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Thu, 14 July 2016
Donald Trump to pick Indiana Governor Mike Pence as his running mate

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23:29   Curfew across Valley tomorrow
Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday said curfew will be imposed across the Kashmir Valley on Friday as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order. 
District Magistrates issued the orders for imposition of curfew in their respective areas of jurisdiction this evening  and the order will come into effect from the morning, anofficial spokesman said.
The spokesman said no vehicular movement will be allowed except for medical emergency vans.
The mobile telephone network will also be snapped around this midnight to prevent rumour mongering, a police official said.
The mobile Internet services are already suspended in the Valley since Saturday.
Violent protests erupted in the state after the killing militant Burhan Wani by security forces in an encounter.
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23:26   US Supreme Court judge sorry for branding Trump a 'faker'
United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg apologized on Thursday for publicly disparaging Donald Trump as a phoney with a big ego.
The left-leaning 83-year-old judge shocked the US political establishment with her remarks on Monday after she called Trump "a faker" who "says whatever comes into his head at the moment."
She also told The New York Times in an interview published last weekend that she "can't imagine" what the United States under Trump as president would be like.
Ginsburg issued a statement on Thursday saying she was sorry.
"On reflection, my recent remarks in response to press inquiries were ill-advised and I regret making them," Ginsburg said.
"Judges should avoid commenting on a candidate for public office. In the future I will be more circumspect," she added. 
In response to the criticism, Trump had suggested the judge was getting senile and should step down. 
"Justice Ginsburg of the US Supreme Court has embarrassed all by making very dumb political statements about me. Her mind is shot - resign!" he tweeted.
Ginsburg drew widespread ire from Republicans for breaking with a code of conduct under which US judges are not supposed to publicly endorse or oppose a candidate for office.
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23:10   First aircraft with evacuated people from South Sudan to land in Kerala on Friday
The first plane of Indian Air Forces C-17 aircraft is on its way to India from Juba, with Indian nationals who were stranded in South Sudan.
 
Minister of State for Ministry of External Affairs, General VK Singh is onboard C-17 aircraft, leading Operation Sankat Mochan himself.

Two IAF C17s departed for South Sudan around 5 am today.

There are around 600 Indians in South Sudan, of them 450 are in Juba, capital city of South Sudan and nearly 150 are outside Juba, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj informed.

South Sudans President Salva Kiir has ordered a ceasefire after days of intense fighting in Juba left more than 150 dead and many more injured since fighting broke out on Thursday.

There was renewed fighting between the government and former rebel forces since Thursday in Juba.
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22:34   Donald Trump to pick Indiana Governor Mike Pence as his running mate
Donald Trump's campaign has signaled he will pick Governor Mike Pence of Indiana as his running mate.

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee and Pence had campaigned together at a rally on Tuesday night in Westfield, Indiana.


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21:59   Slain Haryana gangster's 'girlfriend', her mother detained
A woman, said to be the girlfriend of Haryana gangster Sandeep Gadoli, and her mother were detained today by city police, which is probing his death in an alleged fake encounter, an officer said.

The Special Investigation Team of Mumbai Police detained Divya Pahuja and her mother Sonia in Gurgaon and is questioning them as suspects in the case, he said.  

The police were ascertaining if the mother-daughter duo played any role in the staged killing of Gadoli inside a hotel near the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport here on February 7, the officer said. 

Divya was allegedly the girlfriend of the deceased gangster and accompanying him when the encounter, carried out by a Haryana Police team, took place, police said. Three accused in the case -- all policemen from Haryana-- have been arrested by the SIT. They are constables Vikram Singh, Jitendra Yadav and sub-Inspector Pradhyuman Yadav, who led the encounter team.
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21:14   Iran deal succeeded in rolling back nuclear programme: Obama
The historic Iran deal signed a year ago has succeeded in rolling back Tehran's nuclear programme and avoiding further conflict, US President Barack Obama said today.

"Over the last year, the Iran Deal has succeeded in rolling back Iran's nuclear programme, avoiding further conflict and making us safer," Obama said in a statement issued on the occasion of the first anniversary of the conclusion of the Iran nuclear deal'"known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action'"by representatives of the United States, Iran, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, China, Russia, and the European Union.

In the last one year, Obama said, Iran has implemented its nuclear-related commitments, as verified by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
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21:00   ATAGS to be ready for user trial by early 2017: DRDO
Having successfully conducted the proof firing, India's first fully integrated Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System will be ready for user trials by early next year, the DRDO said today.

Giving details of the recent test of the 155 mm x 52 calibre ATAGS' armamament system, the Defence Research and Development Organisation said the project is being undertaken on a "mission mode". 

The armament system of ATAGS mainly comprises barrel, breech mechanism, muzzle brake and recoil mechanism to fire 155 mm calibre ammunition held by Indian Army with a longer range, accuracy and precision and provides greater fire power.

ATAGS is configured with all-electric drive to ensure maintenance-free and reliable operation over a longer period of time, it said in a statement.
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20:29   Banks seek contempt action in SC against Vijay Mallya
The consortium of banks led by State Bank of India today moved the Supreme Court with a fresh plea seeking initiation of contempt proceedings against Vijay Mallya, who is in the United Kingdom, alleging that he has not given the complete details of his assets as directed. 

A bench comprising Justices Kurian Joseph and R F Nariman agreed to hear the fresh interim application of banks on July 18 after Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi mentioned it for urgent hearing. Rohatgi claimed Mallya had provided wrong details of his assets in a sealed cover to the apex court. 

He further said a lot of information has also been concealed, including a cash transaction to the tune of Rs 2500 crore, which amounted to contempt of court. Earlier, the court had sought details of assets from Mallya in a sealed cover.
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20:28   Another Boris livens up European diplomacy
British Prime Minister Theresa May made a sensational pick for the post of foreign secretary in her Cabinet -- Boris Johnson who led the 'Leaveniks' in the EU referendum. 

