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Sat, 07 May 2016
FTII receives parcel containing explosives, threat letter to Kanhaiya
Timeline Refresh
23:35 Rape case against Goa MLA: Woman who 'brokered deal' arrested
The Goa police today arrested a woman who allegedly 'sold' a 16-year-old girl to the expelled Congress legislator Atanasio Monserratte after she surrendered before the Crime Branch in Panaji.
The police were looking for the woman, Rosy Ferros, whom the victim had referred to as 'aunty' in her statement since May 4. She has been booked for trafficking along with the girl's mother.
Police also conducted 'panchnama' (crime scene inspection) at a four-star hotel at Miramar beach in Goa where Monserratte, former education minister, allegedly met the victim for the first time with Ferros.
Monserratte was arrested two days ago and sent to police custody for allegedly 'buying' and sexually exploiting the girl. The victim's mother too was arrested.
The police were looking for the woman, Rosy Ferros, whom the victim had referred to as 'aunty' in her statement since May 4. She has been booked for trafficking along with the girl's mother.
Police also conducted 'panchnama' (crime scene inspection) at a four-star hotel at Miramar beach in Goa where Monserratte, former education minister, allegedly met the victim for the first time with Ferros.
Monserratte was arrested two days ago and sent to police custody for allegedly 'buying' and sexually exploiting the girl. The victim's mother too was arrested.
23:17 Rebel Tripura Congress workers ransack party office
Rebel party workers on Saturday ransacked Congress Bhavan in Agartala in protest against All India Congress Committee's decision to suspend party MLA Sudip Roy Barman who was allegedly involved in anti-party activities.
As the Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee president Birjit Sinha was announcing the suspension letter issued by V Narayanswami, Congress in-charge of north-eastern state during a press conference, Barman's supporters started gathering outside the office and raised slogans against Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi.
Gradually, the protest became stronger and the protesters entered the Congress office and ransacked it.
The unruly protesters broke chairs, window shields, television sets, computer, fax machine and other materials besides attacking the posters of Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi with shoes terming them traitors.
They view that the decision of the AICC of suspending of Barman, who had protested against decision of the Congress-Communist Party of India-Marxist alliance in West Bengal, was anti-democratic.
Meanwhile, Tripura PCC president Sinha said that Barman, along with 14 other rebel leaders, were suspended as the Congress leadership is not satisfied with the reply to their show cause notice served against them for violating party discipline by openly criticising the Congress leadership in media.
Sinha viewed those who were protesting had resigned from their party post few days back and assured legal action against those who have destroyed Congress property.
As the Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee president Birjit Sinha was announcing the suspension letter issued by V Narayanswami, Congress in-charge of north-eastern state during a press conference, Barman's supporters started gathering outside the office and raised slogans against Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi.
Gradually, the protest became stronger and the protesters entered the Congress office and ransacked it.
The unruly protesters broke chairs, window shields, television sets, computer, fax machine and other materials besides attacking the posters of Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi with shoes terming them traitors.
They view that the decision of the AICC of suspending of Barman, who had protested against decision of the Congress-Communist Party of India-Marxist alliance in West Bengal, was anti-democratic.
Meanwhile, Tripura PCC president Sinha said that Barman, along with 14 other rebel leaders, were suspended as the Congress leadership is not satisfied with the reply to their show cause notice served against them for violating party discipline by openly criticising the Congress leadership in media.
Sinha viewed those who were protesting had resigned from their party post few days back and assured legal action against those who have destroyed Congress property.
22:45 FTII receives parcel containing explosives, threat letter to Kanhaiya
A parcel containing a detonator and explosives, along with a letter threatening Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union president Kanhaiya Kumar, was received at Film Training Institute of India on Saturday.
A first information report against unknown persons has been registered at Deccan Gymkhana Police Station.
A Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad team examined the parcel.
Further investigation is on.
A first information report against unknown persons has been registered at Deccan Gymkhana Police Station.
A Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad team examined the parcel.
Further investigation is on.
21:35 Gujarat accords minority status to Jain community
The Gujarat government today issued a government resolution giving minority status to the Jain community. Transport Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party state unit chief Vijay Rupani made the announcement.
The previous United Progressive Alliance government at the Centre had conferred the minority status on the community at the national level in January 2014.
"Chief Minister Anandiben Patel today decided to accord the minority status to the Jain community. The matter had been put on hold for some time due to the Patidar reservation agitation," said Rupani who himself is a Jain.
"A GR has been issued today," he added.
