Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao today admitted he had been called a Hitler and he was not ashamed about it. 

"I am a Hitler and I will be worse than Hitler if need be, to stop illegalities," he said.

Rao was defending the decision by his government to hold a Rs 20 crore day-long survey of Telangana residents on August 19 to ensure that welfare schemes and benefits reach the most needy. 

KCR was addressing media personnel a couple of hours after meeting Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu.

Former Indian captain Anil Kumble and speedster Javagal Srinath today staged a walkout from the Annual General Body Meeting of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) alleging misuse of funds by the current set-up.

Kumble, who was elected KSCA president in 2010 for a three-year period, has accused the state body of misusing the funds and instead of utilising them on cricket, Rs 100 crore is being plannned to be spent on clubhouses.

"You certainly need to be member friendly. The three years that we were hear, the only thing that we heard was that we were not member-friendly. That was ridiculous. You are here for a case in the association for the development of cricket.

You need to be cricket firendly along with member-friendly. We were the ones who established those clubhouses here," an angry

Kumble told the media. 

"There was a fire accident about seven years ago and nothing was done. And now to suggest that those three years were dismal to Karnataka cricket association and it's all one point agenda and one person conducting the show. The president is just sitting there and not even chairing the meeting, which is disappointing," Kumble said without naming former Test player Brijesh Patel.

Indirect talks between Israelis and Palestinians for a long-term truce in Gaza resumed today, with just over a day left before a temporary ceasefire is set to expire, a Palestinian official said.

The Egyptian-mediated talks have dragged since August 4, when both sides agreed a renewable temporary ceasefire to end a month of fighting that killed almost 2,000 Palestinians in Gaza.

The latest such ceasefire, a five-day lull meant to give Egyptian mediators time to bridge the gaps in the negotiations, came amid mounting pressure on Hamas militants in Gaza who say they will resume firing rockets into Israel if their demands are not met.

Hamas, the defacto rulers of the impoverished enclave, want a firm Israeli commitment to end the blockade of Gaza and demand an airport in the coastal strip. 

Israel has insisted that its security conditions be met. 

The talks started today in the headquarters of the Egyptian intelligence - who mediate the negotiations -- in the absence of some Hamas leaders who were expected in Cairo later in the day.

Kurdish fighters backed by US warplanes pushed back jihadists around Iraq's largest dam today, as Sunni Arab tribesmen and security forces fought the militants west of Baghdad.

Two months of violence have brought Iraq to the brink of breakup, and world powers relieved by the exit of divisive premier Nuri al-Maliki were sending aid to the hundreds of thousands who have fled their homes as well as arms to the Kurds.

Kurdish fighters were advancing on Mosul dam, which the Islamic State (IS) fighters seized a week ago, but their progress was being hampered by roadside bombs, Kurdish officials said.

The dam on the Tigris river north of Iraq's second city provides electricity and irrigation water for farming to much of the region. 

It recapture would be the first major prize won back from the jihadists since they launched their shock offensive in early June, routing the security forces across much of northern and western Iraq.

Two women were washed away in flash floods triggered by heavy rain and another died due to house collapse in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, even as over 30 flood-affected people were rescued in Samba district, officials said.

Two sisters -- Narvez Akhtar and Begum Akhtar-- were washed in flash floods in Hubbi river triggered by heavy rains in Rajouri district yesterday, police and other government officials said today.

Their bodies were recovered by police and locals during a rescue operation last evening, they said.

Meanwhile, a mud house collapsed due to heavy rains in Chemmi Kalaban belt of Sunderbani teshil of Rajouri district last night, they said, adding that house owner Mohmmad Farooq was critically injured and his wife Rasheed Begum died.

Due to heavy rains, there was flash floods in Devak and Basantar rivers in Samba and Kathua districts, they said, adding that several villages were marooned. 

As part of the ongoing military cooperation between India and Nepal, their armies will hold combined training exercise from Monday. 

