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Sun, 10 December 2017
'The new normal': Governor on California fires

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20:52   'The new normal': Governor on California fires
California's Governor Jerry Brown has a sobering message for Southern Californians after a week of raging wildfires: This is your new normal.

A half dozen fires have collectively scorched more than 180,000 acres since last week and destroyed 792 structures, according to officials.

As 4,000 firefighters battled the largest one, the Thomas Fire, the governor surveyed the damage in Ventura County.

"This is kind of the new normal," he said, adding that extreme fire activity will happen on a regular basis for decades.

"With climate change, some scientists are saying that Southern California is literally burning up," he said. "So we have to have the resources to combat the fires and we also have to invest in managing the vegetation and forests ... in a place that's getting hotter."
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20:23   Tejashwi defends Rahul Gandhi's temple visit
Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday came out in defence of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi who has been drawing flak from the Bharatiya Janata Party for his temple visits.

RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav's son said that the BJP is playing politics in the name of religion.

"Every person can visit temple and worship whether it's Rahul Gandhi, rich or poor. BJP doesn't know anything about religion or history. They don't understand religion at all. They should stop playing politics in the name of religion. When they don't get votes they start doing politics over religion", he said.

In the run-up to Gujarat assembly elections, Rahul has been visiting various temples in the state. The BJP has termed Rahul's temple visits as an appeasement tactic, while saying that he was trying to garner Hindus votes.

Earlier in the day, Rahul visited and offered prayers at the Shree Ranchhodji Temple in Aravalli district.

The political parties have started campaigning for the second phase of Gujarat assembly that will be held on December 14 for 93 seats.

The first phase was held on December 9 for 83 assembly constituencies.

-- ANI
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20:21  
JUST IN: Ceasefire violation by Pakistan army in Shahpur sector of Poonch, J-K. Heavy machine gun firing and mortar shelling reported.
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19:57   Body found with Padmavati note at Jaipur fort not murder
A man found hanging at Jaipur's famous Nahargarh fort last month at the height of an uproar over the film "Padmavati" was not murdered, a forensic report has said. A message scribbled on a stone nearby read '"Padmavati' ka virodh (in opposition to 'Padmavati')", capping a series of violent threats from right-wing groups to the cast and crew of the historical drama.

The forensic report submitted to the police, however, said the death of Chetan Saini on November 24 was a suicide. 

The police were initially unclear if it was a case of suicide or murder.

The police were initially unclear if it was a case of suicide or murder.

Police officials have not commented on the forensic report. It remains unclear why Chetain Saini killed himself.
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19:41   Owaisi questions PM's silence on Muslim labourer's killing in Rajasthan
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi today said Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the people in Gujarat he was pained by "abuses" hurled at him but kept mum on the heart-rending killing of a Muslim labrourer in Rajasthan.

Referring to the killing of Mohammed Afrazul, who hailed from West Bengal, allegedly in the name of "love jihad" on Wednesday, Owaisi alleged Muslims were being targeted under the BJP rule because of their faith.

"Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi no one called you a Pakistani ... I have been called a Pakistani for 70 years. Whom should I complain to?

"Now that you have been abused you are telling the people in Gujarat you were pained," Owaisi said at an event.

He alleged Modi referred to the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute as an issue of Ram Temple only and asked if he was the prime minister of "the Hindus or the entire nation".

Referring to Mani Shankar Aiyar's controversial remark against the PM, the Hyderabad MP said he did not approve of the language used by the Congress leader.

"I do not approve of the language. But you should have at least mentioned Afrazul during campaigning in Gujarat," he said.
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19:16   Hockey World League Final: India claim bronze after beating Germany
The Indian men's team produced yet another sterling performance to claim the bronze medal at the Hockey World League Final being held in Bhubaneswar. 

India beat Germany 2-1 in the 3rd/4th classification match on Sunday to claim their second successive bronze in the tournament. 

India had finished third in the last edition of the tournament in Raipur in 2015. It was a brilliant performance from the hosts as they defeated the same team that had blanked them 0-2 in the group stages. 
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19:10   Nobel peace prize winner voices fears over North Korea
The winner of the 2017 Nobel peace prize, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, has voiced alarm about the extremely dangerous situation in North Korea.

We are seeing right now an extremely dangerous situation that makes a lot of people very uncomfortable, Beatrice Fihn, the head of ICAN said shortly before receiving the award in Oslo.

