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Wed, 28 March 2018
Anna Hazare loses over 5 kg on hunger strike

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23:40   Anna Hazare loses over 5 kg on hunger strike
Social-activist Anna Hazare's hunger strike entered sixth day today, with the veteran anti-corruption crusader loosing over five Kg weight, his aide claimed.

His blood pressure also plunged because of fasting, Hazare's aide Datta Awari said.

Nana Patole, former BJP MP, who quit the party and joined the Congress, also met Hazare at the Ramleela Maidan where he is on hunger strike since March 23.
On Monday, the Centre reached out to Hazare, with its emissary and Maharashtra minister Girish Mahajana assuring the social-activist that most of his "demands will be taken care of".
Hazare's demands include appointment of Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayuktas in states, and giving better prices to farmers for their yield.

Mahajan, who is minister for Water Resources and Medical Education in the state, had said that out of the 11 main demands put forth by Hazare, nearly 7-8 have been agreed upon.
He had also said that a written proposal will be given to Hazare.

-- PTI
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23:01   Mamata opposes Air India disinvestment; O'Brien too raises questions
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today strongly opposed the Centre's move to disinvest its stake in Air India and TMC leader Derek O'Brien questioned the decision, saying a parliamentary panel was still examining the issue.
Hours after the government released the preliminary information memorandum on strategic disinvestment of the national carrier, Banerjee took to Twitter to express her objection over the decision.
"I'm sorry to read in the media about the government inviting expression of interest for selling Air India, the jewel of our nation. We strongly oppose this and want this order to be withdrawn immediately," the TMC chief said.

"This government must not be allowed to sell our country," she claimed.

O'Brien also slammed the government's move.
"The proposed disinvestment of Air India is being examined by the panel. Stakeholders are being called. Views heard. Report still some time away. How come these moves from goverment?," he tweeted.
O'Brien heads the Parliamentary Standing Committee of Transport, Tourism and Culture.

-- PTI
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22:33   Assange has internet access cut off by Ecuadorian embassy
Julian Assange has been banned from the internet by the Ecuadorian embassy, where he lives.

The Wikileaks founder has been upsetting the Ecuadorian government by sending messages that could upset other countries, the Ecuadorian government said.

"The Ecuadorean government believes Assange's behaviour, through his messages on social media, put at risk good relations which this country has with the UK, the rest of the EU and other nations," it said in a statement posted to Twitter.

Assange's supporters, including internet entrepreneur Kim Dotcom, have begun a campaign under the banner "reconnect Julian". They have asked people to head to the embassy, in London's Knightsbridge, to show support for Mr Assange and to ask that diplomats let him back on the internet.
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22:24   Nearly 300 killed in communal violence in 2015-17, Govt tells RS
Nearly 300 people, including 111 in 2017 alone, were killed in various incidents of communal violence in last three years across India, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.

Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said 111 people were killed and 2,384 others were injured in 822 communal incidents in the country in 2017.

In 2017, the highest 44 people were killed in Uttar Pradesh in 195 communal incidents, followed by 12 deaths in 91 such incidents in Rajasthan.
In 2016, 86 people were killed and 2,321 others were injured in 703 communal incidents in the country. That year, among all the states, Uttar Pradesh had seen 162 communal incidents in which 29 people were killed.
As many as 12 people were killed in 101 communal incidents in Karnataka in 2016.
In 2015, 97 people were killed and 2,264 others were injured in 751 communal incidents in the country.
In 2015, among all the states, the highest 22 people were killed in Uttar Pradesh in such incidents, followed by 20 in Bihar and 14 in Maharashtra.

-- PTI
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22:05   Fadnavis hints at joint contest with Sena in 2019 polls
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today told the Legislative Council that the "lion and tiger"-- an allusion to the BJP and the Shiv Sena-would contest the 2019 elections together.

Fadnavis' remarks came in response to Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil's dig that "rats will destroy the throne of the BJP-led state government".

Former BJP minister Eknath Khadse had last week questionned the claims of a private company that a total of 3,19,400 rats were killed in the state secretariat in a week.

Khadse, an MLA from Jalgaon district, had also said that Dhule farmer Dharma Patil had consumed the same poison whoch was meant for killing rodents in Mantralaya to commit suicide in January this year.

The embarrassed government later clarified that 3,19,400 was actually the number of rat poison tablets placed in Mantralaya and not the number of rodents killed.

Building on Khadse's statement, Vikhe Patil said the remaining rats in Mantralaya would destroy the throne of the state government.

Returning the barb, Fadnavis said his government had no fear of rodents.

"Tiger (a symbol of Sena) and lion (an allusion to BJP) are together so we don't fear rats. Rats will come our way, but the tiger and the lion will destroy them and win the 2019 polls," he said.

-- PTI
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21:36   Govt approves removal of provision of 'bridge course' in NMC Bill
The government today approved amendments to the National Medical Commission Bill including removing the contentious provision of "bridge course", which would have allowed practitioners of alternative medicines to pursue allopathy, an official statement said.

Observing the need to act strictly against unqualified practitioners, the government approved an amendment to make the punishment for any unauthorised practice of medicine "severe" by including a provision for imprisonment of up to one year along with a fine extending to up to Rs five lakh.

The Union cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi also approved that the final MBBS examination would be held as a common exam throughout the country and would serve as an exit test to be called the National Exit Test.

Thus, students would not have to appear in a separate exam after MBBS to get licence to practice and 'NEXT' would serve as the screening test for doctors with foreign medical qualifications in order to practice in India, the statement said.

According to the statement, the provision dealing with "bridge course" for AYUSH practitioners to practice modern medicine has been removed.

The provision was strongly opposed by health organisations, including the Indian Medical Association, which said allowing AYUSH doctors practise modern medicine would promote "quackery".

The health ministry, however, had stated that the provision seeks to address "acute shortage" of doctors in India.

