LIVE
Thu, 05 October 2017
Three women pilots of IAF set to fly frontline military jets
Timeline Refresh
23:23 Three women pilots of IAF set to fly frontline military jets
The first three women fighter pilots of the country are set to script history next month when they will fly military jets after completing a strenuous training in the coming three weeks.
Avani Chaturvedi, Bhawana Kanth and Mohana Singh were commissioned as flying officers in July last year, less than a year after the government decided to open the fighter stream for women on an experimental basis.
"You will be glad to know that their performance has been on par with other pilots despite the streneous and demanding nature of flying," Chief of Air Staff B S Dhanoa said addressing a press conference.
A senior IAF official involved in training of the three women pilots said they will steer the combat jets next month.
Currently, the three women pilots are flying Hawk advanced jet trainers.
The IAF chief said the next batch of three women trainee pilots has been selected for the fighter stream in July and is presently undergoing stage-2 of fighter pilot training.
"On successful completion of training, the three women fighter pilots will be commissioned into the fighter stream in December this year," Dhanoa said. -- PTI
Representative image.
Avani Chaturvedi, Bhawana Kanth and Mohana Singh were commissioned as flying officers in July last year, less than a year after the government decided to open the fighter stream for women on an experimental basis.
"You will be glad to know that their performance has been on par with other pilots despite the streneous and demanding nature of flying," Chief of Air Staff B S Dhanoa said addressing a press conference.
A senior IAF official involved in training of the three women pilots said they will steer the combat jets next month.
Currently, the three women pilots are flying Hawk advanced jet trainers.
The IAF chief said the next batch of three women trainee pilots has been selected for the fighter stream in July and is presently undergoing stage-2 of fighter pilot training.
"On successful completion of training, the three women fighter pilots will be commissioned into the fighter stream in December this year," Dhanoa said. -- PTI
Representative image.
21:58 Yashwant Sinha has found an ally in Congress: BJP
The Bharatiya Janata Party today said its veteran leader Yashwant Sinha has become an 'unabashed apologist for the corrupt and anti-poor' erstwhile United Progressive Alliance government and found a new ally in the Congress.
It also cited his remarks at the release of a book authored by Congress leader Manish Tewari to claim that it has become clear now from where he is getting all his inputs on economy.
Coming out openly against the former finance minister, BJP spokesperson Anil Baluni said Sinha's assertion that he was like Bhishma was also an admission that he was on the side of the Kauravas.
"It has become clear today from where he is drawing all his wisdom. His presence at an event of a Congress leader shows that who are influencing his economics. This is very unfortunate," he said.
In a retort to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks that some people liked to spread pessimism like Shalya, another Mahabharata character, Sinha had said he was like Bhishma and that he would not allow the economy to be 'disrobed'.
Another BJP spokesperson G V L Narasimha Rao said Sinha claims to be a 'know-all' economist but is conveniently glossing over his own 'disastrous performance' as finance minister when he had pledged India's gold overseas.
"He has become an unabashed apologist for the corrupt, inflationary, anti-poor and disastrous economic governance of the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre. He has found a new ally in the Congress to seek his next job. It remains to be seen what a 'jobless' Rahul Gandhi can offer to an ever job-seeking Sinha," Rao said.
Taking a dig, he said Sinha is acting as the Shishupal of Mahabharata with the count of his personal abuses 'reaching the tolerance point'.
Sinha raised the hackles of the BJP leadership after he targeted Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in an article in a national English daily for the 'mess' in the economy.
He was also critical of the government's policy in Jammu and Kashmir. -- PTI
It also cited his remarks at the release of a book authored by Congress leader Manish Tewari to claim that it has become clear now from where he is getting all his inputs on economy.
Coming out openly against the former finance minister, BJP spokesperson Anil Baluni said Sinha's assertion that he was like Bhishma was also an admission that he was on the side of the Kauravas.
"It has become clear today from where he is drawing all his wisdom. His presence at an event of a Congress leader shows that who are influencing his economics. This is very unfortunate," he said.
In a retort to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks that some people liked to spread pessimism like Shalya, another Mahabharata character, Sinha had said he was like Bhishma and that he would not allow the economy to be 'disrobed'.
