LIVE! 'You think our country's so innocent?': Trump defends 'killer' Putin

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Sun, 05 February 2017

'You think our country's so innocent?': Trump defends 'killer' Putin

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21:29 'You think our country's so innocent?': Trump defends 'killer' Putin

President Donald Trump has brushed off his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin's description as a "killer", saying the US has "a lot of killers" and suggested that America was not so "innocent".

In an excerpt of an interview yet to be aired, Trump said he "respects" Putin, but that does not mean they will get along.

"I respect a lot of people, but that doesn't mean I'm going to get along with him. He's a leader of his country. I say it's better to get along with Russia than not. And if Russia helps us in the fight against IS, which is a major

fight, and Islamic terrorism all over the world that's a good thing," Trump told Fox News' Bill O'Reilly.

When the interviewer called the Russian leader "a killer" over allegations of murders carried out by the Russian state, Trump said, "There are a lot of killers. We've got a lot of killers. What do you think? Our country's so innocent?"

Trump and Putin agreed to establish "real coordination" against the IS during an hourlong discussion last week, which the White House hailed as a "significant start" to improving the strained ties between the two nations.

At least 18 people were killed and two others injured today in a fire incident at a foot massage parlour in east China's Zhejiang Province.

The fire broke out on in Zuxintang parlour in Tiantai County.

State-run China Global Television Network reported that at least 18 people were killed and two others were injured in the accident.

Media reports said that employees were seen jumping out of the of the windows of the parlour.

Fire fighters have been rushed to the scene. The cause of the fire was yet to be ascertain.

Over 50,000 blankets used in Chhattisgarh jails are set to be washed for the first time after a health check of 22,000 prisoners found that most of them were suffering from skin diseases and allergy due to the stinky blankets.

The blankets which were used for at least five years by prisoners were normally kept out in the sun to let the odours evaporate.

The decision to wash the blankets has been taken after several complaints of skin-related diseases and allergy poured in.

"We have permitted to procure washing machines at a cost of Rs 40 lakh. Very soon, washing of blankets will be started in jails," Director General (Jail) Girdhari Nayak told PTI.

Another jail department official, on condition of anonymity, said, "The department recently conducted health examination of 22,000 prisoners lodged in separate jails of the state by holding camps during which it was found that most of them were suffering from skin-related diseases and allergy. During investigation, dirty blankets used by them were found to be a major reason behind it."

Surprisingly, it later came to light that the blankets were never washed. To prevent them from fungus, they were just kept in open when the sun is out. Keeping this in view, it has been decided to procure industrial washers for cleaning the blankets, he said.

As per statistics, the state has five central jails, 12 district jails and 16 sub-jails where more than 18,000 inmates are lodged. Of them, around 10,000 are undertrials while 8,000 are convicts.

Terming Pakistan's "empathy" for Kashmir as "crocodile tears", a senior Bangladeshi minister today said Pakistan should apologise for 1971 genocide it committed before talking about Kashmir.

"The Pakistani rulers' empathy for Kashmir is in fact nothing but crocodile tears while they repeatedly plead innocence instead of seeking apology for the 1971 brutality and genocide they committed," Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu said.

He said Pakistan should apologise for 1971 genocide they committed before talking about Kashmir.

The minister also commented that the history of Pakistan had always been one of oppressing ethic groups besides Bengalis.

Inu made the remarks while responding to a journalist on the reported observance of 'Kashmir Solidarity Day' at the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka, according to an official statement.

Inu, a member of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Cabinet, called the "celebration" in Dhaka "beyond diplomatic norms and a mischievous move" by Pakistan to drag Bangladesh into "what is basically a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan".

Inu's left-leaning Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal is a partner in the ruling Awami League-led grand alliance.

The Centre is committed to end the "evil social practice" of triple talaq, Union law minister and senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said today and asked the Samajwadi Party, the Congress and the BSP to make their stand clear on the contentious issue.

"The government respects faith but worship and social evil cannot coexist," he said.