The decision was also pending so far because a large section of the Jain community felt that several rituals of the community are similar to those practised by the Hindus, so the Jains are a part of the Hindu community and should not be treated as separate entity, he said.
"The decision has nothing to do with reservations. The status will benefit the poor among the Jain community as they can avail of various scholarships, government welfare schemes. Jain institutions will get special status like the one given to Christian and Muslim institutions," he said.
The decision comes within a week of the state government awarding 10 per cent reservation to the economically backward class among the upper castes in the face of Patel (Patidar) community's agitation for OBC quota.
The previous United Progressive Alliance government at the Centre had conferred the minority status on the community at the national level in January 2014.
"Chief Minister Anandiben Patel today decided to accord the minority status to the Jain community. The matter had been put on hold for some time due to the Patidar reservation agitation," said Rupani who himself is a Jain.
"A GR has been issued today," he added.
The decision was also pending so far because a large section of the Jain community felt that several rituals of the community are similar to those practised by the Hindus, so the Jains are a part of the Hindu community and should not be treated as separate entity, he said.
"The decision has nothing to do with reservations. The status will benefit the poor among the Jain community as they can avail of various scholarships, government welfare schemes. Jain institutions will get special status like the one given to Christian and Muslim institutions," he said.
The decision comes within a week of the state government awarding 10 per cent reservation to the economically backward class among the upper castes in the face of Patel (Patidar) community's agitation for OBC quota.
21:14 Jet Airways flight skids off runway, all safe
A Jet Airways aircraft with 66 passengers and four crew on board skidded off the runway after landing at the Indore airport here this evening.
All passengers and crew have deplaned safely, Jet Airways said.
'Jet Airways flight 9W-2793 from Delhi to Indore, has departed the paved surface after landing,' Jet Airways said in a statement.
All 66 guests and four crew aboard have been safely deplaned and taken to the terminal building, it said.
All passengers and crew have deplaned safely, Jet Airways said.
'Jet Airways flight 9W-2793 from Delhi to Indore, has departed the paved surface after landing,' Jet Airways said in a statement.
All 66 guests and four crew aboard have been safely deplaned and taken to the terminal building, it said.
20:52
JUST IN: Jet Airways aircraft skids off runway at Indore airport. All passengers safe, airport sources.
20:23 Cylinder blast injures 12 in Varanasi, PM takes stock
At least 12 people were injured in an AC compressor pipe blast that took place in Sir Sunder Lal Hospital in Banaras Hindu University on Saturday.
According to reports, the blast took place at around 1.05 pm at the emergency ward. The fire brigade was called immediately, though there was no incident of fire outbreak. Soon after the blast, hundreds of people gathered outside the building.
The injured persons are out of danger. While eight persons are being treated in the emergency, four others injured are at the trauma centre of BHU.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also inquired about the condition the injured. Announcing financial relief to four persons being treated at the trauma centre, the prime minister wished all the injured a speedy recovery.
According to reports, the blast took place at around 1.05 pm at the emergency ward. The fire brigade was called immediately, though there was no incident of fire outbreak. Soon after the blast, hundreds of people gathered outside the building.
The injured persons are out of danger. While eight persons are being treated in the emergency, four others injured are at the trauma centre of BHU.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also inquired about the condition the injured. Announcing financial relief to four persons being treated at the trauma centre, the prime minister wished all the injured a speedy recovery.
19:47 Court asks Mallya to be present on next hearing
A court hearing a cheque bounce case against promoter of defunct Kingfisher Airlines Vijay Mallya today directed him to appear before it on the next hearing in July, failing which it will issue a warrant against him.
The metropolitan magistrate's court in suburban Andheri was hearing applications filed by Airports Authority of India against M/s Kingfisher Airlines in connection with two cheques of Rs 100 crore which were dishonoured.
'Ensure that the accused is present by the next date of hearing failing which the court will issue warrant against him,' said magistrate A A Laulkar and posted the hearing for July.
The two applications filed by AAI sought cancellation of permanent exemption from court appearance granted to Mallya, who has since left the country amid an outcry over his airline defaulting on repayment of over Rs 9,000 crore to the banks, and sought an arrest warrant against him.
AAI's lawyer had yesterday argued in the court that in view of cancellation of Mallya's passport, his lawyer may not be able to produce him in the court if the court orders so.
The metropolitan magistrate's court in suburban Andheri was hearing applications filed by Airports Authority of India against M/s Kingfisher Airlines in connection with two cheques of Rs 100 crore which were dishonoured.
'Ensure that the accused is present by the next date of hearing failing which the court will issue warrant against him,' said magistrate A A Laulkar and posted the hearing for July.