"It has been left to state governments to take necessary measures for addressing and promoting primary health care in rural areas," the statement said.
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21:10   EC to formulate code for social media platforms which collaborate with it
Social media platforms which collaborate with the Election Commission will now have to follow a 'code of conduct' to ensure that their user data remains protected from manipulation which could adversely affect elections.

Highly-placed sources in the poll panel said today that the body's social media unit met yesterday and decided to draft the 'code of conduct'.

The platforms which do not follow the proposed code will not get to partner with the EC.

The decision was taken in the aftermath of the Cambridge Analytica episode.

Observing that utilisation of social media cannot be stopped due to instances of "aberrations", Chief Election Commissioner O P Rawat had said yesterday that Facebook would remain the poll panel's social media partner during the Karnataka assembly elections.
He also said the social media cell of the EC would go into the issue of App of politicians and political parties sharing user data without the users' consent.

"Any aberration won't stop the use of modern technology... banks frauds have taken place, but we don't stop banking," Rawat told a press conference while announcing the Karnataka assembly poll schedule.
He was asked if the Facebook would continue to be the EC's social media partner in the wake of reports that its user data had been harvested by a company without the users' consent.

-- PTI
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20:43   JD-U rejects allegations of using Cambridge Analytica
The Janata Dal-United rejected on Wednesday allegations that it had used caste analysis provided by Cambridge Analytica, accused of data breach, saying the party does not believe in using such means for electoral politics.

The partys reaction came after Christopher Wylie, who blew the lid off the alleged scam involving mining of Facebook user data to manipulate elections, tweeted details that claim to expose the British consultancys work in India dating back to 2003.

Wylie, 28, has claimed that SCL India (formerly Strategic Communication Laboratories, the parent company of Cambridge Analytica) was asked to provide electoral research and strategy for the 2010 Bihar elections for the JD-U.

But JD-U leader KC Tyagi rejected the allegation, saying his party does not believe in using data for electoral politics.

I have said this in the past. I repeat again that the JD-U does not believe in such means. We fight elections the way it should be contested, he said.
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20:24   Opposition leaders meet President on SC/ST Act issue
Leaders of various opposition parties led by Congress chief Rahul Gandhi today raised their concerns on dilution of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act with President Ram Nath Kovind  and sought his intervention, saying the apex court order had created "a feeling of insecurity among the Dalits".

"We met the President on the dilution of the SC/ST Act... The atrocities (on dalits and tribals) are increasing and the Act is being diluted. The President was quite positive and supportive," Gandhi told reporters after he along with leaders of BSP, NCP, CPI-M, SP, DMK and other parties handed over a memorandum to Kovind this evening.

Asked if the President had given them any assurance, Gandhi said, "He will assess and will take relevant action."

BSP leader Satish Chandra Misra said the delegation told the president that the issue was not represented effectively by the government and that is why this situation had arisen.

"We told the president that effective representation was not done in the issue and have made a demand that a review petition be filed in the apex court," said Misra.

The memorandum said "there is a great unease and a feeling of insecurity amongst  the members of Dalit community and other oppressed classes" after the judgment and "if immediate steps are not taken by the government, then we are afraid, this may turn into something not less than a national disaster".

-- PTI
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20:06   Xi told me meeting with Kim went very well: Trump
United States President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that Chinese President Xi Jinping notified him that his meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was a success.

The two leaders held talks in Beijing on Wednesday during Kim's surprise visit to China that reportedly took place from March 25 and 28.

"Received message last night from XI JINPING of China that his meeting with KIM JONG UN went very well and that KIM looks forward to his meeting with me," Trump said in an early morning tweet.

"In the meantime, and unfortunately, maximum sanctions and pressure must be maintained at all cost!" he added.

The United States and the United Nations have imposed tough sanctions on North Korea, owing to its persistent ballistic missile tests last year.

Most recently, Trump slapped new sanctions on North Korea, targeting 56 vessels, shipping companies and trade businesses, of which Chinese firms and personnel are involved.

It is being said that the talks would have largely centred on the situation of the Korean Peninsula and denuclearisation of North Korea.

Trump also mentioned of denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula while highlighting the willingness of Kim to meet him.

"For years and through many administrations, everyone said that peace and the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula was not even a small possibility. Now there is a good chance that Kim Jong Un will do what is right for his people and for humanity. Look forward to our meeting!", Trump further said.

An inter-Korean summit is also expected to take place in Late April to discuss the issue of denuclearisation.

-- ANI
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19:55   As Centre ignores Anna Hazare's hunger strike, locals from his village threaten self-immolation
Agitated over the Center's ignorance on Anna Hazare's hunger strike at Delhi's Ramleela Maidan, villagers of Ralegan Siddhi, started their march towards the house of the BJP MP Dilip Gandhi, of Ahmadnagar district, shouting slogans Our Village Our Government.

Ralegan Siddhi village is the native village of Anna Hazare.

The villagers have also passed a resolution in their Gram Sabha banning the government officials in the village. The police personnel, as well as the district administrative officials, are asked to vacate the village.

The former Sarpanch of the village said that the BJP government deploys commandos at Ramleela Maidan while our soldiers lose their lives on the border.

He further said that if the government does not take positive steps by tonight, it will witness hundreds of villagers self-immolating by Thursday morning.

As Anna Hazare's fast unto death agitation at Ramleela Maidan nears 7th day, this tussle between the villagers and the government authorities have popped up in his native village heading onto major life threats in the coming days.
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19:46   Can't hate those who hate me: Rahul
Seemingly unbothered by a sting operation expose on certain media houses agreeing to peddle hate against him, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said that he can never hate those who try to stir up hate against him.

Taking to Twitter, Gandhi wrote, "I can never hate those who try to stir up hate against me, with fake stories and their cunning twisting of fact. For them it's just business; hate sold for a price, as the Cobrapost expose shows. I'm blessed and honoured that they make their livelihoods spinning lies about me."

An Investigative news portal recently released a sting operation conducted by its journalist that showed senior employees of 17 media houses agreeing to push communally divisive news stories for a price.

Some of them also seemed to agree to produce defamatory content against Gandhi, among other politicians.

