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Sun, 08 October 2017
Vegas shooter left behind calculations for targeting crowd

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21:19   Vegas shooter left behind calculations for targeting crowd
A handwritten note in Stephen Paddock's hotel room contained calculations pertaining to the distance and trajectory from his 32nd-floor window to the crowd of concertgoers he targeted below, according to a law enforcement source with knowledge of the investigation.

The note was found in the hotel suite at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino among 23 firearms, ammunition and the gunman's dead body. Paddock took his own life, authorities have said, after killing 58 people and wounding nearly 500.

Investigators have been combing through evidence left behind and Paddock's background for any hint as to what led the retired accountant to amass an arsenal of high-powered assault rifles, meticulously map out an attack and open fire on the crowd at last weekend's Route 91 Harvest Festival.

Authorities have no credible information about Paddock's motive despite more than 1,000 leads and tips, Undersheriff Kevin C. McMahill said at a news conference on Friday.

Meanwhile, US Vice President Mike Pence offered prayers and words of comfort for Las Vegas, as he and his wife participated in a citywide "unity prayer walk" in honour of the shooting victims.

"We are with you today. Today we are all Vegas strong," Pence told participants gathered at City Hall. "President Trump personally asked us to be here to stand with you, to pray with you, for strength, comfort and healing."
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20:47   BJP heavyweights to visit Amethi
BJP heavyweights Amit Shah and Smriti Irani are set to visit Amethi, considered a Congress bastion, three days after Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi visited the parliamentary constituency.

Union Minister of Textiles and Information and Broadcasting Smriti Irani is scheduled to arrive on Monday, while BJP chief Amit Shah will visit on October 10.

A number of schemes and projects are likely to be announced and their foundation stones laid at a function on Tuesday to be attended by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

The beneficiaries of various schemes will be handed over certificates, the statement said.

Amethi, which has traditionally been a Congress bastion, had in 2014 Lok Sabha elections witnessed a high-pitched electoral battle between Gandhi and Irani.

Though Irani lost to the Congress scion, she managed to reduce his victory margin from around 3.70 lakh in 2009 to 1.07 lakh in 2014.
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20:16   Uddhav dares BJP to resign from Maharashtra govt
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray dares BJP to "resign" from Maharashtra government and face midterm polls.

Earlier on Saturday, the Shiv Sena president had slammed the central government over inflation and rising prices of essential products, saying "there is restlessness among citizens". Thackeray, while attacking the ally, the BJP-led government at the Centre, told a press conference, "Don't let that turn into an agitation. How much more you are going to loot the public?"

Thackeray criticised Modi's statement in Gujarat that the central government had lowered Goods and Services Tax rates was a Diwali gift for the public.
I am not an economist to comment on the announcements made yesterday but much more needs to be done to remove the suffering of the people, Thackeray said, and asked if the central government would willing return the surfeit taxes that had been collected so far.

The Shiv Sena relationship with its ally BJP has been showing signs of growing increasingly strained. The party has been highly critical of the BJP, with whom it shares power in the state government, and its policies, and the two parties have clashed on several occasions since they forged an alliance to take power in the state three years ago.

The Shiv Sena has repeatedly threatened to pull out of the government, but no such decision has been taken so far.

The BJP has 122 seats and the Sena has 63 in the 288-member Maharashtra assembly.
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19:53   UP min threatens to jail parents for not sending kids to schools
Uttar Pradesh minister Om Prakash Rajbhar has warned that parents who fail to send their wards to schools will be locked up in police stations without food and water.

In a video that has gone viral on social media, the 'Divyangjan' empowerment minister is reportedly seen addressing a party gathering and speaking vociferously against those who failed to send their kids to schools.

The term 'divyangjan' is used to refer to physically challenged persons.

"I am going to enact a law of my choice. If wards of poor do not got to school, their parents will be forced to sit in
police stations for five days. They will neither be given food nor water," Rajbhar said at Rasda area.

"If you (parents) do not send them (children) to school, you will be picked up by police..Till now your leader, your son, your brother was trying to make you understand. If you do not pay heed, I will continue to make you understand for six months more," he said.

Drawing parallels from mythology, the minister said like Lord Rama had to take up arms to build a bridge to Lanka to rescue his wife Sita from Ravana after his pleas to the ocean to pave way for him went in vain, "stern steps were required against the parents unwilling to send their kids to schools".

"I am even ready for capital punishment for this," Rajbhar added.