"I want Akhilesh Yadav, Rahul Gandhi and Mayawati to clarify their stand on the issue of triple talaq. Our (BJP's) stand is very clear. The issue is not related to religion but involves respect and dignity of women," Prasad said at a press conference in Lucknow.

"We are the only party which respects women. Neither do other parties offer a good place to women nor do they respect them," the BJP leader claimed.

Speaking at a press conference in Ghaziabad yesterday, he had said the Centre might take appropriate steps to ban triple talaq after the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections as the tradition denies respect to women.

Prasad had said, "every pernicious practice" cannot be part of a religion and the Centre would raise the issue in the Supreme Court on three points -- justice, equality and dignity of women.

A specialised agency may conduct entrance exam for admission to IITs, other engineering colleges and UGC-NET and a platform will be launched next month to offer up to 2,000 courses online, Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said.

He said the National Testing Agency, announced in the Union Budget, may conduct various exams currently held by an "overburdened" CBSE.

It is not the task of the CBSE to conduct these exams, the minister said. The National Testing Agency may also free up IITs and AICTE that currently conduct exams for admission to engineering colleges in India.

"The outline of the agency's structure will be prepared shortly," officials said.

Also, Javadekar said, the government will next month launch the 'Swayam-MOOCS' platform on which up to 2,000 new courses will be offered online. He said the Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCS) platform is for "anytime and anywhere learning" and credit framework for it is being developed.

19:52

ED registers money laundering case to probe the Rs 3,700 crore Noida ponzi scam; carries out multiple searches.

19:06 Assembly polls: Nepal-India border to be closed from Feb 12-14

Ahead of assembly elections in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, the India-Nepal border in the adjoining areas would be closed from February 12 to 14.

During a joint meeting of representatives of administrations and security officials from both the countries it was decided to close the border areas and beef up the security vigilance during the period.

However, an agreement has been made to allow the citizens of third countries to cross the Nepal-India border based on their documents, said Superintendent of Police Prakash Bahadur Chand of District Police Office, Kanchanpur.

SP Chand said the highly-essential vehicles would be allowed to ply only from the legal entry points.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will on February 7 leave for Bengaluru where he will undergo naturopathy treatment for high blood sugar.

He returned to the national capital yesterday after spearheading AAP's aggressive campaign for Punjab Assembly polls.

"The chief minister's blood sugar level has shot up. He is taking insulin thrice a day to keep it under control.

"He will leave for Bengaluru on February 7 to undergo naturopathy treatment. Also, he has fever. He will be there for 12-14 days," said a senior Delhi government official.

In January last year, Kejriwal had undergone 12 days of naturopathy treatment at the same institute for chronic cough and diabetes.

The chief minister had also undergone a throat surgery at Narayana Hospital in Bengaluru in September last year.

With the first phase of Uttar Pradesh assembly polls barely a week away from commencing, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday retorted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'SCAM' barb, stating that a person "who is involved in scams sees scam everywhere".

"Modi ji has come up with a new scheme-SCAM. The person who is in involved in scams, sees scams everywhere," Rahul said while holding a joint rally with Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav in Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur.

Replying to Prime Minister Modi's SCAM remark, he spelled out the acronym of SCAM, stating that the Samajwadi party-Congress alliance abides by it.

"I'll reply to PM Modi's SCAM remark. It's Seva (Service), Bahaduri (Courage), Shamta (Ability) and Modesty," he said.

Further taking a jibe at the Prime Minister, the Congress vice-president said people of Uttar Pradesh will make the former realise how the demonetisation had affected them.

"After the Uttar Pradesh polls, Prime Minister Modi will realise what the people think of demonetisation. People of UP will not buy your lies," he said.

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan says that the shadow of his superstardom has loomed upon his actor son, Abhishek Bachchan from the moment he was born.

In an emotional blog post the 74-year-old actor said that Abhishek became a celebrity even before he knew what was the essence of the word.

Drawing from his personal experience, Bachchan wrote, "I was born, Bachchan ji's son .. A celebrity even before I knew how to spell the word... Abhishek was born as Amitabh Bachchan's son... A celebrity even before he could find out what it meant."