Another BJP spokesperson G V L Narasimha Rao said Sinha claims to be a 'know-all' economist but is conveniently glossing over his own 'disastrous performance' as finance minister when he had pledged India's gold overseas.
"He has become an unabashed apologist for the corrupt, inflationary, anti-poor and disastrous economic governance of the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre. He has found a new ally in the Congress to seek his next job. It remains to be seen what a 'jobless' Rahul Gandhi can offer to an ever job-seeking Sinha," Rao said.
Taking a dig, he said Sinha is acting as the Shishupal of Mahabharata with the count of his personal abuses 'reaching the tolerance point'.
Sinha raised the hackles of the BJP leadership after he targeted Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in an article in a national English daily for the 'mess' in the economy.
He was also critical of the government's policy in Jammu and Kashmir. -- PTI
20:19 12 killed in suicide attack at Sufi shrine in Pakistan
A suicide attacker today blew himself up at a Sufi shrine packed with devotees in Pakistan's troubled Balochistan province, killing at least 12 people and injuring eight others, police officials said.
The attacker tried to enter the Dargah Fatehpur in the Jhal Magsi district of Balochistan and blew himself up when he was stopped by the police, Geo TV reported.
Citing Deputy Commissioner Asadullah Kakar, the channel said at least 12 people were killed in the blast.
Balochistan government spokesman Anwarul Haq Kakar confirmed it was a suicide attack.
The explosion took place at the shrine at a time when hundreds of people had gathered to pay their respect.
At least two policemen were also injured in the blast.
The local administration declared an emergency athospitals in Sibbi and Dera Murad Jamali. -- PTI
Representative image.
The attacker tried to enter the Dargah Fatehpur in the Jhal Magsi district of Balochistan and blew himself up when he was stopped by the police, Geo TV reported.
Citing Deputy Commissioner Asadullah Kakar, the channel said at least 12 people were killed in the blast.
Balochistan government spokesman Anwarul Haq Kakar confirmed it was a suicide attack.
The explosion took place at the shrine at a time when hundreds of people had gathered to pay their respect.
At least two policemen were also injured in the blast.
The local administration declared an emergency athospitals in Sibbi and Dera Murad Jamali. -- PTI
Representative image.
19:06 We believed Modi, now feel betrayed: Raj Thackeray
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray today led a march to the Western Railway headquarters in Mumbai to protest the recent stampede on a foot overbridge that left 23 people dead, and said he felt 'betrayed' by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Thackeray addressed a gathering of protesters outside the Churchgate station in south Mumbai where he lashed out at Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party chief Amit Shah.
"It seems as if only two or three people are running the country. BJP president Amit Shah himself called their own promises 'chunavi jumla' (election rhetoric). Even (Union minister) Nitin Gadkari said the promise of 'achhe din' is like a bone stuck in the throat. It clearly means the government has failed on many fronts," the MNS chief said.
The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader, who had a good rapport with Modi and backed his prime ministerial bid in 2014, said he was angry because the country has seen very little progress in the last three years.
"I do not see any major changes in the last three years despite the government having a good mandate. We believed in him (Modi) and now we feel we have been betrayed," he said.
Thackeray also met officials of the Western Railway and handed over a memorandum of demands, which included improvement in infrastructure and eviction of hawkers from suburban railway stations. -- PTI
Photograph: Sahil Salvi
Thackeray addressed a gathering of protesters outside the Churchgate station in south Mumbai where he lashed out at Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party chief Amit Shah.
"It seems as if only two or three people are running the country. BJP president Amit Shah himself called their own promises 'chunavi jumla' (election rhetoric). Even (Union minister) Nitin Gadkari said the promise of 'achhe din' is like a bone stuck in the throat. It clearly means the government has failed on many fronts," the MNS chief said.
The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader, who had a good rapport with Modi and backed his prime ministerial bid in 2014, said he was angry because the country has seen very little progress in the last three years.
"I do not see any major changes in the last three years despite the government having a good mandate. We believed in him (Modi) and now we feel we have been betrayed," he said.
Thackeray also met officials of the Western Railway and handed over a memorandum of demands, which included improvement in infrastructure and eviction of hawkers from suburban railway stations. -- PTI
Photograph: Sahil Salvi
17:57 Stop all protests at Jantar Mantar immediately: NGT
The National Green Tribunal today directed the Delhi government to immediately stop all protests and assembly of people at the Jantar Mantar area in the heart of the capital city.
