LIVE
Fri, 13 May 2016
Madhesis and ethnic groups announce fresh protests in Nepal
Timeline Refresh
23:50 US Navy officer to stand trial on espionage charges
A US Navy officer will stand trial on espionage charges for allegedly handing military secrets to Taiwan and China, an official said today.
Prosecutors say Lieutenant Commander Edward Lin committed a string of offenses including espionage, mishandling classified information and failing to follow lawful orders. He was also accused of adultery and using a prostitute.
Navy spokesman Lieutenant Commander Tim Hawkins told AFP the commanding admiral in the case, Philip Davidson, this week ordered Lin to stand trial at a court-martial.
23:49 Madhesis and ethnic groups announce fresh protests in Nepal
In fresh trouble for Nepal government, a coalition of seven Madhesi parties and around two dozen ethnic groups today announced to re-start protests to press for their demands relating to more rights, adequate representation and re-demarcation of provincial boundary.
The agitating parties will launch protest rally in Ratnapark of Kathmandu tomorrow and sit-in in front of the Singhdurbar Secretariat, the main government administrative complex, for indefinite period starting from Sunday.
After launching six-month long anti-constitution protest programmes in the southern border of the country last year, the alliance has now changed their strategy and focused on capital city in an attempt to draw attention of the government and other stakeholders to their demands.
22:54 PM meets SL Prez; seeks permanent solution to fishermen issue
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today pitched for a permanent solution to the vexed fishermen issue during his talks with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena in which a range of other key matters including ways
to boost trade also figured.
Modi hosted a dinner for Sirisena over which both the leaders deliberated all major bilateral issues, particularly problems being faced by Indian fishermen, status of various economic projects being implemented by India in the island nation and steps to further increase trade and investment.
Sirisena arrived here today on a two-day visit. He will leave for Ujjain tomorrow to attend the Simhastha Mahakumbh and Modi will accompany him during the visit.
22:40 US cop who assaulted Indian no longer faces criminal charges
An American police officer, who brutally assaulted an Indian grandfather and left him partially paralysed, is no longer facing state criminal
charges in the US state of Alabama.
Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange said the state no longer wishes to pursue a criminal case against Madison police officer Eric Parker in Limestone County Circuit Court.
"After a careful review of the witness testimony included in 2,000 pages of federal trial transcripts and a re-evaluation of the evidence, we are seeking to dismiss State charges against Parker," Strange said in a release today.
Parker, 27, is accused of assaulting 58-year-old Indian grandfather who was taking a stroll around his son's home when he was brutally assaulted by him in February last year.
He was fired six days later and police arrested him for misdemeanor assault.
22:15 Cong dubs NIA as 'NAMO Investigation Agency'
The Congress on Friday dubbed The National Investigation Agency as "NAMO Investigation Agency", alleging there was "politically partisan misuse" in the Malegaon blast case after the agency in a complete U-turn dropped all charges against Sadhvi Pragya Thakur and five others.
"Malegaon case shows that the NIA has become 'NAMO Investigation Agency' to exonerate those having allegiance to the BJP by hook or crook", Congress spokesman Gaurav Gogoi told reporters.
Separately, the party's Chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala said, "The NIA under Modi ji has become 'Namo Investigation Authority' purely aimed at giving clean chit to the BJP, RSS affiliated leaders in various criminal cases."
Gogoi claimed that whatever instructions come from the "leadership in Delhi", that approach will be taken by the NIA and this bias was also confirmed by the Public Prosecutor when she said there was "pressure" on her in this case.
Gogoi made a strong pitch for a Supreme Court monitored probe in the case. He wanted strictest standards of investigation to be conducted in terror cases.
"Unfortunately, after entry of the new Government, it almost pre-ordained that those who are linked to the case and have linkages to RSS affiliated organizations will be one day let go scot free", he remarked.
In a series of tweets, Surjewala said, "Collective conscience of Nation is shocked by politically partisan misuse of NIA in giving clean chit to Pragya in Malegaon Blast Case".
22:00 Afghanistan facing 'undeclared war' from Pakistan: Ghani
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has accused Pakistan of waging an "undeclared war" against his country and said the Tehreek-e-Taliban was the "greatest threat to the region".
Delivering a lecture on 'Fifth Wave of Political Violence' at the Royal United Services Institute in London on Thursday, Ghani expressed frustration over little progress in peace talks and gathering of foreign fighters in Afghanistan.
"Who fights in my country? Chinese, Chechens, Uzbeks, Tajiks, but the greatest one of course is a huge movement from Pakistan. Then, of course all the rejects from the Arab world are sent on to us," he said.
"Our fundamental issue is peace with Pakistan. There has been undeclared war against us. I invested enormous amount of political capital to make sure the road to peace was the proper road. Our extended hand was not shaken," he said.
"The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan is becoming the greatest threat to the region," he added.
Establishing peace and stability in Afghanistan and across Asia and the Middle East remains a pressing challenge for the international community.
To support global efforts to counter political violence, it is vital that governments grasp the distinctive characteristics of contemporary terrorist groups and encourage greater cooperation and alignment of understanding on a
national, regional, and international level, he said.
21:24 Govt plans to give more powers to NIA
Aiming to give more teeth to the National Investigation Agency, the government is contemplating to empower the anti-terror investigating agency by allowing it to probe in foreign countries if there is any attack on Indians and Indian assets.
Official sources said the home ministry is planning to amend the National Investigation Agency Act, enacted in 2008 after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, to give additional powers to the agency mandated to investigate all terror- related cases.
As per the proposal, the NIA will be given powers to investigate in foreign soil, with the permission of the host government, since there have been instances of attacks on Indians and Indian assets like foreign missions in the past.
A note for the Union Cabinet is being prepared and once it is cleared, the amendments will be tabled before Parliament for its nod before it is included in NIA Act, sources said.
The conspiracy of Pathankot terror attack was also hatched in Pakistan.
The NIA may also be given special power to keep eyes on activities of modules of Middle-East terror group ISIS and Pakistan-based terror groups to ensure any attempt to harm India will be detected in advance.
Also, NIA may be authorised, through the amendment of the Act, to commute the charge of death penalty to life imprisonment in plea bargaining cases.
There are several administrative gaps in NIA Act and through the amendment these loopholes would be plugged, sources said.
21:02 Senior journalist shot dead in Bihar's Siwan
Rajdeo Ranjan, bureau chief of Hindi daily, Hindustan was shot dead in Siwan, Bihar.
One of the bullets hit Ranjan on the head and another on the neck. He was taken to the hospital where he was declared dead.
According to police, five motorcycle-borne criminals were waiting for Ranjan, who was walking down the road to his home. They shot him twice.
20:47 Law is blind: Asaram Bapu
In remarks that could stoke a controversy, self-styled godman Asaram Bapu on Friday alleged the law as "blind" while coming out of a court room here during a routine trial hearing.
