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Sat, 04 November 2017
Court to hear complaint against Kamal Hasaan on Nov 22

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21:58   Court to hear complaint against Kamal Hasaan on Nov 22
A Varanasi court today fixed November 22 for hearing a complaint against actor Kamal Haasan for allegedly hurting Hindu sentiments with his recent remark that 'right- wing groups can't deny existence of Hindu terrorism'.

The application was moved in the court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Sudhakar Dubey by lawyer Kamlesh Chandra Tripathi in Varanasi on Friday.

The court today decided to hear the matter on November 22, Tripathi said.

The complaint has accused Haasan of hurting religious sentiments of the Hindus by making the 'inflamatory and derogatory remark of Hindu terrorism'.

It has sought a directive asking the actor to refrain from making such a remark given the public following he has.

This remark has 'deeply hurt' the sentiments of scores of people following Hindu religion, it added.

Tripathi, in his application, has sought lodging of a case under the Indian Penal Code against Hasaan for alleged defamation and causing hurt to religious sentiments.  -- PTI
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20:41   Pulwama police station attack: Cop succumbs to injuries
A policeman who suffered bullet injuries in the terrorist attack at Rajpora Police station of Pulwama in south Kashmir died on Saturday.

Sg Ct Abdul Salam was immediately shifted to the military hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Few hours ago, a terrorist group attacked the police station and injured two police personnel.

The area has been cordoned off as heavy firing between the police and terrorists is on.

Further details are awaited. -- ANI
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19:37   Girl strip-searched in MP school for suspicion of stealing Rs 70
In a shocking incident, a class 10 girl was allegedly made to strip on the pretext of search after her classmate lost Rs 70 in a school in Madhya Pradesh's Damoh.

Taking cognisance, Damoh district education officer said he has issued a show cause notice to the school principal.

"We will take strict action against people responsible," he added.

The girl said the teacher checked her bag and threatened her to admit to theft.

"My classmate lost her money. When I refused, the teacher made me and my friend strip," she alleged.  -- ANI
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18:04   Uddhav hails Mamata, says she defeated Left 'without tampering with EVMs'
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray today hailed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as a 'tigress' for decimating the communists in her state, a task, which the saffron party said, the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party had 'failed' to do.

The remarks come two days after Thackeray met the Trinamool Congress supremo at a south Mumbai hotel.

'Some of the stands by Mamata Banerjee may be controversial, and some of them may not match with that of the Sena's. But in her state, she decimated the communists, against whom the Shiv Sena has always fought.

'The tigress did what the Congress and the BJP could not do. She brought to an end the 25-long rule of the communists,' the Sena said in an editorial in the party mouthpiece Saamana.

'For doing so, she did not have to tamper with the EVM machines or buy votes. People gave her the responsibility to lead the state with a lot of trust. But attempts are now being made to stall development and create financial problems in West Bengal.

'It is not right to add to the woes of a state and push it backwards just because it does not subscribe to your school of thoughts. That state (Bengal) is a part of India and derailing its development hinders the development of the nation,' it said.

Referring to Thackeray's meeting with Banerjee on Thursday, the Sena, in a veiled attack on the BJP, said those who raised questions over the meeting, should explain the rationale behind joining hands with 'separatists and pro-Pakistanis in Kashmir for the sake of power'.

'Union Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, who had resigned from the then Vajpayee government post the Godhra riots, is with you today, while Kashmiri Pandits are still helpless and displaced and the Ram temple (in Ayodhya) is yet to be built,' the editorial noted.

'Before pointing fingers at us, look at these issues with a tinge of 'Mamata' (affection). Those who forged a friendship with pro-Pakistani (Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister) Mehbooba (Mufti), should not point fingers at us,' the Sena added.  -- PTI

IMAGE: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee with Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray in a meeting in Mumbai. Photograph: PTI Photo
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17:23   Terrorists fire at police team in Pulwama, 2 cops injured
Terrorists today fired on a police team in south Kashmir's Pulwama district, injuring two security personnel, the police said.

"Terrorists fired upon a naka party of police near Police Station Rajpora in Pulwama, resulting in injuries to two of our personnel," Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of police S P Pani told PTI.

