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Wed, 09 March 2016
RSS shorts to be replaced by trousers?

Timeline  Refresh

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23:43   RSS shorts to be replaced by trousers?
The traditional khaki shorts worn by RSS swayamsevaks could soon be replaced by trousers and a decision in this regard is likely to be taken in a meeting starting March 11 in Rajasthan's Nagaur district.

"A change in uniform is very much on the agenda of Akhil Bhartiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS), the highest decision-making body of RSS, which is meeting in Nagaur from March 11," Manmohan Vaidya, All India Prachar Pramukh of the RSS, SAID.

The issue of change in uniform, which was taken up in a meeting of ABPS in 2010, was deferred till 2015 due to a lack of consensus, he said, adding "the apex body may take a decision on the same in the upcoming meeting."

RSS members currently sport khaki shorts and white full-sleeve shirts folded up to the elbow, besides black caps, as part of their 'ganvesh'. 
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22:55   Priority to bring Mallya back to India: Attorney General
Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi today said the top priority for authorities here was to make liquor baron Vijay Mallya return and disclose his assets, most of which are abroad, failing which proceedings for revocation of his passport may be initiated as was done in the case of former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi.

He said the issue of recovering over Rs 9000 crore from him would be a long-drawn legal process. 

"First option is to ask him to appear and, if he does not, then we can initiate proceedings for revocation of his passport. Once his passport is revoked, then technically a person does not have any right to reside anywhere else... then the country where the person is, forces him to go back to the country from where he has come," he told a private news channel.

"In the case of Lalit Modi, revocation of passport procedures were taken but it was quashed by the Delhi High Court," he added. 

The AG also said he had came to know through media that the process to extradite Mallya has been initiated as India had signed a treaty with the United Kingdom. 
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22:26   Raj Thackeray tells cadre to burn new auto, taxis being run by 'outsiders'
The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray ignited the Marathi manoos issue when he told his party's workers that should burn autos running under the new permits. 

According to an IBN.com reportThackeray claimed the new permits were being given to people from other states.

Thackeray has directed his activists burned autos plying under the new permits. 

Thackeray made the controversial statement at a function organised to celebrate MNS's 10th foundation day.
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22:08   Cuba says Obama 'welcome' but shouldn't expect much
Cuba's state newspaper said today that US President Barack Obama will be warmly welcomed when he makes a historic visit later this month but warned him not to expect political concessions.
"The US leader will be welcomed by the government of Cuba and its people with the hospitality that distinguishes them and will be treated with all consideration and respect," official daily Granma said in an editorial.

But it hastened to add: "No one can harbor the slightest doubt about Cuba's unconditional adherence to its revolutionary and anti-imperialist ideals."

Obama will visit the island March 21 and 22 -- the first visit by a US president since Calvin Coolidge in 1928, and a symbolically charged capstone to the rapprochement that he and Cuban leader Raul Castro announced in December 2014.
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21:38   Kanhaiya in a fresh spot over "anti-national" remarks
JNU students union president Kanhaiya Kumar found himself in a spot today over remarks made by him at a student's gathering on women's day with the BJP's youth wing filing a police complaint over his alleged defiance of bail conditions by making "anti-national" statements.
"No matter how much you try to stop us, we will speak up against human rights violations. We will raise our voice against AFSPA. While we have a lot of respect for our soldiers, we will still talk about the fact that in Kashmir women are raped by security personnel," Kanhaiya said while
addressing students at a women's day march late last night.
"During war in Rwanda 1000 women were raped. In Africa during the ethnic conflict, when military attacks other group firstly their women were raped. You take example of Gujarat, women were not just killed but were raped first," he added. 

Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha today filed a complaint in Vasant Vihar police station against Kanhaiya and JNU professor Nivedita Menon saying they made "anti-national" statements in the aftermath of February 9 event.
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21:23   India, US to deepen collaboration against LeT, JeM
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit here this month, India and the US have agreed to work together to achieve "concrete results" to deepen their close collaboration on several issues, including the fight
against LeT and JeM blamed for many terror attacks in India.
 
This was decided during Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar's meeting with US National Security Adviser Susan Rice and other top Obama administration officials. 

"The visit was aimed at reviewing the India-US bilateral relations and preparing for India's participation at the forthcoming Nuclear Security Summit later this month," said Sridharan Madhusudhanan, spokesman of the Indian Embassy here. 
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21:19   Iran fires 2 missiles marked with 'Israel must be wiped out'
Iran test-fired two ballistic missiles today with the phrase "Israel must be wiped out" written in Hebrew on them, state media reported, a show of force by the Islamic Republic as US Vice President Joe Biden visited
Israel.
 
Such phrases have been emblazoned on Iranian missiles before, but this test comes shortly after the implementation of a nuclear deal with world powers, including the US, and follows similar drills in recent days.
Hard-liners in Iran's military have fired rockets and missiles despite US objections since the deal, as well as shown underground missile bases on state television.

There was no immediate reaction from Jerusalem, where Biden was meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who strongly opposed the nuclear deal. 