"The law is blind. Here anybody could be sent to the jail. Only because a girl said something, so many persons are getting harassed," he alleged.
He claimed that he was suffering from over a dozen diseases and for that he required a "specific treatment".
He also claimed that his condition was getting worse day after day. "I wanted to talk to you but am not feeling fit to do so," he told mediapersons.
A teenaged girl of Asaram's Chindwara-based gurukul had accused Asaram of sexual assault at his ashram near Jodhpur.
Following the girl's complaint, Asaram was arrested by Jodhpur police on August 31, 2013 and is in jail since then.
20:38 IMF warns of economic risks from Brexit
The International Monetary Fund today warned that Britain's potential exit from the European Union posed a "significant downside risk" to the economy.
IMF boss Christine Lagarde, unveiling the global lender's latest health check on the British economy just six weeks before Britain votes on whether to remain in the EU, added that Brexit could push the country into recession, echoing comments from Bank of England chief Mark Carney.
The latest warning comes as Prime Minister David Cameron campaigns fervently to keep Britain in the 28-nation EU in a referendum on June 23.
Leave supporters, which hit out against Carney for his and the BoE's stance on Thursday, also criticised the IMF's intervention.
"The IMF has talked down the UK's economy before and has been wrong in past forecasts about the UK and other countries," read a tweet from the official Leave campaign.
Lagarde admitted today that sometimes the IMF is wrong.
"We are one of the very few institutions that actually acknowledge when we are wrong... but on that particular one which relates to the negative consequences of Leave vote, we have looked very carefully at the whole range of existing opinions (and) calculations."
20:37 ISIS massacre Real Madrid fans at supporters club headquarters in Iraq
ISIS have slaughtered at least 14 Real Madrid fans at a supporters club in northern Iraq.
Three gunmen opened fire with machine guns around midnight at the cafe in the predominately Shi'ite Muslim town of Balad.
President of the Madrid supporters club, Ziad Subhan, said: 'A group of Islamic terrorists, from ISIS, came into the caf, armed with AK-47s, shooting at random at everyone who was inside'.
20:17 Lightning in Bangladesh kills 42
At least 42 people, including women and children, were killed in Bangladesh within the last 24 hours after being struck by lightning during thundershowers, officials said on Friday.
Meteorological office said the downpour brought with it thundershowers in 14 districts including Dhaka.
Nine people were killed in five districts on Friday as rain has been lashing several parts of the country after a spell of heat waves. Thirty-three people, including children and women, were killed on Thursday in 12 different districts.
The lightning that accompanied the seasonal nor'wester storms claimed the highest eight lives in northwestern Pabna, five each in neighbouring Sirajganj and Rajshahi districts.
The police said Dhaka, Chittagong, Joypurhat and Naogaon saw two deaths each while one person died after being struck by bolt in Sunamganj on Friday.
In Dhaka, sudden thunderbolts killed two engineering students when they were playing football in the rain.
Four persons died in Kishoreganj and Brahmanbarhia each, reports said. Eleven more deaths were reported from other parts of the country.
19:59 Dalit woman murdered in suspected case of honour killing
In yet another suspected case of honour-killing in Tamil Nadu, a 26-year-old Dalit woman, whose brother was in love with a caste Hindu girl, was hacked to death in Tirunelveli on Friday, police said.
Viswanathan (25), who was in love with a 20-year-old caste Hindu girl, had eloped with her a few days back, following resistance from her parents and relatives, City Police Commissioner Thirugnanam said.
Angry over the incident, the girl's father and his relatives came to the residence of Viswanathan. However, he was not there. His elder sister Kalpana tried to placate them, but to no avail and she was hacked to death.
Kalpana was mother of a girl child.
On March 13, a young couple, whose inter-caste marriage was opposed by their families, was brutally attacked by a gang with sickles in full public view in Tirupur district, resulting in the death of the husband, sending shock waves across Tamil Nadu.
Video footage of the attack had gone viral triggering an outrage. Five persons, including the girl's mother had been arrested.
19:51
Firing reported outside a mall in Ghaziabad during clash between two groups. Two people have been injured.
More information awaited.
18:54 World's largest aircraft is a Dream... literally
The world's largest cargo aircraft, Antonov AN -225 Mriya -- or the
Dream, made its first landing in India today at the Rajiv Gandhi
International Airport in Hyderabad, the Ukraine company's collaborators
in Mumbai said on Wednesday.
The wide body aircraft is powered by six turbofan engines and is the longest and heaviest airplane ever built, with a maximum takeoff weight of 640 tonnes, a statement said.
It also has the largest wingspan of any aircraft in operational service, the statement added.
Pic: The worlds largest cargo aircraft, Antonov AN -225 Mriya -- or the Dream, which made its first landing at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad. PTI.
The wide body aircraft is powered by six turbofan engines and is the longest and heaviest airplane ever built, with a maximum takeoff weight of 640 tonnes, a statement said.
It also has the largest wingspan of any aircraft in operational service, the statement added.
Pic: The worlds largest cargo aircraft, Antonov AN -225 Mriya -- or the Dream, which made its first landing at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad. PTI.
18:37 Railways withdraws Rs 4-cr water bill to Latur
The railways today withdrew the Rs 4 crore water bill sent to the Latur district administration and promised to continue to run water trains to cater to the need of the people in the parched areas of Marathwada region till the crisis is over.
Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu is personally monitoring the entire operation and has directed that the concerned officials to continue to run the trains till the time there is a need of water and the settlement of the operational expenses will never be a constraint in this regard, according to the statement by railways.
Till now more than 6 crore litres of water has been transported by the Railways from Miraj to Latur. Railway named these trains as Jaldoot to emphasize importance of this crucial endeavour.
According to railways, recently the Latur district administration requested Central Railway Administration to indicate the cost of water transportation by railways.
In response to this request, Central Railway shared the information on cost of operation in transporting the water. The settlement of expenditure is not relevant at this point of time as the most important matter is to continue uninterruptedly with the transportation of water to the people in their hour of need, the statement added.
Prabhu has further ordered that the estimate of expenditure which was sent to the Latur district administration, on their request, will be withdrawn immediately.
The issue of settlement of dues is being considered separately by the Railway Ministry," it said. Taking note of severe drought condition in Maharashtra, Prabhu took initiative and ordered the Railways to immediately make necessary arrangements for transportation of water in the drought affected areas of state.
Towards this end, Railway Board immediately arranged 100 tank wagons through its Kota Workshop and dispatched them to Maharashtra. Mumbai based Central Railway Zone geared up its machinery and directed its two Divisions namely Solapur and Pune to make arrangements for water transportation.
Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu is personally monitoring the entire operation and has directed that the concerned officials to continue to run the trains till the time there is a need of water and the settlement of the operational expenses will never be a constraint in this regard, according to the statement by railways.
Till now more than 6 crore litres of water has been transported by the Railways from Miraj to Latur. Railway named these trains as Jaldoot to emphasize importance of this crucial endeavour.