The combined training will be carried out in the mountain terrain of Pithoragarh in the northern Himalayas at an altitude of 5,000 to 6,000 feet. The exercise will conclude on August 30.

Based on an agreement during the 7th Indo-Nepal Bilateral Consultative Group on security, the two countries commenced combined training at platoon level in 2011 and enhanced it to company level in 2012. It currently stands upgraded to battalion level. 

This will be the second battalion level combined exercise and approximately 300 personnel, including officers and JCOs from both the armies, will participate in the two-week long exercise.

Separatists have shot down a Ukrainian fighter plane amid fighting between pro-Russian rebels and Ukrainian government forces in the eastern part of the country, a Ukrainian military spokesman said today.

Oleksiy Dmitrashkovsky said that the plane was shot down over the Luhansk region after launching an attack on rebels. The pilot ejected and was taken to a secure place, he said. 

Further details about the incident or the condition of the pilot were not immediately available.

Fighting in Ukraine has escalated since the insurgency arose in April, with government troops steadily taking back rebel-held territory in the east. 

The city of Luhansk is encircled by Ukrainian forces and is reportedly suffering from severe electrical outages and shortages of food and medicine. Donetsk, the largest rebel-held city, is also suffering through fighting including frequent shelling.

The latest fighting comes as a Russian aid convoy is waiting on the Ukrainian border for clearance to bring supplies to suffering civilians in the region. The International Committee of the Red Cross, which would have responsibility for distributing the aid, yesterday said the main holdup was a lack of security guarantees from all sides in the conflict.

Incessant rains in the past couple of days have triggered floods and landslides in several districts of Arunachal Pradesh, disrupting road communication and throwing normal life out of gear.

PWD (Highway) chief engineer Hage Appa said today that landslides triggered by heavy rains on August 15 disrupted surface communication between Itanagar and Naharlagun and washed away road and culverts at sinking zone near Karsingsa. 

The road communication between Banderdewa and Itanagar via Karsingsa remained disrupted for the third day today as a result. The road currently is closed for all types of vehicles, he said in a release.

The district administration has asked the people to use Nirjuli-Doimukh-Harmuty road and Itanagar-Hollongi road to take NH-52 in Assam as the road restoration work between Naharlagun and Banderdewa may take two days to complete. 

The Kimin-Ziro road too is blocked since Thursday due to massive landslides, some of which have been cleared, he said.

Landslides have also occurred at Chandranagar, Nitivihar and many sectors in the capital complex here.

At least 85 persons have been killed and 139 gone missing in the last three days in floods and landslides triggered by incessant rainfall in various districts across Nepal. 

As many as 73 people have lost their lives in the mid-western region, while 131 are still missing. The number of missing might go up, officials said. 

Floods have completely damaged more than 7,000 households in the mid-western region. More than 12,000 households have been inundated in Bardiya alone. The swollen Karnali River has swept away three suspension bridges, Himalayan Times reported. 

Surkhet district has been hit the worst. About 26 people have been killed and 97 had gone missing in the district, according to the regional police office at Surkhet. 

Floods have killed 17 persons in Bardiya and 15 went missing. Likewise, 14 lost their lives in Dang and three went missing. 

In Banke district, floods have killed four and five have gone missing, Deputy Superintendent of Police Nareshman Shrestha said. 

Likewise, four persons have lost their lives in the landslide in Salyan district, while eight are missing. Two have died in Jajarkot and two are missing. 

"One person in Kalikot, four in Rolpa and three in Rukum have died. The death toll and the number of missing persons might go up," said Shrestha. 

About 300 families are trapped in forests and an island were rescued by helicopters, another official Tej Prasad Paudel said.

Heavy rains continue to wreak havoc in Uttarakhand on Sunday where over 50 people have reportedly been killed following floods and landslides in the area. 

Fresh warnings were issued today after water level in Ganga river crossed the danger mark in Haridwar. 

Meanwhile, the situation continues to be alarming in Uttar Pradesh's Balrampur and Barabanki districts on Sunday where rising water levels have displaced lakhs of people and hundreds have gone missing. 

