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Tue, 08 November 2016
Official Take: Why Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 note were scrapped

Timeline  Refresh

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23:58   Ramdev in 2012: Government only has to withdraw 500 & 1,000 notes
When Baba Ramdev's agitation against black money was launched last year, it took the political class by surprise. It drew crowds and there was a narrative of 'martyrdom' in the way the government allegedly went after him, his aide Balkrishna and his 180 registered companies with tax notices. Tax evasion notices and a Scottish island donated to Ramdev by a disciple became part of this lore. 

In this hurly burly, the minutiae of Ramdev's prescription for a corruption-free society and how this could be achieved was obscured. There are some very specific ways in which Ramdev says India can be made corruption free. The first and foremost, listed on his official website is the withdrawal and demonetization of high denomination 500 and 1,000 notes 

Read more HERE
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23:54   Official Take: Why Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 note were scrapped
Finance Ministry says: With a view to curbing financing of terrorism through the proceeds of Fake Indian Currency Notes and use of such funds for subversive activities such as espionage, smuggling of arms, drugs and other contrabands into India, and for eliminating black money which casts a long shadow of parallel economy on our real economy, it has been decided to cancel the legal tender character of the high denomination bank notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 denominations issued by RBI till now. 

This will take effect from the expiry of November 8, 2016. FICN in circulation in these denominations are comparatively larger as compared to those in other denominations. For a common person, the fake notes look similar to genuine notes. 

Use of FICN facilitates financing of terrorism and drug trafficking. Use of high denomination notes for storage of unaccounted wealth has been evident from cash recoveries made by law enforcement agencies from time to time. 

High denomination notes are known to facilitate generation of black money. In this connection, it may be noted that while the total number of bank notes in circulation rose by 40% between 2011 and 2016, the increase in number of notes of Rs 500/- denomination was 76% and
for Rs 1,000/- denomination was 109% during this period. New Series bank notes of Rs 500/- and Rs 2,000/- denominations will be introduced for circulation from November 10, 2016. 

Infusion of Rs 2,000/- bank notes will be monitored and regulated by RBI. Introduction of new series of banknotes which will be distinctly different from the current ones in terms of look, design, size and colour has been planned. 

Read the full statement issued by the finance ministry HERE
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23:15   Note ban to hit resale property market, small builders
Unorganised builders and secondary (resale) property market would be adversely impacted following the government's decision to demonetise Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes with effect from midnight, according to real estate developers and consultants.

Housing prices could witness downward pressure, helping revive demand in the sluggish housing segment, they added.

"We are moving toward the cashless economy which is a sign of maturing economy. It's a step in the right direction," DLF CEO Rajeev Talwar said.

"The blackmoney was mostly in land purchase. But in last 6-7 years, there has been no major land buying in this sector.Big builders and organised players are already using bank channel and they would gain from this decision. Unorganised players and the secondary market would be impacted," he said.

Asked about impact on real estate sector especially housing, Talwar said: "There could be downward pressure on prices, which will boost demand".
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23:12   Bhopal jailbreak: Senior official suspended
The Madhya Pradesh government today suspended Deputy Inspector General (Jails) Mansharam Patel for alleged negligence in connection with the jailbreak by eight Students' Islamic Movement of India activists in Bhopal last month.

The SIMI members, all under-trials, were killed in an alleged encounter by police on the outskirts of the city within hours of their escape from Bhopal Central Jail on October 31.

Patel has been suspended in connection with the jailbreak case, a senior official said today. He was suspended on charges of negligence, the official said.

The SIMI men had escaped from the high-security jail after killing a head constable on the intervening night of October 30-31.
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22:49   Don't panic, follow government guidelines: Prez on demonetisation
President Pranab Mukherjee welcomed as a bold step Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement of demonetisation of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes with effect from midnight.

He said Modi called on him this evening and briefed about the government's decision to declare that all Rs 1,000 and 500 currency notes will cease to be legal tender from midnight tonight.

Mukherjee called upon people not to panic and to follow the government's guidelines for exchanging currency notes of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 denomination available with them.

He reminded that all currency notes below Rs 500 will continue as legal tender.

The President called upon all people to avail upon the opportunity provided by the government to exchange currency notes of Rs 1000 and 500 denomination for new legal tender.

Modi also informed the President that these notes can be used for certain purpose for a limited period.
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22:28  
People make a beeline outside an HDFC ATM in suburban Andheri in Mumbai to withdraw money. ATMs across the country will not work tomorrow. Photograph: Hitesh Harisinghani
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22:24   Welcome decision to scrap Rs 500, 1,000 notes: Chanda Kochar
ICICI bank's Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Chanda Kochhar says she welcomes the announcement made by the PM to derecognise Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes.

"It is perhaps most significant move ever taken to curtail the parallel economy," she said.
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22:14   We've handled demonetisation earlier, will do so again: SBI chief
State Bank of India chairman Arundhati Bhattacharya's statement:

We have just now been advised of the Govt move to demonetise current series of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500.