According to railways, recently the Latur district administration requested Central Railway Administration to indicate the cost of water transportation by railways.
In response to this request, Central Railway shared the information on cost of operation in transporting the water. The settlement of expenditure is not relevant at this point of time as the most important matter is to continue uninterruptedly with the transportation of water to the people in their hour of need, the statement added.
Prabhu has further ordered that the estimate of expenditure which was sent to the Latur district administration, on their request, will be withdrawn immediately.
The issue of settlement of dues is being considered separately by the Railway Ministry," it said. Taking note of severe drought condition in Maharashtra, Prabhu took initiative and ordered the Railways to immediately make necessary arrangements for transportation of water in the drought affected areas of state.
Towards this end, Railway Board immediately arranged 100 tank wagons through its Kota Workshop and dispatched them to Maharashtra. Mumbai based Central Railway Zone geared up its machinery and directed its two Divisions namely Solapur and Pune to make arrangements for water transportation.
17:56 Maharashtra becomes Ist state to ban 'social boycotts' that shun women, Dalits
Maharashtra has become the first state in the country to ban village councils from imposing "social boycotts" that ostracise individuals or families for defying tradition, reports Reuters.
Women and Dalits often bear the brunt of such judgments, passed as punishment for perceived misdeeds such as marrying between castes or dressing immodestly.
The state last month passed the law against a decades-old practice of village panchayats, or councils, ordering social boycotts.
"The Act was required against the backdrop of atrocities inflicted on people in the name of tradition, caste and community," said Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis."It is necessary to prohibit social boycotts as a matter of social reform in the interest of public welfare," he said.Under village council orders, individuals and families have been banished from the community, and denied access to temples, wells, markets and celebrations.
In some cases, panchayats have even branded women as witches, and ordered gang rapes or killings as punishment.Maharashtra's new law declares social boycotts a crime punishable by up to seven years in prison, a fine of Rs 500,000 or both.Human rights campaigners called for other states to follow Maharashtra's example.
"The law will help check caste crimes to some extent. It empowers lower-caste people and it empowers human rights organisations, as it gives us a tool with which to fight against village panchayats," said Irfan Engineer, director of the Centre for Study of Society and Secularism in Mumbai."
Representational image.
Women and Dalits often bear the brunt of such judgments, passed as punishment for perceived misdeeds such as marrying between castes or dressing immodestly.
The state last month passed the law against a decades-old practice of village panchayats, or councils, ordering social boycotts.
"The Act was required against the backdrop of atrocities inflicted on people in the name of tradition, caste and community," said Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis."It is necessary to prohibit social boycotts as a matter of social reform in the interest of public welfare," he said.Under village council orders, individuals and families have been banished from the community, and denied access to temples, wells, markets and celebrations.
In some cases, panchayats have even branded women as witches, and ordered gang rapes or killings as punishment.Maharashtra's new law declares social boycotts a crime punishable by up to seven years in prison, a fine of Rs 500,000 or both.Human rights campaigners called for other states to follow Maharashtra's example.
"The law will help check caste crimes to some extent. It empowers lower-caste people and it empowers human rights organisations, as it gives us a tool with which to fight against village panchayats," said Irfan Engineer, director of the Centre for Study of Society and Secularism in Mumbai."
Representational image.
17:05 US journo literally eats his words on Trump's prez bid!
A US journalist has kept his promise of literally eating his words if Donald Trump clinches the Republican presidential nomination as the scribe consumed a nine-course meal featuring newsprint from his column.
Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank in October last year wrote a column predicting the demise of the 69-year-old billionaire's presidential ambitions. The headline of the column read, "Trump will lose, or I will eat this column."
"Literally: The day Trump clinches the nomination I will eat the page on which this column is printed in Sunday's Post," Milbank wrote last year. "I have this confidence for the same reason (Mitt) Romney does: Americans are better than Trump," he had said.
The Post writer, of course, was proven wrong earlier this month, when Trump became the Republican party's presumptive nominee after the Indiana primary. Milbank delivered on his headline's promise on Wednesday.
The Washington Post carefully curated a nine-course meal to document the occasion including newspaper chilaquiles, dumplings, falafel, steaks, the way Trump likes them, and even a Trump Tower-inspired taco bowl. The dishes, prepared by the head chef at Washington's Del Campo restaurant, Victor Albisu, creatively incorporated newspaper pages into the recipes -- with some of the ink "mercifully well-ground" into the steak's chimichurri sauce, or sprinkled into the guacamole topping the taco bowl, or mixed into the chickpeas of the falafel, CBS News reported.
To wash it all down, there were also some Trump wines. Milbank consumed it all on a live Facebook video stream. Later, Milbank said the experience "actually turned out not to be too bad at all."
"It was not all that painful. And certainly not anywhere near as painful as it's going to be over the next six months," he told Facebook viewers. "I didn't think Trump was a flash in the pan. It was a showman who would - should not be taken seriously. I thought he definitely should be taken seriously. I thought the Republican voters ultimately would say we don't want this kind of guy representing us," Milbank was quoted as saying by National Public Radio. "And in the end, only 38 per cent did vote for Trump, but there never really was a mainstream viable alternative. So they wound up with Trump," he said. Trump, a New York-based real estate tycoon, joined politics about 10 months ago with political pundits giving him not much of a chance to make it this far.
Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank in October last year wrote a column predicting the demise of the 69-year-old billionaire's presidential ambitions. The headline of the column read, "Trump will lose, or I will eat this column."
"Literally: The day Trump clinches the nomination I will eat the page on which this column is printed in Sunday's Post," Milbank wrote last year. "I have this confidence for the same reason (Mitt) Romney does: Americans are better than Trump," he had said.
The Post writer, of course, was proven wrong earlier this month, when Trump became the Republican party's presumptive nominee after the Indiana primary. Milbank delivered on his headline's promise on Wednesday.
The Washington Post carefully curated a nine-course meal to document the occasion including newspaper chilaquiles, dumplings, falafel, steaks, the way Trump likes them, and even a Trump Tower-inspired taco bowl. The dishes, prepared by the head chef at Washington's Del Campo restaurant, Victor Albisu, creatively incorporated newspaper pages into the recipes -- with some of the ink "mercifully well-ground" into the steak's chimichurri sauce, or sprinkled into the guacamole topping the taco bowl, or mixed into the chickpeas of the falafel, CBS News reported.
To wash it all down, there were also some Trump wines. Milbank consumed it all on a live Facebook video stream. Later, Milbank said the experience "actually turned out not to be too bad at all."
"It was not all that painful. And certainly not anywhere near as painful as it's going to be over the next six months," he told Facebook viewers. "I didn't think Trump was a flash in the pan. It was a showman who would - should not be taken seriously. I thought he definitely should be taken seriously. I thought the Republican voters ultimately would say we don't want this kind of guy representing us," Milbank was quoted as saying by National Public Radio. "And in the end, only 38 per cent did vote for Trump, but there never really was a mainstream viable alternative. So they wound up with Trump," he said. Trump, a New York-based real estate tycoon, joined politics about 10 months ago with political pundits giving him not much of a chance to make it this far.