But if you are worried about Donald Trump having nuclear weapons or Kim Jong-un, youre probably worried about nuclear weapons because you are recognising that deterrents are not always going to work, she added.

The US and North Korean leaders are just humans who have the control to end the world. Nobody should have that.

ICAN, a coalition of hundreds of NGOs worldwide, has worked for a treaty banning nuclear weapons, which was adopted in July by 122 countries.

Image: Leader of the Nobel Committee Berit Reiss-Andersen, Hiroshima survivor Setsuko Thurlow and Executive Director of ICAN Beatrice Fihn are seen at the City Hall on the occasion of the award ceremony of the Nobel Peace Prize to ICAN, in Oslo. Photograph: NTB Scanpix/TBerit Roald/Reuters
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18:41   Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar calls for nationwide liquor ban
Bihar Chief Minister and JD-U president Nitish Kumar on Sunday pitched for a nationwide ban on alcohol, and asked party activists to raise awareness among people about the ill effects of liquor consumption.

Hitting out at the Congress and Left parties, he asked why they could not support ban on liquor and campaign against its consumption.

"When Gujarat could implement liquor ban, Bihar could show that it could also be banned in the state, why it cannot be banned in the entire country? Kumar said. 

Stressing that all religions including Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainism criticise the liquor consumption, he said ban on liquor in the entire country would be the biggest sign of communal harmony and respect to all the religions.

The Bihar CM also listed out various benefits of ban on liquor like fall in crime rate, road accidents and various diseases. The Bihar government had imposed a ban on sale and manufacturing of liquor in April, 2016.
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18:26   Sherin Mathews' gravesite in Dallas made public
Seven weeks after Sherin Mathews' body was found in a culvert by a cadaver dog, the location of the 3-year-old Indian toddler's final resting place has been revealed. 

A private ceremony was held on October 31 for Sherin, the adopted daughter of Indian-American couple Wesley Mathews and Sini Mathews, who was found dead in mysterious circumstances a culvert close to their home in suburban Dallas. 

At that time, the burial location was kept a secret, considering the intense press and social media attention in the case.

The family said they are now comfortable sharing that her headstone is located in the southwest portion of the cemetery at the Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home in Dallas, Texas.

The headstone reads "Moment In Our Arms, Lifetime In Our Hearts."

"She's in a better place than we all are," a woman, who attended Sherin's prayer vigil several weeks back, said while requesting anonymity.

"None of us even met her but the pictures and her smile has been haunting everyone," she said.

Sherin's body was found on October 22 after she disappeared from her family's home on October 7. Her adoptive father Wesley told police that he put her outside their home at 3 am to discipline her for not drinking her milk.

His story changed after her body was found in a culvert, telling police that he "physically assisted" with pouring the milk down Sherin's throat and then moved her body after he realised she had choked and died.
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18:06   People voted heavily for Cong in Guj in 1st phase: Lalu
Rashtriya Janata Dal president Lalu Prasad today asserted that the Congress will form the government in Gujarat as people have voted heavily in its favour in the first phase of polls.

Over 68 per cent turnout was recorded in the first phase of polling for 89 assembly seats in Gujarat yesterday.

"People have voted in large numbers in favour of the Congress party in Gujarat (in first phase of polls). It will form the government there," Prasad said. 

The second and last phase of polling in the Western state in 93 seats will be held on December 14 and the counting of votes is scheduled on December 18.
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17:43   Rahul set to take over Congress's reins on December 16
Rahul Gandhi is likely to assume the reins of the Congress on December 16, marking a generational shift in the grand old party when his mother and its longest-serving president would formally hand over the baton to him.

The announcement of Rahul Gandhi's elevation, however, is
likely to be made tomorrow, the last date of withdrawal of
nomination for the election of the Congress president which is
a one horse race.

Altogether 89 nominations received in his favour were found to be valid during scrutiny.

Sonia Gandhi will officially hand over the mantle of the 132-year-old party to her son around 11 AM after which Rahul Gandhi will meet leaders from across the country at the Congress's headquarters, party sources said.

The Congress has been losing state after state since the 2014 Lok Sabha election with the exception of Punjab.

Rahul Gandhi's elevation would come just two days ahead of the counting of votes for the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh assembly poll.

-- PTI
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17:29   Former RBI governor sees GST, note-bank shocks lasting for 2 more years
Refusing to hazard a guess on GDP growth in the short-term given the shocks like GST, note-ban and the mountain of bad loans, former Reserve Bank governor Y V Reddy has said the economy requires two more years to consolidate and claw back to higher growth levels.