We have handled demonetisation earlier and will do so again. Tomorrow Banks will remain closed in order to withdraw these notes from counters and ATMs.

We will strive to restock ATMs at the earliest and make them operational. Govt has given enough exemptions to ensure urgent needs are met. We will work round the clock to ensure that customers have a smooth experience.
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21:55   Withdraw Rs 500, 1,000 notes tonight at your own risk: RBI
If someone is receiving Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes after tonight, he is doing it at his own risk, DAE secretary Shaktikanta Das said.

We will review the situation after November 24, new notes will be in circulation from Nov 10, he said.

While RBI Governor Urijit Patel said that there will be no impact on the liquidity on the wholesale markets. If at all there is any, well make sure that its addressed.
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21:43   Fake currency notes were used to finance terrorism: DEA secy
Department of Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das said that fake currency notes were being used to finance terrorism in India and the move to scrap currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 was necessary in medium and long term interest of our economy.

He said the move will help in maintaining financial and economic integrity.

"Control room to be set up in the Reserve Bank of India and Union Finance Ministry to monitor the situation," Das said.

"Rs 500 notes circulation up 76 per cent from 2011 to 2016 and Rs 1,000 notes by 109 per cent as against 40 per cent rise in all currency notes," he said.

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21:34   New Rs 500, Rs 2,000 notes will be released from Nov 10 onwards
New Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes will be released from November 10 onwards, said Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das while addressing the press.

"We have increased our production and trying to provide new currency notes as soon as possible. There has been no breach of any of the security features but for public the looks of fake Indian currency note is similar to genuine," RBI governor Urijit Patel said.
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21:19   RBI governor addresses the nation
Reserve Bank of India Governor Urjit Patel addresses the country over the new changes in currency denominations.

RBI has been concerned about growing menace of fake Indian currency notes which has been increasing in numbers, he said.



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20:56   RBI Guv to address media shortly
Reserve Bank of India Governor Urjit Patel and Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das to address media shortly. 
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20:50  
And here's the new Rs 500 note.
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20:49  
After scrapping Rs 1000 and Rs 500 notes, the government is introducing new Rs 2000 notes. Here is the look of new note. 
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20:46   Notes of Rs 2000 and Rs 500 will be circulated soon: PM
Notes of Rs 2000 and Rs 500 will be circulated soon, RBI has decided to limit the notes with higher value, says PM Narendra Modi. 
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20:36   Medical shops will accept old notes till Nov 11: PM
- On November 9 and in some places November 10, ATMs will not work

- For 72 hours, until November 11 midnight special arrangements made. All government hospitals, medical shops will accept old Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes

- CNG gas stations, petrol pumps and retail outlets can also accept notes till November 11 midnight, but they will have to maintain records
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20:29   PM scraps Rs 500, Rs 1000 notes from midnight tonight
Rs 1000 rupee and Rs 500 rupee notes will no longer be a legal tender starting midnight tonight, says PM Modi.      

"You have 50 days (From 10 Nov to 30 Dec) to deposit notes of Rs 500 & Rs 1000 in any Bank or Post office," said Modi. 

"Those who can't sumbit the notes within the deadline, can exchange it at Reserve Bank of India by providing a declaration," the PM added.
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20:16   PM's address to the nation
- Our enemies from across the border run their business with counterfeit notes and it has been going on for years 

- Black money and corruption has taken roots in the country, these are the biggest obstacles in eradicating poverty  

- Our motto has been 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'. We will continue to fight poverty  

- Every country's history has seen a phase where a strong measure was called for In all our policies, we are dedicated for the upliftment of entire society
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20:11   PM Modi addresses the nation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the nation.   

Here are highlights of his speech:   

- India has registered itself as a bright spot, and its not that this is a claim made by us, but by IMF and World Bank   

- This government is dedicated to the poor, and will continue to do so
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20:00   PM Modi to address the nation shortly
Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the nation shortly, after security review meet earlier today.
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19:29   'Tremendous waste of money, energy and time' if I lose: Trump
Donald Trump today said if he is defeated by Hillary Clinton in the US presidential polls, it would be a "tremendous waste of money, energy and time."

"I will not consider it great if I don't win," the 70- year-old Republican nominee said as Americans voted to elect a successor to President Barack Obama. 

Trump said that the election campaign has "been a beautiful process."

"I've been all over the country and met people on every level ... and they are amazing. I think if people say, 'What have you learned?' That's what I've learned. The people in his country are amazing," Trump told "Fox and Friends."

However, he stood by his earlier remarks that if he doesn't win the election, it's a "tremendous waste of money, energy and time."

"I will not consider it great if I don't win," he added when asked to comment on his tough fight against Democrat Clinton. 

Trump said running for president has "changed" him. 

"I've seen so many hopes and so many dreams out there that could have happened ... with proper leadership," he was quoted as saying by CNN
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19:16   So many people are counting on me: Clinton
After casting her vote, Democrat Candidate Hillary Clinton said,' I hope to do the best I can."   