16:55 Delhi HC stays disciplinary action against Kanhaiya, Umar Khalid, Anirban
Just in: Delhi HC stays all disciplinary action against JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid, Anirban Bhattacharya and others.
This comes after two JNU students challenged their rustication from the university. Following this, eight more, including JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar, approached the Delhi High Court challenging the varsity's disciplinary action against them.
This comes after two JNU students challenged their rustication from the university. Following this, eight more, including JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar, approached the Delhi High Court challenging the varsity's disciplinary action against them.
Apart from Kanhaiya, the others who have challenged the order of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) against them are Ashwati A Nair, Aishwariya Adhikari, Komal Mohite, Chintu Kumari, Anwesha Chakraborty and two others.
Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya moved the court earlier this week against their rustication. Umar has also been slapped with a fine of Rs 20,000, while Anirban has been barred from JNU campus for five years from July 23.
Kanhaiya who, along with Anirban and Umar, was accused of sedition for the controversial event of February 9, was slapped with a fine of Rs 10,000 by the varsity. Varying actions, ranging from rustication, debarment from the varsity and fines, were taken against them and several other students based on a high-level enquiry committee's (HLEC) report regarding the controversial incident that had occurred on February 9 at JNU.
16:31 Cabinet approves Intellectual Property Rights policy
The Cabinet has approved the National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) policy with a view to promoting creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship.
The aim is to create awareness about economic, social and cultural benefits of IPRs among all sections of society, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Friday while briefing reporters about Thursday's Cabinet decisions.
The Minister also let out that by 2017, the window for trademark registration will be brought down to one month.
"The policy aims to create and exploit synergies between all forms of intellectual property (IP), statutes concerned and agencies," he said.
According to Jaitley, there are seven objectives that guided the policy mechanism, which include IPR public awareness, stimulation of generation of IPRs, need for strong and effective laws and strengthening enforcement and adjudicatory mechanisms to combat infringements.
The policy also puts a premium on enhancing access to healthcare, food security and environmental protection.It is expected to lay the future road map for intellectual property in India, besides putting in place an institutional mechanism for implementation, monitoring and review.
The idea is to incorporate global best practices in the Indian context and adapt to the same.
The aim is to create awareness about economic, social and cultural benefits of IPRs among all sections of society, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Friday while briefing reporters about Thursday's Cabinet decisions.
The Minister also let out that by 2017, the window for trademark registration will be brought down to one month.
"The policy aims to create and exploit synergies between all forms of intellectual property (IP), statutes concerned and agencies," he said.
According to Jaitley, there are seven objectives that guided the policy mechanism, which include IPR public awareness, stimulation of generation of IPRs, need for strong and effective laws and strengthening enforcement and adjudicatory mechanisms to combat infringements.
The policy also puts a premium on enhancing access to healthcare, food security and environmental protection.It is expected to lay the future road map for intellectual property in India, besides putting in place an institutional mechanism for implementation, monitoring and review.
The idea is to incorporate global best practices in the Indian context and adapt to the same.
16:29
Subramanian Swamy @Swamy39 tweets: "I waited the whole day today in Rajya Sabha for Congis to file their proclaimed Breach of Privilege Notice. None was filed!! Chickened?"
16:09
Congress leader Beni Prasad Verma joins Samajwadi Party.
15:46 PM's Somalia-Kerala comment: Cong to complain to EC
A Congress delegation will meet the Election Commission today to submit a petition against PM Narendra Modi for his 'divisive and intemperate remarks' used in Kerala.
Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said he will be part of the delegation, which includes Ahmed Patel, Motilal Vohra and possibly Digvijaya Singh. The delegation will go to the Election Commission with a written complaint against the Prime Minister.
The Election Commission is going to give us time shortly and we will go today with a written complaint against the completely false and misleading utterance of the Prime Minister contrary to the model code of conduct, misleading the people of Kerala during election, he said.
Asserting that the Prime Minister was not only insulting Kerala but deliberately the people of the state as well, Singhvi added Kerala is far superior than Gujarat as far as social indicators are concerned.
We dont say so, but in doing so he is demeaning all other states of India which have equal or better indicators, he said.
This development comes after Chief Minister Oommen Chandy yesterday hinted at legal action against the Prime Minister for his unwarranted remark.
"We condemn this. This is an insult to the people of Kerala. We were expecting a clarification, apology from the PM, but he didn't'. Comparison of Kerala with Somalia made by the PM is devoid of facts. The Kerala Government took a serious note of this and is considering taking a legal action the Prime Minister," Chandy said.
The Chief Minister had earlier written a hard-hitting letter to the Prime Minister and requested him to show some 'political decency' by withdrawing the statement as they are 'baseless and contrary to ground realities'.
"This is unbecoming of a prime minister and has created a great deal of agony and protest," he said while referring to the statement.
Addressing an election rally in the poll-bound state earlier, Prime Minister Modi had compared Kerala with Somalia.
"The situation with the child death ratio among Scheduled Tribes in Kerala is scarier than even Somalia. Recently, one came across a tragic picture in the media. In Peravoor, which is seen as a stronghold of the Communist party, where it has always won, there, Scheduled Tribe children were seen foraging for food in a garbage dump," he said.
Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said he will be part of the delegation, which includes Ahmed Patel, Motilal Vohra and possibly Digvijaya Singh. The delegation will go to the Election Commission with a written complaint against the Prime Minister.
The Election Commission is going to give us time shortly and we will go today with a written complaint against the completely false and misleading utterance of the Prime Minister contrary to the model code of conduct, misleading the people of Kerala during election, he said.
Asserting that the Prime Minister was not only insulting Kerala but deliberately the people of the state as well, Singhvi added Kerala is far superior than Gujarat as far as social indicators are concerned.
We dont say so, but in doing so he is demeaning all other states of India which have equal or better indicators, he said.
This development comes after Chief Minister Oommen Chandy yesterday hinted at legal action against the Prime Minister for his unwarranted remark.
"We condemn this. This is an insult to the people of Kerala. We were expecting a clarification, apology from the PM, but he didn't'. Comparison of Kerala with Somalia made by the PM is devoid of facts. The Kerala Government took a serious note of this and is considering taking a legal action the Prime Minister," Chandy said.
The Chief Minister had earlier written a hard-hitting letter to the Prime Minister and requested him to show some 'political decency' by withdrawing the statement as they are 'baseless and contrary to ground realities'.
"This is unbecoming of a prime minister and has created a great deal of agony and protest," he said while referring to the statement.
Addressing an election rally in the poll-bound state earlier, Prime Minister Modi had compared Kerala with Somalia.