A bench headed by Justice R S Rathore also directed the New Delhi Municipal Council to remove all make-shift and temporary structures, loud speakers and public address systems from the stretch of the road situated near Connaught Place.
"The respondents government of Delhi, New Delhi Municipal Corporation and police commissioner, Delhi to immediately stop all the activities of dharna, protest, agitations, assembling of people, public speeches, using of loud speakers, etc at Jantar Mantar road," the bench said.
The tribunal directed the authorities to shift the protesters, agitators and the people holding dharna (sit-in) to alternative site at the Ramleela Grounds in Ajmeri Gate, 'forthwith'.
The green panel said the continuance of the use of the area by protestors was in violation of environmental laws including Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
It said the residents of the nearby and surrounding area have a right to live peacefully and comfortably and in an atmosphere free from pollution at their residences.
The NGT was hearing a plea filed by Varun Seth and others alleging that processions and agitations held by social groups, political parties, NGOs at the Jantar Mantar Road were a major source of noise pollution in the area.
The plea had said regular protests 'violate their right to live in a peaceful and healthy environment, right to silence, right to sleep and right to life with dignity'. -- PTI
Image for representation only.
A bench headed by Justice R S Rathore also directed the New Delhi Municipal Council to remove all make-shift and temporary structures, loud speakers and public address systems from the stretch of the road situated near Connaught Place.
"The respondents government of Delhi, New Delhi Municipal Corporation and police commissioner, Delhi to immediately stop all the activities of dharna, protest, agitations, assembling of people, public speeches, using of loud speakers, etc at Jantar Mantar road," the bench said.
The tribunal directed the authorities to shift the protesters, agitators and the people holding dharna (sit-in) to alternative site at the Ramleela Grounds in Ajmeri Gate, 'forthwith'.
The green panel said the continuance of the use of the area by protestors was in violation of environmental laws including Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
It said the residents of the nearby and surrounding area have a right to live peacefully and comfortably and in an atmosphere free from pollution at their residences.
The NGT was hearing a plea filed by Varun Seth and others alleging that processions and agitations held by social groups, political parties, NGOs at the Jantar Mantar Road were a major source of noise pollution in the area.
The plea had said regular protests 'violate their right to live in a peaceful and healthy environment, right to silence, right to sleep and right to life with dignity'. -- PTI
Image for representation only.
17:06 Kazuo Ishiguro on love, pixies and Camelot
Excerpts of Ishiguro's talk with Eleanor Wachtel of CBC on his novel The Buried Giant. Read
16:47 British author Kazuo Ishiguro wins Literature Nobel
JUST IN: British author Kazuo Ishiguro wins Nobel Prize in Literature.
'The 2017 Nobel Prize in Literature is awarded to the English author Kazuo Ishiguro who, in novels of great emotional force, has uncovered the abyss beneath our illusory sense of connection with the world,' a release by the Swedish Academy said.
Kazuo Ishiguro has written eight books, as well as scripts for film and television
Ishiguro's most renowned novel, The Remains of the Day (1989), was turned into film with Anthony Hopkins as the butler Stevens.
The themes Ishiguro is most associated with are: memory, time, and self-delusion.
Ishiguro's latest novel, The Buried Giant (2015) explores how memory relates to oblivion, history to the present, and fantasy to reality.
With the dystopian work Never Let Me Go (2005), Ishiguro introduced a cold undercurrent of science fiction into his work.
Ishiguro was born on November 8, 1954 in Japan. His family moved to the United Kingdom when he was five years old.
Image and information: Courtesy @NobelPrize/Twitter
'The 2017 Nobel Prize in Literature is awarded to the English author Kazuo Ishiguro who, in novels of great emotional force, has uncovered the abyss beneath our illusory sense of connection with the world,' a release by the Swedish Academy said.
Kazuo Ishiguro has written eight books, as well as scripts for film and television
Ishiguro's most renowned novel, The Remains of the Day (1989), was turned into film with Anthony Hopkins as the butler Stevens.
The themes Ishiguro is most associated with are: memory, time, and self-delusion.