Biden, speaking next to Netanyahu, did not acknowledge the missile launch directly but he issued a strong warning to the Iranians.
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20:50   'Unfortunate that venue for India-Pakistan match has been shifted' says BCCI secretary Thakur
BCCI Secretary Anurag Thakur made a statement about the change of venue for the upcoming match between India and Pakistan.

'It is extremely unfortunate that the venue for match between India and Pakistan has been shifted at the last minute. While the States reputation has been jeopardized, however, the Nation also has been projected in a rather bad light,' he stated.

'It will reflect a dent on India and send a message to the global audience that our country is not capable of ensuring security for as less as 30 people,' Thakur added.

'Pakistan has never raised any issues pertaining to their participation in a cricket event. However, owing to the petty politics played misusing the emotions of martyrs families, HP CM ensured that PCB demanded utmost assurance before confirming participation,' the statement read.
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20:30   Biden criticises 'failure to condemn' Palestinian attacks
US Vice President Joe Biden today implicitly criticised Palestinian leaders for not condemning attacks against Israelis, as an upsurge in violence marred his visit.
Six separate attacks took place shortly before or after Biden's arrival yesterday, including a stabbing spree on Tel Aviv's waterfront by a Palestinian who killed an American tourist and wounded 12 people.

The stabbings in the Jaffa port area took place as Biden met former Israeli president Shimon Peres about a kilometre away yesterday.
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20:17   Top ISIS leader likely killed by US airstrike
Abu Omar al-Shishani, one of the Islamic State's top commanders, may have been killed in a US-led air strike in Syria.

Red-bearded Al-Shishani, a senior aide to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, was likely killed in a bombing last Friday near the southern town of al-Shaddadi, which American-backed forces from the Syrian Arab Coalition seized from the Islamic State last month, reports the New York Post.

Al-Shishani, who was based in Raqqa, was recently sent to al-Shaddadi to give a boost to the group's soldiers after a series of defeats to local forces supported by the US coalition, the Pentagon said.

In a statement released by Pentagon yesterday, it said that Al-Shishani is a battle-tested leader with experience who had led ISIL fighters in numerous engagements in Iraq and Syria..
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20:14   Sheena case: CBI allowed to question Indrani and others in jail
A local court on Wednesday permitted CBI to question the four accused in the Sheena Bora murder case, including Indrani Mukerjea, afresh.
     
The agency had sought permission to interrogate Indrani Mukerjea, her husband and former media baron Peter Mukerjea, her former husband Sanjeev Khanna and her former driver Shyam Rai for ten days in the jail.
    
"The application to interrogate the accused in the jail is allowed subject to their medical fitness," said the special CBI court's judge H S Mahajan.
     
The CBI, which has already filed a charge sheet in the case, said it was looking for more evidence against the accused and probing possible connivance of some other persons.
     
The arrested accused needed to be questioned again to "extract more information as well as to verify certain facts which emerged during the investigation", the application said.
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19:50   Sidelined by BJP, Yashwant Sinha to guide AAP with Delhi budget
The ruling Aam Aadmi Party may have differences with the BJP on various issues but Delhi assembly has chosen former Union Minister Yashwant Sinha as 'margdarshak' to guide MLAs on the city government's budget to be tabled in the House on March 28.
Delhi assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel has said that he had invited four persons including Sinha, who are experts in the field of finance, for an orientation programme for the MLAs on the process and procedure of the upcoming state budget.

"Former Union Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha has accepted our invitation to guide the legislators on the state budget at the assembly premises on March 15. Sinha will also guide MLAs on questions to be asked on the Budget," Goel said.
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19:21   US will 'act' if Iran missile tests confirmed, says Biden
US Vice President Joe Biden said that the United States would take action against Iran if long-range ballistic missile tests Tehran said it carried out were confirmed, AFP reported.

"I want to reiterate, as I know people still doubt, if in fact they break the (nuclear) deal, we will act," Biden said during a visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories.

"All their conventional activity outside the deal, which is still beyond the deal, we will and are attempting to act wherever we can find it."
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18:55   Even after change of WT20 venue, Pak team departure still on hold
PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan has welcomed ICC's decision to shift the venue for the marquee Indo-Pak World T20 clash from Dharamsala to Kolkata but kept the Pakistan team's departure on hold awaiting an assurance from the Indian government.
     
"Both men and women teams (departure) have been deferred. I have also informed this to the government because it has asked for my opinion," Shaharyar said at a press conference. 

Shaharyar's response came after ICC announced in New Delhi the relocation of Indo-Pak tie on March 19 from Dharamsala to Kolkata due to security reasons.
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18:34   BJP fields Netaji's grandnephew against Mamata Banerjee
Who will it be? Will it be Didi or Netaji's grand nephew? 

The BJP has decided to field Chandra Bose, grandnephew of Subhas Chandra Bose, against Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee in the upcoming West Bengal assembly polls.

Chandra Kumar Bose ji will be the candidate against CM Mamata Banerjee, said HRD Minister Smriti Irani at a press conference.

Bose said The time has come to bring about change in West Bengal which will be brought by BJP. This is not my fight. This is the fight for development in West Bengal, added Bose who had joined the BJP in January this year.