"The situation with the child death ratio among Scheduled Tribes in Kerala is scarier than even Somalia. Recently, one came across a tragic picture in the media. In Peravoor, which is seen as a stronghold of the Communist party, where it has always won, there, Scheduled Tribe children were seen foraging for food in a garbage dump," he said.
15:35
Rajya Sabha adjourns sine die.
15:34 The real reason President Mukherjee cut short his visit to Varanasi
So here it is -- the inside story of why President Pranab Mukherjee cancelled his appointment at the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi today. The president was in Varanasi yesterday for the centenary celebrations of the Benaras Hindu University, but did not stay back today to watch the Ganga Saptami at Dshaswamedh Ghat this evening.
Speculation is rife about the change in plan. Reasons being bandied around include: the upcoming Union cabinet reshuffle, the Uttarakahand ordinance, a decision on NEET... all erroneous. Here's what sources at the President's Secretariat told us.
President Mukherjee wanted an in-depth briefing on his proposed
visit to China, which is scheduled between May 24 and May 27. the visit will be at once, political, diplomatic and bilateral, and will take at least three to four days.
With just a few days left for the visit, the President decided to return to New Delhi from Varanasi late Thursday night.
Pic: A file photo of President Mukherjee during Durga puja celebrations at his ancestral home in West Bengal in 2011.
Speculation is rife about the change in plan. Reasons being bandied around include: the upcoming Union cabinet reshuffle, the Uttarakahand ordinance, a decision on NEET... all erroneous. Here's what sources at the President's Secretariat told us.
President Mukherjee wanted an in-depth briefing on his proposed
visit to China, which is scheduled between May 24 and May 27. the visit will be at once, political, diplomatic and bilateral, and will take at least three to four days.
With just a few days left for the visit, the President decided to return to New Delhi from Varanasi late Thursday night.
Pic: A file photo of President Mukherjee during Durga puja celebrations at his ancestral home in West Bengal in 2011.
15:11 Rs 100 crore seized in TN ahead of polls
Total cash seized in Tamil Nadu since the model code came into effect has crossed Rs 100 crore, the highest ever in the history of Indian elections. However, Andhra Pradesh holds the record for combined seizures of cash and material worth 140 crore during the 2014 Lok Sabha and state assembly elections. Latest seizures in TN include recent raids on the Chennai office of a distillery owned by a former DMK minister's family, from which Rs 3.58 crore was confiscated, and Rs 2 crore found on a DMK candidate in Karur in central TN. Read more
14:53 PM wants to save people involved in terrorism: Cong on Malegaon clean chit
The Congress reacts to the NIA supplementary chargesheet gives main accused in the Malegaon blastss -- Sadhvi Pragnya Thakur -- a clean chit and drops MCOCOA charges against all accused. The chargesheet has also given a clean chit to co-accused Col Purohit and says that former ATS chief the late Hemant Karkare's probe in the case has been 'flawed'.
Congress senior leader Divijaya Singh said today, "Want to tell Centre that we know you want to save Malegaon accused and you have connections with them. But don't malign the name of Shaheed Hemant Karkare. Centre including PM wants to save the people involved in terror activities."
Congress senior leader Divijaya Singh said today, "Want to tell Centre that we know you want to save Malegaon accused and you have connections with them. But don't malign the name of Shaheed Hemant Karkare. Centre including PM wants to save the people involved in terror activities."
14:44 Chhagan Bhujbal's bail plea rejected
The special court for Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) has rejected the bail plea filed by Nationalist Congress Party leader and former Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal who has been arrested in a money laundering case in connection with the alleged Maharashtra Sadan scam.The court had on Wednesday extended the judicial custody of Bhujbal and his nephew Sameer Bhujbal till May 25. Special Judge of the PMLA court, PR Bhavke heard the arguments of lawyers of Bhujbal and Enforcement Directorate before reserving the order.
14:36 Aditya Sachdeva's family gets police security
Bihar police provides security to Gaya road rage case victim Aditya Sachdeva's family. Aditya's mother has demanded a speedy trial and death penalty for Rocky Yadav, son of Janata Dal-United Member of Legislative council Manorama Devi who is accused of killing Aditya for overtaking his SUV.
Today, Aditya's friends who were in the car with him when he was shot, recorded their statements. The friends said that Rocky Yadav was driving a silver Landrover SUV when he shot at them and killed Aditya.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had said on Monday that his government would not spare anyone found guilty and stern action would be taken as no one is above the rule of law.
Today, Aditya's friends who were in the car with him when he was shot, recorded their statements. The friends said that Rocky Yadav was driving a silver Landrover SUV when he shot at them and killed Aditya.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had said on Monday that his government would not spare anyone found guilty and stern action would be taken as no one is above the rule of law.
14:22 Agusta deal: Rahul aide sends legal notice to BJP MP
Rahul Gandhi's aide Kanishka Singh sends legal notice to BJP MP Kirit Somaiya, asks him to apologize in three days or face legal action. The BJP MP had alleged that Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi and his aide Kanishka Singh were connected to Guido Haschke, one of the middlemen in the AgustaWestland deal. Haschke, Somaiya has alleged, is also involved in the CWG scam.
14:18 Sadhvi Pragya's name dropped from NIA chargesheet in Malegaon blast
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has decided to give a clean chit to Sadhvi Pragya Thakur by dropping her name from its chargesheet filed today in the 2008 Malegaon blast case. The chargesheet says there is not enough evidence to press charges against Sadhvi Pragya.
14:08 Review: Azhar: Such a wasted chance!
Emraan Hashmi starrer Azhar gets 1-1/2 stars from Raja Sen, who comes away angry and disappointed: With no apparent room for ambiguity, the film exonerates Poor Azhar not merely as Poor Azhar but -- stupifyingly -- as a man who took bribes from bookies in order to keep the rest of his team clean. Ugh. This is the bit that hurts most. This appalling justification is an unforgivably offensive conceit, and I'm furious just thinking about it now, as I type."
Read the review on Rediff.com.
Read the review on Rediff.com.
13:41 NIA files chargesheet in Malegaon blast: Sadhvi's name to be dropped
NIA files chargesheet in the 2008 Malegaon blast case in the Special NIA court. In the chargesheet, the NIA has decided to drop Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur's name as an accused.
According to the NIA, the investigation has failed to find any substantial evidence that establishes the Sadhvi's involvement in the blast. The watering down of charges against her may set the stage for her early release from jail.
The NIA is also likely to tell the court that evidence against the key accused, Colonel Prasad Purohit, were fabricated and the investigation led by former Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare was flawed.
According to the NIA, the investigation has failed to find any substantial evidence that establishes the Sadhvi's involvement in the blast. The watering down of charges against her may set the stage for her early release from jail.
The NIA is also likely to tell the court that evidence against the key accused, Colonel Prasad Purohit, were fabricated and the investigation led by former Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare was flawed.
13:35 Nirankari sect chief priest dies in car accident
Just in: Chief Priest of the Nirankari sect, Baba Hardev Singh, killed in a car accident in Canada, reports ANI.