He added that the responsibility and expectations of being a son of a public figure is a burden, which Abhishek till date, continues to bear.

"My father a known respected and public figure name, there was always those unwritten behavioural compulsions that were needed to be adhered to, to follow certain social norms, moral and cultural in keeping with the surname...Abhishek had to go through the same...And still does."

17:46 Davis Cup: India beat New Zealand 3-1

Ramkumar Ramanathan beat Finn Tearney 7-5, 6-1, 6-0 to give India unassailable 3-1 lead over New Zealand.

India through to Davis Cup Round 2 of the Asia-Oceania Group 1 and now will face Uzbekistan in the second round, scheduled for April 7-9.

Iran said today it would allow US wrestlers to compete in an international tournament after President Donald Trump's travel ban was halted by a federal court.

"Following the court ruling suspending #MuslimBan...US Wrestlers' visa will be granted," tweeted Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif.

Iran had blocked visas for US citizens in response to Trump's travel ban, preventing the wrestlers from competing in the event on February 16-17.

Meanwhile, a group of 72 academics from the prestigious Sharif University in Tehran signed a letter calling for the government to take the higher ground by offering visas-on-arrival to US citizens.

"(We) request our government to act differently in response to this ungracious action (by the United States)," the letter said, adding that US visitors should be encouraged to experience the "hospitality of peaceful Iranians and Muslims".

The issue of a recent oil spill off the coast of Tamil Nadu that is posing a threat to environment and health of local residents has gone to the National Green Tribunal with a plea seeking compensation and seizure of the vessels.

The petition, which is likely to be heard by a bench headed by NGT chairperson Swatanter Kumar on Monday, has also sought constitution of an expert committee to oversee and monitor the entire clean up process and assess the damage caused to the environment.

"The fish and all the other aquatic animals have become victims to the widespread disaster caused by the two vessels as a result of their negligence," the plea filed by one Ashwini Kumar through advocate Sumeer Sodhi said.

The petition has made the Ministry of Environment and Forests, the Ministry of Shipping, the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary, the TN State Pollution Control Board as parties.

It has also made parties the owners of the offending ships, including Gurgaon-based Tokio Marine Holdings Inc.

On January 28, 2017, two merchant vessels -- MV Maple Galaxy, owned by Tokio Marine Holding Inc. and under charter party contract with Indian Oil Corporation, collided with vessel MT Dawn Kanchipuram, operated by unknown persons near the Port of Kamarajar in Ennore, Tamil Nadu.

Elected as legislative party leader of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, VK Sasikala chaired MLAs meet at party headquarters in Chennai.

At the meet Sasikala said, "Following demise of Honourable Amma, it was O Paneerselvam who urged me first to take charge as the general secretary of the AIADMK."

"It was Paneerselvam again who insisted me to become the chief minister of the state," she added.

15:25 Sasikala will be new Tamil Nadu CM

After much speculation, the AIADMK has elected VK Sasikala as its legislature leader, paving her way to become the chief minister of Tamil Nadu.

The official AIADMK twitter handle said "Chinnamma all set to become the Next Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu."

Earlier, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam proposed her name at a meeting of party MLAs in Chennai.

On December 31, 2016, Ms. Sasikala was elected as the AIADMK general secretary.

Breaking News: O Panneerselvam today resigned as Tamil Nadu chief minister as All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MLAs elected VK Sasikala as legislature party leader.

Panneerselvam proposed Sasikala's name in the MLA meeting at party headquarters.

"I resign and we elected Sasikala unanimously as leader of the party in assembly. All MLAs are in support," said O Panneerselvam.

The United States Appeals Court has rejected justice department's request to reinstate President Donald Trump's immigration ban.

The Trump administration had appealed a ruling that temporarily halted the travel ban on citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries, citing the president's "sovereign prerogative" to admit or exclude aliens.

Lawyers for the Department of Justice told the US Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit that the states of Washington and Minnesota should not have been allowed to challenge the ban, and that a judge was wrong to stop President's executive order, issued just more than a week ago.