The two applications filed by AAI sought cancellation of permanent exemption from court appearance granted to Mallya, who has since left the country amid an outcry over his airline defaulting on repayment of over Rs 9,000 crore to the banks, and sought an arrest warrant against him.
AAI's lawyer had yesterday argued in the court that in view of cancellation of Mallya's passport, his lawyer may not be able to produce him in the court if the court orders so.
19:32 Uttarakhand BJP chief calls MLAs' meet ahead of floor test
Uttarakhand Bharatiya Janata Party chief Ajay Bhatt has called for a meeting with all its members of legislative assembly in Dehradun tomorrow, in wake of floor test to be held on May 10.
Earlier, both the Congress and the BJP issued whips to their MLAs as they try to keep their flock together.
The process to issue whips to all the party MLAs for the floor test has been initiated, Congress chief whip and former Parliamentary affairs minister Indira Hridayesh said on Saturday.
Earlier, both the Congress and the BJP issued whips to their MLAs as they try to keep their flock together.
The process to issue whips to all the party MLAs for the floor test has been initiated, Congress chief whip and former Parliamentary affairs minister Indira Hridayesh said on Saturday.
18:44 91 arrested in TN for showing black flags ahead of Rahul rally
The members of Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhakam were arrested Coimbatore today when they staged a black flag demonstration against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over Sri Lankan Tamils' issue, hours before his visit to the city for addressing an election rally.
A total of 91 TPDK workers, including 15 women, assembled near the city bus stand and protested against the 'failure' of the previous Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government to safeguard the Sri Lankan Tamils during the war against Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in 2009, police said.
The Congress vice president is scheduled to address an election rally in Coimbatore along with Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MP Kanimozhi later this evening.
Led by TPDK general secretary K Ramakrishnan, the activists raised slogans against Congress, accusing it of having remained 'a mute spectator', when thousands of Tamils were killed in the guise of eliminating the LTTE.
A total of 91 TPDK workers, including 15 women, assembled near the city bus stand and protested against the 'failure' of the previous Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government to safeguard the Sri Lankan Tamils during the war against Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in 2009, police said.
The Congress vice president is scheduled to address an election rally in Coimbatore along with Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MP Kanimozhi later this evening.
Led by TPDK general secretary K Ramakrishnan, the activists raised slogans against Congress, accusing it of having remained 'a mute spectator', when thousands of Tamils were killed in the guise of eliminating the LTTE.
18:29 2 dead, 17 missing after collision in East China Sea
A collision between a fishing boat and a cargo ship in the East China Sea has left 17 missing and two dead, Chinese state media said today.
The Lu Rong Yu collided with a Maltese freighter at 3.40 am Beijing time, according to state broadcaster China Central Television.
Passing ships rescued two additional passengers who later died, the report said, adding that search and rescue operations are ongoing.
The cargo ship, which was under a Maltese flag, left the scene, according to China Radio International.
The Lu Rong Yu collided with a Maltese freighter at 3.40 am Beijing time, according to state broadcaster China Central Television.
Passing ships rescued two additional passengers who later died, the report said, adding that search and rescue operations are ongoing.
The cargo ship, which was under a Maltese flag, left the scene, according to China Radio International.
17:54 Delhi police releases 4 terror suspects arrested 3 days ago
Four of the 10 terror suspects who were detained by Delhi Police for their alleged ideological leaning towards banned outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed were today released due to lack of adequate evidence, three days after being questioned by the anti-terrorism unit.
Of the four, three are residents of east Delhi's Chand Bagh locality and the other from Ghaziabad's Loni area. They were let off from the Special Cell's Lodhi Colony office this evening.
They were freed after investigators said they did not find adequate evidence to prove their involvement in the suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed ring, which was busted earlier this week with the arrest of three youths and Improvised Explosive Device were recovered from their possession, police sources said.
As many as 13 persons were picked up by the Special Cell after a late night operation on Tuesday. Of them, three have been arrested, four let off and six are still being questioned by the investigators.
Of the four, three are residents of east Delhi's Chand Bagh locality and the other from Ghaziabad's Loni area. They were let off from the Special Cell's Lodhi Colony office this evening.
They were freed after investigators said they did not find adequate evidence to prove their involvement in the suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed ring, which was busted earlier this week with the arrest of three youths and Improvised Explosive Device were recovered from their possession, police sources said.
As many as 13 persons were picked up by the Special Cell after a late night operation on Tuesday. Of them, three have been arrested, four let off and six are still being questioned by the investigators.