What a unique decision that only Britain can make!

Read this article here
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19:46   ATS arrests man for planning to join IS in Mumbai
A 31-year-old man was arrested today by the Anti-Terrorism Squad for allegedly trying to join terror group Islamic State with the help of his online contact based in Syria. 

The accused, whose name has been withheld by the agency, is a resident of Parbhani in Marathwada region of Maharashtra. As per the press release issued by ATS, the man had been in touch with a person named Farukh, a resident of Syria and an alleged member of the Islamic State, through social networking sites.

The accused had created several IDs to remain in touch with Farukh, it said. "The accused was planning to leave for Iraq and Syria to join IS," the release added. He has been booked under relevant sections of IPC and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, it added.

Earlier, the link of terror to Marathwada region came to fore as the suspected LeT handler of 26/11 Mumbai attacks Abu Jundal, currently facing trial, hails from the region.

In May 2014, four youths from Kalyan near Mumbai, namely Shaheen Tanki, Fahad Shaikh, Aman Tandel and Arif Majeed had left the country to visit holy places in the West Asia, but they disappeared thereafter and since then were suspected to have joined IS.
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19:32   Pul claims support of majority MLAs in Arunachal
Dismissed Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Kalikho Pul today claimed support of majority MLAs of the state.  

"We need to see the facts very carefully. The SC has not directed that the party composition shall be restored as on December 15. Accordingly, the party composition of the Arunachal Assembly is Congress - 15, PPA - 30, BJP - 11 and Independents - 2," Pul said at a press conference. 

"With this party composition, I wonder whether Nabam Tuki will be able to win a confidence vote," he said. Parading 36 MLAs in front of the media, Pul asserted he has the support of 43 members of the Arunachal Legislative Assembly, which has a total strength of 60. Asked if there was any fear of horse-trading, Pul said "That fear is always there. He (Tuki) is calling all members for influencing them."

On filing a review petition against the Supreme Court judgement, he said legal experts would be consulted first. 

On the law and order situation in Arunachal Pradesh, he said "I have been a minister for 23 years and for the first time I saw a situation where the home minister was blocking roads and locking assembly gates. We feared law and order problems. That is why we defected."
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19:05   Mahasweta Devi's health worsens, put on life support
Eminent litterateur and social activist Mahasweta Devi, admitted to a private hospital for over a month, was today put ventilator support after her condition deteriorated.

Undergoing treatment at a hospital here for over 45 days, her condition continues to remain very critical, doctors said. "In the morning she had breathing trouble after which we put her on ventilation. Her kidney is not functioning properly and so we also did a dialysis today. She is very critical now but in a stable condition," doctors at the Belle Vue Clinic hospital said.

The 90-year-old writer-activist, who is known for her dedicated service for the welfare of tribals in different parts of India, is suffering from multiple age-related ailments besides blood infection and urinary tract infection. She has been administered antibiotics and given renal support.

The Jnanpith, Padma Vibhushan and Magsaysay awardee has been suffering from age-related illness for a long time. Earlier this year she had been admitted to the same hospital with age-related ailments.
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19:01   Bilawal Bhutto speaks to separatists, says his solidarity is with Kashmiris
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the 'Gen Next' politician of Pakistan, waded in to the ongoing unrest in Kashmir saying he had "spoken to Mirwaiz and my solidarity is with Kashmir."

Mirwaiz refers to separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the Chairman of the Hurriyat Conference.


Bhutto, the  chairman of the Pakistan People's Party, has made statements on Kashmir
earlier as well.

In 2014, he was the butt of Twitter jokes when he said that his PPP would get back entire Kashmir from India.

Bilawal, the scion of highly influential Bhutto family and son of the late Pakistan PM Benazir Bhutto, had said, "I will take back Kashmir, all of it, and I will not leave behind a single inch of it because, like the other provinces, it belongs to Pakistan." 
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19:01   Sania Mirza just served an ace when Rajdeep Sardesai asked a sexist question
In the wake of the release of her autobiography titled Ace Against Odds, Sania Mirza also gave an interview to India Today TV journalist Rajdeep Sardesai.

Nothing unusual in that except for Sardesai's unbelievablly sexist question.

Sania of course aced the interview with her answer.

Here's the exchange.


Sardesai: Amidst all the celebrityhood, when is Sania going to settle down? Is it going to be in Dubai? Is it going to be in any other country? What about motherhood building a family I dont see all that in the book, it seems like you dont want to retire just yet to settle down.

Mirza: You dont think Im settled?

Sardesai: You dont talk about retirement, about raising a family, about motherhood, whats life beyond tennis is going to be

Mirza: You sound disappointed that Im not choosing motherhood over being number one in the world at this point of time. But Ill answer your question anyway, thats the question I face all the time as a woman, that all women have to face the first is marriage and then its motherhood. Unfortunately, thats when were settled, and no matter how many Wimbledons we win or number ones in the world we become, we dont become settled. But eventually it will happen, not right now. And when it does happen Ill be the first one to tell everybody when I plan to do that.
Sardesai: I must apologise, I framed that question very badly. I promise you, youre right, I would never ask this question to a male athlete
Mirza: Im so glad, youre the first journalist to apologise to me on national television.

Way to go, Sania!
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17:48   143 Indians on their way back from war-torn South Sudan
One of the two C-17 Globemaster aircraft are on their way back from war-torn Juba in South Sudan this morning.

On board will be 143 Indians including 10 women and three infants.  MoS General VK Singh who is coordinating the rescue efforts from Juba met with S Sudan foreign minister Deng Alor Kuol. Indian Blue Berets posted in South Sudan as part of UNMISS are also lending a helping hand in the evacuation effort.