The administration was fighting Seattle federal judge James Robart's decision on Friday night that imposed a temporary, nationwide halt to Trump's order barring refugees and those from seven majority-Muslim nations from entering the country.

In a bid to check generation of black money, a steep penalty awaits those accepting cash in excess of Rs 3 lakh, beginning April 1, to settle any transaction.

A ban on cash transaction of more than Rs 3 lakh has been proposed in the Budget for 2017-18.

In an interview to PTI, Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia said the penalty for doing cash transaction will be steep and the receiver will have to pay an amount equivalent to the cash received.

"Supposing you do a transaction of Rs 4 lakh in cash, then the penalty would be Rs 4 lakh. If you do a transaction of Rs 50 lakh, penalty would be Rs 50 lakh," he said, adding that the penalty will be levied on the receiver.

So, if someone buys an expensive watch for cash, it is the shopkeeper who will have to pay the tax, he said, adding that the provision is to deter people from doing large cash transactions.

Demonetisation brought to account the stock of black money and now the government wants to stop future generation of the same.

The government, he said, will track all large cash transactions, and also curb the avenues of conspicuous consumption through cash.

People with large sum of unaccounted money usually spend it on holidaying or buying luxury items like cars, watches and jewellery. The new cash curbs will mean that such spending avenues are curtailed, disincentivising people from generating black money.

Rallying in his support for Sanjay Leela Bhansali, actor Shahid Kapoor has said the director is making "Padmavati" while keeping people's sentiments in mind and insisted there is nothing "objectionable" in the movie.

Bhansali and the team of "Padmavati" were recently roughed up by members of the Rajput Karni Sena for allegedly presenting "distorted facts" in the movie. The group even stopped its shooting by damaging the film's set at Jaigarh Fort.

The period drama stars Ranveer Singh as Alauddin Khilji, Aditi Rao Hydari as his wife Kamala Devi, Deepika Padukone as Rani Padmavati and Shahid as Rawal Ratan Singh.

"I have read the script and it's not objectionable, and it's a very dignified film. He (Bhansali) is treating it with lot of dignity. I think people should see the film and decide things. The sentiments of people are highly in

consideration by Sanjay sir," Shahid told reporters at the success party of "Dangal" in Mumbai on Saturday.

He added, "When he cast me, he said the characters should be presented correctly as these people are respected and loved by the people of Rajasthan. So it should be represented correctly."

Shahid said people will understand the essence of the film once they see it.

"It's a conjecture... I know if people will see the film they will realise it is done in the right light. That's my opinion. I hope it gets resolved," he said.

14:05 36 injured in Jallikattu event at Avanipuram

Thirty-six people were injured, one of them seriously, in a Jallikattu event held at Avanipuram in the district amid high security on Sunday in which more than 900 bulls were used, police said.

All the injured were being treated at the medical camp put up near the venue, police said.

More than 700 bull-tamers participated in the events, which were witnessed by thousands of spectators.

The bull-taming sport was formally inaugurated by Revenue Minister R B Udhayakumar and District Collector Veeraraghava Rao.

Top officials of the district and police administrations, including Superintendent of Police, were also present at the venue.

Police said all precautionary measures, including mandatory medical tests for bulls and participants as laid down by the state government, were taken before the conduct of the traditional rural sport.

Normally, Jallikattu is held as part of the Pongal festivities in Tamil Nadu. However, it was not held during Pongal this year due to a Supreme Court ban.

Amid continuing protests over Jallikattu ban across the state, the Tamil Nadu Assembly had on January 23 unanimously passed an amendment bill, clearing the path for conducting Jallikattu without any hindrance.

Photograph: ANI

Amid speculations that AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala will take charge as Tamil Nadu CM, the crucial party meeting is underway in Chennai.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, Sasikala, cabinet ministers and some senior party leaders are attending the meet.

Earlier, Panneerselvam, who visited the Ennore port to take stock of clean up operations of the oil spill, chose to respond to questions on Sasikala with a conspicuous smile.