-- ANI
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19:20   IT ministry asks Facebook to share information on data leak by April 7
The government has sent a notice to Facebook, asking it provide details by April 7 regarding possible data breach and manipulation of Indian electoral process by the social media giant or its associates.

The notice to Facebook comes days after the IT ministry asked its associate and London-based vendor Cambridge Analytica a host of questions over similar allegations, that included misusing the data of Indian users to influence and "manipulate" elections.

"It is felt that there is need for further information about the data breach from Facebook. Accordingly, a letter has been issued by the IT Ministry to Facebook," the government said, spelling out areas where details have been sought.

The ministry has asked the Mark Zuckerberg-founded American tech giant whether the personal data of Indian voters and users had been compromised by Cambridge Analytica or any other "downstream entity" in any manner, and if so, how was it compromised?

Another question asked is "whether Facebook or its related or downstream agencies utilising Facebooks data have previously been engaged by any entities to manipulate the Indian electoral process?"

The government has also asked Facebook about the measures it undertakes to protect the data of users. "What are the specific steps proposed to be taken by Facebook to prevent any misuse of personal data for potential interference in, or manipulation of the Indian electoral process?"

Also, the Ministry asked whether Facebook has taken any "proactive measures" to ensure the safety, security and privacy of such large user data and to prevent its misuse by any third party.

The notice to Facebook and its associates comes as the political slugfest between the BJP and the Congress over misuse and manipulation of user data has been intensifying. 
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19:18   terrorists killed in encounter in Rajouri
Four terrorists were today killed in a gunfight with security forces in the Sunderbani area of Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district, the police said.

The terrorists had infiltrated into the Indian territory from across the Line of Control about four-five days ago, prompting security forces to launch a search operation in the area.

Authorities had ordered the closure of educational institutions in the Sunderbani tehsil in view of the search operation.

"Four terrorists have been killed in the encounter,"  J&K's Director General of Police S P Vaid said.

No injury was reported to anyone in the gunfight with the terrorists, he said.

The encounter broke out in the Nowshera-Sunderbani belt after the group of infiltrating terrorists was intercepted by the security forces early today, the DGP said.

SSP, Rajouri, Yougal Manhas said three bags containing ammunition and explosives were recovered from outside a CRPF camp in Sunderbani. 

According to reports, a security guard manning the gate of the CRPF camp at Sodra fired warning shots and raised an alarm on detecting suspicious movement near the paramilitary facility.

Manhas said the police and other security forces had been conducting a combing operation to track down the terrorists for four to five days.

CRPF PRO Ashish Kumar Jha denied media reports that the terrorists had attacked the paramilitary CRPF camp in Sunderbani.

-- PTI
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18:19   Deadline for linking Aadhaar with welfare schemes extended to June 30
The government has extended the deadline for linking Aadhaar with welfare schemes by three months to June 30. 

On December 15 last year, the apex court had extended till March 31 the deadline for mandatory linking of Aadhaar with various services and welfare schemes.
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17:56  
Just in: Salman Khan blackbuck case: Jodhpur Court to deliver verdict in the case on 5 April.
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17:53   Brotherhood and bonhomie ruled Parliament today
Parliament witnessed an unusual group of MPs today -- emotional and non-combative.

Rajya Sabha bade farewell to about 60 of its members whose tenures end over the next few weeks, and at the Central Hall of Parliament many MPs seemed actually emotional cutting across party lines conversing with colleagues.  

Here's a listicle who spoke to whom.

-- Congress leader Ahmed Patel was seen in conversation with BJP senior leader Dr Murli Manohar Joshi.

-- NCP chief Sharad Pawar was talking to TMC's Dinesh Trivedi o


-- BJP leader Naresh Aggarwal was seated next to SP Amar Singh and were discussing Uttar Pradesh politics.

-- SP's Jaya Bachchan was seated next to party colleague Dimple Yadav. As Naresh Aggarwal passed by she turned her face away to avoid interacting with him. Jaya Bachchan and Naresh Agarwal are not on talking terms after the SP rejected his candidature for the Rajya Sabha seat. He has also belittled Bachchan when he joined the BJP.

-- Karnataka MPs both from Congress and BJP were exchanging notes of Rahul Gandhi and Amit Shah's visits to the state. BJP MPs from Karnataka crowed that they would be forming the government in the state, while Congress MPs said that if they projected Mallikarjuna Kharge as the CM candidate, they would retain the state. CM Siddaramaiah splitting Lingayat votes also came up for discussion.

-- The Cauvery water issue and the failed attempt to introduce a no-confidence motion in the House were not talked about as the subjects are way too boring for the MPs.

BJP MP Udit Raj from Delhi was talking loudly against his government and he said that people expected more from Modi but the party could not deliver on its promises. Many print media journalists were seen around him.

TDP's CM Ramesh and KSR Rao of the Congress were discussing Andhra Pradesh politics. Ramesh stated that the TDP will go it alone and wants the YSR Congress and BJP should come together so that Christian and Muslim minorities will distance themselves from YSR, which will help the TDP.  

Punjab Governor VP Singh Badnore was in the Central Hall meeting senior Congress leader Moshina Kidwai and others. They were then joined by SAD MP Naresh Gujral, then, interestingly, both went to meet Arun Jaitley at his chambers.
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16:44  
Mamata Banerjee met rebel BJP leaders Arun Shourie, Shatrughan Sinha and Yashwant Sinha in Delhi; TMC MP Derek O'Brien was also present. 
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16:31   CBSE to conduct re-exam of Class 10 maths, Class 12 eco papers
In the wake of reports claiming paper leaks, the CBSE today announced re-examination in the Class 10 mathematics and Class 12 economics subjects.


The Central Board of Secondary Education issued a circular today informing about the re-examination and said dates and other details for it would be posted on the board's website.


"The board has taken cognisance of certain happenings in the conduct of certain examinations as are being reported. With a view to uphold the sanctity of the board examinations and in the interest of fairness to the students, the board has decided to re-conduct the examinations for the following subjects," it said.