India has launched Operation Sankat Mochan to evacuate 600 Indians from war-torn South Sudan. South Sudan has been rocked by violence that has claimed hundreds of lives. "We are launching OP #SankatMochan to evacuate Indian nationals from South Sudan. My colleague @Gen_VKSingh is leading this operation," External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted yesterday. 

Image: The 143 Indians including women and infants board the aircraft in Juba. The picture was tweeted by the MEA.
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16:51   Court orders FIR against Dadri lynching victim's family
A court has ordered an FIR against the family of Mohammad Akhlaq's family over the alleged cow slaughter.

Akhlaq was lynched by a mob in Bisada village in Dadri, on the suspicion that he had eaten and stored beef, last September.

On June 9, a group of Bisada residents moved court demanding that an FIR be filed against Mohammad Akhlaq's family for alleged cow slaughter.

File pic of Danish, Mohammad Akhlaq's son.
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16:28   It's official: Sheila Dikshit is Congress party's CM candidate for UP
Sheila Dikshit announced as the Congress Party's CM candidate for UP. The state goes to the polls in 2017.

The announcement was made at a press conference today by senior leader and UP poll-in-charge Ghulam Nabi Azad.

Speculations on the candidature have been ripe since last month after Dikshit met the Congress leadership in Delhi.

Prashant Kishor has been appointed as party's poll strategist in UP and it is believed that he has suggested a Brahmin face be projected to represent the party in elections.

Accepting the candidature, Dikshit said she would have loved to have Priyanka Gandhi campaigning beside her. She also said leading UP is an uphill task and would do her best to fulfill the party's expectations.

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16:03   Arunachal Pradesh crisis: Kalikho Pul parades 40 supporters before media
A day after the Supreme Court called the dismissal of the Congress government in Arunachal Pradesh as "illegal", termed all decisions of Governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa "unconstitutional" and reinstated Nabam Tuki as the chief minister, Kalikho Pul who was ousted from the post paraded 40 supporters before the media.

He also pledged to seek legal remedy.

The SC order left red faces in the central government and the BJP since Pul, who took charge on February 20 as the ninth chief minister of the state, had outside support from 11 BJP MLAs.

The judgment was historic since it is the first time the Supreme Court has restored a government after it was dismissed -- on January 26 -- and a new government was sworn in after a spell of Presidents rule. On two occasions in the past, the top court had ruled against Presidents rule but did not order restoration of the previous government.

In May, the Supreme Court put the Harish Rawat-led Congress government back in the saddle in Uttarakhand and the Centre had to revoke Presidents rule after Rawat's victory in a floor test.
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15:33   Indian firm delivers Assam green tea to Donald Trump to 'purify mind'
An Indian tea company has delivered a huge consignment containing 6,000 bags of famous Assam green tea to Donald Trump with a message to the presumptive Republican presidential nominee that it is never too late to "cleanse yourself".

"Dear Mr Trump, namaste from India, we are sending you lots and lots of natural green tea. It fights against harmful free radicals. It helps purify the mind and body, and regain a healthy balance. It has also proven to make people smarter.

Please Mr Trump drink the tea. For your sake, for America's sake, for the world's sake," Kolkata-based Te-A-Me Teas said in a video explaining the idea of sending green tea to Donald Trump.

"The message is simple: Mr Trump, it's never too late to cleanse yourself," the company said yesterday, a day after its representatives delivered a consignment of some 6,000 green tea bags to the Trump Towers in New York.

"Donald Trump has the whole world worried... we can't stop him, but maybe we can change him," the video said.

While the cost of the tea consignment, sufficient for four years, was not made public, Sumit Shah, Managing Director of the company said its health potential is immense.

"We believe that green tea with all its goodness can help Mr Trump and in turn benefit his country and the world at large," Mr Shah said, adding that the consignment of tea bags is based on the presumption that the real estate tycoon would drink three cups a day.

"If he needs more, we'll be happy to provide. Green tea has been proven to fight against harmful free radicals and cleanse the mind and bodies, helping one regain a healthy balance," Mr Shah said, adding that these green teas can help change Donald Trump for the better.

The Trump Campaign did not respond to questions on the green tea bags from India.
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15:27  
Just in: SC refuses to stay ordinance allowing states to conduct separate entrance test for admissions to MBBS, BDS courses for 2016-17.
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15:17   Fly to Shirdi from October
The Shirdi Airport is likely to be inaugurated in October this year for which Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will soon invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Maharashtra Airport Development Authority Managing Director Vishvas Patil said. Patil visited Shirdi yesterday to supervise the progress of work at the airport, which is in its final stage and also held a meeting with the concerned officials.


"The process of getting permission from various departments is in the final stage. It was discussed in a meeting where our Chief Minister said he will send an invite to the Prime Minister for the inauguration," Patil told reporters last evening. He said the tower for Air Traffic Control (ATC) has been installed and work of the terminal building has reached up to 250 metres and will be completed by October till a height of around 1,000 metres. A modern machinery will be set up for security set-up, Patil said, adding that X-ray machine has been installed, while a special fire tender machinery will be imported from Australia.

"So far, Rs 225 crore have been spent and works worth Rs 100 crores are still pending. The airport is being set up on 900 acre land having run way of 2,500 metres, which is likely to be extended by 3,200 metres. Other works like parking bay, taxi-bay, lighting are completed. Functioning of Shirdi airport will soon begin," Patil said.