The buzz over Sasikala's appointment as CM came against the backdrop of the party politically rehabilitating several leaders who were shunned by Jayalalithaa, the charismatic Tamil Nadu chief minister who died in December after complications following a cardiac arrest.

13:06 Congress releases Uttarakhand manifesto

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat, senior Congress leaders Ambika Soni and Kumari Selja release party's manifesto in Dehradun for the Uttarakhand assembly elections.

13:03 UK woman names her tumour after Donald Trump

A woman in the United Kingdom has vowed not to lose her humour after she was diagnosed with an uncommon form of cancer and named her tumour after US President Donald Trump.

Elise Stapleton was left stunned when doctors told her she had Hodgkin lymphoma in September last year.

The diagnosis meant the 24-year-old needed to undergo intensive chemotherapy which caused her to lose her hair, Mirror reported.

But rather than shying away from the ordeal, she decided to write a blog in the hope of inspiring others.

Elise poked fun at Trump after naming her tumour after him.

"I decided to name it 'Donald' as in Donald Trump -- one big, ugly, useless mass that is good at one thing: hurting people."

Elise, an admin assistant, spoke to WalesOnline about her battle to mark World Cancer Day.

"I set up the blog because I just wanted to address the elephant in the room. It was really important to me because it felt empowering and it gave me a voice. People were shocked when they read about it all. They couldn't believe that in the blog I was laughing and joking about it but I just said if you don't laugh you cry," she said.

Elise said her first treatment was rough, leaving her with side effects including nausea, diarrhoea and fatigue.

People of Tamil Nadu did not vote for anyone from Jayalalithaa's "household" to be chief minister, says Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Working President M K Stalin, who appears to be keeping his options open on the possibility of another government in the tenure of the current assembly.

He also asserts that there are no "obstacles" to his leadership in the party and dismisses as "pointless" questions whether projecting him as the chief ministerial face would have won the DMK power in the last year's assembly polls.

The 63-year-old leader, who was made the Working President of the DMK last month, is worried about divisions in the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam after the death of Jayalalithaa and keen that it should not affect the functioning of the administration.

"One thing is certain that the government -- in its present form -- is clearly one that doesn't have the explicit legitimacy of having been elected by the people.

"The people voted for a government to be headed by Ms Jayalalithaa in May, 2016 and not for one to be run by Mr. O Panneerselvam or any other person from Ms Jayalalithaa's household," Stalin told PTI in an interview, the first since he took over as Working President.

His comments came on a day the chorus grew in the AIADMK for its General Secretary V K Sasikala to take over as chief minister of the state.

So, the Leader of the Opposition in the state said, the present government, which clearly does not enjoy the support of the majority people, which has a divided cabinet and the AIADMK MLAs speaking in different voices, is bound to fail.

Donald Trump has agreed to attend the G-7 summit in Italy in May during his telephonic conversation with Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, in what could be his first visit to Europe as US president.

They discussed the bilateral relationship, the importance of the NATO alliance and threats to common security.

Trump agreed to attend the G-7 summit in Taormina, Italy in May, and said he looked forward to meeting with the Prime Minister at that time.

During the phone call, Trump discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation across a range of shared interests, including security and counter-terrorism.

"President Trump reiterated the US commitment to NATO and emphasised the importance of all NATO allies sharing the monetary burden of defence spending," the White House said in a readout of the phone call.

The two leaders agreed to continue close coordination and cooperation on efforts to eliminate IS and other terrorist organizations, it said.

"The leaders discussed Libya, the influx of migrants and refugees into Europe, as well as Italy's priorities, and the upcoming G-7 meeting in Italy," it added.

11:37

Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, regulatory authority for civil aviation security in India, suspended IndiGo's aviation security training centre licence for alleged lapses, ANI reports.

11:11 UN seeks India's nominee for anti-terror panel

India has been asked to send the name of its nominee for inclusion in a global team to assist a United Nations committee which decides on banning terror outfits and their leaders.