As the video stoked a controversy, the minister today stood firm on his statement.

"I stick to my statement. What wrong am I saying if I am threatening to send them to jail? Why are they not sending children to schools when the government is providing all facilities for education," he asked.

On asked whether he had talked to the chief minister regarding the matter, Rajbhar answered in the negative.
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19:25   After Sitharaman's visit, China tells India to face facts on border treaty
A day after Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made her maiden visit to the Nathu La post, China on Sunday urged India to abide by the provisions of the 1890 UK-China treaty, which it claims demarcated the Sikkim sector of the Sino-India border. 

Claiming that the Sikkim section of the China-India border has been demarcated by the historical boundary, the Chinese foreign ministry said it is time for India to face the facts on the border treaty.

We urge the Indian side to face the facts, abide by the provisions of the historic boundary treaty and the relevant agreement of the parties, and work together with the Chinese side to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas," it said in a written response on a query about Sitharaman's visit.

The ministry did not directly name the 1890 Britain-China treaty, which Beijing often referred to during the Doklam standoff, stating that it has defined the Sikkim section of the boundary with Tibet, therefore the border in that area has been settled.
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18:42   Didn't see Jaya in hospital; ready to depose, says minister
Tamil Nadu minister Vellamandi Natarajan on Sunday said he did not see late chief minister Jayalalithaa during her hospitalisation last year and offered to depose before the one-man inquiry commission set up to probe her demise.

"I did not see Amma (Jayalalithaa) when she was in the Apollo Hospital. We could go only up to the second storey of the hospital. After that no one was allowed (into her room)," he told reporters.

Natarajan, the tourism minister, said he was ready to record this before the inquiry commission.

The state government had last month named retired Madras High Court judge justice A Arumugasamy as the one-man commission of inquiry to probe the circumstances leading to the hospitalisation of Jaylalalithaa on September 22, 2016 and treatment provided till her demise on December 5 last.

Some AIADMK leaders, including ministers, had recently come up with contradicting claims over access to Jayalalithaa during her hospitalisation.

While senior minister Dindigul Srinivasan was the first to say that they did not see Jayalalithaa, some of his ministerial colleagues backed his stand while a few others had said they had met the then party supremo in hospital.
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18:23   UPDATE: Shah's son to sue The Wire for Rs 100 cr over turnover story
Union Minister Piyush Goyal has said that Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah's son Jay Shah will sue editor and owner of news website The Wire, as well as the author of a story about Jay Shah, for Rs 100 crore.

"Mr Jay Shah will file criminal defamation suit of Rs 100 crore against author (of article), editor and owner of news website The Wire," Goyal said.

"We reject any allegation sought to be made against Mr Jay Shah or any of our leaders. The article is trying to damage reputation of our leader Amit Shah," he said.

"All loans taken (by Jay Shah) were in accordance with law and were paid back with full interest, well within the time limit," he said.

"Mr Jay Shah will file civil and criminal prosecution for defamation in Ahmedabad court," he said.  -- ANI

Photograph: PTI Photo
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18:01   North Korea's Kim promotes sister, reaffirms nuclear drive
North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has promoted his sister to a senior ruling party post, state media said today, and praised the country's nuclear weapons programme which has sparked international alarm.

Kim Yo-Jong becomes an alternate member of the party's powerful politburo, the decision-making body presided over by her brother, the official KCNA news agency said.

The promotion was announced along with those for dozens of other top  officials at a party meeting led by the leader on Saturday.

It came as the regime faces growing global pressure to curb its weapons drive following recent nuclear and missile tests.

Tensions soared as Kim traded verbal threats with US President Donald Trump, who tweeted yesterday that "only one thing will work" to tame the isolated nuclear-armed state.

The sister, in her late 20s, has frequently been seen accompanying her brother on his "field guidance trips" and other events and is known to have been involved in the party's propaganda operations.

Both were born to the late former ruler Kim Jong-Il and his third partner, former dancer Ko Yong-Hui.

The family has ruled North Korea since its creation in 1948. The current ruler came to power after the death of his father in December 2011.
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17:15   Loco pilot killed after truck hits DMU at unmanned crossing
A concrete mixer truck hit a Diesel Multiple Unit train at an an unmanned crossing in Fazilka today killing the locomotive pilot, police said.

The train was going to Fazilka from Ferozepur this morning when the truck hit it near Ladhuka village, Government Railway Police officials said.