"It's the most humbling feeling. So many people are counting on me," Clinton further said amid large crowd who gathered in New York to support her.   

Hillary cast her vote along with her husband and former United States President Bill Clinton in New York.
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18:56   US election: Clintons cast votes in New York
Democrat Candidate Hillary Clinton and her husband and former United States President Bill Clinton cast their votes in New York.

According to several exit polls, the former US Secretary of State is on her way to a close, but clear victory, which would make her the 45th president and the first woman elected to the office in the countrys 240-year history.

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18:47   Start talks with separatists in J-K: Yashwant Sinha panel to govt
The government should hold talks with all stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir including separatists at the earliest besides taking other measures including ban on use of pellet guns and rehabilitation package for those
injured in the unrest, a report by a group of private citizens led by Bharatiya Janata Party leader Yashwant Sinha recommends.

The delegation, which comprised intellectuals, released the report today to the media and spoke about the nature of meetings it held with separatist leaders including Syed Ali Shah Geelani and other mainstream politicians.
The report was released by Programme Director of Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation Sushobha Barve, who was part of the delegation. It said Geelani and Hurriyat Chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq "talked of being prepared for an unconditional dialogue" and it was not within the competence of the group of citizens to suggest "when or if such a dialogue process should be started".
"However, what we would like to emphasise is that we noted an overwhelming sentiment amongst the Kashmiris we interacted with for setting up a permanent process of dialogue with New Delhi.
"One of the reasons why so many doors were opened for us by the separatists and ordinary Kashmiris alike was because they saw our visit as a beginning of engagement with ordinary Indians," the report said, adding the agenda of alliance of the BJP-PDP coalition government also commits to a dialogue with all the stakeholders.
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18:38   IPL 10 players auction to be held in Bengaluru next month
The Indian Premier League players' auction for season 10, which will be the final edition under the existing 10-year contract, will be held in Bengaluru next month. 

The IPL franchises' workshop will be organised in Dubai, decided the event's Governing Council in a meeting in New Delhi. 

It was learnt that centres in Maharashtra such as Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur will be allowed to hold matches in the 10th edition of the tournament that started in 2008 amid much fanfare. 

The IPL matches scheduled in Maharashtra had to be shifted out last year after outrage over use of water to maintain stadiums even as the state reeled under severe drought. 
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18:29  
Voting underway in New York for United States presidential election. 

Image: ANI/Twitter
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18:06   With Amma in hospital, AIADMK banks on her schemes in bypolls
All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam supremo Jayalalithaa may be out of action being hospitalised but the Amma brand is the centrepiece of the ruling partys campaign in the November 19 polls to three assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu.

Forced to face the polls with the chief minister remaining in hospital for more than a month now, the AIADMK is depending on the slew of welfare schemes launched by her to woo the voters of Aravakkurichi, Thanjavur and Thirupparankundram segments as it seeks to maintain its winning streak.

Jayalalithaa, who guided her party to record back-to-back assembly poll victories in the state besides the sweep in 2014 Lok Sabha elections, is being treated at the Apollo Hospital in Chennai since her admission on September 22 last.

In contrast, the principal opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam is targeting the government for being in a limbo on several issues including problems faced by Cauvery delta farmers.

Besides local issues, the recent deaths of two farmers, who had allegedly faced crop failures, in Thiruvarur district, insufficient Cauvery water in the delta region for Samba paddy crop, non-payment of arrears by sugarcane mills to cane growers are being highlighted by the opposition.

Both AIADMK and DMK have deployed their top rung leaders, and senior functionaries drawn from the entire state to campaign in the three constituencies.
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17:51   Cheerful and healthy; Jaya to be discharged in few days: AIADMK
A "cheerful and healthy" Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa is interacting on "important issues with VIPs" and is likely to be discharged in a few days with physiotherapists from Singapore attending on her, a senior All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader said in Chennai today.
"Amma is able to talk, have her own food and all. She is very cheerful and very healthy. She is consuming semi-solid food," AIADMK leader and party spokesperson C Ponnaiyan told PTI.
He said the 68-year-old was holding discussions on important issues with VIPs, in an apparent reference to those in the government, through use of electronic gadgets.
He, however, did not specify what kind of electronic gadgets or tools were being used.
"All the parameters (of Jayalalithaa) are absolutely alright. She is interacting on important issues with VIPs. We are in the electronic world. Amma is likely to be discharged in a few days. She will come out with flying colours to attend to political agenda as well as the government," Ponnaiyan said.
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17:36   What, Donald Trump says will happen, if he loses
To hear Donald Trump tell it, Tuesday's results will either save or ruin the country. Americans will emerge from Election Day ascendant with a strong new leader who heeds their cries, or they will plunge into a dystopian future of hopelessness and violence.

"It's our last chance," Trump said in early November in Pennsylvania. 

But here is what Trump actually says will happen if he loses to Hillary Clinton on November 8.