17:36 'Thulla' remark: Delhi court summons Kejriwal
A Delhi court on Saturday summoned Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for allegedly using derogatory word 'thulla' for referring to policemen.
The court has asked Kejriwal to appear before it on July 14 in the matter.
A Delhi Police constable has last year in October lodged a criminal defamation complaint against Kejriwal for allegedly using the derogatory word.
Harvinder Singh, who is posted at the Govindpuri Police Station in southeast Delhi, said in his complaint that he was hurt by the word 'thulla' used by the chief minister in an interview to a news channel.
The court has asked Kejriwal to appear before it on July 14 in the matter.
A Delhi Police constable has last year in October lodged a criminal defamation complaint against Kejriwal for allegedly using the derogatory word.
Harvinder Singh, who is posted at the Govindpuri Police Station in southeast Delhi, said in his complaint that he was hurt by the word 'thulla' used by the chief minister in an interview to a news channel.
17:25 Muslim Sufi leader murdered by suspected Islamists in Bangladesh
A 65-year-old Muslim spiritual leader was hacked to death in central Bangladesh, in an attack that bears the hallmark of previous murders of intellectuals, bloggers and minorities by Islamists in the country.
Shahidullah was found dead with gashes on the right shoulder and a slit throat in a mango orchard in Rajshahi city's Tanor upazila, police said.
His body was recovered after locals called the police around 10 pm last night, said Abdur Razzak, officer-in- charge of Tanor Police Station.
"It seems he was hacked first and then slaughtered," he was quoted as saying by The Daily Star.
There have been systematic assaults in Bangladesh in recent weeks especially targeting minorities, secular bloggers, intellectuals and foreigners.
In the recent attacks, a liberal professor was brutally hacked to death last month by machete-wielding ISIS militants who slit his throat near his home in Rajshahi city.
Two days later, Bangladesh's first gay magazine editor was brutally murdered along with a friend in his flat in Dhaka by Islamists.
Last week, a Hindu tailor was hacked to death by machete-wielding ISIS militants in his shop in central Bangladesh.
Shahidullah was found dead with gashes on the right shoulder and a slit throat in a mango orchard in Rajshahi city's Tanor upazila, police said.
His body was recovered after locals called the police around 10 pm last night, said Abdur Razzak, officer-in- charge of Tanor Police Station.
"It seems he was hacked first and then slaughtered," he was quoted as saying by The Daily Star.
There have been systematic assaults in Bangladesh in recent weeks especially targeting minorities, secular bloggers, intellectuals and foreigners.
In the recent attacks, a liberal professor was brutally hacked to death last month by machete-wielding ISIS militants who slit his throat near his home in Rajshahi city.
Two days later, Bangladesh's first gay magazine editor was brutally murdered along with a friend in his flat in Dhaka by Islamists.
Last week, a Hindu tailor was hacked to death by machete-wielding ISIS militants in his shop in central Bangladesh.
17:09 Uttarkhand Floor test: Cong, BJP issue whips to MLAs
Ahead of the crucial floor test on May 10, Congress and BJP are issuing whips to their MLAs as they try to keep their flock together. The process to issue whips to all the party MLAs for the floor test has been initiated, Congress Chief Whip and former Parliamentary Affairs Minister Indira Hridayesh said today.
The MLAs are being informed through e-mail, SMS, and letters. They have been instructed to be present in Uttarakhand Assembly on May 10 and vote in favour of the confidence motion, Indira added. "The numbers are favouring Congress and we will win," she claimed.
16:23 4-year-old minor sexually assaulted at Bengaluru summer camp
A four-year-old minor was sexually assaulted at a summer camp in the IT City, according to reports. Police have arrested a 21-year-old youth for allegedly molesting the minor. The accused has been identified as one of the faculty members.
According to information, he was produced before the court following which he was taken into custody. Police have registered a case under POCSO Act.A medical test was conducted on the minor.
As per the report, the victim was attending a summer camp in a Bengaluru school on May 3, when the incident took place. A series of similar incidents have taken place in Bengaluru schools in the last year.
16:14
JUST IN: Delhi court summons CM Arvind Kejriwal for allegedly using derogatory word 'thulla' for referring to policemen.
15:44 JNU student Umar Khalid granted permission to visit Kolkata
JNU student Umar Khalid, facing sedition charge for allegedly raising anti-India slogans at the university campus in February, was today granted permission by a Delhi court to travel to Kolkata to attend a panel discussion.
