing many more opponents, has had the worst of it.

Read more HERE.
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03:11   Russian troops are beating back rebels in a key Syrian city
Assad's forces are grateful for the assistance they say has turned the course of the war in their favor: Russian air power.

The Russian military has been helping Assad's forces, going after a coalition of rebels in the eastern part of the city.

"It is only a matter of months till we win, thanks to the Russian support with their airstrikes flown from the Syrian airfield, which will defeat the rebels once and for all," Abu Mohammed said.

The roar of planes overhead is loud and constant. Rattling thuds shake the ground -- the sounds of bombs exploding nearby.

"The rebels are only a few yards away," a sniper told us, explaining that the Syrian military continues to engage in close-quarter firefights with the rebels.

Read more HERE.
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02:19   Lance Naik Hanamanthappa's mortal remains taken to Karnataka
Mortal remains of Lance Naik Hanamanthappa were taken to Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences in Hubli on Thursday night.

People paid their last respects to Lance Naik Hanamanthappa at Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences in Hubli.
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02:09   Russia warns foreign troops risk 'world war' over Syria
Moscow said today it had made a "quite specific" ceasefire proposal for Syria as foreign ministers gathered in Munich, hoping to revive a floundering peace process amid warnings of a "new world war".

With Syria peace talks derailed by the regime onslaught on Aleppo, the UN said 51,000 Syrians had fled the northern city this month as government forces backed by Russian bombers and Iranian fighters left the opposition there virtually surrounded.

"We made propositions for a ceasefire that are quite specific," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said as he sat down for talks with US counterpart John Kerry.

Moscow has refused to confirm reports that its ceasefire would take effect only on March 1, giving another three weeks to an offensive which the UN says could place 300,000 people under siege.
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01:06   NATO 'exploring possibility' of joining anti-IS coalition: US
NATO is considering joining the US-led coalition fighting Islamic State jihadists in Syria and Iraq, US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said today.

"Thanks to the leadership of NATO (head) Jens Stoltenberg we are exploring the possibility of NATO joining the coalition as a member itself," Carter said after a meeting of the coalition in Brussels to discuss increasing their contributions to the campaign.
The coalition already includes all 28 NATO member states individually but not the alliance in its own right.

Some NATO member states have been wary of the alliance becoming directly involved in the IS campaign but the threat it poses, with some of its leadership moving to Libya and closer to Europe, has increased the pressure for change.

Speaking after the meeting at NATO HQ in Brussels, Carter said getting the alliance on board would be a "significant development."
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01:03   Auschwitz trial: Ex-guard Reinhold Hanning in German court
A 94-year-old former Nazi SS guard at the Auschwitz death camp has gone on trial in Germany over the murder of at least 170,000 people.

Prosecutors say Reinhold Hanning met Jewish prisoners as they arrived at the camp in occupied Poland and may have escorted some to the gas chambers.

Hanning has admitted being a guard but denies involvement in mass murder.

He is being tried in the city of Detmold, in what is likely to be one of the last cases of its kind.

Hanning is one of four elderly former Nazi guards - three men and a woman - who are due to go on trial in the coming months.

Read more HERE.

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