Witnesses said that the collision was so strong that the huge mixer got stuck in the train resulting in the death of Vikas Kaypee, the loco pilot.

A case has been registered against the driver of the concrete mixer. Police said the driver is absconding.  -- PTI

Photograph: ANI
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17:07   TN minister says he did not see Jaya in hospital; ready to depose before probe panel
Tamil Nadu minister Vellamandi Natarajan today said he did not see late chief minister Jayalalithaa during her hospitalisation last year and offered to depose before the one-man inquiry commission set up to probe her demise.

"I did not see Amma (Jayalalithaa) when she was in the Apollo Hospital. We could go only upto the second storey of the hospital. After that no one was allowed (into her room)," he told reporters in Pudukottai.

Natarajan, the Tourism Minister, said he was ready to record this before the inquiry commission.

"I will tell this truth to the commission, if they summon me and ask me. In fact all the ministers are ready to depose before the commission," he added.

The state government had last month named retired Madras high court judge justice A Arumugasamy as the one-man commission of inquiry to probe the circumstances leading to the hospitalisation of Jaylalalithaa on September 22, 2016 and treatment provided till her demise on December 5 last.

Some All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leaders, including Ministers, had recently come up with contradicting claims over access to Jayalalithaa during her hospitalisation.

While senior Minister Dindigul Srinivasan was the first to say that they did not see Jayalalithaa, some of his ministeral colleagues backed his stand while a few others had said they had met the then party supremo in hospital.  -- PTI
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16:25   Leaked video matter: ACB books Yeddyurappa, Ananth Kumar
Anti-Corruption Bureau has filed a first information report against Bharatiya Janata Party leaders B S Yeddyurappa and Ananth Kumar following forensic report confirming voices of the two in an audio of a leaked video.

In the leaked video, Yeddyurappa and Kumar were heard speaking about money transaction done by local political leaders to their party high command.

Reacting to the development, Yeddyurappa said, "The ACB is doing this intentionally because (Karnataka Chief Minister) Siddaramaiah has bent it. He has failed to get Ananth Kumar and me. We're ready to face ACB." -- ANI

Photograph: ANI
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15:41   Bodies of IAF officials arrive in makeshift cartons from Tawang spark concerns of disrespect
 tweet posted by (Retired) Lieutenant General HS Panag led to concerns over the Indian State's disrespect towards its security forces on Sunday morning.

Seven members of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Army had died in a chopper crash on Friday morning in Arunachal Pradesh's Tawang. On Sunday, Panag shared a photograph of their bodies being flown back in cardboard boxes, hastily tied up with makeshift ropes. He published a couple of tweets with a scathing remark.

His criticism of the government immediately sparked off a series of defences as well as more censure from several users of the micro-blogging sites.

Security analyst Nitin Gokhale asked Panag if the Indian Army had ever used body bags to transport the mortal remains of its soldiers.

To which, Panag replied that the lack of such civilised provisions and dignified apparatus was precisely what he was interested in highlighting.

Photograph: @RWAC48
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14:54   IAF's first three women fighter pilot may fly Mig 21 Bisons
The first three women fighter pilots of the country are likely to fly the MiG-21 Bison jets, one of the potent combat aircraft in the IAF's armoury.

The three women pilots -- Avani Chaturvedi, Bhawana Kanth and Mohana Singh are set to script history next month when they will fly military jets after completing a strenuous training programme within three weeks.

"The present consideration is to put them to Mig 21 Bison squadron. Our opion is that it will sharpen their skills as the aircraft has more manual features than other sophisticated aircraft," Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa said today.

He indicated that after honing their skills in flying Mig 21 Bisons, the three women can fly other jets.

The three women 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.

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.
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14:27   Thousands protest across Australia against Adani's coal mine project
Several protests were held across Australia against Indian mining giant Adani's proposed $16.5 billion Carmichael coal mine project, which has been delayed for years over environmental and financing issues.

Rallies were held yesterday in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, the Gold Coast and Port Douglas in North Queensland where thousands of protesters took to streets as part of a National Day of Action. 

"If this mine does go ahead it drives us into a dirty future and Australia is a country that's smarter than that," Simon Fosterling, said a Bondi surf life saver at the Sydney protest, which attracted about 2,000 people.

"I have a two-year-old daughter and I don't want to have a conversation with her in 10 years time and the mine's gone ahead and she says to me, 'dad, why didn't you do something?'"