13:13 Sri Sri turns 60 today
Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravishankar celebrates his 60th birthday at his ashram in Bengaluru. On Tuesday, the National Green Tribunal issued notices to the spiritual guru for alleged contempt and violation of court orders with regard to the World Cultural Festival, which was organised on the Yamuna floodplains in March. A petition filed by Manoj Misra of Yamuna Bachao Andolan contended that the founder of the Art of Living Foundation had flouted court orders by terming the Rs. 5 crore environment penalty imposed on him "politically motivated'.
13:02 How boiling beef pot averted Brazil aftertaste
The Hindutva campaign against beef and the draconian laws it has spawned in states like Maharashtra and Haryana may have angered foreign tourists and annoyed potential investors overseas but it has unexpectedly enhanced the Narendra Modi government's balance sheet in diplomacy.
Brazil's unassailable standing as the world's biggest supplier of cows of Indian origin both for beef products and for the dairy industry was a critical factor which ruled out its now-suspended President Dilma Rousseff as chief guest at the Republic Day this year in favour of French President Francois Hollande. Read more
Brazil's unassailable standing as the world's biggest supplier of cows of Indian origin both for beef products and for the dairy industry was a critical factor which ruled out its now-suspended President Dilma Rousseff as chief guest at the Republic Day this year in favour of French President Francois Hollande. Read more
12:46 Modi gets a 'F' for Make in India
Growth in factory output has continued to sputter, tumbling to 0.1 per cent in March from 2 per cent in the previous month and lending credence to the perception that the Narendra Modi government's efforts to pump-prime the economy are failing to yield the desired results. The piffling growth of 0.1 per cent in industrial output was a huge disappointment for the markets and economists where the consensus view was that it would be 2.5 per cent. Barclays India had forecast a factory output growth of 4 per cent in March - the last month of the financial year 2015-16. Read more
12:31 Family time ... then
Emraan Hashmi tweets this picture Mohammed Azharuddin sharing a tender moment with his 1st wife Naureen and his children. The biopic Azhar releases today.
Azhar stars Emraan Hashmi in the titular role with Prachi Desai essaying the role Naureen. Watch this space for the film review.
Azhar stars Emraan Hashmi in the titular role with Prachi Desai essaying the role Naureen. Watch this space for the film review.
12:06 Disburse drought relief immediately, SC tells states
The Supreme Court today said that States cannot hide behind the lack of funds to not act on the drought crisis. The court also said that all drought-hit regions have to continue the midday meal scheme during the summer vacation even though schools are shut.
The court added, "The government is obligated to implement MNREGA, and states have to comply. There is no denying foodgrain on PDS for lack of documentation. States have to follow RBI guidelines on restructuring crop loans."
On Wednesday, the court said that Bihar,Gujarat and Haryana were hesitant to even acknowledge, leave alone address, a drought or a drought-like situation.
In a scathing 53-page verdict on the lack of will shown by the Centre and States in combating drought and saving lives, SC pronounced the Centre guilty of washing its hands of a national disaster that consumed one-fourth of the country. It also pulled up Gujarat, Bihar and Haryana for adopting an ostrich-like attitude towards declaring drought and driving their own people to suicide, starvation and mass migration.
The court added, "The government is obligated to implement MNREGA, and states have to comply. There is no denying foodgrain on PDS for lack of documentation. States have to follow RBI guidelines on restructuring crop loans."
On Wednesday, the court said that Bihar,Gujarat and Haryana were hesitant to even acknowledge, leave alone address, a drought or a drought-like situation.
In a scathing 53-page verdict on the lack of will shown by the Centre and States in combating drought and saving lives, SC pronounced the Centre guilty of washing its hands of a national disaster that consumed one-fourth of the country. It also pulled up Gujarat, Bihar and Haryana for adopting an ostrich-like attitude towards declaring drought and driving their own people to suicide, starvation and mass migration.
11:59 Tell JNU students to call off hunger strike, HC tells Kanhaiya Kumar
Delhi HC asks JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar to call off the hunger strike by students.
Nearly two weeks after some JNU students began an indefinite hunger strike demanding revocation of the punishments meted out to them by the university, JNU Vice-Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar Wednesday met them and urged them to end the strike as the matter was "subjudice'.
The V-C's move came after students Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya moved the Delhi High Court, challenging the punishment given to them for their alleged involvement in the February 9 incident on campus.
Nearly two weeks after some JNU students began an indefinite hunger strike demanding revocation of the punishments meted out to them by the university, JNU Vice-Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar Wednesday met them and urged them to end the strike as the matter was "subjudice'.
The V-C's move came after students Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya moved the Delhi High Court, challenging the punishment given to them for their alleged involvement in the February 9 incident on campus.
11:39 Jaya defamation case: Swamy may have to face trial
BJP leader Subramanian Swamy first approached the top court challenging the defamation laws, after the J Jayalalithaa government filed a number of defamation cases against him. Now, that the SC has upheld the validity of the law, Swamy may face trial.
11:35 SC upholds Criminal Defamation Law
Just in: The Supreme Court dismisses a batch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of sections 499 and 500 of the IPC providing for criminal defamation. In effect the court upholds the criminal defamation law.
The petitioners comprise prominent leaders cutting across party lines, such as BJP MP Subramanian Swamy, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal , among others.
They have contended that Sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code, which prescribe a maximum sentence of two years' imprisonment for defamation, were outdated and inconsistent with the citizens' right to freedom of speech and expression guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.
Many media organisations, including the Editors' Guild of India, have also demanded that defamation be decriminalised because it has a "chilling effect" on free speech.
The Sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) criminalise defamation. Defamatory acts can include words either spoken or intended to be read, signs or visible representations, which are published/in the public domain. The offence can earn punishment of up to 2 years imprisonment, fine or both.
Twenty-four petitions were filed by various people alleging violation of the fundamental right to free speech guaranteed by the Constitution, as criminal sanction can cause a chilling effect.
The petitioners comprise prominent leaders cutting across party lines, such as BJP MP Subramanian Swamy, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal , among others.
They have contended that Sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code, which prescribe a maximum sentence of two years' imprisonment for defamation, were outdated and inconsistent with the citizens' right to freedom of speech and expression guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.
Many media organisations, including the Editors' Guild of India, have also demanded that defamation be decriminalised because it has a "chilling effect" on free speech.
The Sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) criminalise defamation. Defamatory acts can include words either spoken or intended to be read, signs or visible representations, which are published/in the public domain. The offence can earn punishment of up to 2 years imprisonment, fine or both.
Twenty-four petitions were filed by various people alleging violation of the fundamental right to free speech guaranteed by the Constitution, as criminal sanction can cause a chilling effect.
11:16 PM says farewell to 53 retiring Rajya Sabha MPs, session adjourns today
PM Modi addresses retiring Rajya Sabha MPs in Parliament. The Upper House will adjourn sine die today. Fifty-three MPs will retire today. There will be 53 farewell speeches today. The PM says, "Retiring MPs will be missed. It would have been good if GST Bill was passed in your presence."