It is very difficult to make a forecast on economic growth now or say when the economy will return to the potential growth levels of say 7.5 to 8 per cent, which is unlikely in the next 24 months, he said.

In a shock, the negative element is front-loaded. There will be some moderation, and there can be some gains. The pain is there now, the gains will come later. How much gains and in what gap are the issues, Reddy said. 

My guess is it might take a couple years to consolidate. In a couple of years, we should at least aim to go back to 7.5-8 per cent growth, the former central banker said.

The shock element is tapering off but the positive aspect is yet to come; and I hope it will come.

Reddy said the economy was helped by a positive shock for almost three years following the massive drop in crude price, which he underlined was at a third of what it was during his governorship.
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17:26   Questions on Triple Talaq, Alauddin Khilji in BHU trigger controversy
Banaras Hindu University found itself in midst of a controversy after questions on triple talaq, halala and Alauddin Khilji appeared in examination papers.

The MA History paper had questions such as: What is Halala in Islam?; The rate of wheat fixed by Alauddin Khilji; Discuss about Teen Talaq and Halala as a social evil in Islam.

The students alleged that the university administration was trying to impose a particular ideology through education.

"The university found nothing wrong with the set of questions asked. I felt that the questions were offensive," Vikas, a student in the university, said while claiming that it was a veiled attempt to divide the students.

However, BHU History Assistant Professor Rajiv Srivastava disagreed with students' opinion.

"If students are not taught and asked about such things then how will they know about it? When they are taught medieval history these things automatically become a part of it. History has been distorted and we need to teach these things to them so that they know the 'real' history," he said.
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16:40   Jasprit Bumrah's grandfather found dead in Sabarmati river
In a sad turn of events for India cricketer Jasprit Bumrah, who is playing in the first ODI match against Sri Lanka in Dharamshala, his grandfather Santokh Singh Bumrah, was found dead in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

According to reports, the dead body was pulled out from Sabarmati River, situated between Gandhi Bridge and Dadhichi Bridge, by Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Services.

Reports further claimed that the 84-year-old went missing on Friday (December 8) after the cricketer's family allegedly refused Santokh from meeting or talking to him. And a missing person's report was filed at the Vastrapur police station after his daughter Rajinder Kaur Bumrah filed a complaint.

Earlier this year, in July, reports surfaced that Santokh was driving auto-rickshaw for a living ever since he moved to Uttarakhand from Ahmedabad after the death of Jasprit's father.
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16:14   Air India seeks Rs 1,100 cr loan to modify planes for PM, President, VP
Disinvestment-bound Air India is seeking loan worth over Rs 1,100 crore for modification of two Boeing aircraft scheduled to be acquired next month for ferrying VVIPs, according to an official document.

The two Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft are to be delivered in January 2018 and the cost for "modification in its (planes) interior configuration" is estimated to be $180 million. At current exchange rates, the amount will translate to over Rs 1,160 crore.

These planes will be used to ferry the president, vice president and prime minister.

Air India has a debt burden of more than Rs 50,000 crore and these loans would further increase the debt level.
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15:58   William, Harry select sculptor to make Diana's statue
Prince William and Prince Harry have announced the name of a sculptor, whose portrait of the Queen appears on UK coins, to make a statue of their mother Princess Diana, according to a news report.

Newly engaged Harry and expectant father William revealed in January that they had commissioned the statue of their mother, 20 years on from her death.

They have selected artist Ian Rank-Broadley to carry out the work, expected to be unveiled in the grounds of Kensington Palace in 2019, Guardian reported.

Diana suffered fatal injuries when the car in which she was travelling crashed in a tunnel in Paris on August 31, 1997. She was 36.

"We have been touched by the kind words and memories so many people have shared about our mother over these past few months," the brothers said in a joint statement.

"It is clear the significance of her work is still felt by many in the UK and across the world, even 20 years after her death," it said.

"Ian is an extremely gifted sculptor and we know that he will create a fitting and lasting tribute to our mother," it said.
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15:35   Fortis case: Victim's father files police complaint
Father of a 7-year-old girl, who died of dengue at the Fortis Hospital in Gurugram, has filed a police complaint against the hospital group, but no FIR has been registered in the case, police said today.