Pani said the injured policemen have been rushed to a hospital for treatment and their condition is stated to be stable.

The area has been cordoned off and a search for the attackers has been launched, the DIG said.

He said it was not an attack on the police station.

Meanwhile, a police official identified the injured constables as Abdul Salam and Munir Ahmad.  -- PTI

Photograph: ANI
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16:49   Congress asks PM to 'fire 4 ministers' over report on Doval's son
The Congress today hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party citing a news report which alleged a 'prospect of conflict of interest' in National Security Adviser Ajit Doval's son Shaurya running an organisation that has some Union ministers on its board.

'Shah-zada ki apaar safalta ke baad, BJP ki nayi peshkash -- Ajit Shaurya gatha (After the 'grand success' of 'Shah-Zada', BJP's new presentation -- the tale of Ajit Shaurya),' Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi tweeted in Hindi.

The news report has alleged that Doval's son has a 'prospect of conflict of interest' in running the think-tank, India Foundation, as Shaurya Doval is a partner in a financial services firm, the think-tank has some top ministers as directors and it relies on financial support from foreign and Indian corporates some of which have dealings with the government.

The Congress also demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should remove the four Union ministers who are directors in the organisation and demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry into the matter.

"Prime Minister Modi should fire all the four ministers who are on the board of the India Foundation. We want to ask Modiji when he will fire them," senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal told reporters.  -- PTI

Photograph: PTI Photo
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15:46   Station manager suspended after Hema Malini escapes bull attack
Days after Bharatiya Janata Party MP Hema Malini narrowly escaped a bull attack at the Mathura Junction railway station, the station manager has been suspended for allegedly failing to curb the menace, an official said today.

Station manager K L Meena has not only been suspended but also a probe has been ordered into the incident, Sanchit Tyagi, Divisional Commercial Manager North Central Railway, said. Meena was suspended for failing to stop the cattle menace on the platform, he said.

Tyagi said the BJP MP from Mathura was narrowly saved from the attack by a bull when she had gone to the railway station to check for the possibility of revamping the station.

P L Meena would look after the Mathura Junction railway station as the station manager in his place, he said.  -- PTI
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15:20   Himachal must totally wipe out the 'termite called Congress': Modi
Addressing an election rally in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra, Prime Minister Narendra Modi likened the Congress to termites, saying it must be totally finished off as he seeks three-fourths majority for the Bharatiya Janata Party in the state.

"I haven't come here to ask you to make BJP win. I have come here to ask you to give it a 3/4th majority. There should be no polling booth that elects the termite named Congress," Modi said.

Hitting out at the Congress, he said the party 'is getting the fruits of its sins. If people are angry today, it is due to its own deeds'.

"People who were habitual looters and have had to return their loot today won't let me be at peace. Even you know that.

"Congress will observe 'blackmoney day' on November 8 and burn my effigies. It is angry because I am fighting corruption. They don't know Modi is disciple of Sardar Patel and won't be cowed down ," the PM said.

He said the 'pair of Modi and Dhumal (BJP's CM candidate) will take Himachal to new heights of development'.

"There was maximum development in Himachal when Atal ji was in Delhi and Dhumal ji was here in Himachal. You have a chance again," he said.  -- PTI, ANI

Photograph: ANI
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14:12   Niti Aayog sees India to be free of poverty, corruption by 2022
Government think tank Niti Aayog has envisaged a New India by 2022 which will be free of poverty, dirt, corruption, terrorism, casteism and communalism.

According to New India @2022 document presented by Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar at Conference of Governors last month, India will be in the top three economies of the world if it continues to grow at 8 per cent from now until 2047.

It also envisions that we will achieve 'Kuposhan Mukt Bharat' by 2022.

The document visualises that government will be able to connect all villages with habitations over 500 (250 in Special Areas) with all-weather roads by 2019 under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).

It further envisions that India will have 20 world class higher education institutions by 2022.

The document also visualises that all villages selected under Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY) should attain model village status by 2022.

It also says that we should resolve to have Poverty Free India by 2022.  -- PTI
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12:53   Army chief seeks Bharat Ratna for Field Marshal K M Cariappa
Army Chief General Bipin Rawat on Saturday said, it is time to recommend late Field Marshal Kodandera Madappa Cariappa, who was the first Indian commander-in-chief (C-in-C) of the Indian Army, for Bharat Ratna.