Dates for the re-examination of the Class 10 mathematics and Class 12 economics papers would be posted on the CBSE website within a week, the circular said.


Panic had gripped Class 12 CBSE students on Monday after claims were made on social media sites that the economics paper had been leaked. The CBSE had denied the claims, saying, "We have checked with all examination centres and the paper was not leaked."


"The source of the circulation of this information is not known yet," the board had said.


On March 15, the Delhi Government had said it had received complaints of the Class 12 CBSE accountancy paper being leaked. The government had ordered a probe, even as the board denied any leak.


"There has been no leakage of the question paper. All the seals have been found intact at all exam centres. However, at the local level, some miscreants may have circulated messages through WhatsApp and other social media platforms to hurt the sanctity of the exam," the board had then said. -- PTI
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16:14   What was 3000 kg of explosives doing in Kerala?
A huge cache of explosive material, including detonators, gelatin sticks and fuse wire, was seized from a lorry in Malappuram district of Kerala early today and two people were arrested in this connection, police said.


A police team searched the vehicle, bearing a Karnataka registration number, at Mongam on specific instructions from District Police Chief Debesh Kumar Behera.


The search revealed 10,000 detonators, 3,750 kilograms of gelatin sticks and 213 rolls of fuse wire hidden under packs of chicken droppings used as manure, they said.  -- PTI


The vehicle was on its way to Kozhikode in Kerala from Hassan district in Karnataka.


Two drivers of the truck were arrested under Sections 4 and 5 of the Explosive Substances Act and Section 286 of the IPC when they they failed to produce documents supporting the consignment, the police said.


The two will be produced before a court in the afternoon, they said, adding that an investigation was on. -- PTI
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16:10   Wanted: 274 pilots for army and navy
There is a shortage of 274 pilots in the Army and the Navy, the government today informed the Lok Sabha. In a written response to a question, Subhash Bhamre, minister of state in the defence ministry, said the sanctioned strength of pilots in the Army is 794, while it has 192 vacant posts. The Navy has a sanctioned strength of 735 pilot and has 82 vacant posts.


"There is a marginal shortage of pilots in Indian Air Force against the authorised establishment. However, the available strength in the IAF is sufficient to meet the current operational requirements," he said.


On a question whether the Navy has decided to increase its watch over Indian Ocean, Bhamre said the geo-strategic importance of the Indian Ocean Region has seen a gradual increase in the recent past.


"The Indian Navy closely monitors the maritime areas if our interest and regularly deploys ships for Presence and Surveillance Missions, off critical choke points/ sea lanes in the IOR," he said. In response to another question, Bhamre said the Navy does not undertake joint monitoring of the Indian Ocean in cooperation with other foreign countries.


Replying to another question, the minister said the government has identified 73 roads as "strategic Indo-China Border Roads", out of which 34 roads are completed and in the remaining 39 ICBRs, work in progress.


He added that the government has taken measures to expedite the construction of border roads in the states of Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarkhand and has constituted an Empowered Committee to resolve the issues pertaining to BRO. He added that 22,225.17 km road has been entrusted to the Border Roads Organisation, of which 7,122 km is in Jammu and Kashmir, 5,267 kms in Arunchal Pradesh. -- PTI
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14:59   IPL ban on Smith, Warner
The BCCI on Wednesday barred Steve Smith and David Warner from IPL 2018.


This comes after Smith and Warner were banned for a year, ruling them out of the home series against India, while Cameron Bancroft was handed a nine-month suspension as Cricket Australia came down heavily on the errant trio which disgraced itself in the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa.


Tim Paine will captain Australia in the final Test match in Johannesburg with reinforcements in middle-order batsman Glenn Maxwell along with openers Joe Burns and Matt Renshaw scheduled to arrive tomorrow.


Earlier, Warner stepped down as IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad skipper days after Smith gave up his captaincy of the Rajasthan Royals. Media reports stated that the three players have a week to appeal against the sanctions.
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14:52  
BCCI bars David Warner and Steve Smith from IPL 2018.
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14:37   Meet the BSF's first woman officer
"Ultimately, you are treated according to the stars on your shoulder. Not as a man, not as a woman, not as a girl," Assistant Commandant Tanu Shree Pareek tells Rediff.com's Archana Masih.


Read the story here.
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14:06  
Harsha Bhogle @bhogleharsha I honestly do not believe any other country would have handed its captain and lead player a 12 month ban for attempted ball-tampering.
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14:04   MPs could not debate major issues due to disruptions: PM in RS
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that disruptions in Parliament have unfortunately prevented several members, retiring from the Rajya Sabha, from being able to participate in debates on historic legislations like the triple talaq bill.


Without directly referring to the disruptions which have virtually washed out proceedings through the second leg of the budget session, he said it was unfortuante that the retiring members "lost an opportunity to leave their legacy" on important issues like triple talaq.


Addressing the Rajya Sabha which bade farewell to about 60 of its members whose tenures end over the next few weeks, Modi stressed that the responsibility of smooth functioning of Parliament lay not only with the opposition but also the government.


"It is not necessary that whatever happens in the Green House (Lok Sabha), should happen in the Red House (Rajya Sabha)," Modi said, adding the Upper House was a distinguished House with eminent members serving and playing a vital role in the Indian democracy. -- PTI
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13:59  
Smith and Warner have also been banned from Australian captaincy for two years. 
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13:51   Ball tampering shame: 1-year-ban for Smith, Warner
Former Australia captain Steve Smith and deputy captain David Warner have been banned from playing for Australia for 12 months as a result of Cricket Australia's investigation into the ball-tampering incident, the ABC reports. They have seven days to appeal the ban. Cameron Bancroft has been banned for nine months.

Steve Smith stepped down as Australia captain on Sunday and has been suspended for one Test by the International Cricket Council amid stunning ball-tampering revelations that have plunged the Test team into crisis.


Smith was also fined 100 per cent of his match fee, while opening batsman Cameron Bancroft, who was caught on camera attempting to alter the condition of the ball, was handed three demerit points and a 75 percent fine of his match fee.  He also stepped down as skipper of IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals.