The five-phase poll in West Bengal begins on April 4.
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18:33   MP says Wikipedia showed her as 'dead'
A BJP woman member on Wednesday caused a flutter in Lok Sabha when she alleged that Wikipedia had shown her as dead, causing concern among members and prompting the government to promise serious action.
      
Raising the issue in Zero Hour, Anju Bala said that she came to know of her 'death' entry in the social media when her secretary received a phone call from Mumbai after she participated in a women's conference last week.
     
The caller sought to know whether the programme in which she had recited a poem was held long back as she was shown "dead" on March 3 in Delhi on Wikipedia.
      
Besides, she alleged that there had been some claims on Wikipedia tarnishing her character and reputation.
      
The member wanted an FIR to be registered and bringing the guilty to book.
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18:24   Rajya Sabha has its own BBC
Do you know that the Rajya Sabha has a BBC? 

No, not British Broadcasting Corporation. But first-timers in the Upper House, from all political parties, have formed an informal group, the Back Benchers Club or BBC.   

They are dissatisfied that they do not get chance to speak or ask question and that the elders hog all the limelight. The BBC wants to meet the Chairman to seek greater participation in the House.
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18:23   Why Congress MP Hanumantha Rao is upset with PM
Congress MP V Hanumantha Rao from Andhra Pradesh, who is chairman of the OBC association comprising MPs of both Houses, has been seeking an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi since May 2014. 

To protest against the PM not giving him time, Rao plans to sit in dharna before Mahatma Gandhi's statue from Thursday. Interestingly, Rao's term as a member of the Rajya Sabha ends in June.
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18:22   Kanpur carpenter gifts Gita carved in wood to PM Modi
A 32-year-old carpenter from Kanpur got an opportunity to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and gift him a unique Bhagvad Gita carved on wood.

Sandeep Soni, who took three years in creating the wooden Gita, had long wanted to meet PM Modi, but was unsuccessful despite several attempts.

After an invitation by the Prime Minister's Office, Sandeep, his mother Saraswati Soni and a friend met PM Modi and handed him over the Gita, having all 18 chapters and 706 'sholakas', in Delhi.
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17:23   WT20: ICC moves India-Pak match from Dharamsala to Kolkata
The India-Pakistan T20 match, which was to be held in Dharamsala, will be shifted to Kolkata, ICC Chief Executive Officer Dave Richardson has announced. 

In a late night development yesterday, the Pakistan Cricket Board had put its team departure to India on hold following security concerns for the match originally scheduled to be played in Dharamsala. 

"Logistically, and from the security point of view, Kolkata is the ideal place for the match as they would not have to travel to Dharamshala... It's feasible from broadcasting point of view as they would not have to the cost for taking the expensive broadcasting kit to another venue."
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17:20   NGT gives Sri Sri event 'the green signal'
The National Green Tribunal has not passed a stay on Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's event along the banks of the Yamuna. The NGT, however, has ruled that the Art of Living has to pay a fine of Rs 5 crore and develop the entire are as a bio-diversity zone. 

Earlier in the day, the NGT asked the ministry of rivers why no permissions were sought and also questioned the Art of Living on the required permissions. The tribunal had questioned yesterday the building up of pontoon bridge by the Army on river Yamuna for the festival, and asked the DDA counsel as to who gave the permission for setting it up.
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16:59  
JUST IN: Heavy exchange of firing between security forces and militants in Pulwama, Kashmir. Militants reportedly taking shelter in a farm.
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16:58   When Rajya Sabha was adjourned for all 2 minutes!
Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha P J Kurien adjourned the Rajya Sabha for just two minutes on Wednesday, the shortest adjournment ever. However, with this quick break he managed to have peace prevail in the House.   

What happened was that Congress members were in the well of the House from 11.30 to 11.58 where they kept shouting slogans. Since the Rajya Sabha takes Question Hour at 12 noon, Kurien adjourned the House for all of two minutes. And when it reconvened sharp at noon, the proceedings went on smoothly, which also earned praise from the BJP for Kurien.
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16:55   China helped Pak to block India's NSG membership bid: Aziz
Pakistan along with its "all-weather" ally China has successfully blocked India's bid to become a member of the elite Nuclear Suppliers Group, Pakistan Prime Minister's Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz has said. India has been seeking membership to the 48-member nuclear club, whose members can trade in and export nuclear technology. 

Pakistan with the cooperation of China had successfully blocked India's bid to seek membership of the NSG, Aziz told the Senate. While countries like the US have backed India's membership in the NSG, China has only offered conditional support to New Delhi.
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16:40   Gunshots heard at Wanihama in Jammu-Kashmir
Security forces have launched a massive search operation in the outskirts of summer capital Srinagar after a brief exchange of fire with a group of militants.

Troops of counter insurgency Rashtriya Rifles and special operations group of state police jointly surrounded Wanihama Bala area near Hazratbal this afternoon on a specific input about presence of a group of militants there.

Security forces are searching the area after a brief exchange of fire. One AK-47 rifle was recovered from the spot, said a senior police officer. 

Troops of RR and SOG have also surrounded Puchal village near Kakpora in south Kashmir Pulwama district for searches.

Sources said some gunshots were heard after the security forces launched searches in the village.