Ishiguro's latest novel, The Buried Giant (2015) explores how memory relates to oblivion, history to the present, and fantasy to reality.
With the dystopian work Never Let Me Go (2005), Ishiguro introduced a cold undercurrent of science fiction into his work.
Ishiguro was born on November 8, 1954 in Japan. His family moved to the United Kingdom when he was five years old.
Image and information: Courtesy @NobelPrize/Twitter
16:22 World is suffering from an epidemic of loneliness
'Loneliness is a growing health epidemic. We live in the most technologically connected age in the history of civilization, yet rates of loneliness have doubled since the 1980s.'
'The world is suffering from an epidemic of loneliness. If we cannot rebuild strong, authentic social connections, we will continue to splinter apart -- in the workplace and in society.'
'During my years caring for patients, the most common pathology I saw was not heart disease or diabetes; it was loneliness.'
'For our health and our work, it is imperative that we address the loneliness epidemic quickly.'
Vice Admiral Vivek H Murthy, who served as the 19th Surgeon General of the United States from 2014 to 2017, writes on a silent epidemic that is gnawing away at the world, in the Harvard Business Review, here.
The illustration alongside is by Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com
16:12 Amit Shah skips Kerala rally to meet PM, FM
Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah today did not participate in the party march in the home town of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan as he had to attend a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in Delhi.
BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan told reporters that Shah would be unable to attend the phase of the 'Janaraksha Yatra' (People's Protection March) that would pass from Mambaram to Thalassery, crossing Pinaryi town in Kannur district.
Hundreds of party workers, led by the state unit chief, are participating in the march that entered the third day today.
Party sources said he changed his plans to attend urgent meetings, with some saying they had heard Prime Minister Narendra Modi had summoned him, NDTV reported.
Shah had launched the high profile 15-day yatra from Payyannur in Kannur on October 3 against the alleged "red and jihadi terrorism" under the CPIM-led LDF rule in Kerala.
15:57 Las Vegas gunman spent decades acquiring weapons
Stephen Paddock, the Las Vegas gunman, who killed 59 people in the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history, stockpiled weapons and ammunition over decades, and meticulously planned the attack, Clark County Sheriff said.
What we know is that Stephen Paddock is a man who spent decades acquiring weapons and ammo and living a secret life, much of which will never be fully understood, Clark County Sheriff Joseph Lombardo. said at a news briefing.
Lombardo said he found it hard to believe that the arsenal of weapons, ammunition and explosives recovered by police in their investigation could have been assembled by Paddock completely on his own.
Police recovered nearly 50 firearms from three locations they searched, nearly half of them from the hotel suite from where he fired bullets on people at an outdoor country music festival below.
Twelve of the rifles there were fitted with so-called bump stocks, officials said, allowing the guns to be fired almost as though they were automatic weapons.
Lombardo said investigators were examining the possibility Paddocks purchase of more than 30 guns in October 2016 may have been precipitated by some event in his life. He did not elaborate.
In the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history, at least 59 people were killed and over 500 injured.
15:19 Not enough CCTVs, separate staff toilets in Ryan: CBSE
The Central Board of Secondary Education on Thursday filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court in connection with the murder case of a seven-year-old student in Gurugram's Ryan International School.
The CBSE, in its affidavit, has stated that the school didn't have sufficient CCTVs.
The board also said that there are no separate toilets for staff in the school.
Apart from this, the CBSE further revealed that a few electric panels in the school were open, which could have posed serious threat to the lives of children.
Earlier on September 16, the CBSE had served a show cause notice to Ryan International, seeking an explanation why the school's affiliation should not be revoked.
Flagging several violations of the board's safety guidelines by the school, the CBSE said the murder could have been averted had the school authorities discharged their duty and responsibility with care and sincerity.
Seven-year-old Pradyuman Thakur was found dead inside the toilet of the Ryan International School, with his throat slit on September 8.
14:53 Despite problems in UP, Yogi found time for Kerala: Vijayan
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has hit out at his Uttar Pradesh counterpart, Yogi Adityanath, for his remarks on the law and order situation and medical facilities in the state.
He said it "amused" him that the UP chief minister found time for Kerala despite "problems" in his own land.