He said many devotees from countries like UK, Singapore, and Dubai enquire about the air services to visit the shrine of Saibaba and they can now reach here via flights from Mumbai and Delhi airports.
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14:56   Boris Johnson's best insults
Boris Johnson: Six times the new Foreign Secretary has insulted world leaders (Tony Blair is a greased piglet and Hillary Clinton a sadistic nurse). Read
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14:41   Op Sankat Mochan: Singh and team land in Juba
Operation Sankat Mochan: Indian rescue team headed by Gen VK Singh lands in Juba, South Sudan, in the first C-17 aircraft. The picture was tweeted by MEA. 
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14:39   Jigisha murder: All three accused found guilty
All the three men - Amit Shukla, Baljeet Malik and Ravi Kapoor - accused in the murder of IT executive Jigisha Ghosh, have been found guilty.

The three men are also accused of killing TV journalist Soumya Vishwanathan, who was shot dead on September 30, 2008, while returning home in her car from her office in the early hours.

Jigisha, 28, who was working with Hewitt Associate Pvt Ltd as operations manager, was abducted and killed on March 18, 2009, after she was dropped near her home in Vasant Vihar area of South Delhi by her official cab around 4 am.

The trial had begun on April 15, 2010 with examination of her father as the first prosecution witness.

The court had framed charges against the accused under IPC and Arms Act, dealing with murder, criminal conspiracy, abduction, robbery, forgery and using firearms.

The recovery of the weapon allegedly used in the murder of the IT executive had led to the cracking of the murder case of Soumya.

Image: Jigisha Ghosh
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14:21   26/11 plotter Hafeez Saeed's Twitter handle suspended
The official Twitter account of Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed was suspended on Thursday.

The Twitter handle - @hafizsaeedlive was suspended by Twitter following reports by Indian security agencies that it was being used to incite violence following the death of Kashmiri militant Burhan Wani in an encounter last week.

An accused in Mumbai attack, Hafiz Saeed was seen earlier this week participating along with Hizbul Mujahidren chief Syed Salahudeen during a prayer meeting on Wani death.

On Wednesday night, Saeed has launched an onslaught against India following which the agencies approached Twitter to suspend his account.

Earlier also, the Twitter account of Saeed was suspended following India's request. He created a new ID on Twitter in December 2015, following the suspension of the previous account. Saeed reportedly has one more accounts which is maintained by his Cyber team, said officials.
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14:13   We Pakistanis should support our Kashmiri brothers: Hafiz Saeed
Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed said that the ongoing protests on the Indian side of Kashmir would be intensified and warned that the deaths in the region would not be in vain.

Addressing a meet in Lahore on Tuesday, Saeed said, "This time the people in Kashmir are on streets. This protest has become a mass movement. All groups in Kashmir have united. All the wings of the Hurriyat have become one. The Muttahida Jihad Council and all other groups have come on to the same platform. Those who have died in Kashmir, their deaths will not be in vain."


More than 30 people were killed and several others injured, with both people and security forces turning hostile in protest-related violence in the Kashmir Valley, after Kashmiris took to the streets to condemn the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Muzaffar Wani.


Image: Hafiz Saeed holds a prayer meeting for slain terrorist Burhan Wani
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13:52   Sadhvi Prachi announces Rs 50-lakh bounty on Zakir Naik's head
Former Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Sadhvi Prachi has announced a Rs 50-lakh reward to whoever "beheads" Islamic preacher Zakir Naik.

"I have announced the reward because Zakir Naik is not a religious preacher, but a terrorist," she said.

Prachi, however, clarified that she was offering the reward in her individual capacity, and not on behalf of the organisation.

Naik has been under scrutiny since it emerged that his speeches had inspired one of the militants behind the Dhaka cafe attack on July 1.

While the Maharashtra intelligence department gave the televangelist a clean chit, saying they could not make out a case against him, the Centre is still looking into sources funding his Islamic Research Organisation.

Sadhvi has urged the government to investigate possible terror links of all "such preachers working in madrasas" in the country.

The pro-Hindutva leader also claimed that soon after her announcement, a caller named Shahid had threatened to kidnap her.

Her Rs 50-lakh offer comes after a group Hussaini Tigers placed a bounty of Rs 15 lakh on Naik. "He [Naik] is a 'khalnayak''. He has insulted the Prophet, and whosoever kills him will be rewarded not only in life'but will also get a cash reward from us," Chief of the Hussaini Tigers Syed Kalbe Hussain Naqvi had said on Facebook.

Moreover, Naik has cancelled the press briefing he was scheduled to give via Skype, claiming that authorities of the venue -- Mehfil Hall in South Mumbai -- backed out at the last minute, PTI reported.

Naik had decided to hold the press briefing via video conference after multiple venues allegedly cancelled the event because of pressure from Mumbai Police.
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13:23   Sheila Dikshit set to become Cong face for UP polls
Congress veteran Sheila Dikshit is set to become the party's chief ministerial candidate for next year's Assembly polls in politically crucial Uttar Pradesh. Election strategist Prashant Kishor had recommended that Dikshit should play a major role in the party's poll campaign in the state as she is a prominent Brahmin face and could help Congress regain support of the electorally sizeable community.

An announcement naming 78-year-old Dikshit as Congress' chief ministerial face is likely to be made soon, party sources said. Dikshit is the daughter-in-law of prominent Congress leader from UP Uma Shankar Dikshit, who was a Brahmin face and had served as a Union minister and governor for a long time. Earlier this month, Dikshit, a three-time Delhi Chief Minister, had said as UP's "daughter-in-law" she was ready to play any role in the state. Dikshit had met party President Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi last month during which she was said to have been sounded by them for a leading role in UP.
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13:07  
Monsoon covers entire country two days before its normal date: IMD.
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12:24   Pooja Thakur, who led Obama's Guard of Honour, takes IAF to court
Indian Air Force Wing Commander Pooja Thakur has moved the court on being denied permanent commission by the IAF. Last year, Pooja Thakur became the first lady officer to lead the Inter-Service Guard of Honour which was inspected by US President Barack Obama at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

It is a proud moment to be representing the Indian Air Force commanding the Inter-Services Guard of Honour and that too to Mr Barack Obama, Thakur had said.