-- Mukhtar Ahmad reports from Srinagar
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16:27   Shibu Soren takes first-time MPs by surprise
Shibu Soren, member of Parliament and former chief minister of Jharkhand, has been attending this session of the Lok Sabha, surprising many first-timers who had a tough time finding out who the elderly MP in their midst was. 

Shibu Soren, popularly known as Masterji, was also seen seated by himself in Central Hall. 

This Lok Sabha has so many first-time MPs many of who have no clue about the elders who make an appearance once in a while.  
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16:23   Modi takes potshots at Congress during RS address
Speaking in the Rajya Sabha during the motion of thanks on the President's address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took potshots at the Opposition and, like his previous address, quoted Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi multiple times to take on the Congress.

He, however, also thanked the Opposition to allow the House to function due to which all the members were able to ask their questions.

Responding to Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad's questions on the Jan Dhan scheme, Modi said, "You have found out such minute details about who was not benefited from the scheme, you have worked like a microscope. Your work is commendable. But, while you were in power, if you have seen things even from a binocular, then I would not have had to bring out such welfare schemes."

On Rahul Gandhi's charge that the PM takes credit for Congress' work, he said, "'There are two kinds of people in this world; doers and credit takers. Try to become of the first kind, there is less competition there. I didn't say this, Indira Gandhi did."

Mocking the Congress, Modi said, "Congress is blessed like death. When one dies, death is not blamed but the cause of death is blamed. Similarly, when we attack Congress, it has been reported that Opposition is attacked. Congress is nowhere named, nowhere blamed."

On farmer's welfare programmes, he said, "I am not an economist like Manmohan Singh, that's why I am not that knowledgeable. But I know some things. We should aim to double the income of farmers by 2022."

He concluded his speech by reciting 'Safar Mein Dhoop To Hogi' by Nida Fazli.
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16:23   What is happening to the Babalog in Parliament?
Rahul Gandhi has sidelined Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda from Rohtak, Haryana, for what insiders say are well-known reasons. 

This apparently happened after the Jat quota agitation in the state.   

Is there something amiss with the babalog MPs, then? 

Even Sushmita Dev, member of Parliament from Assam, has been lying low, possibly due to the internal politics of Assam. One reason, say, insiders, is that Gaurav Gogoi has been ignoring her due to the candidate selection for the Assam assembly polls.   

These two instances are just to give you an idea of the kind of buzz that one picks up in Central Hall of Parliament.
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16:06   Motion of Thanks to Prez address adopted with amendment
Rajya Sabha adopts Motion of Thanks to President for his address, with an amendment moved by Congress. The amendment expresses concern over not granting right to contest polls to all citizens in some states.
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16:03   No permission required for temporary structures on floodplains: Centre to NGT
In reply to the National Green Tribunal's questions, the counsel for Sri Sri Ravishankar's Art of Living Foundation has said that the total cost for creating venue of World Cultural Festival is Rs 15.63 crore, in addition to 10 crore for decoration.

The ministry of environment and forest also submitted the affidavit sought by the NGT, in which it said that no environment clearance required for temporary structures on floodplains.

Meanwhile, clarifying that her ministry 'has no role in granting permission to Art of Living for the event', Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti said , "I'm totally with Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji and wish all success to his event. Rest has to be taken care of by the NGT."

She said that Sri Sri and his followers are committed to environment; and 'I'm sure no damage will be done.'

Read more on AOL controversy

Amidst a swamp, Art of Living sets up India's biggest public event

Why the World Culture Festival matters

Is Art of Living damaging the Yamuna floodplains?

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15:45   BSF aricraft that killed 10 personnel last year was 21 years old
The Border Security Force aircraft that crashed in the national capital last year, killing 10 personnel was over 21 years old and a probe in underway into the accident.

'Super King B-200 (with) registration no VT-BSA that crashed on December 22, 2015 was 21 years and 7 months old. The accident is under investigation by Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau,' Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

The minister said 'any aircraft can continue to fly as long as it is airworthy and certified to be so.'
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15:25  
JUST IN: Delhi court summons CM Arvind Kejriwal & 5 AAP leaders on criminal defamation complaint filed against them by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
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15:01   Two dead as construcion site near AIIMS caves in
One more reported dead in the collapse of construction site near AIIMS in New Delhi.

Life detecting equipment are being used by the rescue workers to check whether more workers are trapped in the debris.

A team of National Disaster Relief Force has also reached the spot. Once the situation is cleared, the work to remove the debris will begin.
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14:50   Mallya has left the country, gets SC notice
The attorney general has informed the Supreme Court that liquor baron Vijay Mallya left India on March 2. 

The SC was hearing a plea filed by public sector banks seeking a direction that Mallya be restrained from leaving India.

The apex court issued notice to Mallya on the petition seeking disclosure of his assets and seizure of his passport. The SC allowed notice be served to Mallya through his official Rajya Sabha email id through the Indian High Commission at London and his counsel & Co.

Mallya has been given two weeks to respond. The next hearing is on March 30.

The consortium of banks, in their appeal, assailed the March 4 order of the Karnataka high court refusing an ex-parte, ad interim order against Mallya, England-based Diageo Plc and United Spirits Limited.The banks said that the high court should have passed an interim order, securing their financial interests. 