"The father of the deceased child filed the complaint at Sushant Lok police station on Friday," SHO Gaurav Phogat said.

"But we have not filed an FIR yet as a preliminary investigation is on in the matter. We are waiting for an official copy of the inquiry report on the matter by a government panel," he said.

In his complaint, Jayant Singh, urged the police to register the FIR for "culpable homicide" owing to criminal negligence against Fortis Hospital, Gurgaon, and also, forgery and destruction of evidence by the hospital management and doctors.

Singh held that the hospital was "criminally negligent in the course of his daughter's treatment".

He accused 18 persons, including chairman, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, executive vice-chairman, Fortis Healthcare, and nine doctors, for his daughter's death.

Singh also alleged in the complaint that the hospital forged the parents' signatures in "crucial and important treatment-related documents, that is, consent forms".

Fortis Healthcare, however, maintained that they were "yet to receive any formal complaint".
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15:01   BJP to see impact of demonetisation in Gujarat poll: Akhilesh
The BJP will see the impact of demonetisation and GST in poll results of Gujarat where people have "made up their mind against the party", Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav today said.

He said the BJP's graph was coming down as its policies were "anti-farmer and anti-trader".

"The decision of demonetisation and GST has impacted traders and the entire business and the economy is ruined. In Gujarat poll results, the BJP will see its impact as people have made up their mind to vote against it," Yadav said.

On the civic poll results in Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh pointed out at the "poor performance" of the BJP in small cities and rural areas.

"When results of municipal corporations are being touted as the BJP's victory, the same for small cities and rural areas should also be analysed," he demanded.

"The graph of the BJP is coming down as its policies are anti-farmers and anti-traders. Demonetisation impacted business and almost all the money, which was in circulation came back in banks," he said adding that economy of the country is seeing a downward trend.

-- PTI
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14:39   Mumbai police registers FIR in Zaira Wasim molestation case
The Mumbai police has filed an FIR against unknown persons in the Zaira Wasim molestation case. A case under Section 354 of the IPC and under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act was filed. 

Earlier, the 17-year-old star of Dangal and Secret Superstar, took to social media to share the horror of being subjected to sexual harassment on a Mumbai-bound flight, following which the Civil Aviation Ministry and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation sought details from Air Vistara.

In an Instagram Live video, during which she broke down several times, Zaira said she was on an Air Vistara flight from Delhi to Mumbai when a co-passenger sitting behind her put up his feet on her armrest. When she objected, the man reportedly claimed he was resting his feet due to "turbulence".

To her horror, he allegedly started caressing her neck while she was asleep. Zaira said she tried to record the harassment when she felt his hand, but couldn't as the lights were dim.
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13:42   Zaira molestation case: Mehbooba says she is appalled
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today said she was appalled by the incident wherein 'Dangal' fame actress Zaira Wasim was allegedly molested on a flight, and sought swift action in the matter.

The actor has alleged that she was molested by a co-passenger on board a Delhi-Mumbai flight and narrated her ordeal on Instagram via live video.

Any harassment/crime against women should be dealt with swiftly & (and) effectively. As a mother of 2 (two) daughters I am appalled at what happened with @zairawasimz. Hope relevant authorities take strict action, Mehbooba wrote on Twitter.

Zaira said she was on an Air Vistara flight from Delhi to Mumbai when a co-passenger sitting behind her put up his feet on her armrest. 

-- PTI
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13:31   Uber agrees to settle civil lawsuit with Indian woman
Uber has agreed to settle a civil lawsuit with an Indian woman who accused the ride-hailing company and its top executives of "unlawfully" obtaining her medical records and engaging in offensive conspiracy theories after a company driver raped her.

The 2014 incident in New Delhi had triggered scrutiny into Uber by the Indian government and the company was banned from operating in the national capital till June 2015.

The 26-year-old woman, identified only as Jane Doe in the lawsuit filed in federal court in California in June, had said in the complaint that Uber executives unlawfully obtained and shared her medical records from that vicious sexual assault.

The woman was living in Texas when she filed the lawsuit.

The lawsuit was filed days after it emerged that Eric Alexander, the president of business in the Asia Pacific, had obtained medical records of the woman and had shown them to then Uber chief executive Travis Kalanick and the companys then-Senior Vice President for Business Emil Michael. The company later fired Alexander.

The lawsuit was settled in San Francisco where Uber has its headquarters, the BBC reported.