"It really amuses me that you (Yogi Adityanath) found time for Kerala, despite the fact that a large number of problems exist in UP as per newspaper reports," Vijayan said in a facebook post.
He also expressed confidence that Adityanath's visit to Kerala would rejuvenate him for facing problems back in UP. "But dear I am sure this break, (beautiful and happy trip) would help you to get rejuvenated for facing various issues in UP," he said.
Reacting to Adityanath's comments on infant mortality rate (IMR) in Kerala, Vijayan said, "The Infant Mortality Rate in Kerala is 10 while the national average is 34 and in Uttar Pradesh, it is 43."
He thanked the UP chief minister for letting the country know about IMR figures.
Vijayan also asked Yogi to refrain from speaking on the basis of "false and fake" information provided by the state BJP leaders.
The Uttar Pradesh CM, who was in Kannur yesterday to take part in the BJP's 'Jana Raksh Yatra', had alleged that medical facilities in Kerala were "inadequate."
He also accused the Left party of promoting violence in the state. -- PTI
14:22 Air Force ready for two-front war: IAF chief
The Indian Air Force is capable of countering China and ready to take on the challenge of a two-front war, Air Chief B S Dhanoa said today.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi on the eve of Air Force Day, the Air Chief Marshal said his force is ready for a full spectrum operation but added that any decision on surgical strike involving the IAF has to be taken by the government.
"We are ready to take on any challenge," he said.
Responding to a question, he said the IAF is ready to take on the challenge of a two-front war.
Army chief Gen. Bipin Rawat had said last month that the country should be prepared for a two-front war, insisting China has started "flexing its muscles", while there seems to be no scope for reconciliation with Pakistan whose military and polity saw an adversary in India.
The Chief of Air Staff also said the IAF will achieve sanctioned strength of 42 fighter squadrons by 2032.
13:11 Hrithik reacts: 'Have never met the lady in question one-on-one'
The Kangana Ranaut-Hrithik Roshan saga refuses to die down.
The actor has now put up a Facebook denying that he has ever met her.
Among other things, this is what he has said:
'In case of the matter at hand, it seems the media has no intention of letting go. I don't see any grace in adding to this circus by testifying in defence of my character in a situation that I have no involvement in whatsoever.
'I have been dragged into a dirty perverse mess without a choice in the matter. This is something that is not of my making.
'The truth is, I have never met the lady in question one on one in my entire life. Yes, we have worked together, but there has been no meeting in private. Thats the truth
'No evidence, no paparazzi pictures, no witnesses, not even a memento in possession like a selfie taken at the alleged engagement which is claimed to have happened in Paris in Jan 2014. Nothing that constitutes an exchange or any sort of proof of a romantic relationship.
'My passport details show no travel outside the country in Jan 2014, which is the date that this alleged engagement supposedly took place. In Paris. The only so-called proof presented of this alleged "relationship", was a photoshopped picture in the media. This was immediately exposed, the very next day by friends including my ex-wife.
'There are 3000 one sided mails which either I have sent to myself or the woman in question has sent to me. The Cyber-Crime Dept. can prove or disprove either story, in just a few days. Towards that purpose, I have surrendered all my devices including laptops / phones etc which are still lying with the cyber cell , but the other party has refused to do so. The investigation hasn't been closed.
'This is not, and I repeat, not a lovers spat. I humbly request people to stop labelling it as one and, for a second, try and see it for what it really is.
'I am not here to accuse or judge anyone, but it's time I defend the truth because when truth suffers the collective consciousness of society suffers. Civilization suffers.
'Closer to home, families suffer. Children suffer.
13:01 4.5 lakh directors may face axe for ties with shell firms
As many as 4.5 lakh directors may face disqualification for their association with shell companies, Union minister P P Chaudhary said today as the government steps up its fight against the black money menace.
Asserting that genuine corporates will not face action, the minister of state for corporate affairs said non-compliant companies are tarnishing the image of good ones.
As the ministry pushes ahead with the efforts to weed out shell companies -- a term used for entities that have not been carrying out business for long and are allegedly used as conduit for illegal fund flows -- Chaudhary told PTI in an interview that the profile of all disqualified directors will be examined.