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17:23   Not possible to hold Lok Sabha, assembly polls together: Delhi HC
It is not possible to direct the Election Commission to simultaneously conduct general elections and assembly polls across the country and neither is it "feasible", Delhi High Court said on Tuesday.
A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal said this while dismissing a plea by a social worker to hold both Lok Sabha and state assemblies elections jointly at one go.
"How is it possible to direct Election Commission of India to conduct assembly elections (in states) along with the general election. Sorry, it is not a matter in which court's intervention is needed. May be your idea is good but it is not feasible," the court said.
The direction came on a PIL by Salek Chand Jain who had urged the court to direct the authorities concerned to conduct both Lok Sabha and state assemblies polls together in order to save crores of rupees of public money.
Jain, through his counsel Sugriva Dubey, told the court that till 1967, the general elections as well as state assembly polls were held together.
The plea had alleged that due to elections on different occasions, a huge amount of public money was spent.
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17:15   SC allows BCCI to spend Rs 59 lakh for Rajkot match
The Supreme Court has permitted the Board of Control for Cricket in India to incur expense to the tune of Rs 58.66 lakh for the India-England test match beginning in Rajkot from tomorrow. 

Payments have to be made directly to the parties concerned with contract; no fund will go to Saurashtra cricket body, the court has stipulated.   

The court has permitted the same arrangement for incurring funds by the BCCI for international matches till December 3.   

The Court has also given its nod to the Lodha panel to engage administrative staff and experts to determine the amount to be paid by BCCI for contracts for matches.
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17:08   SC asks Centre for pollution policy, gives it 48 hours
The Supreme Court has asked the Centre to apprise it about the policy, if any, to tackle the issue of rising pollution in Delhi. The court asks the Centre to devise a common minimum programme to deal with pollution and gives it 48 hours to respond.
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17:05   NCW affidavit supports Centre on banning instant talaq
The National Commission for Women has demanded a ban on instantaneous triple talaq or 'talaq-e-bidat' and polygamy in its affidavit to the Supreme Court on the grounds that these practices are against the rights of Muslim women.

"Triple talaq (talaq-e-bidat), nikah halala and polygamy are unconstitutional because they compromise the rights of Muslim Women (or of women who are married into the Muslim community) to their disadvantage, which is detrimental to them and their children. Therefore, these practices should be strictly prohibited," reads the affidavit. 

The affidavit also adds that the commission supports the stand taken by the Centre in the Supreme Court last month.  

The NCW is a respondent in the case in Supreme Court on triple talaq and submitted its affidavit last Saturday.

Image alongside used for representational purpose only
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17:04   J&K: One jawan martyred in ceasefire violation
One jawan was martyred today in ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Nowshera sector of Jammu and Kashmir.   

Heavy exchange of fire is underway along the Line of Control.   

More details are awaited.
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16:54   Boost for Tatas as LIC assures no snap exit from group cos
State insurance giant Life Insurance Corporation of India, likely the second biggest stake-owner in the Tata group, will not exit the group following the very public fallout between interim chairman Ratan Tata and Cyrus Mistry who was axed as chairman. 

CNBC-TV18 News reports that it has been able to confirm that LIC is firmly backing Tata Sons. There is thus no possibility that the insurer will exit the group.   

LIC has clearly stated that the spat between Tata and Mistry is a management issue, something it doesn't plant to get involved in.

The channel's Kritika Saxena has found that LIC will not be taking any sides in the dispute, nor does it see any reason to question the functioning or working of the Tata group.
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16:30   PM Modi meets military chiefs to review security after surgical strikes
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was briefed today by the military chiefs on the situation along the border and the preparedness of the armed forces amid ceasefire violations after the surgical strikes in September.

Sources in the Prime Minister's Office say it is a routine meeting and takes place in regular intervals. The chiefs, they said, briefed the prime minister on the situation along the western border.

On September 29, the Indian Army conducted surgical strikes on terror camps in in Pakistan occupied Kashmir.

The strikes were seen as retaliation after Pakistani terrorists attacked an army base in Kashmir's Uri, killing 19 soldiers.
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15:03   I'm sure my son has been kidnapped, mother of missing JNU boy tells HM
The mother of missing student of JNU Najeeb Ahmed today met Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who assured her of his intervention to find out the youth who has been untraceable since October 15.


Fatima Nafees and other family members urged the Home Minister to trace Najeeb, a student of School of Biotechnology in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and a native of Badaun in Uttar Pradesh.


The Home Minister gave a patient hearing to Najeeb's mother and other family mothers and listened to all their grievances, official sources said. Singh told them that Delhi Police has set up a special team to pursue the case and he was personally taking stock of the progress in the probe.


The Home Minister assured the family all kind of assistance, the sources said. SP MP from Badaun Dharmendra Yadav, who accompanied Najeeb's family, said the Home Minister has assured them that efforts are being made to trace him at the earliest.