"It's time to recommend Field Marshal K M. Cariappa for the Bharat Ratna," asserted General Bipin Rawat, who was Kodagu, Karnataka, to unveil the statues of Field Marshal K M Cariappa, and Padma Bhushan and Distinguished Service Order awardee General Kodendera Subayya Thimayya, at Cauvery College in Karnataka's Kodagu District.

"If others can get it (Bharat Ratna), I see no reason why he (Field Marshal KM Cariappa) shouldn't be a deserving personality for the same," he added.

Field Marshal Cariappa, Order of the British Empire, was the first Indian commander-in-chief (C-in-C) of the Indian Army.

He led Indian forces on the Western Front during the 1947 Indo-Pakistani War.

He is one of the two Indian Army officers to hold the five-star rank of field marshal and was appointed commander-in-chief of the Indian Army in 1949.

He died on 15 May 1993, at the age of 94, at the Bangalore Command Hospital where he had been receiving treatment for a few years.

Field Marshal Cariappa is survived by son Air Marshal K C Cariappa, who was a Squadron Leader during the 1965 Indo-Pakistan War.

Air Marshal K C Cariappa was shot, while carrying out air attacks during the 1965 war, with Pakistan and was taken prisoner.  -- ANI
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11:48   Those who didn't do anything now question the one who's doing: Modi
Addressing at India's Business Reforms event in Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that his life's only mission is to bringing change in the country and to its 1.25 billion people is my mission. 

Here are some highlights:

- One life, one mission - bringing change to my country and its 1.25 billion people is my mission

- Ease of doing business also leads to ease of life 

- We are a young country and job creation is an opportunity as well as a challenge:

- Issues raised by traders, businesess on GST have been positively accepted;GST Council to make necessary changes at next meeting: 

- Those who worked with World Bank previously raising doubts over India's ranking.

- In a short time of three years we have improved 42 ranks on World Bank's ease of doing business ranking.

- If reforms like insolvency/bankruptcy code were brought during your time, then would you not have reaped the benefit (of an improved Ease of Doing Business Ranking)? They didnt do anything, now questioning the one who is doing.
 
- Don't want to sleep over 30 place jump in ease of doing business ranking; want to do more

- World Bank ranking India at 100th place does not take into account GST, biggest tax reform that provides transparent, stable regime 

- With GST we are moving towards modern tax-regime

- We are a young country and job creation is an opportunity as well as a challenge

- India has reached a position from where it is easier to improve further. Our efforts have gathered momentum
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10:55   3 killed in stampede in Bihar's Begusarai
Three people were killed and at least 10 others injured in a stampede which broke out in Bihar's Begusarai district, news agency ANI reported.

The incident took place at Simaria Ghat in Begusarai, where devotees had thronged for Kartik Purnima celebrations.
 
Authorities confirmed that the three persons killed were women and said efforts are on to identify the bodies. 

The injured persons have been rushed to hospitals for medical treatment.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has announced ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh each for the families of those killed.
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10:02   New York cops say they have 'enough evidence to arrest' Harvey Weinstein
Detectives in New York believe they have enough evidence to arrest Harvey Weinstein, the disgraced Hollywood mogul, after an actress claimed he raped her twice in the city in 2010.

Paz de la Huerta, 33, who appeared in the US television series Boardwalk Empire, alleged both attacks took place in her own home about a month apart.

New York abandoned it's five-year statute of limitations for rape in 2006, meaning Weinstein could be prosecuted.

Around 60 women have come forward in recent weeks with allegations of sexual assault and harassment against the producer. He is facing police investigations in New York, Los Angels and London.

In a statement Weinstein's representative said: "Any allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr Weinstein."
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09:47   Netflix fires Kevin Spacey from 'House of Cards'
Days after ending production of political drama, House of Cards, streaming network Netflix will no longer work with the actor Kevin Spacey, who has been accused of inappropriate sexual behaviour.

Netflix, the producer of the show, announced that if and when House of Cards returns, it will be without Kevin Spacey, according to Entertainment Weekly.