Thakur joined the IAF in 2000 and belongs to the administrative branch. The officers father retired as a Colonel from the Indian Army.

Asked how her parents felt when they first heard that she will be commanding the Guard of Honour, Thakur had said they were proud. They were very proud because they would be seeing me and hoping that I would do well. Presenting Inter-Services Guard of Honour to an important dignitary is a proud moment for everyone of us, she had said.


Read her 2015 interview to Rediff.com: 'I wasn't nervous:' Wing Commander Pooja Thakur
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12:19   ISIS says 'Minister Of War' Abu Omar Al-Shishani killed: Report
Abu Omar al-Shishani, who the Pentagon described as Islamic State's "minister of war", was killed in combat in the Iraqi city of Shirqat, south of Mosul, a news agency that supports the militant group said on Wednesday.

The Pentagon said in March that Shishani had likely been killed in a US air strike in Syria, but this was the first time the group appeared to confirm his death.

Reuters could not independently verify the statement from Amaq news agency, which ISIS regularly uses to issue reports and which denied Shishani's death after the Pentagon's comments in March.
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12:03   Sheila Dikshit's name as UP CM candidate may be announced today
Just in: The UP poll in-charge for the Congress, Ghulam Nabi Azad, will hold a press conference today at 4 pm today. Sheila Dikshit is likely to be named Congress' UP CM candidate.

Dikshit has already met Congress President Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi in Delhi. Speculation is rife among party circles that the leadership is likely to propose her name for leading the Congress campaign in Uttar Pradesh.

The Congress had roped in poll strategist Prashant Kishor to guide the party in the crucial state assembly elections, scheduled for next year. Kishor previously proposed Priyanka Gandhi and Rahuls name as the partys CM face, but the idea was soon dropped.
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11:53   Rape remark: Salman refuses to apologise, says NCW has no jurisdiction
Salman Khan refuses to apologise to the Maharashtra Commission for Women over his rape remark. Salman replies to the National Commission for Women saying it does not have the jurisdiction to take up the case.

The National Commission for Women has issued summons to the actor over his rape remark.

The National Commission for Women had issued fresh summons to the actor and asked him to appear before the NCW on July 8, which the actor did not.

The actor had replied to the NCW's previous notice on his rape analogy but remained unapologetic. Stating that Salman's reply was "not apologetic in tenor", NCW chairperson Lalitha Kumaramangalam said that the panel would now explore legal options.

The controversy was triggered when, in an interview to a magazine, Khan used the rape analogy to refer to his gruelling shooting schedule for his latest film. "When I used to walk out of the ring after the shoot, I used to feel like a raped woman. I couldn't walk straight," the actor had said.

The NCW had issued a suo motu notice, asking Khan to tender a public apology within five days or risk being summoned to the NCW office. The notice condemned his "objectionable, offensive and irresponsible comments with respect to the dignity of women". 
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11:53   Pakistan covets others territory, India rebuts Pak at UN
In a strong rebuttal to Pakistan after it raised at the UN the killing of terrorist Burhan Wani and Kashmir, India on Wednesday described it as "a country that covets the territory of others and uses terrorism as state policy towards that misguided end.

"India's ambassador to the UN, Syed Akbaruddin was reacting to the comments made by Pakistan's envoy Maleeha Lodhi on Kashmir and Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani's killing during a debate on human rights at the 193-member UN General Assembly yesterday.

"Regrettably, earlier today we have seen an attempt at misuse of this UN platform. The attempt came from Pakistan, a country that covets the territory of others, a country that uses terrorism as state policy towards that misguided end, a country that extols the virtues of terrorists and that provides sanctuary to UN-designated terrorists, and a country that masquerades its efforts as support for human rights and self-determination," Akbaruddin said.
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11:44   Boris Johnson and diplomacy are not synonymous
Britain's new foreign secretary was singled out by the Germans for causing Brexit with 'a diet of lies' and once described black people as 'piccaninnies'. Read more
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11:20   Blustering US a paper tiger in S.China Sea
After the illegally organized arbitration tribunal issued the award in The South China Sea arbitration Tuesday, the US voiced the strongest support for it. Spokespersons from both the US Department of State and the White House successively claimed that the award was legally binding. More politicians and congressmen from the House and Senate have also made fiercer remarks, demanding regular challenges to China's excessive maritime claims through naval and air patrols. Japan's stance is precisely the same as that of the US, as if they have discussed their lines. Read more
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10:30   Jigisha murder case: court to decide fate of 3 accused
Delhi court to pronounce its judgement today in the 2009 murder case of IT executive Jigisha Ghosh, in which three men are facing trial.

It has been a seven-year wait for justice for Jigisha's parents, Jagannath and Sabita Ghosh.

The prosecution would demand maximum punishment for the three, who are also accused of murdering TV journalist Soumya Vishwanathan in 2008 and a transporter named Nadeem.

Jigisha, an operations manager, was killed on the intervening night of March 17-18, 2009. 

The three accused approached her outside her house under the pretext of asking for an address, and forcefully pulled her inside the car. Her belongings were snatched, including her debit card, and the trio had forced her to divulge the PIN. 

The three accused -- Amit Shukla, Baljeet Malik and Ravi Kapoor -- proceeded to withdraw money and smothered her on the way.

After they were arrested, they divulged that they had earlier murdered Vishwanathan and Nadeemon 8 January 2009.
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10:29   Kamal Haasan fractures leg, hospitalised
Tamil superstar Kamal Haasan has been hospitalised after he fell in his office and suffered a fractured leg in Chennai today.

A close associate of the actor said that the 61-year-old "Papanasam" star sustained a fracture on his right leg when he slipped and hurt himself at his office in Alwarpet this morning.