"If police are not able to trace him, we will approach court and raise the issue in Parliament," Yadav told reporters after the meeting. Najeeb's sister Sadaf rubbished allegations that he was mentally unstable and said efforts are being made to "defame" him instead of tracing him.


"He had cracked university exams, he is a studious child. Do you think a person studying at such a prestigious institution can be mentally unstable? I request (all) that please don't defame him. He had sleeping problems that children who are studying often have due to pressure. He had no other problem," she said.


Najeeb (27) went missing on October 15 following an on-campus scuffle allegedly with some members of ABVP the night before. His mother claimed that she had spoken to Najeeb on the night of brawl and that she was sure that he did not leave the campus on his own.


"I spoke to him at 11 pm, he wasn't depressed. He was waiting for me, he had called me up. He did not go anywhere on his own he has been kidnapped...I am sure about it," Nafees said. Najeeb's mother was detained on Sunday by police while attempting to take out a protest march to India Gate.
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14:51  
PM chairs a meeting with NSA Doval & Army Chief Gen Dalbir Singh, likely to discuss the border situation and unprovoked firing by Pakistan.
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14:50  
The Supreme Court to hear on Dec 5 NDTV's plea challenging a day's ban on the telecast, put on hold by the government.
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14:33   Jet Airways flight diverted to Pakistan
Jet Airways on Tuesday said one of its flights was diverted to Karachi, in Pakistan, following a medical emergency on board. According to the airline, flight 9W 202 -- operating between Delhi and Doha -- was on Monday diverted to Karachi following a medical health emergency on board.

However, the passenger requiring urgent medical attention succumbed when the plane landed in Karachi.The aircraft returned to Delhi on Tuesday morning, the airline said.

File pic
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14:27   Kannada filmmaker booked for deaths of stuntmen
Just in: Producer, director and stunt director of Kannada film Maasthigudi booked for culpable homicide over tragic death of Anil and Uday. The two Kannada actors are believed to have drowned while shooting a dramatic chase sequence on Monday for which they jumped from a helicopter into a dam around 35 km from Bengaluru.


Stuntmen Anil and Uday, who were shooting for the climax of the film "Masthigudi", never surfaced after plunging into the waters from a height of around 30 feet. The lead actor of the film, Duniya Vijay, also jumped with them but he reportedly had access to a life jacket.
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14:22   32 Indian UN peacekeepers injured in explosion in Congo
Just in: Thirty-two Indian peacekeepers injured, one child killed in explosion in eastern DR Congo; cause unknown: UN mission. Details awaited.


The Indian peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo is now into its 17th year. While we await more information, here's a report from the Hindu to put things in perspective.


India, a prime contributor to UN peacekeeping operations, has suffered the highest number of casualties among participating countries, accounting for 157 of 3,263 lives lost, as on August 31, 2014.


The death toll has, however, to be seen in the context of India's significant contribution to UN peacekeeping efforts, which adds up to 1,80,000 troops from the time it began taking part in the operations in 1950, the largest number from any country.


Nigeria comes next, having suffered 142 casualties. UN statistics reveal that the 3,000 odd causalties are largely due to accidents, illness and what it calls 'malicious acts', which broadly covers death in different kinds of conflict situations ranging from war to civil unrest.


File pic.
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14:11   Suspended BJP MP Kirti Azad's wife joins AAP
Suspended BJP MP Kirti Azad's wife Poonam set to join AAP. Poonam Azad is currently Delhi's BJP spokesperson and was earlier the unit's vice-president. She is a three-time national executive member of the saffron party.


Poonam Azad is currently the BJP's Delhi unit spokesperson, having served as its vice-president in the past. It is believed that her decision to quit the saffron party comes after her husband Kirti Azad was suspended last year for his allegations against union minister Arun Jaitley over irregularities in the Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA).


Azad, who represents Darbhanga in the Lok Sabha has been vocal in his attack on Jaitley. He claimed rampant corruption in DDCA while the  minister was heading the cricket body between 2000 and 2013. He also challenged Jaitley to file a defamation case against him.BJP president Amit Shah in a letter informing the cricketer-politician of his suspension had accused him of colluding with the opposition to embarrass the party and office-bearers.
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13:55   Why are you sprinkling water using cranes, not choppers, NGT slams Delhi govt
The National Green Tribunal on Tuesday lashed out at Delhi government for showing 'laxity' while dealing with alarming situation of air pollution and smog in the city.


Questioning the government's decision to sprinkle water using cranes, the NGT asked why helicopters were not being used to do the same.


Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had recently announced a number of steps to curb pollution in the city.he government had announced closing of schools for three days from Monday, a halt on construction activities for five days and sprinkling of water to settle the dust particles.


The NGT, however, questioned the Delhi government's initiative and asked about the major steps it had taken to bring down the pollution levels.


"Diwali and crop burning are known factors, did you hold any meeting in August and September to prepare the state to tackle pollution?" the NGT bench asked the government.