In a statement issued by the streaming giant, they said that they "will not be involved with any further production of House of Cards that includes Kevin Spacey."

A spokesperson from the streaming service also shared that they will not be moving forward with the Spacey-starrer film Gore, a biopic based on the life of writer Gore Vidal directed by Michael Hoffman.

Netflix had previously announced it was ending the Emmy-nominated political drama at the conclusion of its upcoming sixth season in the wake of actor Anthony Rapps sexual abuse allegations against Spacey.

Meanwhile, CNN has reported that eight anonymous employees and former employees from the House of Cards set have come forward with claims about the actor's alleged "predatory" behaviour.

A former production assistant claimed Spacey sexually assaulted him during one of series' early seasons.
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09:30   PM Modi greets nation on Guru Nanak Jayanti
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his greetings to the nation on the occasion of Guru Nanak Jayanti today, and recalled the life path and teachings of the Sikh Guru.

"On Guru Nanak Jayanti we bow to the venerable Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji and recall his noble thoughts," Modi wrote on Twitter.

In an over one-minute long video message, the Modi shared his thoughts on the Sikh Guru and urged all to imbibe his teachings.

President Ram Nath Kovind also greeted the nation and urged all to follow the steps of the Sikh Guru.

Guru Nanak Jayanti, also known as Guru Nanak Gurpurab, celebrates the birth of the first Guru Nanak, and is considered one of the most sacred festivals among Sikhs. -- ANI
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09:14   Congressman 'doubts' Pak's comittment to denying terror safe harbour
Two influential Congressional sub-committees will hold a joint hearing on Pakistan's commitment in the fight against terrorism, and the review of the US' aid to it even as a Congressman expressed doubts over its commitment to denying terrorists safe harbour.
An announcement to this effect comes nearly three months after US President Donald Trump announced his South Asia policy.
"A productive US-Pakistan relationship is essential to bring stability to the region, but doubts persist about Pakistan's commitment to denying terrorists safe harbour," Congressman Ted Yoho said.
Two subcommittees of the House Foreign Affairs Committee -- Asia and the Pacific, and Middle East and North Africa -- would hold the hearing on "The President's Plan for Afghanistan and Pakistan: Objectives and Resources" on Wednesday, November 8.
Alice G Wells, the acting assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asia, has been asked to testify before the lawmakers, along with Gregory Huger, assistant to the administrator office of Afghanistan and Pakistan in the United States Agency for International Development.
"In this hearing, the subcommittees will hear the latest on US civilian efforts in Afghanistan and Pakistan, determine how they fit into the president's new plan for the region, and oversee the administration's resourcing decisions," said Yoho, Chairman of Asia and the Pacific Subcommittee.
Now that the administration has unveiled its Afghanistan strategy and decided to suspend a significant amount of aid to Pakistan, this hearing will allow members to review the approximate USD 1.1 billion combined FY 2018 budget request for the two countries, Congresswoman Elena Ros-Lehtinen, Chairman of the Middle east and North Africa Subcommittee said.
This hearing will also explore ongoing challenges in Afghanistan, including combating the Taliban, corruption, economic woes, and a lack of prioritisation of counter-narcotics efforts, as well as Pakistan's performance in preventing terrorist groups from establishing safe havens, and assess whether the budget request is meeting US priorities, she said. -- PTI
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08:51   US releases new trove of secret JFK files
A new batch of files related to the assassination of former United States president John F Kennedy was released by the National Archives on Friday.
Nearly 680 records were made public including 553 never-before-seen files from the Central Intelligence Agency, which had objected to their release previously on national security grounds.
Among the CIA files released were detailed records, for example, of efforts to recruit Soviet diplomats serving in foreign missions, complete with transcripts of wiretaps.
The National Archives said the other documents published online were from the Justice Department, the Defence Department and a House committee which conducted an inquiry into Kennedy's November 22, 1963 assassination in Dallas, Texas.
The official Warren Commission which investigated the slaying of the charismatic 46-year-old president determined that it was carried out by a former Marine Corps sharpshooter, Lee Harvey Oswald, acting alone.
The commission's formal conclusion that Oswald killed Kennedy has done little, however, to quell speculation that a more sinister plot was behind the murder of the 35th US president. 

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