-- PTI
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13:20   Aiyar held secret meetings with Pak high commissioner: Modi in Gujarat
After witnessing a handsome turnout in phase-I of Gujarat Assembly elections,  Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a rally at Palanpur in Gujarat. 

Speaking to the crowds, the PM said, "The same Mani Shankar Aiyar, who insulted Gujarat, held secret meetings with Pakistan High Commissioner. What was the reason? Why are people who previously held high posts in military-intelligence establishment of Pakistan writing that we should help make Ahmed Patel the CM."

Earlier on Saturday, PM Modi, while campaigning in Anand, kept up his fierce attack on the Congress and exhorted voters to avenge the insults and abuses hurled at the son of Gujarat by the party, which, he said, was depressed because it was facing defeat. 
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12:42   When Indira sought Osho secretary's help to persuade Rajiv to enter politics
After Sanjay Gandhis death in a plane crash, his mother Indira Gandhi wanted her other son Rajiv to give up being a professional pilot and enter politics and sought the help of Oshos secretary Laxmi to persuade him,
claims a new book.

Indira Gandhi, India's fourth prime minister, was interested in spiritual life like her father Jawaharlal Nehru, says poet-artist Rashid Maxwell in The Only Life: Osho, Laxmi, and the World in Crisis.

"From an early age, she had been touched by the words and the being of Osho. She was, however, first and foremost an ambitious politician so she never actually came to his ashram even when she was in Poona because Osho was already a controversial figure by then," the book says.

Until 1977 when Indira Gandhi was temporarily deposed from power, Laxmi was given a 'green pass', an entitlement to visit the Congress leader in her home or office at any time, it says.

In 1980, when Indira Gandhi was again prime minister, her son and heir Sanjay died in a plane crash.

When Laxmi visited her, Indira Gandhi entreated her to go and talk with Rajiv Gandhi.

"She wanted Laxmi's help to persuade Rajiv to give up being a professional pilot and enter politics. Laxmi went to his room and spoke with him for a long time concerning the contribution he might make to the country's progress in the 20th century," Maxwell writes in the book, published by Simon & Schuster.

Rajiv Gandhi was reluctant but he subsequently entered politics, he adds.

He became the prime minister following his mothers assassination in 1984.

-- PTI
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12:17   FIR registered against Fortis Hospital in dengue death controversy
An FIR has been registered under section IPC 304(2) against Fortis Hospital in Gurugram in relation to the death of seven-year-old girl undergoing dengue treatment at the hospital for which her parents were charged a hefty amount of Rs 16 lakh.

On November 21, a committee headed by Dr Rajiv Vadhera, Additional DG, Health, Haryana, was set up by the Haryana government to probe allegations that the private hospital overcharged the girl's family.

The panel had found "several irregularities" including protocol not being followed during the treatment of the girl.

Following the indictment by the panel, Vij had said that an FIR will be lodged against the private hospital while the license of its blood bank will be cancelled.

The hospital had earlier refuted the charges, claiming the patient's family was duly informed about the bill on a daily basis and that there was no medical negligence.

The lodging of the FIR comes close on the heels of a letter written by Haryana health minister Anil Vij on Saturday to Haryana Urban Development Authority asking them to cancel the lease of land to Fortis Hospital in Gurgaon due to alleged violations of the terms and conditions of the agreement.
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11:50   Omar demands action against man accused of molesting 'Dangal' actor
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today demanded legal action against an unidentified man accused of molesting "Dangal" actress Zaira Wasim on board a Delhi-Mumbai flight.

"The passenger should be identified to the police by @airvistara & a case filed for legal action. None of this 'he fell at my feet so I forgive him' rubbish!", he wrote on Twitter.

The incident drew strong ire from netizens, who voiced their support for the actress.

In a statement on Twitter, the airline Vistara said it would look into the complaint, and added that it had "zero tolerance for such behaviour".

-- PTI
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11:27   Parrikar says Rafale deal gives India edge over Pakistan
Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar accused former Defence Minister A K Antony of creating a "logjam" over the Rafale fighter jet deal and asserted that the acquisition of the French aircraft has given India a
superiority over Pakistan in terms of air power.

Parrikar said a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi signed the Rafale jet deal with the French government, he (Parrikar) had addressed a meeting of officials from the Air Force to work out a solution to the "logjam" created by the Congress leader.

"Antony had put strange noting on the file dealing with Rafale purchase. He mentioned on the file 'start discussion, finalise price and after everything is finished please come back to me' with all the documentary evidence of how the Rafale company was the lowest (bidder).