Hundreds of villages have been affected in Balrampur and Barabanki districts where Rapti and Ghagra rivers crossed the danger mark today. 

The overflowing water entered into 72 villages in Shravasti affecting hundreds of villagers. 

The increase in water levels in Rapti is due to excess water being released from Bhalubang, Bhairahwa and Kusum barrages in Nepal while the water level in Ghagra has crossed the danger mark after flood water from Chisapani barrage in Nepal was released, as per a news report.

After over two decades of political rivalry, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar will be sharing dais for the second time in Chhapra on Sunday. 

The two leaders became friends recently after a gap of 20 years are likely to address a rally in Chhapra as part of election campaign ahead of the Bihar by-election in 10 seats on August 21.

 

Nitish had parted ways with BJP before the Lok Sabha elections after the former had announced Narendra Modi as its PM candidate. 

Later, Lalu and Nitish announced their alliance last month after both parties suffered defeat in the recent Lok Sabha elections and declared that they will jointly contest the August by-polls and the state Assembly elections next year.

The August 21 Assembly by-polls will be held in Hajipur, Chapra, Mohiuddinagar, Narkatiyaganj, Mohania, Jale, Bhagalpur, Banka, Rajnagar and Parbatta.

CBI is mulling questioning some officials of the Finance Ministry who were part of Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance process given to Aircel-Maxis deal even as it plans to file the first charge sheet in the matter this week.

Making it clear that no suspects have been identified as of now, CBI sources said the agency is likely to call them to understand the reasons for granting FIPB clearance to the deal which is now facing allegations of corruption. 

Top sources in the agency refused to give details but said they will look into the clearance given to the take over of Aircel by Malaysian telecom major Maxis in 2006 in which allegations of irregularities have surfaced. 

The sources said that the first charge sheet in the Aircel-Maxis case will be filed this week against then Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran and others on charges of criminal conspiracy and provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act. 

They, however, clarified that if any mala fide is found in the clearance, it will be part of further charge sheets which might be filed, if needed. 

The probe in FIPB clearance will begin after filing of charge sheet in the case and any conclusion will be drawn after going through the documents and examination of officials concerned of the Finance Ministry. 

Female employees of public sector banks will soon be entitled to a major benefit of getting transfers of their choice.

The finance ministry has asked the banks to formulate women-friendly transfer policies so that they can get transfers at places where their husbands are working or parents are living.

The Department of Financial Services, sources said, has asked Public Sector Banks (PSBs) to formulate transfer and posting polices in such way so as to minimise "hardship" of women employees. 

"...it has been decided to accommodate as far as possible placement/transfer of married employees, on her request, at a place where her husband is stationed or as near as possible to that place or vice versa," said a communication of the Department to head to PSBs. 

In case of unmarried female employees, the banks have been asked to accommodate them "at a place where their parents" are

stationed or as near as possible. 

While giving directions to PSBs, the Department said it has come to its notice that female employees, both married and unmarried, "when place/ transfered away from their husband or parents...to distant locations face a genuine hardship or develop a feeling of insecurity". 

There are 27 PSBs, including the latest Bharatiya Mahila Bank. Of the nearly 8 lakh employees in PSBs, about 2.5 lakh are females. 

The first batch of 275 Hajj pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir will leave for Saudi Arabia on a direct flight from the city airport in Srinagar on August 27, an official said today. 

"The first batch of 275 intending Hajj pilgrims shall board the direct flight from Srinagar International Airport on August 27 for Medina Munawwarah in Saudi Arabia and the regular flights shall continue up to September 12," the official spokesman said.

He said a meeting was convened by Kashmir Divisional Commissioner Rohit Kansal to finalize the arrangements for this year's Hajj pilgrimage in Srinagar yesterday. 

The meeting was informed that a special programme regarding the training of the pilgrims shall be conducted on August 17 and 18 at Indoor Stadium in Srinagar.