Additional Sessions Judge Reetesh Singh allowed Khalid to travel to the city from May 20 to 23 to attend panel discussion organised by Bastar Solidarity Network (Kolkata Chapter).
As per the application, the discussion will be held on May 21 in Muktangan Hall, Kolkata. Khalid, along with another varsity student Anirban Bhattacharya, was granted interim bail for six months by the court on March 18 on the ground of parity with co-accused and JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar in the case.
In its bail order, the court had directed Umar and Anirban not to leave Delhi without its permission during the period of interim bail and to make themselves available before the investigating officer as and when required for the purpose of the probe. Umar and Anirban had surrendered to the police on the intervening night of February 23-24 after which they were arrested. Earlier, Kanhaiya was granted six-month interim bail by the high court on March 2.
15:24 Goa likely to ban local citizens from entering casinos
Goa government is in the process of issuing rules for the Gaming Commission, that is proposed to be set up to regulate the state casino industry, and one the rules would be to ban local citizens from entering casinos.
14:46 Deal or no deal? Pakistan rejects US conditions for sale of F-16s
Pakistan needs modern F-16 fighter jets for its ongoing war against terrorism but rejects the conditions the United States has attached with their sale, said Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry. the foreign secretary said no conditions should be attached to the sale of F-16s because Pakistan plans to use the jets only for the purpose of fighting terrorists.
The US State Department earlier this week said Pakistan will have to pay from its own funds if it wants to buy F-16 fighter jets, after the US Congress last month withdrew funds for the deal to force Pakistan to act against the Haqqani network.
Chaudhry said Saturday that diplomatic efforts were underway to convince the Congress to subsidise the sale of the fighter jets.
Pakistan had earlier reached an understanding with the US for buying eight F-16 planes. Under the deal, Pakistan was required to pay about $270m from its national funds. The US was supposed to provide the rest from its Foreign Military Financing fund.
Pakistan has conveyed to the US that it does not have the money to buy F-16 jets from its resources and has cautioned that if the stalemate over funding is not resolved it may consider buying some other fighter aircraft to meet its needs.
14:28 Omar hails Sadiq Khan's victory as the mayor of London
Former J-K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said the election of Sadiq Khan as the new mayor of London was an example for all cities around the world even as he wondered whether any city in India would ever vote a person from a minority community to such an important post.
"Well done #London. @SadiqKhan's victory shows the world that you don't need to scare people in to voting for you. An example for all cities,"
Omar wrote on Twitter.
Omar wrote on Twitter.
"Gotta wonder if any of our cities in India would ever vote a second generation immigrant from a minority community to such an important post," he said.
Sadiq Khan, son of a Pakistani bus driver, was today declared the new mayor of London after defeating his nearest rival in what is being described as a landslide, marking the return of Labour rule to the UK capital after eight years.
14:15 SRK's 'FAN' trouble! Notice slapped on actor by Delhi sweet shop
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan was seen in and as 'FAN' this year. The film won critical acclaim and his fans loved the performance. However, it has now come to light that a Delhi-based sweet shop has slapped a legal notice to the producers and SRK for allegedly using its brand name without prior permission.
SRK is seen carrying a box of sweets in the movie while he visits Mumbai to meet the superstar Aryan Khanna. The name flashed on the sweet-box is that of Ghantewala brand. Now, the sweet-shop owner Sushant Jain, has sent a legal notice to Yash Raj Films, Aditya Chopra, director Maneesh Sharma, writers Habib Faisal and Sharat Katariya, and Shah Rukh Khan, reportedly.
The owner wants the makers of the movie to remove the dialogues and scenes that infringe the trademark of the shop, the report states.
13:39
Uttarakhand disqualified MLAs' plea: Uttarakhand HC reserves its order, will pronounce at 10 am on May 9
13:38 Don't fall in trap of schools giving useless degrees: Rajan's advice to students
Sounding a word of caution to students on education loans, RBI governor Raghuram Rajan has said they should not fall prey to 'unscrupulous schools' which leave them with high debt and "useless degrees".
Observing that education at high quality research universities will remain expensive in near future, he said efforts should be made to make degrees affordable to all deserving students.
One part of the solution is student loans, he said, adding "we have to be careful that student loans are repaid in full by those who have the means, while they are forgiven in part for those who fall on bad times, or those who take low paying public service jobs."
The Governor said private education across the world is expensive and is getting more expensive all the time.
13:24 What does Sadiq Khans victory mean for British Muslims?