Protesters spelled out '#STOP ADANI' by standing in formation on the sand.

Sydney 'Stop Adani' campaigner Isaac Astill called the construction of the mine an international issue.

"It's going to be the biggest coal mine in the southern hemisphere at a time when our climate is crumbling," Astill said. "It's an international issue and that's why we're seeing people around the world and in Australia coming out in their thousands to say no to Adani."
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13:47   Nirmala Sitharaman teaches Chinese soldiers the meaning of 'Namaste'
Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday taught Chinese soldiers the meaning of the Indian greeting 'namaste' during her visit to the Sino-Indian border in Sikkim.

A video tweeted from the official handle of the defence minister's office shows Sitharaman interacting with a Chinese officer, who then introduces her to his colleagues.

The minister greets the officers with folded hands and a 'namaste.'

She then quizzes the soldiers across the border about the meaning of her greeting.

"You know what 'namaste' is," she asks.

When Indian soldiers present at the scene try to prompt the answer, the minister issues them a mild rebuke, asking them to "hold on."

The officer almost guesses correctly: Nice to meet you.
Sitharaman asks him what he would say to her in Chinese and he responds, "Ni hao."

The minister also compliments the English-speaking Chinese officer, assumably the senior-most there, on his English language skills.
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13:17   During yatra, Amit Shah says Communists are politically violent
BJP president Amit Shah on Sunday launched into a tirade against the CPI-M rule in Kerala, saying Communists are "politically violent by nature" and that the bodies of "our workers were chopped into pieces to instill fear". 

Shah, who left his Kerala "Raksha Yatra" midway earlier this week, undertook a march to the Left party's office in the national capital, urging his party workers to fight the "tyranny of the Left". He alleged that over 120 RSS-BJP workers had been murdered in Kerala ever since the Communists came to power. 

Shah trained his guns on the Congress, too, saying just as Communists had finished around the world, the Congress was finished in India.

The BJP president took up the cudgels against the human rights activists, questioning why they weren't protesting "political murders" in Kerala. "Their selective protest exposes them. Why don't they carry out a candle march against their fellow Red comrades?"

He attacked Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan for his failure to control political violence in his state. "He should be ashamed of himself. The maximum number of killings have occurred under his nose, within his own district."
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12:53   Adnan Sami, Omar Abdullah in war of words over Srinagar concert
Mixed reports about the success of singer Adnan Sami's 'Rhythm in Paradise' concert in Srinagar on Saturday led to an out-and-out Twitter war between him and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah. 

The exchange of barbs began when a Twitter user tweeted a picture of the "empty seats" at the concert, "past the scheduled Start time."

To this, Omar responded: "That's a real pity. I hope people have filled those seats now. For an evening they can let the music transport them to a more peaceful place."

This did not sit well with Sami, who told Abdullah to not get "so unnerved by a music concert."

"Bro ur a former CM..U shouldn't be so unnerved by a music concert. U obviously have bad sources who lie 2 U - HERE are d photos!!🙌😁 #GrowUp," Sami tweeted, with pictures of people at the concert.

Abdullah responded with a dig of his own, telling Sami that he "used to like" his music "at one time."

"How does hoping you have a houseful suggest I'm unnerved? I'm glad people got to enjoy an evening of music. I used to like yours at one time," he wrote.

In a series of tweets, the two continued to exchange barbs, with Sami calling Abdullah "a sadistic sore loser," and the former chief minister wondering if Sami needs "the column inches in a gossip piece."

"Like you said right in the beginning - I am a former CM & so I'll ignore yr 7-8 insults in 3 tweets.Thanks for coming to Srinagar.Stay safe," Omar said in his final tweet addressed to Sami.

"So you finally realised huh! Der aye durust aye," Sami responded.

Sami's concert was held four years after Western classical music conductor Zubin Mehta performed his 'Ehsas-e-Kashmir' at the Shalimar lawns.
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12:24   UPDATE: PM Modi addresses rally in hometown
PM Modi went to Vadnagar, his birth place, for the first time since becoming the prime minister in 2014.

The prime minister will inaugurate a medical college and  a hospital, and a new building at the local railway station in hometown Vadnagar today, officials said. There will also be an exhibition of photos at the canteen of the local railway station where the prime minister's father used to prepare tea. Narendra Modi in his childhood would often help his father and paternal uncle, and also deliver tea to train passengers. Prime Minister Modi might also hold a 'Chai Pe Charcha' programme. He will also hold a public meeting and address a rally in Vadnagar.