"He has been admitted to a private hospital where he is doing well. He has been advised a weeks' rest," his associate said.
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10:28   Terror threat to French Olympics team
France has been informed of a planned terror attack on its team at the Rio Olympics, according to the head of military intelligence cited in an official document.

The plans were revealed by General Christophe Gomart, head of the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DRM), at a parliamentary commission in May investigating the November attacks in Paris which left 147 people dead. 

In a section of the report, made public this week, Gomart told the commission that he had been informed of the plot -- planned by a Brazilian national -- "by our partners". 

No other details on the claims were made available by the French authorities.

Brazil's institutional security cabinet, which co-ordinates the information services in the country, said they had received no information from the French authorities.
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09:59  
Salman Khan files a reply to State Women Commission on rape remark, details of the reply not known yet
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09:30   Zakir Naik's press conference cancelled again
Controversial televangelist Dr Zakir Naik's press conference scheduled at 11.30 this morning has been cancelled again.

Mohsin Khan, Dr Naik's media coordinator, confirmed the development to Rediff.com's Prasanna D Zore.

"The owners withdrew the permission early morning 3 am without any proper reason or justification," Khan said.

Khan would not confirm if the owners buckled under pressure from the city police or political parties who are opposed to Dr Naik's entry into the city and are demanding his arrest on arrival.
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09:29   India slams Pak for raising Wani's killing at UN
India on Thursday slammed Pakistan for raising Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani's killing and Kashmir at the United Nations, saying the comments came from "a country that uses terrorism as state policy".

Taking part at a debate at the UN, Syed Akbaruddin, Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, said: "Regrettably, we have seen an attempt at misuse of this UN platform." 

"The attempt came from Pakistan -- a country that covets territory of others; a country that uses terrorism as state policy; a country that extols the virtues of terrorists and that provides sanctuary to UN-designated terrorists."

"Pakistan is the same country whose track record has failed to convince international community to gain membership of Human Rights Council in this very session of UNGA."

"As a diverse, pluralistic and tolerant society, India's commitment to democracy and human rights is enshrined in its founding principles. India remains committed to promotion & protection of all human rights for all through pursuit of dialogue and cooperation."
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08:56   Op Sankat Mochan: 1st C-17 rescue aircraft set to reach South Sudan
India will send two C-17 military transport aircraft to war torn South Sudan's capital city Juba today to evacuate over 300 Indians stranded there, an exercise which will be led by Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh.

"The General takes charge again! 2 C-17s proceeding to Juba with @Gen_VKSingh leading evacuation from South Sudan," MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted. 

Singh had also supervised evacuation of nearly 4,000 Indians from conflict-ridden Yemen last year.

The relief flight is expected to reach Juba today morning, an official advisory said, adding only Indian nationals with valid Indian travel document will be allowed boarding with maximum five kg cabin baggage and no check-in pieces.

It also said that women and children will be accommodated on priority.

Apart from Singh, Amar Sinha, Secretary (Economic Relations) will also travel to Juba. 

India has been closely monitoring developments in South Sudan, which is witnessing heavy fighting between former rebels and government soldiers in several parts of the city. A task force has been set up for the purpose. 

According to the ministry, there are around 600 Indians in South Sudan, of them 450 are in Juba and nearly 150 are outside the capital.
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08:43   Office of profit case: EC to hear case of AAP MLAs today
The Election Commission will today commence personal hearing of 21 AAP MLAs, who have been made parliamentary secretaries and are facing the risk of disqualification from the Assembly in the Office of Profit case.

The 21 AAP MLAs had sought a personal hearing before the poll body in their reply to a notice by the Election Commission in June. The petition for their disqualification was made over their appointment as parliamentary secretaries by lawyer Prashant Patel. 

At the first hearing, the Commission may also decide on whether to hear all the MLAs together or individually. Maintaining that there was no "pecuniary benefit" associated with the post, the MLAs, in their response to the Commission, also said that that parliamentary secretary is a "post" without any remuneration or power. 

AAP had appointed 21 parliamentary secretaries to assist the Delhi government ministers. Thereafter, the government sought an amendment to the Delhi Members of Legislative Assembly (Removal of Disqualification) Act, 1997. The EC, which is examining the issue, has taken "cognisance" of the President's decision against signing a Delhi government's bill to exclude the post of Parliamentary Secretary from the ambit office of profit.
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08:36   Zakir Naik to make Skype call with media today
Controversial Islamic preacher Dr Zakir Naik, who is now abroad, will be interacting with media via Skype today, for which arrangements had been made in a small hall in South Mumbai.

Facing heat over allegation of inspiring some of the Dhaka attackers through his speeches and under scanner of the state and the central agencies, Naik is expected to clarify his position during the media interaction.

An aide of Naik said in a statement initially that "It's weird and unfair-what's going on. Apparently, hotels in Mumbai have been told not to give out venue for Dr Zakir Naik's press conference. At least 4 hotels, after confirming availability, and some even after taking the booking, have cancelled... We had already sent out media invites ( with the the details of that venue) yesterday."

He claimed in a statement that a manager of one of the private hotels told the organisers in confidentiality that they had been instructed by police not to give out venue for Naik's press conference. He later retracted that statement. 

"I am being told that we are not sure under whose instructions the hotels are denying venue for Dr Naik's press conference. But at least four hotels have denied venue in the last 1.5 days," he said in another statement issued later.
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08:35   IMD issues heavy rain alert for Uttarakhand
The MeT department has issued a heavy rain alert for several districts of Uttarakhand asking chardham yatris to be watchful during the 72-hour period beginning today evening.
Heavy to very heavy rainfall is very likely to occur at one or two places especially in Uttarkashi, Dehradun, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Pithoragarh, Bageshwar, Almora, Nainital and Champawat districts of Uttarakhand during next 72 hours starting on the evening of July 14, the MeT department warning said.