Prior to moving the high court, the banks had filed four pleas in the Debt Recovery Tribunal at Bengaluru seeking reliefs like freezing of Mallya's passport and arrest warrant against him. 

Before the Supreme Court today, the consortium of banks sought directions for the appearance of Mallya in person before the apex court and for freezing his passport.   

The attorney-general told the court that Mallya's assets abroad are far in excess to the loans taken by him.   

The SC also questions why loans were given to Mallya when he was a defaulter and was facing proceedings in court of law.
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14:41  
JUST IN: Construction site behind All India Institute to Medical Sciences, New Delhi has caved in. Five workers were stuck. One has been brought out dead, four others rescued are being provided medical aid.
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14:15  
JUST IN: After the controversy over Army building pontoon bridge for the World Cultural Festival organised by Art of Living, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has asked his ministry to make clear policy framework regarding use of Army assistance in civilian cause.
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13:42  
JUST IN: The National Green Tribunal has asked Art of Living to submit details regarding expenses on construction of stage and levelling of floodplains for World Cultural Festival. AOL will submit its reply to the NGT at 3 pm.
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13:40   Shahbaz Taseer unites with family in Lahore
Shahbaz Taseer, son of slain Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer, who was recovered after being held by kidnappers for over four years, arrived in Lahore on Wednesday to unite with his family.

Taseer was flown to Lahore in a special aircraft by intelligence officials, said the Inter-Services Public Relations, reported the Dawn.

Read HERE.
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13:22   No okay for Sri Sri's Yamuna event, water ministry tells NGT
Union ministry of water resources has told the National Green Tribunal that it has not granted permission for the World Cultural Festival being organised by Art of Living from March 11 to 13.

During the hearing on the issue, the NGT pulled up ministry of environment and forests for not filing affidavit as asked by it regarding environment clearances to the event.

The NGT also asked Delhi Pollution Control Committee if it can allow putting enzymes into river Yamuna without examination.

The bench asked the Centre, the Delhi government, and the Delhi Development Authority if any environment impact assessment was carried out regarding preparation and consequential effects of the event.

The Delhi government informed the NGT that the Central Public Works Department has asked AOL to build a separate stage for the prime minister due to issues over structural safety.
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12:55  
JUST IN: Ministry of Water Resources informs the National Green Tribunal it has not granted permission for 'World Cultural Festival' scheduled from March 11 to 13.
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12:52   Don't politicise World Cultural Festival, requests Sri Sri
Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravishankar urged political parties not to politicise the World Cultural Festival being organised by his foundation.

'I appeal to all parties to not politicize #WCF2016. Its to unite all cultures, nations, religions & ideologies. Let's come together (sic),' he tweeted.

The opposition parties criticised the government today over the environmental concerns raised by the National Green Tribunal and the Army assistance provided to the event.

Meanwhile, the NGT slammed the ministry of environment and forests for not submitting the affidavit it sought yesterday.

"Why was no affidavit filed? Don't test our patience. Get clear instructions from the ministry if permission is needed to build the bridge," the bench said.
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12:37   Chinese couple sells infant daughter to buy iPhone
A Chinese couple allegedly sold their 18-day-old baby daughter for $3,530 (about Rs 2.29 lakh) to buy an iPhone.

A Duan, father of the child, from Fujian Province in the country's southeast, found a buyer for his 18-day-old child on the social media site QQ, who paid $3,530 (23,000 Yuan) for the baby, state-run People's Daily online reported.

The man allegedly intended to buy an iPhone and a motorbike with the funds.

The mother, called Xiao Mei, reportedly worked many part-time jobs while the father spent his most of time in internet cafes.

The couple met at work in 2013 and, after plans for their marriage were shelved with neither party meeting the legal age, their child was born following an unwanted pregnancy.

Both parents were 19 at the time and being short of money and finding his newborn daughter to be a financial burden, A Duan eagerly took up the opportunity to traffic her off in order to buy the material possessions he desired.

The couple has been arrested and the person who bought the child also surrendered.
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12:18   Centre defends Sri Sri, says permissions taken for Yamuna event
Replying to questions raised by the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha today about the controversy over Art Of Living's World Cultural Festival, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that the National Green Tribunal is hearing the matter and the event is being held adhering to all rules and laws.

He also said that Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is committed towards protecting the environment and it would be wrong to doubt his commitment towards nature.

Union Minister Arun Jaitley pointed out that if some matter is pending with a tribunal, ordinarily the chair doesn't allow such issues to be raised in the House.

Read more on the Sri Sri event controversy:

Amidst a swamp, Art of Living sets up India's biggest public event

Why the World Culture Festival matters





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12:04   'Fifth Beatle' George Martin dies aged 90
Record producer Sir George Martin, known as the 'Fifth Beatle', has died aged 90.

In a career spanning five decades, Sir George signed the Beatles and produced more than 700 records.

Beatles drummer Ringo Starr tweeted: 'God bless George Martin peace and love to Judy and his family love Ringo and Barbara George will be missed.'