Speaking at a rally, he talks about his homecoming. Here are the highlights:

>> Coming back to one's home town and receiving such a warm welcome is special. Whatever I am today is due to the values I have learnt on this soil, among you all in Vadnagar

>> I will go back with your blessings and assure you that I will work even harder for the nation

>> I am happy that I have got to inaugurate projects relating to the health sector, particularly Intensified Mission Indradhanush

>> We brought prices of stents down. Work is constantly being done to make healthcare affordable for the poor
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11:45   Railways asks officials to slug it out - at home and at work
The railway ministry has asked its senior staff to slug it out - at home and at work - as part of steps to end the VIP culture in India's national transporter.

In an unprecedented move, the ministry has brought to an end a 36-year-old protocol where it was mandatory for general managers to present themselves on arrival and departure of the Railway Board chairman and other board members during zonal visits.

In an order on September 28, the ministry said that the instructions and guidelines issued to the railways regarding the protocol to be observed at airports and railway stations during the visit of the Railway Board chairman and other board members stand withdrawn with immediate effect.

Railway Board chairman Ashwani Lohani said no official will entertain bouquets and gifts at any time.

However, it's not just in the office that senior officials of the national carrier have to exercise restraint, but also at home. All senior officials have to relieve all the railway staff who have been engaged as domestic help in their homes.

Officials say that around 30,000 trackmen work at the homes of senior officials. They have been asked to resume duties. Sources in the ministry say that in the past one month around 6,000-7,000 personnel have reported back to work.
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11:35   UPDATE: Triumphant Vadnagar boy returns home as PM
Around 50 banners flying on the side of the road on way to Vadnagar tell the story of Narendra Modi -- his birth, Modi selling tea at Vadnagar railway station, later joining the RSS and so on.

The focus of the town this time is the place where he used to vend tea as a young boy. The banners continue with the Modi story to cover demonetization, ties with foreign nations and the bullet train. Vadnagar, Modi's birth place, is about 100 km north of Ahmedabad.

As Modi returns to his home town after a five-year gap, the town has left no stone unturned to celebrate its PM connection.

Modi will launch the intensified Mission Indradhanush that will work towards full immunization. The PM will distribute e-tablets to health workers to mark the launch of ImTeCHO, a mobile app to improve performance of Accredited Social Health Activists workers.

Modi will lay the foundation stone for Bhadbhut Barrage, to be built over the Narmada river in Bharuchm and also flag off the Antyodaya Express between Udhna in Surat, and Jaynagar in Bihar. He will also unveil plaques for the inauguration of various plants of Gujarat Narmada Fertiliser Corporation.
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11:35   UPDATE: Saudi gunman who opened fire at royal palace shot dead
A gunman who opened fire at the al-Salam royal palace in the Red Sea city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, has been killed by palace guards.  

The attacker was identified him as Mansour al-Amri, a 28-year-old Saudi national. 

According to the security spokesperson for the Saudi Arabia's interior ministry, the attacker opened fire on the western gate of Al-Salam palace in Jeddah, killing two guard members and injuring three others.  

The victims have been identified as agent sergeant Hammad bin Shallah al-Mutairi and first soldier Abdullah bin Faisal al-Subaie, the Saudi ministry said. 

The gunman had driven up to the gate of the palace and opened fire at the guards. An AK-47 and thee Molotov cocktails were found on his person after the attack, the al-Arabiya news agency reported. 

Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia has issued a security warning to American citizens in Jeddah over the attack. 

"Due to the possibility of ongoing police activity, American citizens are advised to exercise caution when travelling through the area," the embassy warned in a statement.  

According to the national security agency, the warning came after the Saudi police raided hideouts of a suspected terror cell linked to the Islamic State group this week, killing two people and arresting five. 
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10:49   Lankan president offers prayers at Tirupati
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena today offered prayers at the famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala. 

It is his third visit to the temple town as head of state, since 2015. 

Before offering prayers at the Tirumala Temple, Sirisena, accompanied by his wife Jayanthi Pushpa Kumari and some Sri Lankan officials, participated in the pre-dawn 'Suprabhatham' recitation ritual conducted by priests inside the shrine. 

Sirisena arrived in Tirupati yesterday by road from Bengaluru. After offering worship, the Sri Lankan president was honoured with a sacred silk cloth of the presiding deity, a framed photo of Lord Venkateswara and 'prasadam'. Later, he left for Benguluru by road to fly back to Colombo. 