Rajya Sabha, which was adjourned for the day on Thursday as a mark of respect towards sitting Congress member Praveen Rashtrapal who passed away, is sitting today to complete its original schedule. A decision was taken on Wednesday to curtail the session of Lok Sabha by two days and Rajya Sabha by one day. Accordingly, the session in Lok Sabha was on Wednesday brought to an end, two days before its scheduled culmination. According to the plan, the Rajya Sabha was also to be adjourned sine die on Thursday after the customary farewell speech as 53 Rajya Sabha MPs have retired from the House.
A number of those retired have been renominated. The Budget Session of Parliament had begun on February 23 and concluded on March 16. There was the scheduled recess between the first and second part. However, the session was prorogued to allow promulgation of an Ordinance to bring and pass a Vote on Account for Uttarakhand, which was under President's rule.
Rajya Sabha, which was adjourned for the day on Thursday as a mark of respect towards sitting Congress member Praveen Rashtrapal who passed away, is sitting today to complete its original schedule. A decision was taken on Wednesday to curtail the session of Lok Sabha by two days and Rajya Sabha by one day. Accordingly, the session in Lok Sabha was on Wednesday brought to an end, two days before its scheduled culmination. According to the plan, the Rajya Sabha was also to be adjourned sine die on Thursday after the customary farewell speech as 53 Rajya Sabha MPs have retired from the House.
A number of those retired have been renominated. The Budget Session of Parliament had begun on February 23 and concluded on March 16. There was the scheduled recess between the first and second part. However, the session was prorogued to allow promulgation of an Ordinance to bring and pass a Vote on Account for Uttarakhand, which was under President's rule.
10:54 NIA seeks time to file chargesheet in 2008 Malegaon blasts case
The National Investigation Agency on Friday sought more time from a special court in Mumbai for submiting second supplementary Final Report under Section 173(8) of the Code of Criminal Procedure in the 2008 Malegaon blast case.
Earlier, the agency made it clear that key accused in the case Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur will not be named in the chargesheet as no proof of her involvement in the crime can be found.
The agency will also drop Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act charges against other accused and will charge them under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act instead.
Earlier, the agency made it clear that key accused in the case Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur will not be named in the chargesheet as no proof of her involvement in the crime can be found.
The agency will also drop Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act charges against other accused and will charge them under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act instead.
10:02 Rocky Yadav's mother applies for anticipatory bail
Suspended Janata Dal-United leader Manorama Devi, whose son Rocy Yadav is behind bars for killing a 20-year-old youth in a road rage, has filed an anticipatory bail application after arrest warrant was issued against her over liquor prohibition.
Her plea will be heard on Monday.
The police today sent the seized alcohol from Devi's residence to Patna lab for investigation.
The Police also said that it will soon seize Devi's properties, if she does not surrender.
An arrest warrant was issued against Devi on Wednesday for violating prohibition laws and allegedly harbouring her fugitive son who has been held in the road rage murder case in Bihar.
The MLC, whose jailed husband Bindi Yadav is an alleged history-sheeter, is on the run after an arrest order was issued against her by a Gaya court after the police sought the warrant for seizure of liquor bottles and allegedly hiding from the police information about the whereabouts of her son till he was arrested in the wee hours on Tuesday.
Her plea will be heard on Monday.
The police today sent the seized alcohol from Devi's residence to Patna lab for investigation.
The Police also said that it will soon seize Devi's properties, if she does not surrender.
An arrest warrant was issued against Devi on Wednesday for violating prohibition laws and allegedly harbouring her fugitive son who has been held in the road rage murder case in Bihar.
The MLC, whose jailed husband Bindi Yadav is an alleged history-sheeter, is on the run after an arrest order was issued against her by a Gaya court after the police sought the warrant for seizure of liquor bottles and allegedly hiding from the police information about the whereabouts of her son till he was arrested in the wee hours on Tuesday.
09:40 BSF inspector shot dead by jawan after argument over leave
A Border Security Force inspector, who had come for poll duty during the May 16 assembly election, was shot dead allegedly by a jawan Vatakara, Kerala, following an argument over leave, police said.
Inspector Ram Gopal Meena, 45, from Rajasthan was shot allegedly by Umesh Prasad Singh using his service rifle, police said.
Meena was rushed to a hospital, but he succumbed to injuries on the way. The incident occurred around 11.30 PM. The BSF personnel, who had come to Kerala as part of central forces for deployment during election, were staying at the Islamic Academy, a higher secondary school at Kottakal near Vatakara in Kozhikode district.
Inspector Ram Gopal Meena, 45, from Rajasthan was shot allegedly by Umesh Prasad Singh using his service rifle, police said.
Meena was rushed to a hospital, but he succumbed to injuries on the way. The incident occurred around 11.30 PM. The BSF personnel, who had come to Kerala as part of central forces for deployment during election, were staying at the Islamic Academy, a higher secondary school at Kottakal near Vatakara in Kozhikode district.
09:27 SC's decision on pleas challenging criminal defamation today
The Supreme Court will today pronounce its verdict on a batch of petitions, including by Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy, challenging the constitutional validity of Sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code providing for criminal defamation.
The petitioners had argued that the criminal defamation under these sections of the IPC travelled beyond constitution's article 19(2) that imposes reasonable restriction on the freedom of speech and expression.
The verdict was reserved on August 13 last year after bench of Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Prafulla C Pant heard the matter spread over a month.Swamy and Gandhi have been charged with criminal defamation under Sections 499 and 500 of the IPC for their political speeches made in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra respectively, while Kejriwal is facing cases under the same provisions lodged by BJP's Nitin Gadkari and others.
The petitioners had argued that the criminal defamation under these sections of the IPC travelled beyond constitution's article 19(2) that imposes reasonable restriction on the freedom of speech and expression.
The verdict was reserved on August 13 last year after bench of Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Prafulla C Pant heard the matter spread over a month.Swamy and Gandhi have been charged with criminal defamation under Sections 499 and 500 of the IPC for their political speeches made in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra respectively, while Kejriwal is facing cases under the same provisions lodged by BJP's Nitin Gadkari and others.
09:15 Hezbollah announces death of top military commander in Syria
Hezbollah today announced the death of its military commander in Syria, Mustafa Badreddine.
'He said a few months ago, 'I will not come back from Syria, unless a martyr or carrying the flag of victory'. He is the top commander Mustafa Badreddine. And he came back today as a martyr,' the Shiite movement said in a statement carried by the Al-Manar TV channel.
He was one of five figures from Hezbollah accused of the assassination of Rafic Hariri, the former prime minister of Lebanon.
'He said a few months ago, 'I will not come back from Syria, unless a martyr or carrying the flag of victory'. He is the top commander Mustafa Badreddine. And he came back today as a martyr,' the Shiite movement said in a statement carried by the Al-Manar TV channel.