The NGT also asked whether the government had any data to show reduction in smog, reported news agency ANI. The green tribunal also slammed the Punjab and Haryana governments over measures taken to control crop burning which is causing pollution in nearby areas.


"If you had provided even Rs 1,000 to the farmers, they would not have burnt the agriculture waste like this," it said.Delhi and NCR are reeling under severe pollution levels and are covered under thick smog since last one week. There was a sudden increase in level of PM 2.5 and PM 10 in the air after Diwali celebrations on October 31. Delhi environment minister Satyendra Jain said on Tuesday that 80 per cent of the city's pollution was caused because of incessant crop burning in nearby states of Punjab and Haryana.
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12:47   Those politicising channel ban issue are playing with national security: Sena
Those politicising the issue of one-day ban order on NDTV India are playing with national security, the Shiv Sena today said even as it welcomed the I&B ministry's decision to put on hold the order against the Hindi channel.

"We welcome the decision taken to put on hold the ban order on NDTV India. The only concern is that those politicising this issue are playing with national security," it said in an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

"Some decisions are related to national security and thus should not be politicised. If they are, it cannot be supported. Bad behaviour cannot be excused for freedom," the party said.

While some want the freedom to speak what they want, spit anywhere on the road, others want freedom to earn by corrupt practices and some want the freedom to shout pro-Pakistan
slogans, it said.

"Such freedom will destabilise the nation," it said.
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12:34   3 high commission officials in Pakistan leave for India
Three Indian high commission officials out of the eight accused by Pakistan of being members of Indian intelligence agencies, left for India today, according to a media report.

Geo News, quoting sources, reported that three officials -- First Secretary commercial Anurag Singh, Vijay Kumar Varma and Madhawan Nanda Kumar left for Dubai from Islamabad on a morning Emirates flight.

Five other Indian high commission officials -- Rajesh Kumar Agnihotri, Amerdeep Singh Bhatti, Dharmendra Sodhi, Balbir Singh and Jayabalan Senthil -- will leave for India via road through the Wagah border, the report said.

Foreign Office Spokesman Nafees Zakaria last week had read out a statement at his weekly briefing saying that a number of Indian diplomats and staffers were involved in "coordinating terrorist and subversive activities in Pakistan under the garb of diplomatic assignments".

He had named the eight Indian officials, accusing them of being members of Research and Analysis Wing and Intelligence Bureau.

There was no official confirmation on how many Indian officials had left Pakistan and were expected to leave the country.

Last month, Pakistan had declared Indian high commission official Surjeet Singh persona non-grata after India's action against Pakistan high commission official Mehmood Akhtar following Indian police's busting of an ISI-run spy ring.
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12:12   Record 46.2 million votes in early voting in US presidential polls
A record 46.2 million of the estimated 200 million voters have exercised their franchise in the 2016 US presidential elections before the official voting day, surpassing the 2012 record when 32.3 million people had voted in advance.

Experts said the massive turn out in 2016 general elections in early voting reflects the change in the voting patterns of Americans.

"Some voters are clearly changing as they opted to vote early instead of the election day," said Michael McDonald, an early-voting expert who runs the elections project.

He, however, said that high level of early voting may also be a sign of increased overall turnout.

McDonald said that there are signs that Clinton would benefit from early voting.
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12:09  
JUST IN: SC suspends Patna HC order granting bail to suspended RJD MLA Raj Ballabh Yadav in rape case.
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11:57   Iconic Buddha in Swat valley restored after nine years when Taliban defaced it
An iconic seventh-century defaced Buddha at Jahan Abad, Swat, at last, got its face back after a nine-year-long wait following a scientific restoration process conducted by Italian archaeologists, reports the Dawn.


The 7th century Buddha seated in a meditative posture which is considered one of the largest rock sculptures in South Asia was attacked in September 2007 by the Taliban, who blew up half the statue's face by drilling holes into the face and shoulders and inserting explosives.


The explosives in the face, when detonated, destroyed half its face, but the explosives in the statue's shoulders failed to detonate.


The defacement of the Buddha sparked worldwide anger and concern among the Buddhist community, historians and archaeologists.


Image: The Italian Archaeological Mission in Pakistan restores the statue to its original form after six scientific missions. Pic courtesy: The Dawn.
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11:48  
Just in: Indian Deputy High Commissioner JP Singh summoned by Pakistan foreign ministry.
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11:32   India slams UN's 'time warp' for dodging ban on Jaish chief Masood Azhar
India has accused the UN's top decision-making body of being stuck in a "time warp and politics" as it argued its case for a ban on terrorist Masood Azhar, who heads the Jaish-e-Mohammed.

Though the UN Security Council has blacklisted the Jaish, it has not placed Azhar, 48, on a list of individuals and groups linked to the al Qaeda or Islamic State.

Twice this year, China, one of the five permanent members of the Security Council, has blocked India's move to ban Azhar, in what is seen as a big favour to Pakistan, its long-term ally.