Sirisena had previously visited the shrine in February 2015 and in August 2016.
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10:12  
Just In: We are prepared to fight at short notice if the need arises, says IAF chief B S Dhanoa.
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09:19   Shaping of eyebrows, haircut are un-Islamic, says Deoband
Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband issued a fatwa (edict) on Saturday that banned women from plucking, trimming and shaping their eyebrows and also cutting their hair. 

Darul Iftaa, which issues the Darul Uloom Deoband's edicts, has termed all such hair-grooming activities as 'un-Islamic'. 

"Darul-Uloom Deoband has issued a fatwa against Muslim women cutting their hair and shaping their eyebrows," Maulana Kazmi of Darul Uloom Deoband said. 

According to reports, a Muslim man from Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur had sent a query to the seminary seeking to know if haircut and eyebrow shaping were allowed in Islam. 

In a response to the query, Darul Iftaa said such acts violate Islamic laws. 

Darool Uloom Deoband has issued many fatwas in the past.  

In January 2012, it issued a fatwa calling for the author Salman Rushdie to be barred from entering India to attend a literature festival because he had offended Muslim sentiments. 

In May 2010, Darool Uloom Deoband issued a fatwa stating that men and women cannot work together in public offices unless the women are "properly clothed".  

In September 2013, it issued a fatwa banning photography as un-Islamic.

Photograph: Tim Whitby/Getty Images.
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08:40   Sitharaman waves out to Chinese soldiers at Nathu La
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday visited Nathu La area on the Sino-India border and interacted with Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police officials.  

However, her scheduled aerial survey of Dokalam and forward posts in the border areas of Sikkim was cancelled due to inclement weather, a statement issued by the department of information and public relations, Government of Sikkim, said.  

On her Twitter handle, the defence minister said Chinese soldiers from across the border took pictures of her when she reached Nathu La. 

"Acknowledged a row of Chinese soldiers from across the fence who were taking pictures on my reaching Nathu La," she tweeted.
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08:36   Adnan Sami performs at Dal lake, says has seen heaven now
Singer Adnan Sami on Saturday dished out a medley of his hit songs to a mesmerised audience on the banks of the Dal Lake in Srinagar. 

The singer said he was blown away by the natural beauty of Kashmir. Sami, who performed in front of a select audience at the SKICC lawns, started off with his famous number Mai Sirf Tera Mehboob.  

"Today I have come to realise that there is hell; because today I have seen heaven (Kashmir)," the singer said to thunderous applause from the crowd. 

Sharing anecdotes from his life in between songs, Sami said he has a very deep connection with Jammu and Kashmir. "Not only because my mother is from Jammu but I learned Hindustani classical from santoor maestro Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, who hails from Jammu as well. 

"It was because of him that I could show the world that Hindustani classical can be played on piano as well," he added. 

The concert was organised by the tourism department to a boost to tourist footfall in the state. Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju,  several ministers of the Jammu and Kashmir government, and senior civil administration and police officials attended the concert. 

Renowned conductor Zubin Mehta had performed at the Shalimar Mughal Gardens in September 2013, the last major musical event in the valley.

Traditionally, Kashmir is all about beautiful Art, Culture & Tourism. Adnan Sami concert at Srinagar was supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! Rijiju tweeted, and posted photographs from the concert (including the one alongside).
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08:13   Amit Shah to take out rally to CPM's Delhi office today
After leaving his party's march against the CPI-M in Kerala midway, BJP chief Amit Shah will lead one to the left party's office in the national capital today to protest against the alleged killings of right-wing activists in the southern state.  

Earlier in the week, Shah had kicked off the Jan Raksha Yatra (people's protection march) from Payyannur in Kerala.  

According to the party, he skipped the march in Pinarayi -- the home town of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan -- as he had to attend a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

Shah will start today's march from Connaught Place after paying homage to BJP and RSS workers "killed" in Kerala. He will be accompanied by BJP's Delhi unit president Manoj Tiwari and other senior party leaders, the party said in a statement. 

The BJP will take out the Jan Raksha Yatra every day from every state capital till October 16. Shah is also scheduled to lead the march on the concluding day later this month in Thiruvananthapuram.  

Kerala, especially the volatile Kannur district, has been witnessing a series of political killings and counter-killings of CPI-M and RSS-BJP activists. 

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