He was one of five figures from Hezbollah accused of the assassination of Rafic Hariri, the former prime minister of Lebanon.
08:59 NIA not to name Sadhvi in Malegaon blasts chargesheet
The National Investigation Agency, which will file a chargesheet in the 2008 Malegaon blasts case in a Mumbai court today, has decided not to name Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur as an accused.
The chargesheet is likely to mention that the investigation conducted by former Maharashtra Anti-Terrorist Squad chief Hemant Karkare, later killed in the 26/11 terror attack, was flawed, that the evidence produced against Colonel Prasad Purohit, another key accused, had been fabricated, and statements of witnesses were taken under duress, reported the Indian Express.
In all likelihood, the chargesheet will state that the ATS planted explosives in Purohit's living quarters at the Deolali Army camp at the time of his arrest in 2008.
The chargesheet is likely to mention that the investigation conducted by former Maharashtra Anti-Terrorist Squad chief Hemant Karkare, later killed in the 26/11 terror attack, was flawed, that the evidence produced against Colonel Prasad Purohit, another key accused, had been fabricated, and statements of witnesses were taken under duress, reported the Indian Express.
In all likelihood, the chargesheet will state that the ATS planted explosives in Purohit's living quarters at the Deolali Army camp at the time of his arrest in 2008.
08:36 Will Bhujbal get bail today?
A special Prevention of Money Laundering Act court is likely to pronounce its order on former Maharashtra deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal's bail application today.
In his application, Bhujbal has cited health reasons for seeking bail, saying it is not possible to treat him at the Arthur Road jail in Mumbai.
Bhujbal, along with his nephew Sameer Bhujbal was arrested in March by the Enforcement Directorate, for alleged money laundering in connection with the Maharashtra Sadan scam.
In his application, Bhujbal has cited health reasons for seeking bail, saying it is not possible to treat him at the Arthur Road jail in Mumbai.
Bhujbal, along with his nephew Sameer Bhujbal was arrested in March by the Enforcement Directorate, for alleged money laundering in connection with the Maharashtra Sadan scam.
04:03 Turkey says 4 'bombmakers' killed in blast in southeast
A powerful blast that shook an area near the Turkish city of Diyarbakir killed four "bombmakers" and injured at least 10 other people, the interior ministry has said.
The blast happened in the area of Sarikamis on the outskirts of the majority Kurdish city "while PKK militants loaded explosives onto a stolen truck", the ministry said, referring to the Kurdistan Workers Party.
"The explosives detonated prematurely. The injured were civilians, according to initial findings," the ministry said yesterday.
02:29 Eight wounded by car bomb near Istanbul military barracks
At least eight people including soldiers were wounded today by a remotely-detonated car bomb aimed at a military vehicle in Istanbul, the local governor's office said.
The explosion occurred in the Sancaktepe district on the Asian side of Istanbul close to military barracks in the area as a service vehicle carrying soldiers was passing.
The explosion was caused by a "remotely-detonated car bomb", the office of Istanbul governor Vasip Sahin said in a statement, adding that an investigation had begun.
Those wounded in the blast were five soldiers and three civilians, one of whom was in a serious condition, NTV television said.
Television pictures showed the vehicle where the explosion took place was almost completely destroyed, with yellow flames rising from the debris.
01:39 Police arrest 15 rightwing Israelis in Jerusalem
Police today arrested 15 Israeli rightwing activists who were planning to go to the flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque compound without authorisation, a statement said.
The compound is Islam's third holiest site and the holiest to Jews who call it the Temple Mount.
Jews are allowed to visit the site but not to pray there, and incidents occur regularly when Jews try to ignore the rule and Muslims intervene to stop them.
01:24 Boko Haram claims suicide attack in NE Nigeria
Boko Haram today claimed a suicide bomb attack that killed two police officers in northeast Nigeria, just days before a regional security summit on efforts to eradicate the Islamists.
The group, using the name Islamic State West Africa Province in a statement posted on social media that the bomber "was able to detonate his explosive vest in the area of Maiduguri".
It claimed "at least 15 apostates (non-believers)" were killed in the attack, which happened at about 12:00 pm (1100 GMT) at the Borno State Secretariat in the city.
But Nigerian Army spokesman Sani Usman said only two died and said the attacker blew up as security personnel stopped him from trying to get into the government offices.
"Unfortunately in the process of stopping him, he detonated the improvised explosive device on his body, instantly killing himself, a policeman and critically injuring another policeman...
"Sadly, the injured policeman died later," Usman said in an emailed statement, adding that 18 people were injured and taken for treatment.
00:39 Trump, Ryan signal bonhomie; vow to unite party to win polls
Signalling newfound bonhomie, presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and the powerful House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan today met face to face for the first time and vowed to unite the party to ensure victory in the November polls.
"The United States cannot afford another four years of the Obama White House, which is what Hillary Clinton represents," Trump and Ryan said in a joint statement after their meeting at the Republican National Committee
headquarters near the US Capitol.
The two leaders said they are "totally committed to working together" and called for "shared principles" and a "conservative agenda".
00:32 Suspended sentence for French teacher who invented IS attack
A French teacher who pretended to have been the victim of anti-Semitic violence by supporters of the Islamic State group days after November's attacks in Paris received a six-month suspended sentence today.
The 57-year-old Jewish teacher maintained his version of events throughout the trial in the southern city of Marseille, but the court found he had invented the story.
The unnamed defendant said that, just a few days after the November 13 attacks by Islamic State bombers and gunmen in the French capital that left 130 dead, he was assaulted by three men armed with knives, claiming to be from the same group.
"The truth is he wasn't assaulted in the way he says," said prosecutor Andre Ribes, underlining doubts raised by all the police officers, firefighters, doctors and experts involved in the case.
00:27 Chilean cabbies block traffic in protest against Uber
Thousands of Chilean taxi drivers honked their horns and blocked traffic today in a protest against ridesharing service Uber.
Uber's service is not regulated in Chile, but the government considers it illegal. The government responded to the protest saying it is up to Congress to pass a law addressing Uber and another ridesharing app used in Chile, called Cabify.
Long lines of black and yellow taxis filled several blocks along Santiago's main avenue, the Alameda, causing traffic jams in the city of six million.
00:26 Brexit no leverage for better EU deal: Schaeuble
Britain should not hope to use a "Brexit" to renegotiate a membership deal with the European Union, Germany's finance minister warned today.
"In means in and out means out," Wolfgang Schaeuble said, adding that British Prime Minister David Cameron in February negotiated a "very good deal for the UK" with the EU.
The accord, which Cameron is using as the keystone in his campaign for Britain to vote to remain in the EU, "confirms a special status for the UK and one that demands a lot from EU member states", said the German finance minister.
"But in contrast to what some are saying, this is the only deal on the table, there will be no renegotiations," said Schaeuble.
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