Following the request from the global body, both the Home and Finance ministries have been asked to recommend names of suitable individuals who can be part of the key team, official sources said today.

The presence of the country's nominee on the panel may facilitate the government's efforts to get Maulana Masood Azhar, head of Pakistan-based terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed and mastermind of last year's Pathankot air base attack, banned, they said.

India's effort to get JeM chief listed in the UN's sanctions list of organisations and individuals linked to Al Qaeda and ISIS has been repeatedly blocked by China.

The nominations have been sought from qualified individuals to serve on the 'Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team' in support of the important '1267/1989/2253 ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee'.

In a bid to clamp down on unaccounted money funnelled into bank accounts post demonetisation, the tax department has scrutinised and matched as many as 1 crore accounts and asked 18 lakh people to explain the source of fund.

The tax department has run big data analytics through more than a crore accounts in its data bank and done matching with the taxpayer profile of the holder, a top source said.

As per I-T records, there are 3.65 crore individuals who filed income tax returns. Besides, there are over 7 lakh companies, 9.40 lakh Hindu Undivided Families and 9.18 lakh firms who filed ITRs during Assessment Year 2014-15.

Also, over 25 crore zero-balance Jan Dhan accounts were opened as part of the financial inclusion drive.

Sources said I-T department is scrutinising all categories of accounts and will send out more SMS/emails for suspicious deposits under 'Operation Clean Money'.

"We have initially matched 1-crore accounts with the profile in our database and identified 18 lakh people with suspicious deposits of over Rs 5 lakh. We will expand the scope of data analytics further and match the profiles with our data base," the source said.

TN CM O Panneerselvam on Sunday visited the oil spill site in Chenai to review the ongoing clean up operations.

Following that, addressing media persons, he said: "The oil spill will be cleared in the next few days. Spill cleared largely in Kanchipuram coast."

CM OPS claimed there are no toxins in the sea water and that fishermen had not been affected.

"This is an extraordinary situation. The Centre and state governments are working together. More than 5700 people took part in clean-up ops," he said.

"We will give compensation to fishermen for their losses; fishes caught from this region have been found fit for consumption. There has been no impact on marine flora & fauna."

10:55

Just In: People of Tamil Nadu did not vote for anyone from Jayalalithaa's household to become CM, says DMK Working President M K Stalin

10:34 How does US screen refugees? Very carefully

Being a refugee isn't easy. Neither is getting into the United States.

Just gaining refugee status is hard; most of the millions who seek it don't get it. Only a fraction of those who do, end up resettled in the US.

The process takes an average of 18 to 24 months, and most of it's conducted outside the US.

Click HERE to read how it works

The combined value of Chinese banks has surpassed that of US banks for the first time as they emerged as global leaders by asset base as well as brand value, a report by a business valuation consultancy has said.

The report by the London-based Brand Finance Banking 500 places Industrial and Commercial Bank of China as the world's most valuable bank, with a brand value worth $47.8 billion, representing a 32 per cent year-on-year growth.

Marketing investment and the brands credibility with customers, staff and shareholders, among other factors, are taken into consideration in calculating brand value.

The report said Chinese banks have an aggregate total brand value of $258 billion, accounting for 24 per cent of the total brand value of the top 500 global banks by brand value, compared with 23 per cent for US banks, state-run China Daily quoted the report as saying.

10:24 IAF won't share details on Rafale deal

Details of the agreement signed between Indian and French authorities regarding supply of 36 Rafale aircraft cannot be disclosed as they are confidential in nature, the Indian Air Force has said.

An Inter-Governmental Agreement was signed between the governments of India and France on September 23, 2016 for supply of the Rafale aircraft, initial consignment of weapons, long-term maintenance support through performance-based logistics, simulators with annual maintenance and associated equipment.

Replying to an RTI query, the IAF said the details are held by it in fiduciary (involving trust, especially with regard to the relationship between a trustee and a beneficiary) capacity.

The information sought is confidential in nature and public revelation of the same may lead to its subsequent availability to our adversaries, it said.