He added: 'Thank you for all your love and kindness George peace and love'.
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12:01   Gujarat BJP leader asks to 'shoot JNU students and close chapter'
A Bharatiya Janata Party member from Gujarat has suggested that the 'anti-national' students and teachers of the Jawaharlal Nehru University should be shot to 'close the chapter'.

According to a report in The Indian Express, Sanjay Rathod, IT cell convener of BJP's Junagadh unit, tweeted on Tuesday: 'Shoot Anti National JNU students & Proff and close the chapter. But the problem is that Our Govt doesn't allow to kill Dogs #WakeUpIndia (sic)'.

Minutes before his 'shoot' tweet, Rathod, 35, posted, '#Wake-UpIndia or it will be too late. There are big forces who want to break India. They are funding #antinationals & paid media (sic)'.

In yet another tweet in Hindi, he wrote, 'Kal se jo 10 aatankwadi Gujarat mein ghuse hain, unme se kaun kiska beta, beti, bahu hai, yeh abhi se tay kar lein, baad mein Ishrat Jahan ki tarah lafda nahin chahiye. (Decide son, daughter, daughter-in-law among the 10 terrorists who infiltrated Gujarat yesterday. Don't want an affair like Ishrat Jahan later.)'

Rathod, however, deleted the tweets minutes later.
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11:30   Opposition raises Sri Sri event issue in Rajya Sabha
The Opposition attacked the Centre over 'violation of environmental laws' during the preparation for Art of Living's World Cultural Festival to be held on the banks of the Yamuna River.

Sitaram Yechury, general secretary of the Communist Party of India-Marxist, asked how can army be deployed to build pontoon bridges on the river for the event.

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad took potshots at the government saying the Modi government calls it a champion of the environmental cause but they're not opposing such an event.
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10:59   India-Pak match maybe moved from Dharamsala to Kolkata
Dharamsala's loss may be Kolkata's gain as the marquee India-Pakistan encounter of the ICC World Twenty20 on March 19 is likely to be shifted to the iconic Eden Gardens. 

An official confirmation from the ICC is awaited but according to to a BCCI official, Kolkata has the "highest" chance compared to other prospective venues like Mohali and Bengaluru. 

In a late night development yesterday, the Pakistan Cricket Board had put its team departure to India on hold following security concerns for the match originally scheduled to be played in Dharamsala. 

"Logistically, and from the security point of view, Kolkata is the ideal place for the match as they would not have to travel to Dharamshala... It's feasible from broadcasting point of view as they would not have to the cost for taking the expensive broadcasting kit to another venue," a BCCI official told PTI. 

The West Bengal government led by Mamata Banerjee in the past too had shown keen interest to host the BCCI's meeting with PCB after their proposed talk in Mumbai faced protests from Shiv Sena activists. 

As per the ICC itinerary, Pakistani team are slated to camp in Kolkata where they will play two warm-up games (against Bengal, March 12 and Sri Lanka, March 14) and one in the main round against Group A qualifier March 16. 

 As per the schedule, Pakistan were to arrive late evening today and fly out to Dharamsala on March 17 but if the match is shifted they will remain here till March 20 before heading to Mohali where they face New Zealand on March 22. 

After a recce of Dharamsala, the PCB was reluctant to play there citing security concerns.
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10:53   The agenda before Parliament today
This is today's business in Parliament: 

Lok Sabha: Calling attention motion on alleged alteration of affidavit relating to Ishrat Jahan case; discussion on Budget (Railways) for 2016-17. 

Bill for consideration and passing: The Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Bill, 2016; discussion on Budget (General) for 2016-17. 

Rajya Sabha: Reply to the discussion on Motion of Thanks on the President's Address; discussion on Budget (Railways) for 2016-17. 

Bills for consideration and passing: The National Waterways Bill, 2015;T the Whistle Blowers Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2015. 

Short duration discussion on the prevailing agrarian crisis in the country.
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10:49   Sri Sri event venue unsafe for PM, says SPG
An assessment by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Special Protection Group has concluded that the venue of Art of Living's World Cultural Festival is not secure enough for the PM to visit.

The prime minister was scheduled to inaugurate the event on Friday.

The SPG feels that the event has been organised on a very large area, making it difficult to provide a fool proof security cover.

More on World Cultural Festival:

Why the World Culture Festival matters

Is Art of Living damaging the Yamuna floodplains?

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10:31   Trump expands lead by winning Mississippi, Michigan primaries
Republican frontrunner Donald Trump on Wednesday swept to victories in two key primary states, expanding his lead in the White House nomination race while Hillary Clinton won Democratic Party's primary in Mississippi.

Celebrating his two wins, Trump, 69, criticised the establishment Republicans who have led recent attacks on him, including heavy negative advertising.

In Mississippi, the real estate tycoon received the support of nearly 50 per cent of the Republican voters. Senator Ted Cruz came second with 35.2 per cent of the votes counted.

In Michigan, Trump received 37.2 per cent of the Republican votes. To the surprise of many Cruz was pushed to the third spot by the Ohio governor John Kasich in the state who received 25.5 per cent of the votes. Cruz gained the support of 23.7 per cent of the votes.