"Now the Central Vigilance Commission guideline says you can't negotiate with anyone other than the lowest (bidder). The files were going in circles and circles," he said.

Parrikar, who left the Union ministry to become Goa chief minister in March this year, said for two and a half years the file was "doing rounds in circle, we broke the circle by deciding that we will have to go for different approach".

-- PTI
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10:31   Only legit Goa beach shacks to be compensated for Ockhi damage
The Goa government would provide compensation to shacks having legal validity, for the damages suffered during the Cyclone Ockhi last week.  

The shack owners, whose establishments suffered damages following high tide during the cyclone, had earlier decided to approach the state tourism department to seek compensation for their losses.  

The office of North Goa's district magistrate had also done a preliminary assessment of the damage caused in Pernem and Bardez talukas, where several prominent beaches, including Morjim, Arambol, Candolim, Baga and Calangute, are located, an official release earlier said.  

State revenue minister Rohan Khaunte yesterday said he is still waiting for the reports from collectors of North Goa and South Goa districts to ascertain the exact amount of losses suffered by the shacks. 

He said the state government was clear in its stand that only those shacks which have legal validity would be provided compensation.
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10:09   Shimla horror: 5-year-old girl raped by 12-year-old
A five-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a 12-year-old boy in Dhalli on the outskirts of Shimla town, the police said.  

The incident took place on Friday and the matter was reported to the police by the parents of the girl yesterday. 

The  police said the girl was playing outside her house when the accused lured her and allegedly sexually assaulted her.  

The girl is the daughter of a Nepali couple working as labourers and the accused is son of the landlord.  

A case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act was registered after a complaint wasfiled by the parents of the child. 

A medical examination of the girl was conducted, the medical report is awaited and investigations are in progress, the police said.
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09:58   Congress should sack, not just suspend, Aiyar, says Mulayam
Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar should be expelled from the party for his "neech" remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Samajwadi Party patron Mulayam Singh Yadav said. 

"The word 'neech' used for the prime minister by a Congress leader is certainly wrong... A person who has uttered such a statement should not just be suspended, but expelled from the party," Yadav told reporters in Etawah yesterday. 

He said positive politics has virtually vanished, and "politics of mud-slinging" has become a common phenomenon.  

"There has been a paradigm shift in the country's politics, 'sakaratmak rajniti' (positive politics) has virtually vanished, and politics of mud-slinging (keechad uchaalne ki rajniti) has become a common phenomenon," Yadav said. 

Aiyar was suspended from the Congress earlier this week after he called the prime minister a "neech kism ka aadmi" (vile sort of man).
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09:30   Dangal actress says she was molested in flight
A mortifying experience on her Air Vistara Delhi to Mumbai flight left Zaira Wasim teary-eyed, reports ANI. 

The 17-year-old actress has alleged that a middle-aged man sitting behind her on flight tried to molest her. She shared the ordeal she had to go through en route Mumbai in the flight in an Instagram story. 

Reportedly, the man was caressing her neck while she was asleep. She tried to record what the man was doing, but failed due to dim lights. She, however, managed to get a screenshot of the man's activities on the flight to some extent. 

The national award-winning actress called out to the cabin crew for help but it was of no use. In the live video, she also expressed her displeasure with crew members of the flight.  

Right after deboarding the flight, she took to Instagram to narrate her experience in a live video. 

In the video, she can be seen fighting her tears and saying, "This is not done, I am disturbed. Is this how you're going to take care of girls?" Zaira ended her video by saying, "Who is going to help us Girls? If we don't help ourselves, nobody will come ahead." 

However, she seems to have deleted the video as it is unavailable now. 

Reacting to her post, Air Vistara tweeted, 'We are carrying out detailed investigation and will support Zaira in every way required. We have zero tolerance for such behaviour.'
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09:08   Why this Gujarat village did not cast its vote
While long lines were seen outside polling booths in Saurashtra and South Gujarat in the first phase of assembly polls, none of the 1,000 registered voters in Gajadi turned up to cast vote, officials said.  

The village, though situated in Tankara tehsil of Morbi, comes under Kalavad constituency of Jamnagar district. 

The district administration said they tried their best to persuade villagers to vote.  

"Villagers had announced a few months ago that they would refrain from voting. Their main grievance was about water supply. Though the village is being supplied water through a pipeline, they claimed it was not enough and demanded another pipeline," said Morbi collector and district election officer I K Patel. 