David Warner stepped down as captain of Indian Premier League franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad as the fallout of the ball-tamping scandal continues. It comes after one of Warners personal sponsors, LG, confirmed it would not be continuing its deal with the opener.

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13:42  
ED arrests close associate of Nirav Modi and VP of Firestar group in money laundering case: officials.
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13:41   Dinakaran cannot use pressure cooker symbol, says SC
The Supreme Court today kept in abeyance a Delhi High Court order asking the Election Commission to consider allotting the 'pressure cooker' poll symbol to the AIADMK faction led by TTV Dinakaran.


A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice A M Khanwilkar also asked the acting chief justice of Delhi High Court to set up a two-judge bench to decide the main dispute between the two AIADMK factions, led by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E K Palaniswamy and Dinakaran, over their rival claims on the party and its 'two leaves' symbol by April end.


The Delhi High Court had on March 9 directed the poll panel to allot a common symbol, preferably that of 'pressure cooker', and a name to the AIADMK (Amma) faction led by Dinakaran. PTI
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13:37   chitradurga Mutt's head seer urges Amit Shah to support minority status for Lingayats
Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru of Chitradurga Mutt on Wednesday wrote a letter to BJP chief Amit Shah, requesting him to support the Karnataka government's decision of granting minority status to Lingayats community.


In the letter to Shah, Seer termed the ongoing movement in Karnataka  between the followers of Lingayats and Veerashaiva Lingayats community as a 'temporary outbreak of emotions', which will not last long.


He said granting special status to the community will unite the divided sub-castes of Lingayats."Minority status to this religion will deliver some benefits to youth of community-individually and collectively. It is not a step to divide community but measure to unite divided sub-castes of Lingayats," the letter read.


The letter of the seer came a day after Shah accused the ruling Congress party in Karnataka of creating a rift between the Hindus.


Earlier on Tuesday, while addressing a public rally in Davanagere city ahead of the state assembly election, Shah said, "On one hand their party President (Rahul Gandhi) talks about uniting Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians, on the other hand, their chief minister (Siddaramaiah) is creating a divide between Hindus. Such a major internal-conflict is not there in any other party."


The elections to the 224-seat assembly will be held on May 12, and the results will be declared on May 15. -- PTI
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13:14   EC forms 7-member team to probe K'taka poll dates leak
The Election Commission constitutes a seven-member panel to probe the Karnataka poll date leak. The panel, which has been asked to submit its report within a week, would also suggest steps needed to prevent any such eventuality in future.


In a statement, the poll watchdog referred to a tweet by BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya in which he had put out the election date minutes before CEC O P Rawat actually announced the schedule at a press conference.


Malviya tweeted that polls would be held on May 12 and counting will take place on May 18. While he was correct about the date of polling, he got the counting date wrong which will actually take place on May 15.


"The Commission immediately directed that the matter be probed and necessary and effective action be taken. Accordingly, Commission has constituted a committee of senior officers of Election Commission to investigate the matter and give its report within seven days.


"The Committee would also suggest steps needed to prevent any such eventuality in future. The Committee set up by the Commission has already sought information from the concerned media organisations and individuals," the statement read.


It said Malviya, in another tweet, had attributed a news channel as his source.
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12:33   Fortis to sell hospital business to Manipal Hospitals
Fortis Healthcare Ltd board has approved demerger of its hospitals business, which will be acquired by Manipal Hospitals and TPG Capital, along with the sale of 20 per cent stake in diagnostics chain SRL Ltd., in a Rs 3,900-crore deal.


In a late night announcement yesterday, the healthcare chain said its board has given nod for the demerger of its hospital business into Manipal Hospital Enterprises Pvt. Ltd.


"The Board has also approved sale of its 20 per cent stake in SRL Ltd. to Manipal Hospitals. The resultant entity Manipal Hospitals will be a publicly traded company listed on NSE and BSE. The remaining FHL will be an investment holding company with 36.6 per cent stake in SRL," the company said in a statement.


The company further said, "As part of the proposed transaction, Dr Ranjan Pai and TPG will invest Rs 3,900 crore into Manipal Hospitals. The funds will be utilised by Manipal Hospitals to finance the acquisition of 50.9 per cent stake in SRL (20.0 per cent from FHL and 30.9 per cent from other investors for which discussions are currently underway)."


Manipal Hospitals, part of Manipal Education and Medical Group (MEMG), is owned by Dr Ranjan Pai and has been backed by TPG, a leading global alternative asset firm and experienced healthcare investor since 2015. -- PTI
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12:24   Disruptions in Rajya Sabha finds mention in PM's speech
The continued disruptions in the Rajya Sabha found mention in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech for retiring members today when he said they would not be able to participate in debates when the House decides on important bills such as the one which seeks to criminalise the practise of instant triple talaq.


In his brief speech, Modi said "unfortunately", the retiring members will not be part of Parliament when the decision on instant triple talaq is taken.


He also said the outgoing members must have prepared speeches on important issues so that their contribution is remembered. But they could not do so. He said the responsibility of smooth functioning lies not only with the opposition but also with the government.


The Rajya Sabha, Modi said, is a distinguished House with eminent members serving here. He said the House plays a vital role in India's democracy. He did not use terms such as din, disruptions in his speech.
-- PTI
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12:20   David Warner steps down as Sunrisers captain
In light of recent events, David Warner has stepped down as captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad. The new captain of the team will be announced shortly. Warner quit captaincy after ball-tampering saga.


Australian cricketers Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft will be sent home from South Africa as Cricket Australia came down heavily on their captain, his deputy and young opening batsman for orchestrating a ball-tampering conspiracy during Newlands Test against South Africa.


The 31-year-old Warner also reportedly irked the entire Australian dressing room by partying after the scandal. Earlier, Smith had also stepped down as captain of another IPL franchise, Rajasthan Royals, due to the incident, for which he was banned for one Test by the ICC. Smith was replaced by Ajinkya Rahane as RR skipper.
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11:38   PM unites Rajya Sabha to bid farewell to retiring MPs
Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks in Rajya Sabha to bid farewell to retiring MPs in the Rajya Sabha.