Clinton, 68, won the Democratic primary contest in Mississippi where she beat her party rival Bernie Sanders, 74 while her battle with Bernie Sanders in Michigan is too close to call.

She won Mississippi by 88 per cent to 10 per cent, bolstered by her overwhelming support among African American voters.

With Mississippi win, Clinton has grabbed 21 delegates at stake taking her total count to 1,134. To win the party's presidential nomination, she needs 2,384 delegates of the total 4,765.

Before Wednesday's primaries, Trump was leading with 384 delegates. He needs least 1,237 votes from a total of 2,472 delegates. Cruz, 45, follows Trump with 300 delegates and Florida Senator Marco Rubio, 44, with 151 delegates.

In addition to Michigan and Mississippi, Republican presidential primaries are also being held in Hawaii and Idaho.

After registering impressive primary wins, Trump exuded confidence of easily defeating his Democratic rival Clinton in the November presidential elections.   "I am going to beat Hillary (Clinton). Hillary is going to be very very easy to beat. She is a very easy target, if she is allowed to run. If the government does its job properly, she would not be allowed to run," Trump told reporters at a late night news conference in Florida.

"I am going to clean the slate," Trump said.

Asserting that he is a Republican unifier, he urged the party establishment to embrace his movement and the massive support that he is getting.

This he said would help the Republican Party to win the presidential elections.

Trump claimed that he would win some of the States like New York where the Republican Party normally does not win.

In his victory-speech-cum-press conference, the New Yorker said his rivals -- Cruz, Rubio and Kasich -- have not done well.

Responding to questions, he attributed his impressive wins to his distractors who are running advertisements against him and Mitt Romney, the former presidential candidate, for criticising him.

Trump said so far he has spent just $25 million (about Rs 162 crore) as against $160 million (About Rs 1,040 crore) by some of his opponents.
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10:05   'Art of Living must pay Rs 100 cr for damaging Yamuna floodplains'
A professor appointed by the National Green Tribunal to review the venue where Art of Living's World Cultural Festival will be held has said that Sri Sri Ravishankar's foundation will have to pay almost Rs 100-120 crores to undo the damages caused to Yamuna floodplains due to the preparations of the event.

Prof C R Babu, appointed by the Green Panel to review the site, was quoted by NDTV as saying, "The major damage is the leveling of the flood plain, some of the wetlands and vegetation have been lost."

He said that the organisers should not have selected the site and the government should not have allowed it.

Meanwhile, a report by the Delhi police, prepared after carrying out inspection of the venue of the event, raises serious concerns safety arrangements.   Delhi police's prime minister security wing has raised red herring about stage which would seat VVIPs, including the PM.

The report also says that seven pontoon bridges on the river were promised, but only one was prepared. Work on the second is still underway.

'No wire meshing was found on the pontoon bridge. It is feared that in absence of a wire meshing, people might fall in the river in case of a stampede or chaos,' the report says.
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09:36   Kingfisher's women staff writes to Mallya, 'Exploitation is in your blood'
Women employees of Kingfisher Airlines have written an open letter to embattled liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya, saying exploitation is in his blood and that is why he talked about one time settlement with banks and not with the employees.

'Because we are weak and vulnerable due to our system? Coincidentally today being 'Women's Day' we feel pained that our colleague's wife who committed suicide didn't get justice. (Delhi police didn't even register FIR against you),' the letter said.

In an open letter, the women employees accused Mallya of placing legal hurdles in the path of recovery by the banks.

'You evaded the recovery process then what are you other than absconder? Due to our curse you are facing humiliation daily,' it said.

'You not only killed Air Deccan (which Ambanis would have,otherwise,taken over) but also our mother Kingfisher Airlines which was feeding us. You should have gracefully exited like Capt Gopinath did when he was not able to manage the airline,' the letter further said.

'You say that you are not a defaulter. But you confidently told us during the meeting that banks won't be able to recover more than 5-10 per cent of debt amount. That speaks volumes of your malicious intentions. In the same meeting, you promised revival, payment of our salary... This clearly means that you had no intention of reviving the airline while you kept submitting misleading revival plans to banks/DGCA,' the women staffers alleged in the letter.

The women in the letter also said that they would appeal Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take very serious view and remove Mallya from the committee of Rajya Sabha.

'You are indifferent to us but we feel pity on you for what you have done to yourself and your empire. We don't feel happy to insult you but our contention is that why you kept us in dark. You should have immediately paid us when the first life was lost but instead, you used us as human shield to prolong your legal battle,' it added.
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09:14   16-yr-old who was raped and set ablaze in Delhi dies
A 16-year-old girl, who was battling for her life after being allegedly raped and set ablaze by a youth in Greater Noida, today succumbed to her injuries.

The girl had suffered over 95 per cent burns and was fighting for her life at Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi following the incident that occurred on Monday in Tigri village in Greater Noida West.

The girl died in the wee hours, a senior doctor said.

The accused, aged 18 years, has been taken into custody. He was a neighbour of the victim's family and, according to her father, had become friendly with her.

Police said the youth allegedly went to the girl's house and met her on the roof where he raped her and set her ablaze. He then fled the spot.