Announcing a new mayor of London is always a historic moment, but the appointment of Sadiq Khan -- the first ever Muslim to take on the job -- has even more significance. It's a victory that, according to Khan himself, sends a strong message to all 'the haters in Iraq and in Syria', showing that the city is a beacon of tolerance and respect.
Read more HERE
13:22
JUST IN: Goa rape case: Third accused surrenders before crime branch. MLA Atanasio Monserrate is already in custody
12:34 UP CM seeks Rs 10,000 crore help from Centre to tackle drought
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav met Prime Minister Narendra Modi today to discuss the drought and water-scarcity situation in the state.
Yadav has sought an aid of Rs 10,000 crore from the Centre to tackle drought and water crisis. "Had a productive meeting with UP CM on the drought situation in various parts of UP. The various drought mitigation measures undertaken in the state were discussed extensively in the meeting. We discussed the need to effectively utilise the period before monsoon for water recharge and conservation efforts," Modi tweeted soon after the meeting.
This meeting comes a day after the UP government refused a water train sent by the Centre for the drought-hit Bundelkhand. The government claimed that there is no Latur-like problem in the state. After meeting Modi, Yadav claimed that there is no water crisis in the state but they need tankers to distribute water in the villages. "There is water in dams, we need to transport the water through tankers. Train can't go deep inside villages," he said.
12:18 Chopper scam: Tyagi brothers reach CBI for day 2 of grilling
All three cousin brothers of former Indian Air Force chief SP Tyagi --Sandeep, Sanjeev and Rajiv reached the Central Bureau of Investigation headquarters on Saturday as their grilling entered second day in connection with the AgustaWestland chopper scam.
On being asked about the chances of them being arrested, Sanjeev Tyagi "God only knows."
According to CBI sources, the Tyagi brothers admitted to having a property link with SP Tyagi, while Sanjeev Tyagi admitted to having financial dealings with middlemen Haschke and Gerosa during the probe.
The sources also said that during the interrogation, it was found out that Khaitan has been concealing information regarding financial transaction between his company and AgustaWestland.
The Enforcement Directorate on Friday questioned SP Tyagi for the second day in connection with the controversial Rs 3,600 crore VVIP chopper deal. He was subjected to a marathon 10-hour questioning yesterday by the Enforcement Directorate investigators.
The CBI team had registered a preliminary enquiry on the basis of some important documents that it had obtained from Italian probe agencies in connection with the alleged payment of kickbacks by AgustaWestland to bag the chopper deal. A complete case would be registered once sufficient evidence is procured.
Image: Ex-IAF chief SP Tyagi
12:04 Cash, gold worth Rs 730 mn seized from Pak bureaucrat's house
Pakistan's anti-graft body has arrested Balochistan's finance secretary and recovered gold and currency worth Rs 730 million from his house in Quetta, the provincial capital. The huge amount of money and gold were seized yesterday during a raid by the National Accountability Bureau at the residence of Finance Secretary Mushtaq Ahmed Raisani, who was arrested earlier in the day on charges of embezzling billions of rupees from government development funds.
During the raid, officials found bags filled with local and foreign currency and gold from the house. The officials searched all rooms to sift through records, sources said, adding that records of the finance department were also seized for further investigation.
Raisani, an influential bureaucrat in Balochistan, has served as finance secretary for the last few years. He served in same position during the PPP government's term. Balochistan government announced suspension of Raisani in a late night notification.
11:26
JUST IN: Hearing of disqualified MLAs' plea challenging their disqualification by the assembly speaker, begins in Uttarakhand HC.
11:20 Modi is scared of Sonia Gandhi: Delhi CM Kejriwal
Taking charge of the AAP protest at Jantar Mantar, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal launched a scathing attack against the prime minister, saying, "Modi is afraid of Sonia Gandhi. He will not take any action against her." The Delhi CM added that the Centre had no intention to act against the guilty.
Today, members of AAP are protesting at Jantar Mantar over the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam. Protests turned violent when police launched a lathi-charge against the participants.
11:01 Kanhaiya withdraws from hunger strike on Day 10
The indefinite hunger strike by JNU students entered the 10th day today even as students' union president Kanhaiya Kumar withdrew his fast due to medical reasons.
So far, six students have withdrawn their fast against the punishment by the university in connection with the February 9 event during which anti-national slogans were allegedly raised, while 14 others are continuing with the hunger strike.
Kanhaiya, who is out on bail after his arrest in a sedition case, was yesterday discharged from AIIMS after treatment for mild dehydration and ketosis.
10:52 Who are the death row prisoners in India?