"Further, the information sought is also held in fiduciary capacity and no larger public interest is served by disclosure of such information. Hence, the same is denied," the IAF said.

10:10 Thambidurai wants Sasikala to be CM

Business Standard's Gireesh Babu reports: Amid growing rumours that AIADMK General Secretary V K Sasikala will take over as Tamil Nadu's chief minister from O Panneerselvam next week, a meeting of AIADMK MLAs will be held on Sunday.

The rumours have been fuelled by developments such as the party appointing 15 influential people organising secretary and reports that officials who were close to the late J Jayalalithaa have been removed or have themselves resigned from their posts.

"Sunday's meeting of MLAs at 1.30 pm. The agenda will be known then," said a senior party functionary.

Another senior leader accused the media of putting out such stories.

Senior party leaders including Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai want Sasikala to take over the leadership of the government.

On Friday, Sasikala, whom party workers call Chinnamma, released a statement on the appointment of the organising secretaries.

This is interpreted as a move to placate the popular leaders while Sasikala prepares to take charge.

The general perception is that the BJP-led government at the Centre favours Panneerselvam as chief minister.

Panneerselvam has met Prime Minister Narendra Modi more than once in a short span of time after being sworn in.

According to reports, Sheela Balakrishnan, who was chief secretary and Jayalalithaa's close aide, was removed, along two others.

After Jayalalithaas death on December 5, 2016, Sasilaka took charge as party general secretary on December 30.

ANI reports: The bull-taming sport of Jallikattu is underway in Avaniapuram in Madurai district.

Around 1200 tamers and 950 bulls are participating in the event.

The sport began at 8am, with the temple bull unleashed first. Vaadivasal, the entrance to the arena, was given a grand makeover and tall barricades were erected on both sides to prevent the bulls from barging into spectators.

CCTV cameras have also been installed.

The administration has deployed 15 medical teams, 20 ambulances at the spot.

Representative Image

09:54 A beefy battle is being fought in Delhi

The police are merely a law enforcing agency having nothing to do with the constitutional validity of any statutory provision, the Delhi police has told the high court hearing a PIL seeking decriminalisation of beef consumption in the national capital.

The Delhi Agricultural Cattle Preservation Act provisions prohibit slaughter, transport or export and consumption of cattle meat and beef and provide punishment for a term which may extend to five years and fine up to Rs 10,000.

"We (Delhi Police) are a law enforcing agency and we do not deal with the constitutionality of the provision under challenge before this court," the counsel for the police told a bench headed by Chief Justice G Rohini while responding to the plea seeking decriminalisation of beef consumption in Delhi.

The court was hearing the plea by a law student and an NGO seeking setting aside of the provisions of the Delhi Act which criminalise possession and consumption of beef.

Meanwhile, the Delhi government has sought time to respond to the plea by May 8, the next date of hearing. The plea claimed that the provisions of the Act were "a case of legislative over-reach".

It has contended that "prohibition on possession and consumption of beef per se as under the Act is in violation of the fundamental rights of the petitioners and other similarly situated persons, as it infringes on their personal liberty" and causes "hostile discrimination having no nexus with the objects of the Act".

"The right to eat the food of one's choice is an integral part of the Right to Life and Liberty," the PIL said, adding that the Constitution "mandates the state not to make law towards enforcement of a particular religious practice".

09:46

Just In: 4 dead, more than 30 injured after a bus rammed into a tree in Mujagarh's Baunsanala in Odisha.

09:24 Chennai oil spill: Clean-up ops drag on, TN CM to review today

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam to visit Ennore Port to review the clean-up operations in Chennai. A week after several tons of oil spilled into the Bay of Bengal, a large black pool still remained gathered against the rocky shore.

And the massive struggle to clean up the polluted waters continues. Authorities said 125 tons of sludge had so far been taken out.

Personnel from various government departments, fishermen, non-governmental organisation workers and other volunteers were still manually scooping out the viscous oil using buckets.