Kansal enjoined upon the concerned officers to ensure adequate facilities for Hajj pilgrims, the spokesman said. 

He directed for putting in arrangements for smooth plying of traffic and better transport facilities for the pilgrims, the spokesman added.

With the proposed Thane-Bhiwandi-Kalyan monorail failing the viability test, Maharashtra is exploring the option to develop a mass-rapid transit system (MRTS) in the regions to improve transport system in the Mumbai metropolitan region.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority has invited tenders to prepare techno-economic feasibility and detailed project report for the proposed MRTS on the Thane-Bhiwandi-Kalyan sub-region including travel demand estimate.

Last month, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan had given indications about creation of the MRTS in the region. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) had carried out the technical feasibility study on the proposed 25 km Thane-Bhiwandi-Kalyan monorail corridor through RITES in 2011. 

As per the report, the monorail corridor was not likely to be economically viable on fare box, advertisement and other revenues. 

It further recommended that on the basis of a likely low ridership, availability of the right of way and proposed land use plans, a road-based transport system would be more suitable for the Thane-Bhiwandi-Kalyan region, which can serve the catchments at least for the next 10-15 years. 

Capital market watchdog Sebi tarted probe into 108 new cases related to manipulations in the securities laws and completed investigation in 120 matters during the last financial year. 

With this the total number of cases at the end of 2013-14 stood at 1,880, of which investigations into 1,659 matters have been wrapped up by the market regulator. 

"During 2013-14, 108 new cases were taken up for investigations and 120 cases were completed compared to 155 new cases taken up and 119 cases completed in 2012-13," the Securities and Exchange Boards of India (Sebi) said in its latest annual report.

Of the 108 cases where Sebi had began probes in 2013-14, 62 per cent (67 cases) pertained to market manipulation and price rigging as against 55 per cent matters in 2012-13. 

Besides, insider trading and violations of the takeover norms accounted for 12 per cent (13 cases) and 5.6 per cent (6 cases) respectively in 2013-14. 

The remaining cases were related to manipulations in capital issue and other violations of capital markets norms. 

"Since, several investigation cases involved multiple allegations of violations, water-tight classification under specific category becomes difficult," Sebi said in the report.

Pressure mounted on Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif as Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tahreek (PAT) leader Tahirul Qadri ratcheted up the efforts, demanding him to quit. 

On one hand, PTI chief Imran Khan, who has threatened that Sunday be a ''decisive day'', and will see the final round of protests, reiterated his calls for the PM to resign. 

PAT chief Tahirul Qadri, on the other hand has set a 48-hour deadline for the government to dissolve itself. 

I give a deadline of 48 hours to present rulers to resign & dissolve assemblies peacefully,Qadri posted on Twitter. 

If corrupt rulers were allowed to escape, concerned institutions will be responsible for this, the anti-government sufi cleric added. 

In what are the biggest anti-government challenges yet to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who took office last year in the first democratic transfer of power, Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri led huge rallies to the capital, demanding his resignation on the claims that last year's elections were rigged. 

Addressing a a lesser-than-expected crowd of protesters, who weathered heavy showers to continue the protest, cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan mixed politeness with threat, urging Nawaz to resign. 

I ask you Mian Sahib, with politeness, to resign as it is hard to control enthusiasm of the people and they could march on the Parliament House and PM House, he said.

It's seems like yet another news day. 

Reports are coming in for yet another ceasefire violation along the Indo-Pak border by Pakistani troops, who are carrying out unprovoked firing at Mendar district of Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir. 

The exchange of fire, which began at 9:00 am today, continues between the Indian and Pakistani soldiers. 

Early today, the Pakistani Army began firing at two BSF posts Arania area of RS Pura from 3:00 am till 5:00 am. 

Scared families from the nearby villages have come out of their houses after hearing repeated gunshots. 

The Border Security retaliated with equal calibre weapons. Fortunately, there was no loss of life or injury to anyone in the firing.