The ministry has struck off names of 2,17,239 companies from the records as on September 22 as these have not been carrying out business activities for a long period and have also defaulted on compulsory filings while more such firms are likely to face action.
"As on September 22, a total of 3,19,637 directors have been identified and flagged as disqualified under Section 164 (2) (a) of the Companies Act, 2013... It is estimated that the final list may touch the figure of about 4.5 lakh (directors)," Chaudhary said.
Section 164 pertains to disqualification for appointment of director. Under sub-section 164(2) (a), a person who has been a director with a company that has not filed financial statements or annual returns for three consecutive financial years will face disqualification.
"It shall also be important to examine their (disqualified directors) general profile and association with other companies and the levels of their corporate governance standards," he said.
The exercise of striking off dormant companies and disqualifying directors is in furtherance of ease of doing business and will be good for genuine corporates, he noted.
"Non-compliant companies are tarnishing the image of good companies," Chaudhary said, adding that action should have been taken long ago.
12:43 WWE fans, Roman Reigns is coming to India
'Modern Day Maharaja' Jinder Mahal and other WWE superstars are set to showcase their high-flying moves in India as the WWE returns to the country with live shows on December 8 and 9 in New Delhi.
"Following overwhelming demand from our massive and passionate fan base in India, we are excited to bring WWE LIVE back to New Delhi for two shows of spectacular, non-stop, family-friendly entertainment," Sheetesh Srivastava, Vice President and General Manager of WWE India, said in a release.
"I know our fans cannot wait to fill the Indira Gandhi Stadium and welcome back their favorite WWE Superstars," he added.
The shows will feature current WWE champion Jinder Mahal, who will be accompanied by The Singh Brothers. Mahal and Singh brothers are currently part of SmackDown Live.
The show will also feature 'The Big Dog', Roman Reigns, Braun Strowman (also known as Monster Among Men) and current Raw Tag team Champions Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose.
Women superstars, Alexa Bliss and Shasa Banks, among others are scheduled to be part of the show.
"It is an honour to represent the people of India every time I step into the ring, and it will be a true privilege to perform for them live," Mahal was quoted as saying in the release.
The last time WWE was in India was in January 2016 with shows in Delhi.
Ticket information for the shows will be announced in the coming weeks. -- PTI
12:10 HC rejects Zakia Jafri's plea against clean chit to Modi
The Gujarat high court has rejected a petition seeking investigation against then-chief minister Narendra Modi and others, for allegedly hatching the conspiracy behind the 2002 riots in the state.
The petition was filed by Zakia Jafri, whose husband, former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri, was killed in the Gulbarg Society massacre, and activist Teesta Setalvad's NGO Citizen for Justice and Peace.
The court upheld the SIT closure report which gave the clean chit to Modi.
However, the HC allowed Jafri to approach higher forums for further investigation in the case.
Jafri had challenged a lower court order that upheld the clean chit given to Modi and other politicians and bureaucrats by the SC-appointed special investigation team on the grounds that no prosecutable evidence was found against them.
The petition also sought the high court's direction for fresh investigation into the matter.
11:56
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena workers during a rally in Mumbai for safety of rail commuters after Elphinstone stampede. Photograph: Sahil Salvi for Rediff.com
11:17 Radhe Maa gets VIP treatment at Delhi police station, probe begins
It seems controversy and godmen/godwomen walk hand-in-hand.
Accused in two separate cases including of dowry harassment in Mumbai, self-styled godwoman Radhe Maa got a special treatment at a Delhi police station.
The station house officer of the Vivek Vihar police station in Delhi offered his seat to the godwoman and also wore her chunari as mark of respect.
Radhe Maa was also given a floral welcome at the police station.
She was seen sitting in the chair of the SHO while the officer stood next to her with folded hands.
The Delhi Police has reportedly initiated an inquiry into the incident.
Last year, the 48-year-old Radhe Maa was in the news after one of her followers filed a complaint accusing the godwoman of instigating her in-laws against her for dowry.
In a separate case, a lawyer accused her of obscenity on the basis of videos showing her being lifted by followers while dancing to Bollywood songs.
10:32 Now, Modi temple with 100-ft statue to be built in Meerut
A grand temple worth Rs 30 crore is going to be built to honour Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Uttar Pradesh's Meerut district.