The incident, which occurred on the eve of International Women's Day, is yet another in a chain of crimes against women in Delhi and the National Capital Region zone, where the Nirbhaya gangrape case of 2012 had led to nationwide outrage and a revision of rape laws.
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08:57   PM to reply on motion of thanks in Rajya Sabha today
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday will address the Rajya Sabha to reply on the motion of thanks to President Pranab Mukherjee's address.

The prime minister had earlier made his reply in the Lok Sabha and after that, the motion was adopted in the house.

According to reports, the Congress has issued a whip asking all members in the Upper House to be present during prime minister's reply on the motion.

Yesterday, intervening into the debate on the motion of thanks Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had claimed that during the last two years of National Democratic Alliance regime, there was not a single case of corruption. He said that corruption now is not a matter of core concern.
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08:40  
JUST IN: Air India flight 634 makes emergency landing at Bhopal's Raja Bhoj Airport due to an engine failure.ANI
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08:29   Fresh trouble for Sri Sri's event: MHA warns of terror strikes, stampede
The ministry of home affairs has asked the Delhi police to be on high alert in view of the Art of Living's World Cultural Festival beginning on Friday. The MHA has warned of terror strikes and a stampede-like situation at the event.

According to a CNN-IBN report, the MHA raises concerns of a stampede-like situation as 'there is no evacuation plan' in case of an emergency.

The report also says that about 80 farmers are on hunger strike protesting the event as their farmlands were allegedly converted into parking.

The mega event held by the Art of Living foundation of Sri Sri Ravishankar has run into controversies after the National Green Tribunal raising environmental concerns and possible damages to Yamuna floodplains due to it.

Although Sri Sri has said that 'not a single tree has been cut during the preparations of the event' and AOL intends to build a biodiversity park on the Yamuna floodplains.

The NGT has also questioned the Centre as to why no environmental clearance is required for erecting structures in Yamuna floodplains for Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's three-day World Culture Festival.

The Green Panel also questioned the building up of pontoon bridge by the army on river Yamuna for the festival, and asked the Delhi Development Authority counsel as who gave the permission for setting it up.
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03:22   Islamic State's 'minister of war' possibly killed in air strike
A red-bearded Islamic State commander described by American officials as the group's de facto minister of war may have been killed in an air strike in Syria on Friday by the US-led coalition, several US officials said on Tuesday.

Abu Omar al-Shishani, also known as Omar the Chechen, ranked among the most wanted militants under a US reward program that offered up to $5 million for information to help remove him from the battlefield.

Born in 1986 in Georgia, which was then still part of the Soviet Union, Shishani had a reputation as a close military adviser to Islamic State's leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who was said by followers to have relied heavily on him.

He may have been killed during a coalition strike on March 4 near the town of al-Shadadi, which US-backed forces from the Syrian Arab Coalition captured from the Islamic State last month. Still, the United States still appeared unwilling to declare Shishani dead.

Read more HERE
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03:18   Iran threatens to walk away from nuke deal after missile test
Iran on Tuesday again threatened to walk away from the nuclear agreement reached last year with global powers, hours after the country breached international agreements by test-firing ballistic missiles.

Iran's most recent ballistic missile test, which violates current UN Security Council resolutions, comes a day after the international communitys nuclear watchdog organization disclosed that it is prohibited by the nuclear agreement from publicly reporting on potential violations by Iran.

Iranian leaders now say that they are poised to walk away from the deal if the United States and other global powers fail to advance the Islamic Republics national interests.

"If our interests are not met under the nuclear deal, there will be no reason for us to continue," Abbas Araqchi, Irans deputy foreign minister, warned during remarks delivered to a group of Iranian officials in Tehran.

Read more HERE
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03:15   Hillary's 'honest' and 'trustworthy' numbers are lower than ever. It might not matter
In a brand new Washington Post-ABC News national poll, just 37 percent of people believe Hillary Clinton is honest and trustworthy while 57 percent say they don't think she is.

That should be terrible news for Clinton, who still finds herself enmeshed in a primary fight against Bernie Sanders, and for Democrats more broadly who long ago put all their eggs in the Clinton basket. And, it might be in the long run. 

But, as of today, Clinton's desultory scores on being honest and trustworthy don't seem to be impacting her broader appeal to the electorate in any meaningful way.

Clinton has seized the high ground in her presidential primary fight against Sanders and, given the calendar going forward, seems likely to cruise to a relatively pedestrian victory -- particularly after all the sturm und drang following her 22-point shellacking in the New Hampshire primary last month.

Read more HERE
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03:13   Russia offers access to its Syria bases to help deliver aid
Russia's Defence Ministry said on Monday it was ready to give access to its military bases in Syria for humanitarian aid deliveries.

Spokesman Igor Konashenkov said aid packages could be delivered and stored at its naval base in the Syrian port of Tartus and transport planes carrying aid could land at its air base in Latakia.

He told a briefing shown on Russian state television that Russia was also ready to provide vehicles to deliver aid from its bases to areas in need.

On March 2, the ministry prepared a list of areas where it believed the aid was needed urgently and sent it to the United Nations.

The ministry said the cessation of hostilities in Syria was broadly holding despite what it described as some provocations and shootings.

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