"We bid farewell to some of our MP colleagues in the Rajya Sabha. They have contributed significantly to Parliament and we have all gained from their experience and insight.

"I thank the retiring MPs for their stellar service.  These MPs have played a crucial role in running the Parliament smoothly.


"We will always remember the distinguished work of Parasaranji. Who can forget the manner in which Professor Kurien has contributed to the Rajya Sabha.


"The Rajya Sabha is a distinguished House, with eminent members serving here. This House plays a vital role in our democracy.


"All retiring members of the Rajya Sabha have done what they can for the betterment of the country."
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11:14   Impeachment motion against CJI: Nobody contacted us, says YSRCP
The YSR Congress Party  MP M Rajamohan Reddy on Wednesday said that his party has not received any proposal for moving an impeachment motion against Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra.


This came a day after the opposition camp decided to draft an impeachment motion against the CJI in relation to the matters raised by four Supreme Court judges in a press conference on January 11.


Reddy, however, added that the decision on the same would be taken once they are contacted by the opposition leaders.


"Nobody has contacted us till now for this; we have only seen media reports. In any case, our leadership will decide if such a thing comes up," Reddy told ANI.


The development follows West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's meeting with senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan on Tuesday to discuss a possible impeachment motion against the CJI.


Earlier in January, Justices Jasti Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, M.B. Lokur and Kurien Joseph in a press conference claimed that CJI Misra was assigning important cases in an arbitrary manner to junior judges, ignoring them, who are the senior judges of the apex court. ANI
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11:09   Pak PM Abbasi 'frisked' at US airport
Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was refused VIP treatment at the John F. Kennedy airport in New York, as viral videos on Youtube show him being frisked during the security procedure.


Ditching official customs as a visiting dignitary, that too as a Prime Minister of a nuclear-armed nation, Abbasi, who reportedly was on a private visit to meet his ailing sister in the US, can be seen in the video adjusting his t-shirt after getting out of security checks with his jacket and a trolley bag.


Abbasi, however, has a history of making private trips to foreign nations, as according to Geo News, the PM was previously spotted travelling alone at a train station during his visit to Britain.


This comes at a time when Pakistan-USA relations have been strained lately, especially since US President Donald Trump tweeted, "The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!" -- ANI
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10:46  
The SC dismisses the plea for re-investigation into Mahatma Gandhi's death.
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10:43   Mamata's meeting with Sonia likely at 7:30 pm today
On March 26, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee told reporters at Kolkata airport that her visit to New Delhi was 'routine'.


"The Central Hall is a famous hall, where I will meet the leaders of my party and if the leaders of other parties want to meet me, I welcome them. We are all friends," she had said.


Banerjee has kept her word and more.


Over the last two days she has has met several leaders in an attempt to cobble together like-minded parties to form an anti-BJP federal front.


She met with the NCP (Sharad Pawar and Praful Patel), RJD (Misa Bharti), Shiv Sena (Sanjay Raut) inside Parliament House.


But there were many more who dropped in at the TMCs office to meet Banerjee --  TRS MP K Kavitha, SPs Rajya Sabha leader Ram Gopal Yadav, DMKs Rajya Sabha leader Kanimozhi, former TDP minister Y S Chaudhry, Anubhav Mohanty of BJD and JMM MP Sanjeev Kumar.


Today, is the much-awaited meeting with Sonia Gandhi, which is likely to take place at 7.30 pm.


Yesterday, Mamata Banerjee had said that she shared a personal rapport with Sonia, but since the UPA chairperson was unwell, the meeting had to be postponed.


The Indian Express also reported that Mamata Banerjee had sent TMC MP Dinesh Trivedi to check on Sonia Gandhi. "I had sent Dineshda to Soniajione person for one political partyRahul also messages sometimes, we talk, nothing of the sort.


The TMC chief is also likely to meet BJP rebels like  Shatrughan Sinha, Yashwant Sinha and former Union minister Arun Shourie. Her meeting with Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal is scheduled to take place at 6 pm today.
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10:23  
A passenger has been arrested on charges of molesting a cabin crew member of an Air Vistara Lucknow-Delhi flight.
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10:10   INX media: CBI to move plea to record Peter Mukerjea's statement before court
The Central Bureau of Investigation is likely to move a plea in a special CBI court on Wednesday seeking permission to record the statement of former media baron Peter Mukerjea before the court in connection with the INX media case.


The permission to record the statement will be filed under Section 164 of Code of Criminal Procedure.


Earlier on Mar 26, a Delhi Court had sent Peter Mukerjea to CBI custody till March 31 after the agency sought five-day custody of the former media baron.


INX Media Ltd, which was owned by Mukerjea, had allegedly paid bribes to get a Foreign Investment Promotion Board approval which was facilitated by former finance minister P Chidambaram's son Karti Chidambaram. -- ANI


File pic
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09:59   SC verdict on plea seeking inquiry into Gandhi's assassination
The Supreme Court will on Wednesday pronounce judgment on a petition seeking an inquiry into the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.The PIL was filed by an I-T professional, Dr Pankaj Kumudchandra Phadnis in October 2017.


The apex court had asked former Additional Solicitor General Amarendra Sharan to assist the court as amicus curiae in the case.


As per reports, Phadnis' previous petition, seeking reopening of the Gandhi murder case, was dismissed by a high court earlier. Dr Phadnis, in his petition, claimed that Gandhi's death should be probed, as there was still a complete myth about the fourth bullet being fired by the convict.


Also read: The truth behind the assassination of Gandhiji
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09:53   India calls for timely reimbursement to nations for UN peacekeeping operations
India has emphasised the importance of timely reimbursements to nations for their contributions to UN peacekeeping operations, saying success of such missions depend on addressing structural challenges of timely payments, adequate resources and well-trained troops.