India has accused the Jaish-E-Mohammed of two deadly terror attacks this year - on an air force base in Pathankot in January, and at an army camp in Uri in September. 26 military personnel were killed in the two strikes.
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11:07  
PM Modi meets LK Advani on the BJP stalwart's 88th birthday. The picture is a case study for body language academics.
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10:56   NASA astronaut casts lone vote from space
In a US presidential election that's already been out of this world, the lone American astronaut in outer space has cast his vote, NASA has said. Shane Kimbrough became the latest astronaut to join in a long tradition of voting while floating above the Earth, inside the orbiting International Space Station, it said Monday.


Kimbrough rode a Russian Soyuz rocket to the ISS on October 19 to start a four-month mission at the research outpost, along with two Russian cosmonauts. US astronauts have been able to vote from space since 1997, under Texas law. Most astronauts live in the Houston area, home to NASA's mission control and Johnson Space Center. The first American to vote from space was David Wolf, who cast his ballot from the Russian space station Mir.


"Current space station resident astronaut Shane Kimbrough is the most recent astronaut to take advantage of the opportunity," NASA said in a statement. The agency did not give details on how the vote was transmitted. There was no word from NASA or Kimbrough on which candidate he picked for president.
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10:47   How a shop owner knows who will be President
Sometimes, Valerie Smith reminds herself that she is not a pollster, she is just selling cups -- plastic drinking cups with the presidential candidates' names. But she has been keeping track, just like a pollster, and hoping that her cup count is as reliable as it was in the last three presidential races.


The tally on the final weekend before Election Day -- the number of cups sold in her shop here since just after the Super Tuesday primary contests in March, when she started counting in earnest -- was 4,946 for Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee, and 3,388 for Donald J. Trump, her Republican rival.

Read more
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10:43   Why are Republicans red and Democrats blue?
Hours ahead of the US polls, some gyan... Few stop to wonder from where the concepts of "red" and "blue" states stem. According to Smithsonian Magazine, red did not always denote the Republican party and blue wasn't always symbolic of Democrats -- this now-common lexicon only dates back to the 2000 election. Read more
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10:35   DU prof Nandini Sundar booked for murder
Police in Chhattisgarh have booked Delhi University professor Nandini Sundar and 10 others in connection with the murder of a tribal villager, who was killed by suspected Maoists in Sukma district.


"We have registered a case against Nandini Sundar and others under sections 120B , 302 of IPC and 147, 148, 149 of IPC at Tongpal police station based on the complaint of the wife of the victim," said Sukma additional superintendent of police Jitendra Shukla. Baghel, a resident of Nama village under Kumakoleng panchayat, was killed by a team of suspected Maoists on Saturday.
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10:32   Is Donald Trump's closing campaign ad anti-semitic?
Donald Trump has released what seems like the closing-argument ad of his campaign, and several people are pointing out that the whole thing has rather troubling anti-Semitic overtones by at the very least implying that it's prominent Jews who control the "levers of power."  Read more
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10:14  
Why do so many Americans hate Hillary Clinton? Read
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10:01   PM calls for meeting with 3 service chiefs as Pak's ceasefire violations continue
PM Modi calls for a meeting of all 3 service chiefs in the wake of heavy unprovoked firing by Pakistan.  There was heavy firing on in the Nowshera sector of Rajouri in J-K today by Pakistan.

Close to 13 years after the ceasefire on the Line of Control (LoC) between India and Pakistan came into force, the number of ceasefire violations has gone up in the last couple of months. Out of the 151 incidents of ceasefire violations on the LoC this year, 110 of them have happened since September. More than half of these ceasefire violations have taken place after the Armys Special Forces conducted surgical strikes across the LoC on September 29 to destroy terror launch pads in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).


File pic: Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh visits a hospital to enquire about victims of ceasefire violation in Jammu Photograph: PTI
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09:44   PM greets Advani on his 88th birthday
It's LK Advani's birthday today and the grand old man of Indian politics turns 88. Prime Minister Narendra Modi today greeted the BJP veteran hailing him as India's tallest leader and an inspiration for him. "Wishing our inspiration, one of India's tallest leaders who has served India tirelessly & diligently, Shri LK Advani ji on his birthday," he said in a tweet. "I pray to God that Advani ji is blessed with a long and healthy life," he said. Advani was born in Karachi on November 8, 1927. He served as Minister of Home Affairs from 1998 to 2004. He also served as Deputy Prime Minister from 2002 to 2004 under Atal Bihari Vajpayee.


File pic
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09:30   Just before farewell Obama's approval rating hits a new high of 56%
US President Barack Obama's popularity rating has hit a new high, a latest poll has said, just before the polls to elect his successor at the White House. Gallup said Obama's approval rating hit 56 per cent yesterday. It is rare that two-term president has an approval rating of 56 per cent towards the end of his presidency. It is also the highest for Obama since he was re-elected in 2012. Shortly before his re-election, his popularity hit 57 per cent.