In view of isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall over Uttarakhand during the period, people in general and chardham yatris are advised to remain vigilant, it said. 

The famous Himalayan shrines of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri are located in Rudraprayag, Chamoli and Uttarkashi districts of Uttarakhand which are likely to be lashed by a heavy downpour during the 72-hour period beginning tomorrow evening. 

File photograph
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08:33   Coast Guard to conduct security exercise at Bay of Bengal today
To secure the coastline of West Bengal, the Indian Coast Guard will today conduct a biennial coastal security exercise.

The two-day-long exercise aims at validating standard operating procedures on command and control, communications and response tactics in case of any eventualities. 

"Such exercises form the backbone of coastal security setup. The cohesive efforts by all stake holders during such mock drills help to find and plug loopholes in the coastal security mechanism," Coast Guard Commander Inspector General K R Nautiyal said. 

The exercise to be held off the West Bengal coast gains importance in the wake of recent terror attacks in neighbouring Bangladesh, officials said. 

The exercise aims at checking the efficacy of layered security arrangements -- air surveillance, deep sea patrol by bigger ships of coast guard and navy and close coast patrol by coast guard interceptor boats, air cushion vehicles (hovercrafts), boats of Marine Police, CISF, customs, ports and forest department etc.
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08:31   Defence acquisition council meets today, likely to push Rafale deal
The much-hyped multi-billion dollar Rafale deal could see some forward movement today as the top acquisition body of the defence ministry is set to take a review of the negotiations held so far into the purchase of the French fighters.

Defence sources said the Rafale fighter jet deal is one of the issues that will be discussed during the meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council today at the South Block. 

As per the normal process, once the deal is cleared by defence ministry, the file will go to the finance ministry and then to the Cabinet Committee on Security for final clearance. 

The deal was announced by Modi in April last year during his visit to France when he said India would purchase 36 Rafales in a government-to-government contract. Soon after the announcement, the defence ministry scrapped a separate process that was on to purchase 126 Rafales, built by French defence giant Dassault Aviation.

The current deal comes with the clause of delivering 50 per cent offsets, creating business worth at least 3 billion Euros for smaller Indian companies and generating thousands of new jobs in India through the offsets.
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08:28   Japanese defence minister in India today on truncated trip
Japanese Defence Minister Gen Nakatani is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi on Thursday.

Gen Nakatani has, however, cut short his trip from three days to just one day.

Though there was no official word on the reasons for the Japanese side curtailing the visit, the move comes amid increasing tension in the South China Sea region following a UN-backed international tribunal ruling against China's claims over the troubled waters. 

Gen Nakatani will hold talks with his counterpart Manohar Parrikar at his South Block office in the afternoon. The two sides could issue a joint statement after the talks, defence sources said.

The talks will focus on greater defence cooperation, including defence manufacturing. During Parrikar's visit to Japan last year, Japanese leaders had emphasised on the commonality of strategic interests between the two countries and conveyed Japan's desire to enhance bilateral defence and security cooperation, including in the field of maritime security. 
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08:14   I-T raids at Indiabulls premises likely to continue today
The Income Tax Department's search operations at numerous offices and premises of Indiabulls Group including in Mumbai, New Delhi and Chennai for alleged tax evasion to the tune of about Rs 1,500 crore are expected to continue today.

Hundreds of I-T sleuths and local police personnel had on Wednesday conducted search operations at a large number of premises of the diversified group, department sources said.

The searches are part of a probe into a corporate borrowing worth Rs 1,700 crore that Indiabulls had carried out, the sources said, adding the company is suspected to have evaded income tax to the tune of Rs 1,500 crore.

Most of the searched premises of the Group were in Mumbai. 

The Department is also looking into suspected benami transactions worth Rs 1,000 crore which were conducted by the company during the sale of its properties in the past, they said.

Indiabulls Housing Finance Limited acknowledged the development in a clarification to the BSE.

"With reference to today's email received from the exchange, we would like to state that this morning, officials of the Income Tax Department came to some of our offices to check our books, in the normal course. We are extending all assistance to the team of officials. We are confident that the officials will find our corporate practices and books satisfactory."
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08:10   Delhi Police to roll out online campaigns today
Starting today, Delhi Police will roll out a series of online campaigns to create awareness among people about a whole range of issues including women safety and drunken driving. 

"Delhi Police has a credible presence on Twitter and Facebook and it intends to harness this for spreading awareness on issues concerning public safety and security," Additional CP (Economic Offences Wing) Arun Kampani said. 

The online campaigns run by the Social Media Cell of Delhi Police will also cover the issues of cyber and road safety among other issues. 

It will have slogans and messages ingrained within posters, interactive Q&A sessions and sessions wherein tweets by citizens on public safety topics will be retweeted by official handles of Delhi Police, including the commissioner. 

The first social media campaign under this initiative will be on #CyberSafety, the officer said.
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08:08   Twin suicides rock IIT-Madras
In two separate incidents, a research scholar and the wife of a professor, both from the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras, committed suicide on the campus on Wednesday.

Police sources said that P Maheswari (34), a post-doctoral research scholar in chemistry, was a resident of Puducherry. She was staying at the Sabarmati hostel on the campus. On Wednesday, around 4 pm, she was found hanging. Police sources said that she was married.

In another incident, G Vijayalakshmi(47), wife of Ganesan, a professor at the institute, was found hanging in their flat. The police are investigating. Both the bodies have been sent to the Government Royapettah hospital for post-mortem examination.
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03:34   Peru declares Zika emergency across half of country
Peruvian officials have declared a Zika health emergency across the northern half of their country after confirming that 102 people have been infected with the virus.