"UN's Peace Operations have changed drastically. Peacekeepers are increasingly charged with implementing complex mandates, they have to frequently perform in challenging environments, in integrated and multi-dimensional missions," First Secretary in India's Permanent Mission to the UN Mahesh Kumar said yesterday.


Kumar was speaking at a session on financing of UN peacekeeping operations. He said while the troops and police contributing countries have been asked to provide well equipped and trained troops, the recognition of the importance of reimbursement to the peacekeeping partnership needs to be strengthened.  --PTI
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09:47   SC to hear Mumbai dance bar case today
The Supreme Court will today hear the Mumbai dance bar case, where, the owners have challenged the stringent norms regulating bars.


During the last hearing on January 19, Justice Rohinton Nariman, one of the judges in the Supreme Court bench recused himself from the Mumbai Dance Bar case as he had appeared in the earlier round of litigation on behalf of Maharashtra.


The Maharashtra government has justified the need for these restrictions to ensure the safety and dignity of women, working in these establishments.


The apex court had earlier, on September 21, 2017, ruled that three dance bars in Maharashtra, with proper CCTVs, can continue operating.


Dance bar owners have objected to the restriction of maintaining a kilometer distance from any religious or educational structure, claiming it was not possible in big cities.


They claimed that another curb of shutting down the bars before 11.30 pm is discriminatory, when the Central Government was promoting round-the-clock business by commercial establishments.


The apex court had in May last year directed the Maharashtra Government to grant licenses to eight dance bars within two days and asked them to give an undertaking that they would not engage employees with criminal antecedents near the dance area.


The Dance Bar Regulation Bill, which was unanimously passed by the Assembly on April 13, 2017, among other things, prohibits serving liquor in performance areas and mandates that the premises must shut by 11.30 pm. It also imposes heavy penalties on dance bar owners and customers for not following these rules. -- ANI
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09:35   Coast Guard helicopter pilot hurt in crash landing dies
The co-pilot of a Coast Guard helicopter, which made a crash landing in adjoining Raigad district, has died after battling for life for 17 days. Assistant Commandant Capt. Penny Chaudhary, the co-pilot of the Coast Guard Chetak helicopter, which crashed near Murud in Raigad on March 10, was on life support following surgery for head injury. She was admitted at the naval hospital INHS Asvini in south Mumbai's Colaba area.


"She died last night," Coast Guard PRO (west) Commandant Avinandan Mitra said. Capt. Chaudhary had suffered internal bleeding after the rotor of the helicopter struck her head.


The helicopter was on a routine sortie with four passengers -- Deputy Commandant Balwinder Singh, Assistant Commandant Chaudhary, and two divers Sandeep and Baljeet -- when it crash landed.


Capt. Chaudhary was the first to disembark from the crashed helicopter, but was hit on her helmet by the rotor blade, which was moving slowly. When the helicopter engine shut mid air, the pilot and the co-pilot used the rotor's movement to glide the chopper towards the shore to prevent it from falling in the sea. They tried to land the helicopter on a sandy part of the beach, but could not, and it landed on a rocky patch on Nadagram beach.
-- PTI
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09:25   India, China hold talks on trans-border rivers
A team of officials of India's ministry of water resources held talks with their Chinese counterparts on the cooperation of trans-border rivers, the first after Beijing last year stopped providing the data on the flow of Brahmaputra waters.
The two-day talks on the 11th meeting of the India-China Expert Level Mechanism on trans-border rivers concluded yesterday in the Chinese city of Hangzhou, a press release from the Indian Embassy in Beijing said.
The Indian side was led by Teerath Singh Mehra, Commissioner (B&B), Ministry of Water Resources and the Chinese side by Yu Xingjun, Consul, Department of International Cooperation Science and Technology, Ministry of Water Resources.
The meeting reviewed the progress made since the earlier meetings of the ELM and their continued cooperation on provision of hydrological information and emergency management in respect of trans-border rivers, the press release.
The officials also reviewed the data utilisation report upon provision of hydrological information provided by China to India in flood season on Brahmaputra and Sutlej Rivers.
The institutional mechanism of the ELM was established in 2006 to discuss various issues related to trans-border rivers.

Under existing bilateral memorandums of understanding, China provides to India hydrological information of Brahmaputra River (Yarlong Zangbo) and Sutlej River (Langqen Zangbo) during the flood seasons.
Under the arrangement, China provides flood season data of the Brahmaputra river between May 15 and October 15 every year.
Last September, China said it couldn't share the data with due to upgradation of data collection station in Tibet.
China's announcement soon after the 73-day long standoff at Doklam over Chinese military's plans to build a road close to India's Chicken Neck corridor connecting North-Eastern states.
China has been building major dams on Brahmaputra river to generate hydel power. 

It operationalised Zangmu hydroelectric project in October, 2015 and three more are under construction.
While dams raised concerns of water shortages in India and Bangladesh, which are lower riparian states of Brahmaputra river, China said its dams were aimed at generating power and not storing water.
According to officials, the data shared by upper riparian state, China, to lower riparian states, India and Bangladesh is essential every monsoon to allow anticipation of the flow of the water and take necessary measures to deal with flooding in India's north eastern states. -- PTI 
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09:23   Cambridge Analytica dismisses whistleblower's claims, calls it speculation
Cambridge Analytica, which is in the midst of the Facebook data privacy storm, has said that whistleblower Chris Wylie, who deposed before a UK parliamentary committee, had "no direct knowledge of the company's work or practices since 2014."

"Chris Wylie was a part-time contractor who left Cambridge Analytica in July 2014 and has no direct knowledge of the company's work or practices since that date. He was at the company for less than a year, after which he was made the subject of restraining undertakings to prevent his misuse of the company's intellectual property while attempting to set up his own rival firm. He was not, as he claims, a founder of Cambridge Analytica," the firm, said in a statement.

"Wylie has misrepresented himself and the company to the committee, and previously to the news media. He admits himself that what he says is speculation," the statement added.

Cambridge Analytica is accused of harvesting personal data of Facebook users to influence elections in several countries including the United States presidential elections.

The company, founded by Stephen K Bannon and Robert Mercer, a wealthy Republican donor who has put at least USD 15 million into it, offered tools that could identify the personalities of American voters and influence their behaviour.

The so-called psychographic modelling techniques, which were built in part with the data harvested from Facebook, underpinned the company's work for then Republican nominee Donald Trump's campaign in 2016. -- ANI
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09:03   UN chief expresses concern over deaths of Indian journalists
United Nations chief Antonio Guterres has expressed concern over the deaths of two journalists in India and the violence against mediapersons across the globe.
"We, of course, are concerned about anything that would suggest the harassment or violence against journalists, anywhere in the world and and would do so in this case," UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres's deputy spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters at the daily press briefing.
Haq was responding to a question on the UN's response to the recent deaths of two Indian journalists in the line of duty.
Sandeep Sharma, 35, a reporter for a local television channel in Madhya Pradesh's Bhind district died after he was mowed down by a truck. Sharma had complained about threats to his life after he carried out a sting operation on illegal sand mining.
In Bihar, Naveen Nishchal, a journalist who worked for a Hindi daily, was among two persons killed when an SUV rammed into their bike in Bhojpur district, with the family alleging that it was a case of murder and that a former village head was behind it.
Advocacy group the Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the killings, and called on the Indian authorities to determine the motive and bring to justice those responsible for Sharma's death.
Sharma's colleague Vikas Purohit, who witnessed the collision, told the CPJ that he took Sharma to the local hospital where the journalist was declared dead from injuries sustained in the crash.
Purohit said both he and Sharma began receiving anonymous death threats last year after publishing two stories in July and October 2017 on alleged police corruption and illegal sand mining.
"Authorities must thoroughly investigate the killing of journalist Sandeep Sharma and determine if he was targeted because of his reporting," said CPJ Asia Program Coordinator Steven Butler from Washington D.C.
"This tragic incident may well be a failure of local authorities to provide adequate security to a reporter who had received death threats," he said. -- PTI

Image: Journalist Sandeep Sharma
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08:44   Preparations on for Trump-Kim summit: White House
The United States continues to move forward on the proposed summit meeting between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the White House has said.
White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters that preparations were on for the summit, which has been accepted by Trump at the request of Pyongyang.
"We are continuing to move forward. The offer was extended and accepted, and were continuing to move forward in that process. We still don't have a set time or date on that front," Sanders said in response to a question.
State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert had more or less a similar statement to offer during a news conference.
"We continue to proceed with our planning to go ahead for a summit between the United States and the DPRK (Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea). This is something that President Trump and the Republic of Korea had talked about not too long ago. We are going ahead and we are planning that," she said.
Nauert said the State Department was planning the meeting in coordination with the NSC -- the National Security Council -- and other US Government agencies and departments.
"It's a big task, certainly, pulling off any kind of summit like this. The NSC is the main coordinator of it, and the State Department is providing any assistance that is needed," Nauert said. -- PTI
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08:29   Kim Jong-un meets Xi, says North Korea 'committed to denuclearisation'
China broke its day-long silence today and finally acknowledged the visit of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Beijing and his meeting with President Xi Jinping.
Kim paid a four-day unofficial visit from Sunday to Wednesday to Beijing at the invitation of Xi, state-run Xinhua news agency reported today.

During the visit Kim held talks with the Chinese president who hosted a banquet to welcome the North Korean leader and his wife Ri Sol Ju, Xinhua said.

"I have had successful talks with General Secretary Xi Jinping on developing relations between the two parties and the two countries, our respective domestic situation, maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, and other issues," Kim said at the banquet.

The North Korean leader further termed the China visit his "solemn duty". He also said that his country is committed to denuclearisation

During the talks, Xi welcomed Kim warmly and appreciated his congratulatory message greeting him for his re-election as the General Secretary of CPC and head of the military as well as president for the second five-year term, the report said.
Xi said Kim's current visit to China had come "at a special time" and was of great significance.
"We speak highly of this visit," Xi told Kim.
For his part, Kim said a series of major and happy events had taken place consecutively in China recently and referred Xi's re-election for the second term.

This was Kim's first visit abroad and came ahead of his planned summit with US President Donald Trump.
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00:04   Spy poisoning: Nato expels Russian diplomats
Nato is expelling seven Russian diplomats in response to a nerve agent attack in the UK.

The international security organisation's chief said the move would send a message to Russia that there are "costs and consequences" for its behaviour.

Twenty-six countries have expelled Russian envoys in the past two days, in solidarity with the UK.

They all believe Russia was behind the poisoning of two people in Salisbury.

Russian ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, were poisoned on 4 March in the southern English city, and investigators say a military-grade nerve agent was used.

Russia has denied involvement.

Speaking in Brussels, Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg said he would also deny pending accreditation for three Russian staff, and would reduce the size of Russia's mission from 30 to 20.

Nato made a similar move in 2015, in response to the Russian annexation of Crimea. Before that, there were 60 Russia personnel at its Belgium headquarters.
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00:01   EC working in favour of BJP, alleges AAP
The Aam Aadmi Party today alleged that the Election Commission was working "one-sided in favour of the BJP", hours after the saffron party's IT cell chief announced the Karnataka assembly polls date in a tweet before an official declaration.

The Arvind Kejriwal-led party also demanded a probe into BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya's tweet.
"The way EC is working one-sided in favour of the BJP, this has not happened in its history," Sanjay Singh, AAP MP and spokesperson said.
"The EC has become BJP's institution and its subordinate," he alleged.
Ahead of the official announcement by Election Commission, Malviya had tweeted that voting would be held on May 12 and the counting on May 18. He was correct about the day of the voting, but got the counting date wrong. The counting would be held on May 15.
The Election Commission has set up a committee  to probe the leak.
AAP's fresh attack on the poll panel comes nearly a week after the Delhi high court set aside the Election Commission's order to disqualify 20 party MLAs for allegedly holding offices of profit.

-- PTI

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