Over three-fourths of the 385 death row prisoners between 2010-2015 are economically vulnerable and over 62% did not complete secondary school, according to the Death Penalty India Report released on Friday.
Read more HERE
10:31 AAP protest at Jantar Mantar
Member of the Aam Aadmi Party have congregated at Jantar Mantar and are protesting against Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam. The protest has turned violent with police lathi-charging the protesters.
10:15 IAF's Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jet is facing engine crisis
Amid depleting squadron numbers and fighter jet crisis, the Indian Air Force is now facing a problem with its frontline fighter aircraft Sukhoi Su-30MKI.
The government said the Su-30MKIs have been facing engine troubles and have been forced to land on single engine 34 times since April 1, 2014.
Sukhoi Su-30MKI is a twin-engine multi-role aircraft developed by Russia's Sukhoi and built under licence by India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the Indian Air Force.
09:46 Water train politics apart, PM Modi And Akhilesh Yadav discuss drought today
After three days of water train politics between the Centre and Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav come face to face today to discuss water scarcity.
Modi wrote to chief ministers of three drought-hit states - Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka - and has invited them for separate meetings today to discuss the situation. Yadav arrived at the PMO this morning to discuss the situation.
09:16 Security forces gun down 3 terrorists in Kashmir's Pulwama
Three militants of the Hizbul Mujaheedin outfit were killed in an encounter with security forces in south Kashmir Pulwama district early this morning.
A senior police officer said troops of counter insurgency Rashtriya Rifles and local police had jointly surrounded Panzgam village near Awantipora early Saturday on specific information about presence of a group of militants there.
"As the security forces were busy in searches, militants opened fire triggering an encounter at the end of which three militants of Hizbul Mujaheedin outfit were killed, " he said.
The slain militants have been identified as Ashfaq Ahmad Dar, Haseeb Ahmad and Ishfaq Ahmad Baba.
A defence spokesman said three AK-47 rifles were recovered from the slain militants.
"Searches in the area still on," he added.
-- Mukhtar Ahmad/Rediff.com
03:58 UK mosques ask women to shun Facebook, trousers: report
Many mosques in the United Kingdom propagate extremely strict rules of conduct for women, asking them to delete their Facebook accounts, not to leave their houses without their husbands' permission, and to avoid wearing trousers, a research report released on Friday said.
The research conducted by The Times showed rulings published by mosques and Islamic associations around Britain.
Under a section titled 'Islamic articles', the Croydon Mosque and Islamic Centre in London published a document - 'Advice for the husband and wife'.
Written by a mufti at the mosque, it says, "A woman should seek her husband's permission when leaving the house and should not do so without his knowledge".
The Central Masjid of Blackburn in northwest England has published a web post called 'Dangers of Facebook'.
It cites a quotation from the Quran about the sin of alcohol, and applies it to the social network.
"Facebook has opened the doors for sin. Muslim girls and women alike have become prey to this evil," it says.
It describes the social media website as a "vicious network".
The Green Lane Masjid in Birmingham tells one woman worshipper that wearing trousers is not permitted even in front of her husband.
Trousers show off "the details of her body. The ones who wear trousers are men, and the Prophet cursed women who imitate men," a post by the mosque quoting an Islamic scholar reads.
Khola Hasan, a female scholar at the Islamic Sharia Council in London, told the newspaper, "These views are clearly outdated and reflect a patriarchal, narrow worldview that is out of step with the rest of the Muslim world".
03:14 Stop piracy: Hollywood studio to Meerut university
Renowned Hollywood film studio Paramount Pictures has served a notice to Meerut's Chaudhary Charan Singh University after a large number of students illegally downloaded movies through the varsity's IP address, The Times of India reported.
The CCSU had started a free WiFi service for students last year. Since the university had not set up any firewall, students had been downloading movies and TV series without restriction.
The National Informatics Centre New Delhi, on Friday sent a copy of the notice to the CCSU. The NIC had received the legal notice from one Adrian Leatherland from the Australia-based anti-piracy firm IP-Echelon.
The Los Angeles-based Paramount Pictures is a client of IP-Echelon, which monitors online piracy across 25 countries. One of the firm's biggest clients is HBO, which had hired it last year to track down "pirates" who were leaking episodes of its hit show 'Game of Thrones' online.
In the notice sent to NIC, IP-Echelon stated that they had found that CCSU's IP address has been used to illegally download and distribute video files which are exclusively owned by its client Paramount.