"Even on Saturday senior officials went to the village and urged them to cast vote. But no one turned up at the polling booth," he added. 

"When we told them there are plans to lay a new pipeline, villagers asked us to give the assurance on paper. As the model code of conduct was in place, it was not possible to give it in writing. Such an assurance on the day of polling would also set a wrong precedent," the collector added. 

Image used for representational purpose only.
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08:59   Reporter on what really happened at Aiyar press meet
On December 7, suspended Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar met the press to clarify his 'neech' remark against the prime minister and to issue an apology, but even he couldn't have imagined the media skirmish that would follow.  

As to what exactly happened out there, the reporter in the eye of the storm, Mausami Singh of the India Today group, describes, here.
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08:58   When IndiGo welcomed Rahul Gandhi onboard its flight
IndiGo Airline has tweeted this photograph of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is leading his party's charge in the Gujarat assembly election, standing in a queue to board the aircraft, with the remark, 'Welcome onboard Mr Rahul Gandhi. Have a good flight.'
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08:29   Boney M to perform in Kohima today
Famous international vocal group 'Boney M' featuring the original vocalist Liz Mitchell arrived in Kohima on Saturday evening for its live show, 'Christmas with Boney M', today.  

The event will be held at the hockey ground of the Indira Gandhi stadium, organisers Nagaland Outdoor Club said.  

Mitchell told newsmen that the famed German group had performed at least five times in the metropolitan cities of India and it was a "dream" for it to see the north-east.  

"The place is really exceptional and I am fascinated and inspired as Nagaland with its lush greenery and picturesque mountains as well as the peaceful atmosphere reminds me of my country Jamaica,' she said. 

The others in the group are Toni Ashcroft (who replaced Bobby Farrell after his death in 2010), Valerie Margaret Jacinth and Vanessa Paulette, who have been touring with Mitchell since the late 1980s.  

Mitchell said the group would perform their hits like 'Rivers of Babylon', 'Mary's Boy Child', 'Daddy Cool', 'Sunny', 'Ma Baker', 'Belfast', 'Rasputin' and 'Brown Girl In The Ring'.  

"We will not disappoint our music lovers and we are ready to spend more than the actual contracted time," she said. 

Nagaland Outdoor Club convenor Kethosituo Mepfuo said tickets for the show have been booked from across the country and music lovers can get their tickets directly at the venue too.
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08:23   Trump gets WaPo reporter to apologise, goes after CNN
A Washington Post reporter had to tender an apology after US President Donald Trump asked him to do so for posting an erroneous tweet about his rally in Florida.  

Dave Weigel, who covers politics for the newspaper, had posted a picture on his Twitter account which showed an empty arena when Trump was addressing a public meeting. 

Trump, in a tweet, said, "Weigel put out a phony photo of an empty arena hours before he arrived at the venue, with thousands of people outside, on their way in. Real photos now shown as I spoke. Packed house, many people unable to get in." 

"Demand apology & retraction from FAKE NEWS WaPo!" said the US president as he posted pictures of the event. 

Weigel apologised within minutes, and tweeted, "Sure thing: I apologise. I deleted the photo after David Martosko of Daily Mail told me I'd gotten it wrong. Was confused by the image of you walking in the bottom right corner."  

Despite Weigel's apology, Trump in a follow-up tweet demanded that he be fired. "Weigel of the Washington Post just admitted that his picture was a FAKE (fraud?) showing an almost empty arena last night for my speech in Pensacola when, in fact, he knew the arena was packed (as shown also on TV). FAKE NEWS, he should be fired," he said. 

Early on Saturday morning, Trump targeted CNN for its alleged inaccurate reporting.  

"Fake News CNN made a vicious and purposeful mistake yesterday. They were caught red handed, just like lonely Brian Ross at ABC News (who should be immediately fired for his "mistake"). Watch to see if @CNN fires those responsible, or was it just gross incompetence?" he asked.

CNN, in another tweet, he said, is the "least trusted name in news". 

"CNN's slogan is CNN, THE MOST TRUSTED NAME IN NEWS. Everyone knows this is not true, that this could, in fact, be a fraud on the American Public. There are many outlets that are far more trusted than Fake News CNN. Their slogan should be CNN, THE LEAST TRUSTED NAME IN NEWS!" said the US president.  

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