The 90-day emergency was announced on Tuesday in the official gazette El Peruano, which said the health ministry and local authorities were working to prevent the spread of the disease, which is principally transmitted by mosquitos, AFP reported.

The cases detected so far include 34 pregnant women. Zika is seen as a cause of microcephaly -- abnormally small heads and brains -- in babies.

A major Zika outbreak in neighbouring Brazil, where nearly 1,600 babies have been born with the birth defect, has prompted concerns for athletes and visitors ahead of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro next month. 

There is growing evidence that in limited cases Zika can also be transmitted sexually. In adults and children it usually causes only mild, flu-like symptoms and a rash. But it has been linked to neurological problems such as a potentially fatal paralysis known as Guillain-Barre Syndrome.
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02:51   Top IS commander Shishani killed: Reports
A top Islamic State group commander, Omar al-Shishani, has been killed in Iraq, the jihadist-linked Amaq agency has said.
The Pentagon announced in March that Shishani, known as Omar the Chechen, was believed to have died of injuries received in an air raid targeting his convoy in northeastern Syria -- details at odds with Amaq's account.
Citing a "military source," Amaq said on Tuesday Shishani was killed "in the town of Sharqat as he took part in repelling the military campaign on the city of Mosul", referring to the last IS-held city in Iraq.
Iraqi forces are conducting operations to set the stage for a final push to Mosul, the country's second city that fell to IS in June 2014.
Sharqat lies on the road north to Mosul, but Iraqi forces recently bypassed the area to recapture a key military base in the Qayyarah area farther north that the Pentagon said will be a "springboard" for the push toward the city.
Amaq did not specify when Shishani was killed, but the loss of the commander is a blow to the jihadist group, which has suffered a string of setbacks in Iraq this year.
In addition to Shishani, the US announced that it had killed IS deputy leader Abd ar-Rahman Mustafa al-Qaduli in March.
Shishani, a fierce, battle-hardened warlord with roots in Georgia and a thick red beard, was one of the most notorious faces of IS.
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02:36   Theresa May's cabinet: Who's in and who's out?
Theresa May is forming her new government after becoming Conservative prime minister.

BBC has published a list of the ministers who have been included in May's cabinet till now.

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01:56   Zimbabwe court throws out case against anti-Mugabe pastor
A Zimbabwean court on Wednesday dismissed charges against a religious leader accused of trying to overthrow the government through an internet campaign that inspired rare protests against President Robert Mugabe.

Pastor Evan Mawarire appeared in a packed Harare courtroom draped in the Zimbabwean flag after spending the night in police cells as officers searched his house, church and office.

Magistrate Vakayi Chikwekwe said prosecutors presented different charges from those read out to Mawarire when he was arrested.

"It's my finding that the National Prosecuting Authority cannot charge the accused for the first time in court without charges being read out to him," Chikwekwe told the court.

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01:28  
David Davis has been appointed Secretary of State for leaving the European Union. 
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01:25   Hammond becomes UK finance minister
Philip Hammond has become Britain's new finance minister, Downing Street announced on Wednesday, replacing George Osborne who quit the government after Theresa May was appointed prime minister.
Hammond had been the foreign minister in the outgoing government of David Cameron since 2014.
"The queen has been pleased to approve the appointment of Philip Hammond MP as chancellor of the exchequer," Downing Street said in a statement.
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00:50  
Boris Johnson, the former London mayor, was named foreign secretary in Theresa May's new cabinet.
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00:35   France to re-deploy aircraft carrier this year in IS fight: president
France will send more military advisors to Iraq and its aircraft carrier will return to the Middle East later this year in the fight against the Islamic State jihadist group, President Francois Hollande said.
"We will intensify the army's efforts to support the Iraqis as they try to recapture Mosul (from the jihadist group)," Hollande said, adding that the Charles de Gaulle carrier will return to the region "in the autumn" to be used
for bombing raids on IS targets.
Hollande dispatched the carrier to the region following the November 13 attacks on Paris in which 130 people were killed in what he said then was "a war" against the jihadist group.
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00:24   EU Prez pushes Theresa May for Brexit talks 'soon'
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Wednesday urged new British Prime Minister Theresa May to swiftly engage divorce talks with the European Union.
The outcome of the UK vote to leave the EU "has created a new situation which the United Kingdom and the European Union will have to address soon," Juncker said in a letter to May published on his Twitter account.
"I wish you every success in the task ahead," he added.
European Parliament President Martin Schulz also piled on the pressure as he congratulated May.
"Leadership issue settled, now I expect we work quickly to deliver certainty," he said.
EU president Donald Tusk meanwhile said he looked forward to a "fruitful working relationship" with the incoming May.
"I look forward... to welcoming you to the European Council" of European Union leaders, Tusk added in a brief letter.
May's first meeting with key EU leaders could be at the G20 summit in China on September 4, but her first encounter with all of the other 27 EU leaders will be at the next European Council summit on October 20-21.
Since Britons narrowly voted for Britain to leave the bloc in June 23 referendum, European leaders have asked London to quickly formalise its divorce but May has indicated she will not be rushed.
On a visit to Brussels today, US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew urged Britain and the EU to remain "highly integrated" after Brexit.
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00:19  
Minutes after he resigned as the prime minister of Britain, David Cameron changes his Twitter bio
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00:13   Brazilian Islamist eyed attack on French team during Rio games: official
A Brazilian Islamist militant was plotting an attack against the French delegation at the summer Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro, the head of a French intelligence agency has said.

General Christophe Gomart, who runs the military intelligence directorate (DRM), made the comment in May during a parliamentary commission hearing into Islamist militant attacks in France in 2015, Reuters has reported.

The transcript has just been made public. 

Gomart told lawmakers that his service had been told by a "partner agency" about the plot.He did not give any further details.

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