The temple would be built in Sardhana area of Meerut where a 100-foot statue of Modi would be installed.
The 'Bhumi Pujan' and the stone laying ceremony for the same would take place on October 23. Bharatiya Janata Party chief Amit Shah is expected to attend the event.
The temple is being built by a retired engineer from the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department, J P Singh.
The follower of the PM said that it will take nearly two years to complete the Modi temple.
When questioned about the motive behind building the statue, Singh said, "I like Prime Minister Modi's policies since decades and because I was still in the job, I was unable to do anything for him." -- ANI
10:21
Samajwadi Party announces election of Akhilesh Yadav as its National President for five-year term.
10:17 Cops deny nod for rally, but Raj Thackeray adamant
UPDATE: Mumbai police has denied permission to the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena for a rally in Churchgate in front of Western Railway headquarters.
However, MNS leader Nitin Sardesai has said that the party will go ahead with rally.
09:44 Myanmar beauty queen dethroned after posting video on Rohingya violence
19-year-old Miss Grand Myanmar, Shwe Eain Si, lost her title days after she posted a video accusing Rohingya insurgents of fomenting trouble in her nation.
The organiser of the beauty pageant, Hello Madam Media group, shortly after announced that she had been stripped of her title as her behaviour was not of a role model, but it also insisted that the video was not the reason she was being dethroned.
However, the beauty queen was convinced that the video was the reason she had been deprived of her title.
In a post on her behalf on her Facebook page, it was said, "Shwe Eain Si made a video about the reign of terror brought about by the Arsa militants in Rakhine state, but that was hardly qualified as a failure to project a decent image of a pageant contestant...' and that she is 'obliged as a citizen of this country to use her fame to speak out the truth for her nation.'
Shwe Eain Si was scheduled to represent her nation at the Miss Grand International contest this month, after coming second in the Miss Universe Myanmar pageant last year.
09:41 Elphinstone stampede: Raj Thackeray to lead rally today
Mumbaikars are likely to face massive traffic jams near Churchgate railway station today as Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray will lead a rally from Metro theatre to Churchgate to protest against the poor quality of railway infrastructure, days after a stampede at the Elphinstone Road railway station.
In a horrific incident, 23 people were killed, and 38 were injured in a stampede on a bridge at Elphinstone station on Friday last week.
Thackeray has said that he will himself participate in the rally in front of Western Railway headquarters in Churchgate.
MNS workers had travelled in local trains, asking people to participate in the rally.
On Saturday, Thackeray spoke against the bullet train project. "While people are struggling to survive in the cities, Modi is asking them to do yoga and campaign for Swachh Bharat. We will launch a 'no bullet train campaign'," he had said.
Thackeray had also alleged that Suresh Prabhu was replaced by Piyush Goyal as railway minister only to push through the bullet train project. "This Goyal is useless, Prabhu was good...Does one need bullet train or improvement of basic rail infrastructure?" he had said.
He had also called Modi a "liar".
"We have never seen a PM who is such a big liar. He made big promises and then dismissed them as 'election jumlas'. How much can a person lie in this fashion?" he had said.
09:20 Have no personal ties with Trump, says Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted that he once met United States President Donald Trump, but said he has no personal ties with him.
"We have almost no personal relationship. We saw each other just once. Yes, we had a couple of phone conversations on various issues of mutual interest, including Syria," Putin said at the Russian Energy Week conference in Moscow.
"I believe that a personality like Trump, with his character, will never be hostage to anyone," Putin stated.
"Regarding bilateral relations, you can judge for yourself. They have become hostage to the domestic political situation in the US. Certain forces are using Russian-American relations to address internal political issues. We are patiently waiting for this internal political process to end," Putin said.
"I do hope that the fundamental mutual interests -- which are the nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction, combating cyber-crime, energy cooperation, cooperation in addressing regional conflicts, anti-terrorism -- will ultimately change the nature of Russian-American relations for the better," the Moscow Times quoted Putin, as saying.
Putin further said that the global military strike against North Korea to destroy its nuclear and missile programme might not succeed, because no one knows where the military facilities are hidden. -- ANI
08:44 Railway hotel tender case: Lalu Yadav to appear before CBI today
Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav will today appear before the Central Bureau of Investigation in connection with the Railway hotel tender case.