"IP-Echelon has a good faith belief that the Paramount video content has not been authorized for sharing or distribution by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law. I also assert that the information contained in this notice is accurate to the best of our knowledge. We are requesting your immediate assistance in removing and disabling access to the infringing material from your network. We also ask that you ensure the user and IP address owner refrains from future use and sharing of Paramount materials and property," the notice read.
Leatherland further writes that in complying with the notice, NIC should not destroy any evidence, which may be relevant in a lawsuit, relating to the alleged infringement, including all associated electronic documents and data relating to the presence of infringing items on their network, which shall be preserved while disabling public access, irrespective of any document retention or corporate policy to the contrary.
02:31 Egypt official blames 'Tom and Jerry' for spreading violence
An Egyptian government official has blamed the animated "Tom and Jerry" series for allegedly spreading a culture of violence, AP has reported.
The accusations by Salah Abdel-Sadek, head of State Information Service, which is affiliated with the presidency, came at a forum held in Cairo this week.
Abdel-Sadek told academics, media specialists, and public figures who had gathered to discuss violence that video games and cartoons are to blame.
He said children see Tom Cat and Jerry Mouse "beat and blow up with explosives" one another and "in their minds, they see this as normal."
The remarks are starkly at odds with the political reality of Egypt.
The Mideast country is struggling with a home-grown Islamic insurgency and regularly sees heavy-handed security measures used against protesters. Thousands of political dissidents are imprisoned.
01:52 Two dead in suburban Washington shootings
Two people were killed and two others wounded in a pair of shootings on Friday in the suburbs of Washington, and authorities sought a federal law enforcement officer.
The police put out a bulletin seeking help in locating Eulalio Tordil, a 62-year-old officer in the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Protective Service.
Tordil is sought in the Thursday's shooting death of his wife at a school in Prince George's County, Maryland, which occurred on the eve of the two incidents in adjacent Montgomery County.
On Fridya, gunfire broke out at the Westfield Mall in Bethesda, with one man killed and two people wounded.
A second shooting later at a supermarket in nearby Aspen Hill, Maryland left one woman dead.
"This continues to be a very active investigation," Montgomery County police Captain Paul Starks told reporters.
"We're still looking at the possibility that these shootings here (in Bethesda) and the shooting in Aspen Hill are related."
00:41 Brazil Senate committee recommends Rousseff impeachment
A Brazilian Senate committee voted on Friday to recommend starting an impeachment trial against President Dilma Rousseff, who now faces being suspended from office in less than a week.
The special committee's decision was non-binding but marked the last formal stage before the full Senate votes Wednesday on whether to put the leftist leader on trial.
"The case now goes to the full federal Senate," announced opposition Senator Raimundo Lira.
With the Senate considered almost certain to open the trial next week, Rousseff is preparing to step aside for up to six months while the 81 senators decide her fate, plunging Brazil into ever deeper political infighting.
As soon as Rousseff is suspended Vice President Michel Temer, a center-right politician whose party recently broke off its shaky alliance with Rousseff's Workers' Party, would become interim president.
At the end of the trial, which could take months, a two thirds majority would be needed to remove Rousseff from office.
The impeachment battle, a crumbling economy, and corruption probes against dozens of leading politicians and business executives have left Latin America's biggest country in turmoil ahead of the Rio Olympics this August.
The impeachment is based on accusations that Rousseff made illegal accounting maneuvers to mask the depth of Brazil's economic troubles during her tight 2014 reelection victory.
The country's first female president says the charges are trumped up to turn the impeachment process into a coup d'etat and that she will not give in.
00:22 White House race not 'reality show': Obama takes aim at Trump
In his first comment on Donald Trump after he was declared presumptive Republican nominee, United States President Barack Obama on Friday warned that the race to the White House was not a "reality show" and called for a close scrutiny of the controversial billionaire's past record and statements.
"This is not entertainment, this is not a reality show. This is a contest for the presidency of the US," Obama said.
"With respect to the Republican process and Mr Trump, there's going to be plenty of time to talk about his positions on various issues. He has a long record that needs to be examined. And I think it's important for us to take seriously the statements he's made in the past," Obama told reporters.
This was Obama's first comment on Trump, who has courted controversies on several matters including on migrant issue and inconsistent foreign policy stance, after the outspoken real-estate mogul became the presumptive nominee last week.
Trump has provoked number of protests with his controversial speeches and proposals ranging from banning Muslims from entering the US to building a wall to keep out Mexican migrants to slashing US funding for NATO.
"I think I just want to emphasize the degree to which we are in serious times and this is a really serious job," Obama said and added that every candidate, every nominee needs to be subject to exacting standards and genuine scrutiny.
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