Obama's popularity has been rated high in other recent polls as well. This is one of the reason why the Clinton Campaign has used his services in campaigning in key battleground states. Obama has addressed as many as 17 election rallies in the last 10 days, including the last one in Philadelphia.


"Whatever credibility I've earned after eight years as president, I am asking you to trust me on this one," Obama said at an election rally in Ann Arbor, Michigan.


"He's urging people not to give into the temptation to not be as focused on this election just because he's not on the ballot. As you've heard him say many times, his agenda, his legacy is on the ballot," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters travelling with Obama on Air Force One.
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09:09   Anti-Trump disabled boy ejected from Trump rally -- then meets Obama
A 12-year-old boy suffering from an extreme case of cerebral palsy was kicked out of a Donald Trump rally in Tampa, but then everything turned around when he met President Obama less than 24 hours later.

Twelve-year-old JJ Holmes was afraid of what Trumps America would mean to those who suffered from disabilities as he does. So, he asked his mother to take him to the rally to protest the Republican candidates treatment of disabled Americans.

When the two arrived to the rally, JJ bravely held up a Hillary Clinton placard. Immediately, the crowd took notice and began chanting, U-S-A, U-S-A, while Trump pointed to security and had them escorted out.

As Secret Service escorted JJ, his mother and two sisters, Trump supporters shouted obscenities and even kicked his wheelchair, described Valentina Pereda, Florida Press Secretary for Hillary Clinton. 

With the help of a White House staffer, Pereda arranged a quick meeting between JJ and Obama. The meeting was short, yet momentous enough to cause a smile to almost burst out of JJs face.
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09:01   UK nuclear report nails Pakistans lies, Chinas complicity
Pakistan's continued use of front companies and other deceptive methods to obtain dual-use goods for its nuclear programme means it cannot "expect to be welcomed' into the Nuclear Suppliers Group, a new report by experts at King's College of London has said. 

The report contends that the scale of Islamabad's procurement of sensitive material from Beijing is "so substantial that it must be concluded that the Chinese state is either complicit in supplying Pakistan's programmes, or negligent in its control over state-owned enterprises'.

"Pakistan's strategic nuclear and missile industries", prepared by Project Alpha of the Centre for Science and Security Studies at King's College, concluded Pakistan has a "deliberate strategy of using deceptive methods to obtain dual-use goods" that has been demonstrated by its "systematic use of front companies to supply its strategic industries".

Read more HERE
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08:03   In final appeal, Obama urges voters to 'reject fear and choose hope'
US President Barack Obama on Tuesday made the case for Hillary Clinton at a huge rally in Philadelphia uniting the Democratic Party's two power families, telling voters to "reject fear and choose hope" on Election Day. 

"I'm betting that the wisdom and decency and generosity of the American people will once again win the day and that is a bet that I have never, ever lost," Obama said to tens of thousands of voters as he introduced Clinton.

He said voters don't have to settle for just voting against Donald Trump when voters "have somebody extraordinary to vote for" in Hillary Clinton.

Obama was delivering his closing pitch for Clinton during a star-studded rally in Philadelphia. The US President added that he had to "bite my tongue" throughout the "nonsense" of the campaign. 

"If his closest advisors don't trust him to tweet, why would any of us trust him with the nuclear codes?" he said.
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01:43   DU, JNU professors booked along with Maoists for tribal man's murder
A Delhi University Professor has been booked along with Maoists and others on charges of murder of a tribal villager in the insurgency-hit Sukma district of Chhattisgarh, police said on Monday.

"An FIR was lodged against DU Professor Nandini Sundar,Archana Prasad (JNU Professor), Vineet Tiwari (from Delhi'sJoshi Adhikar Sansthan), Sanjay Parate (Chhattisgarh Communist Party of India-Marxist state secretary and others along with Maoists for the murder of Baghel based on the complaint of his wife on Saturday," Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) S R P Kalluri said.

They were booked under section 120 B (criminalconspiracy), 302 (murder), 147 (punishment for rioting), 148 and 149 of the Indian Penal Code at Tongpal police station, the IG said adding, 'strongest possible action will be taken against those guilty after the investigation'.
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00:24   Lawsuit filed against reference to Babri demolition in President's book
A lawsuit was on Monday filed in a Delhi court seeking a decree declaring a portion of President Pranab Mukherjee's book Turbulent Years 1980-1996 relating to the demolition of the Babri Masjid which it claimed hurt Hindu sentiments.

The civil suit filed by a group of lawyers also sought a direction to the President to delete the alleged objectionable facts from the book and also issue a public notice of the deletion.

The plaint filed by four advocates and a social worker is likely to come up for hearing today before District Judge Amar Nath.

The suit filed through advocate Vishnu Jain claimed that the President's book says that 'the demolition of Babri Masjid was an act of absolute perfidy which should make all Indians hang their hands in shame'.

It further alleged that by making bald averments against Hindus and in favour of Babri Masjid, the President has made to believe that the demolished structure was a 'Mosque' and that 'Hindus' were responsible of 'intolerant act'.

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