The CBI had summoned Lalu Yadav today and his son, Tejashwi Yadav on October 6 in regard with the railway hotel tender case, after their inability to appear before it on October 3.
The investigative agency had, in July, registered a corruption case against Lalu, his wife Rabri Devi, Tejashwi, Sarla Gupta, and others under Section 120 B read with Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 13(2) read with Section 13(1)d Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 in connection with the case.
The FIR lodged by the CBI against the RJD chief stated that there were irregularities in awarding the tender for development, maintenance and operation of BNR Hotels in Ranchi and Puri when Lalu was the railway minister from 2004 to 2009.
08:24 Pak violates ceasefire along LoC in Poonch again
Pakistan on Thursday again resorted to unprovoked firing along the Line of Control in Digwar Sector of Poonch District in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked and indiscriminate firing post midnight.
Pakistan has violated ceasefire a number of times in the last few months.
Three army jawans were on Wednesday injured as Pakistani troops fired from automatic weapons and shelled mortars at forward posts and villages along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district.
On Tuesday, an army jawan was killed when Pakistan Army violated the ceasefire along the LoC in Poonch.
On October 2, two minors were killed and 12 civilians injured in cross-border shelling by Pakistan along the LoC in Poonch district.
00:45 Vegas shooting: FBI to question attacker's girlfriend
The authorities investigating the Las Vegas shooting have turned to the shooter's girlfriend, Marilou Danley, hoping to get clues about the gunman Stephen Paddock's motives and what may have sparked the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history.
Marilou Danley returned to the United States on Tuesday night from the Philippines.
She was accompanied by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Los Angeles, where the Las Vegas Police planned to question her, CNN quoted law enforcement source, as saying.
The FBI agents will pose two critical questions to Danley: Did she have any idea about what motivated him, and did she have any knowledge of what was about to take place and not alert authorities?
The 64-year-old Stephen Paddock was holed up in a high-rise hotel overlooking the Las Vegas Strip and opened fire on concertgoers at a country music festival in which 59 people were killed and more than 500 others injured.
The police believe Paddock acted alone.He had an arsenal of weapons, including bump-fire stocks found in the hotel, which is a legal device that enables a shooter to fire bullets rapidly, similar to an automatic rifle.
Paddock had outfitted 12 of his firearms with the bump stocks, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock encouraged his live-in girlfriend, Marilou Danley, to leave the country before the attack.
"I know that she doesn't know anything as well, like us. She was sent away. She was away so that she will be not there to interfere with what he's planning," CNN quoted one of Danley's sisters, as saying.Stephen Paddock, the Nevada man who authorities identified as the gunman who killed 59 people on Sunday night, 'continued to fire at a progressive successive rate for approximately nine minutes' after authorities received a 911 call, Clark County Sheriff Joseph Lombardo said. -- ANI
Marilou Danley returned to the United States on Tuesday night from the Philippines.
She was accompanied by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Los Angeles, where the Las Vegas Police planned to question her, CNN quoted law enforcement source, as saying.
The FBI agents will pose two critical questions to Danley: Did she have any idea about what motivated him, and did she have any knowledge of what was about to take place and not alert authorities?
The 64-year-old Stephen Paddock was holed up in a high-rise hotel overlooking the Las Vegas Strip and opened fire on concertgoers at a country music festival in which 59 people were killed and more than 500 others injured.
The police believe Paddock acted alone.He had an arsenal of weapons, including bump-fire stocks found in the hotel, which is a legal device that enables a shooter to fire bullets rapidly, similar to an automatic rifle.
Paddock had outfitted 12 of his firearms with the bump stocks, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock encouraged his live-in girlfriend, Marilou Danley, to leave the country before the attack.
"I know that she doesn't know anything as well, like us. She was sent away. She was away so that she will be not there to interfere with what he's planning," CNN quoted one of Danley's sisters, as saying.Stephen Paddock, the Nevada man who authorities identified as the gunman who killed 59 people on Sunday night, 'continued to fire at a progressive successive rate for approximately nine minutes' after authorities received a 911 call, Clark County Sheriff Joseph Lombardo said. -- ANI
TOP STORIES
© 2024 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances