Timeline Refresh
A powerful bomb went off in a shop selling DVDs and mobile phones in the restive Orakzai tribal region of northwest Pakistan today, killing at least 12 people and injuring over 20 others, officials said.
The bomb exploded in the shop in a market in Kalaya, the main town of Orakzai Agency, officials of the local political administration said. Initial reports had said the bomb went off near a security check post. Some officials said the attack targeted a group of Ferozkhel tribesmen who are opposed to the Taliban.
The tribesmen had gathered in the area after Friday prayers. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. In the past, the Taliban have targeted shops selling music and movies, which they have declared "un-Islamic". The injured were taken to nearby hospitals. Two shops were destroyed by the blast while several more were damaged.
A school teacher was today arrested on the charge of raping a 14-year-old girl student in Pullampeta village of Andhra Pradesh's Kadapa district, police said.
The accused, Nageshwar Rao, had been harassing the class-IX student of the government school for the past three months and recently raped her in his house, according to the police.
The girl told her parents about the incident yesterday, following which the complaint was filed with Rajampet Rural Police station.
Local residents thrashed the teacher before police took him into custody. The accused has been suspended from service.
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi today accused the Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh of not fulfilling its poll promises and regretted that he was not able to do enough for the state as it did not have a Congress government.
"The Samajwadi Party which came to power making tall promises failed to fulfil them," he said during his road shows and road meetings in his Lok Sabha constituency Amethi on the second and last day of his two-day visit.
He asked people of the constituency whether they had got laptops, tablets, kanya vidhyadhan, unemployment allowance and loan waiver as promised by the ruling party during election.
When they replied in the negative, Rahul said SP and BSP governments have not taken care of the people of the state and did not pay enough attention on development.
The Congress leader said that since his party did not have its government in UP, it was like one hand was empty. "We are doing only as much as we can do with one hand... supplying power is not the work of the central government," he said, adding that all these things can be done only when there is a Congress government in the state. "We have to work towards having it in Lucknow," he said.
Karnataka today decided to file a petition before the Supreme Court seeking a review of its order directing the state to release 2.44 tmc ft of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, citing depleted water storage level.
A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of floor leaders of both the Houses of the legislature convened by Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar to discuss the situation arising out of the apex court's directive yesterday on water release.
State's Water Resources Minister Basavaraj Bommai told reporters that the review petition was likely to be moved on February 11.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has deferred his visit to Nagaland and Tripura to campaign for the Congress in the assembly elections slated for February 23 and February 14 respectively.
Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee president S I Jamir told PTI that the proposed visit of the Prime Minister to Kohima has been deferred but could not confirm the date of his next visit.
Congress sources here also said that the proposed visit of All India Congress Committee vice president Rahul Gandhi to Mon and Tuensang districts of the state on February 14 has also not been confirmed as of date.
NPCC which has been in the opposition for the last one decade is trying hard to woo the electorate by bringing in several central leaders.
Kader Khan has become the latest celeb victim of an internet hoax as social networking sites were abuzz today with rumours about the actor's demise. Rumours gained traction when a 'RIP Kader Khan' Facebook page was made, after which many took to micro-blogging site Twitter to pass on their condolences.
However, there was a debate online as some believed the reports to be frivolous. "Kader Khan the legendary Bollywood actor, comedian, script and dialogue writer and director passed away today. May his soul rest in peace!," posted one user and there were several other tweets in the same vein. But the air was cleared sooner rather than later.
Balaji Motion Pictures CEO Tanuj Garg said, "Kader Khan is fine. Why then are people bombarding my inbox with bad news?" Another user tweeted, "Twitter & Facebook should be screened to stop hoax, pranks and rumors. Lamers here just killed a healthy legend. #Kader Khan is alive."
Image: Screenshot of FB page 'RIP Kader Khan'
Jailed Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen legislator Akbaruddin Owaisi, his elder brother Asaduddin and four other party MLAs appeared before a court in Sangareddy today in an eight-year-old case of 'preventing' government officials from doing their duties.
While Akbaruddin, who is lodged in the Adilabad district jail in connection with the Nirmal 'hate speech' case was brought by police to Sangareddy town and produced before the court, his elder brother Asaduddin and other MIM legislators presented themselves before the court.
The Owaisi brothers had filed a review petition in court on February 6, contending that they were not directly involved in obstructing officials and their names were unnecessarily being dragged into the case.
The judicial magistrate court had examined the Owaisi brothers and the four party MLAs on January 28. As the petition was still pending, counsels of the Owaisis sought postponement of the matter, after which the court adjourned the case to February 22.
AP: Car bombs struck two outdoor markets and a group of taxi vans in Shiite areas across Iraq today, killing at least 36 people and wounding nearly 100 in the bloodiest day in more than two months, as minority Sunnis staged mass anti-government protests in a sign of mounting sectarian tensions.
Tens of thousands of Sunni protesters rallied in five major cities against Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a Shiite accused of monopolising power. Sunni protest leaders have rejected a recent call by an Al Qaeda-linked group in Iraq to take up arms against the government, but there is concern militants are trying to exploit the discontent.
In the city of Samarra, rally speaker Sheik Mohammed Jumaa sent a warning to the prime minister. "Stop tyranny and oppression," he said. "We want our rights. You will witness what other tyrants have witnessed before you."
In the cities of Fallujah and Ramadi in the western Anbar province, demonstrators blocked the main highway to Jordan while rallies were held in the cities of Mosul and Tikrit.
Earlier today, suspected Sunni insurgents detonated five car bombs, killing at least 37 people and wounding 97, health and police officials said.
Today's bombings targeted an outdoor pet market in Baghdad's northern Kazimyah neighbourhood, a vegetable market in the town of Shomali in Hillah province, south of the Iraqi capital, and a stand for taxi vans on the edge of the southern city of Karbala.
Image: An Iraqi resident stands near burnt vehicles after a car bomb attack in Baghdad's Kadhimiya district, on Friday Photograph: Thaier Al-Sudani/Reuters
"His comments should be considered. And his comment should be compared with Akbaruddin Owaisi only if the two of them have spoken in the same manner. It should not be seen in respect of the fact that an action has been initiated against Akbaruddin Owaisi, so an action should be taken against Togadia also. The CDs of the comments made by the two should be seen and it should be found out as to who has said what," said Bharti.
Out of the four AIIMS doctors, who appeared before Additional Sessions Judge Yogesh Khanna, only two of them testified as a witness for the prosecution in the proceedings held in-camera.
The accused have pleaded not guilty to charges, including rape and murder, and have claimed trial.
The two were also cross-examined by the counsel for the accused persons. The four doctors had conducted Medico Legal Certificate (MLC) test of the accused bus driver Ram Singh, his brother Mukesh, Vinay Sharma, Pawan Gupta and Akshay Singh, soon after their arrest in the case.
The court today issued summons to four persons, including two doctors of the Safdarjung Hospital, who had treated the victim, for recording of statement as prosecution witness on Monday
Geelani, in a statement issued here, condemned the arrest of the youths and reopening of cases against separatist leader Nayeem Ahmad Khan. "We warn the government that it is trying to create superficial peace by unleashing a reign of terror," he said. The separatist leader also advised people to use civilised language while commenting on issues on social networking sites.
It said Shinde's comments on saffron terror appear to give the impression that the government is"terrorist-friendly" and was trying to give a "clean chit" to terrorists.
"These saffron terror remarks have been made as part of a conspiracy and a crime by Congress party. Neither has any clarification or apology been tendered till now," BJP Vice-President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said.
The students have complained that the people, who were trying to prevent their protest, misbehaved with them at the entrance of Sri Ram College of Commerce on Wednesday evening when Modi was addressing students inside the institute.
They also alleged in their complaints that some of them were molested by men who were present at the protest site. Hundreds of students had protested against the visit of Modi on Wednesday. Police had to use force to disperse them.
"We have received a lot of complaints and we are looking into all of them," DCP (North) Sindhu Pillai said. Asked whether any case has been registered, Pillai said: "No case has been registered as of yet." Protesters also alleged that police turned a blind eye to the harassment that took place at the site.
If the Left was ruling the state, this would have been just the opportunity for the TMC to take to the streets. Alas.
Kurien has been accused by a rape survivor in Kerala of assaulting her when she was a school girl. In 1996 she says 42 men raped her in 40 days; though the Supreme Court has exonerated Kurien , she says he was among her attackers.
Kurien said the allegations were nothing but vendetta politics and it did not bother him.
"Some motivated sections of the media have made a mountain of a molehill. This issue should not be the topic of discussion...Whatever happened is a small thing," Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy said.
"Lakhs of such things are said by a CM. I recall that when Jyoti Basu was the chief minister he had called the opposition scoundrels," he said on the sidelines of an Indian Chamber of Commerce event here.
On February 5, Banerjee had lost her cool and screamed in public at her security guards for delay in arrival of her car at the gate of the Kolkata Book Fair site. Mamata, in full public view had said guards "should be whipped" for making her wait for her car.
French President Francois Hollande and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh are set to meet for a Valentine's Day summit on February 14 in New Delhi.
He was responding to questions about CAG Vinod Rai's remarks at Harvard Kennedy School yesterday rebutting criticism that he was exceeding the mandate and saying that the auditor was treading a "new path in the belief that the final stakeholder is the public at large".
Robert Vadra, India's unofficial official son-in-law has been seen quite frequently
during the day at a 7 star hotel in Delhi occupying a particular window
seat in a corner. Obviously, it's a spot no mango man can corner him.
Vadra, says our source, looked trim, seemingly fresh from a workout at the gym. Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law has been growing his hair of late, and tying it back with a band.
Apparently, when Vadra enters a a restaurant either alone or with friends, he does with a certain panache that makes it worth a watch. The black cat commandoes waiting outside add a zing, of course. Vadra also makes it a point to acknowledge other diners, known faces in Delhi social circles and his manners are said to be impeccable.
Permission and clearances have to be given by the Prime Minister's Office for all chief ministers and insiders say that this process has been initiated with the PMO soon after Modi spent one hour with Dr Manmohan Singh at 7 Race Course Road yesterday.
1. Home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde's comments on terrorists in BJP
and RSS office
2. Deputy Rajya Sabha chairperson P J Kurien's name cropping up in the Suryanelli gang-rape case and the protests instigated by senior leaders
of the Congress in Kerala, and,
3. Minster of State for Railways Adhir Ranjan Choudhary booked for vandalising the district magistrate's house.
Then there is the recent controversy about Solictor General Rohinton Nariman's resignation, an apparent fallout with Law Minister Ashwini Kumar. Apparently, lots to discuss over tea and biscuits.
"The girl was sent to Delhi in an ambulance by road. Five major operations were performed on her but her condition was not improving up to the expectation so it was decided to shift her to the AIIMs," Dr S D Sharma, Superintendent of J K Lone hospital-Jaipur, told PTI.
A medical department spokesperson said the government would bear the expenses of the girl, who was admitted to the hospital in August last year.
The teenager, who hails from Darbhanga in Bihar, came to Sikar with her mother and sisters after her father's demise. She was kidnapped and gang-raped by two men, SP Sikar Gaurav Srivastava said. They have been arrested and are presently under judicial custody.
Tokyo said two Russian Su-37 fighters entered Japanese air space off the northern tip of Hokkaido island for just over a minute yesterday, prompting Japanese air force jets to scramble and fly alongside the two Russian planes. Russia denied any border violation, but Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera said today that Tokyo will deal with the incident "strictly, within the bounds of international law."
Meanwhile, in Tamil Nadu, DMK chief M Karunanidhi today led a state-wide protest against Rajapaksa's visit to India, accusing him of making efforts to "annihilate" the Tamils in the island republic.
Boo is the author of Behind the Beautiful Forevers, a narrative on Mumbai
Modi spent the next two hours with Steiner and his other guests ambassadors of all countries in the European Union. Over lunch, he faced some "tough" questions on the 2002 riots in Gujarat, and he answered them all patiently. He also told the envoys about his model of governance, and his ideas for India.
The meeting was the first European envoys had had with Modi since the riots nearly 11 years ago. More"Agni-V is major strategic defence weapon. Now we want to make Agni-VI which would be a force multiplier," DRDO chief V K Saraswat said here. Refusing to divulge the range of the new under- development missile, he said the force multiplier capability of the missile would be because of its Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) capability.
The mother of the victim in Kerala has written to United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi to ensure that PJ Kurien does not chair the Rajya Sabha when the bill on sexual violence against women comes up in Parliament.
The letter by the 70-year-old woman against Kurien, Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, in an apparent attempt to exerting pressure on the Congress leadership in the 17-year-old gang-rape case came even as the government is set to introduce the bill providing for harsher punishment for sexual offences in the coming Budget session of Parliament.
Meanwhile at 15 Gurudwara Rekhab Ganj Road in New Delhi, Defence Minister A K Antony will preside over the AICC sub committee meet to figour out the new alliance for UPA3.
Read. Neigh, it's true!
Also read Amrit Singh's report on the CIA's rendition programme.
In a lecture at the Harvard Kennedy School, he referred to the CAG exceeding its mandate to say that since the Indian democracy is maturing and the urban middle class is becoming more involved in affairs of citizens, "we continue to tread the new path in the belief that the final stakeholder is the public at large".
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"He was upset about being placed in the cell and kept awake almost the entire night, calling out to the guards sometimes. He told them he felt the cell was haunted,' said a jail source. More on the Telegraph.
Talking to mediapersons, Medical Superintendent, H K Kar gave the statistics of the cases reported in the hospital. "I suspected total 26 cases of swine flu, out of them 12 were positive and many others are also found suspected but we are awaiting the blood report.
The afflicted victims were rushed to the nearby hospitals with symptoms of sudden fever and cough, vomiting, runny nose, Diarrhoea or stomach upset, abdominal cramps, bleeding and headache.
Meanwhile in Gurgaon, the number of patients admitted with swine flu was six.
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