It all began in the early hours of January 28. Two ships collided near the Kamarajar Port in North Chennai. One ship, MT BW Maple, carried liquefied petroleum gas. The other, MT Dawn Kanchipuram, carried petroleum oil lubricants from which several tonnes spilled into the sea. There is still no clear information about how much oil was spilled exactly.

A Revolutionary Guards commander said Iran would use its missiles if its security is under threat, as the elite force defied new US sanctions on its missile programme by holding a military exercise on Saturday.

Tensions between Tehran and Washington have risen since a recent Iranian ballistic missile test which prompted US President Donald Trump's administration to impose sanctions on individuals and entities linked to the Revolutionary Guards.

Trump's national security adviser Michael Flynn said the Washington was putting Iran on notice over its "destabilising activity", and Trump tweeted Tehran was "playing with fire"

"We are working day and night to protect Irans security," head of Revolutionary Guards' aerospace unit, Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency.

"If we see smallest misstep from the enemies, our roaring missiles will fall on their heads," he added.

Bangalore Mirror reports: Nearly 39 months after the attack on a bank official at Bangalore ATM for money, the Andhra Pradesh police have nabbed the accused. Madanapalle police in Chittoor district have reportedly taken into custody Madhukar Reddy.

Chittoor district superintendent of police G Srinivas confirmed the arrest of Madhukar Reddy. "We are questioning him he confessed to having committed the Bangalore ATM offence", he said.

The police will present Madhukar Reddy before the media later in the evening. Madhukar, a native of Maddulapuram village of Thamballapalle block in Chittoor district is believed to have confessed to having committed the offence.

It may be recalled that Jyothi Uday, a Corporation Bank official, was attacked at the ATM on November 13, 2013, when she went to withdraw money to buy a gift for her friend's child. She was in hospital for nearly three months to recover. Last year, she joined duties and was also promoted as senior manager in the Corporation Bank.

Read more HERE

08:25 What to look forward to in news today

* PM Narendra Modi scheduled to address poll rally at Numaish Maidan of Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh

* BJP President Amit Shah to address several poll meetings in Shamli, Amroha & Noida today.

* Scores of poll rallies of BSP Chief Mayawati & SP chief Akhilesh Yadav scheduled in western & central Uttar Pradesh.

* Congress party to release its manifesto today in Dehradun.

* Iconic Mughal Garden of Rashtrapati Bhavan to open for general public from today.

* Bengaluru ATM attacker who hacked woman with a machete caught after 3 years.

* In a familiar trick, the banned Jamaat-ud Dawa looks set to evade the "crackdown" on it and its chief Hafiz Saeed by resurfacing as Tehreek Azadi Jammu and Kashmir, a platform purportedly wedded to the Kashmiri cause.

* Senior BJP leader & Finance Minister Arun Jaitley schedule to visit parts of Nainital district in Uttarakhand. Senior BJP leader & Home Minister Rajnath Singh to address public rallies in Pithoragarh & Haridwar districts.

US President Donald Trump has denounced the judge who lifted the travel ban he had imposed on citizens of seven mainly Muslim countries, taking an unusual jab at an independent branch of the US government as he vowed to bring back the restrictions.

Trump's personal attack on US District Judge James Robart went too far for some who said he was undermining an institution designed to check the power of the White House and Congress.

In a series of tweets, TRump said: "What is our country coming to when a judge can halt a Homeland Security travel ban and anyone, even with bad intentions, can come into US?"

"Because the ban was lifted by a judge, many very bad and dangerous people may be pouring into our country. A terrible decision."

"Why aren't the lawyers looking at and using the Federal Court decision in Boston, which is at conflict with ridiculous lift ban decision?"

"The judge opens up our country to potential terrorists and others that do not have our best interests at heart. Bad people are very happy!"

Trump's administration has appealed a federal judge's order that blocked the US president's ban.

The Justice Department appeal on Saturday came one day after a US district judge filed a nationwide order halting the ban's implementation. Since then, the Department of Homeland Security has reverted to standard, previous procedure in admitting people from the affected countries.

08:06

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